The heading of this blog is one of my favourite inspirational quotes from the movie Vanilla Sky; an adage can be used for almost anything you wish to accomplish in your life. Earlier this year I made a very professional-looking spreadsheet detailing what I wished to accomplish this year. We are nearly halfway through the year, so let’s have a look to see how far I have come, shall we?

1. Set up an annuity fund. I am glad to say that I have actually looked into this and have decided that it will have to be postponed until I received my promised raise. Contrary to popular belief the economic recession actually does influence poor, struggling wordsmiths as well.

2. Start saving for December Europe Trip (R1000/month). This lovely idea, I am sad to say, have also been put on the ice – indefinitely. Currently I am battling to maintain a healthy diet towards the end of the month and there is really no use in turning Maslow’s hierarchy of needs topsy-turvy.

3. Start and maintain the garden. I scavenged some mint from my mother’s garden and replanted it in ours. Does this count?

4. Join a pottery class. See previous entry about the economic recession, Maslow et al.

5. Join a book club. I joined the library. Does this count?

6. Start and maintain a journal. I’ve come to realise that no matter HOW much you love writing, if you do it for a living you really don’t want to go home and start doing it all over again.

7. Get rid of all the clothes I’ll never wear again and buy two good items of clothing per month. See the bit about the economic recession once more.

8. Quit smoking. (*** insert very deep blush***) Jikes, haven’t quite gotten round to this bit yet. I know, I know – it stinks, it’s expensive, it’s bad for my health, it ill befits a lady. Try telling me this when I have a glass of chardonnay in my hand.

9. Start painting/drawing. Oh yay! One thing I did actually do something about. My friend Rouve and I started hosting weekly art evenings. For ourselves, but still. We go to the library on Mondays, get books on interesting artists/art movements/art techniques we like and then proceed to discuss them on Wednesday evenings. After this we spread out large pieces of paper of her dining room table and surround ourselves with a slew of art paraphernalia (glue, water colour, pastels, pencils, gouache, etc.). The plan is actually to start painting at some point, but at this stage we are having so much fun just messing about that I can’t really guarantee when that will be.

10. Reach my target weight. Well, if my target weight was 4 kg’s heavier than I was when I made this list, I guess you could say yes, I did reach my goal. Of course it wasn’t (quite the contrary), which is why I’ll be off to Zone Fitness Women’s Only gym this afternoon to see what I can do about the alarming wobbly bits that are taking up residence all over my (very incensed) body.

So, let’s see – that’s five-ish goals either met or in progress. Not as bad as I feared! Now, if only I could find a way to keep my Cape Town accommodation looking like a girl’s room (read: neat, tidy, devoid of dust bunnies), I could actually start believing myself when I tell my parents that I’m all grown up.

Surfers paradise

We went surfing the other day, in the notorious area of Muizenberg. It’s generally not the Great Whites that you have to watch out for there, it’s the Great Wides, the boards and the tourists who assume that they own the beach.

My other, much braver, half had decided he wanted to learn to surf – properly, like. None of this riding on a small body board on your stomach. No, he wanted to ‘Stand Up’ like the pros. So, he did his homework and looked up the surfing schools that crowd the seafront like flies. After a shocking amount of hesitation, he eventually picked a great, local boy by the name of Ant and paid a nominal fee for a private lesson. I must explain to you, my fiancé, soon to be husband, is a true water baby. He dreams about the waves crashing down on him and doesn’t wake up in a cold sweat like the rest of us would do. He loves the chilly oceans we get here in Cape Town and claims that the sharks won’t eat him as ‘they don’t like foreign food’ (he’s from Wales).

Right.

So anyway, there I am, sunning myself in the unusually warm autumn sun, watching him practice the manoeuvres out there on the white beach. I feel ever so proud of him; the board is nearly twice the length he is, let alone the fact that he’s about to get into waves that are, admittedly, more than a bit big. The winter swells have come in from Antarctica and not only do these swells make the water frikking freezing, the swell is strong enough to really get you into trouble if you can’t swim very well. Luckily, the lifeguards on Muizenberg beach aren’t just for show, they really do their job.

So, the other half gets into the water with his new spangly wetsuit and ‘rashie’, while his fiancée gets burnt in the African sun. All is going well when suddenly the end of the world happens. An earth-shattering siren goes off and whistles explode into my head. I sit bolt up right, sand and sun lotion detonating around me. I confusedly look around as the tourists, surfers, children, dogs, various sea life and old grannies hop and skip out of the water to the tune of the air raid siren. I search amongst the debris for my fiancé and his surf school instructor and eventually spot them lumbering up the sandy beach with long board in hand.

What was going on? Well, if you don’t know by now, this southern tip of Africa is crawling with Great White sharks. We’re famous for it. However, the seas around this area do not use the highly dangerous and eco-unfriendly shark nets as many other surfers’ paradises use. Instead, Muizenberg was one of the first beaches in the world to start using ‘shark spotters’, guys (usually Bergies, or homeless people) that are employed to sit up on the surrounding mountains to keep a lookout for the signs of sharks (believe it or not the cartoon-like fin is not the only dead give away). When they see a shark – more common in the whale birthing season – they radio down to the beach where an impressively loud air-raid siren goes off, hence the hopping and jumping out of the water post haste.

My fiancé eventually got back in the water about an hour later when the all-clear was given, but he’s never uttered the ‘foreign food’ anecdote again, funnily enough…

If you are considering getting in the water in the seas surrounding the Cape Peninsula, please bear in mind that sharks, seals, dolphins, Orca whales and Southern Right whales frequent these oceans in all seasons. Please do your homework and remember that more people are killed every year by toasters and falling off their chairs than by shark attacks. If you respect the ocean, it will respect you. If you are on a Cape Town tour, why not take the time out to watch the sharks and whales from a vantage point near Muizenberg?

There is a certain inconsistency in my personality that allows me to spend R400 on a dinner without breaking a sweat, while at the same time balking at the idea of spending the same amount on a pair of boots or a handbag. In all fairness it should be the other way around – after all, in terms of the latter you can at least SEE and USE what you’ve purchased.

Food is an instantaneous and fleeting type of gratification and dining, when taken out of its immediate context, is an indulgent exercise very far removed from its original intention, namely sustenance. Knowing all of this, you would assume that I would be able to restrain myself. After all, we are in the midst of a much publicised economic recession, are we not? We should be scrimping and saving, buying in bulk, pickling, preserving and living by our wits. And yet, none of this is quite sufficient to keep me in line.

So off we went, Rouve and I, last Thursday evening to Fork Restaurant in Long Street. I would advise that anyone who ventures to that part of town after dark go in pairs. The inner-city has a whole bunch of nooks and crannies that are as threatening in darkness as they are quaint in daylight and you can never be too cautious. That aside, the restaurant is lovely. Situated in a narrow, upright building with a Victorian façade, the smoking section is located on the ground floor with a rickety staircase that leads to non-smoking area on the first floor.

The restaurant is unique in the sense that it ONLY serves tapas. If you are a ‘one solid plate of food’ type of diner, rather give it a skip and save both the waiter and yourself a whole lot of hassle. Everything on the menu, from prime rib to ostrich Carpaccio and malva pudding comes in the shape of four bite-sized pieces. This means that, ideally, your dining party should consist of either two or four people, to avoid first fights over the last unclaimed morsel. Almost all of the wines on the wine list are available per glass, since you may want to switch between cultivars as you enjoy different ‘courses’.

I don’t want to go into too much detail where the food is concerned, since I will only end up sounding like a gushing gastronome. Seriously, everything was simply divine, darling (***insert overt inflection and flapping hand gestures***). The interior is comfortable and expertly styled, nothing is overt and every element works together with the next to create a warm, yet unfettered ambience. If you book beforehand I would recommend that you reserve one of the upstairs booths – there is something decidedly romantic and intellectual about dining in an oak-lined nook.

The evening will end up being expensive, take my word for it. No matter how good your intentions, you will give your wallet (and conscience) a serious knock. Just to illustrate – to keep ourselves from over-indulging Rouve and I both had supper at home before going to Fork. We were merely going to see what all the fuss was about and maybe to have ONE plate of tapas and a glass of wine each. Wishful thinking. Our bill came to over R500 and we basically waddled home, which is testament to both the diversity of the menu and the quiet instigation of our knowledgeable waitress.

So, if you have a special occasion coming up or some cash to spare, make your way down to Fork for a gastronomical experience bar none. It really is worth it. No Cape Town tour would be complete without exploring the Mother City’s temptations, after all.

Beaches are cheap

It’s been said that when you want a list of things to do in Cape Town you’re faced with things like “go for a shark dive in a cage” or “shop at a really elitist mall” or “check out the wine farms”. Let’s face it, as far as cities go, this one kind of chows your money. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Why not take a stroll along the beach front at one of many Atlantic Seaboard or False Bay beaches?
Blouberg promenade, Camps Bay boulevard or Muizenberg beach are all great attractions. The shells at Eerste Steen beach in Blouberg is great free entertainment for you and the kids. What about taking a walk up Table Mountain instead of catching the cable car? Sure, it’s a bit more strenuous (and, please, keep to the signposted path!), but the views are equally magnificent. People watch at the V&A Waterfront, check out the seals near the Two Oceans Aquarium, drive up to Old Boyes Drive and see if you can spot a few whales!

Not everything in Cape Town is massively expensive. Sure, I can tell you a load of places that will charge you just for breathing the same air as them, but as a local who thinks ol’ CT is lekker, you don’t need to be a multi-millionaire to find things to do in Cape Town.

400 days left.

Everyone is talking about it… almost everyone is coming to see it. The 2010 Soccer World Cup hosted by South Africa is causing a serious headache for the Cape Town accommodation industry. How on earth are we going to house all of these foreign (and some local) people, and how are we going to do it in an ecologically friendly manner? That’s the question on the lips of most businesses around the city, but not to worry! Many hotels are being refitted with ‘green’ technology, and more are being built to eco-friendly specifications as we speak!

The first five-star ‘green’ hotel in South Africa, the Blaauwberg Beach Hotel, is located right on the beach in Blouberg, with fantastic views over the bay and the city in the distance. For any environmentally-conscious traveller, this Cape Town accommodation is perfect for a guilt-free stay. The lavish 14-story hotel has 187 rooms and is environmentally conscious. Materials used in the construction of the hotel are eco-friendly such as eco sensitive electrical generators with solar panel appliances. The windows are made from recycled glass and, being tinted, reduce heat and glare to cut down on air-conditioning needs.

Solar heaters, low flow taps and shower heads combine to make water wastage a thing of the past, while energy efficient light fittings aid the hotel’s reducing carbon footprint. The basic heating system is derived from solar power, with a backup generator.

The décor in the luxury rooms are made from recycled material, but still have a unique sense of class. Additionally, all soaps and detergents used when cleaning the rooms are biodegradable, maintaining the eco-friendly brief that this hotel was built for. The carpeting and linen at the hotel is made from 100% natural fibres and the restaurant serves pure organic food.

It is true that for too long the environment has taken a backseat in favour of capital and construction, but hopefully with more and more hotels being built to the eco-friendly brief as in the Blaauwberg Beach Hotel, Cape Town accommodation has only one colour in mind – green.

One of the many hotels in Cape Town

Yes, hotels in Cape Town trump or can compete with any of the world’s best hotels. Western Cape has so many options in terms of luxurious hotels and safari lodges, but here in Cape Town we can beat any hotel on earth. What on earth makes me say this? Haven’t I heard of the Ritz in New York City or the Langham in London? But did you know that most of the world’s best hotels are actually to be found right here in Cape Town and the rest of the province? When last could you see wild buffalo roaming outside the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo? I bet you that you can’t get the same sense of friendliness in the Trump Towers hotels that you can get in a Cape Town hotel!

If luxury with a sense of hospitality is what you are after, you need to come to Cape Town. There is no other place in the world that can offer you renowned African hospitality like we can in our hotels. Western Cape hotels are not only stunning, but there is an option for every price bracket. From Lizwe’s Guest House in Guguletu (where you find the best township atmosphere and cooking that money can buy), to the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa just off Chapman’s Peak (this is really the height of discerning quality), Cape Town hotels can’t be beaten.

If a view of the sea is your thing, why not try the Table Bay hotel, which overlooks the harbour and has ample space for swinging cats, swinging your newly-wedded partner or just swinging yourself around in the fantastically decorated rooms.

So when considering a holiday, don’t pick a fancy but dull hotel in another bland city, come to a Cape Town hotel. Western Cape hotels can’t be beaten!

Cape Town is a vibrant city, which is full of colour, history and of course its diverse population. The best way to see the city bowl and some of the suburbs is the hop-on hop-off bus that goes all the way to Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens and takes you to the Cable-Car station for the Table Mountain Cable way. It’s a very cheap way to get out and about, and the bus makes regular stops all over the city.

Additionally you can catch any number of taxis to take you where you want to go. The private taxis can charge basically whatever they want, but most of them offer competitive rates. A word of warning on the minibus taxis, however. Although the taxis here in Cape Town are better than in the rest of the country (a variety of people catch them here, and are relatively safe on board), they do drive like absolute idiots. Idiots that are blind and deaf with only one hand and a foot that can only slam on either peddle (slam on gas, slam on brake, and no in-between). Additionally, although they are cheap, they are also very intimidating. It’s recommended that young women alone do not catch them and to avoid them at night. Although it’s a great way to tour Cape Town, it does have its risks. The taxi industry is constantly at loggerheads with pretty much every authority going, and these protests usually turn violent. It’s the unwary traveller that gets caught up in one of the riots.

Cape Town tours are the recommended way to see our city, but do your research before booking a trip on public or private transport.

Sightseeing.

Cape Town’s tourist industry has always been a vibrant economy-booster. With Cape Town tours and sightseeing trips making up a big part of the tourist’s to-do list, the industry must protect the image of Cape Town as a fun, vibrant and safe place to visit. However, we all know that the economy is said to be slowing down across the world, but is it true for Cape Town? Will this city join the hundreds of others worldwide that have suffered the beck-and-call of the share-marked slow down?

Thanks to the FIFA World Cup in 2010, Cape Town’s tourist industry has never looked brighter! We have a brand new international airport (no more hectic traffic for a start) and our roads are being upgraded so much that all locals see nowadays are big concrete pillars and trucks carrying the world of dirt and rubble. Great for those Cape Town tours and tour buses!

Cape Town remains an authentic value for money destination, despite the economic downturn, and British Airways predicts that Cape Town will be its top long haul destination for 2009. The popularity of South Africa’s Mother City is due to a number of factors. For start, the weakness of our Rand to many other currencies makes it the perfect destination for foreign travellers looking for a cheap yet luxurious holiday. Secondly, the increased publicity of the city (such as the 2010 world cup, the British Lions tour, our win at the rugby world cup) shows off our strong points and our beautiful views. When last did you see an advert that doesn’t show the view from Blouberg or Table Mountain? Or a view from a helicopter over the city bowl?

However, just because the tourism industry is blooming in the Mother City, we can’t afford to rest on our laurels. So why not book a ride on one of the many Cape Town tours today and come see the fantastic sights of South Africa’s most charming city?

Wow, animals.

So, you want to see lions kill a zebra and pretend you’re the king hunter by getting a close-up photo. But which Safari tours enable you to see the animals, guaranteed, and not just some lame buck and a few rocks that look like rhinos, but aren’t?

Well, wrong attitude, for a start. Wrong actions as well.

South Africa is a wildlife kingdom, but the animals are protected in a manner which still allows them to roam free as close to as possible to their natural habitat while still allowing the tourists the chance to be awed by their magnificence. The main point here is that the wild animals do not perform as you wish just because you happen to have a car or a bakkie. They are wild, and will do so as they please. Sometimes you get lucky, but most of the time just being in the presence of such abundant wildlife can be awe-inspiring. If you are only interested in the ‘big five’ you’re destined to miss out on the more obscure and hidden pleasures of the Safari tours. Rather go to a zoo if all you want is to tick off the biggest animals in the guidebook.

Just because you happen to be surrounded by metal, doesn’t mean that this gives you the power to shout, throw things, or worse, get out of your car to touch the animals. A bad attitude and no respect for the situation will get you as much grief from the locals as getting out of your car will get from the animals.

Safari tours usually have restrictions on what you can and can’t do while inside the vehicle, but if you happen to be self-driving, please be vigilant and note down any wrong-doings by unlicensed or ill-behaved Safari tours or the tourists. Protection of the wildlife takes cooperation.

A line.

Safari tours in Cape Town weren’t running on Wednesday the 22nd of April. In fact, the drivers, game rangers, owners and hoteliers weren’t at work. Collectively, the whole of Cape Town came to a standstill. Where on earth was everyone?

They were queuing. They queued in the freezing morning, and watched as the dominating Table Mountain was bathed in a warm glow of orange as the sun came up. Over 23 million South Africans voted across the country on Wednesday, with over two million of them in Cape Town. Any holiday maker having a tour of Cape Town would have spotted long, snaking lines coming out of churches, temporary tents and community halls as South Africans prepared to make their mark and have their fingernails stained with indelible ink.

There was a “carnival atmosphere” in town that day, with everyone cheerful as we celebrated the freedom of our fourth democratic elections. Not since the first free elections in 1994 had South Africa seen the type of voting queues that happened on the 22nd of April. Cape Town voted in favour of the Democratic Alliance, some 51% of the population voted for that party. The ruling party, the ANC came in at 31% in the province, but, as expected, the ANC won the general elections with 66% of the votes. They did, however, lose their two-thirds majority in Parliament, with the DA creeping steadily upwards to greet them.

As usual, the elections passed without a hitch, although some political parties complained of injustices (when do they not, though). Some strange happenings occurred across the country; however, with a few ballot boxes being found already full of marked ballots prior to the election starting! Here in Cape Town, the Du Noon election officer was a little stumped when asked how the voting turnout had been. He replied that there had been no turnouts; in fact it had been completely peaceful. He seemed to think the journalist meant “turn-away”!

Although you aren’t guaranteed to see animals when on Safari tours, watch our politics for some real wildlife action!