Robinson Pass

flickr.com/photos/gravitywave/91431101/

Between Oudshoorn and Mosselbay lies the Robinson Pass.
The higher part of this pass is scenically very beatiful, offering
distant views of rolling mountains and the sea.
The surrounding mountains are covered with fynbos and large tracts
of pine plantations and forest patches.
A very attractive hike has been laid out, the Koumashoek Circuit,
and is well worth doing. It takes approximately 6 hours to complete,
a distance of 14,7 km.
However, before rushing off, check it out with Cape Nature
as special permission has to be granted.

My husband,a keen and experienced hiker commented that it
was one of the best that he had completed.
I waited at the end of the hike for him, soaking in the
peace and quiet that the soul craves.

Photo: Justin Alberts


There is not quite anything like Vensters! (windows)

The first year students of the University of Stellenbosch
showcase their talents(and I use this term loosely)by choosing a theme, choreographing and performing a 10 minute"play/cabaret" complete with home made
costumes, backdrops and music (LOUD music!) throughout the evening.

You congregate in front of the stage along with a myriad of people and watch the performance. Then you move to the next one, and so on and so on!

It is absolutely hilarious and such fun!

At the end of the evening you feel as if you have been revived
and the laughter lingers long after you have left!

Absolutely wonderful!!

oudshoorn, ostriches

photo:RODGER BOSCH
MEDIACLUBSOUTHAFRICA


I have never been one for doing mainstream tourist things,
but I decided to go on a ostrich farm visit. Despite the fact that
it was 39 degrees in the shade!And Oudshoorn is gripped in the worst
drought in history.

Colleen, our guide took us around the pens, explaining all
the interesting bits about ostriches and their quirky little
habits. The fact that they really can't count, that their eyes
weigh 60g and their brains 40g, and that they really are stupid
made them even more endearing to me. They have the most
beautiful eyes and eye lashes to die for.
When the males are looking for female company, their
beaks and fronts of legs turn bright pink/red and they end up
looking even more girlie than the girls!

So after devouring a fast-melting ice cream, I popped
into the curio shop and now I can also say
"been there, done that, bought the featherduster"

Eastern Food Bazaar

Friday night at the Eastern Food Bazaar proved to be more
than a mediocre experience.

Lovers of curry, line up! The lamb breyani,butter chicken and
dosa was so good and definitely worth a return visit.

The food is ridiculously inexpensive but it is the vibe that will
hook you.

Colourful, typically capetonian, noisy, unpretentious. Wonderful!

Do youself a favour..go! It is open daily until 9pm.

Mini-Tsunami-Respect for Nature

Clifton Beach 12/01/10.





A beautiful but windy day in Cape Town. Where does one take visitors fom abroad to swim. Yes, naturally Clifton-Bikini beach.Usually a safe, wind protected beach.

After two wonderful hours in the water and on the rocks my guests suddenly(in seconds)noticed a rather large wave approaching the beach.

With wonderful insight they grabbed their loose belongings, their two toddlers and a baby in a pram - and within moments they were shoulder deep (he stands 6'4)in the sea.
Fortunately, besides being soaked and losing one shoe, they survived although a little shocked. Others were not that lucky.
A lady and her daughter from Durban who were next to them were washed onto the rocks and sustained slight injuries as well as losing ALL their belongings, including towels,clothing,shoes and beach bag containing wallets,car keys,etc.

Take care when swimming even on 'safe beaches'.

PHOTO: Neighbourgoods Market Website


I absolutely love going to the Neighbourgoods Market in Woodstock
on a Saturday morning and I start searching for a willing companion
already by Friday!

The food is so delicious and lovingly prepared, that
the choice of what to eat or take home becomes bizarrely
confusing. It is impossible to find anything that you DON'T eat!

Olives, bread, honey, french pastries, meaty morsels, vegetarian fare, the list goes on and on!

It is truly a good food lover's market and I suggest you get there
early, as people stream in endlessly to eat, drink or just socialise!

In the event that you can find absolutely NOTHING
that interest you, you can get fresh veg, flowers or pet food to go.

Everyone leaves with something!!!

Sport, hiking,kite surfing, cricket

Sports lovers will find Cape Town an awesome venue
as the weather is so diverse that it allows for any
one person to practise a few kinds of sports.

On a hot windless day, you can go and soak up the sun
and swim in the ocean. Windy days are ideal for
kite surfing which seems to have overtaken wind surfing
as the number one sport.

Mountain biking, hiking and running are other options
as there are so many good spots to practise these sports.

Health clubs abound and sports clubs are of the highest standard.

Never a dull moment! Just go out there and find something
outdoorsy to do, you will be pleasantly surprised.

If all else fails, there's bound to be cricket on television!!

Cape Minstrels

Photo: Courtesy South African Tourism

The Cape Minstrel Carnival or Kaapse Klopse as it is also known, is Cape Town’s longest-running street party and lasts for the month of January.

New Year celebrations are always huge in Cape Town, but it’s not until January 2 that the party gets started. The event, known as Tweede Nuwe Jaar (second New Year), is when minstrels, in a cacophony of colour , parasols swinging ,dance through the city centre singing traditional songs and playing banjos.

This event was originally known as the Kaapse Klopse and originated in the 1800s when Malay slaves celebrated the one and only day in the year that they had off work.

We have come a long way since then, but this is a tradition not to be missed!

New Years Eve Celebrations

Photo courtsey The Barnyard www.thebarnyard.co.za

When you are young, there is never a shortage of things to do, places to go, people to see, on New Years Eve,but once you reach the age where clubbing is no longer fun and you have had your absolute fill of braais and salads, the choice becomes limited.

However there are still places us ''geriatrics'' can go to have a good time and not embarrass ourselves (or our kids) and one such place is The Barnyard at Willowbridge in Cape Town's northern suburbs.

A show is put on by a professional group of musicians, you take your own eats, buy your drinks at the venue, put on the proverbial hat and the fun starts!

The 2009 show had a circus theme and budding stars wowed the crowd with their antics, old and new songs were belted out by the musos and at midnight everyone got to their feet, had an auld lang syne moment, one last drink and by 1am everything was over.
A jolly good time was had by all.