umhlanga
umhlanga THE
A N E A ST C OA ST WAY O F L I F E
#Aaron Mcilroy
Umhlanga’s funny guy
dream Wedding’s celebrating umhlanga’s best venues
Aged
Steak
Why it makes a difference
perfect pics meet a local photogrpaher
plus social scenes + mike mahler + reviews & more Oct - Dec 2012 {issue 4}
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CONTENTS
Oct 2012
to
contents
umhlanga
Dec 2012
6 GADGETS AND GIZMOS For the non techno junkies and junkies alike! What is new gadget wise 11 high society social scene Spotted out and about in Umhlanga 16 Stuff you should know The answer to why steak is aged 18 aaron mcilroy Laughter is the best medicine 24 Dream wedding’s Celebrating Umhlanga’s best venues 32 umhlanga power shot
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34 Umhlanga sands Fresh new upgrade to Umhlanga Sands 38 msanzi has a president 40 Break Away to the Berg Champagne Sports Resort 43 Car Review 44 organic mobile spa 46 Jacki Bruniquel Local photgraphers to look out for 52 Kids Corner 54 Inspired Training Health review with Mike Mahler 58 Things to think about
plus all our regular features on health, property, lifestyle and much much more...
46 Check out the Umhlanga Magazine website at www.theumhlangaonline.co.za Having a social scene? Give us a call to cover it and get the photo’s in the magazine
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umhlanga editor
editors note Can’t Buy me Love, the legendary Beatles’ song came to mind recently when I came across an article that detailed how to go about buying followers on Twitter and fans on Facebook... Yes, read back and you’ll see that I said buy followers and fans. These aren’t, however, real fans or followers attracted through hard work and smart marketing, but simply a lazy, quickfix to boost numbers. The new fad of bulking followers and fans by buying them is called “cherry blossoming” and it’s a fact that it will not improve your business’ sales, or even expand your brand awareness, and is more likely to hurt you and the reputation you have worked so hard to build. Many businesses are moving chunks of their marketing budget to social media marketing, which is understandable because it offers yet another means of connecting with customers in a personal way. Too many executives or business owners, however, are measuring themselves, their marketing teams or outsourced consultants by the number of new fans and followers added weekly — with no regard for quality over quantity. The thinking is that the larger the number of fans and followers, the larger the consumer support for the business and, therefore, other potential customers will feel more comfortable connecting with the business themselves. Let me say that I believe that’s true, but only when the other followers or fans are like-minded people who one might know of or have come across in one’s social interactions. I’m less impressed, in fact insulted, when fans and followers are from Kazakhstan, India or Turkey and clearly actually have
Please share your views with us 4|
no clue about a locally-based business, let alone really going to buy anything from it. Part of the temptation is that buying love — in the form of fans and followers — seems both easy and cheap but, in reality, businesses that purchase fans and followers really get a whole lot of nothing. The reason why social media marketing has been successful is that it puts the real power to engage in the customer’s hands — not yours. Yes, businesses can be authentic and give customers reasons to engage, but the control really belongs with the consumers. This consumer ownership means that followers and fans are genuinely interested. This authentic interest, in turn, means that social media can — you guessed it — genuinely influence potential customers. It is all about building real relationships and that takes real work. You just can’t buy it. “Fans” purchased from questionable online services cannot be influenced and so you’ve created a false sense of accomplishment for yourself. If social media is like a cocktail party — as the analogy often goes — all that you’ve done is filled the room with cardboard cut-outs, not real people with real a intention to engage, connect and even spend money. So, maybe you want to give your marketing team a call, or drop them an e-mail, and ask them about the quality of the people connecting via social media. Talk about how you’re working on those social gems and, for goodness sake, if you have bought your followers or fans, get rid of them and start again... for real. Till we “meet” again, Blessings Justin Scott & the team
We believe that getting feedback from our readers is extremely valuable. Whether it’s about something we’ve written about or something you think we should cover, we’d like to hear about it. While we’ve been doing this a while we don’t think we know it all and always believe their is room to learn. Send an email to editor@fabmags.co.za or chat to us on twitter @theumhlanga. We’d love to hear from you!
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PUBLISHER Lorinda Scott | lorinda@fabmags.co.za EDITOR Justin Scott | justin@fabmags.co.za GRAPHIC DESIGN Daniel Rambaly | daniel@fabmags.co.za Lyndie Pieters | lyndie@fabmags.co.za SALES Maria Kent | maria@fabmags.co.za +27 79 305 0325 Pat Franken | pat@fabmags.co.za +27 82 552 3027 IN HOUSE JOURNALIST Storm Catterick | storm@fabmags.co.za CONTRIBUTORS Aaron Mcilory, Marc Forrest, Richard Webb, Tom Basson ADMIN & ACCOUNTS Sharlene Reddy | sharlene@fabmags.co.za +72 32 946 3187 Photos Justin Scott, Lorinda Scott OFFICE NUMBER +27 32 946 3187 +27 32 946 0357 FAX NUMBER 086 605 0098 EMAIL info@fabmags.co.za EDITORIAL ADDRESS Suite 1B Silverstone Way Douglas Crowe Ave | Ballito, KZN front page Jacki Bruniquel PRINTING DNA Print (Pty) Ltd.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents FabMags Publications cannot be held responsible for any omission or errors, or for any misfortune, injury or damages that may arise therefrom. TheUmhlanga is published by FabMags Publications, Suite 1b, Silverstone Way, Douglas Crowe Road, Ballito, South Africa 4418. Copyright TheUmhlanga and FabMags Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or any part is prohibited without prior permission of the publisher. All products and services featured in this publication are subject to availability and are not stocked by FabMags Publications.
umhlanga
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umhlanga gadgets
GADGETS
GIZMO’S
By Marc Forrest | www.marcforrest.com
iPhone 5
www.apple.com The biggest news in the gadget world in the last couple of weeks is the much-anticipated announcement of the iPhone 5 by Apple. The iPhone 5 body has been re-engineered from the ground up, with Apple using micron technology to ensure seamless perfection in the design of the phone, and making it the slimmest, lightest and fastest iPhone to date. The screen size has been increased to a 1136px * 640px at a 326 ppi resolution. This means that applications can now run at a much bigger and higher resolution. The camera remains at 8mp, but has been re-engineered to ensure crisp,crystal-clear images. The phone has also been re-designed from a form-factor perspective and is now a measly 7.6mm thin, 123.8mm high and only 58.6mm wide, making it a comfortable fit for onehanded use. Although the iPhone 5 goes on sale in the US and other countries towards the end of September, no dates have been set for a South African release just yet. Having said that, judging by previous model releases, we should see the iPhone 5 hit our shores before Santa arrives.
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SELPHY CP900
TOMTOM 1005 WORLD
Wireless photo printing made easy www.canonec.co.za
www.tomtom.com R4000
Featuring integrated Wi-Fi support, the SELPHY CP900 offers an excellent way to wirelessly print images from portable devices without the need for a computer. Smartphone or tablet users can instantly create lab-quality prints of their photos using the free Canon Easy-PhotoPrint app[ii], while any Wi-Fi digital camera compatible with PictBridge via Wireless LAN,such as the PowerShot S110, can print directly from the image preview screen.
I was recently fortunate enough to review 3 exciting new products from the guys at Dion Wired, and being a GPS fanatic, was really excited to open the latest TomTom offering, the 1005 World Edition.
The lightweight, portable design of the SELPHY CP900, simple user interface and button layout make printing at home or when visiting friends and family easier than ever before. For enhanced viewing and operation, a tilting 6.8 cm (2.7”) colour LCD screen features at the heart of the SELPHY CP900 operation and offers support for 13 languages. Users can showcase their creativity quickly and easily, producing prints of varying sizes and layouts in less than a minute on a range of SELPHY photographic media, including ID photos and the new square format stickers (5cm x 5cm).
The TomTom 1005 World comes in at a fairly reasonable R4000 from Dion Wired, and is well worth it for the over 60 country maps that are included on the device. This included most of Europe, USA, Australia & Southern Africa. The fully capacitive 13cm touch screen, makes browsing on the device an absolute pleasure. The GPS also includes a years worth of TomTom live services, which means you can find any locations via Local Search with Google, Tripadvisor, Expedia and loads more. You can also even tweet your ETA of your destination ! The HD Traffic updates are another feature I really enjoyed, which meant I had realtime access to traffic incidents in the area. The GPS also comes with an Easy Click Magnetic Mount which makes docking and undocking your device a breeze. If you’re looking for an all round feature rich GPS device, I would highly recommend paying the few extra Rands for the 1005 World Edition.
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umhlanga my town
Deborah Andrews
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he’s a mother of three, creator of the innovative and helpful Moms Matters website and magazine, loving wife of former Springbok rugby player, Mark Andrews, and, if that weren’t, enough, she also has a full time job! Formerly an Australian national swimmer, Deborah moved to Umhlanga to be with her now-husband and loves everything about the beautiful and rapidly growing town. With her bubbly and welcoming personality, Deborah is well-known and loved in the community and is sure to be seen at any high-profile social event. This is Deborah’s town and this is what she likes to do in it!
Take a walk: My eight-year-old took part in “Cleaning up the World” at the Beachwood Mangroves with his Glenashley Cub pack. I can’t believe that I have never been there in the 12 years I’ve lived in Durban. What a magnificent nature reserve!
Work out: I am the proud owner of a new Spirit treadmill. It has all the bells and whistles — fast motor, large mat, numerous programmes, incline option, fan, speakers, heart-rate monitor... But unfortunately I still have to actually DO the running. Oh, why can there not be an easier way? I also train twice a week with Gary Trays doing weights at La Lucia Virgin Active — he entertains me with stories and, before I know it, the hour is over. You’ve got to have fun doing exercise, or you won’t keep it up!
Eat brunch: When there’s no Saturday sport for the kids there isn’t anything better for us than heading to Oscars in Mackeurtan Avenue for a lazy brunch. The kids club is fabulous with activities on offer hourly from movies to crafts, and allows Mark and I some chill-out time. The Cheese Blintz is divine ... pancakes filled with hot cream cheese and ice-cream. Ooo-er! (The health-kick starts again on Monday.) I especially love the free WiFi and usually grab the opportunity to get my Smurf Village up-to-date on my iPad :)
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Watch the sunset: On my balcony at Kindlewood Estate, sitting in my hanging “egg chair” while the kids play in the field. When my feet are off the ground, the kids are not fighting and I’ve got a hot cup of Nespresso in my hand, life is great.
Do something fun: The monthly Wonder Market at Chris Saunders Park is just the bomb! The food offerings are incredible! I love to stock up on the Deli items so that I can add a bit of ‘joosch’ to salads during the week. And don’t forget a ton of Tasha’s fudge!
Shop: Where else but La Lucia Mall? Seriously! I would know my way around that Mall with a blindfold on.
Go on a date: With three kids to hide from, Mark and I have got our weekly date nights sorted down to a tee! 1) grab a quick Sushi at CTFM Gateway and then 2) wander down to Fego’s for a (decaf) cappuccino and “just-half” each of a piece of carrot cake... Oh, who am I kidding? We always end up ordering another “just-half” each again! And we’re back by 8.30p.m or we turn into pumpkins.
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umhlanga
HIGH SociETY
BEEN SPOTTED? email us and we’ll send you a complimentary copy of your photo
EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS ALONG THE UMHLANGA COAST
HAVING A LAUNCH, EVENT OR SOMETHING SOCIAL YOU WANT US TO COVER? EMAIL US AT EDITOR@FABMAGS.CO.ZA
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sex & the city The Square Boutique Hotel & Spa the party 1
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Sex & The City Arabian themed ladies night at The Square Boutique Hotel & Spa, Damon Beard was the MC for the evening and his Man International had ladies screaming for more.
the people
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1. Adrika Pillay, Talika Beekhan & Kareena Inder 2. Jackie Jetnarayan, Natasha Joseph 3. Cheryl Bloem & Rosemary Nayanah 4. Jayshree Singh, Melody Arunachallam & Sam Xulu 5. Kammy Mahadaw, Eve Keys & Anne Sookoo 6. Dhevia Naidoo & Sharlene Reddy 7. Nalina Valjee & Jenny Pillay 8. Sumaiya Wilson, Urishka Jaiwan & Monique da Silvar.
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the highlight 5
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The awesome prize giveaways including a 3-day trip to Cape Town as well as a belly dancing performance by Maya Dance that got everyone shaking their hips.
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Toy Story Launch East Coast Radio the party East Coast Radio’s Toy Story launch in conjunction with Game held at the East Coast house in Umhlanga. The guests were treated with a variety of snacks and refreshments.
the people 27. Angela Brouard, Luke Commins & Shannon Chappe 28. Cera Catton & Sharmaine Reuter 29. Trevesh Jaishun & Gizelle Govender 30. Jerusha Dorasamy & Monique Niehaus 31. Naveen Singh, Bernie Joshua & Peter G 32. Gerald Sieberhagen & Irene Kotze 33. Lauren Holly & Anusha Timul 34. Sipho Mkhize, Bongumusa Kunene & James Zwane.
the highlight The presentation on the 2011 Toy Story Drive and how many lives were and will continue to be touched this year.
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sharks wives Riverside hotel & spa the party
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Celebrate Life Sharks Wives Fashion show. Sharks wives dazzled us on the cat walk at the Riverside Hotel & Spa. All efforts were in aid of Celebrate Life, raising funds for the Tusk Trust, a charity established to prevent the decline in Africa’s natural heritage by appealing to people’s interest in wildlife.
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the people
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35. Storm Catterick & Teri Pettit 36. Chame Ludik, Megan Weir Smith, Lara Plumtree, Georgia Macquet, Megan Harris & Vasti McLeod 37. Colin Berger, Karen Mcintosh & Nicholas Darby. 38. Deborah Andrews, Stephanie Passmore & Manuela Pearson 39. Lesley Michael, Sam Aspeling & Jani Jous. 40. Shana Pennington, Cherry Armstrong & Mags Van Der Westhuizen. 41. Barbra Egan & Karen Daley. 42. Meyer Bosman, Wiehahn Herbst, Louis Ludik, Charl Mcleod & Jp Pietersen
the highlight The amazing local designer wear that was modelled at the show, which included the likes of Bianca Warren, Nicky CoyleDowling, Amanda Ferri and Wendy Bashford.
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Wine Pairing Evening Fego Caffe, Glenashley The party A successful fine dining dinner at Fego Caffe together with a selection of wines by Meridian Wine Merchants
The people 43. Tina Trindade & Claudia De Carvalho 44. Shawn Bryant & Lisete Caldeira 45. Stavros Iacovou & Anthi Iacovou 46. Ria & George Koumantarakis 47. Nadine & Tyrone Butten 48. Richard & Paula Quintal 49. Jaen~Mari & Marco Justino 50. Debbie & Orlando Caires 51. Charlene & Pj Davies
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The highlight The build up for the food and wine pairing provided a symphony for the senses to have each course harmonize with the selected wine.
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umhlanga Stuff you should know
the answer to why steak is aged
H
ave you ever sat staring blankly at the waiter as he explains how “aged” the steak is? Instinctively you know that if it’s aged, it’s better — but do you really know why? Owner of the renowned Butcher Block, Manuel Savic, shares a little insight into the aging of steak — stuff we think you should know. Why is steak aged? Aging of steak improves the tenderness and flavour of the meat. Cooked, un-aged beef is sometimes described as “metallic” and lacking in the typical beef flavour that we like. True beef flavour is fully developed after about 11 days of aging and continues to increase after that. It has also been shown that during the aging process changes take place in portions of the structure of collagen and muscle fibres and it’s thought that enzymatic-caused changes in the structure of muscle fibres are largely responsible for the increase
BEST CHOICE
in tenderness. Interestingly, a steak continues to improve in tenderness for up to 11 days, after which it stops and the aging only affects the flavour. Most of the steak you buy in a supermarket is aged for between five to seven days, which would be called moderately aged beef, whereas steak in some restaurants is aged from 14 to 21 days,- primarily to obtain the strong aged beef flavour. What is the process, simply put, of aging a steak? There are two ways of aging steak — dry versus aging wet, or “in the bag”… Aging “in the bag” is the most commonly used method and it involves aging vacuum-packed beef in a refrigerator under controlled temperatures of 0°C to ± 2°C. The vacuum is sealed with all oxygen expressed and the beef is stored fat side up with sufficient circulation around the
product. Vacuum-packed beef can be stored for up to 28+ days as long as the bag is tightly sealed at all times. Dry aging was once the traditional method for aging beef. This is done in a controlled process with the whole, split or quartered carcass, or using the primary cuts such as the loin. Under controlled conditions, such as in a cold-room, beef can be hung at ± 0°C for 10 – 12 days. Household refrigerators don’t provide such a constant and low temperature so aging at home isn’t advised. Because meat is a perishable product it can spoil at temperatures of 4°C to 15°C. Hung beef should be aged in hygienic surroundings free of products such as onions and fish as it will absorb these odours. Also, remember that fat protects the meat from dehydration. Therefore, if you are aging beef with very little fat, you can expect a greater weight loss during the aging process than would occur normally with fatter beef. So, in a nutshell… Aging of beef is practiced to varying degrees in the steakhouse industry. Your personal preference for the aged beef flavour strongly dictates how long you would age beef or how long you would recommend a processor to age a side of beef that you are purchasing. Keep in mind that, as the length of aging time increases, so does the aged beef flavour, the tenderness, and the weight loss, which in turn affects the yield, which affects the price you pay.`
Is there any comparison between wet and dry aged meat? According to The Internet Chef, Bridget Davis, there is no comparison between a steak that has been wet aged and one that has been dry aged. Dry aged steak has a flavour spike due to the slow evaporation of the water within the meat as it hangs in a carefully controlled environment. The meat is allowed time to tenderize through the natural occurring enzymes and intensify in flavour thanks to the evaporating water. So, dry aged is deemed better than wet.
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umhlanga Business Profile
Aaron Mcilroy words Storm Catterick
“Laughter is the best medicine - it’s in the Bible”
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t’s amazing how laughter can turn the worst day around! While I was interviewing Aaron Mcilroy, I suddenly realised that my dreaded Monday blues were a thing of the past as we “lived” a day in the mind of a truly great and insane comedian. Teamed with his wife and professional partner, Lisa Bobbert, Aaron has cemented a name for himself as the King of South African comedy and as a talented movie star — Mr Milton in the hit movie Spud. But what you may not know, is this Durban-based funnyman is also a committed husband and father with a passion for life and fun with, believe it or not, a SERIOUS side! We had the privilege of listening to Aaron’s crazy take on life in the spotlight.
How did you get into theatre? While I was at university, studying psychology and social science, I needed an extra credit so I decided to do a drama course. I had never done drama or anything like it before but I thought that if nothing else it would help with public speaking. I was only going to do a year but soon realised that it was completely enthralling. In fact, I found that it gave me a much clearer insight into the human psyche than
Photo Credits WILLIAM CHARLTON-PERKINS COPY DOG EDITORIAL ENTERPRISES CC
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studying psychology itself. I then began to think about performing for a living and the rest is history. I imagine that working in theatre/comedy, can be stressful. How do you cope with that so that you always function at your best? There’s a guy called Bill Hybel who pretty much sums it up perfectly! He separates your abilities to perform and achieve the best results into three boxes. He reckons that when you’re sort of boxed in a bubble you are underachieving and that at your optimum level you are able to manage both time and work fine, but you’re not really challenging yourself. Then you get to a box outside that, which is the point where you’ve taken on too much and you’re boiling over — basically you’ve overcooked it. But the interesting thing with this is that studies have determined that people (especially creative people) work best just inside this block — just when you think it’s all too much to handle and you’re outside your comfort zone, you find that that’s where you work best and that is exactly where I am before every show or talk I do.
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Business Profile umhlanga
Everyone needs quiet time. How do you manage that with your lifestyle plus a family, etc? You’ve got to realise that not everything on your list can be done in the here and now sometimes you’ve just got to say, “I need a moment, so don’t phone me, don’t talk to me — just leave me alone. To find this quiet space, especially when you have kids, is difficult, but you need to do it because otherwise you will go over the cut-off point where you perform at your best and get to the point where you crash and burn. But luckily for me I have an amazing wife, with unbelievable organizational skills — if she ever had to die I’d have to follow her because I don’t think I could ever do her job. Tell us about Lisa? In some ways we are actually quite similar. She’s got brilliant ideas but she is combination of a sprinter and a cross-country runner. I’m better in the now and she’s better in the planning and structure. Do you travel a lot and how does that affect your family life? I do a lot apart from the theatre shows that often takes me away from my family for a couple of days at a time — sometimes it could even be for a month. It would be better for us to live in JHB
as that’s where it’s all happening but we love Umhlanga. We love the vibe here, so we made the strategic decision to live here and let our kids grow up in a great community. I would rather live in a holiday destination and travel for work on the odd occasion than live in a working environment and travel to holiday destinations only on very rare occasions. Being away from your family is a sacrifice that comes with the territory, I guess. What’s the most challenging thing about doing a show or one of your talks? I do a lot of talks for corporate where you are hired by some dude and told to talk about a certain topic to a bunch of people who have no idea that you are coming. You are basically stuck in a room with a bunch of businessmen who have probably been playing golf all day and already had a few shooters. The organiser puts you in a bad place in the room so you continuously have to walk around for people to hear and see you. You aren’t certain that your material is going to work because you don’t really know your audience and it all becomes really challenging and definitely keeps you on your toes! Also, in my business you compete against TV, the Internet and life in
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umhlanga Business Profile
general because we are really asking for your time. There’s so much noise telling us, “look here, talk to me, watch me, read me, listen here”, so for people to make the decision to come and see our shows always makes me feel very honoured. Are the shows still “WOW!” For you. Every show is like bungee jumping! You prepare your mind and make sure that you have the right rope so you don’t die, but when it comes to show day you actually have to stand at the edge of the cliff and jump! And you think to yourself, “Why the hell am I doing this for a living — it’s completely unnatural!” A lot of the time your mind is telling you that you’re going to go out there and people are just going to look at their watches and hope that it’ll soon be over. I get this feeling every single time I do a show, no matter how many I have done in the past, so when the show’s over and you hear the applause, you do think to yourself,
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Sheer Perfection SIMBITHI R8 900 000 Modern contemporary 4 bedroom home with stylish finishes. In a sought after estate.
“WOW, thank you, Lord, for getting me through that”. I believe “nerves” keep you humble. If you don’t get nervous you are clearly bored and you should move on! What’s it like being a comedian and having to build your success on making others laugh? Let me tell you, your nerves take a pounding! There is a bad track record when it comes to comedians; look at what has happened to so many of them — drug addiction, depression, anxiety, etc — and you can understand why I say that the pressure to make a massive group of people laugh is huge! As a comedian, if in the first 20 seconds of your set, people aren’t laughing, you’re in trouble and that can make your next 50 minutes to an hour seem like a very long time. It takes a special type of person to be able to do comedy and succeed without falling off the wagon and I am fortunate enough to have a loving family and the Lord by my side to help me through it. So, you do theatre and comedy and then you become a movie star! How did that happen? Ja, when you’re handsome it just comes easy! No! I know John van der Ruit, the author, and when I heard they were doing Spud, the movie, I read the part of the dad and thought that if ever there was a part made for me, this was it! So I went for auditions with the director and the producer and so on and, after a long
period of time heard that I had finally got the part of the dad. Tell us about the second movie? I definitely think that in the first movie we only scratched the surface and that in the second movie, which we finished shooting in August, there is a much more rounded look at the madness around the life of this youngster and the embarrassment caused by his parents. In the second movie I am so unbelievably embarrassing that even I cringe! What do you think is the one thing people don’t know about you? Sherbet, I think I’m really just getting to know myself, hey! A lot of people think I’m probably mental because I’m always acting crazy, but I’m actually a relatively serious guy. I think I’m actually a closet normal person — the guy who likes to watch rugby and cricket and worries about kids and bonds, etc. I think that when people see actors and creative people they think that they live in a sort of cloud of creativity where there is a button that you can push and we’ll start doing the River Dance, or something, but outside of work most of us are just worrying about the same things that everybody else is. Look out for: The Rise of the Insanity League, featuring Aaron Mcilroy, John Van der Ruit, Ben Voss, Beauty and the BEE. Comes out towards the end of March 2013.
Sublime Elegance TINLEY MANOR R7 700 000 420m2 home. Exclusive estate. Breathtaking views
Location Is King UMHLANGA R 6 600 000 Spacious ground floor, 3 bedroom apartment. Double storey with large patio.
Absolute Beachfront BALLITO R4 400 00 4 bedroom en-suite apartment. Double lock up garage Expressions of Interest Fiona Crago: 082 551 2607 Robyn Jackson: 072 453 8267 Office: 032 946 1439 Fax: 086 607 8999 fiona@fionacrago.co.za www.fionacrago.co.za
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umhlanga Wedding Feature
Words: Storm Catterick
Umhlanga venues!
W
e know that it is every girl’s dream to have an amazing fairytale wedding, where she rides off with her Prince Charming on a magical white steed (now a very expensive car or limo) into a magnificent sunset to live the time-honoured “happily ever after”. We know that finding a place for the magic to happen can be tiring,
frustrating and depressing, so we have gone out and found four couples who found their “happily ever after” in the best wedding venues the beautiful town of Umhlanga has to offer! Who knows, maybe after reading these experiences you, too, can have your own dream wedding!
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umhlanga Wedding Feature
Couple: Claire and Dale Kent Venue: The Oyster Box Hotel, Umhlanga Rocks Date of wedding: 28 April 2012 Photo credit: Jacki Bruniquel 1. What made you choose Umhlanga for your wedding? Our family has had a holiday home in Umhlanga for 20 years so we just fell in love with the place. 2. Why did you choose that hotel? I had always told my mom and dad, from a little girl, that I would someday have my wedding at the Oyster Box Hotel. A family holiday was not complete without a walk down to the Oyster Box for tea and scones on the ocean terrace. There was never a doubt in my mind about the venue! 3. Did you have a specific theme? I kept my colour scheme white as the Pearl Room, where the reception took place, is white. The enormous chandeliers, mirrors and glowing candlelight created such a glamorous backdrop and the gorgeous silverware and mother-of-pearl shell placed on every side plate just couldn’t have a colour competing with their beautiful lustre! My bridesmaid, Ashleigh, chose a creamy oyster palette so as to subtly contrast with the white of my gown. The men wore tuxedos as we wanted the feel of the day to be classic and glamorous. I chose white gypsophila and white carnations to create a “fluffiness” for the
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round “ball” arrangements on top of the centrepieces. We had tall silver candelabra with the flower arrangement between long slim white candles alternating with tall thin glass vases containing strings of pearls suspended in water with the same flower arrangement above but the candles in crystal holders below. The candlelight created a warm and interesting pattern of light around the room, some above and some below eyelevel, and then reflected from the mirrored ceiling overhead. 4. Did everything meet your expectations and was it everything you had imagined? Yes, it was a dream-come-true! The Oyster Box wedding co-ordinator, Ginny Estlick, and her staff, as well as Kobus Nieman, who was responsible for the decorations, flowers and cake, were so competent and completely understood my vision. Absolutely everything from the first meetings to the final countdown was pleasurable with not one hitch. 5. Your photos are amazing. Are they a true reflection of you and your hubby and the day you had? Jacki Bruniquel is a true artist. She is not only the best photographer in Durban, but also a calming and organised energy to
have around you on your wedding day. She captured the essence of not only our day but our individual personalities. She has made fleeting moments last a lifetime. 6. If someone had to ask what it was like as a wedding venue and why they should get married there, what would you say to them? At our very first meeting with Ginny, she stated that we would be guests at our own wedding. There would be no pressure on the mothers and bridesmaid. On the day every little detail was taken care of, even down to the buffing of the white floors after the service providers had left and just before our guests’ arrival at the doors of the Pearl Room, which is the most spectacular setting for a wedding reception. The Victorian wrought-iron gazebo surrounded by the lush tropical gardens at the Oyster Box is the most tranquil atmosphere to be married in. The birds chirping and the sound of the nearby waves is enchanting. There is a certain serenity, almost cathedral-like atmosphere there. There is no other hotel in Umhlanga that can offer you what the Oyster Box can and they deliver 5-star service with style and glamour.
umhlanga www.umngazi.co.za
Discover the magic of the Wild Coast. Discover the rugged coastline and indigenous forests. Discover breathtaking scenery, crystal blue waters and the pristine white sands of idyllic beaches. Discover a sanctuary with a unique history.
DISCOVERROMANCE
FOR RESERVATIONS
meals per day, so make sure you bring a healthy appetite. Self-drive or enquire about
t: +27 47 564 1115/6/8/9
our seven night fly-in packages available every Friday from Virginia Airport, Durban.
f: +27 47 564 1210
Discover the ultimate getaway, call us now for a brochure on +27 31 701 6881/2.
e: stay@umngazi.co.za 4797
Discover Umngazi and you’ll discover a true paradise. Our rates include three delicious
Fairytale
weddings
Boulevard 44 Boutique Hotel invites you to our upcoming bridal expo. Sunday, October 28th from 08h00 to 17h00. The expo will include fabulous giveaways, musical entertainment, fashion shows, raffles, tastings and much more! It was well received in the past and we’re developing a bigger show this year! Don’t Miss out!
www.boulevard44.co.za | Tel: +27 32 947 1660 44 Lee Barns Boulevard, Umhlali, 4418 (Ballito) Email: confer@boulevard44.co.za • Email: confer1@boulevard44.co.za
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umhlanga Wedding Feature
Couple: Paul and Annelie Haselau Venue: Mount Edgecombe Country Club Date of wedding: 11 February 2012 Photo credit: Stuart Dods 1. What made you choose Umhlanga for your wedding? We chose the Mount Edgecombe Country Club as our wedding venue because we live in the area and it made the organisation of the day very easy. Most of our service providers were also located in the greater Umhlanga area. The venue is ideal, given the proximity of the King Shaka Airport and local hotels, which made travelling to and from the wedding very simple for our out-of-town guests. 2. Why did you choose that venue? The Mount Edgecombe Country Club recently underwent a major revamp and in the process has provided a fantastic new wedding venue for members, as well as non-members. The new venue has a great feel to it, with its dark wood bar and stunning decor, we fell in love with it the first time we saw it. There are stunning views of the golf course and the venue spills out onto an amazing big wooden deck, which we used as a place to serve pre-drinks that allowed for great mingling prior to the reception. 3. Did you have a specific theme? We didn’t have a specific theme. Our wedding colours were green, white and silver — classic and elegant. The decor was very simple, yet amazing, and really
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made the venue look spectacular. We had the most exquisite orchids on all the guests’ tables and that completed the elegant and sophisticated look that we were going for.
so much love and laughter — truly a day to remember forever!
4. Did everything meet your expectations and was it everything that you had imagined?
Yes, absolutely. We unfortunately had a bit of rain on our wedding day, so we couldn’t have a lot of wedding photos taken on the day. The ones that we did get were amazing, though! The best part was that we had to get dressed up again in our wedding attire when we returned from honeymoon in order to complete our wedding photo shoot. We are both fun-loving and outgoing people and our photographer, Stuart Dods, really captured that brilliantly. We always try to live life to the full and we just love being married. We look forward to a blessed life together and pray that it will be filled with the many blessings of good health, love and laughter.
The staff at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club were amazing from day one we had such a pleasurable experience. Brian Carpenter has to be singled out. He is one of the functions’ managers at the club and he went out of his way to make our day the best that it could possibly be. He was so helpful and a delight to deal with. Nothing was too much to ask and he did everything with a great big smile. We had nothing to worry about, as we knew that we were in good hands. The day went off smoothly and there were no major hiccups. The waiters were friendly and helpful. We had a wide selection of dishes to choose from on our menu and everyone commented on the hearty and mouth-watering food (especially the chicken and prawn curry — yum!). 5. What was the best thing about your wedding? Marrying the love of my life and being able to celebrate the day with all our special friends and family. It was a day filled with
6. Your photos are amazing. Are they a true reflection of you and your hubby and the day you had?
7. If someone had to ask what it was like as a wedding venue and why they should get married there, what would you say to them? All we can say is that you can’t go wrong if you choose the Mount Edgecombe Country Club as your wedding venue. It really is a hidden gem!
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Couple: Kunal and Bhavana Jugdeo Venue: The Square Boutique Hotel’s conference venue Date of wedding: 28 April 2012
1. What made you choose Umhlanga for your wedding? We wanted a venue close to the beach so what better place than Umhlanga! We also wanted a venue close to home and a central location for friends and family coming from afar. 2. Why did you choose that hotel? The hotel was perfect for us and it was exactly what we were looking for. It’s a beautiful location, with an intimate venue plus the perfect outdoor spaces that we required for the wedding. The hotel was also very accommodating to the specific requirements that are a part of a traditional Hindu ceremony, something which was not available at most other venues that we looked at. 3. Did you have a certain theme? We did not have a specific theme. However, I wanted my decor to be simple and elegant. The colours I chose where gold, silver and white with hints of red. My centrepiece for the table where white roses. Everything was elegant and classy.
4. Did everything meet your expectations and was it everything you had imagined?
7. Your photos are amazing. Are they a true reflection of you and your hubby and the day you had?
Everything was perfect. I chose the table decor, stage decor and flowers. I designed the layout of the tables and the stage design and I even handmade my wedding favours — colourful beaded spoons — which where a hit with our guests. I own an event planning company, First Class Events, so it was really a fun process to actually plan for myself. It was all that I had envisioned.
It really does. It was a very special day for both of us. I think that neither of us could believe that we were finally getting married!
5. What was the best thing about your wedding? The entire day was amazing; I could not believe that it was OUR day. It was really special, especially seeing my husband’s expression as I walked down the aisle. That was my favourite moment.
8. If someone had to ask what it was like as a wedding venue and why they should get married there, what would you say to them? I would say that the venue was perfect. If you are looking for an elegant, classy intimate venue, The Square Boutique Hotel is the answer. It’s beautifully located, with ample parking and great outdoor conversation areas. The venue co-ordinator was really helpful and accommodating. All of our guests really enjoyed the day and were impressed by the venue.
6. Anything you want to add? My husband could not believe that it was actually me walking down the aisle. I’m not used to being all dressed up.
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umhlanga Wedding feature
Couple: Krystle MacKenzie and Jacques Schabort Venue: The Oyster Box Hotel, Umhlanga Rocks Date of wedding: 5 March 2011 Photo credit: Jacki Bruniquel 1. What made you choose Umhlanga for your wedding? We chose Umhlanga for our wedding because my family have lived in this beautiful town for a number of years so we have very fond memories of it. When we decided to look at wedding venues, the Oyster Box was our first stop and, as soon as we had finished the tour we knew that it was our last — it was simply PERFECT with its multi-functional rooms, themed areas and just sheer beauty in every corner. We were all blown away. 2. Did you have a specific theme? We didn’t have a specific theme as such, but we wanted something classic, timeless, and classy with a touch of vintage. So the Pearl Room where the reception was held was all done out in white, silver and touches of aqua. With its gorgeous chandeliers the room was absolutely breathtaking! Not to mention the 180-degree sea view with the famous lighthouse in the background! 3. Did everything meet your expectations and was it everything that you had imagined? Our wedding completely exceeded our expectations at the Oyster Box; it was everything we had imagined and more!
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Everything ran smoothly, the staff was professional, friendly and prepared to help wherever needed. The Pearl Room itself couldn’t have been better — I may be biased (ha-ha), but I can honestly say it is the MOST beautiful wedding (room) venue I have ever seen or been to. 4. What was the best thing about your wedding? The best thing about the wedding was that all of our family and closest friends came together to celebrate this special and joyous day with us in the most perfect venue... Everything ran smoothly, which is every bride’s concern. However, in saying this I must mention the Oyster Box's incredibly talented Personalised Wedding Consultant, Ginny Eslick. She was the person behind the scenes making sure that everything ran according to schedule (literally) and if anything didn't go according to plan, Ginny would make sure she’d fit it in somehow! Without her, the day and evening wouldn't have been what it was. 5. Your photos are amazing. Are they a true reflection of you and your hubby and the day you had? Although our special day is over, we still have the beautiful memories and photos
to look at, thanks to Jacki Bruniquel. Wow! She is a miracle-worker and took photos that blew our minds! With the incredible views, scenery and exotic places to take pictures at the Oyster Box, it wouldn't matter if there was rain or shine! We had such fun getting photos with our bridal party and family and I think this can definitely be seen in our pictures! It was a time full of fun, spunky and not a picture was taken without a laugh! 6. If someone had to ask what it was like as a wedding venue and why they should get married there, what would you say to them? I would highly recommend the Oyster Box as a wedding venue. From the delicious variety of food, to the staff that works as a team to make sure that things run smoothly, to the exquisite setting and unbelievable views, I could not think of a better venue than the Oyster Box to get married in! It almost makes me want to get married again — don’t tell my husband I said that, ha-ha! The entire hotel is just perfection down to every nook and cranny. You can rest assured that your wedding day will be the day you have always dreamt of and it will not disappoint you in any way.
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umhlanga power shot
We’ll be profiling a photo that we believe captures the essence of Umhlanga, in every edition of the magazine. If you’d like to send us pics to use please forward them to editor@fabmags.co.za and who knows, you might have one of them published!
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time for sundowners It’s that time of year when we’re able to make use of the time between knocking off from work and the sun setting to grab a sundowner, connect with friends and take in all that is Umhlanga Rocks. Where better to do it than at the Lighthouse Bar at the Oyster Box Hotel....here’s to loving life on the coast!
power shot
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umhlanga Feature
Words: Storm catterick
Umhlanga Sands gets an upgrade
T
he Umhlanga Sands has an enviable reputation as one of the oldest and most successful hotels in Umhlanga. Set on the bustling Umhlanga beachfront, “The Sands�, as it has come to be known by locals and regulars alike, has created many a wonderful memory for generation after generation of holidaymakers! Built in 1976 and transformed into a timeshare in 1980, the Umhlanga Sands has become a place where families who have bought into the timeshare hand their shares down to their children and so forth. Making it just about as hard to buy into now as buying into rugby season tickets! It has been almost eight years since its last touch up, so a new, modern revamp was indeed a change for the better. In mid January, just after the last guests had left after having a great Christmas holiday, work began on what would be a meticulously planned and managed journey to create a brand-new Umhlanga Sands that will cater for even more generations to come.
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Feature umhlanga
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umhlanga
Feature
Creating lifestyles sinCe 1976
• • • • •
Kitchens Built in Cupboards Pubs Bathroom Vanities Studies
26 Cherry Road, Pinetown P.O. Box 104, New Germany 3620
Tel: 031 701 0484 | Fax: 031 702 6478 info@woodcraftkitchens.co.za w w w.woodcraf tk itche ns. co. z a
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With a budget of only R68m for the full revamp, 210 000 gruelling man-hours from start to finish, 10km of hot and cold water copper piping, 5 300 LED light bulbs, 55km of electrical wiring, 10km of fire-cabling, 200 tons of Crete Stone used for skimming walls, 400 litres of interior wall paint and the stats go on… work on the “new” Umhlanga Sands was finally finished early April, just in time to open for the busy Easter break, which warmly welcomed more than 1 000 people. In addition to the revamp “The Sands” wanted to introduce more environmentally-friendly initiatives within the hotel. Such initiatives
included installing LED lights throughout the hotel and auto-switchoff air-conditioners which sense when a balcony sliding door is opened. They installed tinted, shatterproof windows which help cut the heat factor in the rooms substantially. Run-off water from ‘water-holding’ plants is now being captured and reused to water the gardens around the hotel and, as if that wasn’t enough, they even have a worm farm in operation. Talking to Derek Mckillop who is the current GM of Umhlanga Sands and a long standing member of the Southern Sun Resort team, it really dawned on me how great a task it is
Feature umhlanga
to do a complete revamp on a hotel of this size. Can you even imagine carting every single piece of furniture out of 237 units on 17 floors, plus offices, restaurants, shops, etc? We forget how much goes on behind the scenes! But the result of the revamp is a brighter, better, more beautiful hotel that is ready to cater for the needs of both its timeshare guests and the general public. Yes, you heard right — “The Sands” welcomes all, whether it’s to grab a bite to eat at the Spur whilst taking in the breathtaking sea views, have a casual dinner at Maestro’s, or pop in from the promenade for the kids to visit Sweets from Heaven whilst the adults grab a drink at Coco’s Action Bar. Out of season
locals are permitted to make use of both the kids’ pool area as well as the fun entertainment that comes with it, and adults can relax and take in the sun on the upper deck adult pool area.
more fun amenities. The rooms are even equipped with hubs that they can plug their Play Stations and Wii’s into — there really isn’t anything that hasn’t been thought of!
For out-of-towners, if timeshare holders are unable to make use of their week, they lease it back to the hotel, and you can then rent it.
Derek believes that the Umhlanga Sands is all about creating good memories for everyone that visits the hotel, from the time they arrive to the time they leave, and for him the redevelopment was about investing in those memories for years to come! By looking at the new improved “Sands” I have no doubt in my mind that their efforts will prove successful.
The revamp didn’t see the “Sands” lose their number one philosophy, “kid is king”! They have always gone the extra mile to make sure that your kids will be entertained throughout their stay by providing poolside entertainment plus a poolside sandwich bar, a beach volleyball court, a Joyland, and many
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umhlanga Feature
Msanzi has a president
I
’m sure you have heard the buzz on East Coast Radio about the President of the East Coast campaign and our very first president, Loryn Holmes. But what not many people know is that the campaign was created following the conclusion that KZN needed an ambassador for all things “Funsunzi” and everything that makes Kwazulu-Natal a great place to live. “We looked for someone who has a passion for the province. As a leading regional radio station, we try to instill a sense of pride amongst the people of Kwazulu-Natal for the province in which we live and this campaign was great for that,” says ECR’s Programming Manager, Naveen Singh. With this in mind, we thought we’d catch up with our newly-elected president and see how life as the East Coast Ambassador is treating her.
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What did you do before you ran for President? I’ve always led a busy and active life, but since being inaugurated as President of the East Coast my social life has most certainly stepped up a notch! On the work front, there is never a dull moment and being busy keeps me out of trouble! I work in the PR and Marketing Department of a financial services provider, The Unlimited where I’m involved in a number of projects. Our number-one sponsorship, The Unlimited Dusi, keeps me busy for a good part of the year, in between which I assist with internal events and functions as well as corporate PR and internal communication. Has becoming President become a fulltime job or do you still have a “day job”? I am still very much employed by The Unlimited and have not had to quit my job in order to fulfil the role of President! I am not employed by ECR or Chevrolet in any way, either. I’m purely a PR / Event Extraordinaire by day, Social President by night. What made you enter? A friend of mine, Claire Storm, sent me the link one day and said that I had to enter this competition as she believed I would win — so I did just that. I completed the online application form and was asked to come in for a screening interview a couple days later. By that point I had adopted the attitude of, “oh well, let’s see how far I can go”, never for one second thinking I would make the final six, let alone actually win the title of President of the East Coast! Is there less personal time now that you’re President? At the moment I don’t have too much spare time, but I do try to make the most of it when it comes around! If the sun is out I can be found lazing on the beach with friends, or else spending some quality time with my “TV and Couch”!
My family is number one and I love going “home” for a “Mom”-cooked meal! As President, you’re the ECR Funsunzi ambassador — do you think there’s more to this role and could you use it to make a real difference in KZN? For sure! My passion for children, and especially early childhood development, was ignited through a project called The Unlimited Child. This project provides educational toys and caregiver-training to those less fortunate and, as President of the East Coast, this allows me the opportunity and platform to promote awareness of this fantastic project and why it is so important, not only for the future of KZN, but for South Africa. For more information you can visit www.theunlimitedchild.co.za and I would like to invite and encourage more people to join me in “Shifting the Nation Head First”. When people reflect back on you as our first President, what do you hope they will remember? I hope they’ll remember me as the one who put the FUN in FUNSUNZI … As the first President of the East Coast I obviously have a standard to set and I’d like to think I would do just that as someone who has embraced what KZN has to offer and who has stood as a proud ambassador for the people of the East Coast during her reign.
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Midweek special R1 600welcome per persondrink) per night (includes 2 coffees, game drives, all meals, teas, coffees, welcome drink).
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This lodge is one of a select few exclusive lodges that cheetah lion cubs,OF bass fishing, Elandslagte form partand of FLAVOURS KZN (Fine dining). Other battle field tour (extra charges) activities include – walking with cheetah, bass fishing, Elandslagte battle field tour (all extras charge)
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Are there any plans to meet Mr Zuma J? Hey, stranger things have happened … I’ve met some pretty interesting people of late and I reckon one should never say never. East Coast Radio is hoping to make the campaign an ongoing thing, so if you think that you have what it takes to be the next “President of the East Coast”, keep listening to East Coast Radio. But for now we are excited to see what Loryn has in store for our beautiful province.
Contact Reservations: +27 (0) 71 680 4584 info@nambitiplains.com www.nambitiplains.com
Find us on facebook for updates,
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umhlanga travel Feature
Break away T to the Berg
Champagne Sports Resort
words Storm Catterick
Review by Lucille Nagel
he Champagne Sports Resort is nestled in the Central Drakensberg, about two hours’ drive from Durban — if you drive like my fiancé, that is. Because you’re mainly on the highway the drive becomes a very pleasant and easy journey… a few good tunes and you’re sorted. As you take the Escort North (Exit 179) turnoff, you start heading inland and are welcomed by the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains. With the overwhelming stresses of life knocking on your door every day, this was a much-needed weekend away and we couldn’t have chosen a more magnificent place. We stayed in one of the mountain-
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facing double/twin suites which are fully equipped with a telephone, colour flatscreen TV (DStv, of course), tea/coffee facilities, hairdryer, overhead ceiling fan and en-suite bathroom. There are also luxury and presidential suites available. From the moment we arrived we were greeted with warm smiles and welcoming faces. The staff at Champagne Sports Resort truly offers, you excellent service throughout your stay. The resort is huge, with about 152 hotel rooms and 91 timeshare units. It really lives up to its sporting name with a wide range of leisure activities to keep you active all day, every day! And, what’s more, the cost of these
route sixty two
activities is included in your stay! There is a gymnasium, five tennis courts , five swimming pools, walks, table tennis, trampoline, volleyball, bowls, pool table, darts, basket ball, putt-putt and children’s play areas, as well as the scenic 18-hole championship golf course which attracts golf-lovers from around the world. The halfway-house is situated on a hill overlooking the “hidden” golf course. We hadn’t touched a golf club in year and thought a round of golf would be fun, so off we went in our chequered pants and coloured shirts to test our skills. The sun was out in full force that day, so the golf cart they gave us was much appreciated. I spent most of the game searching in bunkers and bushes for my balls, which made it an amusing and fun day for all. The resort also offers a fabulous wellness centre where you can get a bit of pampering. Breakfast and dinner are part of the package and offer a wide variety of culinary flavours. Dishes range from cold meats and a selection of breads to smoked trout and fresh green salads
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to a hearty home-cooked leg of lamb with roast potatoes — there is even a selection of fresh seafood and stir-fries that are freshly prepared to your liking. The variety and emphasis on freshness is truly excellent. If you choose to look outside the resort, there is a great deal to keep you busy and entertained, from a visit to the wellknown Drakensberg Boys Choir to canopy tours, the Ushaka horse trails, fly-fishing at the Drakensberg Sun and many other outdoor activities all within a scenic half-hour’s drive. We decided to visit the Falcon Ridge Bird of Prey Centre, which was a magnificent and unforgettable experience. It is a must-do for the family. The great thing about Champagne Sports Resort is that it’s the ideal place to go to if you truly want to relax, find time to unwind or reconnect. We will definitely be back for more and really recommend that you give it a try.
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Car Review umhlanga
THREE’S COMPANY words: Richard Webb
Take a look at this, the sixth generation of the BMW 3-series Sedan. It’s going to be the world’s best-selling premium car.
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o keep the 3-series on top of the sales charts it simply has to set new benchmarks in terms of sporting prowess, elegance and comfort. I was invited during the launch to try out the new range from the BMW factory in Rosslyn, Pretoria, to see if BMW have got it right. Even before you clamber into the car, you are aware of the history of the 3-series and how it has inspired the new car. It’s still follows traditional BMW design cues, with the “same sausage, different length” school of design. The flat headlights, reaching along as far as the “kidney grilles”, looks very similar to its larger sibling, the 5-series. However, it has grown in size compared to its predecessor; wider and 93 mm longer, giving better legroom and the impression that it’s almost as big as the previous 5-series was inside. But it’s 40 kilograms lighter than its predecessor. Clever stuff! Trim and equipment variants — the Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line — are typically BMW in efficiency and layout. The car has always been known for clever chassis technology and driving dynamics
and this latest model is no exception. I got to play with the 328i during some quick laps at Zwartkops Raceway and it grips tenaciously at improbable speeds. It’s unruffled and composed in a way that a family saloon has no right to be. There’s currently a choice of three engines. For the first time ever, all of these come with Twin Power Turbo technology (even the upcoming M3). The 2-litre 320i squeezes out 135 kW at 5,000 rpm and peak torque of 270 Nm at just 1,250 rpm. Average fuel consumption is 6.1 litres per 100 kilometres. But the days when you could work out the engine size of cars according to the nomenclature are behind us. The 328i doesn’t have a 2.8-litre engine. It’s a 2.0-litre engine developing 180 kW and peak torque of 350 Nm from 1,250 rpm, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. Average fuel consumption is just 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres. The BMW 335i is a glorious sounding in-line six displacing 3.0-litres, developing 225 kW and maximum torque of 400 Nm at just 1,200 rpm. It’s a stonkingly quick and defined car and will give you goose-bumps as it howls its way to redline.
The eight-speed automatic gearbox is a first in this segment and can be specified in combination with any of the petrol and diesel engines in the range. Auto StartStop function comes standard, but it does take some getting used to. It starts up again, when needed, quick enough but the engine does “shudder” a bit when it switches itself off. All models bristle with Efficient Dynamics technology — Auto Start-Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration, Optimum Shift Indicator and need-based operation of ancillary components to reduce fuel consumption. The new “Driving Experience Control” switch offers Comfort, Sport and Sport + options, and also ECO PRO mode, which helps all models in the range wring out more driving from litre of fuel. This car will most certainly worry dealer principals from Audi, VW and Mercedes. It’s not perfect, but it’s at the top of its game. I believe that they will sell bucketloads but will somehow still manage to appear exclusive. That’s one of BMW’s masterstrokes that other brands want to emulate.
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umhlanga Spa Review
Organic Mobile
Words Lorinda Scott
Organic mobile also cater for group bookings at home or come to you for the perfect pamper parties. They also do corporate spa visits, secretary's day saw 14 very happy ladies (and a boss) being treated to a secretary's spa day, with a whole new approach to what to do during lunch time – definitely no work talk as your board room is quickly transformed.
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hat an experience - totally pampered and feeling heavenly! I decided on a mobile home massage but wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy the experience because I love the spa scents, the feel and the music. Well was I surprised how, in a quick 15 minutes, Sheri transformed my bedroom into all of that! Sheri, owner of the mobile spa, has a love for meeting and talking to people and even goes on missions to weird and wonderful places to meet even more fabulous people - so a mobile spa is 100 percent her calling. Treating you to a pedi or full body massage in the convenience of your own home is a concept that has taken off really well in Cape Town and Johannesburg and Sheri has started her very own mobile spa here on the North Coast. Mercy, who works with Sheri, is fabulous at her job and professionally and expertly
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sets up everything to perfection. I was pleasantly surprised at just how easily my room transformed into the perfect pedi area. Next up was the full body massage and the massage bed was just like at the spa’s – comfortable and sturdy and it was complimented with the perfect music, curtains drawn and scented oils - within minutes it felt as if I was no longer at home! It really was the best massage ever and to top it off a relaxing bath was run and waiting. I waved farewell to Sheri and Mercy and hopped in for a chilled afternoon! That is how you end a spa treatment - no slippery shoes or no "straight back to reality" but rather an extension of the spa right at home (I'm still in my robe four hours later while writing this). I am as relaxed as I have ever been and left pleasantly surprised at my own reaction to this unique, and new mobile massaging at home.
A firm follower of all things organic, Sheri leaves no stone unturned, hand mixing all her rubs and treatments herself and even the washing powder with which her towels are washed is organic! All in all it’s a fabulous experience which offers an all round package - from their friendliness and professionalism to their top notch service. This is the perfect gift for a friend that never has time or rarely leaves the house with busy kids and a busy life, is a great idea to pamper and spoil your staff or is perfect if you just want to treat yourself to some pampering without worrying about having to leave the house.... because we all have those days. Whichever option, give Sheri a call, you won't be disappointed! Cell: 083 257 4253 www.organicmobilespa.co.za
umhlanga
The Square Boutique Hotel & Spa, is situated in a prime position among the energetic, active mix of retail and commercial properties on Umhlanga Ridge. Come and tantalise your taste buds for pristine cuisine with dishes to die for at the Cosmopolitan restaurant or visit the luxurious AquaSpa that spoils with personal attention, quality products and revival therapy. Conferencing and event facilities are also available, there’s no reason not to be there!
For more information please contact 031 566 1814 or visit www.thesquare.co.za.
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umhlanga Photographers to look out for
Words Storm Catterick
photographers to look out for
Jacki Bruniquel There’s something about a good photograph that captures the imagination and enchants the eye, whether it’s because it’s a memory that will be forever frozen in time, or the fact that you can capture the most precious moments in someone’s life!
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umhlanga
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AutomAtion & Lighting controL
Custom home theatre systems with complete home automation Purist music systems for the connoisseur House-wide multi-room audio and video distribution Large-screen projection In-house service department Pre/post construction wiring design and layout Blending high-fidelity with decor Designed and installed throughout South Africa for over 20 years
A U D I O
E X C ELLEN CE
CALL 031
566 5931/30
sales@audioexcellence.co.za GATEWAY OFFICE PARK UMHLANGA ROCKS
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umhlanga
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have always envied the way in which photographers view life — how they can find something aesthetically pleasing in even the most insignificant or less-than-attractive thing. We are so blessed in our small town to have some truly amazing photographers here, all unique and different in their own way, but with one common underlying factor — they are all brilliant! With this in mind, we decided that during the next couple of months we would profile some of Umhlanga’s best photographers who we think you should look out for when capturing that next special moment! In our first edition we are profiling Jacki Bruniquel, a photographer who is known for her unique style and honest way of capturing memories in her photographs. Jacki is also an accomplished artist, something which enables her to take photography to an exceptional level. With her incredible knack for capturing wedding memories, she is fast gaining a reputation for being one of South Africa’s most creative wedding photographers. Jacki Bruniquel is this month’s local photographer to look out for!
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1. Tell us a little bit about yourself? My name is Jacki but my friends call me Jax and I love taking pictures! I come from a Fine Arts background and work mainly as a wedding and portrait photographer these days. I am based in Umdloti Beach and, although there are a million reasons why I feel grateful to live here, one of my favourites is that I often see dolphins from my balcony!
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2. Who or what got you started in photography and did you study it? After finishing school I went off to study Fine Arts at the Michaelis School of Fine Art at UCT and that is where I fell in love with the magic of photography. My plan was to become a painter but I ended up majoring in photography after being bewitched by the darkroom. After graduating I went off to travel the world and when South Africa beckoned me home I went to the Natal Technikon to get a more practical grasp of the technical aspects of photography. I have also been an assistant to some awesome photographers who have helped me tremendously during my career. Paul Weinberg, Peter Engblom and Mark Lanning have all been amazing mentors. During my time at Tech and for a couple of years after getting my Photography Diploma I worked primarily as an artist, creating mixed media works where I combined painting with photography. Throughout this time I had people asking me to shoot weddings but I was rather reluctant to call myself a wedding photographer as I believed that there was a certain stigma attached to this. Then I started looking at what was going on abroad and realised that my creative approach to wedding photography was in line with what was happening overseas. I was blown away by the inspiring wedding images being created internationally and realised that wedding photography really offered me the chance to make creative narrative images. 3. What gives you ideas or inspires you to create such amazing imagery? People, light, balance, beauty.
032 586 3306 | info@dbrothers.co.za Unit 1D | Ballito Home Improvement Centre Moffat Drive | Ballito 50 | w w w. fa b m a g s . c o . z a
4. How would you describe your style? I aspire to be creative, quirky, soulful and narrative. 5. What type of cameras do you shoot with? A Nikon D700 and Nikon D4 6. What is your favourite photographic accessory? My assistant, Tash (LOL)! 7. What is the best/favourite photo you’ve taken? It’s really hard to narrow it down to a favourite as I have taken so many images in my life and they all mean different things to me, but here are two. This is a very recent pic of Guy Buttery, who is one of Durban’s most talented musical golden boys. Guy’s music is so deep, clean and soulful that I just had to photograph him in water… the fact that he is clothed while in a bathtub gave the image the dreaminess which I think is such a big part of his music. Then there is this photo of Shane and Laurie whizzing past on an old Royal Enfiield motorbike at their wedding in Goa, which I photographed this year. It was truly one of the highlights of my career and I had so much fun! India is a photographer’s dream and being paid to shoot a wedding there… Well, that is a wedding photographer’s dream come true (this one’s, anyway!). 8. Describe the ideal conditions that help create a great photo (natural light, mornings vs afternoons, time of year or anything like that)? You cannot take a picture without light, so if you are going to shoot with natural light, you want to make sure that you are shooting either really early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Winter light in Natal is particularly pretty — we photographers call June the “champagne month” because of that gorgeous warm afternoon light!
Photographers to look out for umhlanga
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Hey kids! this page is just for you ... please send us interesting information or questions for us to look into for you. kids@fabmags.co.za
Channing Tatum Born, Channing Matthew Tatum, this popular actor started off his path to stardom as a fashion model, appearing in television commercials for Pepsi and Mountain Dew before getting his big break into film roles such as She’s the man, Step Up, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Through his leading role in the dancing movie Step Up, Channing met his soon to be future wife, Jenna Dewan, who plays his love interest in the movie. Together along with 3 others they have started their own Production Company, 33andOut Productions. Channing is very into working out and keeping his body in top shape, whilst growing up he played football, soccer, track, baseball, and performing martial arts. In an interview he was quoted to say that in school girls were always his biggest distraction.
Between thntehaLivannes Leer By Jodi Picoult, Sama
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Q. What did Geronimo say when he jumped out of the airplane? A. ME!!!
actually And then one day Oliver Oliver , speaks to her. Turns out onal nsi me -di is more than a one tless res a ’s He . nce storybook pri his by d ppe tra ls fee teen who hates that his literary existence and ined. He’s erm entire life is predet out there him for re sure there’s mo h might lila De and , rld wo l in the rea m. just be his key to freedo
Q: Waiter, will my pizza be long? A: No sir, it will be round!
together to Delilah and Oliver work k that forces tas g gin llen cha of his book, a attempt to get Oliver out world, and their perceptions of fate, the them to examine their er grows along the ir attraction to each oth places in it. And as the a fairy tale. ms that is anything but way, a romance blosso
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Q. Why don’t acrobats work in the winter? A. They only do Summer-saults.
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Q: What did the digital clock say to the grandfather clock? A: Look grandpa, no hands!…
Then now
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epsen, ly Rae J r a C is t n tha ng, Call sensatio COOL so n Y ia L d S ling a U n O ICUL like gigg ising Ca ALLY RID ce floor T ith the r n O w a a T d r y t ll e ia a a il of th actu y fam onto th e singer she was e all ver eaming th r r n y c a o s tl s r a ti u o a n r o s h y e e n S r bett ht se n wom tour.] I’m sure know he 8. n overnig e Top 3 concert ets grow u 0 a g o 0 y e n 2 e , e m v 0 b a e y 3 c t th be or ma mber one tha re Carly to sing in maybe n Septe be, (The that befo f War, o Call me going on w o f d o o r g n me May 3 u e k T s d , a u e rele plac t on album ut did yo ols and with the e #1 spo r debut girls!) b ognized ent to th nadian Id he released he c a e w lia, r C a e y e b tr ll y s a th a u me m was re Idol, s part of ne in A ll n ic o a o s C r u g e y. n m b it ti r num t he mpe urios went to after co 2011 tha d play, C gle also n’t until extende in s t s a u e w b h e it T d t . Bu t 100 of her dian Ho release nd Cana and the a d r a o . dom e Billb ed King both Th the Unit d n a d n Irela
Carly BBM Language for parents BRB- be right back TTYL- Talk to you later IDC – I don’t Care
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umhlanga Health
inspired training
words justin scott
Las Vegas based Mike Mahler is a passionate strength trainer and hormone optimization researcher who was one of the first trainers to bring the art of kettlebell training to modern day training. Mike has travelled around the world sharing his honest and fluff-free style to personal development and physical fitness and recently visited Umhlanga, hosted by local fitness guru, Sean Temple, owner of Flux Motion.
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itting at the Beverly Hills Hotel just before he was about to head back to Las Vegas, this dynamic individual shared with us his views on kettlebell training, healthy eating as a vegan and also about his “live life aggressively” philosophy. Mike, tell us about how this all started out? Thanks. I’ve always been passionate about staying fit and healthy and in 2002 I gave up a corporate job to do what I love full time. The first few years of my business were honestly really difficult. Very few people even owned kettlebells and it wasn’t something that people were either familiar with or cared about. I kept pushing hard and in 2005 my business hit critical mass and I started to make a proper living out of it. Kettlebells are only one aspect to your overall approach. You also have a Live Life Aggressively philosophy, tell us about that? For me, aggression has nothing to do with being violent. I don’t want to inflict harm
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on anyone and would never recommend violence to others. What I mean by being aggressive is being proactive about your life. It is about going after what you want with full intensity like a warrior that will not accept defeat. Living aggressively is about being in the moment and taking care of things immediately. Living aggressively is about building a fulfilling life, rather than living vicariously through other people’s lives on TV. Living aggressively is about having the courage to stand up for what you believe in.
was the case with my devotion to learning about hormone optimization. I went through some stressful periods during the first few years of my training business. In addition to financial stress, I was dealing with personal stress on many levels, which eventually resulted in a severe case of pneumonia. I almost died from it and realized full well where an overload of stress will take you.
What does this have to do with strength training? Simple, it is not enough to just have a strong body. Being strong in the gym but weak everywhere else is not real strength. Aggressive strength is a philosophy about taking charge of your life.
The more I studied the more I realized the strong connection between optimal hormone levels and overall well being. When your hormones are healthy, you are healthy. When your hormones are optimal you have a feeling of being able to take charge of the world. This is where I am now and have been for several years. My hormone levels are great and I feel strong, energetic, and excited about life.
You’ve also been involved in coaching people on hormone optimization. How did that evolve? Often we spend time on and study things that are self serving and then we realize that other people can benefit from it. This
Is there a generic approach to this, or is it different for each of us? When people come to me asking me advice on optimizing hormones, I tell them that they need to get detailed blood work to see where they are at. If someone does
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not have blood work then I prefer not to offer detailed advice. Each person has different tolerances to different foods and each person deals with it differently, so the reality is that there isn’t a one size fits all to hormone optimization – it means you have to take ownership of knowing where your body is at. Regardless, some basic information that helps with hormone optimization is: 1. You must get 8 hours of deep sleep every night. Deep sleep meaning no tossing and turning and sleep where you dream vividly. It is the ultimate antiaging practice. 2. Eat organic at least 90% of the time. 100% is even better. If you eat meat or any animal products (dairy-eggs) you must eat 100% organic. Meat, dairy, and eggs that are not 100% organic are loaded with hormone disrupting chemicals. I tell people that if they are not willing to invest in high quality food then I am not willing to help them with hormone optimization as clearly they do not care. 3. Have a balance of protein, fat, carbs at every meal. This keeps Insulin stable and a good amount of healthy fat is required for adequate hormone production. 4. Do high intensity training 3 times a week. This kind of training ramps up growth hormone and helps keep body fat low. When you are fat you have more estrogen receptors which lowers testosterone. 5. Don’t drink beer. Beer is loaded with hops which is highly estrogenic. 6. Work on stress management. Meditation, chi-kung, tai-chi, yoga are all great ways to handle stress.
You’ve travelled to South Africa to work with Sean and his team. Are you keen to come back? Absolutely. I’m always interested in sharing what I know with people who can set goals and make them happen and from my time here it’s clear that there are alot of people who have already made progress personally and are hungry for more. It would be great to see even more support of guys like Sean and what he’s doing because he’s committed to helping others improve. If given the chance to come back I’ll definitely do it. We are fortunate to have people like Sean Temple who are willing to bring some of the worlds leading health gurus to South Africa, and more specifically Umhlanga. It gives us the opportunity to learn and consider alternative approaches to being healthier - and that’s where it starts, considering the options. w w w. fa b m a g s . c o . z a
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directory umhlanga
breakfast
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lightsnacks
cappuccino
smoothies
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Peter Snyman 031 572 6754 / 083 662 0823 56 | w w w. fa b m a g s . c o . z a
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directory umhlanga
STANDARD & CUSTOM MADE FRAMELESS & FRAMED SHOWERS, BATHROOM VANITIES, MIRRORS & GLASS SPLASH BACKS
Tel: 031 563 0656 Tel: 031 312 9095
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Showroom: Lifestyle Design Centre, 892 Umgeni Road (Next to Old Lion Match)
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umhlanga things to think about
I LOVE
WORDS Tom Basson
things
I
am a firm believer in blooming where you are planted. I think all of us should cultivate a love for the city in which we live and the people who live in it.
Of course it’s easy to complain about things we don’t love about the places in which we live, but the truth is every town/city/ country in the world has its upsides and its downsides. So… while this list is obviously specific to Durban, South Africa, my challenge to you is to write down the things you love about the place where YOU live. You might just surprise yourself and start appreciating the place you call home more… 1. The Ocean The ocean calms my soul like nothing else. I am a surfer. And everyone who surfs knows that life is better when you surf. (The fact that on just about any day of the week, I can pick up my surfboard, or surf-ski (or any other sea-going craft you can think of) and in five minutes be in the water that is probably the best thing about Durban). Sunrises, dolphins, warm water, waves… can you think of a better way to start your day? I can’t. 2. The People Something I learnt quickly when I was travelling abroad: people make a place. You can be living in the middle of paradise, but if you can’t connect with the people, it soon becomes hell. Joburgers call us laid back, Capetonians call us backwards, but I say we Durbanites just know how to balance work and play…
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3. The Lifestyle Durban is known as South Africa’s playground. Head down to the Golden Mile on any given morning and you will see a plethora of people running, cycling, swimming, surfing, paddling, stretching, kettlebell-ing… etc. No matter what your interest, there is just so much to do to keep active and stay healthy. 4. The Traffic (or lack of it) Sure, we have the odd traffic jam every now and then, but by in large, when compared to other cities of our size, Durban people don’t even know what traffic is. 5. The Surroundings Within very close proximities of Durban, and in every direction, there are gems waiting to be visited. Spectacular mountains, lakes, game reserves, forests, breathtaking coastline, coffee shops, farms, world heritage sites, and so much more. So take a drive and discover just how gorgeous our country is. 6. The Diversity Contrary to Ron Burgundy, “diversity” is not in fact an “old old wooden ship”. But it is one of my most favourite things about Durbs. I just love the range of people and cultures and communities that intertwine all around us in weird and wonderful and exciting and oftentimes redemptive ways… 7. The Africanness Is that even a word? I love being African and I love living in Africa. Sure, things don’t always work out smoothly and efficiently. Yes, we have potholes and you may spend
fourteen hours on the phone to Home Affairs, but I would take that any day above overly-sanitized (and often down-right dull) first-world living. (No offense first-worlders – I just like to walk barefoot and shirtless in a shopping mall without being arrested ). 8. The Poverty Of course, I do not love poverty or rejoice in it. In fact, it breaks my heart. But being exposed to it on a daily basis does not allow me to live in a bubble of privilege. It forces me to remember how blessed I actually am, and hopefully stirs something in me to get out there and try make a difference. It allows me to evaluate my own generosity, and gets me thinking about others instead of only myself. 9. The Women I had to say it. But let’s just be real: Durban has some incredibly good-looking women. None more beautiful than my gorgeous Durban-born-and-bred wife of course (good save hey?). 10. The Church I truly believe there is nothing quite like the church when the church is working right. Now I’m not talking just about my local church, I’m talking about the big-C Church – that is all the churches in and around Durban. And I just love that this city has some kick-ass churches who are working together to make an impact. While we may not agree on everything, all agree to help fight poverty, be a voice for the voiceless, and work for social justice. This kind of partnership and cooperation is rare. We don’t always get it right, but at least we’re trying…
umhlanga
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umhlanga
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