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Egyptian geese, a pest?

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Egyptian geese, a pest?
These parents with their four goslings looked awfully cute as they swam around the dam with the rising sun highlighting their brown colouring. They are beautiful to watch, however along with the beauty comes a contrast.

The dams in the Durbanville area (Sonstraal dam and Vygeboom dam) use to be surrounded with green grass and were previously home to families of the ordinary white ducks and geese. Over a period of a few years Egyptian gees started nesting in the area and soon overtook their white neighbours in number and appeared to push them out of the area. I remember watching the birds for some time and observing that the Egyptian gees appeared more hostile whereas the white ducks just looked clumsy and meek.

Today there are hundreds of Egyptian geese in the area and since they typically eat grass, leaves and seeds, it appears as though their sheer number overgrazing has rendered the once-green grassy areas barren and sandy. It's sad really - those two dams specifically use to be such beautiful places.

Allergic to pollen?

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Allergic to pollen?
Cape Town's in the midst of her hayfeaver season and with the last trees slowing down in the release of pollen we're now suffering the effects of the October/November release of grass pollen into the air. Take a look at the up-to-date pollen-count charts provided on PollenSA's website.

If you're planning on visiting Cape Town between now and the end of the year, and if you're one of those effected by pollen - be sure to bring along a small stash of antihistamines. :)

Barbed wire and the Anglo-Boer War

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Barbed wire and the Anglo-Boer War
There had for a long time, in the late 1800s, been conflict between the British Empire and South Africa's Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers, known as the Boers ("boer" being the Afrikaans word for farmer). At that time the Boers held two independent republics, the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State - which are both somewhat inland from the Cape Province (which was held by the British Empire).

In 1899 the second Anglo-Boer War broke out which resulted in the two republics being incorporated into the British Empire.

Due to the title of this post you've probably gathered that there's a relationship between barbed wire and the Anglo-Boer war. Allow me to explain: Barbed wire was developed in 1860 to keep livestock from wandering into neighbouring properties. It's use spread from France to America and was later used for military purposes in the Spanish-American War during the Siege of Santiago.

The British armed forces must have learned from this as only a year after the Seige of Santiago did they use barbed wire to build the infamous concentration camps that kept the Boers wives and children captive.

A penny for your thoughts

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Lizard's profile
I'd never given much thought to the possible thought processes that occupy the brain of a lizard. While staring at this photo for a while I began to wonder if the lizard was contemplating something, having some deep philosophical thought, or just keeping an eye out for predators.

Imagine living a life in which you were constantly either trying to find food or dodging predators.

View from the top

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View from the top - Table Mountain
The inside of the cable car rotates as it ascends from the lower to upper cable station. We were lucky enough to be positioned just right so that I could take this photo from the open window at the rear of the cable car (as we neared the upper cable station) and then take the fourth photo (below) of the upper cable station from the front of the cable car (shortly before docking).

If you know Cape Town, you'd recognise Lion's Head on the left, Signal Hill in the middle, and Robben Island in the ocean above. Besides for the upper cable station, the three remaining photos below are of Devil's Peak, Table Bay, and the Twelve Apostles mountain range.

We're so lucky to have such a large mountain bordering on our City Center - becoming part of normal city life.

South African music

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South African Music
I remember the days when South African music (for the most part) sucked in comparison to what international artists were producing. And then, the apartheid walls came down and people we free to say what they felt; and South African music blossomed.

We grew up following international artists and bands, so for me it's strange to see how South Africans today clamber after and support South African music; not due to blind patriotism and not because the music has a cultural significance, the artists have simply become so good at what they do that today they compare with, and sometimes exceed, their international peers.

If you have some time to watch, and listen, take a look at the page that I put together with a few South African music videos. Safe as Houses by aKing is a special favourite of mine. :)

Royale’s eccentric decor

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Royale's eccentric decor
The main photo is of Royale Eatery's balcony that overlooks Long Street - which is arguably the heart of Cape Town's night life. Isn't the decor beautifully eccentric? It's so much more awesome decorated, don't you think?

Even though the view from up top on the balcony is great - for some reason I still prefer sitting downstairs, and prefer visiting in the afternoon - before it gets very busy. Royale's service has always been good, vibrant and cheery; and while it remains such the restaurant will always be one of my favourites.

In terms of a recommendation - I'd certainly recommend the Sweet Petunia burger; a 150g beef patty covered with grilled mushroom, fresh rocket, and drizzled with homemade mustard mayonnaise. And, to drink, I'd recommend the divine Fresh Banana and Peanut Butter milkshake. It's killer. :)

Salmon burgers?

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Salmon burgers?
Now, it's only on rare occasions that I'd choose a chicken burger over a beef burger - but salmon? Really? Who would do such a thing?!

I noted this sign at, what is in my opinion, the best burger restaurant in Cape Town - Royal Eatery. And, that said, I guess if someone's going to pull off a salmon burger, it's probably going to be Royale. :)

The iron beak of the Red-winged Starling

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Red-winged Starling
Allow me to introduce you to the Red-winged Starling. Perhaps its just my over-active imagination, but doesn't this shadowy creature look perfectly evil? Click on the image to see the larger view - doesn't it's beak and those talons look like they've been forged in the fires of Mordor?

Granted, I'm interpreting the bird's nature based on external appearance (which is just silly, really) but it is true that Red-winged Starlings aren't push-overs - they can be quite fierce, actually. These birds are well-known to attack pets and humans wandering too close to their nests... which are unfortunately often located in the roofs of our homes - uncomfortable close to where we normally do wonder. :)

Unfortunately, Starlings are often considered pests (and are dealt with as such) since Starlings like to nest in roofs and tend to spread lice and other creepy-crawlies. It's sad actually - I kinda like those devilishly-dark-sometimes-fierce birds.

Breakfast at Beleza in Cape Town

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Breakfast in Cape Town
Beleza is, as mentioned in my previous post, currently my favourite breakfast spot in Cape Town.

I especially love the open-air feel when they open the large windows on the deck and how the morning sun streams in on cool Spring mornings. Also, seems as though mostly university students work at the restaurant, so the atmosphere is a young and vibrant one - which is definitely a great way to start the day!

Our volunteers are always on call

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Our volunteers are always on call
I love this billboard poster - it appears above my current favourite breakfast spot in Cape Town, Beleza. It gets the NSRI's message across pretty simply, don't you think?

The institute is entirely supported by members, donors and sponsors, and is run by (about 980) volunteers - unpaid volunteers. Consider supporting the NSRI by becoming a member - it costs only R100 per year!

Wine estate information – a useful summary

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Red red wine
Wine is one the things the Cape Province is know best for. Wine estate crawling (much like pub crawling) is something that anyone with an appreciation for the fruit of the vine really should get around to doing.

The province's wine districts (map) are divided into a few regions: Constantia, Durbanville, Paarl, Wellington, Worcester, Robertson, Stellenbosch, the Swartland, Tulbach and the Breedekloof area. If you'd like to visit the wine estates in these areas take a look at these useful tables with contact details and information for dozens of wine farms across the province.

Lunch in the country – DeHuguenot Estate

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Lunch in the country - DeHugenot Estate
We took a short trip through Stellenbosch and across the Helshoogte mountain pass to the DeHugenote estate where we enjoyed one of the best lunches we've had in ages. Isn't the view from the restaurant the best? I found it difficult to capture the real splendor - but hopefully the photo is good enough to give you a feeling for how beautiful it was.

Even though the food is fine-dining, the main and desert was enough to leave me full and not wanting for anything else. Lunch wasn't cheap, nor was it outrageously expensive. The (particularly-awesome) Chalmar Beef Sirloin cost R120 and Banana Split dessert cost R40.

If you'd like a delectable lunch and good service in the countryside, then DeHugenot Estate is certainly worthy of a visit.

Yellow weaver bird

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Yellow Weaver bird
A month or two ago a similar weaver built a nest on this same branch in our garden. Unfortunately, the nest wasn't secured well enough and it slid off the end of the branch and ended up on the grass below.

I've watched this weaver build its nest over the past few days and, perhaps it's premature to say so, but I think it looks a little more secure than the previous one. That said, I sure hope that the little piece of grass that you can see wrapping over the thorn above the nest isn't the only thing keeping it in place!

School photos

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School photos
I found this photo on the same slipway (at the V&A Waterfront's yacht basin) that I mentioned in a previous post. I do wonder how it ended up here.

I use to hate having official photos taken at school. I'm not sure if it's common practice internationally, but here in South Africa it's the norm to have photos taken each year. Perhaps it was relevant in previous years before high-end digital cameras became such common place - but now, I wonder if it's still as necessary.

Does anyone perhaps know the schoolgirl in the photo? I have her photo. :)

Slippery green stuff

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Slippery green stuff
Some people would know better than others why slipways like this are called slipways. Even though the concrete surface is made with a corrugated finish, there's nothing quite as slippery as wet green moss.

Besides unfortunate people slipping, and landing on their bums, many a vehicle has seen its end by being dragged into the water, unable to gain enough traction to stop from slipping down the incline.

Unlike others, I'm always extremely over-careful when walking on this kind of surface. ;)

Dockyard cranes

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Dockyard cranes
Aren't they just beautiful? Cranes silhouette by the sun and reflected in the water - they create such a tranquil feeling, don't you think?

The blue building to the right of the photo is the well-known Blue Shed craft market at the V&A Waterfront, and the brown structure that you're able to see to the left of the photo is the Two Oceans Aquarium - which certainly should be included on any visitor's V&A Waterfront excursion.

Yachts of the yacht basin

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Yachts of the yacht basin
Even though I'd have to take motion sickness medication, still, I'd love to spend a day or two one of these beauties - as long as the weather was good. :)

For reference, this yacht basin is the one that the Cape Grace and One and Only hotels at the V&A Waterfront back on to.

Coca-Cola’s red-crate robot

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Coca-Cola's red-crate robot
Coca-Cola had this red-crate robot built just over a year ago, around the time that the 2010 World Cup football tournament was held in South Africa.

I think the robot is pretty awesome, but can you imagine how much the company must be paying the V&A Waterfront to advertise their brand with such a huge 3D billboard?

Did you know that the Coca-Cola company is 125 years old and that soft-drink was originally sold as a medicine?! Isn't that just crazy?!

Green ‘n gold Clock Tower of the Rugby World Cup

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Green 'n Gold Clock Tower
The V&A Waterfront's well-known red Clock Tower got a fresh coat of green and gold paint in preparation for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

A fresh coat of paint for a rugby tournament? In case you were wondering, yes, we are a rugby-crazy nation.

I far prefer the red version of the clock tower, but one can't deny that to paint the building in our national sporting colours is a great symbol of support for the national team. That said, I do hope that the tower returns to its traditional red colour after we win the World Cup, again. ;)

Champion Trees

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Oak tree leaves

Our government's department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries published a government notice last month that contains a list of proposed Champion Trees - trees that will be given special protection under country law.

The trees mostly have some kind historic or cultural value, or in other cases are simply so old,  large, or remarkable that they deserve being protected from casual removal, or irresponsible felling.

Read the notice and if you believe that a particular tree that you know of should be protected then do your civic duty and contact the department to let them know. There's a little more than 30 days left to comment on the proposed list!

Seesaws and playparks

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Seesaws and playparks
I found this beautiful little fenced-in park very close to the popular Rafikis restaurant, at the base of Kloof Nek Road (map). Judging by the look of the old tyre, this seesaw must surely have been here for many years.

If you're ever in the area, stop for a moment to check it out - it has the most beautiful, huge trees - and in some way reminds me of Paris. It's not quite the Tuileries or Jardin du Luxembourg, but still, it's a very pretty part of the city.

Cafe Caprice for lunch

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Cafe Caprice
Without intention Cafe Caprice has become one of the restaurants that I frequent most when in Camps Bay. I was alone on this particular visit and grabbed a table in the outside section where I was able to watch passers-by as I enjoyed my lunch.

I've been to Caprice several times for breakfast (the French toast is great) and for lunch a few times. Even though their burgers are acceptable, I'd recommend trying something else on the lunch menu, and I'd definitely recommend the breakfast menu. Besides for these, Caprice is the perfect place to enjoy drinks with friends on warm summer days.

Beach chairs and ice-cream sticks

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Beach chairs and ice-cream sticks
We've had a few warm days lately - but the full-swing of summer hasn't arrived and it sure can't come quickly enough for me. Cold is certainly no friend of mine!

Have you ever hired beach chairs? I never have - but I think I'll be doing so this summer! I can just imagine lying under an umbrella, on a beach chair, holding a well-laden ice-cream stick and sipping on a cold cooldrink.

Malawian art at Camps Bay

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Malawian art
I tend to be taken for a tourist when walking around Camps Bay beach (with my bulky camera) and immediately attract the attention of a gentle stream of informal traders selling their arts and crafts.

Jake, the Malawian artist in the photo, commented in me taking photos and then quickly proceeded with his sales routine. I wasn't in the market for paintings - but since I wasn't in a particular rush to get anywhere I didn't mind listening to his story.

Jake and his brother are from Malawi and came to Cape Town (like many other foreign nationals) to seek a better life. I don't know if he's found the better life, but he spends his days near the sea selling paintings and at night goes home to work on more stock - which doesn't sound too bad, right?

Unfortunately, often these guys can't afford good accommodation, so they often don't live in the very nice conditions. Given this, and given the wealth of Camps Bay that they face each day, I find it extremely admirable to see how jovial they seem; on the outside at least.

For reference, before negotiating Jake will offer you a painting at R180 (which isn't a bad price for art, actually). If you don't have the money on you, he's fully prepared to negotiate the price - but don't be too stingy now. Ok? ;)