“We aren’t spending New year’s eve holed up in a village. We have to go to Mossel Bay for the beach party,” said Rajiv the high-spirited quadragenarian in the group.

Sonal replied to her husband “Darling the car doesn’t work, Ebra’s not confident of driving us to the city and we are in a foreign country!”

But Rajiv being relenting ganged up with the rest of the men in the group and started plotting a way to get to the city.

I tried getting my husband Kaushik out of the huddle and hushed in his ears; “Haven’t you heard how the Africans rob you of your belongings in broad daylight? It is 10 in the night. Let’s just welcome the new year staring at the stars in the opening.”

We were a bunch of 5 couples on a holiday to South Africa for the Christmas-New year week in 2013. I was in it for the scenic Cape Town, gambling in Johannesburg and the PENGUINS. The rest of the trip involved the Game Reserve Safari and White Water Shark Cage Diving which Kaushik was interested in.

As we landed in Cape Town our driver and guide, Ebra startled us with a change in itinerary. Instead of spending the new year’s eve in Cape Town we were to spend it in a small town called Oudtshoorn. Rajiv was on a war path since. He swore that he would find a way to get us the new year eve celebration we deserved.

The next few days were spent exploring Cape Town. We took a picturesque cable car ride up the Table Mountain, a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town. It is featured on the Flag of Cape Town and other local government insignias. The evenings were spent by the V & A Waterfront that has a sweeping view of the Atlantic Ocean, Table Bay Harbour, the city of Cape Town and again Table Mountain. The nights involved partying and club hopping at the Long Street.

A three-and-a-half-hour scenic drive from Cape Town was the private Game Reserve that is home to an abundance of animal and bird life, including the Big 5. This was on my husband’s must experience list. From the confines of the Jeep; we looked a lion in the eye, chased a dazzle of zebras, stalked a male-female ostrich romance and were frightened by the herd of elephants marching towards us.

After spotting the Big 5, the next day which was the new year’s eve we were to go to our next destination, Oudtshoorn.

On our way to the hotel, we stopped by a club for a drink at Mossel Bay. The club was by the beach, trays of calamaries and onion rings were brought in, there were tiers of sambuca shots piled up in a corner, there was LIVE music, dancing.. the vibe was addictive. The crowd comprised mostly of white Africans. It was almost sundown and as we were reveling in the ambiance, I could see Rajiv speak to an African lady.

He came back and announced, “Guys, am I the best or AM I THE BEST! I got all of us in for the new year eve party right here. It starts in an hour so we are not leaving.”

All of us had to put some sense into him as we had to check in to the hotel at Oudtshoorn. He agreed after we assured him that we would dump the luggage, check into the hotel and come right back for the party.

It was an hours drive and we reached the hotel at 8.30 pm. We all freshened up and dressed casually as it was a beach party. We were in the reception lounge at 9.30 pm and there was Ebra staring at the car.  Niraj, asked him what happened. Ebra appeared darker than his complexion when he replied in Afrikaans,”Die hoof ligte werk nie. Ons kan nie na Mosselbaai. ”

To which we shrieked,”What?”

“Speak in English, Ebra”, said Sonal

“a… meaning.. car can not go. tzzzz.. head light not working.”

If it were India we could have managed to take the car for an hour’s drive but Ebra here was stern about not driving to the city. He couldn’t afford to be caught with dysfunctional head lights and 5 inebriated Indian couples. There were engineers in the group who tried using their college training to aid the situation but to no avail. We couldn’t find an alternate means of transport at this hour.

Helpless Rajiv asked the concierge, “Where do u guys party?” He tried to moonwalk around the place.

The concierge’s expression changed from worry to elation, “Party by…. Fantasie Land.. aaahh.. Ebra, Hoekom het jy nie hulle te neem na Fantasie Land.”

Ebra replied ecstatically,” I whill… thake you tho Fantasy Land. It is 15 mins drive. You can party with us.”

The name gave me the creeps. I was certain I would never party with the Africans and at a place called Fantasy Land! Never!

At the risk of being labeled ‘a racist’ I must declare that I was scared of the Africans. Rajiv, the smooth talker that he is convinced me to ‘not rot in a hotel room, be my age and enjoy life.’ And Kaushik really wanted to go so I agreed.

There we were parked outside what looked like a questionable, sleazy bar we have on the outskirts of Mumbai. FANTASY LAND was written with bright LED lights in Red and Blue. Every time someone exited or entered the club, blaring music would be heard.

The men decided to check the place and us ladies were rested in the car with Ebra. Rajiv came out the first, followed by Kaushik and Niraj. The other two men were still at the bar it seemed. As the 3 approached the car Rajiv started high-fiving them and I opened a window so that I could hear them.

Kaushik gave me a thumbs up as Rajiv said, “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity girls, get out of the car.”

So all the girls got off the car but me. Ebra got asked me, “You coming, missy?”

I thought to myself, “Am I up for this?  Everyone does reckless stuff all the time so here’s my adventure.” More so.. the Afro music playing was totally calling me in..

I got off the car.

As we entered there was a narrow passage that was dimly lit with neon graffitied walls. The Afro music was getting louder and there were streaks of black around me. There was both; a chill down my spine and rhythm in my feet.

At the end of the passage was the bar; full with native Africans yelling out their drink preferences. However, the dance floor was empty. I wondered why. The music is up-tempo, how can no one dance. Rajiv and Kaushik got us drinks. In the next half hour, I gulped down 3 large vodka glasses and was inebriated enough to ignore my fears and start appreciating the music. After about 10 more minutes the club suddenly got silent. It was 11 pm as I tried glancing at my phone. Then there were rounds of blasting music that got louder and faster… I wondered was it the music or was it my heart beating.

to be continued..

Following are a few glimpses from the trip: