www.cheektochic.co.za
ISSUE 19
L’ART DE VIVRE 1
EDITOR’S LETTER The art of living well is a way of living, of being and thinking, the best way of life possible. This thoroughly French concept is only too often lost in our hectic 21st century lifestyles and needs to be revived and refreshed at regular intervals. This issue is all about savoir vivre, from simple pleasures like digitally detoxing and taking off time to be with family for a proper holiday, to taking little sips of the best luxuries that life has to offer. Feast your eyes on the most fabulous watches and jewellery from SIHH and Baselworld 2018 and enjoy an aesthetic feast of art and design from TEFAF New York and Maastricht. Be inspired by the magnificent cigarette cases and other objets d’art from the 1920s - the golden age of Art Deco - and rediscover the lost art of writing with our range of exquisite writing instruments. Assouline Books epitomise the concept of Art de Vivre, so enjoy a taste of their incredible spring catalogue. The brand launched into South Africa this year, so shop away! Who doesn’t like champagne and our man on the ground David Eley has just launched his map of the Champagne area, the first time the map has been seen in South Africa. Our cover girl Lady Kitty Spencer has just been appointed the UK brand ambassador for Bulgari and her fashion savvy has newspapers dedicating a lot of column space. Her natural style, charm and grace make her the perfect Style Icon for this issue. The lure of the vintage car has always proved irresistible. See the best of the recent London Concours as well as South Africa’s inaugural vintage Grand Prix. Travel is vital to the art of living so take a trip to Australia’s Gippsland, famous for its bushland, wildlife and beaches, experience ecotourism in the Cradle of Mankind and enjoy a five-star safari experience with Hayward’s Safaris.
@cheek2chic
cheek2chic2
EDITOR
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
FEATURE WRITER
SARAH CANGLEY
KIMBERLEY REID
DAVID ELEY
High end South African influencer Sarah Cangley turned her social column, Cheek2Chic, into a luxury digi-magazine five years ago, all issues https://issuu.com/cheek2chic
Kimberley Reid is a creative director whose quick eye for illustration or photography transforms a page from mildly interesting to arresting
English writer and artist David Eley gives Cheek2Chic an exclusive look at his beautifully illustrated new map of the Champage region
PICTURE SUPPLIED BY PIAGET; CONTRIBUTORS SUPPLIED
Cheek2Chic’s PeoplePlacesParties
Assouline Books available in South Africa from Social Bar & Kitchen, Hyde Park Shopping Centre
www.assouline.com
CONTENTS
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THE LIFESTYLE ISSUE
ON THE COVER Lady Kitty Spencer, our Style Icon, who is the new UK Bulgari brand ambassador. PICTURE SUPPLIED BY BULGARI
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06. BEST BIJOUX
Exciting new watches for 2018; Chopard, de Grisogono, Piaget, Messika and Graff
14. SAVOIR VIVRE
Assouline Books; The best of TEFAF New York and Maastricht; Cigarette cases
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with panache; Reviving the lost art of writing; The beauty of champagne: A magical map of a special region
34. PRETTY KITTY
Lady Kitty Spencer enchants the world with her style
38. VINTAGE WHEELS
62. SHOPPING
46. UNSPOILT
66. BY INVITATION
Motoring glamour of yesteryear
PARADISE
Gippsland; The Cradle of Mankind; tented luxury with Hayward’s Safaris
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Fabulous gifts for him and her
The Cannes red carpet; The Royal Wedding; The Met Gala; Cartier in Canberra
GIFT GUIDE
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WATCHES/JEWELLERY
A round up of the most rare and precious, the most vibrant and colourful and the most groundbreaking and talked about objects and people in the exciting world of high jewellery and watches
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PANERAI French free-diving champion Guillaume Néry stars in the third chapter “MARE” of the Panerai Traits project, devoted to the link between Panerai and the sea. Guillaume is a Panerai Ambassador and wears the Luminor Submersible 1950 Amagnetic 3 Days Automatic.
WATCHES/JEWELLERY
ROLEX The new version of the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, in 18 ct Everose gold, is adorned with 36 rainbowhued baguette-cut sapphires on the bezel. The case is adorned with 56 brilliant-cut diamonds set into the lugs and crown guard..
BREGUET The Breguet Classique Extra-Plate 5157 was one of the most talked about watches at Baselworld 2018 with its extra thin case in 18k rose gold with delicately fluted, sapphirecrystal caseback, silvered gold dial and Breguet open-tipped hands in blued steel.
PIAGET Piaget’s beloved shades of blue, turquoise, green and red serve to tell new stories in their vibrant new collection with matching dials and straps enhanced by diamond studded bezels. Time is read in colour – a true revolution – and emotions are aroused.
PICTURES SUPPLIED BY SWISS TIME
OMEGA An exciting ladies’ collection, launched at Baselworld 2018, offers a classic design with a modern edge. Each model is distinguished by its thin case, available in 39 mm or 36 mm and diamond paving curves along the sides of the case.
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PICTURES: HTTPS://PRESS.JAEGER-LECOULTRE.COM
WATCHES/JEWELLERY
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JAEGER-LECOULTRE To enhance its Rare Handcrafts “Métiers Rares”, proudly mastered in the Vallée de Joux workshops, the Grande Maison decided to give its expectional enamelled Reverso pieces two faces revealing a work of art, the result of the artisans’ innovative work.
WATCHES/JEWELLERY
CHOPARD The creations from the Precious Chopard collection, including this slender necklace composed of precious stones featuring pear and heart shapes, were launched at Baselworld 2018. The sparkling diamond “lace” reveals the sensuality of the skin.
DE GRISOGONO The Allegra collection was created by De Grisogono’s founder Fawaz Gruosi for his older daughter Allegra, who is the muse of the collection. The collection was shown at Baselworld 2018 as part of “Celebrating Icons: 25 years of daring creativity”.
PIAGET The intrinsic, unbroken ties the Maison cultivates with nature are showcased in a number of creations from the “Piaget sees life in colour collection” exalting emerald, malachite and jasper, as well as the mossy shade of green or spring-like chrysoprase.
PICTURES SUPPLIED BY SWISSTIME
MESSIKA This two-fingered “Shards of Mirror ring”, which was shown at Baselworld 2018 from Messika’s Snow Queen Collection, features with a pear-shaped diamond at its centre, which can be transformed at will to become an asymmetrical ring with a modern look.
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GRAFF Graff is renowned for its creation of highly unique stones-led pieces and among the Graff Unique Jewels showcased at this year’s Baselworld high jewellery section was this stunning set of oval ruby strings earrings, necklaces and bracelet.
ART DE VIVRE
Explore the aesthetic of the 1920s cigarette case, the calligrapher’s tools, fine-papered pages of stylish living and the apogee of art and design
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ART DE VIVRE
The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts: Global Epicurean. Bloody oaxacan at Las Alcobas, Mexico City, Mexico © Marriott International
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Giocobetti. Projecting fantasy and desire into the genre of the nude photograph and blurring the lines between photography and art Giacobetti creates quintessential images.
ALL PICTURES SUPPLIED BY ASSOULINE BOOKS
An Assouline book is a beautiful work of art, a handcrafted limited edition that is part of l’art de vivre and highly collectable. The spring 2018 collection includes books for cultural tastemakers, a sophisticated treasury of design art and fashion that includes volumes on Dior, the Bosphorus, designer Alaia and the Missoni Collection, all lovingly photographed. An Assouline book is an aesthetic experience in itself.
Dior. The third volume in the Catalogues Raisonnés series by Marc Bohan encompasses the designer’s most iconic creations for Dior from 1961-1989. Missoni. Francesco Missoni, son of designer Angela Missoni, collects his parents’ and grandparents’ favourite recipes, chronicling the Missoni culinary tradition.
South Africa was introduced to Assouline Books at Hyde Park Corner’s upmarket bookshop/cocktail-bar-with-a-view Social Bar & Kitchen this year when the brand was launched into the country
ART DE VIVRE
Alaia Livre de Collection. This “Collector’s Book” on Alaïa’s Summer 1992 is a mirror of the creative chaos that is a feature of every fashion collection.
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ART DE VIVRE
“AMERICAN” DESK LAMP. Poul Henningsen (Copenhagen, 1894 - Hillerød, 1967). Exhibited at TEFAF Maastricht by Dansk Møbelkunst in “Nordic Furniture & Decorative Arts from 1900 onwards”.
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PICTURES: WWW.TEFAF.COM AND LORRAINE BODEWES.
TEFAF gives international dealers the platform to present museum-quality art, antiques and design of all eras and genres to a broad base of collectors and connoisseurs
PICTURES BY PATRICK MAVROS - ADRIAN STEIRN AND SUPPLIED; MARIAN GERARD. POR (CARTIER)
DIDIER LTD STAND 609.
An art patron admires the artwork at TEFAF Maastricht.
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PICTURES: WWW.TEFAF.COM
ART DE VIVRE
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PLANTS EXOTICA CHANDELIER. Junko Mori (Yokohama, 1974). Forged, wax-coated steel. Exhibitor Adrian Sassoon “Modern and Contemporary Design”. Adrian Sassoon is London’s leading dealer in historic works of art.
PAIR OF CHAIRS. Gustave SerrurierBovy. Palm tree, brass and Loetz. Circa 1905. Exhibitor Oscar Graf “Furniture & Decorative Arts from 1870 onwards”. Approximately six similar chairs are known.
LION WANNABE UNICORN. Jasmin Anoschkin (Finland, 1980). Ceramic, 24k gold. Exhibitor Hostler Burrows “Modern & Contemporary Art, Modern & Contemporary Design and Sculpture & Works of Art from 1920 onwards”.
ART DE VIVRE
A BELL-PUSH. CARTIER. Jadeite, coral, diamond, silver gilt. A jewelled bell-push, on four coral and silver feet, the push-piece accented by a rose-cut diamond. Exhibitor FD Gallery “Jewellery”.
PUNU MASK. Wood with Kaoli pigment. Gabon, Africa from 19th century. Collected in situ. Private collection. Exhibitor Tambaran Gallery “Photography from 1870 onwards, Asian Art and Ethnographic Art”.
BHANGA YELLOW.
PICTURES: WWW.TEFAF.COM; KIRSTEN CHILSTROM
Vincent Dubourg. Bronze. (Sartrouville, 1977). Limited Edition 8 + 4 AP Sartrouville, France - 2014. Exhibitor at TEFAF Maastricht Carpenters Workshop Gallery. “Modern and Contemporary Design”.
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WHITE CUBE. Stand 68. TEFAF New York Spring took place in Park Avenue, following six days of sales and attendance from collectors, museums and the public.
“NADA” TABLE. Konstantin Grcic. (Munich, 1965). Glass top with lacquered aluminium. Limited edition of 6 pieces. Exhibitor Galerie Kreo “Modern and Contemporary Design” at TEFAF Spring New York.
LOUNGE CHAIR. Edward William Godwin. Ebonised pearwood, brass casters, modern upholstery. Circa 1876. Probably made by William Watt. Provenance British art market, Gloucestershire. Exhibitor Oscar Graf “Furniture & Decorative Arts from 1870 onwards”.
Oak cabinet with doors that open to reveal drawers and shelves, supported on plank legs. Exhibitor DeLorenzo Gallery “Furniture & Decorative Arts from 1870 onwards”.
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PICTURES: WWW.TEFAF.COM; KIRSTEN CHILSTROM.
CABINET CHARLOTTE PERRIAND.
GALERIE GMURZYNSKA. Stand 18. “Arabesque” (1989). Five monumental works were installed in the Armory’s Drill Hall, utilising the building’s architectural elements for TEFAF Spring New York.
CHAMPAGNE
Champagne has finally come of age. No longer considered bubbly and lightweight, over the past decade many new houses have been established and historic Grand Marques are re-evaluating how they market their best bottles.
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he world has finally recognised Champagne is a seriously fine wine, to be cellared, aged, valued and auctioned like the best Bordeaux and Burgundy. Champagne has long been a multibillion dollar business, but now it is showing us why, with informative back-labels, respect for consumers, authentic wine tourism and, above all, integrity. The New Illustrated Champagne Map, officially launching in autumn 2018, is published by The Original Map Company (London, Paris, Porto) in two principal archival limited editions and bespoke custom B2B pieces for professional use, using light-fast pigment inks on 100% Italian rag paper. It is the inspiration of Champagne-based English artist, writer and publisher David Eley. The map depicts all 320 classified Champagne villages and carries 140 watercolour illustrations, showing the architecture, flora and fauna of this most iconic wine region. A map which helps define Champagne in the 21st century.
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE As the hillsides and cellars of Champagne have recently been designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the publication of this wall-mounted framed map is timely. The New Illustrated Champagne Map will be used as a “pragmatic piece of art� to help define and promote Champagne excellence and standards around the world and by wine educators to inform during winemaker dinners and presentations, while providing an elegant tool for legendary brands and marques in the Champagne region. David S Eley and The Original Map Company created a similar project
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CHAMPAGNE
in the Douro Valley Port Wine region of Portugal. It was an immense success and in its full three-metre size is currently displayed and used in 175 different prestige locations throughout the Douro Valley and beyond. All 78 leading Portuguese wine companies own and now use the full size framed Douro map which was personally approved by the Director General of UNESCO Kõichirõ Matsuura in 2011 and granted UNESCO World Heritage endorsement.
The map depicts all 320 classified Champagne villages and carries 140 watercolour illustrations, showing the architecture, flora and fauna of this iconic wine region. A map which helps define Champagne in the 21st century. The Douro Map was covered by national media and supported by all who value culture, heritage and craftsmanship. Champagne as a brand is and always has been associated with luxury and standards of excellence and to that end the new Champagne Map helps showcase the region as a whole, bringing to life the culture and landscape underpinning this iconic wine. The Champagne Map will provide the backdrop to many prestige events and tastings internationally and is launching in all major Champagne markets. In its largest-scale, the framed Champagne Map transforms a room or space and creates the perfect back cloth for VIP photography and presentations.
CHAMPAGNE MAP DISPLAY This new map will form the centrepiece of a much larger installation in the heart of Champagne, featuring contemporary art pieces and associating the work of leading craftsmen from around the world, placing them alongside handmade Champagne and creating “prestige by association”. Le Lude MCC winemaker/oenologist Paul Gerber will be the agent for the Champagne Map in South Africa. Paul’s details are: Le Lude Cap Classique. Email: paul@lelude.co.za. Tel: 27(0)21 1003 465.
An established professional artist for 33 years (based in France and the UK), with work in many international collections. David works in both oil and watercolour. His work has been featured on the BBC and he is a staunch conservationist, Freeman of the City of London, a Liveryman and Chevalier with the Confraria do Vinho do Porto. His work was the subject of a 3 page colour feature in Wine Spectator. David was a feature writer for The World of Fine Wine magazine and has lived and worked in Bordeaux, Douro and Champagne since being introduced to wine professionally by the world’s oldest wine merchants in St James’s, London in 1994. Follow David Eley and his Champagne Life on Instagram at www. instagram.com/agoodnose
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ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID ELEY
ABOUT DAVID S. ELEY : ARTIST & PUBLISHER
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ART DE VIVRE
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CASE STUDIES Revisit the age of The Great Gatsby, before the days of emails and evape, when notes were beautifully handwritten and smoking was fashionable and glamorous
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1. CARTIER. Vanity case 1929 in gold platinum and jade. 2. RAYMOND TEMPLIER. A Brandt cigarette case. 3. VAN CLEEF & ARPELS. A Persian inspired cigarette case 1927. 4. FABERGÉ. A jewelled gold and enamel cigarette case. 5. CARAN D’ACHE. Pencil sharpener.
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6. MONTEGRAPPA. Golden Warrior Special Edition pen. 7. MONTBLANC. Patron of Art Homage to Ludwig II Limited Edition 888.
PICTURES SUPPLIED BY BRANDS
8. FABER-CASTELL. Ink bottle.
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STYLE ICON
Princess Diana’s poised, beautiful 27 year old niece Lady Kitty Spencer, who was brought up in Cape Town, has become an international star
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STYLE ICON
PICTURES SUPPLIED BY BULGARI
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ith her perfect hourglass shape, beautiful blue eyes, symmetrical features and peaches and cream complexion Lady Kitty Spencer has been frequently compared to her famous aunt, Princess Diana, and shares her temperament, although she inherited her model mother Victoria Lockwood’s chin and strong bone structure. Warm, friendly and down to earth she has a natural affinity for people. When introduced she often says: “Just call me Kitty”, although she is a blue-blooded aristocrat by birth. She and her equally fabulous looking sisters Amelia and Eliza seem to have descended from Planet Blonde Bombshell, together with brother Louis, and the family is close knit. Kitty brings a much-needed womanly blooming beauty to the world of fashion. Since joining Storm Models, her modelling career has gone from strength to strength. She starred in the 2018 Spring Dolce & Gabbana campaign featuring glorious florals and regularly walks for Dolce & Gabbana, wearing the brand to the A-list events she attends on numerous occasions. A particular head turner was the stunning green and orange ensemble she wore to the recent Royal Wedding between her cousin Prince Harry and Megan Markle, which catapulted her into the best dressed spot and won her hearts around the world. Upstaging Amal Clooney isn’t easy but Lady Kitty won it by a whisker, dazzling onlookers further in a Bulgari necklace and earrings and delightful quirky Philip Treacy hat. She went on to wow fans even further at the wedding of her cousin Celia McCorquodale to George Woodhouse, when she arrived in a gorgeous floral D&G dress. Kitty has become a style icon to watch. The English newspapers are obsessed with her and devote screeds of editorial to her fashion credentials. Bulgari recently introduced Lady Kitty as its UK Brand Ambassador. With her growing influence within the fashion industry, Kitty embodies the same elegant, yet contemporary style epitomised by Bulgari. In addition, Lady Kitty has been instrumental in helping raise funds for Bulgari’s key charity partners including the Elton John Aids Foundation and Save the Children. Last year, Kitty helped raise £140 000 for the Elton John Aids Foundation, when she
modelled and introduced the Bulgari Divas’ Dream full pave diamond necklace that was auctioned at their gala in aid for EJAF. Like her aunt she believes in engaging in charity work and is also hoping to visit some of Save the Children’s UK programmes later this year, which are supporting young children living in poverty by improving their early learning and helping to give them the best possible start in life. Bulgari believes in authentic and empowering role models who are blazing their own trails in their respective fields. With this latest announcement, Bulgari say they “celebrate having a young patron and advocate on board who embodies Bulgari’s fearless attitude”. In addition to her Bulgari charities, Lady Kitty is a Patron of Give Us Time which helps soldiers go on holiday with their families, and Centrepoint, which supports homeless youth. Born in London and raised in Cape Town’s southern suburbs Lady Kitty was first introduced to the public eye when she was just 18. This future IT-girl won the South African Style Awards in 2009 and went to become a Cape Town girl about town, studying psychology, politics and literature at the University of Cape Town.
Warm, friendly and down to earth she has a natural affinity for people. When introduced she often says: “Just call me Kitty”, although she is a blue-blooded aristocrat by birth. She has never been a stranger to the spotlight, walking the red carpet with other children from famous families and being interviewed by upmarket magazines. After a stint in Florence where she studied history of art and learnt Italian she has grown up and acquired poise and polish, losing her South African “twang”. She went on to study for a Masters in luxury brand management at Regent’s University in London before becoming a fixture on the London party circuit with an enviable Instagram account. Even though Kitty appears quintessentially English to the eye, the sun and soil of her homeland have shaped her for life, drawing her back to her friends and family and her home on a regular basis.
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MOTORING
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The attraction that motoring enthusiasts have for classic and vintage cars derives from their history, glamour and inimitable style
A 1957 W198 300SL Mercedes Benz from the 2016 South African Concours
CARS
Today’s cars all look the same, unlike the early days of motoring when each brand had a distinctive look and provenance. The workmanship, artistry and materials used were completely different from today’s built-in obsolescence
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THIS PICTURE, LEFT, BOTTOM LEFT: Nearly 20 pre-war Grand Prix cars, many of which raced locally between 1934-1939, will be competing in the SA Grand Prix Festival in November.
PICTURES SUPPLIED
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ho can forget that legendary Lamborghini Miura purring round the mountainous passes in the opening scene of “The Italian Job”, to the soundtrack of Quincy Jones and the honey-toned Matt Munro? When the camera showed the car disappearing into a tunnel and exploding into a ball of flames, then rolled down the mountainside, there was something obscene about the destruction of such a beautiful piece of machinery. Because they don’t make ’em like that anymore. There is a special allure about a car from another era, from the pioneers of the Belle Epoque to a limited edition of a decade ago. Today’s cars all look the same, unlike the early days of motoring when each brand had
a very distinctive look and provenance. The workmanship, artistry and materials used were completely different from today’s built-in obsolescence and those cars were built for elegance and comfort, rather than the speed and safety of today. Fotunately for motoring enthusiasts, there were two models of that particular Lambo. One was destroyed but the second one is still in pristine condition and exhibited around the world. In fact, it was voted “Coolest Car” in 2004 by Top Gear magazine. The beautiful classic car has a growing international market. The glamour of the car of yesterday is celebrated at automobile shows like Concours d’Elégance Suisse, which pays tribute to the historical and cultural heritage of the automobile, as well as to the tradition of the Geneva Concours d’Elégance held from 1927 to 1955.
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TRAVEL
Gleaming brass accoutrements give this lovingly restored older model at the London Concours a charming steampunk quality. A chauffeur behind the wheel and it could be straight out of Brideshead Revisited.
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Another remarkable show, which draws thousands of visitors every year, is the London Concours, a world-class automotive garden party, hosted at the Honourable Artillery Company, an oasis of green in the heart of London. Highlights included the 120-year-old Panhard et Levassor “Paris-to-Amsterdam” car, designed to race over 950 miles in six stages well over a century ago, as well as the Fiat S76 ‘Beast of Turin”, a gargantuan 28.5-litre land speed record car from 1911. Going to a really great Concours d’Elegance is a great way to see rare and pristine vehicles
Going to a great Concours d’Elegance is a great way to see rare and pristine vehicles from an earlier era. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa D’Este, is still held annually on Lake Como in Italy 44
from an earlier era. After the first one took place in 1929, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa D’Este is still held annually on Lake Como in Italy. In South Africa the first Concours was held in 2016 at Sun City; the interest was so high that it attracted entries from outside the country. This year’s Concours South Africa event will be hosted at the magnificent Steyn City Parkland Reside and enthusiasts of older automobiles have been promised a treat. The racing drivers of yore were glamorous figures but none more so than American racing millionaire Whitney Straight who won the inaugural South African Grand Prix in 19334 in his legendary Maserati 8CM. Fans will be thrilled to hear that Straight’s Maserati will once again race against Dick Seaman’s supercharged MG K3 at the South African Grand Prix Festival in East London on 25 November and at the Grand Prix Garden Party at Val de Vie Estate on 1-2 December.
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PICTURES SUPPLIED BY FLICKR
CARS
THIS PICTURE AND LEFT: The London Concours is a world-class automotive garden party in the heart of London. The event, which played host to the most incredible collection of vehicles ever gathered in the City, drew a crowd of thousands.
TRAVEL
Exploring the many natural attractions - from pristine beaches to fern gullies, indigenous forests, snow tipped mountains and rolling pastures - at the southernmost tip of mainland Australia
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TRAVEL
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ometimes travel glitches can have a positive spinoff. In my case a delayed visa, which makes me miss my flight with Singapore Airlines, somehow turns into a six-week holiday with family in Gippsland, Australia, something I have not enjoyed since 1996. On top of that, I get to enjoy digital detox, as there is no cellphone reception for my service provider where I am going and limited wifi! Finding a spot without developers to ruin the coastline, an abundance of wildlife, clean air, wonderful food, friendly people and a sense of safety and security is the greatest gift to any traveller. This unspoilt piece of paradise is balm to an exhausted heart. The V-line buses run regularly from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station and getting to my destination takes three hours. The twice daily buses are a boon to these country areas and getting down to the airport is easy and cheap. Always fascinated by place names I find out that central and southern Gippsland, where I spend the bulk of my stay, is a place rich in Aboriginal history. Many inhabitants are proud of their Koorie blood and nearly half of Gippsland’s towns have Aboriginal names, which refer to a geographical feature of the area or its flora or fauna. For example, Wonthaggi means “to pull along”, Leongatha (“teeth”), Lang Lang (“stones”), Koo-Wee-Rup means “blackfish” and Meeniyan is
“moon”. Perhaps that explains the spiritual pull of the rolling hills arched over by double rainbows, the fern gullies and forests, filled with rare and exotic orchids, and the rail trails converted into cycling and walking paths. I find the area cooler and wetter than any other part of the continent, besides Tasmania, and am told it is often referred to as “Drippsland”.
Finding a spot without developers to ruin the coastline, an abundance of wildlife, clean air, wonderful food, friendly people and a sense of safety and security is the greatest gift any traveller can have Sometimes looking down into a gully I feel as though I could be in an episode of “Outlander” and other times expect to see an old timer in a red flannel shirt panning for gold. The charming town of Foster where I spend the bulk of my stay is in fact originally a gold mining town. It’s a long time since I’ve found such relaxed passersby with sincere friendly smiles, taking me back to my days as a student in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape.
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PICTURES SUPPLIED BY DESTINATION GIPPSLAND LTD
Within three days I start to recognise everyone and discover the delights of the Australian “op shop”, picking up all sorts of goodies for a song. At the town’s Community Centre, run by a delightful Frenchwoman called Noelle who is keen to rope me into a full blown conversation about the 100 Years War “en Francais”, I show my support by buying lots of utterly delicious quince jelly and zucchini relish. At a community lunch I meet interesting residents of the town. Everyone is fascinated by the fact I come from Johannesburg, so far away, but Australians love to travel and many people have visited Africa. Foster is very community minded and one of its delights are a communal vegetable and flower beds in the main street where passersby can pick a leaf of spinach or a sprig of parsley for their salad or sneak a lime from the street. Everyone volunteers their time for local hospitals and schools and there is a fantastic Easter market held at the showgrounds which attracts the local gardeners. The autumn weather is balmy and the sting of the summer sun is almost gone. The leaves start to turn brilliant russet red and picnic spots beckon everywhere. We find a spot at Pearl Park and lay out some goodies: smoked salmon, sourdough baguette and an orgasmic triple brie from local gourmet
supermarket Aherns. The wonderful Pinot Noir of the region pairs wonderfully with our cheese. Gippsland is famed for its cheeses and dairy products and the yoghurt is rich, creamy and oozing with fresh blueberries, blood orange and other fruit. And, oh, the cream! In fact, the excellent food throughout the region is underrated by the “crazy chef culture” of Melbourne. A sustainable way of life is de rigeur here and I make friends with the neighbouring “chooks” Milly and Molly who obligingly lay eggs every day and are fed by hand. I enjoy the taste of home in the form of bobotie at Café Max run by expat Southern Africans, named after their adorable Golden Retriever Max,. In addition, a Liverpudlian called “Wiggy” runs a restaurant at the golf course called Wiggy’s on the Green, famed for its “chicken parmo”.
The spectacular beaches in this part of the world can rival anything in South Africa, from world famous Wilson’s Prom to Squeaky Beach, named for the rounded grains of quartz which squeak beneath your feet 49
TRAVEL
Walking over Corrigan’s Suspension Bridge with wonderful views of the fern gullies in the Tarra-Bulga National Park in south Gippsland
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eighbouring town Fish Creek is an artists’ haven which boasts a Tea Cosy festival and there is a Garlic Festival at Meeniyan which produces a garlic-infused gin. But with 40 wineries and craft beer and cider breweries, one is spoilt for choice! The Meeniyan bakery buzzes at the weekend as the Melbournians drive to the coast in their fancy cars. Dogs are welcome, except the local florist mutters when they lift their leg on her flowers! I pay a visit to a gorgeous vintage shop in Toora run by Mauzy Chau, called Mauzy’s Most Marvellous Vintage. Mauzy collects clothing from around the world and dresses the celebrities of Victoria from concert pianists to soapie stars. The spectacular beaches in this part of the world can rival anything in South Africa, from the world famous Wilson’s Prom at the southernmost tip of mainland Australia, which is renowned for its stunning bush and coastal scenery and acclaimed walking trails, to Squeaky Beach, so named for the
rounded grains of quartz which squeak beneath your feet. One of my favourite beach spots however is the sheltered Shallow Inlet where cars can drive on to the beach. Here Pacific gulls swoop and shriek, crabs scuttle across the sand, windsurfers bounce across the water and husky surfers bound from the waves. En route I find sleepy koalas hugging the trees, tea tree tunnels and a red fox left over from English foxhunting days. Waratah Bay is another lovely peaceful sandy beach where you can take the dogs and walk for as far as the eye can see, toeing pieces of seaweed and picking up shells, while inhaling that lovely salty smell. A simple pleasure that cannot be rivalled. Gippsland is a region that is so diverse it encompasses skiing at Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort, walking over Corrigan’s Suspension Bridge with wonderful views of the beautiful fern gullies in the Tarra-Bulga National Park in south Gippsland, or visiting the 90 Mile Beach near the Gippsland Lakes.
Visitors to South Gippsland are spoilt for accommodation in the area, including Sanctuary@ Waratah, a self-contained cottage on a 2.5-acre property with Wilson’s Prom looming in the distance and peaceful views of cows and ponies grazing in the nearby fields while colourful birds sip at the dam at sunset. Only five minutes’ drive from Waratah Bay, this deluxe bed and breakfast draws nature lovers from all around the world who enjoy activities like swimming, walking and cycling or simply taking in the local wineries, farmers markets and art galleries. Dubbed a “home away from home” by owner Trish Shee, this delightful spot, with its nautilus shell motif inspired by the pristine local beaches, draws visitors from as far afield as Malta and Hong Kong. The breakfasts are legendary and lovingly prepared every morning with homemade muffins and fruit from the garden and dinners are available on request. Sanctuary@Waratah is beautifully furnished with every attention to detail, from the luxurious linen, a heated towel rail and plenty of thirsty five-ply towels, fresh picked flowers from the garden to a roaring fire in the chilly winters, your daily newspaper and the perfect Gippsland cheese to accompany a glass of local wine. Experience a touch of Trish’s southern African hospitality, combined with wonderful Australian cuisine, in a relaxed bucolic surrounding. www.sanctuaryatwaratah.com.au
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PICTURES SUPPLIED BY SANTUARY@WARATAH
A HOME FROM HOME
TRAVEL
Meet the awardwinning company celebrating the heady glamour of the African safari and taking it to a new and unique level
“G
lamping” has always been part of the glamorous African safari experience. Champagne and oysters on arrival, an accomplished pianist at the keys, welcoming lamps and staff, a gorgeous sunset, tents with a canvas basin to wash your hands before a sublime meal … this is the stuff that dream safaris are made of. And nobody does it better than Hayward’s Grand Safari Company. Voted Best Mobile Safari 2016 and 2017 and the 2017 Winner of the Sanlam Top Destination Award, Hayward’s is also the proud winner of the recent 2017 World Travel Awards “World’s Best Glamping Operator” title, the only nominee in the category from the African continent. Hayward provides an experience to private
groups of 40 to 200 VIP guests, which is unique because it is mobile. Camps are set up in pristine wilderness reserves across the African continent and guests get to enjoy an authentic 5-star mobile tented safari camp experience with full facilities and butler service. Each bespoke luxury camp guarantees clients total event exclusivity and superior guest comfort. Hayward’s base camp, a 2 500 acre private game reserve comprised of rolling sedimentary hills and magnificent Transvaal bushveld interspersed with savannah grasslands, is set in the greater Dinokeng Region (Place of Rivers) of Gauteng. Due to its close proximity to the cities of Tshwane and Johannesburg, big overnight events are more cost effective when run from here.
The stuff that dream safaris are made of... champagne and oysters, an accomplished pianist, welcoming lamps, a gorgeous sunset and tents with a canvas basin to wash your hands before a sublime meal 54
The terrain for each tented camp is widely diverse: from the inland waterways of KwaZulu Natal’s Isimangaliso Wetland and Coastal Park, teeming with marine life, to the Okavango Delta, the Namib Desert, the Kalahari Transfrontier Park, the Cradle of Mankind, the Pilanesberg, the Waterberg and the Kruger Park. www.haywardssafaris.com
PICTURES SUPPLIED
OUT OF AFRICA
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TRAVEL
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How to avoid end of year burn out with a great bottle of bubblyand five star treatment in a World Heritage Site
LEFT TO RIGHT: Oysters and champagne on arrival. Entering the wilderness in style. Staff in safari gear guide guests to their luxury tents which have been pitched in readiness for a five star experience. Deckchairs drawn up before the fire in the boma area, a great plce to enjoy sundowners and a wonderful meal.
TRAVEL
Avoid end-of-year burnout with a great bottle of bubbly and five star treatment in a World Heritage Site
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t’s New Year’s Eve. I am in the heart of the Cradle of Mankind with a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte chilling in an ice bucket at my feet. Lolling on the deck of my thatched chalet at the Cradle Boutique Hotel I enjoy the view before me, the quiet grass bowing as the wind passes, buck grazing on the scrubby dales and an endless vista of soft bosomed hills topped by rocky nipples.
STONES AND BONES White butterflies and a dragonfly dance past, closely inspected by a hornet. There is an absolute hush except for the birds and a helicopter whirring overhead en route to a private party and the insulated voices of the sunbathing Germans in the next door chalet. Tiny lizards dart along the wooden deck as 24/7 room service arrives on a golf cart: duck confit and pannacotta, a perfect accompaniment to the bubbly. It’s the perfect panacea for end-of-year burnout and at midnight everyone wanders up to the hotel carpark to see the fireworks light up the Joburg skyline. I decline and pour myself into the bath instead, enjoying the air conditioning in my
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en suite bathroom, and finish off the bubbles. Before I sink for ever beneath the water the giraffes take fright at the fireworks which an irresponsible tourist has smuggled in and gallop around braying like donkeys. Except for the mistreated giraffes my stay is the perfect end to a very long hard year and I am sad that the holiday season prevents me from enjoying the fossil tours of two major exploration sites, the in-room massages or a splendid picnic lunch away in the shade of the white Stinkwood trees next to the Motsetse stream. Next time maybe? Management tells me that, in addition to the 17 self-contained luxury chalets and open air restaurant, a swimming pool and boma area are on the cards. The hotel is the perfect spot from which to explore the Cradle of Mankind Heritage Site, including the world famous Sterkfontein Caves and the magnificent Maropeng Visitor Centre that is so exciting it borders on Disneyworld! It’s a 2500 m2 underground space topped by a Celtic burial tumulus boasting an underground boat ride and a vortex tunnel that illustrates the Big Bang. www.cradlehotel.co.za
PICTURES SUPPLIED
TRAVEL
SHOPPING
The high-performance 42-foot Lexus concept sport yacht powered by two 5.0-litre Lexus V8 engines goes into production in the second half of 2019.
ON THE LIST
Luxury lifestyle items for the discerning shopper with an eye for quality
The new Marine Chronographe 5527 from Breguet, launched at Baselworld 2018. www. marine.breguet.com. POR.
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PICTURES SUPPLIED
Blossom One Brewer. The precision coffee maker for the man on the move. www.blossomcoffee.com
The Pablo Mac Donough Richard Mille allnew polo calibre driven by a sturdy tourbillon mechanism, with unprecedented technology, was unveiled at the SIHH 2018. The Argentine Open Polo Tournament last year was the last time the Argentinean polo player wore the above RM 053. New model available www.richardmille.com. POR
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SHOPPING Assouline Books. Available Hyde Park Corner. From R15 000. www.assouline.com
Copper syrup pan. Culinary Equipment Company. R3 529.55. Stores Joburg, Cape Town or Durban or www.culinary.co.za.
Dolce & Gabbana Sofia ladies watch. Available Sandton City store September or www.dolcegabanna.com. POR.
The Tyne Luxury Copper Bath Tub with Nickel Interior. https://drummonds-uk. com. £6 535.00 exc. tax.
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Toni Garrn in Avakian
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PICTURES SUPPLIED BY IMAGE.NET; DOLCE AND GABBANA AND BULGARI
BY INVITATION
JEWELLERY AT CANNES
Stars such as Bella Hadid, Chiara Mastroianni, Laura Harrier, Naomi Campbell, Sofia Boutella and Emilia Clarke shone in Bulgari jewellery during the 71st Annual Cannes Film Festival, wearing pieces from various High Jewellery and Heritage collections to the opening ceremony, film premieres and parties throughout the festival.
TOP: Bella Hadid in a Bulgari High Jewellery Giardini necklace and Serpenti watch; LEFT: Jessica Kahawaty in Avakian Gatsby Collection Amethyst Earrings; BOTTOM LEFT TO RIGHT: Dame Helen Mirren in a necklace and earrings from Avakian’s High Jewellery Collection; Model Lais Ribeiro in Avakian Gatsby Tourmaline Earrings; Sofia Boutella in Avakian; Shanina Shaik in Avakian.
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BY INVITATION
MET GALA Dolce & Gabana used Sicilian and Neopolitan religious motifs at this year’s Met Gala. Sarah Jessica Parker wowed in a Alta Moda corset gown with cathedral train embroidered with gold.
TOP LEFT: Darren Criss in a jacket with Byzantine mosaic embroidery. TOP MIDDLE: Tabitha Simmons in a brocade coat showcasing the Virgin Mary. TOP: Emilia Clarke had a cathedral train made of black lace. LEFT: Christian Combs in a tuxedo embroidered with holy crosses.
PICTURES SUPPLIED BY BULGARI; IMAGE.NET
BELOW: Sarah Jessica Parker.
CARTIER IN CANBERRA The National Gallery of Australia’s extraordinary exhibition—featuring many of the world’s greatest jewels—opened in Canberra in March. “Cartier: The Exhibition” included the tiara loaned to Kate Middleton for her wedding by Her Majesty The Queen, Grace Kelly’s engagement ring and Elizabeth Taylor’s ruby and diamond necklace.
TOP: Naomi Watts; BOTTOM LEFT TO RIGHT: Chief Minister, Andrew Barr and Anthony Toms; Nicole Warne of Gary Pepper Girl; Thandi Pheonix
www.greatsouthernescapes.com.au Contact details: +61 03 5668 2141 aconroy@destinationgippsland.com.au destinationgippsland.com.au