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Snake Park demonstrations

The Port Elizabeth Museum at Bayworld is the third oldest museum in South Africa, while the Snake Park is the oldest of its kind in the world.  When the museum moved to premises in Bird Street in 1919 the complex opened the Snake Park with demonstrations by snake handler, Johannes, being a huge highlight.  He was reputed to have been bitten on average once a year for the 30 years he was on the staff and eventually died.  The Port Elizabeth Museum…

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18/12/2013
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Holmeleigh Farm Christmas Party

Yesterday (Monday 16 December) the annual Holmeleigh Farmyard Christmas Party for underprivileged kids hosted by Holmeleigh Farm and Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism and supported by Bay FM 107.9, Ocean Rock Entertainment and musician Wayne Kallis (with many more contributions) took place.  And what a party it was.  About 230 kids from 8 different schools, homes and charity organisations arrived to a full on party with everything you can expect from such. EVERYTHING! Did I mention there were 230 odd kids?  Exhausting for both them and us. …

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17/12/2013
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Downtown PE from the harbour

A slightly different view of downtown Port Elizabeth seen from on board of the Jester in the PE Harbour

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16/12/2013
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Ultimate Braaimaster inspired steak

To braai or not to braai? What a stupid question to ask most South African men.  Braai of cause.  South Africans' love for braai has led to a reality outdoor cooking (on coals) show called The Ultimate Braaimaster that airs on SABC 3.  Their motto is, Come rain or shine or wind or snow... we braai.  Enough said really.  Even though I haven't got the cooking skills to enter it myself the show is a source of inspiration for my own braais.  One…

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15/12/2013
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The Great South African Flag

Over the last ten days since the death of Nelson Mandela, all South African flags, including the Great Flag on the Donkin Reserve, have been flying at half mast.  Today (Sunday 15 Dec) Madiba was buried in his home town of Qunu in the Eastern Cape which means all flags will be fully hoisted from tomorrow on again.  The Great Flag forms part of Route 67 and flies on top of the tallest flag pole in South Africa.  At 65…

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15/12/2013
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Science Centre bridge

The Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre in Uitenhage is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered by young and old.  Since its opening many schools and individuals have enjoyed the different activities and scientific experiments visitors can participate in but this has really only been a drop in the ocean compared to the potential the centre has.

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14/12/2013
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Bridge Street’s bar

I've never been a very big drinker.  Never have been and never will be.  Doesn't mean I don't enjoy a nice cold one every now and then.  Particularly one of Bridge Street Brewery's Celtic Cross Pilsners which comes out of one of those taps on the left hand side. *smiley face*

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13/12/2013
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Sailing to the dunes

With the onset of the summer holidays the Sundays River around Colchester is about to become a very busy place.  Fishing, paddling, boating, relaxing, water skiing, floating, swimming, you name it.  The last time I went down the Sundays River on the Sundays River Ferry was a nice quiet weekday while it was school so there were only one or two other boats on the river that day.  Here the ferry stops at it's turning point to give visitors the…

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12/12/2013
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Shisa Nyama at Chilleks

The word shisa nyama means burned meat in Zulu and a Shisa Nyama refers to a township restaurant or tavern where they serve mainly braaivleis (barbequed meat for those who don't know what a braai is).  In most case the Shisa Nyama will have a butchery attached to it so you have a choice of ordering whatever off the menu or choose your meat from the fridge before it gets braai'd by the establishment's braaimaster for you. Everybody knows Shisa Nyamas like Mzoli's Place in Cape…

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11/12/2013