Tag: something different

Uncategorized

Hope Distillery

h4rri3t

Seeing as it is Sunday – why not a tipple…

On the outskirts of the Cape Town this up and coming distillery is a lovely one if you are looking for that something different off the beaten track…Also if you like gin – which I do.

These are the choices of gin – all slightly different but all delicious.

Hope Distillery has a range of tastings available – there are nipples to go alongside too even! It is a lovely open floor – it looks a little odd from the outside and the area is a industrial place so no many people around on the weekends. But it is safe and there is a distillery upstairs.

The shop here, you can buy all sorts from bottles of gin, of varying sizes, even socks and all the extra thigns you might need for your own gin evening.

Its nice as it is so clean and open, there is space to walk around and see the product process in part. You can not go down to this section, naturally and when I went there wasn’t any information available to explain the process but the staff there are very knowledgable about it all.

As you can see everything is served together on a wooden board, and you are taken through step by step. This is not a guided tasting but once you finish one, they clear it, giving you another glass, garnish and mixer.

I can say which was my favourite but it was a lovely afternoon none the less – my usual go to is a dry gin with bitter lemon. I love the smell of the botanicals – always makes me think I am drinking something more sophisticated.

Hope distillery is shown in a few boutique places around Cape Town and at the Old Biscuit Mill market too – so please enjoy safely – best to get an uber there and back 🙂

Until next time.

Uncategorized

Sea Kayaking

h4rri3t

Yes that is Lions Head above those clouds. Yes that is me in the Blue Kayak.

So my friend and I went Sea Kayaking with Kaskazi. It was R400 for a couple of hours. I really great experience. The office is in a shell garage in Sea Point. There are lockers on site for your stuff. They recommend not taking anything you.

So you get a small briefing before hitting the boats. You climb in and adjust the pedals at the back or the footrest at the front. The person in the back is in charge of direction and the one in the front is in charge of the power.

The morning I did this you can see it was a little cloudy and misty – made for an interesting experience. It was eerie when you lose all aspect of where you are paddling to just into the middle of the sea.

On these experiences you can sometimes see some wildlife, we spotted a seal for a short time and there were some dolphins in the vicinity but they were elusive to us. So we were paddling up and down along Sea Point and back to Granger Bay and the Waterfront trying to keep an eye on the wall as well as maybe finding some animals.

The guides and the staff at Kaskazi were great, I would highly recommend this experience. It was something completely different and amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed this. My arms not so much I was very very tired! Definitely want to do it again in the sunshine.

Uncategorized

Southern Most Tip of Africa

h4rri3t

The Southern Most Tip of Africa is a short drive from the Struisbaai, about 10 mins. There is parking at the bottom of the hill and it is free. There are bathrooms at the parking lot, these are the only ones in the area so if you are walking around a bit make sure to use them.

The Lighthouse is 33R to do the Museum and climb the tower.
The Museum goes through the history of the lighthouse as well as the history of South African lighthouses. The museum is small room with boards all over the walls. Then you head to the central area to climb the 71 ladder steps to the top. The view is lovely from the top but it is imperative you know that they are steep ladder steps. One up and one down.

It is a 1km walk down to the Southern most Tip of the continent and then another 4km to the Meisho Maru shipwreck beyond.
If you would prefer; you can drive to both of them, it is down a gravel path. It is an easy walk under foot in good shoes, gravel and stony just like the drive. It is not shady however, so ensure enough water and you are covered up.

The southern most tip is marked by a stone, and where the two oceans meet. In front of it, you can see a map of Africa with the mountain ranges highlighted. It is huge and the photos can not do it justice.

After this I suggest you head on a 30 mins walk, 4km you reach the Meisho Maru Shipwreck it is so close to shore, you can almost walk to it, but the rocks are a little sharp and slippery. – Good at sunset apparently. I didn’t venture down that far at suset.

It is a lovely morning out and about; Agulhas has a few nice restaurants again mainly fish is available, but it is all fresh fish which makes it so worth it.

Uncategorized

Mount Nelson Afternoon Tea

h4rri3t

As I have said previously, I love afternoon tea, so when my Brazilian friend asked me to join her at afternoon tea – how could I say no…

The Mount Nelson hotel is well known in Cape Town, a prestigious hotel with a larger archway at the bottom of the driveway. You walk up this palm tree lined drive to the front of the hotel. There is security at the gate and at the front of the hotel. The door opened and we were steered towards the afternoon tea.

This is what leads out to the gardens, where some of the afternoon is served. There are some tables inside but the outside is lovely.

We sat down at our table and given the tea menu which was incredible. There is a very extensive list of green, fruit and black teas to suit every taste. The waitresses are very helpful in figuring out which tea you want. The first part of the afternoon is the savouries, there is a range of quiches, sausage rolls, cauliflower bhajis, sandwiches, cheese bread etc. The choice is just amazing. It was filling, it was just so delicious. The china all matched and was immaculate. The serving was perfect. All very impressive.

What followed was warmed scones – with whipped or clotted cream and jam or even butter. They were plain scones so they were sweet enough but the cream and the jam was just the perfect compliment.

What followed were the clean plates ready for the final ‘course’ two tables full of every cake, sweet treat and desert you can think of. Allergens are on the descriptions/name plates of the items. You can stick to your favourites; millionaires shortbread, chocolate cake, lemon meringue, anything you could possible fancy. You can go back multiple times as well! Can you imagine? Unlimited tea and cake !

The gardens surrounding the hotel makes you think you cant be anywhere near a busy road. The vegetation, the trees and the bushes just seem to create this haven in the middle of the city. What an Eden. It is a stunning experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and although I will never afford to stay in the hotel, this small experience has been wonderful.

Uncategorized

Two Oceans Aquarium

h4rri3t

Location: Waterfront

Price: R175

Okay I know Aquarium’s are much of a muchness, all are very similar however I had heard some wonderful things about this place. So one a cloudy day I decided it was the perfect opportunity. It is one of the more expensive places to go. There is a massive range of fish and sea creatures to be enjoyed and learnt about. It is very accessible for families, wheelchairs and prams included.

Surrounded by Nemos and Dorys – hard feeling to beat according to this childs face. Bless him. This is right in the start of the Aquarium, and you walk through there are a few smaller tanks to see the stranger of the fish. As you work through there are sea horses and crabs and eels. The explanations are very easy to understand and read. The only challenge is then trying to see the different creatures, in the different tanks.

As you turn a corner there is darkened corridor – normally I would be the last person to go into this voluntarily but curiosity killed the cat. The photo below is what i was greeted with.

So I turned the corner and I am welcomed by Jellyfish , tubes of Jellyfish, and surrounded by mirrors so it made it look like there were hundred of them. It was a very cool affect – no pictures can really do it justice. Another ‘exhibition’ that could not be photographed well was a darkened one too, where you press lights and it lights up the tank in certain areas to see if the fish and crabs of that prefer the dark. This was just incredible. I loved it.

Just beyond here was a touching pool, the lady was in the know, showing me what could be eaten and not eaten. I got to feel all sorts of kelp and sea weed, starfish and other plants too…the woman tending it was very chatty and happy to explain everything. I love the hands-on learning in places like this. They really do help the whole process.

The big tanks for me are always the best part about Aquariums, either being able to walk through it and see everything going on around you, or just sitting and watching their world from a distance. Seeing the Kelp forest you start to appreciate the underwater world, the different sizes and colours. I must have sat here for a good 10-15 mins just watching penguins dart around and the fish avoid one another. All the big tanks have somewhere to sit nearby so you can just relax and take it all it.

There are to penguin ‘exhibits’ in the Two Oceans Aquarium. I happened upon them during feeding time, so I could see them in their element as above. It was very interesting to hear the explanations of how they distinguish between the different animals and how they all have name . They have to keep track of what each penguin eats and ensure everyone gets something. – What a job…

Just behind this part of the Aquarium, there was a section that helps you realise about the plastics used in daily life along side an interactive learning space to make sure people make the right choices with packaging and products. The ids seemed to love it.

If you get there at the right times you can change various feeding points. As I mentioned earlier I saw the penguins being fed but also the Stingrays. This Tank I watched for maybe 30 mins. It has so many fish and rays it was hard not to be fascinated by them. The divers explained everything so well, everyone was mesmerised by the experience. The lady on dry land helping to guide the conversation had to come up with a lot of the questions herself – i think we were all a bit dumb struck.

All in all, this place is a lovely stop on a rainy day or somewhere when it is too hot to be outside. As anywhere gets its busy and quiet periods. There i wifi throughout the Aquarium and it is easy to navigate, there is a cafe half way around and play pens for children too.

Until next time

Uncategorized

National Gallery

h4rri3t

Located: On the edge of the Company’s Garden.

Opening hours: 9-5 every day.

There are private exhibition areas as well as public galleries.

This exhibition above and below is called When the Dust settles by Igshaan Adams. It is a mixed media piece, using textiles, wire, paper and tiles. These shapes made of wire and what seems to be string are spread throughout the exhibition space. With what appears to be a mirror and prayer ‘equipment’ at the centre. The room with different tiles and wallpapers, seems to project the different layers to life and how throughout our lives we take different forms. As I have said in previous blogs, I am not so much an art lover to a art appreciator. I never seem to come to the same conclusions as others though…

The museum is all on one floor, and it is R30 entry. Once you come inside there is no set way to venture about the spaces, each one seems to lead to another through themed rooms. From photographs, to sculpture to paintings. It is laid out in an easy to follow and spacious way. Space to move around and see everything before moving onto the next room. Some of the pieces have strong meanings that are abundantly clear, others are more mysterious. But that is the nature of art and the mixed media that this gallery exhibits.

This figure, again above and below, is made up of computer elements, a mouse at the end, keys from a keyboard make up the robe. Wires and stands create the figure at the end. To me this speaks, the grim reaper create by technology.. or maybe you see something different. It is definitely an interesting concept to use something that we have become to rely on to create a sombre and quite foreboding character.

The horn above was quite poignant for me. It is Ivory of course and you can appreciate it has been carved. However the carvings have then been rubbed with coal to bring them out. Although the picture is not detailed enough to show it, it is a representation of the Anglo-Zulu wars. The details are amaznig, the exact uniforms and guns alongside the zulu shields. I could have stared at it for a long time but this exhibitions: Hidden treasures has so much to be seen an appreciated. Something soon dragged my attention away.

Now… this might seem like your average 18th or 19th century painting of horses and the aristocracy. The reason however I wanted to share this with you is that these paintings are the same, with only 1 difference. The painting on the wall all the subjects eyes are open and opened wide. In the painting they are all closed. There is not caption or booklet to the rooms and so I can not begin to appreciate or understand the reasoning to this, however thought it was quite thought-provoking to have such items on display in such close proximity.

Only a glimpse into the National Gallery in Cape Town in Company’s Garden. I do not want to ruin it for you. A worth visit if you are visiting the city and have an appreciation for the finer things in life.