Semana Santa in Cartagena
Month: November 2011
Bushveld Get-Away
Taking the city girl into the Bushveld was a huge success. Mission accomplished. I will even consider going back. Given certain conditions are met:
1. no camping
2. running water
3. en-suite bathroom
4. mosquito nets
So, basically taking the “bush” out of the Bushveld, if you know what I mean.
Getting there was an adventure by itself. First time ever that I landed on a dirt-strip. Flying in a new but retrofitted aircraft, it felt like I’m playing a character in “Out of Africa”. Picture perfect start for a weekend in the Bushveld.
I have done a couple of game viewings since I moved to Johannesburg. So far only the one-day safaris just outside Jozi. This time we went to Royal Malewane Game Reserve which is adjacent to the Kruger National Park. Part of Royal Malewane is the so-called Africa House. A moroccan style riad in the middle of the Bush… I agree, it might sound surreal but it blended in beautifully! Equipped with 6 beautiful suits, it’s the perfect get-away for a small group of people.
- Africa House at Royal Malewane
This trip also marked another mile stone in my wildlife experience: viewing the Big 5 in one go! I have seen them before, but only in bits and pieces. This time, I have managed to see all 5 in one trip.
Buffaloes:
Leopard: usually extremely shy, wouldn’t even move when we drove close.
- Lucky to have spotted a leopard
Elephants: our vehicle was surrounded by a herd. I got quite scared at some stage
- That’s how close they came
Rhino: subject to Asian superstition.
Lions only showed themselves at night and my camera is not really suitable for nightshots, so you will just have to image the king of the bush.
All in all it was an amzing trip!
Transforming into a Sandtonista
This is my second post about Sandton in just a week!
The thing is that Sandton is actually not worth writing home about. Attributes like “boring”, “bland”, “unelectrified”, “unthrilled” (and so on and so on..) would have probably popped into most people’s minds (at least the ones I know) and I was certainly one of them. Until today! I was invited to a after work thingy on the San Deck at the Sandton Sun! What a stunning place! Wow!!
The view: just amazing
The set-up: interior (or rather exterior) excellence
The people: cosmopolitan mix
The verdict: the perfect after- work -drinks or weekend-sundowner-place!!
Sandton is really gearing up (with a lot of changes done and finished) and becoming a hot spot in the Jozi scene again!
Christmas Madness
It’s this time of the year again… shopping malls decorated for Christmas way too early. I really don’t understand why it is not early enough to start on the 24th of November.. A month of christmas decoration is surely enough time, or not?
So, this morning I decided to rise early and pay the newly opened Protea Court at Sandton City a visit. My curiosity won over my cautiousness (big mistake). I had actually decided to wait at least for two weeks and let the first hype subside before I expose myself to the masses. The first ZARA store in Southern Africa opened it doors a few days ago at Sandton City. I knew it would be madness to go there at the beginning…. But I just couldn’t resist this morning. Not only did I want to compare prices to a ZARA store in Europe (I knew that alone the 25% import taxes would be added on top), but I also wanted to see what other shops Protea Court has to offer. Firstly, I have to say that the architecture of this new part of Sandton City is really a highlight. The name reveals it already: the whole construction looks like a Protea – just beautiful. Secondly, I want to add that the new selection of shops is a valuable addition to the shopping scene in South Africa. Last but not least, I want to mention that the christmas decoration is well done – modern South African style! Not bad – compliments to the decorator!
- Christmas decoration at Sandton City
Although I’m already spending my 7th pre-christmas season in South Africa, I still have to get used to inverted conditions: hot, summer, parties, braais. It somehow messes with your system just like a jet lag does. Being raised in the northern hemisphere, pre-christmas time is indoor-time, family-time, fireplace-time and most of all: Christmas market and Gluehwein-time! This is something I really miss. How nice would it be to have christmas market huts all over Nelson Mandela Square, right under the Baobab tree??? Maybe not serving Gluehwein, but what about Icewein???
Proudly German #3… Palatinate Wine Selection
Quite recently I was part of a dinner party when the topic turned to wines. As the dinner party was hosted in South Africa the conversation was mainly about South African wines, then a bit about Spanish reds and on to Californian blends. I kept quiet and just listened.. listened to want-to-be sommeliers and just-for-fun wine-lovers. Maybe because I didn’t really partake in the conversation someone just wanted to be polite and involve me, or whatever the reason might have been, I was asked which kind of wine I’d prefer. I would have probably answered something in the line of: “a Merlot, Kleine Zalze, 2006 was a pretty good year”… not really interested in the conversation anyway and happy to have given a sociably acceptable answer. BUT.. Continue reading “Proudly German #3… Palatinate Wine Selection”
Confessions of a Traveler 