And as my mind sifts through the chaos of this summer, sometimes all I can remember is, whoa – that was wild and nothing else! Therefore, I made a list of things I did over the World Traveler Internship that were either new or incredibly exciting for this absent-minded, globe-lovin gal.

1. Drank kava in the Fijian Highlands in a special ceremony sat in by 20+ people just for me, fit with singing and schoolyard games

2. Tandem skydived from 10,000 feet

3. Dove in a cage surrounded by great white sharks

4. Visited a new continent: Australia

5. Dune bashed in the desert

6. Laid eyes on Mt. Kilimanjaro and flew next to her

7. Volunteered at a township in South Africa

8. Belly danced with an actual belly dancer

9. Came within ten feet of a male lion

10. Hiked Table Mountain from bottom to top

That first sight of her was the kind that solidifies a mystical attachment and constant amazement that becomes evident in random dreams days and years later. I was glad to hear Carly’s enthusiasm for the hike this time around because it meant quenching an overdue thirst.

Table Mountain is 1,000-some odd meters and only about a third of its original size. It used to stand along with its neighboring peaks as the only land while Cape Town was still underwater. People have found fossils and seashells on her slopes, but we weren’t so lucky…or observant. We decided not to go with a guide, whom would have filled us in on more than just this information we got from some driver.

The three of us began walking up the road towards the path turnoff and entertained ourselves while trotting higher in altitude. Virtually every step on the path was a rock stair step, making the climb easier for more age groups and killer on the glutes. And one of my favorite parts about scaling nature is the constantly improving views, so just about ever chance we took, we shot some footage of Cape Town, the looming tower of rock before us and ourselves in this picturesque scene.

Reaching the summit of Table Mountain isn’t the most difficult thing in the mountaineering world. It’s a moderate, three-hour climb for anyone who can ably scale a long staircase. There is a cable car that can bring you up to the summit in minutes, but as with anything you earn, the top is much more fulfilling if you intimately know every step it took to get there.

And since we were winded upon reaching the Table “top”, we treated ourselves to some beers…and candy…and more beers…and a little debauchery. It was a perfect way to spend a perfect weather day in Cape Town. Even before doing this, I would have recommended the activity to anyone traveling to Cape Town, but now that I’ve finally got some first-hand experience under my belt, I can scream it.

CLIMB THA TABLE!