A Last Fling

Kirstenbosch 1 – Flower

Haiku 253

Wander through Nature

Renew your soul with fresh air

Beauty and birdsong

.

Here is another beautiful flower from my visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town a few months ago.

At the entrance to the gardens, they check you are wearing your face mask and take your temperature, before allowing you to proceed. You then use the foot-operated hand sanitiser provided and go to the window to pay.

Kirstenbosch 2 – Bird Bath

Everyone has to wear a face mask when outside of your own property; whether in a shop or on the street, driving alone in your car, strolling on a deserted beach, or walking round the vast expanse of a botanical garden.

However, I still saw people not wearing a mask once inside the gardens. I wonder if they were aware that it is illegal and if caught, you face being arrested and having a criminal record!

Kirstenbosch 3 – Stream

I had been sitting alone on the stone steps by the Bird Bath. It’s a wonderful place to renew your soul, by watching the clear mountain stream trickle by and listening to all the birds singing in the canopy above.

When two people arrived at the Bird Bath, one wearing a mask (SA by his accent) and another with no mask in sight, not even dangling round her neck (foreigner by her accent) it was time to leave.

I gave them a very wide berth and headed back to the entrance.

Kirstenbosch 4 – Mountain

There is a lovely restaurant there, where you can sit outside and enjoy the view, while socially distancing. I walked past it at a distance, looking longingly at the tables, desperate for a cup of tea and toasted cheese sandwich. I stopped and studied the numbers, but decided it was too crowded and just not worth the risk. I headed back to my car and consoled myself with my bottle of water and energy bar.

.

Now South Africa is bang in the middle of a third wave, driven by the highly contagious Delta Covid Variant. Lockdown is back up to Level 4. Restaurants are closed again.

I won’t be going out anywhere for a while yet.

 

27 thoughts on “A Last Fling”

  1. A Curious Introvert

    Wonderful photos/poem and I’m glad you had a chance to wander through nature before another lockdown! Everything looks so beautiful and peaceful in your photos and it continues to surprise me every day how much has changed and how careful we must be everywhere. Every time I see news of another lockdown in South Africa I think of you and hope you’re staying safe and sane. I’m still living a very isolated life and am beginning to wonder if I’ll ever decide it’s worth the risk to be in a crowd. Stay safe and I hope things improve so you can enjoy wandering further than your own lovely gardens.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. scifihammy Post author

      Thank you so much 😀
      Yes, life has changed a lot – and we all thought we’d be back to normal in no time!
      Also looking forward to things improving. 🙂
      Keep Safe too 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  2. scooj

    Great haiku and an interesting post. My son had COVID-19 so we are self-isolating as a household for 10 days and he is confined to his bedroom. He is not particularly unwell, but at 19 his life should be all about freedom and new experiences, instead it has been plagued with constraints. Damn this virus.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. scifihammy Post author

      I hear you!
      It must be hardest for the younger age group.
      We have had more Lockdowns than UK and I have heard my neighbours singing Happy Birthday to their 21 year old son and then their 18 year old daughter, with a very very small gathering. So sad!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. oldmainer

    There is life after Covid. We are coming out the other side. Most now contracting Covid are people that are not vaccinated. Don’t know what it is going to take to get them to see the light. But keep the faith, and the flowers, and your Haikus, and trust that a better day is coming.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. scifihammy Post author

      Thank you so much for your words of encouragement – needed more than you know. 🙂
      Our vaccinations are going very slowly – I am still waiting for mine.
      But you are right, tomorrow could be brighter 😀

      Like

      2. scifihammy Post author

        Like most of my followers, I am also an Introvert, so am quite happy in my own company.
        But enough is enough now! I’d like my daughter to be able to visit again from UK!
        Keep Safe Dear GH 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Garfield Hug

        Soon! Sci. Soon as pandemic will become an endemic and life goes on as new normal! Nothing like having your family with you. I hope you have been dog hunting too, though with the lockdown it must be tough. I miss seeing you out and about with your pet pooch!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. quiall

    We are all weary to the bone from living in crisis mode for more than a year and a half. Your haiku was a momentary respite in a crazy world. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Tokens of Companionship

    What a beautiful place! Life is getting back to normal here in New England, as most everyone has been vaccinated. Vermont had only two new Covid cases yesterday. I say this so you’ll know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel! SA will get there, too. Just hold on a bit longer. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  8. ladysighs

    You can always just look at your pictures of the beautiful gardens. 😦
    The expression “One in every crowd,” takes on a new meaning. Seems there are dozens in every crowd that ruin it for the rest. Wondering if that law is enforced?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. scifihammy Post author

      haha Yes! I was enjoying revisiting the gardens on my laptop! 😀
      Yep – there will always be some who flout the rules. And yes – arrests were made early on. I don’t hear much about it now – probably because the pandemic is pretty serious here now.

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  9. Murphy's Law

    Perfect Haiku. These gardens are breathtaking! I definitely can see how this is a place where you can renew your soul. Who doesn’t need that every so often? Especially during this never-ending pandemic.

    We aren’t on lockdown again, but I imagine it won’t be long. The Delta Variant is gaining ground here as well. I’m so sorry you had to cut your visit short, but so happy you were smart enough to step away from this foolish, selfish woman.

    Stay as safe as you can Sci and keep enjoying the abundant beauty all around you! Wonderful post.
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

    1. scifihammy Post author

      Thank you so much for your lovely comment 😀
      Never-ending is right! I really thought that by now things would be getting back to normal!
      I guess we all have to hang on a little longer – and take virtual visits to Nature. 😀

      Like

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