Making it easy for myself and just copying Jenny's summery of the weekend.
Just a quick note on our weekend expedition···, it was LOVELY! (But have we ever had a horrible hike? Well ONE, but we touched on that J. ) Eight of us, including Eric for a change. Comfortable accommodation - TG Wynand brought his gas lamp otherwise it might have been a bit gloomy in the lapa, but candle light in the rooms was cosy. Very interesting hiking, not too taxing but satisfying ups and downs···a pall of smoke to show the ongoing veld fires all around, and the countryside was pretty burnt, but it had a beauty of its own, and there were other features - rocks and ruins and streams and tiny waterfalls··· and all in all it was absolutely delicious. Quite a few animals too including albino ···whatever the buck were···forgotten their names now. Samson kept us in hot water, and washed dishes - and blackened pots (no stove) and on a personal note, I was able to BORROW a contact lens as mine disappeared down the drain - thanks Wynand!! Will return shortly.
Spoke to Tharina about the ruins, and interestingly, she said that although they originally thought it was African ruins, they now believe that it was····wait for it···.taraaaa···.Dravidians!! Indians! Aerial pictures show the circle within a circle with joining passages to other circles, and even an altar in one! There are more than what we saw. And more from the air.
She says February is beautiful as many wild flowers and lots of flowing water. Maybe we could put on next year's plan? They only opened the trail in June last year, and Samson is very happy to have the job because of the massive unemployment in the area...r>
There are numerous references on the Internet to the Dravidian, who according to Cyril A.Hromnik populated this area more than a thousand years ago, CA Hromnik is an academic who has done considerable research into the ruins found in this area and attributes them to the Dravidians who had come from southern India to mine the gold in the area. His theories are somewhat controversial, but I find them very interesting and worth considering. One of his noteworthy projects to us was his research into the sun temple at the Suikerbosfontein hike. Its just over the hills from here.