I got to spend the night at Pumba Private Game Reserve last night along with a couple of international journalists. On our afternoon game drive we encountered a male lion and I couldn't resist the temptation to make it as much about me as about him.
I was very fortunate the other day to be invited to go on a tour of the stadium and I was very impressed with what I saw. It will truly be something the city will be proud of when its completed.
The stadium roof will consist of 36 girders keeping it up. The day we were there, no 27 went up. The girder gets lifted by a giant crane from the outside. Once it is in place it gets attached to the previous one. The big crane then gets disconnected and a smaller crane truck inside the stadium keeps it in place till all the attachments are done.
These are two of the guys sitting on top of the girder busy attaching the two girders to each other.
On the other side of the stadium workers are starting to cover the girders with the membrane that forms the roof. To get to the top workers use a step pulley system to get up and they have to abseil back down. If the wind gusts over 55km/hour the workers have to get down from the top. While we were there the guys started to repel down.
Hector Peterson became the iconic image of the 1976 Soweto uprising in apartheid South Africa when a news photograph by Sam Nzima of the dying Hector being carried by a fellow student, was published around the world. The young man carrying Hector went to ground immediately after the photo was published, fled to Mozambique and was never seen again.
Hector was killed at the age of 12 when the police opened fire on protesting students. For years, June 16 stood as a symbol of resistance to the brutality of the apartheid government. Today, it is known as National Youth Day — a day on which South Africans honour young people and bring attention to their needs.
This picture was taken through one of the windows in the Hector Peterson Museum which is situated next to the Memorial.
The Dutch Reformed Church (Moederkerk) in Cradock. Built in 1868, the design is a near replica of St. Martins-in-the-Field in Londen.
The Dutch Reformed Church (Grotekerk) in Graaff-Reinet. It was built in 1885 and the design was based on the Salisbury Cathedral in England.
The Reformed Church in Venterstad, built in 1876.
The park is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Garden Route with both local and international visitors basking in its awesomeness. Most visitors to the park, being day visitors or overnight guests, would venture onto the Mouth Trail at some stage or another. The trail stretches over a distance of about 1 kilometer (and 460 odd steps) from the main rest camp to the mouth of the Storms River. Those embarking on this outing has to keep in mind though that there is no other way back than retrieving your own steps. Kind of a "what goes up must come down" idea.
The trail starts off with a walk across the beach just below the restaurant before encountering a small waterfall. It's at this stage where the unfit amongst us take a brief break after the first brisk climb. To take some picture of cause.
From here the trail ventures deeper into the forest along the boardwalk. All along the way you can hear birds somewhere in the thicket with the ocean never being very far behind. If you get lucky you may just get a glimpse of the elusive Knysna Loerie in the forest canopy. Name plaques point out some of the indigenous trees while steep paths swing away from the main walkway and lead down to secluded coves.
Towards the end (or actually the halfway mark keeping in mind that you still need to go back) you get magnificent vistas out to sea and before the grand prize of the trail shows itself. A steep climb down to river level will take you to the Storms River Mouth Suspension Bridge. From here cliffs stretch up about a hundred meters and with the gorge on the left and the open sea on the right, those who don't mind a bit of a swing will step onto the bridge to make their way to the other side. Most people take a couple of minutes to take in the beauty of the area before heading back. Because "what goes up, must come down". 
The Angel Statue (Boer War Memorial) in front of the Commemoration Methodist Church in Grahamstown
The War Memorial in front of the Victoria Hall in Graaff Reinet
An angel (yes I know another one) from the South End cemetery in Port Elizabeth
Drama Princess turned 4 yesterday (Friday 20 Feb) and I am starting to shop around for a really big gun. You know the kind of gun that won't just scare would be suitors off, but will keep them away as well.
Birthday parties have very much become tradition with our family. We let the kids choose what kind of party they want. This year she chose a Teddy Bear Picnic party. The kids arrived and played, jumped on the trampoline and had a dip in the pool. Then proceedings started with a picnic along with their teddies before we handed out the party packs.
The picnic consisted of cupcakes and "tea" served in Megan's play tea sets.
The tea was red grape juice that was poured out of a teapot into the little cups. The kids just loved it.
We also had a fashion competition for the kids with their teddies. The kids had to walk with their teddies through the lounge past all the adults, who was clapping and cheering. We didn't think they would, but everybody played along very nicely. Here is my niece with her teddy, dressed to match.
There are different types of carrion flowers and this one comes from the genus Stapelia. This specific species are small, spineless, cactus-like succulent plants. It is native to South Africa, but apparently grown as potted plants elsewhere.
The flowers of all species are hairy to varying degrees and generate the odor of rotten flesh. Because this one is so small, you don't smell it from afar, but when you get your nose close to it, the smell is quite clear. The colour of the flowers also mimics rotting meat. This attracts scavenging flies who then pollinates the flowers.
The forest giants of the Tsitsikamma is the Outeniqua Yellowwood. It is South Africa's national tree and grows over 800 years old. Inside the shady forest the sun isn't always visible, but where there are gaps in the forest canopy, usually where ancient trees nave fallen over, it does break through to reach the forest floor. 
Another sky shot through the canopy. For more awesome sky shots from all over the world, why not head over toe Skywatch Friday.
Angels bowing their heads in silence
And in sepia... not just because I can, but because I think it looks good. It gives it a certain something which the colour doesn't.
There is a bush just outside our office front door with these red 
Proteas growing on the Robertson Pass between 
The monument was erected in memory of Cecil John Rhodes (1853 - 1902). Rhodes was an English born South African businessman, mining magnate and politician. He was Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 and Rhodesia (today Zimbabwe and Zambia) was named after him.
The memorial was built in the shape of a Greek temple. There are 49 steps (one for each year of Rhodes' life) leading up to a bust of Rhodes. The bronze statue of a horseman called Energy was sculpted by George Frederic Watts while the eight bronze lions flanking the steps are by John Macallan Swan.
Looking at the view from the memorial you can understand why Rhodes spent so much time up here enjoying the view. Whenever I'm in Cape Town I try to make an effort to stop by here, no matter how briefly.
Looking at the picture it could be difficult to understand why the fort was built so far from the sea. In the background is the Port Elizabeth Harbour which wasn't obviously there in those days. The Baakens Valley below was also the location of a big lagoon in the days which meant that the fort was directly over the water. The guns on the fort today aren't the original guns, but smaller ships' cannons. The interesting thing about the fort is that it never fired a shot in anger.
Today there aren't much left of the old fort other than the stone structures. This picture was taken inside the old guardhouse.
Part of the table decorations
The wedding cake. 
There were cupcakes for all the guests to take home rather than wedding cake.
Probably the best plate of food I have had at a wedding. EVER!
Thank you 
.jpg)
