London was where all Australians seemed to go in 1973, but I decided to see South Africa. I ended up at the Braamfontein YWCA and had difficulty obtaining a drink of water as nobody understood my accent. I was parched by the time I received a glass.
The "Y", as it was affectionately known, had strange rules for someone who was 27 - no wearing shorts and no sleeveless tops, plus a 10pm curfew.
I shared a room with a Brit - Julie of the flaming red hair and freckles - and we decided to escape to what was then known as the Eastern Transvaal.We attended a chapel service beforehand. The organ wasn't working but that didn't deter the choir. Their voices lifted to a pitch-perfect rendition of a popular hymn. I was stunned and fell in love with Africa immediately.
Julie and I drove happily around the Kruger National Park in a little VW Beetle.
One day my favourite neck scarf flew off and floated onto a small log at the water's edge of a low bridge. We couldn't see any lions so I cautiously left the car and, hanging onto the bridge by my fingertips and balancing somewhat precariously on the log, I managed to retrieve it. Suddenly the log moved and I flew straight back to the car. I sat there stuttering, trying to explain that the log was actually a c-c-c-crocodile.We pulled into Orpen camp on a day of oppressive heat. Julie went to sign in while I visited the ladies' room. Suddenly I felt disoriented and nauseous. Then I was panic-stricken. I had gone blind.
Thankfully, there was a doctor staying at the camp, who told me I had heat stroke. He advised rest and plenty of liquids. I didn't have any other option, so was led to our shared room, where I spent a number of hours of my African bush experience in total darkness.
Even so, Africa had undoubtedly crept into my soul and whetted my traveller's appetite. Perhaps that is why I am still here, to this day.
• "The Notebook" is about chance meetings and unforgettable encounters people have had on their travels. Send us your story - no more than 400 words - and, if published, you'll receive R500. Mail travelmag@sundaytimes.co.za with the word Notebook in the subject line...