While on a township tour with a Argentinian journalist a little while ago we set off in search of a mural, painting or even just graffiti somewhere on a wall that depicted the fight against HIV / Aids. We finally found one on the wall of the Ubuntu Educational Fund's old building in Zwide.
One of the oldest post boxes in Port Elizabeth stands on the Donkin Reserve next to the old lighthouse keeper's cottage, now occupied by the NMBT visitor information centre. The post box has the Royal Cipher "GR" on it, indicating that it was erected during the reign of King George V somewhere between 1910-1936. The first roadside post boxes appeared in 1852 on the Channel Islands. Since then all post boxes in the UK has been painted red and bear…
Bird lovers visiting Montagu doesn't have to go much further than the Leidam to see a wide range of birds fairly up close. The residents around the dam include Grey heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, African Sacred Ibis and the Common Weaver with 18 local species and 52 migrant species counted. The town has put up a very nice and accessible viewing deck next to the dam and visitors who would like a closer look can get a key for the gate from the…
I had lunch at Cafe Capellini in the Walmer Park Shopping Centre the other day and noticed this set of "reminders" regarding customers under the stairs. In this day and age where customer service is so important yet often lacking, this was a stark reminder how customers should actually be treated. And just to add, the service was excellent.
I have seen stunning photos of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with some of the best interior ones being taken from the top tow of seats right in the very corner. So late last year during the IRB 7's I decided to venture up into the nose bleed section and get my own photo. Mmmmm.... Quite clearly the stunning pics I've seen were taken with a SLR with wide angle lens. Both of which I don't have. So for now I…
Visiting the Montagu Dried Fruit factory shop we found out that they have a sightseeing tractor tour of the farm for which we immediately booked. The tour takes about an hour and a half to two hours and passes the fruit drying area and orchards before heading up the hill behind the farm. Once you are out of the actually farming area you start ascending the adjacent hill with its typical Karoo vegetation. The Kidz were obviously very excited about the trip and…
The well known Nanaga Farmstall about 50 kilometers outside of Port Elizabeth may be famous for its pies, roosterkoek and pineapple juice, but there is so much more to see and purchase at the farm stall. Amongst others they have a fantastic range of jams and jellies lined up on their shelves.
Sniffing about one of the township corner "take aways" that I posted about yesterday, I was invited inside the shack to have a look at the sit down area. Nothing fancy. Wooden benches with tables covered in plastic. No fancy cutlery. This guy was eating out of a tin bowl with a spoon. I often think all white people should go on a township tour to see how the residents of the township really live. Break down a couple of…
I just can't get enough of observing the township corner "take aways" with their pots cooking away. These pots could contain chicken being fried or cooked, offal, sheep heads (smileys) or the inside of a cow's head. The pots are traditional three legged cast iron pots which are very popular with both black and white South Africans to prepare food over the fire. The gentleman in the green shirt is a customer waiting for his meal being dished up.
I love summer fruits (well, any fruit actually) like peaches, plums and apricots. That was one of the many reasons I looked forward to spending the first part of our summer holiday in the Klein Karoo town of Montagu. The area has a rich soil and amazing micro climate and along with the fact that there is an abundance of water makes it ideal to farm summer fruits.On our first day in Montagu I discovered the Montagu Dried Fruit Factory Shop. …