South Africa - Arniston and Surrounds

 

Arniston Harbour

South Africa boasts so many small towns and villages - this makes living in the Western Cape ideal for week-end get-aways. We based ourselves in Arniston for the week-end and explored both Struisbaai and Agulhas. Driving the gravel road from Arniston to Struisbaai was great fun - sheep, bales, windmills and a kindly farmer who allowed us to drive across his fields to get closer to a huge flock of pelicans. As usual, when getting closer to birds, most of the flock took off! They were so awesome to look at even though my photos don't really do them justice.

Pelicans on a farm near Arniston

L'Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, never disappoints. It is known as the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and tourists line up to have their photos taken at this point. The lighthouse is well worth a visit - climb the 71 steps to the top if you are brave enough to do that last ladder! The views are apparently stunning - I chickened out getting to the top. The lighthouse was completed in 1849 and remains the 2nd oldest lighthouse in South Africa. The oldest lighthouse in South Africa is the Green Point Lighthouse in Mouille Point, Cape Town. This was first lit on 12th April 1824.

The village of L'Agulhas was developed around the lighthouse and settlers arrived around 1920 with the first houses completed in 1936. Today, this is a bustling village and well worth exploring.

Wreck of the Meisho Maru 38

Do venture beyond the main point where the oceans meet to view the remains of the wreck of the Meisho Maru 38. This Japanese vessel ran aground on 16th November 1982. All 17 crew survived and swam ashore. The remains of the vessel are getting smaller and smaller as the storms and high seas take their toll. This is only one of around 140 ships that have met their end at the tip of Africa. This Japanese trawler was carrying 250 tons of tuna.

Rasperpunt Fish Traps

After viewing the wreck we carried on down this road that leads to the small village of Suiderstrand. 

There is a 5.5km hike from the wreck of the Meisho Maru 38 to Rasperpunt, where the ancient fish traps of the Khoi are still visible. Pick up a guide book at the Agulhas Lighthouse if you wish to do this hike. The story of the fish traps is most interesting. The ancient Khoi built these stone walls to trap the fish as they swam in with the high tide. At low tide, they became trapped. Fish were more plentiful in those days. This area is best viewed at low tide. From the road there is a long boardwalk down to the sea. There were a number of fishermen in the area so there must still be fish around! Sadly, there is also a marker for Wilhelm Schalk Baard 17/02/1987 - 23/12/2013

Wilhelm Baard Marker Rasperpunt

Struisbaai boasts the longest natural beach in the Southern Hemisphere. This stretches for 14 km towards Arniston. There are boardwalks in both directions from the harbour - the one heading towards the beach is great for views and strong sea breezes! The fishing harbour is a great place to watch the fishing boats coming back from their fishing trips. The harbour was built in 1959 but enlarged in 1990. Its still small but worth a visit. We did not spot the stingray on this trip - however, the story goes back many years and the stingray is named Parrie. A visitor to the harbour when the fishing boats come in, Parrie has been a visitor to Struisbaai for over 30 years. 

Arniston is a fishing village with lime-washed and thatched cottages in amongst the more modern holiday homes and the famous Arniston Hotel. The village is the only one in South Africa with 2 official names - Arniston and Waenhuiskrans (Wagon House or Shelter Cliff). 

The name Arniston comes from the shipwreck "The Arniston" that sank in 1815. The ship was on its way from Ceylon to England, via Cape Town. The ship was carrying wounded soldiers. The ship broke up on the sharp rocks of the Arniston reef and only 6 out of 378 passengers survived. 

The other official names is from the cave. The sea cave of Waenhuiskrans is only accessible at low tide and is approx. a 40 minute walk from the hotel or a 20 minute walk from Roman beach.

Roman Beach
The main beach is a little way out of the village and a sign warns one of the dangerous stairway down to the beach! The water is warmer than either Hermanus or Cape Town and the locals as well as the holiday makers swim here regularly. 
The Hotel Beach is right in from of the Arniston Hotel and it was fun to watch the tourists wandering down for a swim in their hotel gowns after a hot day of touring. One of the most visited areas in Arniston is Kassiesbaai. The area is now a Grade 1 Heritage site and it is a pleasure to walk amongst the houses that retain so much charm. 

There are a few local eateries in the village - the one above is Willeens on the seaside. Outside seating is available plus there are tables inside the building that also sells arts and crafts. 

We really loved Mien's Tea Garden - this is inside the village and the breakfast was superb. The owner is such a friendly lady with loads of local knowledge. Apparently, homes in this village can only be sold to those who were born in Kassiesbaai. Many of the younger generation, who have moved elsewhere for jobs, have renovated their homes and these are now available as holiday lets. Mien's Tea Garden has a tranquil veranda, filled with plants and quirky signs. Well worth a visit!

All in all a wonderful week-end escape from city life!

Paragliding above Roman Beach

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                         For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                              www.bradclin.com

Travel Ready - Let's Go

Table Mountain from the V and A Waterfront Cape Town South Africa

My own love of travel started in 1992 with my first trip to UK and Europe. This must be the only "bug" bite that I have ever welcomed with total abandon and never regretted. Although I am certainly not an adventure traveller, preferring the more leisurely options of photography, food, hiking and enjoying the various cultural aspects of each country, I do remain in awe of all the incredible feats witnessed on TV/uTube etc by so many amazing folk who seem to have a fear of absolutely nothing!

Nonetheless, a traveller I remain on my own small scale. Just watching Ben Fogle talking from his garden hut in his UK home, about his enforced Covid-19 Lockdown and his memories of his Atlantic Canoe crossing, makes me want to hop on a plane and head off to photograph somewhere different and new to me. Or maybe just to see somewhere with fresh eyes again?

Travel can be whatever you want it to be - no matter how sedate or how adventure driven it ends up being. The odd travel mishaps will occur - mine have been fairly few and far between.

In Argentina, I fell down some uneven steps and ended up in agonizing pain. With only 1 staff member who could speak English in the resort where we were staying, we were eventually assisted to a local hospital. The waiting room was full, dogs playing between patient's legs, breast feeding mothers, kids looking wide-eyed at everything around them and patient, resigned folk prepared to wait and wait for their turn. To this day, I don't know what the lady told Reception but I was brought a wheelchair and taken straight through to a doctor. The X-Ray equipment appeared ancient but functional and I truly got the best care. The injection that I received must have been a truly magic potion as my pain started easing within a few hours. I was told to rest for 6 days - really? In a country I had never seen before and would most probably never see again? I spent one day in bed and then braced myself to sit in the back seat of the car, with my leg extended, so that we could venture out exploring. We continued on our journey and I was able to walk again after a few days. Hats off to this small hospital in Argentina! A heartfelt thank you.

In Zanzibar I ended up with severe gastro the night prior to our departure. It appeared that I had been drinking too much mango juice - lesson learned - stick to beer! The doctor gave me the correct medrication and the hotel staff were amazing - offering me whatever I felt like eating - which was not much besides toast, tea and some soup. Our flights were postponed and I got to recover sitting on my lounger watching the dhows sailing by.

In Thailand, we started a hike into a forest and within minutes I was itching like never before. It was insane and I was jumping around like a grasshopper from one foot to the next but with no relief from the little blighters (whatever they were)  Needless to say, that ended the proposed hike. So stock up on cream BEFORE heading into these forests!

For our trip to India, we stocked up on loads of medication for the dreaded  "Delhi Belly"
Although we spent 4 weeks eating only local, delicious Indian food, we escaped unscathed and I eventually threw away the medication a year later! However, this was a very necessary precaution so do take care if travelling to this incredibly interesting country. The food in Southern India is truly yummy - the best ever!

These were all fairly minor mishaps and just add to the travel experience.
Travel opens once's eyes to so much and although, most of us will never get to all the places on our Bucket List, there is no harm in trying.....start planning!

Despite being an avid traveller worldwide, my own country South Africa, has incredible beauty and variety to offer. We travel as much as we can locally every year. For anybody, who has not yet travelled to South Africa, start planning. You will not be disappointed.

                            South Africa is "Travel Ready" 

                                Start planning your trip 

                                    www.bradclin.com

                                    #proudlycapetonian

Table Mountain from Signal Hill Cape Town South Africa

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                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

#iamtourism

South Africa - Sanity during Self-Isolation - Covid 19

Hang On Tight 

South Africa is now in Lock-Down (26/03/2020) due to Covid 19. For  us, as outdoor loving citizens, this is indeed punishment to be endured for the safety of all. It will soon become the new "norm" and hopefully all will abide by the stringent regulations set by our President Cyril Ramaphosa. So hold on tight!

Explore some of the tips outlined below, courtesy of Andre.

The Reset Guide to Self-Isolation Sanity

By Andre

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

With the whole world facing the unprecedented challenge of Coronavirus and Covid-19, many things are unclear. It’s easy to spiral into fear and anxiety, especially as we isolate and distance ourselves more.

We’re working from home now, and one thing has become very clear. Mental fortitude will be essential for us to pull through. There are a few simple measures we can all implement to make life easier during this time. We have compiled a basic guide to strike a healthy balance for body, mind and soul, during our time at home.

1. Routine and Structure

Firstly, an overarching principle, if we are all set to spend much more time at home, good routine will be essential. It will prevent our time from simply sprawling and form the basis of our other beneficial measures and steps.

The simple repetition of routine can be a great comfort in uncertain times. It can provide stability and helps us get back on track.

A simple way to start building your routine is with pen and paper. List the daily activities you wish to do. When you are satisfied with the list, allocate times to fit them into your day.

Remember, managing your routine and time should become one of your daily tasks. Doing his helps to reinforce your plan and to adapt and grow it as you go. From there, plan your week and add different activities for each day for further variety and balance.

A ‘not to do list’ is a good idea during this time. Things like compulsive snacking while we spend more time at home can creep into our routine. A key behaviour we must avoid now is spiralling into negative news and speculation.

This time is an opportunity to be more intentional in our activities and to work on our personal growth.

Routine ideas and resources:

·        Make a ‘not-to-do’ list of behaviours to avoid

·        Plan standard tasks for every day

·        Plan unique tasks for different days of the week

·        Keep to treating weekdays and weekends differently

2. Social Contact

Naturally, our key concern in this time of self-isolation is loneliness. This is an issue we increasingly deal with regardless of the current pandemic – and the current situation will exacerbate this.

There is no substitute for face to face contact. In our current circumstances, virtual contact is still a great source of comfort. Speaking to friends or loved ones regularly is essential.

Structure contact with your friends and loved ones by making it a point to check in daily. Perhaps schedule recurring calls or video calls. This can remain and become one of the positive legacy elements of the coronavirus pandemic.

Socialising ideas:

·        Cook together either with your co-habitants or on a video call

·        Get the kids to do a play or recital on a video call

·        Reach out to old friends – check if they are ok

3. Unplugging

Just as we have to ensure we spend time with friends and loved ones, we have to ensure we have time away from the virus. The overwhelming media and news coverage will likely grow louder.

The pandemic seems to touch every aspect of life, and it can be hard to ignore for even a minute. We’ll actively need to remove ourselves from its grip.

Key to this is not to allow ourselves open-ended media access. Schedule news downtime or even better schedule limited news time. Switch off your tv and phone for proper peace and repurpose this time.

Unplugging ideas and resources:

·        Set a daily window for news

·        Limit the amount of open-ended time spent on phones and tablets

4. Movement and Exercise

As we self-isolate and distance ourselves from others the space, we have to move in shrinks. A degree of atrophy seems inevitable. Exercise is not only important for our morale but good for health and immunity.

Those that have access to uncrowded outdoor space, can take advantage of this for fresh air or walks. However, many others are more homebound. Either way, we should gear our minds to get good exercise during this time.

There are many great resources for home exercise, even without any equipment. Yoga, stretching, Tai chi and bodyweight training are all great options.

Exercise resources:

·        Check out the Body Coach’s 10 Minute Home workout For Seniors

·        We love the Downdog Yoga app and they have a bunch of other exercise apps too. They have made these free for the next few weeks

·        The Nike Training Club is a great app with many options, including workouts without equipment

·        Search YouTube for the kind of fitness instruction that interest you – like learn basic Tai Chi

5. Staying Productive

We have all been stunned a bit by the sudden change in circumstances. There’s also a torrent of new information constantly coming at us. Naturally, we would lose momentum on productivity.

If one considers the damage to the economy and savings, it makes sense that we try to stimulate as much productivity during this time as possible.

Those who have been freelancers or consultants will likely have a good idea of what they could do now. Others will need to be resourceful to find paid opportunities.

Paid productivity is ideal, but many unpaid forms of productivity will have significant benefit too, especially as we need to be more self-reliant during this time. The cooking, cleaning, maintenance and repair of our homes and their contents mostly fall on us now.

Productivity resources:

·        Identify one meaningful project or key work stream to undertake during this time

·        Explore what skills you have that can be delivered remotely. Explore the gig platforms like Upwork and Fiverr

·        Take over some the tasks you normally outsource, like cooking and cleaning

·        Take on home maintenance or repair projects – most of us have a string of things we’ve meaning to get fixed

6. Air and Breathing

Spending more time indoors can leave us feeling boxed in and depressed. Good air and breathing is a proven health benefit. One can get air by simply getting out (if that’s safe to do) or try enhanced breathing exercises or even meditation and mindfulness.

Breathing resources:

·        Try guided breathing tutorials on YouTube, like this one by Wim Hof

·        Try mindfulness apps like Calm and Headspace, not only for breathing but general relaxation and improved sleep too

7. Self-improvement

One benefit we have during this time is… time. Wouldn’t it be great to come out on the other side of this with new skills and knowledge?

Now is a great time for reading and learning online. This could be through courses like Masterclass or just YouTube, where one can learn almost anything these days by searching the topic.

Self-improvement resources:

·        Read! Revisit some of the books you have at home.

·        Read classics and other books in the public domain – download these as free ebooks from libraries like Project Gutenberg

·        Masterclass offers many great courses by some of the world’s most accomplished leaders from various fields.

·        TED offers video talks on fascinating subjects by experts from all over the world.

·        Search on YouTube for specific skills you wish to learn. For example How to write a screenplay

·        Udemy offers over 100,000 online courses.

8. Entertainment and Armchair Exploration

Rather than grazing a mix of entertainment and news, be intentional and take in great quality entertainment and information. We can take the time to really listen to music as an activity in and of itself. This is a powerful way to improve mood.

All the regular entertainment channels are available along with many new ones that are being made free during this time. For example, the Metropolitan Opera cannot host live productions now, so they are streaming recorded operas for free. See the link below.

The internet allows us to explore many wonderful things from our homes! Google Arts and Culture offers virtual tours of many of the world’s best museums. And Google Earth has virtual tours we can take too.

Entertainment and armchair exploration resources:

·        You can listen to just about any song you have ever heard on streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music

·        Treat your home like a cinema and block off time to watch great movies and series

·        Explore the world’s best museums on Google Arts and Culture

·        13 Breathtaking virtual tours on Google Earth

·        Explore the vastness of space with Google Sky

·        The Met Opera free live audio stream

·        Acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura has started a free cooking show called “Kitchen Quarantine” on Instagram

·        Browse some the best stand up comedy specials ever

9. Familiar Comforts

Many of our familiar comforts lie outside our homes. However, we can still find comfort in the ones that are homebound. Listening to music favourites, reminiscing with old photo albums or eating some of our favourite treats can all help us feel more at ease during this time.

Familiar comfort resources:

·        Relive vacations or other milestones by browsing through photos and share them with loved ones

·        Fix a time for your favourite warm drink

10. Playfulness

So much of what we’re currently contemplating is very serious. It’s important that we grant ourselves moments of levity.

Let’s encourage playfulness. Kids should build forts. Adults should share jokes. Pet’s should be given attention.

Playfulness resources:

·        Make silly videos to cheer up loved ones

·        Use the good china. Drink the single malt you have been saving for a special occasion

11. Get Creative

The confines of our homes are only as small as our imaginations. Creativity can be a wonderful outlet and a way to take our minds places. An absorbing creative activity can put us in an ultra-satisfying flow state for hours.

Creativity resources:

·        Take up morning pages – many of the world’s most creative people swear by it

·        Learn creative techniques on YouTube – like how to draw

12. Sleep

Sleeping Seal - Kalk Bay Cape Town

More and more research suggests that we cannot overestimate the value of sleep. When it comes to our health and general well-being – even strengthening our immune systems, sleep is essential.

Without as many rigid and early appointments currently, we should maximize our nightly sleep and even work in some naps.

Sleep resources:

·        Search for expert advice on how to get a good night’s sleep

·        Cut off the disruptive white light of phones and tablets a few hours before bedtime.

·        Listen to audiobooks rather than look at screens in bed

·        Listen to sleep-enhancing apps like Calm

13. Smile

These are tough times and fear can bring out the worst in people. If you find yourself in an abrasive social situation, remember that many people are just scared at the moment. Being patient and spreading kindness will help maintain our greatest asset, our social fabric.

Many of us will spend much more time with our partners and co-habitants in this time. Normally we can take time apart to cool off tension. Without that option, we must be more considerate.

Research shows that smiling can make us happier whether we like it or not. And it’s contagious too.

Let’s all be as kind as possible.

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                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com