I used to be petrified of heights. Perhaps it’s a because I’m small, but I used to fear that I’d be blown off of cliffs/mountains/high places.
After discovering that I really enjoy abseiling and paragliding, I’ve managed to almost get rid of my fear, but I’ll never like heights.
Unless of course, there’s an awesome view.

I don’t remember much from the first time I went up Table Mountain, because I must have been around five or six. I do remember there being a proliferation of Rock Hyraxes (Dassies), which this time was sadly lacking. There were Agama lizards instead.

The view was something else though. Clouds wreathed the mountains in the distance and sea mist rolled across the ocean. It was hot, hazy and beautiful.
I was struck by how absolutely flat the top of Table Mountain is. Rocky paths wind through tussock grass and huge rough boulders. The light was high and harsh, which wasn’t great for photographing. I was lucky to see the lizard in a patch of shade, and otherwise played with textures and shadows to try and make some nice images.

Apparently you can abseil from the top – while I’m keen, I don’t think I’m quite that keen. It was worth being crammed into a revolving cable car, although it severely soured my mood at the time – being crushed in the middle at armpit height isn’t conducive to taking photos. I managed to get one on the way down though.

I’ll admit to being a bit jealous, seeing Cape Town again. It’s a beautiful place, and both my parents went to University there. Auckland has nothing on it. Although I suppose you often don’t appreciate the beauty of the places that you see every day, so maybe Auckland isn’t so bad. With winter approaching, it starts to get dark at five in the afternoon, so I’m hanging on to summer memories.