The Airport Magazine

DEC

2011

ISSUE 9 Our mag is of great value, but it’s FREE for you to keep or share!

welcome | 03

Editor-in-chief Justin Scott

We made it! December is here and we can smell the Christmas lunches, the sun tan lotion and the frosty drinks (you decide which ones).

There are mixed feeling about how this year has been - for some they believe its been a long, hard year while for others they are optimistic and feel like things are turning - either way no matter what we think the year is quickly coming to a close.

I once heard someone refer to the end of the year as silly season. I wasn’t that sold on the expression since I have a strong feeling that words have power (even printed) and referring to a time as “silly” could invariably make it happen. Anyway, to the point, I sense that there is a time between the start of Spring and Christmas when we all wake up to the fact that there are some projects we haven’t started, some we haven’t finished and some that need to be finished so that we can feel better about going on holiday or starting the New Year.

What this evokes is a flurry of action and activity to try and get stuff done. There is more urgency on suppliers or service providers (who have their own deadlines they’ve realized need attention) and

Please share your views with us

internally businesses seem to loose their sense of humour as office politics changes to the equivalent of office road rage as we feel that others are doing everything in their power to make sure we just dont pull off those last minute projects...because remember they all count when you site down and negotiate your end of year bonus.

(it’s there somewhere - we promise) and have nothing less than a fantastic Christmas. Connect with friends and family, read a book, watch a movie and have lunch somewhere you haven’t been before because while it’s sometimes a crazy time of year it’s not silly season at all - it’s Summer and you should made the most of it.

Funny how this negotiation happens in the very same week that we have our kids carol service, prize giving, swimming club year end and flurry of requests from our kids to have friends sleep over plus it is also the week in which we’ve come to realize we just aren’t going to finish everything on our to do list.

Till the New Year Merry Christmas and God Bless Justin and the FabMags Team

Crazy time isn’t it? No wonder we can’t wait to jump into the car (or plane) and head off to some part of the country’s coast so that we can run around in baggies, tan in the sun and forget about everything that has made us grumpy and cranky.

We’ll it is that time...almost. So we want to wish you the very best these holidays. We hope you kick off your shoes and get your feet wet, find your mojo

facebook.com/theairportmag We’re on Facebook so if you don’t get a chance to get your monthly copy of our magazine you can keep up to date with our news, articles and very best photo’s. Just pop across to Facebook and LIKE our page. It’s that simple.

twitter.com/theairportmag Short, concise and up to the minute updates.

That’s what we cover on our Twitter profile plus we comment, chat and retweet the best tweets out there. We look forward to connecting online.

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

SANCTUARY

EXTRA DIMENSIONS

property group

contents | 07

STAYING IN TOUCH

In this month’s issue of

the

So you picked up the magazine and you’re reading the staying in touch column wondering what exactly it’s all about. Well we know that for many of you, you don’t get to jet set around the country that often, which means you might not get a chance to pick up every edition of the magazine.

Don’t worry! All the great articles and competition giveaways are still up for grabs. All you have to do is follow us on Twitter @ theairportmag, or get to our facebook page www.facebook. com/theairportmag and like us.

It’s really that simple.

12

ushaka marine world is a place to visit

42

MUSIC FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEDGED

Once you’ve done that we’ll keep keepup you to with dateour withlatest our you to up date latest edition, breaking edition, breaking storiesstories and and awesome interviews PLUS awesome interviews. this month we’re giving away awesome prizes to people The FabMags team wisheswho all our follow us or like us - isn’t staying you a very Merry Christmas and insafe touch just great. New Year. Be a and blessed safe and we hope you find time to relax before the new year.

32 the

the legend lives on at the oyster box hotel in umhlanga

gadgets m a g a z i n e

PUBLISHER Lorinda Scott | lorinda@fabmags.co.za EDITOR Justin Scott | justin@fabmags.co.za GRAPHIC DESIGN Lyndie van Wyngaardt, Daniel Rambaly JOURNALIST Storm Catterick PRINTING Paarl Print Durban OFFICE NUMBER +27 32 946 0357 / +27 87 807 8084 FAX NUMBER 086 605 0098 EMAIL info@fabmags.co.za EDITORIAL ADDRESS Suite 1B Silverstone Way, Douglas Crowe Ave, Ballito, KZN SALES Pat Frankin | pat@fabmags.co.za +27 82 552 3027 Robyn Shillaw-Botha | robyn@fabmags.co.za +27 83 629 8818 Facebook facebook.com/theairportmag TWITTER twitter.com/theairportmag

Don’t Forget Help keep transport clean and tidy for everyone by taking your copy of The Airport magazine away with you when you leave.

PRINTED BY PAARL MEDIA KZN

09

GADGETS For the non techno junkies and junkies alike! What is new gadget wise.

sport 30 GO FLY A KITE

Can you handle a kite in the

surf? How about 5 kites?

Check out our extreme pic to

see how its done

lifestyle 12

16

ushaka marine world take care in the sun An Aussie guide to a burn free summer

16 Review of the peugeot

3008

20 our tourism grading council

22 buskaid

A musical haven for the

underprivileged 32

business

the legend lives on The Oyster Box hotel offers a variety of hotel, spa and restaurant options all in one luxurious venue right on Umhlanga’s main beach

36 the ultimate home 40 christmas shopping 42 where to eat in SA 50 health - summer ready

46 know when to moving from working in your

business to on your

business

48 social media strategy

Part 5 of developing a

social media strategy for your

business through the door.

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

08 | contributors

Senior Client Partner at BMGI Stan Shaw is a Senior Client Partner at BMGI, and consults to business across a broad spectrum of strategic and operational disciplines. Stan has consulted to large corporations both locally and internationally, helping them solving complex business problems through innovative and out the box thinking. When Stan isn't travelling he spends his time with his family on the KZN North Coast, enjoying the great South African weather and warm beaches. With a passion for his family, life and mental challenges, Stan remains at the forefront of thought leadership.

012 844 0700 or stan.shaw@bmgi.com

Owner of FLUX MOTion After travelling the world (Australia, USA and UK) Sean decided on settling back in South Africa in 2005. SA rules! After 15 years of working in banks and Software houses, he left the corporate world to pursue his passion – training people in the old style way of training with a scientific approach to the way we eat and drink. “Our bodies are the same they were thousands of years ago, we need to keep them in shape and healthy the way we should be!” And thus www.fluxmotion.net was born! By leading a healthy lifestyle people can do anything. Flux Motion specialise in Corporate Wellness, have functional training facilities in Four Ways, Umhlanga & Ballito and do training on the beautiful beaches.

078 166 2698 | www.fluxmotion.net

Peter du toit

sean temple

Stan Shaw

Meet the brilliant people who contribute to our magazine

Co-founder of Social Media IQ Peter du Toit, co-founder of Social Media IQ, is a social media strategist, exceptional speaker and certified coach who helps individuals and companies understand the need to keep evolving with the latest trends and technology in order to stay relevant in this fast changing world. His association with some of the industry’s leading thinkers in the use of social media has placed him in the position to offer real world advice and strategies based on the current state of the rapidly evolving web.

He is currently part of an exclusive team who tests social media technologies for Google before its release. Peter’s insights and understanding of social media in a business setting are an asset to any business wanting to integrate social media into their daily business operations.

Gadget geek & Established blogger Often referred to as the iGuy, Marc is a true gadget geek at heart. His love for Gadgets & Apple products is displayed in his blog, MarcForrest.com, which is ranked as the top personal & tech blog in KZN according to Afrigator.com.

After living in Ballito for the last 7 years with his 3 gorgeous kids and wife, Lesley, his latest venture is BallitoNews online (www.BallitoNews. co.za) with the ed Justin Scott. Ballito News aims to capture the heart of KZN North Coast lifestyle, while sharing the latest news of one of the fastest growing towns in South Africa. marc@iguy.co.za | www.marcforrest.com

Journalist Storm Catterick is a born and bred Mtunzini resident (for those that don’t know, that’s a small town 45 minutes north of Durban). She graduated from Vega Brand Communications School and got her degree in copy writing. Storm currently writes and adds her flavour to a portfolio of magazines held by FabMags, including the Airport Magazine.

She also is a regular contributor to a community based online newspaper on the KZN North Coast.

With a love for writing she includes a young, fresh outlook to everything she does. Meeting new interesting people across different industries and learning from each interaction inspires this learning journalist.

Richard webb

storm catterick

marc forrest

www.socialmediaiq.co.za | peter@socialmediaiq.co.za

Publisher and Motoring Journalist Richard Webb is a Cape Town based publisher and motoring journalist who divides his time between the UK and South Africa. His most recent book, 50 Golden Racing Years, is a lavishly illustrated 400 page coffee table style volume on the modern history of motor racing in South Africa. He now writes on all matters automotive for The Airport Magazine. richard@ovation.co.za

extra time gadgets | 09 TomTom Top Gear Edition www.tomtom.co.za

Leapfrog LeapPad Explorer www.leapfrog.com

TomTom recently launched the TomTom GO LIVE Top Gear edition, bringing fans a combination of a Stig mode, Jeremy Clarkson’s directions and unique Top Gear selected points of interest including race track and raceway locations related to the series.

Designed for little hands and big imaginations, the LeapPad Explorer takes learning to new heights.

Featuring TomTom’s congestion-busting HD Traffic technology, the new satnav will steer drivers through traffic jams and is packed with Top Gear features including start-up and shut-down screens and car icons. Drivers can choose to have The Stig mode, which renders the device instantly silent, or select Jeremy Clarkson’s voice to guide them.

At R1 999, the TomTom GO LIVE Top Gear edition includes one year of TomTom’s LIVE Services at no cost. The flagship service is TomTom HD Traffic, which delivers dynamic routing and accurate traffic information every two minutes.

HD Traffic gives drivers detailed incident reports, length of delays and reason for them, accurate travel and arrival times and alternative route proposals.

Blackberry Bold 9900 www.blackberry.com Blackberry recently announced the latest addition to the their phone lineup with the BlackBerry Bold 9900. The phone, which features a full QWERTY keyboard, as well as a touch screen, brings the best of both worlds to 1 device.

This is the fastest and most powerful BlackBerry experience yet.

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is loaded with a 1.2 GHz processor, 8GB of onboard memory, 720p HD video recording, dual-band Wi-Fi, and a built-in compass, and also comes pre-loaded with the feature rich BlackBerry OS7.

If you due for an upgrade, or looking to get a new feature rich smartphone, then The new BlackBerry 9900 is a must look at!

With his or her own learning tablet, your child can have fun with phonics, maths and science and then take learning beyond the basics to geography, world languages, music and life skills such as brushing their teeth! As part of the learning adventure, your child can also practice writing skills with step-by-step instructions and a child-sized stylus.

Edutainment takes centre stage and, thanks to the accelerometer and 5” brilliant colour touch screen, little ones can enjoy a truly interactive learning experience. Disney favourites like Toy Story 3 and Cars put them in the middle of the action with HD-like graphics.

LeapPad Explorer helps children with their vocabulary and improves reading skills. LeapFrog’s largest library ever (100+ learning games, videos, e-Books, flash cards and more) and e-book functionality enables children to customise an endless variety of learning experiences.

Characters and backgrounds come to life and the interactive dictionary reinforces the definition of a word through animation and audio effects.

The LeapPad Explorer is child-friendly in every way and can withstand rough play. It has a 2GB memory, 480 x 272 resolution and is designed to work in portrait or landscape orientation. Additional features include volume control, a headphone socket and home button for easy navigation.

To expand the fun across platforms, the exciting library of Leapster Explorer game cartridges and apps are cross compatible with the LeapPad. The LeapPad is available at DionWired stores for R1199.

Kindle www.amazon.com The team at Amazon recently re-launched the ever popular Kindle brand with a number of new models. We took a look at the fantastic Kindle Fire last month, which is an Android based device which brings your books to life on a full colour device.

Amazon also relaunched a newer, slimmed down version of the Kindle, which has no keyboard, and is a WiFi only device. Weighing in at around 30% less than the standard model, pricing has also been reduced to make it affordable at only $109 (±R800) This makes the new Kindle the perfect Christmas present for the kids or mom.

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

10 | profile general gadgets set the beat

KORG Wavedrum mini This device has the unique ability to turn any surface into a drum. I’m not talking about a drum that sounds like someone beating on a hard surface, but something much more musical. All that is required is to attach the sensor clip to the side, and you have two drums that you can play with. The second includes the pad on the unit itself.

The WAVEDRUM Mini has 100 ready-to-play sounds that range from acoustic tones to synthetic sounds, and it also has the same amount of rhythm patterns. The user also can select any effect and enhance any sound with 10 preset audio effects.

product highlights • Portable percussion synthesizer built on Korg’s renowned Wavedrum technology • 100 Ready-to-play sounds ranging from acoustic tones to synthetic sounds • 100 Rhythm patterns serve as a rhythmic guide or provide jamalong-fun • 10 Preset audio effects; select any effect and enhance any sound • On-board Looper allows unlimited overdub layering for complex, multi-sound patterns • Share your sounds using the built-in speaker, or practice using headphones • Battery operation lets you play with confidence on the street, outdoors or anywhere • AC Adapter and mounting strap are included

BRiNGiNG BuSiNESS NoRth For all your commercial requirements

Contact the North Coast Commercial Specialist. (tongaat to Stanger)

GREG KRUGER PROPERTIES GGK

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SPECIALISTS

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

Greg Kruger NC: Real Estate, MPRE (NQ5) ;CRS(SA)

Contact: 082 775 7762

www.ggkprop.co.za

profile general gadgets | 11

stronger, lighter and greater curves

COMFORT ON WHEELS

Travel comfortably, arrive relaxed and look your best – Samsonite’s X’ion 3 collection is for the discerning traveller who knows his way around the airports of the world.

As airlines continue to reduce weight allowances, lightness has become the consumers’ number one requirement ahead of strength and smartness. The X’ion 3’s tent construction replaces conventional piping, providing shape, tension and structure from inside much like the poles of a tent. This means lighter and stronger luggage with good curves.

The X’ion 3 collection sports Samsonite’s smoothest ever rolling wheels. With ultra smooth rolling comes less noise and vibration which reduces articulation and back pain and makes it easy to navigate through busy airport crowds.

Additional features include a volume front compartment for easy packing and organising clothes, a TSA lock, a removable garment sleeve with a hanger and foam bar (in all uprights and spinners) to keep hanging garments clean and wrinkle free and an ergonomic handle with soft grip and multi stop positions.

did you know?

TSA locks – the TSA (Transport Security Administration) in the USA requires access to air passengers' luggage for security screening – sometimes without the passenger being present. TSA locks can be opened and relocked by TSA officials using tools supplied by the lock manufacturers, whilst luggage locked with other types of lock may be forced open. It is advisable to travel internationally with TSA approved locks.

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

12 | feature ushaka marine world

this summer you’ve got to get to

ushaka marine world BUT REMEMBER -BEWARE OF THE WEDGIE

| 13

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

14 | feature ushaka marine world

The world class uShaka Marine World, situated in Durban, opened its turnstiles to the general public over 7 years ago. Building this amazing destination took close on three years to complete and since then uShaka has fast positioned itself as a key attraction on Durban’s Golden Mile, offering a world of entertainment, excitement, fun and uniqueness.

Entertainment is non-stop, extending from the day-time operations of Sea World, Wet ‘n Wild, and uShaka Beach, to the night time festivities of the Village Walk. uShaka Sea World is the 5th largest aquarium in the world, with 32 tanks totalling 17,500 cubic meters of water. The underground aquarium is designed around 5 shipwrecks, with its entrance through the above ground “Phantom Ship”, which contains several restaurants including the “Cargo Hold,” with a wall sized shark aquarium visible from most of the dining areas, and the “Upper Deck,” with views of the open sea exhibits that surround the “ship”.The dolphin stadium can seat 1,200 visitors, and the seal stadium can seat about 450.

Ranked as one of the top places to go in South Africa, Ushaka Marine World offers up an amazing blend of things to do for families and friends looking for a fun day out.

The Village Walk also has a wide range of well known, branded, restaurants if you want to grab a bite to eat or even have a proper sit down meal.

If you’re in Durban this holiday you HAVE to put a day (or more) aside to visit one of the biggest water parks in the southern hemisphere.

We’ve put together only 7 of the many things to do, we hope you like it and we hope to see you down there this December!

Scream, shout, splash, wallow, dash, spray and play! Do all this and more when you hit South Africa’s wildest water slides like The Drop Zone, The Plunge and The Torpedo as well as family fun rides such as the gentle Duzi River, 5 Lane Racer, kiddies pool and so much more.

A word of warning though - BEWARE OF THE WEDGIE, especially after Africa’s Highest Water Slide!

Be amazed as 10 000 amazing sea creatures bolt, dive, dip, splash and scamper inches from your face! It’s an undersea experience that’s nothing short of spectacular! Enjoy an awe-inspiring aquarium along with dolphin shows, seal shows and penguin presentations, even touch pools to get up close and personal – they’re all here!

Hey, you could even meet Nemo’s second cousin, twice removed!

AN AMAZING KIDS WORLD

Sit back and relax as your little ones slide, paint, scream, shout and basically do what little people do! After a day here, they’ll be out for the count in no time, giving you more time for that special someone in your life – YOU! • Africa’s biggest jungle gym • Crabby Beach Sand Pit • Creative Creatures Corner • Parrot Presentations • Riggadees Dough Café • Polly’s Paint Pen • Ocean Warriors Mascot Show and so much more

| 15

fun facts About ushaka

largest aqaurium Want to take a walk on the wet side and get up close and personal with the Ocean’s sea creatures? Try one of our mesmerising Animal Encounters: - Meet a Dolphin - Meet a Seal - Xpanda Shark Dive - Ocean Walker - Snorkel Lagoon

- Scatter Feed - Turtle Feed - Brindle Bass Feed - Ray Feed

32

in southern Africa

tanks

Watch some of the world’s scariest spiders, snakes and frogs as they slide, slither, crawl, hop and hiss their way around this creepy exhibition. With common crocodiles and exotic Gila Monsters, Black Mambas, Bull Frogs and a Giant Albino Python, this is an exhibition that’s sure to both thrill and captivate.

highest slide in southern africa ushaka beach voted safest durban beach under 3 years old

FREE

open every day

9 5 am-

1 1

Park price

pm

9 new

attractions

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

16 | environment take care in the sun

The Aussie guide to a

burn free summer I know that after a long cold winter, everyone (including me) is eager to rip off the jeans, pull on a summer dress, dust the cobwebs off your bikini, slather on the tanning oil and get your bronze on. (Hmm, maybe this situation calls for a cocktail to complete the summer picture) But before you get too excited, just remember what the harsh South African sun can do to you after months of hibernation.

Unfortunately, I speak from experience on this topic. Last week I got sooooo excited to see a sunny day without a breath of wind and absolutely no cloud cover, that I left the house without any water or suntan lotion or a hat — now that’s clever thinking (laugh). After about an hour in the sun, without any shade, my once-white winter skin was a poster child for a Christmas candle — sunglasses tan and all. This may seem extremely funny to others, but, as you all know, being burnt to the point that you start to feel frozen just isn’t cricket! After this traumatic experience (such a drama queen), I decided to give all of you out there who are as excited (a nice way to say dumb lol) as me a heads-up on how to get your bronze on and not your burn!

Because I clearly do not know how to tan without getting burnt, I decided to research staying safe this summer the Aussie way, because we have more or less the same climate as they do and they just do the sun thing better! Aussie-land has the highest level of deaths from skin cancer in the world (unlike us ,who have murder), they have come up with strict safety advisories on how to keep that peachy skin peachy and not like a tomato.

The Aussies are very particular when it comes to the sun!

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

Staying safe this summer! Try the Aussie way...

• Skin can burn in as little as 15 minutes in the summer sun, so it’s important not to spend hours in the sun, even if you think you are not getting brown.

• Skin cancer is one disease that is largely preventable, so be sure to always have sun protective clothing nearby. Cover as much skin as possible, e.g:. long sleeves and high necks/ collars. If you feel you have had enough sun but still want to swim, put on a shirt and a hat rather than carry on burning your shoulders and your face.

• Sunscreen is important, but it’s not the be-all and end-all by itself! Make sure your sunscreen is broad-spectrum and water-resistant.

Sunscreen should not be used to increase the amount of time you spend in the sun and should always be used with other forms of protection.

Apply sunscreen liberally to clean, dry skin at least 20 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.

• A broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket-style hat provides good protection for the face, nose, neck and ears, which are common sites for skin cancers. Caps and visors do not provide adequate protection. Choose a hat made from a closelywoven fabric – if you can see through it, UV radiation will get through. Hats may not protect you from reflected UV radiation, so also wear sunglasses and sunscreen to increase your level of protection.

• Make use of trees or shade structures, or bring your own! Staying in the shade is an effective way

to reduce sun exposure. Whatever you use for shade, make sure it casts a dark shadow.

• Sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat worn together can reduce UV radiation exposure to the eyes by up to 98 per cent. Choose close-fitting wrap-around sunglasses. Sunglasses are as important for children as they are for adults.

• Remember to take extra care between 10am and 3pm when UV radiation is at its most intense.

• Check your skin regularly and see a doctor if you notice any unusual skin changes.

• If you are going to cheat tan, avoid using solariums or sunbeds, which emit harmful levels of UV radiation which are up to five times as strong as the summer midday sun.

The Aussies are very particular when it comes to the sun — even on construction sites it is policy to wear long-sleeved, collared shirts, long pants, specific UV protection sunglasses and a bucketstyle hat and sunscreen no matter how hot it is, or where you are working! Even though you can imagine how irritating and hot this must be, it does make the world of difference when it comes to sunstroke or no sunstroke and, in the worst case scenario, life or death.

So, all you bronzing bunnies out there, if you want to lead a happy, sunburn-free summer, take a page out of the ‘down under’ book so that you won’t be the butt of all the sunburn jokes.

18 | review cars

Peugeot 3008

Premium 1.6 THP 5dr words Richard Webb

Deep inside Peugeot HQ at Avenue De La Grande Armee Paris, Peugeot designers have found inspiration from a Tetraodontidae, commonly known as a ‘Puffer Fish’ their 3008. A car styled after a fat, poisonous, bloated fish may not sound that appealing, But it is.

Really, it is!

Jean Francois Bacos, MD of Peugeot Motors South Africa says of the 3008. “By blending the best attributes of the most popular contemporary market segments into one vehicle concept, the Peugeot 3008 is a true crossover in every respect.” I think he has a point.

The 3008 is Peugeot’s 308 ‘cross-over’ and vies for sales against competitors like Nissan’s Qashqai and VW’s Tiguan and quite a few others. Peugeot will wrestle buyers out of a much wider range of cars, so good is its packaging. The 1.6 petrol engines are smooth and free revving, producing 88 kW in the 5-speed manual VTi and 115kW in the 6-speed manual THP (Turbo High Pressure).

The 3008 is easy to drive around town, but its slightly light steering limits the fun on twisty roads.

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

Mechanically, most parts are already tried and tested elsewhere in the company’s range, so the car should be pretty reliable.

The panoramic glass roof is truly excellent and the superbly finished cabin feels bullet-proof, with fine soft-feel materials and metallic trim. Stylish dashboard architecture that includes a padded passenger grab handle that would not look out of place in a Bentley.

In the rear there’s generous room and there’s a false floor that can be repositioned on three-levels with ingenious ease. The split tailgate aids loading and can be sat on, the front passenger seat backrest folds forward for an extended load deck. Add to that an appealing instrument display and lots of storage space and it adds up to be an excellent effort.

Out of all the high tech goodies stuffed into the 3008, the most interesting is the dynamic roll control device fitted to the rear suspension of the 150bhp petrol, which pressurises the outboard shock absorber in corners to counter roll and understeer.

Clever stuff! The 3008 drives well with its supple suspension, sharp steering and tidy handling that

will entertain spirited drivers. It’s brisk rather than fast but it is practical, refined and easy to drive. A sumptuous cabin and some excellent engines help make it even more appealing.

Peugeot’s 3008 offers excellent refinement, a classy interior and plenty of versatility: it’s a fine allrounder for families. quick facts

Price R 286,119 Engine Capacity 1598 Power 88 kW @ 3800 rpm Torque 160Nm @ 4250 rpm Transmission 5-spd Manual Acceleration 0-100 km/h in 8,9 seconds Top Speed 210 km/h Fuel Consumption (combined) 7.1 /100km Emissions 167 g/km Warranty 3yrs / 100 000km

20 | tourism grading council

Tourism Grading Council An acquaintance and family friend of mine is an absolute human dynamo; he has several business interests, all of which are solid, reliable and traditional in what they deliver. He has ideas a plenty that all have the potential to be better than the businesses he is currently running, but the snag is that he has limited or no time to develop these further.

relevant. You should also check at the entrance to the premises of graded establishments for the new star grading plaque awarded by the Grading Council to establishments to verify that their star grading is current.

How do I find out information on what the minimum criteria are for 3-star establishments as opposed to that for 5-star establishments? You will find all this information on the TGCSA website (www.tourismgrading.co.za) that lists the nine categories of establishments that are graded: 1. Hotels 2. Guesthouses 3. Country Houses 4. Bed & Breakfast 5. Lodges 6. Caravan & Camping 7. Self-Catering 8. Backpackers and Hostelling 9. MESE facilities Why would I, as a consumer, select a graded establishment over a non-graded establishment?

The level experience, quality of service and standard of facilities can be relied upon.

You know that when you choose a graded establishment exactly what your money’s going to buy. And you know, too, that you can confidently rely on the facilities you have paid for.

If the level of service and facilities isn’t up to scratch, you can use the website to report an establishment. The website includes a consumer feedback mechanism; people are encouraged to get in touch with the Tourism Grading Council via this feature to comment on the accredited establishments they have chosen to support.

A Customer Complaints Officer employed by the Tourism Grading Council handles all online feedback. Feedback goes to that establishment’s on-line file.

What is the Tourism Grading Council SA? The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) is the only officially recognised quality assurance body for tourism products in South Africa and the only officially recognised organisation that can authorize accommodation establishments to display quality stars. It is headed by the chief quality assurance officer, Ms Thembi Kunene.

The grading system has undergone a significant overhaul, defining criteria for graded establishments to make sure they are internationally competitive and that there’s uniformity and predictability in services, standards

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

and facilities among establishments that enjoy the same star grading.

How do I find out if the establishment I and my family are going to stay in is graded? Visit the Tourism Grading Council website www. tourismgrading.co.za where a database with establishments that are currently graded can be found. You should also ask the establishment directly whether it is star graded by the TGCSA and what its star grading is. Please note that star grading is awarded for a year only and is reviewed each year to ensure that establishments do not claim grading that has become outdated. It’s a good idea to ask if their star grading is up-to-date and

Once I am at the graded establishment, how can I verify that it is truly graded? A graded establishment should be in possession of a dated certificate that confirms its star rating. Graded establishments also display a plaque with a serial number and a clear message stating that it is property of the Tourism Grading Council. If an establishment no longer meets the minimum standards, the plaque must be returned to the Tourism Grading Council and the stars are removed.

This gives you the peace of mind of knowing that only establishments that have earned and deserve their grading may display star gradings. So you can rest assured that your money’s getting you the value you paid for.

SHOWTIMES WITH SHARK DISSECTIONS

09h00 and 14h00 Tuesday to Thursday and 14h00 on Sunday.

Bookings and information - Tel: (031) 566 0435

CURIO SHOP AND SHARK MUSEUM

For unusual gifts and life-like replicas of marine life.

Open Monday to Friday 08h00 to 16h00 and Sunday from 13h00 to 16h00.

BOAT TRIPS

Venture out to sea to watch our crew at work servicing the shark safety gear off Durban’s Golden Mile.

Boat trips lasting ± two hours leave Wilson’s Wharf at 06h30. Opportunistic viewing of marine life, including seabirds. Bookings - 082 403 9206.

NO SHOWS ON RECOGNISED PUBLIC HOLIDAYS TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY

Tel: (031) 566 0400 www.shark.co.za FOLLOW THE SIGNS ON UMHLANGA ROCKS DRIVE, PAST UMHLANGA HOSPITAL

22 | interview buskaid

Buskaid

a musical haven for the underprivileged!

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DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

24 | interview buskaid Rosemary Nalden — exceptional violinist, philanthropist and all-round inspirational woman. In the late 70s, Rosemary got involved in the escalating “original instrument” movement. She became part of a small “family” of musicians who toured all over the world. One morning she heard a news item on BBC’s Today programme about a string orchestra in Soweto.

Being a musician herself, she was deeply moved by the story, and managed to persuade all her musician friends to go out and “busk” at British Rail stations in aid of the township musicians, finally raising around £6000. One of Rosemary’s friends suggested that she ought to go out to South Africa to visit the project and make sure the money was wisely spent. The project was based at the Diepkloof Hall, right next to the sprawling Mandela Squatter Camp. “They had virtually nothing, and were really hungry to learn– they needed no persuasion to come to their lessons and practise. I was hooked!” says Rosemary. This is what Rosemary had to share with us...

What exactly is Buskaid? Buskaid is two things – it’s a charitable trust, both here and in the UK (and in the USA, as well) which supports the Music School in Soweto and it’s also the whole organisation in Soweto – the school, the children, the family of musicians and teachers. When I called the event “Buskaid” in 1992, I never for a moment thought that nearly 20 years later the name would still be in use. It’s not ideal, as people think we are buskers, but it has become a “brand” and it would

be tricky to change the name now.

You have come extremely far from where you started.

Tell us a bit about the founding stages.

Towards the end of ’96, I packed a bag, got a work permit, and returned to South Africa to open an entirely new project, housed in a tiny, leaking office in a priest’s house next to a Lutheran church, quite near the Diepkloof Hall.

Soon I was trying to find teachers to come down from Jo’burg to help, but this was not easy. We had no space other than that one room and only one teacher could work inside. Looking back at old video footage, I am aware of how much has changed.

The children were far less sophisticated and

things were pretty basic. We had virtually no equipment, just a tiny bit of music and hardly any instruments.

Eventually we found a piece of land in the grounds of another church, also in Diepkloof. In May 1999 we moved into our own purpose-built Music School where we still are today. This school was entirely funded by South African companies and trusts, and each room bears the name of the funding body. We were so lucky that Uwe Putlitz, the architect who designed the building for nothing, also helped to motivate these companies to come on board.

You’ve been open for 19 years; tell us some of the exciting stuff that has happened DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

in that time. In fact we have been in existence as a music school for 14 years – 19 years marks the founding of the Buskaid Trust. Quite near the beginning, in July 1997 in fact, we were invited to play for President Mandela at the presidential residence in Pretoria for the first time. He was always very warm towards the children and invariably did his Madiba dance when they played for him. Later that same year we were invited to play at a very select function for the president at the same venue. Years later I realised that this event was the famous “blood diamond” evening when Charles Taylor and Naomi Campbell met, and I have grainy video to prove that we were providing the music! Since then we have played several times for Mandela, for Queen Elizabeth II, and other members of the British royal family, South African presidents and many foreign dignitaries – most recently for Michelle Obama, which was a great thrill. We’ve toured the world, playing in some fine concert halls in the UK, Ireland , Holland, Germany, the USA, France, New Zealand, Syria, Colombia…we have performed alongside some very great musicians and my students have played in UK orchestras sitting next to some of those friends of mine who busked all those years ago!

What incentives do the kids have to work their hardest? I think the main incentive is probably to get into the Ensemble, which they know is the passport to overseas tours, fabulous concerts, meeting and playing for interesting new people and quite a lot of media attention! For the very few who are both

26 | interview buskaid

highly talented and also have what it takes to study abroad, the big incentive is the possibility of going to the UK to study. Currently we are helping three students to do that at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Have the kids played for many noteworthy audiences? We have played for many distinguished people all over the world, as I have already mentioned. When we played at the opening of the Oprah Winfrey School here in South Africa there were many stars in the audience, including Spike Lee, Mariah Carey, Chris Tucker, Sidney Poitier, Quincy Jones and Tina Turner. In concert halls, the audiences vary quite a lot, depending on where we are playing. But the community audience, by which I mean the township audience, can be the most rewarding of all. These are people whose children may be playing for them for the first time, and who are bursting with pride at seeing and hearing their offspring perform.

What happens after the kids have finished the program? Unlike a university course, we do not have a graduate process. We try to encourage the older musicians to retain their links with Buskaid, especially if they are pursuing other professions, because their skills as musicians should not be wasted.

We also have what we call learnership students at the Music School – these are young adults who want to make a career of playing and teaching, who study their instruments intensively at the school and are given an apprenticeship allowance to enable them to do so. I encourage these students to take outside orchestral work in Johannesburg and we facilitate this for them.

We do help the very, very talented children to go to the UK to study because we feel that exposure to international standards is really important – they bring back with them a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Are many of your kids successful enough in the end to get them off the streets and living a healthy life?

Very much so! I can think of many Buskaid students who would be in a very different place, and possibly not even still be alive, if it were not for Buskaid.

My firm belief is that many youngsters who fall by the wayside in the townships simply do not have an DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

outlet for their energies, which are often frustrated talent. Channelling those energies can transform their lives and it’s tragic that so many youngsters don’t get this opportunity.

Tell us one of your kids’ most interesting success stories? Some years ago we were in the middle of our Saturday afternoon rehearsal when a very small boy appeared in the doorway. He was quaint looking – well-dressed, and wearing huge, old-fashioned, thick glasses. He looked very serious and seemed transfixed by the music. I thought he must be someone’s little brother, because children often bring their younger siblings in over the weekend if there is no one at home. At the break I asked who he belonged to and to my surprise an old lady appeared at the doorway and said, “Me!” This little boy had been found abandoned in Soweto at the age of 18 months and was taken to the Welfare Department. The granny was fostering him. She had seen Buskaid on TV and for some reason she decided that she wanted her little foster child to learn the violin. He was three years old. I took him out of sheer admiration for the fact that she had come from deepest Soweto and somehow found Buskaid. Now, at the age of just 11, he is turning into one of the most talented violinists and musicians I have ever taught. A very generous benefactor in Johannesburg is quietly helping the granny with money for transport to Buskaid, and, providing nothing goes wrong, I would say this little boy has a bright future as a professional violinist.

What is your fondest memory? It is always a huge pleasure for me when a young person returns to Buskaid after having left, perhaps sometimes under a cloud. Sometimes it takes many years for them to realise that they made a mess of it and that Buskaid can offer them security, stability and a future. Neo is a case in point. Having left Buskaid as a dagga-user (which we don’t tolerate), Neo landed up unemployed and burying his younger brother, who was murdered whilst committing a robbery. He had a sort of “Road to Damascus” moment when he realised that he was heading in the same direction as his little brother. He actually asked another student to request an appointment with me because he was so nervous about getting in touch. I think he was amazed that I said immediately that he could come back to Buskaid, which he now has – and it has turned his life around. He is a really lovely guy and I am so thrilled we have changed what was a

miserable existence into a life with meaning and purpose.

Dealing with kids from such different backgrounds, cultures, etc, you must have a few very funny/ crazy stories. Care to share one? Which one to choose! Many years ago, I took Gift and Samson to Sun City where they were to play for some corporate gig. As I own a very old car and was a bit worried about the journey, the company offered to pay for a hired car. Coming back on that long, straight, lonely road from Sun City, unaware of how easy it is for a new car to cruise along very fast, I suddenly became aware of a figure waving me down. Horrified, I realised it was a traffic cop. I had been doing around 130 km/h and he was not happy. In those days I didn’t even have a South African licence. I decided to resort to my best line of defence. “I teach music in Soweto and I normally drive a very old car (all true) and this is the newest car I have ever driven and I really didn’t notice that I was going so fast.” It had the magic effect. “You teach music in Soweto?

Where? When? …that’s not possible!” So I rushed back to the car, woke the two boys up, got out their violins and they played Township Kwela music for the cops, right there on the side of the deserted road. Not only did I not pay the fine, but I also promised (rather rashly) to teach the traffic cops’ kids!

What do you want the public to know? I’ve mentioned our lack of resources. Finding really fine teachers who were prepared to come into Soweto was always a challenge, until Sonja Bass joined us in late 1999. Since then we have trained a number of our own students to become really skilled string teachers who could teach at any music school anywhere in the world. We have some loyal sponsors who have stayed with us, even through difficult times and we are currently generously funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund. Raising money for Buskaid is an on-going challenge which may never disappear. But our biggest need is for the little Music School to be extended so that the 100 children who now attend have space to practise and have lessons. We’ve got the architect’s plans and are ready to go ahead, but…you can guess the problem. Anyone have any ideas?

CONTACT DETAILS www.buskaid.org.za | rosemary@buskaid.org.za

A world class training academy SwiftPrint

based in Kimberley in the Northern Cape

The Kimberley International Diamond and Jewellery Academy aims to provide an industry-based facility for the development, upgrading and transfer of skills within the SADC and international diamond and jewellery sector that will lead to a more competitive and profitable diamond and jewellery sector. It is a Centre of Excellence for Diamond Beneficiation. It is KIDJA’s strategic vision and innovation to grow the diamond industry within Southern Africa for the next century.

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www.experiencenortherncape.com

28 | feature glenrand

You measure your wealth...

But you treasure your moments.

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As the leading Household and Motor Insurance Broker in South Africa, Aon is always here to listen, question and advise. We place your interests first by offering suitably scoped insurance solutions that reduce risk and cost, providing peace of mind that your hard-earned assets are in good hands.

The personal insurance environment is an extremely competitive market segment with an ever-increasing need for expert advice, better service, more options and greater flexibility. Aon’s household and motor insurance solutions offer you a combination of all these requirements.

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One such product, By Preference, is an enhanced bluechip product, underwritten by Santam.

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This product offers one of the widest insurance covers and highest limits in the market to ensure your valuable assets are adequately protected.

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Aon South Africa is an authorised financial service provider | Aon FSP# 20555

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

30 | extreme sport GO FLY A KITE

GO FLY A KITE We can only imagine what it must be like to kite surf but think about how much talent and skill is needed to have these kites so close together without getting tangled!

Either way it makes you want to get into the sea this Summer...enjoy the holidays.

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DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

32 | DESTINATION DURBAN’S OYSTER BOX

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Standing majestically on Umhlanga’s prestigious beachfront, with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean and direct beach access, The Oyster Box is one of South Africa’s most distinguished hotels.

Opened in 1947, it still retains the gracious elegance, glamour and impeccable service that has made it one of South Africa’s most cherished hotels, where guests are treated to an experience as unique…as it is unforgettable.

The luxurious accommodation includes 86 individuallydecorated rooms, suites and exquisite Standing majestically on Umhlanga’s prestigious beachfront, with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean and direct beach access, The Oyster Box is one of South Africa’s most distinguished hotels.

Opened in 1947, it still retains the gracious elegance, glamour and impeccable service that has made it one of South Africa’s most cherished hotels, where guests are treated to an experience as unique…as it is unforgettable.

The luxurious accommodation includes 86 individuallydecorated rooms, suites and exquisite villas as well as a luxurious Presidential Suite. Each is equipped with the latest state of the art amenities and facilities. Villas, boast their own private plunge pool and overlook the exotic, tropical gardens.

DINING Renowned for generous hospitality, personal service and excellent cuisine, guests can dine at a number of venues offering something to suit every palate. From the casual ‘Ocean Terrace’, serving Pizza from a wood-fired oven, the finest seafood and the most extensive ‘Curry Buffet’ in KZN, to the legendary, fine-dining ‘Grill Room’, perfect for celebrating a special event, enjoying a romantic evening, or the regular Saturday evening, ‘Dine & Dance’ with the resident band. Inspired by the hotel’s original colonial architecture, ‘The Palm Court’ serves a lavish, traditional ‘High Tea’ daily, with live piano accompaniment and the famous Oyster Box Buffet Breakfast, complete with fresh Oysters and sparkling wine. The impressive sunken wine

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

34 | DESTINATION DURBAN’S OYSTER BOX

cellar, is ideal for private functions of up to 10 guests and boasts an award-winning wine-list.

The culinary gem of the hotel, adjoining the smaller more intimate Colony Restaurant, serves world-renowned signature dishes such as Crayfish and Prawn Cocktail and Black Forest Duck or freshly caught seafood, with wines selected by our resident Sommelier, Eric Botha.

The famous Saturday ‘Dinner & Dance’, is a winning combination of exceptional cuisine and dancing to the sounds of a live band.

THE OCEAN TERRACE A family favourite for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Friendly and informal with a terrace overlooking the infinity pool and the rolling Indian Ocean.

Renowned for its delicious mouth-watering curry buffet, as well as old favourites such as prawn cocktail, fish and chips and pizza straight from the wood-fired oven.

THE PALM COURT Inspired by the original colonial architecture of the former courtyard with spectacular chandeliers from the Savoy Hotel in London, lush palms, black and white terrazzo floor tiles and comfortable seating. The perfect setting

for a decadently delicious Traditional High Tea Buffet of home-baked cream scones, dainty cakes and biscuits, finger sandwiches, pastries and savouries, as well as freshly prepared homemade ice creams. Our resident pianist plays daily.

BARS THE LIGHTHOUSE BAR Chilled, yet richly inviting with its dark wood and details in hot red leather, crimson and gold. The hottest bar in KwaZulu-Natal, with live music, delicious snacks, comfort food and exotic cocktails and a large terrace for spectacular sunsets and views of the lighthouse and Indian Ocean.

THE OYSTER BAR Elegant and refined, specialising in Champagne and Oysters from the hotel’s own Oyster beds, with live music, a light menu and fresh cocktails overlooking the pool and Indian Ocean.

THE CHUKKA BAR The authentic old world bar is full of charm and character. A favourite for the locals serving delicious hearty snacks and the finest selection of whiskeys, beers and cigars.

THE WINE CELLAR With its glass ceiling, this intimate room is sunken just below the Oyster Bar and is unique for dinner parties, tastings or special events and offers a Chef’s Table for up to 10 guests. The Resident Sommelier, will host the event and present tastings from the award-winning wine list, which boasts the finest selection of South African and international vintages.

THE SPA AT THE OYSTER BOX The Spa, is set in secluded, luscious tropical gardens filled with birdsong and perfumed flowers.

Dedicated to restoring beauty and balance through individual treatments and Spa journeys, our treatments are personalised for each guest by exceptionally skilled therapists, with the focus on essential holistic principles, combining ancient wisdom with modern expertise.

Voted onto the ‘2010 Hot List’ as a ‘Hot Spa, by the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine and winner in the category, Hotel Spa’s for 2010 at South Africa’s prestigious Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Spa Awards, true luxury awaits you at The Spa at The Oyster Box. With six modern, treatment rooms, two Hydrotherapy Baths, grooming Lounge, Nuvola Dry

| 35

Floatation and Colour Therapy Bed, plunge pool, state-of-the-art private fitness club, infinity pool with garden views and a post-treatment tranquillity lounge, guests are pampered in every way.

In addition, the Oyster Box Spa also houses KZN’s only authentic Turkish Hammam.

PRESIDENTIAL ELEGANCE AT THE OYSTER BOX Perfectly poised overlooking the magnificent Indian Ocean, The Oyster Box reveals it’s most precious ‘pearl’. Split over two levels, with private access and lift, the stylish Presidential Suite, is the epitome of luxury and comfort.

The open-plan, ground floor, including a bar and well-equipped kitchen, seamlessly links the living and dining areas. Furnishings and finishes are plush with white timber floors, marble and white Caesar stone throughout and a Venetian glass chandelier in the dining room, with seating for ten guests.

The master-bedroom incorporates a comfortable seating area and intimate study. Indulgent luxury is yours in the ‘His’ and ‘Hers’ marble bathrooms.

An en-suite double bedroom is located downstairs.

Latest technology includes an iPod docking station, entertainment centre, six flat-screen TV’s and DVD

player. A private rim-flow swimming pool, on the expansive, secluded patio with unfettered seaviews, provides both privacy and a perfect place to entertain; all meals are personally prepared by our Executive Chef.

FIVE-STAR FUN FOR KIDS Nowhere do kids feel more important than when they stay at The Oyster Box, with a host of thoughtful touches laid on exclusively for the younger set, children are made to feel important and ‘right at home’ … from the time they wake up, to the time they go to bed.

On check-in at The Oyster Box, all children of 16 years and under, are given a Backpack with a selection of kids essential holiday items. In addition, each child is given a wrist-band which entitles them to a host of complimentary goodies during their stay. Children under 12 stay free, subject to room category and all kids have access to the supervised Holiday Club during their stay. The children’s playroom offers a range of games, activities and facilities, including use of the X-Box, Play Station, DVD’s and a selection of board games. Activities include story-telling, face painting and art and craft activities and special kids screenings in the in-house movie theatre. Special programmes are

offered during holiday periods such as Easter, Christmas and New Year.

And the fun doesn’t end there… a special childoriented turn-down is placed on each pillow at bed-time, along with child-sized bathrobes. Oh… and there’s milk and cookies, as well as well as complimentary popcorn, sweets and soft drinks and use of the extensive DVD library for in-room viewing, at both hotels.

Menu items such as chocolate milk, purity and rusks are included in the breakfast buffet and children- friendly menus are available in our restaurants. Car seats are provided for transfers to various sights and shopping centres, for children accompanied by their parents and the Concierge will gladly arrange kid-oriented tours and recommend great places of interest, to keep the kids entertained and happy throughout their stay.

A spell at The Oyster Box will leave you with magical memories to last a lifetime.

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

36 | PROPERTY THE SANCTUARY

www.edimensions.co.za/thesanctuary

38 | PROPERTY THE SANCTUARY

Buried in the comfort of the magnificent Zimbali Estate lies the hidden gem, which is The Sanctuary. Whoever has had the privilege of spending time at Zimbali knows that it is not only set in one of the worlds prime locations but has become known as a prime destination, one of the top destinations in the world in fact.

Set in picturesque natural bush along with free roaming buck and other wildlife, Zimbali has become one of the leading lifestyle estates that offers the very best security in a way that enhances family life and old school “walk in the street� ways of life.

Zimbali is the only estate that offers direct access to the beach (which is guarded) directly from the estate and also includes a dedicated kids friendly area called the Bush Buck Club, so the little ones can have fun and make friends with other kids in the estate - when they not riding bikes or enjoying the estates open spaces.

Using Zimbali and its plethora of facilities as the base on which to build highly sought after contemporary bali style homes is property development company, Extra Dimensions.

They have become the leaders in property development with their fresh, new look at architecture and exceptional contemporary designs.

Looking at all the estate had to offer Extra Dimensions realised that there was an opportunity available if they were able to offer a reasonable price point to live or holiday in Zimbali and so came up with the concept of The Sanctuary - an upmarket development in the right location with the right price.

The Sanctuary is situated at the highest point in Zimbali with amazing sea and inland views.

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

Homes in the development were priced from R2.95 mil, which is unheard of on an estate like Zimbali and makes the development well placed to compete with homes in Umhlanga and even several of the well known Ballito estates.

The sanctuary units are sectional title threebedroom, two-bathroom units with views of not only natural lush vegetation but immaculate sea views. These luxurious homes are fully airconditioned with up market quality finishes such as Ceaserstone tops and Hansgrohe taps and are designed in a modern, fresh contemporary Bali style architecture which embodies the design style that Extra Dimensions are well known for.

Inside the homes are spacious with an open plan living room and dining area and an extended covered patio to admire the magnificent coastal sunsets. A communal pool, Jacuzzi and braai area is available to all owners where you can catch up with mates or socialize with neighbours.

Extra Dimensions have truly found a niche in the market that appeals to whoever, where ever- from holidays homes to residential homes through to investments. It is a phenomenal development nestled in the Zimbali estate which makes it nice and private from the hustle and bustle of city life but still close enough to take advantage of local infrastructure and facilities Umhlanga and Ballito have to offer.

As it stands there are 10 units out of the 41 left and they are selling very well, so if you are interested in buying into a little piece of heaven inside heaven then be sure to strike while the iron is hot and get in touch with the team from Extra Dimensions.

The Sanctuary can be found on the KZN North Coast, 10 minutes away from King Shaka Airport & a short drive from Umhlanga Rocks and Ballito

40 | christmas where to shop

We know that shopping for Christmas pressies can be drag but what’s even more of a challenge is shopping for Christmas decorations - most of the Christmas decoration you’ll see on trees and around homes is found in common retail stores. We decided to find a three unique Christmas stores that stock the finest Christmas decor around.

Experience the magical wonder of Christmas at The Christmas Shop

Display Solutions bringing the Christmas spirit into your home

THE CHRISTMAS SHOP in Port Elizabeth has become a tourist attraction. This is the twelfth year that cousins, Maria Markides and Evy Evlambiou have opened the shop in a different venue every year. In 2011, it is going to be situated at Shop # 7, Moffett on Main Lifestyle Centre, PE. The theme this year is fun and fantasy, and will definitely bring out the child within each and every one of us. Tinkerbell’s castle and the Mad Hatters Tea Garden add a different interest amongst the forest of Christmas trees with sparkling fairy lights decorated with cascades of decorations. The one stop Christmas shop stocks everything you could possibly need to experience a Christmas like no other.

Display Solutions are a specialised Christmas Decor company in Johannesburg. Their business has been running for 15years this year. They decorate large shopping centres turning them into Christmas wonderlands; in addition they also supply exquisite Christmas decorations to the general public. With their import licence they are able to obtain extremely competitive prices, whilst still maintaining the highest quality stock.

They also supply items such as Christmas trees, lights, baubles, bows, wreaths, swags and the list goes on.

Details: www.christmasdecor.co.za Tel: 011 465 4278

Details: www.thechristmasshop.co.za Tel: (041) 823 8999

Gillian’s offers a Christmas extravaganza to be reckoned with Gillian’s in Ballito is the place to go to for the best and brightest decorations for Christmas. Her Christmas emporium located in Ballito will leave you biting at the bit to take home an exquisite piece of décor that will have your home feeling the festive spirit of Christmas. All Gillian’s products are handpicked by her from the best Christmas shops overseas. Her love for Christmas is shown by the magnificent items that she purchases. Gillian also does seasonal decorating for homes and businesses. She truly has a knack for turning any space into a Christmas extravaganza.

Details: gilliankdesigns.co.za Tel: 084 500 0804

Sheffield manor

42 |lifestyle good food

A city with a diverse range of attractions, sights and activities to offer - Cape Town has something for everyone.

Cassia

Tasca De Belem

021 976 0640 www.cassiarestaurant.co.za

021 419 3009 www.tascadebelem.co.za

The restaurant is named after the bold and intriguing spice cassia, also known as Asian cinnamon. Cassia’s beautiful natural setting makes it a wonderful country venue for a business conference, a romantic wedding or simply a relaxing meal in the Cape Winelands. Eating at Cassia is a stylish but friendly experience with menus that highlight local and seasonal ingredients and suit diverse appetites, whims and pockets.

Tasca de Belem is one of Cape Town’s finest Tapas restaurants. Located in the V & A Waterfront, the restaurant offers diners exquisite views of Table Mountain and Signal Hill, as well as the busy harbor. There is a truly Mediterranean feel about the restaurant, not only because of its Turkish influenced Portuguese menu, but the atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming and vibrant. The dishes on the menu represent the best of both Turkish and Portuguese cuisine with traditional favourites such as Trinchado and Espatada, as well as Shish Kebab and Ali Nazik, Tasca de Belem is a cross cultural cuisine experience for all food lovers.

The classic Cape Heritage style building is cleverly designed to allow maximum flexibility in accommodation. While there is a full bar and wine list to choose from, the multiple award winning farm wines are featured prominently.

Balducci’s 021 421 6002 www.balduccis.co.za

If you would like your restaurant reviewed here please contact lorinda@fabmags.co.za or if you as a reader have been to a restaurant you believe should be in, please send us an email to share your thoughts.

Balducci’s at the V&A Waterfront offers an unrivalled menu of simple, everyday Italian dishes that reflect the most traditional elements of food and culinary styles. Their Italian Chic menu offers food that is relaxed and restorative, while at the same time being creative, modern and affordable.

Balducci’s has a simple philosophy: to provide a memorable experience by redefining the essence of good, real food and upping the standards, with its clean understated formality, crisp white linen, racks of sparkling wine glasses, beautiful views and gracious service. Their emphasis is on providing good quality food that is simple, fresh and filled with passion.

lifestyle good food | 43

Where the seemingly endless subtropical summers are deliciously hot and winters are warm and sunny.

Ile Maurice

Peri Peri De Mocambique

031 561 7606

031 563 5546 www.periperimozam.co.za

For the absolute pinnacle in French restaurants and an optimal choice for eating out in Durban, you cannot go wrong with Ile Maurice. This divine Durban restaurant is a feast for the senses, and offers patrons more than they could ever bargain for in terms of food, ambience, service and overall experience. This exquisite restaurant is positioned right on the beach of Umhlanga Rocks, with the waves of the Indian Ocean crashing audibly in the not so distant background.

A comprehensive range of delicacies and specialities greet your eyes as you scan through a seemingly never ending list of delightfully delicious menu items.

Peri Peri De Mocambique was born when a fisherman “Laird Shooter” and a Chef “Sandi Richmond” came together with a plan to open a Mozambique restaurant. Sandi cooking experience ranges from the Seychelles to the dessert of Serra Cafema in Namibia. Her extensive cheffing experience has seen her working with many different cultures and cuisines creating a vast knowledge of the food industry.

Chef Sandi has been used by various lodges and hotels to open their restaurants successfully.

Laird Shooter grew up with a dream of making a Mozambique restaurant, he is passionate about the country, its culture and most importantly its cuisine.

If you would like your restaurant reviewed here please contact lorinda@fabmags.co.za or if you as a reader have been to a restaurant you believe should be in, please send us an email to share your thoughts.

The Cosmopolitan Restaurant 031 566 1814 www.thesquare.co.za/live/dining While the trendy Square Boutique Hotel and Spa offers the ultimate in luxury for business and leisure travellers in a contemporary urban setting, the onsite Cosmopolitan Restaurant at this boutique hotel adds to the stylish ambience. Cosmopolitan Restaurant is a fusion of contemporary dining sophistication and an a la carte menu is available. The restaurant is open to the public for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

An indoor dining area and bar is exquisitely chic and ever changing sensual colour screens complete the overall distinctive effect. Tables on the deck encourage friends, colleagues or families to linger over a meal or to chat over drinks in a safe environment offering delectable meals and snacks as well as excellent service.

The extensive menu offers an array of dishes, set to tempt and entice with imaginative combinations of tastes and alluring flavors.

The place to be on the Ridge… Cosmopolitan Restaurant.

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

44 | lifestyle good food Bellagio 011 885 3938 The incredibly popular Bellagio restaurant in Birnam is a culinary experience to remember with a fusion of Mediterranean, Japanese and seafood.

It’s like three restaurants in one! The exciting but simple dishes have been carefully selected and use only the highest quality ingredients. The specials board is ever-changing, keeping the offerings fresh and new and there is a sumptuous buffet table on Saturdays and Sundays. Fashionable without pretention, Bellagio has a casual, easygoing ambiance with warm, homely stylishness.

Gorgeous views over a local park and willow trees can be enjoyed from the patio, even in winter when blankets are provided to keep you cosy.

A venue for many occasions and simply delicious food, dining at Bellagio is always time well-spent.

There are some splendid restaurants in Johannesburg, spread across the city of gold.

Feast on some splendour while experiencing the big city life.

Bistro @ The Peech

Bombay Blues

011 537 9797

011 447 3210 www.bombayblues.co.za

It’s all about stylish comfort at this newly renovated spot – there’s a fireplace for winter, and roll-back floor-to-ceiling glass doors for summer. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Bistro @ The Peech offers indoor dining or popular summer alfresco overlooking the pool and abundant gardens.

Sandstone floors and deep leather couches invite relaxation as diners peruse the delicious menu created from locally sourced ingredients, home grown herbs and 100% pasteurized Lamb and beef. The menu embraces simplicity and flavour brimming with signature dishes and flowing champagne bar. Whether celebrating breakfast, lunch or dinner, Bistro @ The Peech savours any occasion dining with decadent cuisine and flowing champagne.

If you would like your restaurant reviewed here please contact lorinda@fabmags.co.za or if you as a reader have been to a restaurant you believe should be in, please send us an email to share your thoughts.

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

Explore the rich culture of India through aromatic and exotic cuisine at Bombay Blues. Specialising in superb North Indian cuisine, Bombay Blues treats food as more than mere sustenance. Food at this popular Rosebank restaurant is perceived as an expression of a connection to others, a means to strengthen bonds and what better way than inspiring surroundings and with delicious dishes and friendly staff. The menu boasts the best of North Indian curries, tandoori dishes and breads.

Try the masala tea after your meal as you relax in the tranquil ambiance of Bombay Blues. A good selection of wines is also available to choose from. Experience glorious Indian culture at Bombay Blues.

King Shaka International Airport wishes all COP17 visitors a safe journey back home and it was our pleasure to be of service to you and we hope to welcome you back... soon

www.airports.co.za

DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

BUSINESS INSIGHT | 47

Business advice Stan Shaw

There has been a fair amount written on both web blogs and in the print media about failures in the small business sector. It’s not uncommon to read that banks have contributed in some way to these failures through a lack of support and business understanding.

In the small business community you have to admire the entrepreneurial spirit that all new business owners have when they embark on a new venture, bringing with them years of experience from their previous professions to the new occupations they have chosen.

Some of the reasons people have given me for why they decided go it alone include lifestyle, doing it for years for someone else, to get out of the rat-race, to make a living out of their hobby, from necessity bought on by the lack of a job and insufficient income, and wanting to be master of their own destiny.

The euphoria of being your own boss is a great feeling and it lasts for some time while you’re working in your business. But when your business starts to grow and you have wider responsibilities, that euphoria can become daunting, a little stressful and moves you out of simply working in your business to a need to spend relatively more time working on your business.

What do I mean by working on your business?

For example, as soon as you move from being a single-person business and start to employ people, you are subject to employment legislation. Let’s be honest, there will be times when disciplinary issues arise and the procedures matter when it comes to the CCMA. Accounting practices need to be bolstered and an understanding of cash flow forecasts, margin and effective job/service costing, marketing, branding and merchandising all need a new level of attention and will lead to the need to work more on your business.

I’ve spoken to several small business owners who have experienced several start-ups and business failures, as well as to those who have had a single

Know when you need to move from working in your business to on your business successful business for several years. Here is some of what they have to say: • Look ahead and always have a realistic plan around what you want to achieve.

• Once you start to grow, think about making your business attractive to sell —make it be easy to take over and ensure that it will stand alone without you.

• Don’t ever become complacent; you need to be thinking about your business “a lot”. Some owners have said to me that being your own boss was a romantic idea, but that a business can consume most of your time.

• Be prepared to lose a lot of money, but try not to live scared.

• Be very careful of whom you recruit and from where they have come from; friends of friends haven’t worked out. In the same vein, employing family members is great in the early days, but can compromise decision-making in difficult economic times.

• Don’t let your business become another job. It’s not; it will become your working life.

• The migration from a single-operator business to one that becomes a growth employer is difficult, especially if in a prior business life no management experience was acquired. It became for some another layer of stress and worry, as well as absorbing disproportionate amounts of time.

Having a support network can help greatly with the transition between working in your business

to working on your business. Look for a support network that has a mix of seasoned business professionals or managers in complementary industries and from various backgrounds. As with most change driven by growth, the network may change as the size of what began as a small business changes to a much larger enterprise, necessitating a different type of support.

South Africa needs the small business community to be successful in order to achieve the government’s job creation targets. It is believed that the small business community will play a significant role in realising that target, which is in all our interests to achieve.

I don’t think that in all cases banks were contributors to business failures; they secure loans against personal assets, which is their risk mitigation. Business owners, too, have had some part to play for a variety of reasons, as well as factors beyond anyone’s control.

We need, as a business community, to encourage and support the small business owner in any way we can. For me, this is the business community’s contribution to mitigating the risk of failure for the individual business owner.We need to help and encourage small businesses to not simply work in their businesses, but on their businesses in order to ensure success and growth; it’s in all our interests.

Just shout if you need help.

Email: Stan.Shaw@bmgi.com

48 | business social media

part 5

Developing a social media strategy for your business Words Peter du Toit

In Part 4 of the series, we discussed the need for you to tune into the conversations that are happening related to your business and the niche you operate in on the social web.

In this piece I would like to give you some guidelines as to how you would use this information to help you develop a conversation or participation strategy which forms part of your overall social media strategy. Please bear in mind that this will vary greatly from business to business and that my intention is merely to provide you with some guidelines. The details you need to fill in yourself.

So, now that you have a good insight into what is being said about your business, you can begin to start or join conversations that are already taking place with the objective of adding value to these. The mistake that many businesses make when thinking of what content to publish is to think in terms of what you as a business would like to get out there – your marketing message. Although this is obviously DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

important and has a place, your primary concern should be providing content that will in some way benefit the people you are conversing with vs trying to push your message onto them.

Using the tools at your disposal, you can quickly discover the “pain points” of the people around your business, or those who purchase similar products and services. Your goal should be to relieve this “pain” with the conversations and content you create for the social web. It means understanding what information people want from your business and providing that for them in a conversational way. This should be a key element of your content strategy and one that requires attention before you start talking about you.

The next element of your content strategy relates to your learning to tell a story about your business, letting people in behind the curtain, as it were, and doing so in a way that advances your business objectives.

In essence, the two skills you need to develop are the arts of conversation and storytelling, as both are needed in order to produce a balanced content strategy. In this regard, I would like to recommend an excellent little book by Catherine Blythe entitled The Art of Conversation. You may also enjoy the Slideshare presentation by Christian Saylor, entitled The Art of Storytelling (http://goo.gl/ZDzp4), to help you with ideas on how you would tell your story.

As with all healthy relationships, good communication plays a central role. It is no different here. Real-time communication technology is now helping businesses communicate better with those who matter to the business. The conversations you join or initiate and the way you do so, will provide onlookers with a clear view that you understand them.

In the next and final part of this series, I will discuss the need to develop a social media policy for your business. Until then…

50 | lifestyle health

Six tips to get into great shape!

Summer is around the corner! with a concomitant increase in belly fat. Getting into peak condition always demands a level of discomfort. So get uncomfortable! Tabata sprints are always a great option for cardiovascular conditioning.

4. Do compound exercises. Compound movements are those exercises that allow you to move your entire body through space. When you shift your entire bodyweight, there is greater neuromuscular co-ordination, which means that your body recruits and activates far more strength fibres, allowing you to get stronger and leaner faster. This is why squats or squat-jumps are superior to leg presses; why pull-ups are superior to lat pull-downs; and dips are superior to triceps pushdowns. So include compound movements in all your sessions — burpees, muscle-ups, tyrethrows, club bells, Olympic lifts, scissor jumps, pull-ups and kettlebells etc

1. Train like an athlete but not like a bodybuilder.

When you do, you will end up looking significantly better! Many bodybuilding routines don’t allow you to develop authentic functional strength, so the bulk is decorative — unless you are training to be a bodybuilder, that is.

2. Toss the “toning” light weights. This is (REALLY) a waste of time (yes, ladies — no fibs here), unless, of course, this approach has been prescribed by a specialist as part of a rehab programme, such as for a myocardial infarction or orthopaedic rehab. Otherwise, strength and cardio training should be intense, heavy and fast.

Explosive whenever possible!

3. Keep the hunter-caveman in mind. Choose the exercises that your body was originally designed for, such as sprinting, jumping, climbing, chasing, dodging, pulling, crawling, etc. Repetitive, unstructured LSD (long slow distance) cardio, such as spinning or long, slow distance running, is not going to provide you with peak functional fitness or an outstanding body-shape. Extended periods of repetitive cardio compromise your speed and explosive strength. They also increase your risk of chronic overuse-injuries, as well as a possible increase in cortisol production.

Excess cortisol has been linked to loss of muscle tone, explosive strength, speed and virility, DEC 2011 | www.theairportmag.co.za

5. Hang out in the Garden of Eden for meals. Diet is possibly the most underestimated part of being in great shape. If you’re inconsistent with eating right, your results will be (at very best), muted. Eat different-coloured meats — lean red meat, chicken, fish — different-coloured fruits and veggies and a variety of good fats (olive oil, flaxseed, fish oil, nuts and seeds) .

6. Rest and recovery: sleep, stretch and L-Glutamine! You ain’t gonna get lean and strong if you’re not recovering sufficiently. Getting enough sleep is key. Insufficient sleep has been linked to getting fatter (low leptin, higher ghrelin), feeling weaker (less testosterone), sickly (a compromised immune system) and grumpier (lowered serotonin levels). In addition, you’ll be more prone to injury (less growth-hormonerelease for repair) and, if that isn’t enough, less “shut-eye” has been linked to heart attack at an early age. So, if you’re training hard, give yourself (at least) seven hours each night during the week and a little extra on the weekend. Stretch — we all know that stretching is great for both recovery and injury prevention!

Lastly, one of the best kept secrets amongst athletes is L-Glutamine. This is an amino acid that hastens muscle repair and recovery, promotes nitrogen balance and enhanced immunity, as well as increased muscle tone. I always take 5g of glutamine after training and I use LeanPlex, which gives me an additional top-up of glutamine plus a full spectrum of amino acids during the day!

Keep well and healthy the Flux way!

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