We have family visiting from Australia and one of the first things that they commented on is how cheap our beer is in comparison to beer that they purchase back home.
Our average local bottle store sells a fairly good variety of beer that costs about R130 for a case of 24. That obviously excludes expensive beers imported from Belgium or Germany - those easily cost R350 for a case of 24!
I guess it's clear that one can't simply convert AUD, GBP, or EUR to ZAR to compare - but it would be interesting to know how much locally brewed beer costs in various countries. Leave a comment on this post, and let's see if we're as lucky as our Australian family thinks we are. :)
To easily convert your currency to ZAR, try using Google.
For example, do a search for "20 GBP in ZAR".
Den Anker is a popular upmarket restaurant at the V&A Waterfront that sells a large variety of dishes including super-fresh seafood.
One of the restaurant's most popular traditions is that patrons are required to hand over a shoe as deposit when purchasing one of these beers. This 8.4% Belgian Kwak beer is served in it's traditional round-bottom glass that by accounts is pretty darn expensive to replace, hence the clever shoe-deposit!
Don't you just hate roadworks? Don't you especially hate roadworks that result in you being parked in the hot sun for 10 minutes while oncoming traffic uses the only available lane?
The good thing about the stop/go system is that it forces us to pause in the midst of our rush to get somewhere. The bad thing about it is that 10 minutes can make all the difference when you're late for an important meeting. (Which we fortunately were not.)
In my previous post I spoke about the fact that we were a little disappointed by Santé Spa... not the spa part, but the restaurant and apparent barrenness.
I took this photo through of the spa's indoor swimmingpool - isn't it lovely? Can you imagine spending a few hours in this room, away from the often-persistent-and-annoying Cape wind? Even though the restaurant and the grounds outside left me generally uninspired, there may be merit in visiting the spa to spend a day at the spa... to get away from the busyness and clutter of our lives.
We visited Santé Spa in the Franschhoek Valley for their Sunday buffet lunch. Unfortunately, we should have known not to visit a health spa for a Sunday buffet! The food wasn't very exciting - in fact, it was pretty extremely bland-tasting, the type that health-nuts would go crazy over. Minimal salt, little flavour, and no yummies. :)
Do you may recall J Arthur Brown and the Fidentia asset management scandal of a few years ago? As far as I know, Santé Spa was (or is) owned by by Mr. Brown's wife and I can only assume that Santé was somehow negatively effected by scandal. The hotel and spa seemed extremely quiet - almost dead. In fact, I swear that I saw a tumbleweed pass us in the courtyard!
The only thing that we really enjoyed about our visit was the drive and the beautiful views of the spectacular Simonsberg Mountain Range. Hopefully with some tender loving care they'll step up their game and become one of the great resorts of the Franschhoek Valley, but as for now, I can't say that we were overly excited.
A while back we signed up to attend the MP3 Experiment event in Camps Bay. The idea was that everyone attending the event was to download an MP3 audio file that they weren't allowed to listen to before the event. At precisely 15h00 everyone gathered at the specific spot in Camps Bay was to start playing the MP3 - obeying every instruction given by the "omnipotent Steve".
For over an hour we stretched, waved, walked about, played tag, made a human dart board, and engaged in "The Epic Battle"... all under instruction of the voice in our MP3 players.
A friend from the UK recently visited South Africa for the first time, and since it was the first time he'd been to an African country, and since he was here on business he decided to make use of transfers and taxis.
After reviewing the cost of transfers to the airport to various suburbs I realised that I must certainly be in the wrong profession - taxi operators must be making a killing!
What I found strange was that it costs more than double the price to get from the airport to where I live in Durbanville than it costs to get into the City... even though the distance is largely comparable. What's also interesting is that it costs the same amount of money to travel from the airport to Durbanville than what it costs to travel another 20 or 30 kilometers to Melkbos (the small seaside town a little way beyond Blouberg).
If you plan on visiting Cape Town, rather hire a small car with a GPS - you'll more than certainly save a lot of money (unless of course you intend never leaving your hotel). :)
Cape Town is one of the three major centers in South Africa. However, even though this is the case it's always been known to be a little more chilled than our northern and north-eastern counterparts. We're often referred to as "slaap stad" (sleep city), and we've been known to knock off at work a little early to cycle around the mountain, visit the beach or walk in the forests.
Lately however it seems that with the migration of hard-working Johannesburg residents to Cape Town that the city has started working longer and harder, and that we've started missing out on what our natural surroundings have to offer. With all the stress and strain our harder working regimen has brought we've started ignoring the natural rejuvenation that nature offers - and it's taking a toll on our minds and bodies.
This I'm guessing is the reason why over the past few years we've seen a huge increase in the number of day spas all over the city and suburbs... if only we had the time to make more use of them... if only we had the time to make use of our mountain, forests, and oceans!
I, and many others, love the Cape Town stadium. It's beautiful design, the sparking white colour, and how it's shape reflects the waves of the ocean make it a beautiful spot on our landscape. The only negative thing about the stadium is that whenever I take photos in this area it always seems to dominate the view in some or other way - which invariably gets me talking about it again and again and again. It's almost like Table Mountain - it practically insists on being in photos.
Have you recently visited Cape Town? Did the stadium manage to make it into your array of photos?
Cape Town has a small subculture of people who love the punk and goth style of dress - and Emily the Strange provides of these folk with some of their awesome gear.
While many people find folk who wear punk- or goth-style clothes strange and even weird, for some reason I find that I more often really them. Most often I find their eccentric demeanor (which in my experience completely contradicts who they really are) strangely attractive.
Perhaps it's exactly that contrast and their different experience of life that I enjoy. Now isn't that strange?
Well, I guess I'm bias when I say that a large number of the world's prettiest woman come from Cape Town. Firstly, I live in Cape Town, and secondly, the girl in the photo is Kerry-Anne.
Since I'm not particularly widely-traveled, and since people's taste differs on beauty, it's difficult for me to justify saying that Cape Town's most-beautiful-woman quota is on the high side when compared to the rest of the world. But, from what I've experienced in the USA and Australia, I have to say that we're right up there on the top of the pile. :)
Intelligence, personality and attitude are all huge contributing factors to actual beauty - so taking all into account, how would you rate Cape Town, and if you disagree with me, what country would you say is the birth place of the world's most beautiful woman?
I some times wonder if people who live in our southern suburbs, close to Table Mountain, realise how privileged they are to the mountain's forrests right on their doorstep. We live about 25km away from Table Mountain, and it's beautiful wooded areas.
For those living close to the mountain, it's the easiest thing to head out onto one of the plentiful footpaths before work. Being so close to nature first-thing in the morning must be one of the best ways to start one's day.
If you're planning on visiting Cape Town some day, an insider tip is that you should be sure to book accommodation close to Table Mountain. We have plenty of other great places further away, but I'd recommend staying somewhere close to the mountain on your first visit - it's an awesome place to stay.
Do you live in an area like this? Is it easy for you to take a morning walk in a forrest with huge trees with little streams?
We, along with thousands of other fans had the opportunity to see the legendary U2 on their 360° tour in Cape Town at the Cape Town Stadium. The venue was superb (except for the difficult acoustics), the stage and famous Claw (the huge array of lights, speakers, and video displays that resemble the shape of a claw) was spectacular and the performance... perfectly brilliant. The entire event was unforgettable and will certainly be a hard one to beat!
The only negative aspect of the concert was that they had to crank up the volume extremely loud because of the poor stadium acoustics - so much so that I heard ringing in my ears for ages after the concert! (No helpful suggestions now, next time I'll be sure to remember those darn earplugs! :D )
I unfortunately couldn't take my normal camera along to the stadium, so this is the only snap that I have - but take a moment and see this awesome photo (citation) of the stadium, taken during the concert from Signal Hill. Doesn't it just remind you of City of Blinding Lights? :)
Did you manage to see the 360° tour in your city? How long ago was it, and was it also awesome? :)
After living in a particular area for a long time you tend to think that you've seen all of it's nooks and crannies. We often drive past areas and take in only the macro-perspective - the big picture. We seldom take the time to take a look under that bridge we drive over each day, take a walk in that forest that we pass by on our way to work, or venture into our local light industrial area to see what interesting businesses and factories trade on our doorstep.
So, take some time to explore areas of your neighbourhood that you've not yet explored. I took this photo at a seldom-seen spot along our N1 highway, about 25 kilometers outside of Cape Town.
If you're in the dark about how to take pretty photos, consider taking the online GetSmarter digital photography course. It'll teach you all the basics about taking great photos, and you never know, maybe you'll end up being a pro photographer some day! :)
In case you're not sure what Poohsticks is, allow me to explain: The game was devised by Winnie-the-Pooh after he mistakenly dropped a pine cone from a bridge into a stream below. Poohsticks requires at least two players, and the essence of the game is that each player drops a stick into the river and the one who's stick appears on the other side of the bridge first wins the round. Simple, right?
Doesn't this bridge (map) at Spier wine estate (near Stellenbosch) look like a great place play a few rounds?
Most people able to identify this variety of grass know it as Bunny Tails, or Hare's-Tail Grass. It's real name is Lagurus Ovatus and besides just being pretty in it's natural form, people often dry the long stems with the fluffy ends, using these as ornaments.
Even though they may make serve as great ornaments, don't you think they look better in the wild?
In September last year I posted a photo of this Turkish bulk carrier that had ran aground off Blouberg beach. The ship ran aground in June last year and by today's photo I guess you can see that she's still there!
I'm sure you can see that progress has been made in taking her apart, but still there's an awful amount of metal that's yet to be removed. Isn't it weird how easy it's for a ship to sail across the water and how difficult it is to remove it once run aground? I'm sure if it were possible that the ship would have been towed to Table Bay harbour for dismantling. :-/
Doesn't the couple approaching the boat in the photo give you some perspective of how large the vessel is?
If I'm not mistaken, this boat is very similar to the Gubert Tide, a vessel that I was once asked to take photos of while passing by Table Bay. Perhaps it's obvious from the design of it's stern, but this type of boat is often used to carry supplies between harbours and oil rigs. I guess in some way they're the bakkies (pronounced buck-keys) of the ocean. :)
As you may remember, the Wheel of Excellence was suppose to leave the V&A Waterfront at the end of 2010. Because of it's popularity it's stay was extended by two months - with it's last day being 28 February this year. So, if time has slipped you by and you've been putting off taking the trip, make sure that you make a plan to visit the Waterfront, and the wheel, before the the end of the month.
The wheel operates from 10h00 to 23h00 from Sunday to Thursday, and to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Visit capewheel.co.za for information and ticket prices.
This isn't a sight that many people get to see - most of us are asleep at 05h30 and regularly miss the best time of day!
As the title suggests, this is a view of the city's coastal suburb of Sea Point. The photo was taken pretty much 180 degrees from this one, which was taken from Green Point in the direction of Sea Point.
A friend of ours bought one of these babies a few months ago - and oh my, it's an amazing beast of a car. He took us for a quick drive and, to be honest, the car had more of a superbike feel than the feel of a car. The roar of the engine, the sequential gear box, the acceleration and how close you feel to the the road is quite unlike anything else I've ever driven in.
The problem of course is the matter of speeding fines - and the other (and more serious) issue of the soon-to-be-introduced Demerit Points System. Under this system, whenever a traffic offence is committed a point will be awarded to the offender. Unfortunately, it's not the kind of point you're going to do the dance of joy over. An offender's license is suspended for three months once they exceed 12 points. That's serious stuff, considering our less-than-ideal public transport system.
Every three months a point is subtracted from one's balance - reinstating the license when the number of points reach 12. The thing is, if a license is suspended three times it's automatically cancelled. Now that's serious stuff!
I'll put it out there - I just don't trust seagulls. Have you noticed how they sit, "innocently" viewing the landscape. I tell you, they're up to no good. Just take a look at this photo!
On the more serious side, did you know that seagulls can live for 20 or more years? The same seagull has most probably been attacking your seaside picnics for 20 years! No wonder there are so many of them around!
This must be the most beautiful ceiling fan that I've ever seen. The large blades remind me of a historical scene in which Cleopatra is relaxing in a boat on the Nile with servants fanning her with large leaves.
Truth be told, since the large room in which I found these is fully air-conditioned, from what I could tell these fans are more decorative than functional (although they work perfectly). Still, it's far nicer to imagine that the cool air filling the room is the result of such a pretty fan rather than a fridge in the ceiling, isn't it? :)
While having breakfast at the Table Bay Hotel and enjoying our quiet spot outside, we noticed a burst of excitement on the pier. Gazing out towards Fish Quay, we spotted a small school of dolphins playing what seemed like a game of tag.
Contrary to how it may appear, we don't actually spend that much time at the Waterfront, and while I'm not sure how common this sight is, it's certainly the first time either Kerry-Anne or I have seen dolphins in the harbour.
The small school frolicked in the water for about 10 minutes and eventually headed off to the open sea. I'm sure it was a very memorable experience for the tourists visiting the Waterfront at the time - especially one little Asian boy who kept jumping up and down like a jack-in-the-box, pointing in the dolphins' direction. :)
I debated with myself about whether or not to post this photo - it's not the most appealing side of Table Bay harbour, and I do have other prettier photos of the beautiful Queen Mary 2, that you may prefer to see.
Unfortunately, due to the size of the Queen Mary 2, this is one of the few places that she's able to dock. The pier at the Table Bay hotel is in a far nicer area, but the world's largest ocean liner is simply too big and is thus forced to dock at this unsightly commercial pier.
Rumour has it that Cape Town's preparing to extend the harbour and build a proper terminal specifically for passenger ships. I'm not sure where they're going to build this alleged terminal, but I'd imagine that it would be closer to the V&A Waterfront than this pier which is way over in the unsightly commercial section.
Click here to see my small album of Queen Mary 2 photos.
As I mentioned in my previous post, we visited the Table Bay Hotel for a late breakfast so that we'd be in the area while the Queen Mary 2 was preparing to leave Table Bay harbour.
I'll show you another photo or three in my next post, but for now, perhaps you'll find it interesting to know that even though Cunard's Queen Mary 2 isn't the largest passenger vessel, she is the world's largest ocean liner. The largest passenger vessel is a cruise liner named GT Oasis of the Seas built in 2009.
Now you may be wondering what the difference between an ocean liner and a cruise liner is. It's simple - the Queen Mary 2 is an ocean liner because it's primary purpose is passenger (or cargo) transportation, whereas a cruise liner (like the GT Oasis of the Seas) is intended to be an entertainment ship - a holiday at sea.
Through an arrangement of circumstance Kerry-Anne and I were invited to visit Sun International's Table Bay Hotel (the one next to the V&A Waterfront mall), to enjoy their buffet breakfast before setting out to the other side of Table Bay Harbour to take a few photos of Cunard's awesomely HUGE and beautiful Queen Mary 2. (I'll post a few photos of her docked in the harbour soon.)
I had previously visited the The Atlantic restaurant at the Table Bay Hotel for a phenomenal lunch, so I was more than looking forward to what I anticipated would be an absolute feast. It would take me hours and many words to describe all the yummy dishes that we tasted, so I'm afraid that you'll just have to visit for yourself! :)
Just to give you an overview, let me list a selection of the 230 dishes that comprised the buffet, starting with a plethora of fruit dishes, regular cereals, yummy muesli, yoghurt and nuts; cold meats, salmon, tuna, olives and other savoury treats; cheese, bread, and pastries (including the most delectable custard-filled pastries you could ever imagine); dainty pieces of sushi and nigiri, with a bowl of fresh oysters; scrambled egg, and the most awesome poached eggs and ham; crispy and not-crispy bacon; chicken, beef and pork sausages; mushrooms, French toast and other warm dishes; a small selection of Indian curry dishes; and finally, the daily carvery (usually gammon or crispy duck). What a mouthful! ;)
Would you call this a flock of birds or a small family of siblings? I haven't quite decided, but they do kinda look like a quintet of sisters. The five of them appeared to potter about the lawn in a small cluster, attacking worms 'n bugs with great enthusiasm. A second before I took this photo a loud sound startled what I presume to be the oldest sister, causing her to take flight towards shelter, with her four sisters immediately following suit.
My untrained bird-watching eye identifies these birds as being of the Cape Sparrow variety, often referred to by the Afrikaans name, Mossie (which sounds something like "maw-see"). Assuming my bird-watching eye hasn't let me down, then these are five females, as the males, you'll find, have black feathers covering most of their head.
I first started to appreciate public art while walking the streets of Paris on vacation in 2006. It seemed that everywhere we looked there was at least one piece of art on display with the gardens and parks seeming to be gathering places for statues and sculptures of all kind. I realised then that in some way art (and perhaps sculpture in particular) conjures up the humanity in those who see it. In some way it draws us from our day-to-day race and reminds us that we're human; not robots made to mechanically step through life.
Although Cape Town has it's fair share of statues, they're mostly political in nature and weren't placed in the public domain for reasons of artistic appreciation (I don't think). However, there appears to have been a gradual move towards public art displays - with the most notable one being the scuptures of girls and butterflies along the Sea Point promenade.
The Infecting the City public art festival is set to take place from 21 February until 26 February in Cape Town. (Here's a schedule). While the main hub will be located on the square outside the Cape Town Station the displays and performances will be spread all over the CBD area. If you're not normally in the city, make a plan to visit - there's going to be plenty to see and admire!
Having entertainers like the long-legged air-walker above, the fire-eating hula-hoop-swinging seductress from Vaudeville, and the strange long-legged poodle-people at events must help people to relax and loosen up. Entertainers like these probably help to transport folk away from the normality of day-to-day living, perhaps allowing adults to be less adult, and adopt a more child-like minds. Well, this is the effect that it has on me, so I can only assume that it would have a similar effect on many others.
Please, if you know where to contact the entertainers in the photos, leave a comment below so that we can make their contact details available and thereby have the pleasure of seeing them at more events. Oh, and I promise, I'm not just trying to get the fire-eating hula-hoop-swinging seductress from Vaudeville's number. ;)
