Cape Town - Bo-Kaap, Cape Town

Bo Kaap, Cape Town, South Africa

We enjoyed a wonderful wander around the Bo Kaap on a very hot Saturday - the community was out and about, the tourists were following the tour guides, a wedding was taking place and the atmosphere was congenial in this colourful part of our city. 

The lady above was selling koesisters - those delicious spicy doughnuts that one just cannot get enough of! Well known favourites are also samoosas (crispy triangle pastries), half-moons (crescent-shaped savoury snacks), daltjies (chilli bites), slangetjies and paaper bites (crisps) 

All yummy!

Or you can pop into one of the shops/restaurants for some delicious local cuisine or try a cooking class! This little girl was diligently sweeping the sidewalk of her parents restaurant while her brother played with his toys on the wall. 

Bo Kaap Cape Town South Africa

Start your visit at the Bo Kaap Museum at 71 Wale Street
This will give you an insight into the fascinating history of the area prior to a wander through the streets of Bo Kaap

"The Bo-Kaap Museum, situated in the historic area that became home to many Muslims and freed slaves after the abolition of slavery, showcases local Islamic culture and heritage. No. 71 Wale Street is today known as the Bo kaap Museum. Reportedly dating back to the 1760s, the building was converted into the Bo Kaap Museum in 1978, and is furnished as a 19th century Muslim dwelling.

The Bo Kaap Museum documents the history of the ‘Cape Malays’, and the contribution of these skilled craftsmen and scholars to the history of the Cape as a whole. The yellowwood floors and ceilings were restored to reinforce the old Cape Dutch feel, as were the teak window frames, doors and shutters. One of the rooms is furnished as a bridal chamber."

Bo Kaap Cape Town South Africa

"To this day, the houses are a mix of Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture, in distinctive multi-coloured rows on steeply cobbled roads. The choice of colour is said to be attributed to the fact that while on lease, all the houses had to be white. When this rule was eventually lifted, and the slaves were allowed to buy the properties, all the houses were painted bright colours by their owners as an expression of their freedom".

Bo Kaap Cape Town South Africa

Local resident Bo Kaap Cape Town South Africa

We loved the fact that this lady's dress matched the colour of her beautiful home! She graced us with a beautiful smile.

Brian in Bo Kaap, Cape Town, South Africa

Brian is a cheerful artist selling his African art outside another art shop, Art du Cap. Anthony de Klerk is the artist and runs his gallery here. Although not a local Malay, he caters more for the tourist market.

A wedding had just taken place and all the folk were happy and smiling!

This car has obviously not been moved in a long time as the weeds guarding the parking place are pretty high already!

We also chanced upon a photo shoot - it was for some German online company. and was fun to watch!

Bo Kaap Homes Cape Town, South Africa

Bo Kaap Cape Town South Africa

So all in all, a wonderful place to spend some time soaking up the unique atmosphere, eating some delicious snacks, chatting to the locals and enjoying time with your camera!

And, given that 2020 is a Leap Year, perhaps a time to propose to a loved one in Cape Town!!!

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                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

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South Africa - Load-Shedding

South Africa

"A place your feet may leave but your heart will always be" 

Load Shedding – the term the term coined by the South African power utility, Eskom, to cover up their inadequacies as regards efficient maintenance of the power producing plants in South Africa.

This has a ripple effect on all business in our country, from large Corporate companies to smaller folk trying to make a decent living. Not everybody can afford a generator so we groan and moan about Eskom and the new F Word = LS.

My mantra for some time now has been “For every Negative, there is a Positive”
So we cannot hide our heads in the sand like an ostrich, we need to find ways to reduce our anger and frustration.

It is often nearly impossible to come up with a positive when the power is out and the volume of work piles up. But it set me to thinking hard while browsing a magazine during the latest power cut. Firstly, I very seldom read magazines anymore – they all end up either in guest bedrooms or in the recycling bags. After all the effort that writers make to write interesting articles, we truly should give them some of our precious time.

So an enforced period of quiet reading brought me to this positive side of Load-Shedding….

We are all so caught up in the fast pace of life in the 21^st century that there is little or no time for reflection in the frenetic pace of our current lives. This is not how many of us grew up – we had so many wonderful moments when summer seemed to go on forever, the halcyon days of watermelon fights in the cooling of the day whilst our parents were having their sundowners and discussing their latest golf scores or the long winter evenings when we always ended up with chilblains from sitting too close to the fireplace!

Many folk are still willing go to places far and wide where there is NO Electricity – just to get away from it all. And, horror of horrors, some folk will even go as far as to visit a place where there is no cell phone reception. If Bear Grylls can barbeque and EAT a dead rat, then we can surely cope with Load-Shedding??

Our beach holidays as kids were incredible despite the fact that our bungalow had no running water, no electricity and cooking was done on a small Primus stove.  The pickled fish that my gran used to make with the fresh cob, just off the fishing boats, lasted us a full year and I have never tasted anything better.

So how to cope with the dreaded Load Shedding in a positive way? We can’t obviously head off on holiday every time the power goes out so we need to focus on using this time more productively.

For Tourists: Cape Town

The V&A is always open - 09.00 to 21.00 hrs 7 days a week, 365 days a year
With so much to see and do, this is a "go to" place for all. The restaurants remain open so nobody needs to go hungry just because the power is out. There are massive generators keeping all business open as usual.

Hire a bike and enjoy a glorious ride in the sunshine

Do a stroll, jog or run along the Sea Point Promenade - it's glorious at all times, and even better when the smell of the ocean is at it's best.

Or try a game of Putt Putt - there are 2 courses of 18 holes each

Book a Kayak for a guided, peaceful, quiet excursion on the ocean. kayak.co.za

Take your camera to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and enjoy the beauty of the gardens
The flora changes with the seasons but the birds remain, the mountain view is glorious and art work is captivating. With a number of safe hiking trails for those who are fitter and would like to climb higher, entry, via Kirstenbosch, is a winner.

Blouberg beach is ideal for a long walk and those captivating views of Table Mountain
Perhaps try some SUP (Stand Up Paddle) Boarding or Kite Surfing

The harbours of Kalk Bay and Hout Bay are always interesting no matter what the season.
Fishing is a pastime enjoyed by many locals, especially over week-ends!

Plus much more to explore where power is not required......

So, for those tourists who feel that South Africa is no longer worth visiting, think again!!

Our scenery remains unbelievable, there truly is nothing to beat Cape Town!
Wine tasting is a firm favourite, while hunting down some craft beer is fun activity!
And the list goes on and on.....

We look forward to welcoming you soon – we do offer our renowned South African Hospitality as we remain one of the friendliest nations on earth. South African is indeed a Rainbow Nation – this Load-Shedding is a blip that will be overcome by private enterprise sooner rather than later! Moves are already afoot.

For those living in South Africa:

Whilst we can obviously also do all of the above activities, here are some further ideas if you are stuck at home.

Use the time for chatting to the children, work colleagues or friends either face to face or via our cell phones as these still work. Or they will do provided that the batteries for the cell towers can re-charge often enough!

Get out into the garden for some weeding or planting

Read those neglected magazines or the book that somebody gave you that has been on your bedside table since Christmas

Do the horrid (in my books!) job of filing

Plan the next week-end away with friends

Clear out old files – ready for shredding

Go for a walk or run in your local neighbourhood - you are sure to meet up with friends or make new ones.

Plan your shopping according to the black-outs as not all shops have generators either!

Grab your camera and head out for some creative time. 

De-clutter your cupboards and give the excess to your favourite charity

Clear out the garage of all those old paint tins, hard-as-nails paint brushes and other stuff that you will never, ever use again.

Decide to have a “braai” instead of cooking inside – it’s such a South African tradition after all.

Who cares if it’s at midnight? The neighbours will enjoy the wafting smells of good old South African boerewors.

At the end of the day, it boils down to better time management I suppose and, although Eskom keeps us in the “dark” as regards a regular LS Schedule, the App “Eskomsepush” is pretty accurate.

So I managed to find a few small positives in while sitting in the “dark” over lunch time. The frustration does “boil” over from time to time. Some words take on double meanings now as nothing can boil on an electric stove without power. Hurrah for gas stoves!

When did we become so entirely dependent on electricity? It is now an essential for business, school and home. We have lost the art of writing letters by hand - everybody is on the various Social Media platforms and instant communication is the key. The excitement of seeing a letter from friends and loved ones, no longer happens. Progress is inevitable therefore the supply of electricity is essential!
Unfortunately, ESKOM, the South African Government utility, has not moved with the times and they are now leaving us in the dark to cope as best we can.

But cope we will - we are South African after all!

The quote below is a favourite - we are indeed "caught up in one place just where we are"

So let's make it work.

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                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

Cape Town - Kitesurfing

Where to go to get some air: Kitesurfing in Cape Town

You may have seen them: colourful arcs zigzagging across an azure sky, dipping, rising, majestic. Kitesurfing’s popularity has soared to dizzying heights since its inception in the 1990’s, and Cape Town has been recognised as one of the world’s best places to enjoy this extreme sport.

As infamous as our Mother City is for her lovely warm weather, she is equally as famed for her strong and reliable wind. The consistent gusts blow from November to March, making Cape Town the ultimate kitesurfing destination with more than 30 remarkable spots nestled in and around the city.

Looking for the most unbeatable kitesurfing holiday of a lifetime, in sun-filled South Africa with beautiful beaches and Table Mountain in the backdrop? Cape Town is the perfect destination. Aside from the perfect kiting conditions, the city will entertain you with plenty of natural and cultural attractions to visit. Kiters can bring along families and friends, with all guaranteed of having a wonderful time both in and out of the water.

 Who will soar to the throne? Catch the Redbull King of the Air competition

Indeed, Blouberg is a global kitesurfing hotspot, so much so that Red Bull chose it as the venue for the annual Red Bull King of the Air – the most prestigious big air kiteboarding contest in the world and a huge highlight on Cape Town’s events calendar. The event sees the very best board-riders from across the globe come together for a day of action and adrenaline, powered by a lot of wind. This year’s competition also features an innovative new entry and qualification format, allowing both pro and amateur a shot at competing.

The main event window will be open from 01 – 16 February 2020 (16 days / three weekends), and will take place at Kite Beach, Blouberg, Cape Town. All are invited to witness the wonder of human bravery meeting nature’s most intense elements.

 If the kitesurfing bug bites

If you would like to brave the waters and air for yourself but are wondering where to go, and what to expect from a lesson, we have the answers (and spa you need to soothe tired muscles post adrenaline rush).

Before you don your wetsuit, enjoy a bit of background to the innovative sport. Kitesurfing is a wind-powered water sport that uses a kite and a board to propel you across the water. Despite the name, it does not have to involve wave surfing – kitesurfing can be done on mirror-flat lagoons, as well as in choppy seas or big waves. All you need is wind and water.

Kites with inflatable tubes are used to produce the pull from the wind. The inflatable parts of the kites help hold the shape and also allow the kite to float and therefore be re-launched from the water. Various sizes of kites are used depending on the wind strength and size of the rider, anything from 2 to 14 meters square.

 What skills do you need to get started?

Most beginners are completely new to board sports, water sports, and kite-flying, so lessons start from scratch. Many have never flown a kite or done another water sport in their life. For safety reasons, you should be comfortable swimming in open water.

How fit do you need to be?

You do not need to be super-fit to kitesurf. The kite is lightweight, so you do not need lots of muscle strength either. A general level of fitness will help you progress faster, give you more stamina on the water and help you avoid injuries.

 How to begin?

Kitesurfing can appear to be a bit of a daunting sport. Having said that, there are some wonderful kitesurfing schools in Cape Town, and a proliferation of excellent, and patient teachers. You can go from being a complete beginner to standing on a board with confidence in roughly four days with the care and encouragement you will get at kitesurfing schools like Cabrinha.

Choose from a three-hour group introductory course, a 10-hour full beginner course (their preferred recommendation), a four-hour intermediate course, or one-on-one sessions.

All of the equipment is provided, and Cabrinha also makes use of two-way radio systems, so you are in constant communication with your instructor. Lessons are also limited to two people per instructor, and all of their instructors are fully certified IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization) members. You will learn everything from theory and safety procedures to how to launch and land the kite and of course board-riding techniques, at a pace that suits you.

 Where to kite?

Bloubergstrand is without a doubt the most popular area for kite surfers in Cape Town. In the summer months, hundreds of kitesurfers flock from all over the world to the long stretch of beach.

That said, Cape Town has over 30 beaches to choose from, with Witsand near Cape Point, Shark Bay and Main Beach in Langebaan high on the list of beaches pros and novices love.

Cabrinha usually takes beginners to Langebaan. Located just over an hour from Cape Town in a scenic coastal area, Langebaan boasts a flat-water lagoon that is flanked by a nature reserve. The Langebaan lagoon is one of the biggest lagoons in the world, with bright blue waters and a large waist-deep section. The super-flat water conditions are perfect for those just starting out.

Blog post by Tarah Darge

         

For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

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