South Africa - Activities in Cape Town

Kalk Bay, Cape Town

WATCH THE SUNRISE FROM THE TOP OF LION’S HEAD

Hike up Lion’s Head to catch the sunrise to see majestic Table Mountain bathed in golden light. It makes for a striking image. Take a head torch to light the way and go with a group of friends. You could also up the adventure level by trying a full moon hike.

GET A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

The aerial view of Cape Town is hard to beat. Book a tandem paragliding experience from Cape Xtreme Adventure Tours and take in the beauty of the city while getting your blood pumping.

MOVIE NIGHT UNDER THE STARS

An outdoor movie welcomes you to experience cinematic delights, tantalising treats, and breathtaking scenery under a canopy of stars. From October, the Galileo Open Air Cinema shows a line-up of romantic comedies, cult classics, and musicals at some of Cape Town’s prettiest open-air venues.

HIKING TABLE MOUNTAIN

Spring offers some of the best weather for hiking, with plenty of sunshine but moderate temperatures. Grab your backpack, friends, sunscreen, and insect repellent, and head to one of Table Mountain’s glorious hikes.

Table Mountain Cape Town

 

SCENIC HELICOPTER FLIGHTS

This unrivalled experience offers a once-in-a-lifetime trip over the Cape Peninsula. There are few better ways to take in the beauty of the area. Book with City Helicopters.

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARK’S WEEK

Pack a picnic, grab your family and friends, and head out to one of the SANParks offering a week’s free entrance. For the entire week each year, locals will be able to get in touch with nature to experience all that the parks have to offer. Cape Point, Table Mountain National Park, and the West Coast National Park are highlights in the Western Cape. The 2019 dates are 8-15 September.

West Coast National Park, South Africa,

WINE TASTING

Sip and swirl the top-class wine in Constantia, where some of South Africa’s oldest wine producing estates can be found, including the popular Groot Constantia. A little further afield you’ll find more wine routes, including Durbanville and the Helderberg. Each has something unique to taste, so make a day out of it!

Vergelegen Somerset west, South Africa

 

VISIT A MARKET

There is an abundance of vibrant markets in Cape Town, and there are many fantastic food markets too. Markets are the best way to shop for gifts, crafts, and trinkets, and they also make for a fun way to dine out. Some are only open on the weekends or evenings, so please check beforehand.

HOP ON HOP OFF CITY SIGHTSEEING BUS

Hop on and step off the iconic City Sightseeing double-decker red buses to feast on the sights, Cape Town’s top attractions and sounds of the city. There are 17 bus stops in and around the city with a route duration of approximately 2 hours.

VISIT A MUSEUM

Museum visits are a fun, educational, and laid-back way to enjoy a spring day. Explore Cape Town’s treasured museums to learn more about Cape Town’s rich heritage, history, and more.

WHALE WATCHING

Between August and November, it’s peak whale season in Cape Town. Hermanus is the whale capital of the Western Cape, but you can spot them from almost anywhere with a sea view.

Hermanus

 WINE, DINE, AND ENJOY SOME LOCAL ART AT FIRST THURSDAYS

First Thursdays has become a must-attend event in Cape Town. It takes place on the first Thursday of every month. The city comes alive at night, and art galleries and shops stay open till late. Sample some free wine, walk the city streets, make new friends and soak up the creative vibe of Cape Town.

ICE CREAM DATES

We all scream for ice cream! Nothing says “hello summer” in Cape Town like flavourful scoops of handmade ice cream. Cape Town’s ice cream scene is so big you could live off of it for a week or more without ever having to visit the same place twice.

  
BEACH DAYS

Cape Town has glittering coastlines with the most beautiful beaches to suit every mood and moment. Whether you’re after buzzing beachside bars, secluded coves, safe swimming beaches, or a romantic spot for a sunset picnic, Cape Town’s beaches have got you covered!

Muizenberg Beach Huts, Cape Town

ST JAMES CATWALK

Here’s something that the locals tend to keep a secret. The St James catwalk is a relaxed and scenic walk along the False Bay coast. It’s very popular with locals, especially over the weekend. The walk starts alongside Surfer’s Corner beach in Muizenberg and makes its way past several other beaches and rock pools, before it comes to an end at Danger Beach in St James. Expect to see birdlife along the way, and even whales and dolphins if you’re lucky!

EXPLORE CAPE TOWN’S TRAIL RUNS

Trail running is very popular in Cape Town, and it’s no wonder why. Hugging the City Bowl are mountains, forests, streams and waterfalls (which only run during spring). There are multitudes of established hiking and mountain biking trails, most of which are shared with trail runners.

SUNDOWNERS TO END THE DAY IN STYLE

Cape Towns’ sunsets are gorgeous. What better way to enjoy the longer, warmer evenings than sundowners, overlooking the stunning views of the city?

Camps Bay is an ideal spot for sundowners! Cape Town South Africa

 TAKE A STREET ART TOUR

Cape Town is becoming a mecca for graffiti and street art. Artists from around the world have work up on the walls. The Woodstock Street Art Tour give visitors a chance to see an eclectic mix of art. The host has an in-depth, personal knowledge of the work, which makes for a really fascinating day out.

TREAT YOURSELF TO A LAUGH

Capetonians are known for their sense of humour, so make sure you seek out some of the top-class comedy shows while you’re here. It’s a great window into the culture and diversity of the city, and a great way to wind down at the end of a long day.

HAVE A MORNING GROOVE AT SECRET SUNRISE

Secret Sunrise is aptly named: the venue is only revealed a few hours before the event takes place. Take a set of headphones, switch on your music, and express yourself through dance and movement as the sun rises. Imagine a party, a silent disco, a yoga session, and a meditation session all wrapped up in one—first thing in the morning!

CHECK OUT ON OF CAPE TOWN’S MUSIC FESTIVALS

from one of the amazing music festivals the city has to offer: it’s sure to put a spring in your step.

As the days get warmer and the rainy days become few and far between, Cape Town’s buzzing festival scene comes back to life after a sleepy winter.

TAKE A SCENIC SPRING DRIVE

Cape Town has some truly spectacular drives, including the famous Chapman’s Peak. But there are many more stunning drives to do! Consider renting a car and checking out the ocean vistas and aerial views of the gorgeous Cape Town coastline.

ENJOY LIVE MUSIC AT THE WATERFRONT

There’s always a great free show happening at the Amphitheatre at the V&A Waterfront. Local musos strut their stuff and put on a show for all to enjoy, and the best part? It’s free!

GO SEE THE PENGUINS

Penguin watching is a whole lot of fun. These endearing and comical flightless birds are full of character. Visit Boulders beach or Stony Point to get up close and personal with these lovely creatures.

 VISIT CAPE POINT

Replete with scenic views, deserted landscapes, and diverse wildlife, Cape Point is one of South Africa’s most magnificent attractions. Cape Point is well equipped to offer even the seasoned local with a never-ending list of family-friendly activities.

Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town South Africa

STROLL THE SEA POINT PROMENADE

One of the many pleasures of Cape Town life is a leisurely afternoon on the Sea Point Promenade. It brings together cyclists, dog-walkers, joggers, skaters, walkers, and everyone in between. The Prom starts at Mouille Point near the Waterfront, and runs along the water’s edge through Sea Point.

Sea Point Promenade

GET ADVENTUROUS

Cape Town’s sunny days are a clarion call for adventurous types. Whether you’re into shark diving, shooting ranges, quad biking, or jumping out of planes, Cape Town has plenty of adventure activities to offer.

Cape Town has so much to offer - it is one place that needs to be on everybody's bucket list!

                                  

Table Mountain from the V&A Waterfront

Text Courtesy of Cape Town Travel
Photography: Judelle Drake of Bradclin Photography

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Thailand - Pattaya

We overlooked these "Lego" Buildings - Pattaya Thailand

When driving in Thailand, check for Buddhist holidays! We found this out to our cost when we drove from Kanchanaburi (Bridge over River Kwai) to Pattaya. It was OK until we reached the outskirts of Bangkok .....as always getting past this city takes forever but we had no idea what awaited us on the highway south. A 4 lane highway with a speed limit of 120 kms was slowed down to a crawl of less than 10 kms per hour. Bumper to bumper with even the shoulder lane being used, the traffic was insane and crawling along. The trip took 5.5 hours!!

Jomtiem Beach Pattaya Thailand

Pattaya beach offers virtually no parking so we headed off to swim at Jomtiem Beach. This beach is 6 km long, much quieter than Pattaya beach, the swimming areas are cordoned off and the water is blissfully warm! The beach chairs were not very upmarket but as we only wanted a long walk and some swimming, this was not an issue. Although the humidity was high (as always!) it was a fairly cool day so I was most surprised to see how sunburned I got from the walk.

Giving my sunburned body a rest the rest day seemed like a good idea so we headed off to the coll, air-conditioned comfort of Terminal 21. This shopping centre is a must visit. Each floor has a different theme and the shops and decor is stunning. London, Paris, Italy, Tokyo and San Francisco are all represented. The top floor has an immense food court which was bustling with customers.

Big Buddha Pattaya Thailand

The Big Buddha is worth a visit...please be respectful.
An 18 meter tall gold painted statue of the Buddha graces the top of Big Buddha Hill Pattaya. This magnificent image is in the centre of Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha Temple) – Pattaya’s most important Buddhist temple.
Wat Phra Yai was built in the 1940s, when Pattaya was just a small fishing village. The Buddha statue was constructed in 1977.

One cannot leave Pattaya without a visit to the Floating Market!

Pattaya Floating Market - Thailand

Get the feel of a traditional Thai floating market watching vendors wearing rice hats paddling slowly down the water at Pattaya floating market, a large place with entertainment, shopping and dining.
Take a walk around the market on the wooden walkways or see the market from the water taking a boat ride in a longtail boat or amphibious boat. Most of the market is under cover, except for the wooden bridges crossing the water.

The floating market consists of four sections, each one representing the culture and architecture of one of the four regions in Thailand. In each of the four sections you can see wooden houses built in the style of each region, Central, North, North East and South.

Pattaya Floating Market

We opted to walk all around; there are hundreds of colourful stalls selling all sorts of goods plus rather delicious looking foods.The vendors in the water were interesting as some looked bored, others were busy selling food, and some were dozing! A fun experience all round.

We were determined to get a parking spot at Pattaya beach so we headed off at 07.30 one morning.
We nabbed one of the last remaining spots - yeah! We had to brave the school run of motor cycles to get to the beach unscathed. This beach is great, decent beach chairs and a very long beach. The boats line the beach and hordes of tourists were lining up for the excursion of the day. The beachfront road  is lined with very posh hotels, many shops and restaurants. Feeling like a was just about to enter a "Miss Wet T-Shirt" competition due to the extreme humidity, we decided to partially hide inside a lovely breakfast spot. At 160 Baht it was excellent value and I dried off somewhat, enough to brave the pavements again after this hearty breakfast.

A Hard Days Night in Pattaya Beach Thailand

Pattaya Floating Market - Thailand

Pattaya Floating Market Thailand

Temple of the Big Buddha Pattaya Thailand

Jomtiem Beach Pattaya Thailand

Water Sports available - Jomteim Beach Pattaya Thailand

Busy Main Beach Road Pattaya Thailand

Swimming Areas Jomtiem Beach Pattaya Thailand

Family Marts are all over Thailand

Love the hair! Pattaya Thailand

Thailand King is everywhere

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A long stairway flanked by two golden colored naga snakes leads to the main statue. From up there, the view is unfortunately not so clear.

See more at : https://www.thailandee.com/en/visit-thailand/pattaya-big-buddha-pattaya-145
Copyright © Thailandee.com

Located on Khao Phra Tamnak the small hill between South Pattaya and Jomtien, the Big Buddha (or Phra Yai in Thai) wwas builtin 1977 when the city was still a quiet little fishing village. Called Phra

See more at : https://www.thailandee.com/en/visit-thailand/pattaya-big-buddha-pattaya-145
Copyright © Thailandee.com

Located on Khao Phra Tamnak the small hill between South Pattaya and Jomtien, the Big Buddha (or Phra Yai in Thai) wwas builtin 1977 when the city was still a quiet little fishing village. Called Phra

See more at : https://www.thailandee.com/en/visit-thailand/pattaya-big-buddha-pattaya-145
Copyright © Thailandee.com

Located on Khao Phra Tamnak the small hill between South Pattaya and Jomtien, the Big Buddha (or Phra Yai in Thai) wwas builtin 1977 when the city was still a quiet little fishing village. Called Phra

See more at : https://www.thailandee.com/en/visit-thailand/pattaya-big-buddha-pattaya-145
Copyright © Thailandee.com

Thailand - Bridge over River Kwai

Tending the graves Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Thailand

Bridge over the River Kwai Kanchanaburi Thailand

One cannot leave Bangkok in a hurry! The city just goes on and on but we did eventually get beyond the city limits on our way to the "Good Times" Resort in Kanchanaburi. The trip by road took 3 hours and traffic was well behaved. Once out of the city we passed rice paddies, sugar cane fields, and cows wandering alongside the road! On arrival in Kanchanaburi, we were really spoilt with a river facing room, private balcony and futon style bed. Have you ever tried to get in and out of such a low bed with bad knees? It's worthy of a "laugh a minute" video!

This spot is full of WW2 history so off we headed to view the bridge. We were lucky enough to be on the bridge when a train came past so we vowed to take a ride before leaving this town. The sad story of the Thailand-Burma Railway is depicted in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and the Death Railway Museum. So many lives were lost in the construction of this railway - how these folk could work in the searing heat and high humidity, I cannot imagine. It's a tear-jerking experience visiting both the cemetery and the museum. The cemetery is huge, beautifully maintained and shows the many lives lost during this period - British, Indian, Dutch and Australian.

To lighten the sombre mood, we headed off to find the Monkey Pod Tree. The GPS got us lost so we meandered past temples, cows, monks, strange chickens, a huge horse farm until we eventually found the big tree. It's huge - the biggest tree I have ever seen - 20 m high and 25 m wide, it offers shade up to 50m. Thankfully, this tree is protected and well looked after. The warning sign in both English and Thai says "Do Not Scrape the Tree"  and "Do not sit Down"

 And then, our train trip! We took the train from River Kwai to Nam Tok and back again. Riding on the Death Railway was an incredible experience. The sheer rock face in parts brought home the horrendous tasks that faced the prisoners of war during WW2. The track had a major overhaul in 2016, some 70 years after it was built. The area along the route is mainly agricultural - sugar cane, tapioca and whatever else grows locally. A highly recommended trip.

Thai Vendor Kanchanaburi Thailand

 We chatted to this very friendly lady who was selling books on the Death Railway. She did not push us to buy anything but was happy to chat while we waited for the train to Nam Tok.

 

The beautiful River Kwai in Kanchanaburi Thailand

Kanchanabuii Thailand

The Giant Monkey Pod Tree

The beautiful views from the train Konchanaburi to Nam Tok

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Thailand - Bangkok

Canals - Bangkok

Bangkok - what can one say? It's a city that everybody should visit at least once.
It's a blend of old and new, strange smells, street food vendors, traffic and extreme heat!

Siamotif Hotel on a Bangkok Canal!

Our first adventure (if one can call it that) was a trip into from the river into the canals.
Some of the houses were very basic, others quite posh but all built in water. This was an interesting trip for us given that we have explored the "backwaters" in Alleppy, India. Those backwaters in India were truly alive and totally fascinating - there seemed to be more life around than in Bangkok but perhaps folk were all out at work. There are many tourist boats around so it's a popular spot to visit.

Electrical Wires everywhere!

Next up was a city tour - the city is a mixture of old and new with very ornate government buildings & temples plus old city grime. Scooters and tuk-tuks are everywhere, as is usual in the East, yellow T-Shirts were very much in evidence in support of the new king. Street sweepers are very much in evidence so the streets are clean yet look mucky due to the old pavements. Chinatown drove me out very fast due to horrid biting flies! Never experienced that anywhere else thank goodness.

Bangkok

At the traffic lights near our hotel there was a sign " Beware of Snatch Thief" aimed at scooter passengers. We clung to our camera's but all was OK, thank goodness. I just loved the scooter guys laden with boxes, doing deliveries.

While having our supper at a restaurant on the canal below our hotel, we saw a young lady selling fish food. I don't think I would like to eat fish caught there as the smell of the water was rather off putting. This young lady left her young son to look after the stall while she took the baby home. While everybody appears to have some sort of basic income, poverty is real and sad here. Traditions are very evident in Thailand and we watched a chap praying at the bridge before scattering his fish food purchase to the fish. Rather special to watch.

Chao Praya River Bangkok

The Chao Praya River is very much part of the city so we headed off on foot to catch a boat ride to see the sights from the river. Passing through the grounds of Thammasat University where students were about their studies, we spotted their slogan - "Where we learn to love the people" That's different!

It's a lovely ride on the river offering views of temples, modern buildings, fancy hotels and the back of China Town. Unfortunately, the ticket office gave us incorrect information which led to an argument and extremely aggressive behaviour from the Thai staff. It was very unpleasant and not in the spirit of "The Land of Smiles" As they also forced us to get off the boat on the other side of the river, we were stranded and had to catch a taxi who also ripped us off with a huge fare.

A rather sad ending to our stay in Bangkok so I can't say that I fell in love with the city...but an interesting sojourn nonetheless.

 

Street Sweepers are everywhere - Bangkok is clean in the most part.

Riding the Canals Bangkok

Transport - Bangkok!

Dejected in Bangkok!!

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