| I had decided that this year my birthday was | | | | me was like an African safari. On foot you enter |
| going to be all about me. I know that it sounds | | | | a world shaped and coloured by Africa's wildlife, |
| selfish, but for the last three years my birthdays | | | | while enjoying the fresh air (something unheard of |
| have been total disasters and I was determined | | | | in most of our cities today). |
| that it would not be repeated this year. So I | | | | During our hike we saw quite a few antelope, but |
| booked into the Arabella Western Cape Hotel | | | | the highlight of the day was when we came |
| & Spa for four days of luxury and absolute | | | | across a herd of wild horses. When we later |
| bliss the African way. | | | | asked the Reserve's game rangers they informed |
| Arabella my love... | | | | us that the herd was abandoned by the British |
| This was going to be four days like no other I've | | | | garrison after the Anglo-Boer War. The sight is |
| ever had. I've decided that I wasn't going to plan | | | | not one you see everyday, especially in Africa, I |
| anything ahead, that I would be spontaneous. And | | | | think. |
| the Arabella was the perfect place to be able to | | | | At lunch we had a picnic which of course included |
| do this. They are well known for their Wellness | | | | a good bottle of wine and cheese. After our |
| Centre. The place I wanted to explore from top | | | | luncheon, we continued on our merry way back |
| to bottom. My excitement was like that of a child | | | | to the hotel. The atmosphere was filled with |
| in a candy store, totally insatiable. | | | | laughter, especially when Bridget tripped for the |
| The atmosphere alone was infectious. I was | | | | umpteenth time not looking where she was |
| standing in the hallway and I didn't have a clue as | | | | walking and generally joking around. |
| to what I wanted to do first. So I decided to | | | | Back at the hotel |
| start with some pampering and was quickly on | | | | After everybody had refreshed themselves we |
| my way to the Spa. | | | | were ready for my big birthday dinner. The night |
| Three cheers to good health | | | | followed with good food, some more wine and a |
| While waiting for my session, I was sipping on a | | | | lot of laughing. Life couldn't get better than this. |
| glass of bubbly and enjoying the beautiful view of | | | | After a good night's rest we decided that a game |
| the Botriver lagoon. This was going to be my first | | | | of golf would be entertaining, especially because |
| hydro-massage experience. The therapist | | | | there were bets made on whether the girls would |
| explained to me that it had something to do with | | | | be able to play all eighteen holes. |
| water, and in all honesty what he was saying | | | | I've played golf before, but only once, so this was |
| went in one ear and out through the other. I've | | | | a game played more with luck than skill for me at |
| never been one for the how's but more the | | | | least. And luck it seems was not on my side. Not |
| why's, and right now why I needed this therapy | | | | only did I lose most of my balls but I managed to |
| was because I needed to reduce my stress | | | | hit the bunkers twice. Yes, not my most |
| levels. | | | | successful venture ever, but fun none the less. Of |
| I think I fell asleep during my session. The last | | | | course we lost the bet, because by the tenth |
| thing I remember was extreme relaxation and | | | | hole my two girlfriends and I had had enough, so |
| then what felt like dreaming. After my two hour | | | | we decided to rather enjoy the nineteenth hole. |
| treatment I woke up totally rejuvenated and | | | | When the boys finished their game we had to |
| ready for some adventure. | | | | make sure that their ice cold beers were waiting. |
| A day in the sun | | | | I hate losing bets and it pained me to see the |
| The following day my friends joined me at the | | | | guys revel in their glory, but what can a girl do. |
| hotel and after a quick breakfast we all set off on | | | | After the day's torture, we all booked in for |
| a hike. It was a day hike through the Kogelberg | | | | some more quality time at the spa. An hour of |
| Nature Reserve. I didn't quite expect that the | | | | massage later and some time in the sauna was all |
| terrain was going to be so rocky, but the | | | | I needed. This really was everything I could've |
| challenge was nothing we couldn't handle. This to | | | | asked for and more for my birthday! |