THE OVERBERG

ONCE OVER THE 450M. "SIR LOWRY'S PASS", WHICH HAS BEEN CUT OUT INTO

THE "HOTTENTOT HOLLAND MOUNTAINS", ONE GETS OUT OF THE CAPE TOWN BOUNDARIES AND STARTS TO TRAVEL IN WHAT IS CALLED HERE: THE OVERBERG.
THE PANORAMA SUDDENLY CHANGES FROM THE FAMILIAR CAPE TOWN LUSH VEGETATION MADE OF MAJESTIC OAK TREES, FLOWERS AND ELEGANT HOMES, TO MAKE PLACE FOR THE BEAUTIFUL STEENBRAS RIVER DAM, INTERESTING STONY ROCK FORMATIONS, PINE AND EUCALYPTUS TREE PLANTATIONS, BUT MOST OF ALL VAST APPLE ORCHARDS, VINEYARDS AND FURTHER ALONG THE ROAD BIG FIELDS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND.

FAR AWAY TO THE HORIZON, DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, ONE'S EYES CAN FEAST THEMSELVES ON THE GREEN SHOOTS OF GROWING WHEAT OR THE BRIGHT YELLOW EXPLOSION OF CANOLA PLANT FIELDS.

ALONG THE ROAD, HERDS OF HUDDLING SHEEP, GRAZE THE SEEMINGLY POOR GRASS IN A MECHANICAL AND CONTINUOUS WAY.

I LOVE THE SIGHT OF FARMHOUSES AND HOMESTEADS, FAR AWAY FROM THE MAIN ROAD, WITH THEIR GREEN ROOFS AND, OFTEN, DUTCH FACADES, BUILT NEXT TO A FEW TREES AND STANDING STEADFAST TO THE PASSING OF TIME.

GARDEN ROUTE

THIS IS A SMALL POEM THAT I WROTE ON THE BUS TAKING US FROM THE GARDEN ROUTE BACK TO CAPE TOWN.

10.09.2010

GARDEN ROUTE.

ROLLING HILLS
VERDANT VALLEYS
RUGGED ROCKS
AND BLUE GREEN SEAS

TALL PINE FORESTS
COLOURFUL FLOWERS
BIRDS THAT SING
SO JOYOUS TO ‘BE’
SHIMMERING SUN
CLEAR SKY OF BLUE
MY HEART WELLS UP
AT THE WONDER OF YOU.

By: EMMY LEVIN.

HERMANUS

THE LOVELY TOWN OF HERMANUS, ON THE SOUTH EASTERN SIDE OF FALSE BAY, IS THE VENUE MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY THE SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES.
DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, THEY START THEIR MIGRATION FROM THE ICY WATERS OF THE ANTARCTIC, TO GRACE OUR SHORES FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS.
AFTER HAVING GORGED THEMSELVES ON KRILL AND PLANKTON IN THEIR "HOMEGROUND", IF ONE CAN CALL IT THIS WAY, THEY SEEK THE WARMER WATERS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN THAT SURROUND PART OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COASTLINE.
I MUST JUST ADD THAT WHAT THE WHALES CONSIDER "WARM", TO US IS FREEZING, AT 13DEG. CELCIUS DURING OUR WINTER SEASON.
BE IT AS IT MAY, THEIR MAIN PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE IS TWOFOLD: BIRTHING THEIR YOUNG AND MATE.
I FIND IT EXTRAORDINARY THAT, AS IT IS SAID, ONE FEMALE SEEKING THE PERFECT MALE WILL MATE WITH AS MANY AS SEVEN! AT LAST A FAIR NOTION FOR US OF THE GENTLER GENDER!

THE RETURN OF THE WHALES TO US IS A TRUELY SPECIAL TIME IN OUR CALENDAR. THEY DELIGHT US, AS WELL AS, THE BIG CROWDS OF VISITORS, WHO EAGERLY STAND ON THE NEWLY LANDSCAPED VIEWPOINT AND TWELVE KILOMETER CLIFF EDGE. ALL ALONG THE PROMENADE, PEOPLE AWAIT THE SIGHT OF A V-SHAPED BLOW INTO THE AIR, A TAIL, A LEAP OUT OF THE WATER, ANYTHING THAT ONE CAN ADMIRE, REJOICE AT, PHOTOGRAPH OR FILM, TO BRING BACK HOME AS A VERY SPECIAL MEMORY.

HERMANUS IS SO PRIVILEGED TO ATTRACT THE WHALES IN BIG NUMBERS, THAT IT IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD TO EMPLOY ITS OWN WHALE CRIER.

EACH YEAR, FROM JUNE TO THE END OF NOVEMBER, HE PATROLS THE STREETS OF THE CHARMING TOWN, BLOWING HIS HORN MADE OF KELP, IN ORDER TO ALERT THE VISITORS OF THE LATEST SIGHTING AND WHEREABOUTS OF THE GENTLE GIANTS.

THE WHALES FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR IN MID-SEPTEMBER, WHEN THEIR NUMBERS ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST, AND LOCAL PEOPLE, AS WELL AS, FOREIGNERS COME TO HERMANUS TO ENJOY THE "SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES", THE HOLIDAY ATMOSPHERE AND STOP AT ALL THE STALLS SELLING INTERESTING FARE.

CAPE TOWN VOTED WORLD'S BEST CITY

It was announced today that Cape Town has come out tops in the 2011 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice® Destinations Awards after going up against major global competitors such as London, Sydney and New York. In addition, Blackheath Lodge and Derwent House Boutique Hotel, both situated in Cape Town, were ranked 7th and 8th respectively in the "Top Ten Hotels for Service" category.
According to TripAdvisor, which is the world's largest travel site, these awards honour top travel spots and hotels worldwide based on millions of real and unbiased opinions from TripAdvisor travellers.

The top ten destinations in 2011 were:

1. Cape Town, South Africa
2. Sydney, Australia
3. Machu Picchu, Peru
4. Paris, France
5. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
6. New York City, United States
7. Rome, Italy
8. London, United Kingdom
9. Barcelona, Spain
10. Hong Kong, China

Western Cape Tourism Minister Alan Winde expressed his delight at the news: "To be ranked first out of all cities in the world, and against global destinations of this calibre, speaks volumes about the strength of our offering. It is especially exciting for me that these results are based on the experiences of travellers who have visited the various destinations".

"Being at the top of such a prestigious list will most certainly boost our tourism industry and the economy as it will inspire more travellers to visit us. Cape Town's tourism industry deserves our highest praise for doing a sterling job - well done! I would like to extend special congratulations to Blackheath Lodge and Derwent House Boutique Hotel, which were ranked in the top ten for best service at hotels - they are setting the example that we should all be striving for."

The full list can be found at TripAdvisor's website: http://www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations

STILL BATTLING

WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR SOME OF US TO GET WITH IT AND JOIN INTO THE FUN OF SOCIAL MEDIA?
I HAD A SECOND LESSON TO TEACH ME HOW TO INSERT PICTURES INTO MY BLOGS, BUT WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT? BOTH MYSELF AND TERRI MY TEACHER, COULDN'T FIND THE PROMPTS TO DO IT. THE TOOL BAR CONTAINING SOME OF THE COMMANDS WOULD NOT RE-APPEAR, HENCE LEAVING US BOTH LABOURING AND FRUSTRATED.
MAYBE SOMEONE OUT THERE COULD GIVE ME, STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS, AS TO HOW TO POST A PICTURE INTO MY BLOG, PLEAAAAASE!
I AM GOING TO SEND THIS PLEA OUT AND WAIT PATIENTLY FOR A GUARDIAN ANGEL WITH A MAGIC WAND. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

CHEESE FESTIVAL

SA Cheese Festival
Franschhoek
Starts: Friday, 29th April 2011 10:00
Finish: Monday, 2nd May 2011 20:00
Venue: Bien Donne, Simondium
www.cheesefestival.co.za/

The award winning SA Cheese Festival, remains one of the most sought after culinary experiences of the year. Over the past eight years almost 200 000 consumers visited the annual festival.

Visitors can discover new cheeses, enjoy old favourites and return home with baskets filled with dairy and related products of their choice.

The festival is staged over four days to entice festival goers to taste and purchase their way through literally tons of cheese. Come and experiencing a palate pleasing sensation of an unrivalled selection of cheese, wines and other products.

WINDY DAY IN CAPE TOWN

I WOKE UP ON THURSDAY WITH THE SOUND OF THE HOWLING WIND.
THE METEOROLOGICAL PREDICTIONS WARNED US ABOUT THIS 65 KM/H SPEED, SO WE WERE EXPECTING IT. THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST ONES FOR MANY MONTHS AND IT MADE ITS ENTRANCE IN FULL FORCE. DRIVING TO MY MEETING THAT MORNING, I REGRETTED NOT HAVIN G A CAMERA WITH ME. THE TREES WITH THEIR BRANCHES SHAKING TO AND FRO SEEMED TO HOLD ON TO EVERYTHING THEY HAD NO TO LOSE ONE OF THEIR PRECIOUS BRANCHES. EVERYWHERE, NEWSPAPERS AND PLASTIC BAGS, NOT FIRMLY HELD DOWN, FLEW AT THE WILL OF THE POWERFUL GUSTS WHICH LIFTED THEM OFF E PUSHED THEM UP AND DOWN AND IN EVERY DIRECTION. PEOPLE WALKING TO WORK OR JUST ON THEIR WAY TO SOMEWHERE, UPPERBODY BENT FORWARD, HAIR FLYING WILDLY IN DISARRAY, HOLDING A SCARF TIGHT AROUND THEIR NECK, CAREFULLY PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER WITH A STRAINED FACIAL EXPRESSION.
AND ALL ALONG, THE FRIGHTENING HOWL OF A POWERFUL FORCE CONFIDENT NO ONE CAN STOP IT OR COMPETE FOR THIS SHOW OF SUPREMACY.