SA Rocks

Cape Town is featured twice in Airbnb’s list of the 40 coolest vacation rentals in the world.

The two places featured were:

A Camps Bay Mansion at $989 per night.

And

A Cape Town Bed and Breakfast at $185 per night.

Brilliant to see Cape Town keeping up its reputation as a very hot tourist hotspot in the world.

There were only 19 countries and 34 cities featured so it’s not a bad achievement!

You can see the entire list over at Airbnb.

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It’s tough to imagine anyone coming to South Africa and having nothing to do on holiday. In fact it’s almost impossible. We have everything you can imagine from the big five, to mountain ranges, historical sites and astounding beaches.

Here’s a great advert about just this topic but told from a very interesting (and old) perspective. Hilarious stuff.

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It has come to that time of year, travel time. I decided that for the first time in my life it was off to an African country. And as far as I’ve heard I’ve chosen a whopper. Kenya is a stunning country and I recently discovered they have incredible islands too. One of which is Lamu (in the Lamu archipelago).

So that is where I am off to for two weeks. No internet, no cellphones, no technology. Nothing. I cannot wait.

See you all on the other side of 2008 and beginning of 2009. Have an incredible time over the holidays.

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This is an extremely tricky and sensitive debate to have. I think that there are many heated opinions held by people who still feel strongly about their country of birth (South Africa). This feeling clearly leads them to feel some ownership of SA and the countries ruling party.

But I am not so sure.

I firmly believe that South Africans living abroad temporarily on short term (1-4 year) Visa’s – or whatever the time period is, should be allowed to vote. I firmly disagree with expats who have formally left the country indefinitely who want to vote. If you choose to leave a country and have no intention of contributing to the economy, the social upliftment, the every running of the nation then you unfortunately waver the right to vote.

Come back if you want to vote that badly. But don’t leave and then claim to still love the nation and want to make a difference. If you are on a gap year, if you are on a working visa, if you are on an extended holiday then by all means vote, in fact I think the government owes it to citizens who intend on returning to provide a platform (at SA embassies the world over) for these people to vote.

As far as I am aware there are ± 143 political parties which would make the next elections the biggest since 1994. There is something in the air this year, there is change in the people, the masses are taking back the ownership of their days. It started with Obama and hopefully wont end any time soon. Hopefully that dog, Mugabe will be the next to be ousted.

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In spite of the unbelievable traffic and a road that never seems to end, I have been pleasantly surprised with my weekend away at Sun City.

It has to be without doubt a tiny gem in SA’s vast offerings to locals and tourists alike. It has various hotels (The Sun City Hotel, The Palace, Cabana’s and Cascades) which all carry a swimming pool, incredible accessories and more.

There are 5 star restaurants, casino’s game drives nearby, an aviary, walks through a forest and amazing architecture to be seen.

The most amazing thing and thing that astounded me the most was the amount of people at Sun City this weekend. I honestly did not know that Sun City was still such a buzzing venue, apparently I was wrong. Tourists were abound, locals were enjoying the braais at the vacation club alongside the tourists and monkeys were bouncing from flat to flat trying to make ends meat.

The beach is really not my cup of tea considering that stepping of the actual beach involves stepping to to water and off of the sand completely. This is a very unnatural feeling but one that is fairly irrelevant when you consider that you are at a beach in the middle of nowhere next to nothing!

If you haven’t visited Sun City in a while I would suggest that you make your way in that direction. With the Pilansberg right there you can be sure to have lots to do.

Do not be decieved however, the road is long and to be honest not particularly fun to drive. It took me about 3 hours (what should have been an hour and 45 minute drive) to get there on a Friday afternoon after work.

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Living it up in Plett. What a perfect day in the perfect place.

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Yes, it is that time of year, people are taking breaks, blogging less, reading less, not working, spending money, giving, caring, living and many other things.

I am off to St Francis. Let me know if you’ll be there and we can have a beer. Otherwise I am interested to know where you are headed this festive season? Any interesting plans or exotic trips happening?

I have friends going to India, Miami, Mozam, Bots, CT and a few other places. I would also love to know where you have had the best holiday in South Africa and why.

Mine, hmmm, mine would probably be somewhere in the Eastern Cape in my University years. Kenton and Port Alfred are beautiful, peaceful, free, open, dramatic and serene. All of which make for a fantastic holiday break.

Here’s a pic from the SA Rocks Flickr group to keep you motivated to get away in SA this holiday:

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I was in Cape Town this weekend. I am sorry if I didn’t contact you but I left my Mac at home, didn’t check my mail, didn’t blog and was temporarily technophobic for four days.

Camps bay at beach bar
Cape Town is a city that has the right idea. I obviously say this as a Jo’burg local, but I appreciate the mountain, I appreciate the view and I appreciate the beachfront and being at the tip of Africa. Many CT locals forget where they are but I was well aware of it.

I really did do too many things to actually mention in depth but here is a quick rundown of where I was, what I saw and what I loved:

Friday we did the Claremont jol vibe, Tiger Tiger – What a hole – was packed and pumping but I am not a fan of that place. Rondebosch is central, suburban with a view of the mountain. Oh, speaking of the mountain let me just mention something to all you local Cape Tonians; EVERYONE CAN SEE THE MOUNTAIN, there is no need to point it out.

Saturday we toured the coast. Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, Simmons Town and everywhere along and in between. Chapman’s Peak was closed due to rock falls so we had to skip Hout Bay due to extra time to get there. Dinner at the V & A Waterfront is festive but well overpriced so think twice about that.

V&A Waterfront

Sunday was spent driving the wine route of Stellenbosch. We eventually settled at Spier for out “tasting” that never actually happened. We had Lunch at Moyo on the wine farm and never recovered. Three course (or more) meal with wine, great service, African ethos, vibe, feel, setting, architecture, layout and more. Absolutely beautiful.

Sunday night we parked our bums at the Opium Beach Bar in Camps Bay and didn’t actually move from there. Stunning sun set, fantastic company and even better cocktails ended off our evening and weekend.

Long street in Cape Town central was our final destination that unfortunately dissapointed. But nonetheless if you are a tourists it is worth the walk up a long and steep hill-type street.

Cape Town is amazing and the thing I love the most is the option available to you as a person. You can choose to be a workaholic, a surfaholic or balanced person who works hard, plays hard and lives well. Jo’burg is Jo’burg on any day of the week but Cape Town can be so many different things, places, people, experiences and mind-sets.

If you haven’t lived in Cape Town (I haven’t) then I suggest that you add it to your list of things to do before you die.

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