Camera Phone Installations

I just realised that I have accumulated a lot of pictures in my phone. I do take a lot of pictures, but who doesn't these days. I don't really like the quality of my camera phone, but some pictures I must admit came out stunning. This is a collection of some of my favourites. Some of these are random, but hey....

A beach full of Sardines, in Hout Bay

Robben Island in the distance

Table mountain in the distance from a Limo, while riding around Tableview

Full sun in Camps Bay

The water in CT is too darn cold, so I'd rather admire the tiny algae on the rocks

Another long day, waiting for the green light. This is what I get to see everyday in Newlands the Shadow of Table Mountain

'Dont mind if I do rest up on this flower' said the butterfly. Didn't move for a whole day

While waiting for a vacant toilet, the lights caught my attention

Another beautiful sun, waiting to see the sunset in Signal Hill

Navy Fest anyone?..us before boarding the German vessel in Simon's Town

A beautiful sunset in Signal Hill. Like always

Sharing is Caring........ :)

A Hope and A Dream

In April I was invited to volunteer at  Camp Hope. A weekend long camp for kids with disabilities. I was given the opportunity to interact and help out with kid who were blind or partially sighted, as a Buddy. A Buddy is there to help in the organisation of the camp, plan activities, meals, and also being paired with one of the kids for the whole weekend.

It was quite an emotional, fun and fulfilling time spent with these kids. Most of the have been lived with their disabilities their whole lives, so they were self sufficient. And because they were aged between just 5 and 16 years, there was a lot of energy going around.

I was assigned to take care of one girl, Naledi, I ended up taking on a few more kids who seems quite happy with me... These are some of them

I took care of Naledi

Laticia, a sweet child, she helped take care of her friends

AB, the mischievous

When you successfully climb up the wall, you feel like you can conquer anything. This exercise was meant for both the Kids and the Buddies. It is much tougher than it look. Well done to all the kids for completing the challenge

 There were fun and games too. the jumping castle seemed to be the most popular

 

 The Hout Bay Rainbow Dreams Group Came in one evening to sing for the kids, and later they join us for supper, where we had to eat in the dark, blind folded in respect of the blind kids. My food mysteriously went missing before I could even put a fork in...

The kids and their respective buddies were divided into groups, and we were the Monkeys. A fitting name for us, as we had very energetic kids. We also had the youngest of the whole camp, Simphiwe the little monkey, only five years old. Each group had to come up with a skit for the talent show. We were surprised when the Monkeys wanted to sing and dance to Justin Beiber's Baby song...

One of the evenings we had a serious drumming session, for a straight hour or so everyone was jamming to the beat, some of us had percussion instruments, I had the cow bell to play. The sounds of music was so magical no one wanted to stop, but alas it was bed time and we had and early morning filled with fun activities ahead of us.

At the end of the camp the kids were given presents, certificates of attendance and were given the opportunity to write tiny messages of hope, put them in helium balloons and let them fly into vast blue sky......

To the Point and Beyond!

There are so many sides to the Western Cape. And its always good to take it easy and explore the less human side of it. Recently, my brother and I took a trip to Cape Point, a place that neither of us has seen over four years at least. The drive was truly really about the journey, as we drove for over an hour passing time and again awe striking places, and admiring some amazing views. We started off going along the winding, mountainous,  Rhodes drive through to Chapman's Peak drive, to catch a glimpse of the town of Hout Bay on a cloudy afternoon.

We got to Noordhoek, and I must have taken the wrong turn, because instead of heading towards Cape Point we ended up driving to Silvermine (still on my list of hiking trails to do). Seeing that there was really nothing but road and bushy hills, we decided to just go on for a bit, while taking in the scenery. Then only, after a while, we made our way back on route to where the two oceans meet. We drove through Simon's Town (they have great  places for fish and chips, and a toy museum that has caught my eye)... through Boulders Beach eventually making it to the Cape Point National Park.

We gradually made our way to Cape Point after taking a detour to see the less explored parts of the park... after all we were in no hurry. We did not manage to go and see Diaz point and Vasco da Gama's cross though, for another day.

We ate at the famous Cape Point Restaurant, where I had to try their famous seafood curry dish, it was really tasty but I was disappointed that they served it with plain Tastic rice. While eating our meals, we had some baboons for an audience, I felt bad as their stared while we ate, but as we all know, you 'Do Not Feed the Baboons'.... you can take pictures instead.

After a hearty curry, and my brother's butternut soup, we then proceeded to see the rest and most populous part of the Park, meeting and chatting to random, friendly foreigners, trusting them with holding my camera as we posed for photos. Besides trust, I also learnt that you cant really tell where a person is from by their accent, when an Asian man asked me to take a his picture and I asked if he was from Japan judging by his accent, he corrected me and said America.

Asian-American guy

After enjoying our walk along the peninsula, we then proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope, for an alternative, but still spectacular view. We drove for a bit as the waves crashed close to the road. Then got blockaded by ostriches on our way back.

The southern most point in Africa, Cape of Good Hope

Appreciating the sweet ride that brought us this far, thanks V.

Instead of going back home the way we came, we made our way through some of the most beautiful small towns of  Misty Cliffs, Scarborough, and Kommetjie, along the shores as the sun was setting and lighthouses beamed (glad we got lost again otherwise would have never discovered these places). Then we made it home in time for some tea and rusks...

A Toffie for All

This past weekend of the Cape Town Jazz festival, I attended the Toffie Pop Culture Festival, which is hosted at the Cape Town City Hall, once every year. Though I missed out on the tickets to the Jazz fest, I was quite happy when I landed up being invited to attend Toffie, which was worthwhile.

Toffie, like the Jazz fest, is a three day festival. It showcases contemporary pop culture, design, music and everything else that is hip and happening with art today. This festival was not only for the community of artist and creatives but it was also user friendly for anyone with curiosity, kids, and those who are just there to hang out. There were workshops and seminars for students and professionals, and those willing to pay a couple of hundreds; while exhibitions, and artisanal stalls were open to those on a budget. 

The festival had the best venue in the city, the Cape Town City Hall, a building opened in 1905, not only a well aged building, but also historically inclined. It is most famous for Nelson Mandela's first public speech only hours after he was released from prison on the 11th of February 1990. The grand size of the City Hall ensured that all exhibitions would be housed comfortably, while the thick walls and intimacy of each room made it easy to absorb the individual exhibits without distractions from others. There was even room to hold jumping castles for the young at heart.

Team Switzerland had a collage of posters, and Team South Africa had a stall on display

There were displays by notable international artists. There were themed exhibitions where students were given the opportunity to showcase their potential. There was also a design competition, where 6 teams from Spain, South Africa, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK, and Argentina had to showcase their creativity. There was a market in the middle of all of this, where one could buy clothes, sit down to eat or chill out in the balcony while admiring the view of the city. All the electronic beats play in the background by the in-house DJ.

Team Spain showing their ceramics, while Team Netherlands' display shows their relations to South Africa

What I absolutely enjoyed about the experience is the very relaxed atmosphere, people were ready and willing to mingled and make new acquaintances. The food was amazing, and the crafts where local and affordable. The occasional bump-in with a few friends was surprising and welcome. An interesting observation, most if not all people who attended the festival where either from around the country or international, no one was from Cape Town. Speaking to one of the organisers, Adele, she jokingly said that events like this are a good space and opportunity for outsiders to meet and feel at home.

Boycott by David West

A stall selling locally made bags

Revolution stand, sells skateboard decks that  represent local artist  for 'Music Saved My Life' by Verb

Going Camping? One of many artist display their concept of camping

Something to do with shark attack prevention, thought it was a cool display of surfboards

'Faces' by Paul Ward

The jumping castle room. When you were done jumping you were rewarded with ice cream

The Toffie Festival, though only in its third year, is potentially one of Cape Town's events of note.

For more information about Toffie, click here

Snail Trails

This is one of my few attempts at creative writing, I really did enjoy jotting this piece down. I am good a research writing, yes its boring, but it is a skill that I have. I do try other kinds of writing but, I honestly have no time or the patience.... enough about that here is the piece.

'Snail trails all over the Pink Palace. On the walls, on the couches, in my room, on my shoes, on my clothes.... One day maybe I will have a trail on my forehead. I think nothing of it. Its just a snail, rather, and army of snails ... no matter, they work while I am asleep and leave their remnants for me to find in the day... like leaving clues to a puzzle... but, I have hardly seen snail in Pinkie... why are there so many slugs? where are the snails? who leaves all these trails?... Oh, wait a minute, it never occurred to me, I'm such an idiot... its the slugs, they are like snails, but slimier... They are everywhere, like a plague; rather annoying, they're in my face all the time!! Today I woke up bright and early, to find a slug at my door, "darn it!" I think, "its mysteriousnessness is shattered", I was hoping never to catch one in the act of 'trailing'. Maybe I woke too early and caught the slug as it was slipping out.... now I am curious, so I decided to look closer to see it at work... its dead!! "Oh No!!" It puked its innards all over my floor, and ants have already begun devouring the poor guy... just laying there lifeless, its cold boggy eyes staring back at me. I am sad... I then remember that last night when I got home I did step on something, "Oh No!! Its my fault!". Such a terrible way to go. I can only hope one less slug in the Pink Palace means one more in trail heaven...... Moving on.'

South Africa, Land of the '.........'

David Kibuuka, a successful Comedian in SA from Uganda. Title photo from the Mail&Guardian

I recently read an intriguing article in the Mail & Guardian, titled 'The State of our Nation -How others See Us'. An article on how people, more specifically foreign nationals who have been living in South Africa, perceive this country. I thought I should share some of their thoughts. Its always good to get relatively objective views on what one consider's home. Its also somewhat good to know that you are at times on the same page, and horrifying when there are total disagreements about the South Africa and its people.

Here is what a few of them had to say.

Pauline Lau, from China, has resided in South Africa for over twenty-five years now. She thinks South Africa is very multicultural, and is a mix between Africa and Europe. There are different cultures, with their own societies, own festivals, own foods, making it a colourful country.  She also said that people with money are happier. But those people with nothing must learn to improve themselves, instead of waiting for someone to help them.

"I must say this is a beautiful country - the air, the skies, the scenery and the people are generally very friendly here..." -Lau

Jean Buassa, an French teacher from the DRC, has been living in South Africa for nine years. He said that though South Africa is an African country, there is more racial and gender equality; he found that there more women working than men here..."You not only see women in the kitchen but you see them holding middle-class jobs". Two large set backs though, are that in many black people are still trapped within an apartheid mentality ans that South Africans are in general not happy with themselves. Many would much rather go back to the apartheid days, because of the increasing economic inequality that is very apparent.

One of the brilliant comedians, David Kibuuka, immigrated to South Africa from Uganda twenty years ago. He thinks that South Africans think that "the grass is greener somewhere else", because they feel trapped in a geographically isolated country where "everything is across an ocean and to the north is deepest, darkest Africa" and its too expensive to travel, and have no context.

"I came from deepest, darkest Africa. This is the land of opportunity; anything can happen... if you can stay alive" - Kibuuka

Another gentleman from Zimbabwe, Wellington Chabora, has been living in South Africa for ten years, believes that South Africans are accepting of other nationalities, but there are still some who don't. He also points out two serious concerns, first is the unhealthy levels of fear and violence that surround us everyday; secondly laziness among the youth.

Katrin Starzmann is from Germany, and has resided in South Africa for nine years. I have to point out that she has been living in Cape Town, a very westernised part of the country, and quite different from other cities in South Africa. She found that there is a significantly small number of black middle class in Cape Town compared to Johannesburg, and it is still very racially divided, where... "white people hold higher positions and black people work in lower positions". But she also found that in comparison with her home country, people here are generally happier and more outspoken.


To read the full article click here

I completely agree with these views, and unfortunately many of us still need to wake up to them. I love my country, and there is nowhere else in the world like it. The positives, and the hard negatives make it what it is. And what I love the most and what people generally agree on is that the people truly make the country...We are blessed to live in this place, we must continue to build it up, so that we can be Proudly South African..

New Water Bottles

Over the holidays I was thinking about what would be a great gift that I could give to my friends. Thanks to my recent find, I knew exactly what to get. Last year I acquired a glass water bottle that has since been with me. I have grown quite attached to it and would really be pissed off if anything were to ever happen to it. 

The idea of using a glass bottle is pretty simple. Firstly, it means that you don't have to keep buying water that is afforded to you for free at your nearest tap. Secondly, it takes a lot of energy to manufacture plastic water bottles, and the water used is unregulated proving to be a significant strain to the environment. And lastly and more importantly even if you reuse a water bottle you run some health risks caused by phthalate a chemical substance that is used in the production of water bottles. This is a cool short video about bottled water... Worth a watch.

 

On a less serious note, I got my order of bottles today, from a friend who gave me my first water bottle, Andrew. Bottles be has been collecting from Club Mate, a company that sells iced tea in glass bottles. Drew has been giving them away for people to use as replacement water bottles.

My order of glass bottles that I received today

I had asked for only six but instead I received twenty, and being such a great guy he gave them to me at no cost. I cant wait to start personalising each bottle and giving them to my friends.

My first water bottle, great investment

Using glass bottles is a great idea and I hope that more people will get into using them. Its easy, inexpensive, and great for your health. Read this interesting article for more on bottled water.