13 April 2018

Plane ticket – check, passport – check, enough space in my luggage for all the shopping I will be bringing back – check, ergo I am packed and ready to go - India beckons! With visions of linen, tailor-made leather jackets, antiques, good food, adventure, I drive early to Johannesburg International. A day flight means that the airport does not feel like a one-day end of season sale, so check-in goes fast and even immigration is a breeze for once. Next stop duty free! There is something about shopping in the duty-free area of an airport which just compels you to buy. Do you really need the extra t-shirt? Do you want it? Hey, do you even really like it? No! But! It's duty free! Never mind that the prices seem suspiciously the same as in any of our malls - it's duty free! Which basically translates to my brain as buy, buy, buy! Sometime later, I have made it through with as little damage to the plastic money as possible and I'm on the plane! The feeling of a powerful engine lifting the massive weight of metal, fuel, lots of luggage and of course all us human bodies, is one of absolute wonder! I must close my eyes and savour it! The plane lands, and there's the excitement of being in a different country, the anticipation of experiencing a new culture - I can't wait. All that is left is the simple process of presenting my passport, clearing immigration and it will all begin. In my mind I hear the start of the drum-roll as I present my passport and then ...the drum-roll comes to a screeching halt... "Where's your visa?" demands the intimidating immigration official. "Where's your visa?" What visa? Oh gosh, it’s ok, stay calm –he is just making a mistake - they do that don't they? Please say they do. "Oh no" I say; "you see I'm South African - I don't need a visa" (ever the optimist). "Go over there" he instructs and points to counter 10-feet away. 10 feet is not far, but suddenly it feels like the longest walk to disaster! Just stay calm - this is only a small technicality! But the stern and unforgiving faces make me wonder if this time the glass is indeed half empty. I explain that I'm under the impression that no visa is needed for a South African passport holders ... blank stares, I offer to buy a visa ...blank stares. Oh boy the panic is building up... please?, please?, please?...blank stares. I’m told: "Go sit over there"; meekly I obey and sink into a typically hard airport chair and await my fate. My passport is somewhere, I hardly understand anyone, I am alone! After about 15 minutes I am handed my passport with a paper exclaiming in big letters INADMISSABLE. Can you believe it? I feel like a criminal! I am escorted (in case I make a break for it and scramble into the country) to international departures and left on my own to await my flight back home on the same Airbus I just arrived on. I try to make myself as comfortable as possible and await take off. This time the feeling is not quite as exciting as yesterday (was it only yesterday?) 10 long, long hours later the captain announces descent for Johannesburg International oh joy! Landing is smooth and at immigration I present my proudly South African passport. No problems! The lesson learnt? As exciting and enticing as travel is, and as prepared you think you might be, it is better to use the expertise of a travel agent who will advise you of any pitfalls which might put a very quick end to your planned trip!

29 October 2015

Awesome National Animal The Springbok - a lithe and beautiful antelope, standing at only approx. 75cm in height and weighing in at approx. 40kg. The Springbok’s name is derived from its jumping display when running (pronk in Afrikaans). Should you see them, snap your camera quickly as they are also the fastest of the antelopes and can reach speeds of approx. 80km/h. Running from the middle of their back to their tails is a pocket-like skin flap. Should they be excited or frightened they lift this flap in order to warn other Springbok, as the white hairs underneath stand up as a conspicuous crest. Both the male and females have horns, but the females are shorter and thinner. Many, many moons ago the Springboks would migrate in herds consisting of over 1 MILLION individuals! Farmers would sit for days watching the herds pass over their lands. Unfortunately today most are confined to game reserves....or....on the reverse side of a Kruger Rand. The Springbok also lends its name to our Awesome South African Rugby team – affectionately shortened to “the Bokke” Awesome National Tree An age old family line the Yellowwood has the honour of being our national tree, having grown here for over 100-million years. The base of the trunk often reaches 3m in diameter with a height of approx. 40m. While you are visiting Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens to view the Proteas, you will be able to tick off another national symbol as the Yellowwood trees grow along the Yellowwood Trail, leading to Table Mountain. Else you will find them in the ravines of the Drakensberg up to the Soutpansberg and The Blouberg in Limpopo. Awesome National Flower The King Protea (or Giant Protea) is the largest of the Protea family (of which there are approx. 1,400 varieties) and makes up an important part of the Cape Floral Region (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Scientists have found that the Protea is an ancient flower dating back around 300 million years! It’s specific name ‘cynaroides’, meaning ‘like cynara’ (the artichoke) was given due to the artichoke-like appearance of the flower-heads and its common name is from ‘Proteus’, the Greek god who changed his appearance whenever he wanted, as there as so many varieties. Should you wish to snap a few pictures yourself of these beautiful flowers in bloom, then head on over to the Cape Town surrounds: • Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens • Drive either from Cape Point to Kommetjie or Noordhoek to Constantia • In November – Cape Point Our Awesome South African cricket team is named after this flower. Awesome National Fish The Galjoen was the choice as it is found only on the coastline stretching from Namibia to Durban. Not only is it the national fish, but also a highly prized sports angling species – but it is illegal to either buy or sell these fish. They are reserved purely for recreational fishers and the fishers must be in possession of a recreational permit. Awesome National Bird This title goes to the elegant Blue Crane. Should you wish to see this bird you would need to travel to South Africa, as its distribution is almost solely restricted to South Africa. Common in the Karoo, but can also be found in the Highveld and grasslands of KwaZulu-Natal. While being tall (approx. 1m) the Blue Crane is in fact the smallest species of crane. A ground-dwelling bird they live and feed in flocks of up to 40 birds. Pairs are monogamous with long-term bonds, once becoming parents, they have an almost non-existent nest, usually just a few small sticks pulled together. Did you know that the long black ‘tail’ feathers are in fact wing feathers!

06 July 2015

I will focus on all the good and beautiful things that form proud and majestic South Africa. I will hear her call and listen to her spirit. Why? Because I am not in South Africa – South Africa is in me. So where are all the good and beautiful things? Well they are all around us. From our Mother City, Cape Town’s Table Mountain, being honoured as one of the new 7 Natural Wonders of the World (to be confirmed and validated early 2012). This will be a definite boost to our tourism for those wanting to tick off destinations on their bucket lists. The best way to relax and enjoy the view is of course with a glass of world class wine from the Cape Winelands. Did you know: Table Mountain is the only natural site on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it? The constellation is called Mensa – meaning “the table” We move on to a kaleidoscope of activities and must do’s: Oysters during the Knysna Oyster festival, – cherry picking on a cherry farm in Ceres – experiencing arts and culture at the Grahamstown festival – standing in awe at the Tswaing Meteorite Crater just outside Pretoria, experiencing the wonder of luxury train travel on Rovos Rail, seeing the beauty of blue lined Pretoria streets (not nicknamed the Jacaranda City for nothing), when the trees are in full bloom during the month of October. One word: Awesome Stopping at the oldest wildlife parks in Africa – the Kruger National Park, boasting the Big 5 (Rhino, Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo, Lion), quality roads, accommodation and fantastic views. Spend some time in Kruger and you will take a lifetime of memories home with you and some fantastic photography shots. There is nothing quite like an African thunderstorm whilst in the bush. Did you know: South Africa also has the Baby 5: * The Ant Lion * The Elephant Shrew * The Leopard Tortoise * The Red Billed Buffalo Weaver * The Rhino Beetle. South Africa is AWESOME in sports: The first black golfer to win a major tournament on the European circuit was Vincent Tshabalala (French Open, 1976) – RSA was host to the Soccer World Cup (2010) – World Female Athlete of the year went to Hestrie Cloete (2003) – Gary Player has won 164 tournaments across the world – Karen Muir, at 12 years of age was the youngest to set the world record in any sport (swimming) – RSA was host to the Rugby World Cup (1995) – In 1979 Jody Schecter won the Formula 1 World Driver’s Championship for Ferrari (it would be 21 years before Ferrari won this title again) – RSA was host to the Cricket World Cup (2003) and these are only to name a few of the awards and events South Africa has hosted. In the 1953 musical “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, Marilyn Monroe sings the words “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, if that is true then South Africa is every girls dream destination. In the 15 years after the first diamond (appropriately named the Eureka) was found in 1867, South Africa yielded more diamonds than India had in over 2,000 years!! The Kimberly Hole was at the centre of attraction during this time and after its 43 year existence lays claim to being the biggest man-made hole in the world. What about the Cullinan Diamond? The original rough diamond, the largest ever found, was approximately the size of a soft drink can! The diamond was cut and polished – the largest gem was called the Great Star of Africa and is now found in the head of the Sceptre with the Cross (British Royal Sceptre) and the Lesser Star of Africa is found in the British Crown. Did you know: To produce a single one-carat diamond, 250 tons of earth will have to be mined? Fun Facts: * Johannesburg has the biggest man-made forest in the world * Barberton’s mountains are the oldest in the world * The Fish River Canyon is the world’s second largest * St Lucia is the largest estuarine system in Africa * Afrikaans, the language, is only 90 odd years old, making it the youngest in the world * The Tugela Falls is the second-highest in the world * Durban has the highest number of tall buildings in South Africa (218) * The Rand was stronger than the US Dollar until 1982 * In 1961 the Pound is replaced by the Rand * Cape Town is voted as the world’s favourite city * Rovos Rail won the World’s Leading Safari Train and has also been voted World’s leading luxury train * South Africa voluntarily abandoned its nuclear weapons programme (the only country in the world to do so) I can go on and on about my awesome South Africa, listing a thousand reasons why I love my country and yes I know nothing can be a hundred percent perfect, so to the people I say: Remember “UBuntu” – “I am what I am, because of who we all are” – the essence of being human, trusting, caring, it is a way of life, helpfulness and community. Remember it means humanity towards others, because we can’t be human all by ourselves, we need each other and you want to be known for your generosity. And to my country I say: Ons sal lewe, ons sal sterwe – ons vir jou, Suid Afrika

15 December 2014

Even though in my time, I have been fortunate enough to have travelled our planet reasonably far and wide, there always remain just a few more places I’d like to plant my feet upon. Top of my list is Magical Morocco! When I think of the Kingdom of Morocco I think spices, carpets, snake charmer, food, and everything that tantalizes the senses. I would of course request an audience with the King of Morocco and greet him with Salam wa aleikum (Peace be upon you) to which I will be blessed to hear the response of Wa aleikum ah salam (and also peace be upon you). We will discuss how Amazigh and Moroccan Arabic (spoken) are the two official languages, but that lyrical French is the unofficial 2nd language and that Berber is also a spoken language. The king will tell me that the word “Morocco” originates from the Spanish “Marruecos” or the Portuguese “Marrocos” which refers to Marrakesh and that it is still called so in Persian/Urda. He will then further explain to me that Marrakesh is the Berber word combination of Mart n Akush meaning Land of God! Now does that not send peace all the way down your spine? In an intelligent voice I will ask the king how the governing of Morocco works and he will tell me that it is a Constitutional Monarchy with an elected parliament. I of course will nod in understanding, adding that Rabat is the political capital even though Casablanca is the largest city. (Silently congratulating myself on brushing up before our meeting) I would also add – the travel guru that I am – that Morocco has 3 international airports: Casablanca, Tangier and Agadir. My choice of flight is to Marrakesh with Air France, as I first just had to stopover in Paris. The kings will then politely stand up and say that he has to attend matters pertaining to the country. With a wise nod and wink I agree and am off to follow my fantasy journey. Marrakesh (English) aka Marrakech (English or French) aka Marraquech (Spanish) aka Marrakesch (German) at first I’m a little confused with all the different spellings, but soon I am walking through the 2nd largest city in Morocco. Here I find the largest traditional souk and then suddenly I find myself in a blaze of colour, sounds and smells as I walk across Djemaa el Fna, not for nothing it is one of the busiest squares in Africa. I am surrounded by acrobats, story-tellers, dancers, snake charmers, musicians and as the sun-sets the aromatic smells from all the night food stalls. After each of my senses has been fulfilled, I stroll along to stand in awe of the residencies of French designers and grand couturiers Jean-Paul Gaultier and Yves Saint-Laurent. Yes, you heard it from me – they have homes here! Next I’m in the economic and business centre of Morocco – Casablanca!!! Casa – House and Blanca – White, so basically I’m visiting the White House! Of course if you are in the know or a local you will simply refer to it as Casa. I of course feel like Ingrid Bergman in the 1942 “Casablanca”, looking for my Humphrey Bogart. With this in mind I signal a Petits Taxi (Small Taxi) in bright red to transport me to “Ricks Cafe American”. Next to me a family of four climb into a Grand’s Taxis (Big Taxi) in shiny white, their excited chatter speak of going to Hassan II Mosque on the shores of the Atlantic. I quickly check my guide-book and discover that this is the largest Mosque in Northern Africa, accommodating 25,000 worshippers inside and 80,0000 inside, costing a staggering 800million dollars to build. Slightly wishing I was following them, I climb into my taxi, excitedly giving the name of the establishment I want to go to. Shaking his head and in exasperation the taxi driver says “It’s a movie, it’s a movie – the cafe does not exist!!!” Not to be put down, I quickly say I was joking and request to go to the small island of Marabout de Sidi Abderrahmane. During low tide you are able to walk to the rocky island. Here I will find the tomb of Sidi Abderrhamane Thaalibi – Founder of Algiers. The locals make informal pilgrimages here to reflect on life and seek religious enlightenment – something I might need, but alas non-Muslims are unable to attend the tomb. So instead I sit and reflect outside. The Atlas Mountains are now calling…I will leave you now as while I’m trekking I will be unable to talk! (something to do with trying to catch my breath), but I will be taking a cooking course and seeing the most beautiful sights, so rest assured I will be enjoying every moment. Dasha