Holiday Snapshots

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took some photographs of my mini-break while I was away last week, so I could share the splendor of the South African East Coast with you.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf1g3K3Qbc7KMTePygdH0wNEOH054mIM2hyhmgUtmS85S3Vis8ltJdIn9DsOKODQLlfT_zMVvlHIsM_Im5-7IbyTupI_VE3GiJuVm9G9F2x6oq4-IiO6HtXlewY9J7TcNV-gQHNJK3nD3/s1600/holiday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf1g3K3Qbc7KMTePygdH0wNEOH054mIM2hyhmgUtmS85S3Vis8ltJdIn9DsOKODQLlfT_zMVvlHIsM_Im5-7IbyTupI_VE3GiJuVm9G9F2x6oq4-IiO6HtXlewY9J7TcNV-gQHNJK3nD3/s640/holiday1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I spent the week at the coastal resort village of Umhlanga, which is a stone's throw away from the city of Durban on SA's eastern coastline. I'd like to say we stayed 'on the beach', but according to dodgy internet bookings, that means <i>behind</i> the hotel that's 'on the beach'. The weather treated us a little too well, it was tremendously hot at over 30 degrees Celsius everyday. Above left is a picture of North Beach, where you can dine at <i>Moyo</i> restaurant right at the edge of the pier. Bottom right is a view of the Umhlanga Lighthouse, set alongside the beautiful blue sea, shadowed by five star hotels and ocean view apartments. If you're going to retire in style, this is the place to do it.</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtZMH-0Dja6twKX2j0twan6AijdNp0Svx9h3W03BD0AJfQay78dfV2mR1D-rfCDrgL5pdU4vGGms9-LCP8wZIbtNb8XvUFF75Tcq4chdUUonKH5YhieOEQe3BxXQPuhRiRO-0fN4LakGs/s1600/holiday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtZMH-0Dja6twKX2j0twan6AijdNp0Svx9h3W03BD0AJfQay78dfV2mR1D-rfCDrgL5pdU4vGGms9-LCP8wZIbtNb8XvUFF75Tcq4chdUUonKH5YhieOEQe3BxXQPuhRiRO-0fN4LakGs/s640/holiday2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I made a little trip to the <i>Spa on Fairways</i> while I was there. They offer the most luxurious pedicures in serene surroundings. Once you get on one of those comfy leather couches with a cup of coffee and good conversation, it's really hard to leave! With more time, you can enjoy use of the pool and outdoor jacuzzi on the deck, which provide a panoramic view of the lush green Beachwood Golf Course and azure ocean. Utter Bliss!</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaFZQqtN-ODzwYVnz1V91isiADqw9IyewTRQblJUuiIxA3hbsUH_FHrKcjMCFMWgfyfoWnQYqQ0rmxTLipCjPvGfYrzho4bCK9ywPMANfbpAO-oBZ_Z1GpPBS__Zh9Fef63w4cNsfF2xa/s1600/holiday3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaFZQqtN-ODzwYVnz1V91isiADqw9IyewTRQblJUuiIxA3hbsUH_FHrKcjMCFMWgfyfoWnQYqQ0rmxTLipCjPvGfYrzho4bCK9ywPMANfbpAO-oBZ_Z1GpPBS__Zh9Fef63w4cNsfF2xa/s640/holiday3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being an animal lover, I visited the uShaka Sea World, which is the largest marine habitat in the Southern Hemisphere. We saw the most astounding and incredible sea creatures, including many different types of sharks, which, if you're brave enough, you can say "Hi" to one during a shark-cage dive. Sea World also houses seals, penguins and a large variety of fish, some native to SA and others from international waters. I also got to see the dolphins up close during a show. I now realise how magnificent and intelligent these lovable mammals are.</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5A5Yj5XTvz1-Nxpx-1bdpUMk2IWu5EwkwZFeARYFUIFAo6MEZsyk4O1E1xyTQgZGrXqVqmV3UB2BiqbOxUbFqJyg1XayoW4CQWawapdl-zhqbBBmc5Koovk2610mmQh_NrYE5bCvaU4T/s1600/holiday4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5A5Yj5XTvz1-Nxpx-1bdpUMk2IWu5EwkwZFeARYFUIFAo6MEZsyk4O1E1xyTQgZGrXqVqmV3UB2BiqbOxUbFqJyg1XayoW4CQWawapdl-zhqbBBmc5Koovk2610mmQh_NrYE5bCvaU4T/s640/holiday4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My dearest friend from Dbn, Ms M, kindly took some time off work to take me around the best spots in her city. One of them was the glorious <i>Zimbali Lodge</i> and <i>Fairmont Hotel</i>, which is set atop a hill that overlooks the picturesque Indian Ocean. We drove 30km out of the city for an indulgent afternoon tea, where I tried out one of the in-house blends called 'Safari Chai', along with scones and cream. How very 'English' of us. That is a <i>very</i> rare black & white picture you will see of me standing at the infinity pool. These heavenly views come at a price, to stay the night at one of the Indonesian style houses costs around $330. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was a little snippet of my seaside getaway, as good as it was...it's great to be back.</span></div><i><br /><br /></i><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>*All photos by me. Special Thanks to Ms & Mr M for taking me around their city and for the royal treatment!</i></span>

Holiday Snapshots

I took some photographs of my mini-break while I was away last week, so I could share the splendor of the South African East Coast with you....

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My Christmas Weekend

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ten Things I Did This Christmas</b></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Spent the four day weekend with 40 of my closest family members at the Alpine Heath Resort, which is set in the heart of the glorious Northern Drakensberg Mountains. It was fun, peaceful and relaxing, with none of the drama of <a href="http://frillsandthrills.blogspot.com/2010/12/mellow-mountain-escape.html">last year's trip</a>, thank goodness.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22z4W4VGjkW5xLyP-lGwfMMkxYvRDCcT7mFb3X2GYiNflFxV-oxX1u3DLhyphenhyphen9gRRipzwL8JRGIw-x33WYoqLNHv_ED1a0TOB9kTNobdtIpJcfeTRtN379K0ZAdVUwJCHwQ3-Rz51tNoxFF/s1600/Alpine+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22z4W4VGjkW5xLyP-lGwfMMkxYvRDCcT7mFb3X2GYiNflFxV-oxX1u3DLhyphenhyphen9gRRipzwL8JRGIw-x33WYoqLNHv_ED1a0TOB9kTNobdtIpJcfeTRtN379K0ZAdVUwJCHwQ3-Rz51tNoxFF/s640/Alpine+.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The majestic Drakensberg Mountains</span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Ate more ice cream in one weekend than I did the entire summer. I don't want to see another Paddle Pop again - or at least for the next week or two ;)</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Got my yearly dose of Vitamin D by spending an enormous amount of time relaxing by the pool, in the scorching midday sun.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtes_Ky0nRyZnJtrnnbYwhyQbrHW9v-LNOzVOFe-z_kusB5CMtO_jX9gFkJI-4SFTMuNWqU3j2POVBuwS5xqFe1wF_HBes7I42YhNuaFrDdalc6J_MDFwU1ymf82IuHQHahyphenhyphenyWssJ4kEuK/s1600/Alpine3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtes_Ky0nRyZnJtrnnbYwhyQbrHW9v-LNOzVOFe-z_kusB5CMtO_jX9gFkJI-4SFTMuNWqU3j2POVBuwS5xqFe1wF_HBes7I42YhNuaFrDdalc6J_MDFwU1ymf82IuHQHahyphenhyphenyWssJ4kEuK/s640/Alpine3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The serene view from the spa </span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indulged in blissful treatments at the heavenly Alpine spa, which overlooked a tranquil lake and resplendent green mountains. It was so r that I only left because I probably would have been forcibly removed if I didn't.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Watched 'Home Alone' on Christmas Day with six of my adorable little cousins. I remember seeing it all through my childhood years. It's still the best holiday movie around.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbhWvFfrQdv4qAuasT6bSouv5tII4uWbJqHAEPdyktg_R2LH-H91l-oOFPsNcLyZR2Z2aw85UZ_gJaLmRlX_dJvqkLcGvi7BDnfjv7W_5t_IyU01L5PSZ3Zv8gtHvTtF-DPfNBZrSaRVP/s1600/Alpine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbhWvFfrQdv4qAuasT6bSouv5tII4uWbJqHAEPdyktg_R2LH-H91l-oOFPsNcLyZR2Z2aw85UZ_gJaLmRlX_dJvqkLcGvi7BDnfjv7W_5t_IyU01L5PSZ3Zv8gtHvTtF-DPfNBZrSaRVP/s640/Alpine.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. Befriended a peacock who took shelter at our chalet during a rain storm. It was the first time I've seen one of these magnificent creatures up-close. They are truly beautiful.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. Got hoaxed into going for a hike. I seriously don't know how this happened, as I am the least outdoorsy person around.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. Wore harem pants after I swore that I wouldn't in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://frillsandthrills.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-not-to-wearever.html">this post</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. What was I thinking?</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU3mwYHTyvZrhJXfQtCnCtNjpDp5EcnA0ZXdDXg2LxH5I-CmB8OX6GMrXubjyV_X-FbaeX47sZ_Ex8_hrhZha80P0B4ctan3ae3exGnl011J-LikOjYEU_WoMxiXR3H83sQsSM1doE83S/s1600/Alpine1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU3mwYHTyvZrhJXfQtCnCtNjpDp5EcnA0ZXdDXg2LxH5I-CmB8OX6GMrXubjyV_X-FbaeX47sZ_Ex8_hrhZha80P0B4ctan3ae3exGnl011J-LikOjYEU_WoMxiXR3H83sQsSM1doE83S/s640/Alpine1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A view of the resort</span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. After winning 3 consecutive games of <i>30 Seconds </i>in a row, my team (aka <i>The</i> <i>Gossip Girls</i>) lost the grande finale against the team of underdogs (aka Our Mums aka <i>The Desperate Housewives</i>), who until that moment had lost <i>every</i> other game. And there were a lot, believe me. They even beat out our main competitors - aka our brainiac dads, whose team was aptly named <i>The Big Bang Theory</i>. Looking forward to next year's championship, we will come prepared for victory ;)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. Most importantly, I spent quality time with my awe-inspiring family over good food, good laughs and we created great new memories. And there are no amount of gifts in the world which can top that.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>*All photos taken by me, except the reception area.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /><br /></i></span></div></div></div>

My Christmas Weekend

Ten Things I Did This Christmas 1. Spent the four day weekend with 40 of my closest family members at the Alpine Heath Resort, which is set ...

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As Quaint As Clarens

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you look up the word 'quaint' in the South African pictorial dictionary, you will find a photograph of Clarens. Okay...so maybe that's just a literary myth, but there isn't a better way to describe this enchanting little town, which is set against the glorious Maluti Mountains. I recently visited the 'Jewel of the Free State', which cast a spell on me with it's majestic charm and tranquil ambience. Once I got there, I never wanted to leave. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekGddKib27I3obzK7RT3ZlaffxlINb_xwqlgY0kCoqLzH41wW4R-yRRqIb8W0kgJ3xqMzdn955uwAUFsxm_9HQfpFpmH3fMoVgdY7RhzLTaineFFO99Vy2ijuKgY8pyCBkZW-AIzlnQu9/s1600/clarens2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekGddKib27I3obzK7RT3ZlaffxlINb_xwqlgY0kCoqLzH41wW4R-yRRqIb8W0kgJ3xqMzdn955uwAUFsxm_9HQfpFpmH3fMoVgdY7RhzLTaineFFO99Vy2ijuKgY8pyCBkZW-AIzlnQu9/s640/clarens2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the view of the town from our porch at Rosewood Cottage, where we spent the weekend. I now know what it feels like to breathe in crisp, fresh mountain air <i>and</i> have your breath taken away by the spectacular scenery at the same time. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This area of South Africa is re</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">nowned for its beautiful sandstone structures</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. The sandstone is found in the adjacent Golden Gate National Park.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-WwIgSw3vPe4GRTnwiBecxrKNMz9dHa2qAAgHuZWFlkJc-qSJQ2Qhz4WLN51V7k4WhJ6Rs3uCxREj1aneNBqiOLVULV6wJSchhEygDVWebmYfyCjv9YBHmk47uQFygQRGRMnF1Te_fm2/s1600/clarens3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-WwIgSw3vPe4GRTnwiBecxrKNMz9dHa2qAAgHuZWFlkJc-qSJQ2Qhz4WLN51V7k4WhJ6Rs3uCxREj1aneNBqiOLVULV6wJSchhEygDVWebmYfyCjv9YBHmk47uQFygQRGRMnF1Te_fm2/s640/clarens3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clarens is a place where artists come to inspire, and be inspired. M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">any artists chose to settle down in this serene sanctuary permanently. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The streets are lined with art galleries, displaying unique paintings and sculptures, one more extraordinary than the next. An 'artsier' place, I have not yet been to. Besides paintings, one can purchase exotic artifacts and curios, as well as handcrafted wooden furniture and metal artwork, all made in and around Africa.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjpLqiHy7qc2R1JE0LrCE5WtOEjJG7ePac9rzGyYFLDXzn51DaSqk-qJ-RL5ZYFV0oD4_QL_Eo-6tUB144aODE9xFPpmvkhIdo_yVpKGDC9IaBP20KWJKBApUCbm8IgKkWV2P4EwrqE7C/s1600/clarens7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjpLqiHy7qc2R1JE0LrCE5WtOEjJG7ePac9rzGyYFLDXzn51DaSqk-qJ-RL5ZYFV0oD4_QL_Eo-6tUB144aODE9xFPpmvkhIdo_yVpKGDC9IaBP20KWJKBApUCbm8IgKkWV2P4EwrqE7C/s640/clarens7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The thing that makes Clarens as quaint and old-world as it is, is the absence of franchises. There are no chain stores or popular fast food branches. Not one. Every store and restaurant is individually owned and designed to blend into the chocolate-box surroundings, retaining the antique character of the town. The numerous deli's sell homemade delights with a difference. <i>Pictured top left</i> are miniature melt-in-your-mouth créme brûlée chocolates, which I regret not buying more of. <i>Bottom left</i>, are glass-jar condiments with adorable names like 'You are Berry Licious' jam, 'You are Peri Hot' sauce and 'Sweet as Nectar' honey. I lost myself in a sweetly scented store selling all-natural beauty products. That's the testing station <i>pictured top right</i>, you can imagine how many indulgent hours could be spent there.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4p3g_iKEXB-rn-ZT6b0YQtsvX9XBxuGUH5wUHo8tWLYE7tQKiqaiywuBu5D_aHA_d3kJdvu8V72K2DTyzsBGEPi4KM5Q1syce86h4jWTc2KJS4SYaX87Osi9bt6fiTZoA3AQYXsrliWej/s1600/clarens4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4p3g_iKEXB-rn-ZT6b0YQtsvX9XBxuGUH5wUHo8tWLYE7tQKiqaiywuBu5D_aHA_d3kJdvu8V72K2DTyzsBGEPi4KM5Q1syce86h4jWTc2KJS4SYaX87Osi9bt6fiTZoA3AQYXsrliWej/s640/clarens4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Above are photos of the <i>Garment Gallery, w</i>hich is one gallery that must not be missed when visiting Clarens. An endearing boutique inspired by the timeless beauty of Mona Lisa, the <i>Garment Gallery</i> seeks to gratify the trendy shopper with vintage glamour. They stock one-of-a-kind and well-tended vintage clothes and evening gowns, as well as new, more modern pieces. Antique strollers store a myriad of lace and crochet scarves, and they house a historic hat collection that Jackie O would be proud of. I am still infatuated by the embroidered pink and white tulle ruffle dress from the 50's (pictured bottom middle). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visiting Clarens was like stepping into another world for two days. A place lost in time, where prettiness and creativity flows freely and abundantly. I have discovered that there are two types of people you will find in Clarens: the soulful artists who come here to nurture their ingenious talents; and then there's the rest of us, who come to bask in all of it's rustic beauty.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>*All photos taken by me.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /><br /></i></span></div>

As Quaint As Clarens

If you look up the word 'quaint' in the South African pictorial dictionary, you will find a photograph of Clarens. Okay...so maybe t...

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The Ficksburg Cherry Festival

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I first heard about the 'Ficksburg Cherry Festival' in a heritage class that I took in university. </span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was fascinated to learn that South Africa </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is home to the 'Cherry Capital of the World' - Ficksburg. I also found it a bit strange that we have the world's best cherries right on our doorstep. As, from bitter first-hand experience, I had always thought the idea of a 'sweet-tasting' cherry was just a myth. After that day in class, I knew that someday I <i>had</i> to attend the festival, as this was a myth I had to dispel myself.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ficksburg is a small town in the Eastern Free State, situated at the foot of the Imperani Mountain, bordering the neighbouring country of Lesotho. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">travelled for 6 hours over 400km, through 3 provinces and 5 painstakingly long road stops to get there. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The country's oldest annual crop festival runs over 3 days during the third week of November, and is attended by over 25 000 people. I was thrilled to finally be one of them this year.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIjjOAtF75azzr71x9WGoIIJ_0mANZV_kiaJVBm4b_s5TpHrZ2jdp6BBVD3U_uuaMsjyuWsklnLpW8lqy-WHwKTc-_kKg6kCBwyuL9qZNHfjzLF_6zinJ0F-0Alv_gP18zcF5hFXcWQi-/s1600/cherries3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIjjOAtF75azzr71x9WGoIIJ_0mANZV_kiaJVBm4b_s5TpHrZ2jdp6BBVD3U_uuaMsjyuWsklnLpW8lqy-WHwKTc-_kKg6kCBwyuL9qZNHfjzLF_6zinJ0F-0Alv_gP18zcF5hFXcWQi-/s640/cherries3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the highlights of the festival was visiting a cherry farm and going on a tour of the orchards. A tractor pulled us along through the scenic Ionia farm, where one of the farmers explained the entire cherry harvesting process to us - from root to pip. We were left to wander the extensive orchard and pick our own punnet of cherries directly from the tree. We ate cherries to our hearts content (and our tummy's detriment). What most people don't know is that the sweetest cherries you can find are the 'yellow cherries', which are not usually sold to the public. They look like a normal red cherry on the outside, but are a light yellow colour on the inside...and taste like a piece of heaven. Cherries are a rare and expensive fruit and most of them from this region are exported to the rest of the world.</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1wB2Co8NCpsxSME0irU3-xL8IyKve1apjA9QCOXzPJkzMK1nCnO55qJF5Kn2Klg-5nnk_Be20viC_aHMrYxnb6yY_gki501mqkLa7Toe4YOuudZGef8wPg2SmtNmLLEnkxBEPajWW04O/s1600/cherries4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1wB2Co8NCpsxSME0irU3-xL8IyKve1apjA9QCOXzPJkzMK1nCnO55qJF5Kn2Klg-5nnk_Be20viC_aHMrYxnb6yY_gki501mqkLa7Toe4YOuudZGef8wPg2SmtNmLLEnkxBEPajWW04O/s640/cherries4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cherry frenzied festival grounds were abuzz with activities ranging from cooking workshops, game shows, sporting events, a beauty pageant, jazz and rock concerts and a cherry pip spitting competition (which we thankfully missed!). Any cherry-related product you can dream up - they sold it there. Cherry jams, syrups, drinks, cherry liquors, schnapps, cherry chutney, nougat, cherry pie and preserves. Besides for the perishables, there was cherry art to take back home as a souvenir. I was attracted by the pretty pink and red cherry blossom beauty products. Delectably scented perfumes, body butters, foam baths and soaps, all reminding me of my childhood cherry chapstick.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With Ficksburg being so far out in the middle of the country, I don't know whether I'll ever get an opportunity to attend the festival again. It's one of those things that you should do <i>at least</i> once in your life if you're living in South Africa. A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s you can imagine, I came home with a boot load of cherries - not that they lasted very long. These little red jewels are a rich part of our local heritage, and I hope that more people will become aware of it and also get to experience the joy of picking their own cherries. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>*All photos taken by me.</i></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /><br /></i></span>

The Ficksburg Cherry Festival

I first heard about the 'Ficksburg Cherry Festival' in a heritage class that I took in university.  I was fascinated to learn that S...

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Weekend Snapshots

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Originally, my purpose of going to Johannesburg this past weekend was to see my best friend Fifi and help her move into her new place. 48 hours later and I must admit we did <i>no</i> moving whatsoever. Instead, we went on an urban safari of the City of Gold. When you have great company, you will always be guaranteed a fun time, be it in the epicenter of a hotspot or just chilling out in front of the telly at home. We had an amazing weekend, and only got to bed after 4am, catching up and keeping up with love, life, friends and everything else.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></span>Melville</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHLy-0Iga6sMTndD-YXwNZ-xpFJ1QtbITMvZxZCL14GRsF4beUF2fLJEUZSJO1szjXMeH5AKIFgwhOzdRWTynng7rOjoDn8CDME1UYaeDXVr42gKIkJgOGzCnPIyh9RbsBmFgaD72WYLD/s1600/wkend1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHLy-0Iga6sMTndD-YXwNZ-xpFJ1QtbITMvZxZCL14GRsF4beUF2fLJEUZSJO1szjXMeH5AKIFgwhOzdRWTynng7rOjoDn8CDME1UYaeDXVr42gKIkJgOGzCnPIyh9RbsBmFgaD72WYLD/s640/wkend1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We visited the famous 7th Avenue in Melville, which is aligned with coffee shoppes, boutiques, cocktail bars and poet's lounges, second-hand book stores and art galleries. The vibe is ageless, artsy and liberal. It's a bohemian village where an eclectic crowd gather - actors, hippies, Rastas, artists, muso's, young blood and old money; you will find them all here. This is a cultural hub where anything goes and you're free to 'be' exactly who you want to be without any pretenses or judgement. We had daiquiris over sunset at the <i>Lucky Bean</i> café, which had a cool 3-D tree mural covering the walls (pictured above right).</span></div><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Grand Central Café</span></span></span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_3vXOa5rC2W4LdeZrI5igi2cATbSW9J4y5KIN0l9P7r4zd4E1S8qvDvSlU9jJoV0ZKRkAaa8GsqgPYZE0Y1TjKNMqpns3oPmBAlVefMGhoXubC38s3fFZ2pyAYwwynHvE0Z8i0ussiKh/s1600/wkend2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_3vXOa5rC2W4LdeZrI5igi2cATbSW9J4y5KIN0l9P7r4zd4E1S8qvDvSlU9jJoV0ZKRkAaa8GsqgPYZE0Y1TjKNMqpns3oPmBAlVefMGhoXubC38s3fFZ2pyAYwwynHvE0Z8i0ussiKh/s640/wkend2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For supper, it was suggested we try out <i>Grand Central Café</i> at Melrose Arch Piazza. The elegant and trendy decor has a distinct New York feel about it. We were greeted by twinkling fairy lights on the deck outside. I was thankful that they had outdoor heaters, because it was quite chilly. The menu was extensive but uninteresting. The five of us settled for tramezzeni's, pasta and pizza. The waiter also brought us mushroom risotto, confusing it with ricotta - very strange. They do make some good fries though. ;)</span></div><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Leeyas Boutique</span></span></span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rtVhhDCw0kqk3fHUFzUhOIZGhkFfGHHpmvLsaS9OV4NZTYv9VmskBbAVQB7UVNS6776WW8tAre26gZhtwQzwyrs2xKvX8QJqH_za5n79MGQMaMjju5yd7k0IH0hmwSuyN8lA0wyoO6Rz/s1600/wkend4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rtVhhDCw0kqk3fHUFzUhOIZGhkFfGHHpmvLsaS9OV4NZTYv9VmskBbAVQB7UVNS6776WW8tAre26gZhtwQzwyrs2xKvX8QJqH_za5n79MGQMaMjju5yd7k0IH0hmwSuyN8lA0wyoO6Rz/s640/wkend4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're not into commercial brands and chain stores, <i>Leeyas Boutique</i> should be at the top of your list. They have moved into a newly revamped and much bigger store in Central Road, Fordsburg. The glamourous decor makes for an aesthetically pleasing shopping experience, with damask wallpaper, crystal chandeliers, an FTV monitor and spacious change rooms (pictured bottom left). Aren't the lights cute? I like that it isn't cluttered and the rails are well spaced out, it makes browsing much easier.</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUYga-TkttSFT-g36GY96Bn_GrPUoDlst27A1JUp3Px5f_AYgJrDG4uRw5cppO2niInI8_92IorcOWCOwPKp_WcDVcqJXk6jiwBE3pH0RInfWRvaR-xwGsM7LQaTUe5TtiTy_CB4rP8w_/s1600/wkend6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUYga-TkttSFT-g36GY96Bn_GrPUoDlst27A1JUp3Px5f_AYgJrDG4uRw5cppO2niInI8_92IorcOWCOwPKp_WcDVcqJXk6jiwBE3pH0RInfWRvaR-xwGsM7LQaTUe5TtiTy_CB4rP8w_/s640/wkend6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Leeyas</i> stocks beautiful pieces of clothing that transcend contemporary fashion. Instead of fading trends, you will find unusual one-of-a-kind tops in vibrant prints, as well as vintage-inspired dresses in creamy pastels. They also stock stunning clutches and handbags. The prices are very reasonable and you can be assured not to clash with anyone else, seeing that sizes and quantities are limited. I would highly recommend that you stop by if you're ever in Joburg. For more information, contact (011) 838 2786.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was a snippet of my weekend away - before my camera battery gave up on me (Note to self - next time <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">do not</span> forgot the charger!). I hope you had a fabulous one too! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div>

Weekend Snapshots

Originally, my purpose of going to Johannesburg this past weekend was to see my best friend Fifi and help her move into her new place. 48 ho...

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Weekend Snapshots

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /><br /></span>My blogging system has gone slightly haywire since my long weekend away on the east coast. It was nice to leave the cold behind and travel to a warmer destination. My time in Durban was fun and relaxing, but also very busy, with non-stop social visits, mall-hopping, dining out and going out. I only had a chance to take a few pictures, which I share with you below.</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DNfDjVSDZwXd_fTREhA7RN0gAFbAADrvdEXm8N3TC8dH0V7QaSNTKlXY0kxyTRmjpq64nfuQ_7sUZ09mnGIBKrCBRfzRbruAg7SxFS_Mbo8rALhznCfmJlLlTQSscWcYoAporjXgkVP_/s1600/weekend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DNfDjVSDZwXd_fTREhA7RN0gAFbAADrvdEXm8N3TC8dH0V7QaSNTKlXY0kxyTRmjpq64nfuQ_7sUZ09mnGIBKrCBRfzRbruAg7SxFS_Mbo8rALhznCfmJlLlTQSscWcYoAporjXgkVP_/s640/weekend.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. This was the beautiful view from our hotel on the beach. That was actually also the closest I went to the beach. As it was off-season, this tourist-friendly area was unusually quiet.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. A scene from an incredibly fun ride on the Dodgems (bumper cars), which is a true testament to anyone's driving skills. Sometimes it's good to let go and relive your youth - even if it's only for 5 minutes. It wasn't surprising to see that we were not the only adults there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. On Friday night, we went to watch <i>Monte Carlo</i>, which stars Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy. Because the movie started only at 11pm, we had the entire cinema to ourselves, which was quite surreal <i>and</i> a little eerie at that time of night. It started out slow and tedious, probably because Selena's character was so lifeless. Luckily, it was Leighton who saved the movie from being a complete disaster, putting on a Blair-worthy performance. It was great seeing her & Katie (Juliette from <i>Gossip Girl</i>) together on screen again - and getting along too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Every time I'm at the <i>Gateway </i>Theatre of Shopping, I stop by my favourite boutique, <i>Lady and the Punk. </i>I always find something amazing here, it perfectly fits my style - girly with a side of punk. On this occasion, they had a great choice of boyfriend blazers, chiffon dresses, quilted sling bags, bejeweled flats, wedges and lace cardigans.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. On Saturday night, my darling cousin Ray took me to her favourite restaurant in KZN, <i>Bel Punto</i>. It's a lovely authentic Italian eatery in the coastal resort of Umdloti. It was so busy, that we almost lost our reservation. <i>Bel Punto</i> is famous for their delicious seafood and 'pollo alla diavola<i>'. </i>I will hopefully be returning for the lusciously divine expresso créme brulée. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was a snippet of my wonderful weekend away...I hope you had a great one too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div>

Weekend Snapshots

My blogging system has gone slightly haywire since my long weekend away on the east coast. It was nice to leave the cold behind and travel t...

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The Amazing Oribi Gorge

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Oribi Gorge</span></b></span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">KZN South Coast<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My extended family (about 35 of us), took a 120km road trip to the Natal South Coast, in search of adventure, beautiful scenery and the legendary Oribi Gorge. Our journey from Durban to Port Shepstone began not so early one Sunday morning last month, with many stops and wrong turns along the way. This was not a good day to forget your Garmin or your sunscreen, as it was a scorching 29 degrees. The one and half hour drive was extended by another 20km on dusty dirt roads to the Lake Eland Game Reserve. </span></span></span></span></i></b></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Game Reserve offers many fun-filled activities, such as horse-riding, fresh water fishing, mountain biking, swimming, paintball, canoeing and hiking. If we had left a little earlier (and not, say 11am), we may have been able to take part in some of these. Along the drive through the nature reserve, we were lucky enough to spot some game - an assortment of buck and zebra. The next stop was the ancient caves where the San clan once dwelled, deep within the rocky mountainside. We trod down 383 stairs to the caves, which led to stunning views of lush green hills, San rock art and 365 million-year-old sandstone cliffs. Dozens of photos later, we had to make the excruciating 383-step trip back up. If there's ever a time to find out how unfit really you are, this was it.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></b></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk89HmbkZ2Jqoy-BK8ZtzKlhaqex8sS-juT6qxUDEE_o49u-vbVEeE4UZYQ671eyfSfhnS2cAhzLFjKZk-C30s8QkGqheWxXX3b1ZQ2n47V8pmuL9DRkDJ8-PBbkhvI8qbtfwJl3vizFg/s1600/oribi+gorge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk89HmbkZ2Jqoy-BK8ZtzKlhaqex8sS-juT6qxUDEE_o49u-vbVEeE4UZYQ671eyfSfhnS2cAhzLFjKZk-C30s8QkGqheWxXX3b1ZQ2n47V8pmuL9DRkDJ8-PBbkhvI8qbtfwJl3vizFg/s640/oribi+gorge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span>A few kilometers further, we were greeted by the amazing Oribi Gorge. The photos I took above does not do justice to the beauty of this natural phenomenon. The panoramic views from the high cliffs down to the glorious valleys, indigenous forests and meandering river was spectacular. To fully experience the majestic scenery, we had to walk along the rickety and unsteady 80-meter-long Suspension Bridge, which towers over the gorge. Even if you're afraid of heights and all things wooden and shaky, this is something that must be tried out. I almost never made it across, but after seeing my entire family doing it - from the elders to my fearless 2-year-old cousin, I figured it was safe ;)</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With only a few hours of sunlight left, we didn't have time to visit the world's highest abseil and mountain swing, which plummets 33-storeys into the gorge. Our compasses then led us to the calm seaside town of Shelley Beach, where we witnessed a magnificent sunset on the beach. The English poet, John Keats once said, <i>"A thing of beauty is a joy forever." </i>I now know what he meant by this.</span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span>

The Amazing Oribi Gorge

Oribi Gorge KZN South Coast My extended family (about 35 of us), took a 120km road trip to the Natal South Coast, in search of adventure, be...

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Wakkerstroom Arts Festival 2011

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wakkerstroom is the Jewel of Mpumalanga, known for it's calm countryside fare. This tiny town, which is 3 hours from Johannesburg, is a world renowned bird watching destination, retirement village and a peaceful place that city folk visit to get away from it all. This long weekend bird watchers, music lovers and art enthusiasts from all over the country flocked to this little dorp to attend the Wakkerstroom Arts Festival. I was lured there by an advertisement I had seen in a magazine. I arrived on Saturday and was surprised to see that this (usually) sleepy town had magically sprung to life. The streets and restaurants were crowded with local and international tourists, jazz filled the air and amazing artworks were on display everywhere.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAaeTB-G7KqBVmmIChHmCCH02btEHXeDx8lV9DVKvsyfM0zwjjaebAXRVooIWRbooHntahNZhYlBMMNGui77Nre-9xPYw_huZM-5uh64B9vwREOUEUCVWM_AGXdHvGB_V3_iOf1c-fRM/s1600/Wakkerstroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAaeTB-G7KqBVmmIChHmCCH02btEHXeDx8lV9DVKvsyfM0zwjjaebAXRVooIWRbooHntahNZhYlBMMNGui77Nre-9xPYw_huZM-5uh64B9vwREOUEUCVWM_AGXdHvGB_V3_iOf1c-fRM/s640/Wakkerstroom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Beautiful pictures, antique furniture and luxurious home decor can be found at </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">House of Baxburg, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">which used to be the old bank. The Health Shop stocks all natural beauty products and organic ingredients. A fountain outside the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bistro, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">where food and art combined to occupy the afternoon. At </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bits 'n Pieces, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">you will find historic home ware, antique tea sets, old books and one-of-a-kind heirlooms.</span></span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xMlHQ7FTWN1NY6ynlXHtY6ABVEI3yssm8arP8GbKeuOHf7KA7S8E4hQiViwWKHfbmP-Z61kQIwoDhWn8TlbZIMArHTbsL3EGMm9ZHz-WhOrdyZT7EYmxmSjw6IUbgYhl1i3rqsb7hAo/s1600/Wakkerstroom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xMlHQ7FTWN1NY6ynlXHtY6ABVEI3yssm8arP8GbKeuOHf7KA7S8E4hQiViwWKHfbmP-Z61kQIwoDhWn8TlbZIMArHTbsL3EGMm9ZHz-WhOrdyZT7EYmxmSjw6IUbgYhl1i3rqsb7hAo/s640/Wakkerstroom1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mooi</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is a treasure chest of vintage finds as well as modern home decor pieces. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Birdsong </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">offers whimsical clothes, bags and beadwork.</span></span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Arts Festival took place over three days at various venues. The entire town was abuzz with activity, each event taking place at a different time and specified venue. There were arts and crafts exhibitions, showcasing the remarkable talent of local artists. The <i>Glass Art Studio </i>of Wakkerstroom had a stall selling their decorative handmade glassware. They also offer classes on the subject. The <i>Mucky Duck</i> screened classic movies at their quaint tavern. The <i>Wetlands Country House </i>was the<i> </i>venue for<i> '</i>Jazz in the Garden' concerts each afternoon. Guests were entertained by internationally and nationally renowned musicians such as the Pam Mortimer Jazz Trio, Gaabho Motho Tenors, Bena Opera Quartet, The Northern KZN Youth Choir, harpists, pianists, violinists and many more. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQc5UXJ-Qt2ytZVY4H01uyiWK4Cj-CV0zbGW2KUiyMN27o9xfJU0rjzAvRK7NYb9WQY8jpSmJ4iZoOL4hyphenhyphenGxmj3Vx9wGDHS5gX5UHL77srnm781tFJf_FKsP1Wb8W5dyoJ2Kj58fqKTw/s1600/wakkerstroom+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQc5UXJ-Qt2ytZVY4H01uyiWK4Cj-CV0zbGW2KUiyMN27o9xfJU0rjzAvRK7NYb9WQY8jpSmJ4iZoOL4hyphenhyphenGxmj3Vx9wGDHS5gX5UHL77srnm781tFJf_FKsP1Wb8W5dyoJ2Kj58fqKTw/s640/wakkerstroom+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Purchase stunning crystal chandeliers & other ornamentation at </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Country Home. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wakkerstroom</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">is the</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">second oldest town in the (old) Transvaal, and the church building (pictured above) in the town square is a historical monument. The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Brie Street Deli </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">is a charming coffee shop where you will also find a wide range of cheeses, chocolate, home-made preserves and spices from around the world. Local artists showcased their spectacular paintings (bottom right).<br /><br /></span></span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /><br /></b></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">Festival Round-up:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></b></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Best place to shop</b>...<i>Mooi </i>for their delightful vintage trinkets.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Best place to eat out</b>...<i>Wakkerstroom Country Inn</i> for the delicious freshly baked scones with strawberry jam, whipped cream and seasonal berries. Yum.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Biggest Mistake</b>...Not pre-booking for the concerts. They were all sold out by the time we got there.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Best experience</b>...The lively atmosphere on the main street, where dozens of tourists of all ages from all over South Africa enjoyed a serene afternoon in this small town. </span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Verdict</b>...I had a wonderful time at the festival. Wakkerstroom is an enchanting and placid place, filled with friendly people, beautiful boutiques, lovely restaurants, B&B's and old-fashioned charm. It will leave you with a feeling of tranquility. I will definitely be returning very soon.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span>

Wakkerstroom Arts Festival 2011

Wakkerstroom is the Jewel of Mpumalanga, known for it's calm countryside fare. This tiny town, which is 3 hours from Johannesburg, is a ...

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A Mellow-Dramatic Mountain Retreat

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My family has a tradition where we spend a holiday away every year in the majestic Drakensberg Mountains. This year, the Mont-Aux-Sources Resort and Hotel was the retreat of choice for 30 members of my family and I. The resort is situated in the heart of the Northern Drakensberg, with panoramic views of the world famous Amphitheatre. It is named after the highest peak in this area, Mount-Aux-Sources, which stands at an impressive 3282 meters. It was discovered in the 1830's and aptly named 'Mountain of Springs', as it forms the source of three major rivers; the Tugela, Vaal and Orange.<br /><br /><br /><br />The formidable task of climbing Mount-Aux-Sources will provide you with a breathtaking view of the cascading Tugela Falls, which plunges at 948m (3110 feet), making it the 2nd highest waterfall in the world. I was amazed to find out that we have such an incredible natural wonder right on our doorstep. This spectacular sight, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">situated in Kwa-Zulu Natal, is one that every South African should see. See <a href="http://www.world-waterfalls.com/">www.world-waterfalls.com</a> for all the stats.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshL_ysSroPhgmrIMt4FTxk80_DKvwUWBLxYXj9qGSfiMKCSApOOjzye8ulU1LOy10XoOobo2FV9fubFIDE-3ozrFrHEKmhyphenhyphenF-jyQ4vTKPxcHQw598iGhQN_D-OE4j_U1u659cTAOctCk/s1600/Tugela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshL_ysSroPhgmrIMt4FTxk80_DKvwUWBLxYXj9qGSfiMKCSApOOjzye8ulU1LOy10XoOobo2FV9fubFIDE-3ozrFrHEKmhyphenhyphenF-jyQ4vTKPxcHQw598iGhQN_D-OE4j_U1u659cTAOctCk/s320/Tugela.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The scenic Tugela Falls</span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></span></span>The Resort</span></b><br /><br /><br /><br />We stayed in the self-catering chalets, where the décor can be described as, er, shabby chic. I guess when you choose to spend time in the Great Outdoors, 5 star luxury is not to be expected. The hotel rooms are in slightly better condition. Next time, I must remember to pack bug spray – there are giant ants the size of grasshoppers and all sorts of zzzing, flapping, flying and buzzing things, waiting to strike while you sleep.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwarsjUjxJWn9S2Xn1N0P7BnilVC0N-lR9KXX7ngNif5T5l_INVjcel-MLiMhoorNmTRWVQt_RIXIgVIAYEJSA9He2M6DoTah9OQKV2IDmfN6ATOFXWwYTpo1vjlFwvCDdWVaKLiLDsvg/s1600/Mont+Aux+Sources.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwarsjUjxJWn9S2Xn1N0P7BnilVC0N-lR9KXX7ngNif5T5l_INVjcel-MLiMhoorNmTRWVQt_RIXIgVIAYEJSA9He2M6DoTah9OQKV2IDmfN6ATOFXWwYTpo1vjlFwvCDdWVaKLiLDsvg/s640/Mont+Aux+Sources.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Images of the Orion Mont-Aux-Sources Resort and Hotel</span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The scenic view from the front porch of our chalet set the peaceful atmosphere in this marvelous mountain locale. Of course, no holiday at the Berg is complete without some drama. There was a Christmas crook on the loose, hopping in and out of chalet windows, stealing everything in sight; wallets, shoes, glasses and even all the food from the fridge! Must have been one hungry barefooted thief. A few policemen were kind enough to leave their Christmas dinners and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">investigate the crime scene. The last we heard from CSI:Drakensberg, there were no leads. Word of Note: Even though there's no air-conditioning, do not sleep with the windows open; you rather suffer from heatstroke than have your snacks stolen.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Things To Do </span></b><br /><br /><br /><br />There's something for young, old and the in between at the resort and surrounding areas. For the outdoorsy types, there's horse riding, mini golf, swimming, tennis & squash courts, trout fishing, volley ball, hiking and mountain bike trails. A 4.5km walk down the windy mountain pass to the gushing Tugela River is quite energizing and a great way to experience nature. But I really wouldn't know, because I was wise enough to drive there to pick up all the hikers who couldn't make it back up the hill. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Other facilities include a restaurant, pool tables, darts, kids activity room, jumping castle, jungle gym and a life size chess board. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you drive 10km out of the resort, you will find the farmstyle Tower of Pizza Restaurant. Appetizing Italian food is served in this quaint countryside venue.  We had towers of different pizzas, naturally, and the most delicious basil pesto with tagliatelle. Visit their website at www.towerofpizza.co.za</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqr7L_xEUjguFqEbyNEcOWZFfDqjXW_QkXGXIva-q4-_xpSpo0SbI3-z2yANDXRe-0MdJNQLUVjrrWotI0z_NtH87VNCcnKSwhgzpV_5me_6tedqOrsb9QF1pqoB-NOP8RvO9TLaHGnA/s1600/DSCF0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqr7L_xEUjguFqEbyNEcOWZFfDqjXW_QkXGXIva-q4-_xpSpo0SbI3-z2yANDXRe-0MdJNQLUVjrrWotI0z_NtH87VNCcnKSwhgzpV_5me_6tedqOrsb9QF1pqoB-NOP8RvO9TLaHGnA/s400/DSCF0125.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Countryside Cuisine at The Tower of Pizza</span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our nights were entertained with boardgames, braai's, karaoke and competitions. Now, you get those who sing karaoke like true Idols and then, you get the karaoke kings and queens who keep the wildlife away. One more mortifying rendition of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hotel California</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and The Eagles are going to sue. My ears were in actual physical pain after being tortured by a petrifying performance of Abba's Dancing Queen. Trying to hit those high notes is a health hazard. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guests staying at the hotel could also participate in a megafun music trivia competition. Families were grouped together and played musical Trivial Pursuit for a grand prize. I am proud to announce that our team, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Outlaws</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> won.  </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Applause </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> To clear things up, we didn't win because we had the largest team of em..14 or is it 15 members, we won because good teamwork pays off. Cheating (by Googling the answers on your Blackberry) doesn't...hope our rival team, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Police</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">are taking heed of this.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you want to get away from the city traffic, busy streets, clamour and crowds, then the tranquility of this rustic mountain resort is the remedy. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftGu6ZclDEs3VpVU4bWYtC7AuaMJ83yAFY7JMfZhnu3-SgsmPg3cB4oUx19nIxZemTeSH2PI2Eo1JUeg49Bn7CMqOp8NZmmsrSXUtxfKbWBIDDpPRcfcioM7KEVQ5znEgHbcrFYt3NkY/s1600/Mount+Aux+Sources.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftGu6ZclDEs3VpVU4bWYtC7AuaMJ83yAFY7JMfZhnu3-SgsmPg3cB4oUx19nIxZemTeSH2PI2Eo1JUeg49Bn7CMqOp8NZmmsrSXUtxfKbWBIDDpPRcfcioM7KEVQ5znEgHbcrFYt3NkY/s640/Mount+Aux+Sources.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Glorious Drakensberg Mountains and Tugela River</span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Criminal offences, run-down rooms and rainy weather could not put a damper on our fabulous family getaway. It doesn't really matter where you are, as long as you have great company and a sunny state of mind.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For further information on the Mont-Aux Sources Resort, contact the General Manager on </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(036) 438 8000 or visit <a href="http://www.oriongroup.co.za/">www.oriongroup.co.za</a></span></div>

A Mellow-Dramatic Mountain Retreat

My family has a tradition where we spend a holiday away every year in the majestic Drakensberg Mountains. This year, the Mont-Aux-Sources Re...

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