The Modern L: Next stop...HAPPINESS!

So most of you followed us on our long journey through sunny South Africa on The Modern L BIG roadtrip, but I bet that very few of you know why we actually went. Yes, we hooked up with our Rockstar photographer, JayAlan, and yes we scooped ourselves a new model and crew member and of course we had to secure a few business deals in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, but we drove for 24 hours, through the night, in the rain for something much more important than that…LOVE!

Nikki proposed the idea to me and I gladly obliged because it meant that I’d have a chance to see my family, most importantly, my favourite person in the world, my niece, Hannah. Sluticia (Lorette) and Nicole hopped on board for the ride and we departed at around 8 pm on Thursday night, an hour late, to make a love story, almost 2 years in the making, finally come true.

Our first destination was PE, the friendly city, and Nikki’s destination of choice. See, Nikki met Vilene in a chat group on BBM two weeks after Vilene relocated from Johannesburg. And from the start there was always that little something between them. The unspoken words, the uneasy emotions, the quiet harmony, and the silent longing to be more than just long distance chat mates. But as these things happen, life had other plans for these two for a little while, so it was time for The Modern L to intervene with a roadtrip, to make fate move its butt and steer it in the right direction!

Finally, we arrived in PE just after 8am…and the mounting tension was easily noticed by the look on Nikki’s face as we got closer to Vilene’s house, and not forgetting the way she nearly rolled the car, twice, in eager anticipation to meet the girl who’s been haunting her dreams. And there she was, standing by the gate to greet us. Nikki went bright red and refused to make eye contact as she tried to play it cool. Unfortunately for her, that first kiss and the smile that almost circumnavigated her face was an easy give-away that she was instantly love struck and that the long journey and the months of waiting, wondering, flat batteries, video clips and voice notes she played over and over and over again had finally paid off and as you can see, it made for some amazing chemistry in front of the camera in Cape Town.

After breakfast, we were in the car yet again, for our second destination, the Mother City and 10 hours, 12 pit stops and 5 sore bums later, we arrived at my aunt’s house in Tableview. My niece was fast asleep in her bed when we got there, so I snuck up the stairs and stood watching over her as she woke up. As long as I live I will never forget how her eyes lit up when she saw me and the way she hugged me tight and asked if she was dreaming or if I was really there.

We spent the next day on Location all over Cape Town capturing not only the beauty of our models, but also the beauty the Mother City had on offer on Blouberg beach, at the castle as well as at the V&A waterfront. After wrapping, business could be put on the backburner until Monday and we split up for some sightseeing and family time. Let’s just say Melkbos, Simonstown, Devon Valley, Bayside mall Spur and the Liquor store fridge will never be the same again and thanks to a typical Modern L night out, Vilene missed her flight back home.

With business out of the way once again on Monday, we did some more sightseeing at a famous bubbly estate while Nikki and Nicole nursed their hangovers, then met up with the Cape Town crew again for drinks and to say goodbye until June when it’s their turn to come visit us.

On Tuesday morning at 4 am we were on the road again heading home. If you’re on the road for a good 18 hours, you’d be surprised what four girls get up to in an effort to alleviate boredom and to keep the driver awake. One thing’s for certain though, if any of us ever hear the song, Down under by Men without hats, again, we might just get sick!

Something else happened down in Cape Town, on the penultimate day of our visit. They say that the most amazing things come from the most unexpected places, but that’s another story for another day…And as Nikki says: “Love and fame DO walk hand in hand”.