Christmas & New Years Western Cape South Africa

On the last day of 2008 I went to the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

I celebrated New Years Eve on Long Street in Cape Town.

More to come soon.....

For more of my photos of the Western Cape check out my site at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ponderosapam/WesternCapeChristmasNewYearsSA#

Family Party ~ Maseru

A few weeks ago I attended a Housewarming Party for my Masotho sister. She built a new house in Maseru with her husband and had a traditional Basotho ceremony to welcome everyone to her house

Like all Basotho celebrations I've attended, the event started with food, singing and dancing. My sister and her husband were presented with many gifts in a procession from her family. We started down the street and paraded up the dusty red road to her home carrying all kinds of gifts from new household supplies, blankets, buckets of traditional beer (carried on the head) and more. When we arrived to the new home his side of the family sang and danced and accepted the gifts from our heads/hands and then we all paraded into the house - her mom going first. They were both presented with new clothes and traditional Basotho blankets. Many speeches were given after we all saw the house and then more gifts were given and a sheep was also presented and slaughtered. A few hours later we ate that sheep and an assortment of salads, potatoes, bread and beans more dancing and drinking of the traditional beer.

It was a great day to spend some time with my Masotho Mothers children, all of whom live far away from the remote village now and a neat cultural experience. Everyone was really excited to meet the American family member. I left early but I'm sure the party went on all night... like most Basotho parties do.