this weekend

This past weekend was fun... Niel and Jen wanted to show me the flea markets around town on Saturday so we made plans to do so once Jen got out of her ladies church meeting at 11am... meanwhile, Niel and I were driving around town killing time when all of the sudden he pulled his truck off the road... I asked him what he was doing and he pointed at a tree in someone’s yard... he said “do you see those coconuts?” I said “yeeeees.” He said “do you see the ladder in the back of my truck?” I said “yeeeees.” He said “Jenny wants coconuts so that’s why the ladder is in my truck... just in case there’s a tree low enough to where my ladder can reach.” Me: “So, you’re going to steal the coconuts.” Niel: “yep”. Niel then told me that no one ever picks their coconuts off their trees because it’s too much of a hassle... So Niel hops over the security fence into this random yard, while I’m thinking ‘we’re going to get shot’. I handed him the ladder and up he went... he’d pick the coconuts and then toss them to me on the other side of the fence and I’d put them in the back of his truck... we had gotten about 4 of them when Niel peeked around the side of the tree and quickly looked at me with a look of terror... I asked “Did you get caught?”... he gritted his teeth together, winced, and nodded his head at me... I just started laughing... I couldn’t see the guy because of the security fence, but I heard Niel trying to be as pleasant as possible as he climbed down the ladder... Then there was silence... for like 2 minutes... I thought to myself ‘maybe someone invited Niel in for tea’. Just then, Niel came through the driveway gate with 3 more coconuts in his hands as well as his ladder... I was rolling on the ground in laughter at this point... I asked him what happenned and he told me that he asked the guy that caught him if he minded him stealing his coconuts... he said the guy just replied “carry on” so he did!
Okay, so we finally picked Jen up and drove into Durban (like a half hour drive) to see the flea markets. All along the streets are these little stations and booths set up selling nic-nac’s and what-not’s... There are also these guys (like in the picture) that tow around these carts called rikshas... basically it’s like a wheel barrow, but backwards... well, I guess like a chariot, but these guys haul you around in them if you pay them some money... I didn’t actually ride in one, but I did get a picture of this guy... they wear these ridiculous hats and the ‘chariots’ are all pimped out in paint and accessories... no stereo systems though... anyway, the flea markets were cool... not like the flea markets and art fairs you get along the lakeshore in Michigan... similar though. I picked up a few souveniers... I’m drawn to the hand-made, authentic, African stuff myself... so I was pretty stoked... and everything is super-cheap...
I also went surfing three times this weekend... I almost stood up on my board this last time I went, so I’m getting better... It’s so much fun... Jerry, I wish you were here to catch these waves with me man.. I think of you everytime I go out! Oh, and Saturday evening when we went out, we saw some dolphins out about 200 yards away from us jumping and putting on a show for us! It was cool...
Well, one month down and two more to go! Time here is really flying by, so don’t worry, I’ll be home in no time!! I miss all of you my dear friends and family!!