SA Navy Festival

Monday morning and I'm showing up to blogger world like any good blogger should. Except, I'm actually showing up on Sunday evening and taking advantage of my parents' working wifi which also means that I'm coming to you from Cape Town which is awesome for many reasons including today's topic. 

I lived in Cape Town on and off for the last five years and for whatever reason I always seemed to have missed the Navy Festival held in Simonstown. I've been to Simonstown a number of times and i really enjoy visiting Penguin Beach but I was somewhat more interested in seeing what the Navy Festival had to offer and I finally got the chance. 

It was probably anti-climatic in terms of the food options. The usual food options were available similar to the US carnival food options but the festival was surrounded by loads of Navy officers and beautiful ships. I went with my parents and we walked around, snacked a little and then went for a tour of a submarine. 

Lucky to spend the day with my parents in a submarine

I really enjoyed the submarine tour, our guide was pretty awesome and clearly passionate about submarines and the history of it. The tours were in groups of eight which meant we waited almost a hour for our turn but when we did go through it, it was intimate enough that we really got the full picture. 

The festival was pretty much the same as the other festivals I've attended in Cape Town which is really fun, family filled atmosphere and full of great spirit. If there's one thing that no one can ever take away from the Capetonians is that they are proudly Capetonian and will support their city as much as they can. 

Would you be able to survive on a submarine?

Things To Do In CT - Kirstenbosch Gardens

A couple of weeks ago I came across this article where there 40 Things to do in Cape Town under R200.00 and I thought I would have done a few more than I actually had so I decided I'm going to try a few more and more so share other tourist or enjoyable attractions for both foreigners and locals.

For my brother's birthday he wanted to climb Table Mountain but it turned out if he hiked up he would have to hike down and his fiance was not interested in that plus, I wouldn't have been able to meet them at the top because the cable car was off. So after looking up the TravelStart list we decided to go to Kirstenbosch Gardens to check out the Boomslang Aerial Walkway. 

I feel like I should add that none of the pictures have been edited and I took the pictures on my trusty iPhone5S this place is just, this beautiful!

The Boomslang walkway was kind of disappointing only because it was so short. 128 meters short! While the walkway is breathtaking it ends much too early! 

 However, my suggestion is, if you visit Cape Town during the warmer months, there are outdoor concerts by different local artists which are so much fun that you attend a concert, which you can take your own snacks and drinks wine too. So, before you go to the concert which starts around 18h00 (I think) go for a walk up to the walkway take in the beautiful view and then go enjoy the concert! Below are pics from when I went a couple of years ago...

Now I'm going to be honest, I haven't been through the whole garden or even half of it, it is beautiful and for nature lovers it is an absolute must!

What are your weekend plans? Do you have a place like this where you are from?

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Bloglovin ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

Bay Harbour Market

On Sunday my mom wanted to try out a craft market she had heard about and it was not what I expected, at all.

We took a drive  through Cliffton to Hout Bay which is ordinarily a beautiful drive but when this drive lead to this market I was so surprised. I have been to Hout Bay so many times and never noticed this place. In fact, from outside, you can't imagine that inside is very similar to the Old Biscuit Mill or Neighbourgoods.

The vibe inside is fun with lovely mix of locals and tourists dancing along to the free live band.

We had had breakfast in the morning and we instantly regretted it because the food looked amazing.

I decided to embrace the experience and let the lady braid my hair with a little bit of pink and to be honest, it made me miss my pink streak!

If you're in and around Cape Town, you should definitely go by the vibe is contagious and you are guaranteed to leave there in a good mood!

Anyway, go try it out and let me know what you think? Do you know any other places in Cape Town I can try?
Oh did I mention that I am still in Cape Town??? What am I doing here? Being a nomad and it's a story for another day.

Movie Review : Mandela, Long Walk To Freedom

Yesterday I did something I love to do, but loads of people judge me for, I went to the movies by myself. It doesn't matter how much alone time I have had there's something gratifying about being in the movie house by yourself. I think it may be because I am a crier and at lease if I watch a movie by myself, I can cry without any judgment.

In saying that, I am definitely glad I watched this movie alone because I cried. I cried a LOT. I found the movie to be painful to watch because, it's my country's history and because it's true. It reminded me how lucky I was to be born when I was and to be able to live the life that I do.

I heard rumours that a few of the older generation refused to watch the movie just because it would make them more angry and feel more hurt. I thought that was ridiculous because surely we have moved forward and can watch a movie without leaving there with no hard feelings. However, I left the cinema feeling a lot of things. Although I did not leave angry, I left sad, hurt and I hate to admit, filled with a lot of pity.

I haven't read Nelson Mandela's book and when I wanted too, my dad's copy had gone missing and then I thought it would be better to move forward and not hold onto the past because I knew that reading about the past struggles would stir up pain.

The movie managed to do that. I don't know if the movie is an accurate depiction of the book or if the book is an accurate depiction of the struggle of Madiba's long walk to freedom but I know it was difficult to watch. Difficult to not feel sorry for Winnie Mandela. Difficult not to feel for all those people who gave their lives for the good of the nation and the generations to come.

While there are obviously more people that were involved in the struggle, it is humbling to see that Madiba was a) not perfect and b) a born leader and c) he truly loved Winnie (click here to see the letters he wrote to her).

It's no wonder people in South Africa and the world were concerned what would happen when Madiba dies because he was a man who forgave his perpetrators despite the abuse, violence and unjust which was done onto him, his wife, family and fellow comrades.

Movie Still: When Madiba is sentenced to life imprisonment 

The movie was long but not long enough to illustrate the intricate details of the struggle. When I walked out the movie (after many tears) I just felt an immense sadness for the love between Madiba and Winnie and how Winnie was so warm glowed before she was immersed in the struggle that it changed the very core of who she was.

Real Life : Mandela after his release with Winnie

Movie Still : Madiba after the release

Have you watched the film? How did you feel after watching it? Do you feel inspired to make your freedom more worthwhile (because I do)?

2014 According To My iPod

Happy New Year Everyone!! If you didn't see my tweet I just wanted to wish all of you the very best for this year, I can feel great things are going to happen!

I do this thing with my iPod, I keep it on shuffle and the first song I hear for the day will be an indication of what my year turns out to be like and in a weird way, it usually works out.

I realised I hadn't listened to anything for the year so this morning, I thought the first song I play will be my song for the year and then I decided to check the whole year out.I did not plan on my first post for the year being another list this one is a list with a twist. I have so many different genres on my phone from Spanish lessons to Kriss Cross to Adele to Drake and these are the results!

While I realise it is not a science or anything which can be predicted, it was fun so here it goes.

What I should expect for 2014.I was going to include some sort of commentary but once you see the songs you'll understand why I did not.

Song of the year  - The Script "I'm Yours"

January - DJ Kent feat The Arrows " Spin My World Around" 

February - Amy Winehouse "Rehab" 

March - One Direction " One Thing" 

April - P!nk "Family Portrait" 

May - P!nk "There You Go" 

June - Justin Bieber "Baby" 

July - One Direction " I Would" 

August - Spice Girls " 2 Become 1" 

September - Hillsong "Still" 

October - Monica " 'Cross The Room" 

November - Pitbull " Don't Stop The Party" 

December - Justin Bieber "Never Say Never (Acoustic)" 

 

And if that isn't a random enough - the first song I heard for the year (that I remember) is this one.....

Seems like this is going to be one interesting year!!!!

Side Note: Today is my mom's birthday and she's the bestest in the world! I aspire to more like her everyday!

What do you think of the year ahead according to my iPod? Try it and tell me what may happen to you!

13 Things i learnt in 2013

It's the first installment of 13 of 2013 series and I am super duper excited! I feel somewhat bitter sweet about this year. I have had so many incredible things happen to me this year but at the same time I have had some of the hardest situations to handle.

I'm glad that there are officially 13 days of the year left and while 2014 holds it's own challenges, joys and sorrows - now is the time to reflect of 2013.

First up, are the lessons I walk away with. While some are obvious and some may seem redundant to previous years - each of these took on new meanings to me.

1. It's ok to be lonely but I'm never alone, while it appears not everyone agrees - I think it's important to know what kind of person you are when you are lonely and then be ok with that person

2. I have the ability to light up a room as much as I have the power to dampen it, apparently people feed off my energy!

3. I am more fearless then I would I ever give myself credit for.

4. God has truly blessed me with the virtue of patience this year. Things at work or situations in which I have found myself has shocked me that I haven't reacted badly because this is how I really felt...

5. I will not apologise for not blogging because my daily life is busy - after all it is my life.

6. Some people will bully you - even as a grown up

7. Some parents shouldn't be parents because they have no idea what it means to educate a child.

8. Holding onto Serenity in the midst of chaos is an art form but once you've mastered it, there is nothing as wonderful as it.

9.It is entirely possible that the people you interact with on blogs can become your friends, they get to see a side of you that some people in your "real" life never do.

10. A lot of people outside of South Africa are shocked to hear that I am from South Africa.

11. Modern technology can maintain and develop frienships

Remember Juls and Oli who I studied with in 2009 and finally visited them in Germany

Jamie and Brian who I met during a random night out in Dublin in 2010 - we got to go for lunch almost three years later

12. Keeping with Number 11, if someone wants to be a part of your life - they will if they aren't it is because they don't want it enough.

13. Sometimes fortunate accidents (serendipity) occurs but sometimes, you shouldn't look into a deeper meaning when all it is, is God showing you the possibility of what could come.

What are some the lessons you learnt this year?

Madiba, an icon of the world, Rest In Peace

To the Father of our nation, the man who changed everything in South Africa and who acted as an inspiration to the world - thank YOU for giving so many years of your life for us.

May your soul Rest In Peace Tata

 

18 July 1918 - 5 December 2013

 

 



Football Friday : South Africa vs Spain - A Dream Game for SA

On Tuesday evening I made my way to the FNB Stadium (Soccer City, during the 2010 Soccer World Cup) this is the stadium where I watched Justin Bieber perform, where Spain became world champions for the first time and where South Africa shocked Spain into their second defeat of the year.

 

 

 

I honestly battled to decide who I would be supporting because Spain is my favourite team and well, Bafana is my Country. So I decided the way any girl would - which shirt looked better and it turned out to be Spain.

 

Dean's reaction to Bafana's goal

 

Of course at that time I did not think I was going to get caught on camera at the end of the game and then receive several messages from friends who saw me!

 

BUT believe it or not, that was not the most exciting thing that happened to me that night - the most exciting thing that happened was Pepe Reina waving at Charne and me! It was an awkward wave - because Charne and I were the only two waving like crazies but it was so worth it because not only is he hot, he plays for Spain and is a Liverpool favourite :)

 

 

 

The game was so much fun and it really helped me feel better because I've been having a bit of a tough time. There was so much eye candy going around, I was so entertained! I even spotted this guy who is so channelling Harvey Spector. 

 

 

 

Anyway, enough with the stalking pictures - I had an amazing experience even though Spain lost.

What's the most exciting thing that happened to you this week?