Maybe its just me, but its always sad when I find a dead marine bird, shark or something on the beach. I went for a walk along the Sacramento Trail at Schoenmakerskop and spotted this departed Cape Gannet from some distance away already. The rest of my group walked by without even a glance while I felt I just had to stop to reflect on its former beauty (and of cause snap a picture). Bird Island (part of the Greater Addo Elephant…
Its always nice to discover something or somewhere new. In this case it was something old. A quick geocache outing during lunch time took me into the Shark River Valley in Humewood and to the old Frames Reservoir. In the mid 1800's the fledgling town of Port Elizabeth was having water problems. As a stop-gap measure, a Mr Pinchin and Mr Clement Wall Frames, nephew of William Brooksby Frames, negotiated with the Town Council to supply water to the lower parts…
One of the things that Libby Sharwood at the South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SAMREC) in Port Elizabeth always say is, "You can help but to smile when you watch a penguin." The African Penguin is highly endangered with only just over 20 000 breeding pairs left in the world, most of these right on my doorstep on St Croix Island in Algoa Bay. SAMREC does an amazing job both in the care and rehabilitation of birds that…
Port Elizabeth is fortunate to have a lot of very nice spots to go for a drink or cocktail after work or a relaxing Sunday afternoon. One of these is the Verandah at the Beach Hotel with its stunning view of Hobie Beach and Shark Rock Pier across the road. I haven't been here for a while until I rediscovered it the other day while having drinks with colleagues after a hard couple of days.
Kids are doing it. Students are doing it. Triathlon athletes are doing it. Chad le Clos is doing it. Heck, even the weavers in my garden are doing it thanks to the birdbath. So why not the elephants? Elephants don't have sweat glands so they stay cool by flapping their ears and using the blood running through their ears like water running through a radiator. They also like to throw water over themselves to stay cool and occasionally they like…
For years now people have wondered what will happen if Nelson Mandela had to die. Many hoped that they would never have to see the day and that Madiba will live forever. But he was just a man after all. Not an ordinary man though. A very special man. Many white (sic) people saw him as a terrorist as he fought for the freedom of this country. I say this country because although the fight against Apartheid was seen by many as…
This morning the world woke up to the news that the father of a democratic South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela has passed away. I don't want to write a whole long post about him because every newspaper, magazine and news website there is will have his whole life story. I just want to say that on this day we shouldn't just mourn this great man, but also celebrate his life and what he did for peace in South Africa. May his memory…
http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/BGS7SpI7obY&source=udsThis was the first song I though of this morning when I heard the news of Nelson Mandela's death last night. Rest in peace Madiba.
Rhino poaching is a serious issue in South Africa and the more awareness that is created the better. Playing his part in this is the sand sculptor at Hobie Beach. Passing by the other morning I spotted his sand rhino and had to snap a picture.
Over the years Willows Resort along Marine Drive on Port Elizabeth's Wildside has become an PE institution. During the year many locals spend weekends here camping or staying in the very distinctively Willows rondawels while out of town visitors pack it out during the Summer holidays and over Easter. I've popped into Willows for various reasons in the past, but got to stay over for the first time on a weekend organised by my in-laws recently. Willows has it all to…