umhlanga
umhlanga THE
A N E A ST C OA ST WAY O F L I F E
ONE OF THE BEST IN UMHLANGA
BUTCHER BLOCK FOR THE LOVE OF THE RIDE
THE BUSINESS CENTRE OPENS
social scenes | GAUDIUM CLUB | THE PEARLS ICON UMHLANGA HOTELS | gadgets and gizmo’s & MORE
APR - JUN 2012
issue 021
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contents umhlanga
April 2012 June 2012 to
CONTENTS
6 GADGETS AND GIZMOS For the non techno junkies and junkies alike! What is new gadget wise 8 speed kills with aaron mcilroy 11 social scene Spotted out and about in Umhlanga 16 umhlanga power shot 18 luxury shopping online Gaudium Club tackles online shopping in a new way 21 the iconic pearls We take a look at Umhlanga’s iconic towers
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24 butcher block One of Umhlanga’s best restaurants on the block 30 umhlanga’s new business centre A whole new building with a whole new approach to business space 35 great hotels in umhlanga We preview a few of the hotels in our back yard 40 for the love of the ride A 3800km tour with a bunch of bikers 44 deli with a vibe 46 berg breaks Where do you go for a holiday? With winter looming we look at the berg.
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48 real life game for kids 50 kids corner 52 dress to impress 54 seven ways to turn off
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58 sixth sense car review plus all our regular features on health, property, lifestyle and much much more...
Check out the Umhlanga Magazine website at www.fabmags.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
PUBLISHER Lorinda Scott | lorinda@fabmags.co.za EDITOR Justin Scott | justin@fabmags.co.za
editors note @theumhlanga
I
find myself working harder to remain as inspired and motivated as much as I believe I need to be and I sense that it’s not only me – I think many of you are probably feeling the same. If you asked me why, I could come up with a page full of reasons and every one of them would be right, but it’s in that ability to produce a page of woes that I think the problem lies. As economies fight their way to stability and we face interesting times ahead with increases and inflation most of us are doing exactly what we are ‘programmed’ to do, we work harder. Perhaps it’s the Africa thing, you know, in Africa when you wake up all you have to do if you are an antelope is outrun the Lion to survive another day. Problem is it seems as if there are packs of Lions everywhere. That list I spoke of is what saps our mojo! It’s like Superman’s kryptonite...it has the ability to paralyze us and get us focused on the many, many, many things that need to be done as opposed to giving us time to find our happy place – that place that makes mundane tasks palatable. So, am I proposing we tear up our ‘to do’ lists and live life by the seat of our pants? No ,although I’d love to! I believe you need to find a way to balance the things you do every day and make sure you include something that excites you. We’re very
Please share your views with us
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GRAPHIC DESIGN Daniel Rambaly | daniel@fabmags.co.za Lyndie Pieters | lyndie@fabmags.co.za SALES Pat Franken | pat@fabmags.co.za +72 82 552 3027 Lucille Nagel | lucille@fabmags.co.za +72 83 747 3694
fortunate that for us we find it in producing magazines like this one, The Umhlanga, plus interacting with exceptional people and experiencing all that is great about life on the North Coast.
IN HOUSE JOURNALIST Storm Catterick | storm@fabmags.co.za
Steven Covey once wrote that when making lists of things to do you need to allocate time to ‘sharpen your blade’, referring to making time to be sure you’re as sharp as you need to be before tackling anything else. He drew the analogy from a tree feller who is far more productive if he first takes time to sharpen his blade before hacking away at trees. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
ADMIN & ACCOUNTS Sharlene Reddy | sharlene@fabmags.co.za +72 32 946 3187
Brilliant – You now are wondering why the hell you read this editors letter! We’ll I can tell you that putting our second edition of this magazine together made me aware of just how much positive stuff there is around us in Umhlanga and how blessed all of us are to have what we do ‘under our feet’. I’m grateful that my job gets me out there mingling with all of you and that brave business people continue to invest in our neck of the woods. It may be tough every now and then, but look around and see where we are while we figure it all out - it’s awesome.
FAX NUMBER 086 605 0098
Till our next edition God Bless Justin
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!
CONTRIBUTORS Aaron Mcilory, Marc Forrest, Manuella Botha, Sean Temple, Tom Basson and Richard Webb
Photos Chris Allan Photography +27 83 441 3144 OFFICE NUMBER +27 32 946 3187 +27 32 946 0357
EMAIL info@fabmags.co.za EDITORIAL ADDRESS Suite 1B Silverstone Way Douglas Crowe Ave | Ballito, KZN front page Butcher Block Umhlanga 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.
technology technology with with style style Tel:Tel: 031031 566566 2770 2770| www.smeg.co.za | www.smeg.co.za| |Email: Email: dbninfo@smegsa.co.za dbninfo@smegsa.co.za
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umhlanga
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umhlanga gadgets WeatherSA iPhone & iPad app http://iguy.me/WeatherSA
If you own an iPhone or iPad, you need to get yourself this fantastic iOS app, developed by the South African weather service.
GADGETS
GIZMO’S
Several of the app features are a first for South Africa, such as storm warnings and push notifications, which are sent directly to the user’s device daily. Other highlights of the application include breaking news alerts, seven-day tables of weather across the country, an outlook for various outdoor and sports activities, sunrise, sunset and moonrise times, as well as hourly and weekly graphs covering rain, wind, temperature, pressure and humidity.
By Marc Forrest | www.marcforrest.com
Griffin AirCurve Play www.griffintechnology.com
10 decibels louder....Magically.
The app also offers a variety of in-app purchases allowing you to receive notifications of approaching storms and daily weather reports.
According to Clarke’s Third Law: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. AirCurve Play is based on some very advanced technology indeed and when you hear it, you will agree it is magical.
You can download the app by visiting http://iguy. me/WeatherSA or by scanning the QR Code.
AirCurve Play makes the speaker of your iPhone 10 decibels louder...no, really. And it works without batteries or cables or power adapters or incantations. Just slip your iPhone into AirCurve’s rubber dock gasket, and your iPhone 4 becomes the perfectly portable audio/video conference phone and a self-contained music player and video viewer. Without revealing the secret of the magic, we can tell you that AirCurve is a cleverly-designed acoustic amplifier that collects the sound from the builtin speaker of your iPhone, amplifies it in a built-in coiled waveguide, and projects it out into the room. AirCurve’s transparent polycarbonate body lets you appreciate the waveguide’s graceful curves inside it, which do all the work. That’s some great-sounding mojo.
Nokia Lumia 800 www.nokia.co.za
Nokia recently joined the Windows Phone7 party with the launch of the Nokia Lumia 800 device in South Africa. The phone, which is geared at the sociallyconnected crowd, is not only a fully-functional device, but also a great looking phone. With connections to your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networks, you are guaranteed to be kept up to date 24/7. The Nokia Lumia 800 is based on the Windows 7.5 Mango release and also includes a number of fantastic extras, such as Nokia Drive (GPS and Maps) and Nokia Music for onthe-go streaming of music and radio. The Nokia Lumia 800 is available from Vodacom on a Vodacom Business Call contract, with 100MB data per month for 24 months, at R279 per month.
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umhlanga
Experience the Future DionWired offers the latest inspirational product solutions that satisfy your personal wants and desires with superior service, latest technology, leading branded products at the best possible price and an engaging experience.
www.dionwired.co.za Visit our website for a storelisting.
V E C T OR B UT T ON S.C OM V E C T OR B UT T ON S.C OM
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umhlanga insight
Speed Kills
By aaron mcilroy
the opposition! I
t has long been stated and accepted that the “survival of the fittest “is where it’s at, but it seems to me that this statement is no longer completely true.”Survival of the quickest” now demands equal consideration. It seems that in a global market where info travels literally at the speed of light (depending on your bandwidth, of course) it is more important to be first with an idea than to have the best product. The race to capture your segment of the market, no matter how obscure, has now accelerated to warp speed.
In the frenzy to become a household name there are no rules, and very little sense, as a whole generation of amateur jackass wannabees feed, YouTube exploits to hungry online masses as they hurtle towards owning their own chapter in the latest copy of the Darwin Awards. The online gold-rush to fame or notoriety is in full sprint!
It’s not that speed has not always been important. It has— the early bird gets the worm and all that — it’s just that the information age has moved it into a In order to be recognized, you have to be different dimension. If today “40 is the first, whether it’s the development of a cell new 30”, then “five minutes is the new phone app that can find lost socks, rowing six months”! If only I had had the courage your heart and lung machine across the to video myself running the Comrades Sahara Desert in a bathtub, or finding an as wearing my leopard-print G-string Speedo yet undiscovered fungus which smells like in 2001 (with close-up of bum chafe while candy floss growing between your toes. If going down Fields Hill) then I could now you’re first, there are 15 minutes of fame to be a global celeb instead of Sasha Baron bask in and mountains of cash to be made! Cohen (Borat)!
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Things to consider: 1. In the race to the bottom, the danger is that you just might win! 2. When it comes to speed, remember that the speed of darkness is actually faster than the speed of light... otherwise you would see it! 3. The question “Would you prefer the quickie or the full two minutes?” is not going to put you in the Top 10 for the “Romantic of the Year” award! So get out there now, speed up, go quick, just go, zoom zoom and all that. To get in touch with Aaron visit his site at www.aaronmcilroy.co.za or call him on 031 312 7433. Aaron is also on twitter @aaronmcilroy
umhlanga
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A U D I O
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GATEWAY OFFICE PARK UMHLANGA ROCKS CALL
031 566 5931/30
sales@audioexcellence.co.za
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umhlanga
webthe site to visit
get umhlanga news online
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if you want to get the latest, freshest news about what’s going on in the community subscribe to our online news
The speed at which news and information travels today is mind-boggling and as individuals we seek the fastest, easiest route to find out about what is going on around us in our community and world. Umhlanga News Online is a news website that allows us to bring you stories, press releases and even video footage quickly and in a way that delivers it right to you, no matter where you are. By subscribing to the site you’ll receive our newsletter of breaking news once a day or you can check in regularly to see what’s new. Umhlanga News is a community centric online newspaper, allowing anyone living or working in the area to send news or information to us. Whether you want to get your business profiled, have an amazing story about a great wave you caught or want to update us on what’s happening at your kids school, we’re open to it - all news is welcome. Visit www.umhlanganews.co.za to catch up on the news or email us at umhlanganews@fabmags.co.za with your stories.
umhlanga
social Scene
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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the new my12.5 harley launch in umhlanga
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the party Rob Sanders and his Harley team hosted special guests and media for the launch of the new MY12.5 Harley motorcycles.
the people
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1.Ann, Rob and Kirsten Saunders, Lionel Minnaar and Carla Saunders 2. David and Charlene Dickerson 3. Brenda and Kevin Cox 4.Alistair and Lizel Comfort and Rob Saunders 5. John Wills and Christine Hoppe and Chris Bretter 6. Sheila and Rob Francis 7. Victor Madondo and Nosi Dlamini 8. Hein Jonker, Desire and Deon Vosloo
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Definitely the unveiling of the magnificent motorcycles, which started with a video from Harley in the US explaining the thinking and passion behind the new designs. The new Harley’s had everyone admiring the amazing motorcycles and becoming instant fans.
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umhlanga
South Africa’s own Tropical paradise
TROPICAL SPECIAL
stay 3 or more nights get 1 free!
San Lameer’s fun family holiday destination has something to please everyone Enjoy a beach break away and get 1 night FREE with every 3 or more nights you stay. San Lameer Villa’s are all individually owned and decorated. Villas range from Bachelor/studio villa’s to 5 Bedroom villas. This special does not apply to school holidays, long weekends or peak season.
Book now with San Lameer Villa Rentals. Tel: (+27) (039) 313 0450; Fax: (039) 313 0701 Email: reservations.villaren@sanlameer.co.za www.sanlameer.co.za
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San Lameer Country Club
Camelot Spa Special:
Valid from 1 June to 31 July 2012. Green fee: R240 per player and R200 per cart sharing. Wednesday afternoon competition R130 (including competition) per player and R200 per cart sharing. Reservations or enquiries: 039 313 5141 email proshop@sanlameer.co.za. Reservations are
Available at Camelot Spa San Lameer only
subject to availability and exclude weekends and public holidays)
C-Spa Detox body wrap and C-Spa Hydrating facial for only R550. Call 039 313 0642.
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launch of grace student alpha at cafe 88 the party Grace Family Church launched their student alpha program at Cafe 88 at Gateway Centre where students got together to have a great time and connect
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the people
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9. Nic, Roxie and friends 10. Paul Rowney and Gouws 11. Freddie van Zyl and Wayne Taylor 12. Solomon Bkehi, Mitchell Markgraaff and Brandon Zweers 13. Sharks Academy Players 14. Monique Harper, Wandy Mthembu and Bianca Harper 15. Cayleigh Phillips, Teagan van Wyk and Lauren Harman 16. Mitch van Straaten and Tasmin Massey 17. Craig and Chantelle Muller, Sach 18. Felicia Christian & friend
the highlight Had to be the arm wrestling match between guys and girls, with the ultimate winner being one of the girls, beating a burly Sharks Academy player. Thrown? We not sure but it was definitely great fun to watch
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iworld opens at the square the party iWorld opened another of its Apple focused stores at the Square Centre in March.
the people 19. Roger and Yvonne Greig 20. Shaylin Govender, Gordon Fettes, Sahil Bridgmohan and Monette Bezuidenhout 21. Cilla Liebenberg, Norman Greig and Sean Swanson 22. Nick Leach and Stuart Talbot 24. Lindy and Graham Fourie 25. Kate Greig and hubby 26. Hannah Edy, Giannina Greig and Dale Edy 27. David Mackey, lana Johnson and Clint Slogrove
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the highlight Meeting the really dynamic and driven Greig family, who are the driving force behind the iWorld stores and who are doing a great job of promoting and servicing Apple products to consumers.
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IMMEDIA OPEN NIGHT FOR DEVELOPERS IN DURBAN the party
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Immedia hosted local developers at their offices in Umhlanga. The get together is a relaxed affair where dev people can interact and also listen to interesting presentations from fellow developers.
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the people
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28. Sian Jones, Brogan Jones and Darryl Fleming 29.Selene Shah and Qawelesizwe Mlilo 30.Mark Pape and Mark Fowles 31.Anice Hassim and Nazeem Ebrahim 32.Scott Wentworth, Yosogan Patchiappen and Naresh Ramdiyar 33.Brian Wiltschire and Nish Govender 34.Chris Sweidan and Rohland de Charmoy 35.Lethu Buthelezi and Cyril Nxumalo 36.Siveshnee Moonsamy and Abraham Kapambwe
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the highlight The presentation from a Brazilian developer on Java Script. The combination of his presentation style, accent and interesting use of his iPad and iPhone made for a really interesting time. His shirt was also a statement in itself but we couldn’t publish it!
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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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gateway getaway When it comes to the Umhlanga Boulevard there is only one place to sit, relax and take in all that is going on - Plaka Restaurant. Plaka has been a long time favourite with Umhlanga locals and its Greek decor, charm and ambience delivers the perfect setting for lunch or dinner nested above the viby boulevard.
power shot umhlanga
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luxury shopping online gaudium club breaks the recent mould of online shopping launches by offering exclusive, quality products and services Gaudium Club today recently announced the launch of their member driven lifestyle portal, www.gaudiumclub.com, which is a unique approach that provides easy access to the finest internationally rated, luxury products and services - all online. The growth of online shopping, locally and internationally, has been exponential over the past several years as consumers become familiar with it and have learnt to trust the process more. So far the majority of online shopping destinations have only looked to extend normal product lines readily available in retail locations through the online shopping experience, with the view of passing on savings online. Gaudium
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Club is the first South African facility focused at enhancing life's experiences through their unique member driven site. A unique concept is their concierge service where members are offered a free diary facility providing reminders of special anniversaries, birthdays and other special events with timely suggestions of suitable presents which will be suitably endorsed, gift wrapped and delivered to the door on the appointed date. Gaudium Club extends online shopping into a fun, exciting and rewarding experience through extravagant packaging of really special gift ideas. Each product online is carefully assembled by the companies
specialists to ensure that it arrives at its members delivering a shopping delight. Unique experiences, such as trips to Formula 1 races and VIP treatment to watch leading sporting events, are all part of what Gaudium members can expect. Gaudium beleives that luxury shopping is an experience in itself and should be enjoyed, just as much as traditional shopping is. We like the idea. To see more simply visit their website, register and let the shopping experience begin - www.gaudiumclub.com
umhlanga
Obvious Choice Exclusive Mandate
how does it work?
CHAKAS ROCK R1 600 000 Walk to the beach from this 3 bedroom furnished apartment on Thompson Bay beach.
All the products are available to purchase once you’ve registered, for free, with Gaudium Club. Not long after you register you receive a call checking everything has gone smoothly and you are registered correctly. The concierge also requests that you share some of your important dates with him, which are captured so that the Club can contact you in future. The registration is simple and quick, you don’t have to spend any money to become a member. Once you’re done you have access to a growing number of exclusive products and services that are normally only accessible to the very wealthy or elite.
how do i buy? Once you’ve seen a product or service you like you simply add it to your shopping cart, check out and follow the payment process. Buying is the same as any other online site and you have a full trail of the transaction. Once payment is received your order is processed and shipped to you. If there are any special requirements, like special messages, Gaudium Club takes care of it for you.
Are online payments safe? Absolutely. Gaudium Club makes use of one of South Africa’s top payment gateways and once you are ready to pay via credit card, you are transferred to a secure, encrypted payment solution that handles the whole process for you. Once complete the secure payment site redirects you back to Gaudium Club and your order is complete.
So, what products are there? The team has negotiated some of the finest products for its members which include Beautiful Bottoms (a leading UK lingerie, loungewear and beachwear brand), a selection of leading wines, trips to the F1 Grand Prix, Spa treatments, an extravagant dinner at the Oyster Box and several other products focused on pure pampering. What are you waiting for? visit www.gaudiumclub.com and register for free
First Nest Or Invest Exclusive Mandate BALLITO R1 350 000 2 Bedroom unit with neat garden. Secure complex. Sea views. Walk to the beach.
Funky & Appealing Exclusive Mandate SHEFFIELD BEACH R3 500 000 Sea views from this 5 bedroom home. Double volume ceilings. Swimming pool and double garage.
Development Opportunity Exclusive Mandate CHAKAS ROCK R3 000 000 2270 m2 Double stand. 3 Bedroom cottage. Staff accommodation. Stunning sea views. 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 my town
Kishyr Ramdial Local iOS Developer Kishyr Ramdial has been developing software and apps for the past six years and recently won the Vodacom App Star Challenge, proving that Durban based developers can be relevant and competitive both nationally and internationally. Kishyr has a passion for living on the east coast, this is his town and these are his highlights... Go on a date: In the village: I really like Olive and Oil, Beverly Hills Hotel, and The Oyster Box; in Gateway: Piatto, and the Park with the lake; and the beach (especially when it’s drizzling).
Eat brunch: Kauai in Gateway. They have the freshest orange juice and the tastiest healthy menu.
Work out: without a doubt, it’s got to be Body Guru behind the lake, opposite Gateway. It’s a great gym experience because there’s always equipment available, and the trainers and members are really cool.
Watch your favourite sports game: If I’m not at home with my family and friends, or live at the stadium, then I guess on my iPad :-) (I was part of the team that built SuperSport for iPad with live events and video highlights!).
Take a walk: On the Umhlanga Beach Promenade at about 5/6am. It’s about a 5km round-trip from the new car park to the end and back. Watching the sunrise over the Indian Ocean is not only breathtaking, but it’s an incredible time and place to shoot some awesome photographs.
Do something fun: Apart from Gateway - and this might sound weird - but I have a lot of fun when I’m at work (immedia) - and that’s because it’s a really fun place to be and do things :-) We’ve made up special occasion days, for example “Braaiday the 13th” which happens whenever the 13th is a Friday; and Dev Open Nights where we host gather local developers and socialise with everyone over pizza and beer.
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Shop: Gateway. I tend to frequent Gateway a lot because I live directly opposite it.
my town LOW DOWN
We’ll introduce you to someone new in every edition. If you would like to be profiled, or know someone who should be covered in My Town, email us at mytown@fabmags.co.za so we can get in touch. Loving Umhlanga!
places umhlanga
The Pearls
Umhlanga’s Iconic Apartments
By STORM CATTERICK
photos chris allan
Pearls
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umhlanga places
ABOVE An inland view of the Pearls towers from the Umhlanga pier BELOW Different interior designs from the apartments. The large windows show access to some of the most amazing views.
Imagine, if you will, a cityscape with tall, high-rise buildings with a bustling city at ground level — your imagination is probably buzzing as you think about New York, LA and so forth. But, no, I’m talking about the picturesque and iconic Pearls in Umhlanga... Destined to become one of the finest resort complexes in KwaZulu Natal, The Pearls is fast becoming THE prime and most soughtafter property in Umhlanga. Situated in Lagoon Drive, this luxury residential apartment and hotel complex brings with it a new age of sleek, modern architecture. The lavish twin buildings have become known as the “two lipstick buildings” – and, if you take a look at them, you’ll see why! There is a certain cachet to being one of the people who call this very private, almost secret, haven home. It far exceeds what any other apartment building our coastline has to offer — the developers truly are setting new standards for their genre in South Africa. In 2008 the magnificent building complex won the title of Best Tall Building / Middle East and Africa – which, if you are in this business, is a great achievement!
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places umhlanga
An exquisite design feature of the complex that not many are fortunate enough to see is the landscaped area which is overlooked and surrounded by the two towers. The area has rolling lawns with tropical vegetation and a large feature swimming pool. Unbelievably, this sanctuary also serves as the roof of the basement parking below. It is surrounded by magnificently landscaped grounds, exquisite sea views and flowing design, accompanied by the sound of the rushing waves and the whisper of a sea breeze. The Pearls offers patrons a choice of luxury apartments and penthouses that place you closer to the beach than any other development along the regions most desirable of coastlines. The Pearls apartments are designed to create an extraordinary lifestyle, where pleasure
ON SHOW DAILY
is paramount. These apartments are spacious, with open, free-flowing living areas and boast lovely sea views, fullheight glazed windows, with soundproofing that allows you to hear the sound of the sea only when you want to hear it, unlike other buildings along the Indian Ocean shoreline. A leading South African interior design team co-ordinated the interior design options, enabling you to enhance your home according to your individual style. Then there are the remarkable apartmentstyle hotel rooms which are elegantly furnished for a comfortable and restful stay. Interestingly, much like New York’s lamented Twin Towers, the Sydney Opera House, the Empire State Building and the Space Needle, which feature in virtually any and every film/music video that is set in these cities, producers appear to like
showing the Pearls buildings when there is a new movie involving KZN. When Kwaito music star, Lira appeared in a recent TV documentary driving around Umhlanga, the Pearls were shown in the background. In 2011, South African composer LeboM (The Lion King) who owns an apartment in the Pearls was shown on TV in his Pearls apartment. I believe this is just one of many times that the “two lipstick buildings” will grace our televisions! Unparalleled views, an exciting lifestyle, security and a quality living experience! The Pearls is certainly a great addition which adds even more appeal to an already remarkable and expanding suburb! U
PEARL REEF
Stunning 3 bedroom re-sale apartments from R12 750 000 Small exclusive block of only 23 apartments with lifts designed to allow private access to individual 241m² apartments and balconies of 55m². Double auto lock-up garages and parking bays
PEARL TIDES 2 / 3 bedroom re-sale apartments from R7 200 000. On the water’s edge so close you can see the changing of the tides. Double auto lock-up garage and bay on your doorstep.
PEARL BREEZE 1/2/3 bedroom re-sale apartments from R2 500 000. Breathtaking sea views from these modern luxury apartments. Controlled security systems. Walking distance to beach and village.
PEARL DAWN
1/2/3 bedroom apartments from R2 600 000. Direct from the developer - no transfer duty. Prestigious beach front complex in the heart of Umhlanga offering stunning rim-flow pool in landscaped gardens and direct access to beach promenade.
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umhlanga fantastic food
one of umhlanga’s best restaurants on the block
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ou can’t help but love all that Butcher Block Umhlanga has to offer. The combination of a uniquely intimate yet engaging ambience, expansive sea views and truly divine food make this one of the top restaurants in Umhlanga. Owner, Manuel Savic, opened the restaurant just over a year ago and has worked hard to ensure he delivers what is now the renowned service known across all the Butcher Block restaurants, of which there are five nationally. We were fortunate enough to catch up with Manuel and chat about the restaurant and how Butcher Block came to Umhlanga Rocks...
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umhlanga fantastic food
LEFT The Butcher Block has a variety of meals on offer BELOW The modern, fresh decor is both appealing and comfortable OPPOSITE PAGE A well stocked wine room stocks an exceptional selection of wines OPPOSITE BOTTOM even the lights are unique
Tell us a little about the Butcher Block franchise
Butcher Block Umhlanga exudes elegance and style whilst at the same time providing a relaxed and laid back dining experience. We have magnificent sea views which add Butcher Block is a Steakhouse Franchise to the relaxed and easy going atmosphere. with a difference. We take enormous pride Some of our diners are so taken by our in our steaks and take the utmost care in their preparation. Each steak undergoes a How would describe the Umhlanga branch beautiful décor that they have come back specialized ageing process whereby steaks of Butcher Block? Is the decor different to and hired out the venue exclusively for their wedding receptions, 21st Birthdays and the other branches? are matured to ensure the tenderest and other important occasions. tastiest cuts. Our meat is supplied by Chalmar Beef who are one of South Africa’s Butcher Block Umhlanga is completely Have you always been involved in food and different in design, style and feel to top meat suppliers and we only serve AAA restaurants? the other Butcher Block stores. For all Grade cuts. The menu does offer some uniquely South African dishes however, we Butcher Block stores that are located Yes I have always been a restaurant man. in hotels we need to try and follow the have taken care to ensure that all tastes I started off with the RJ’s Franchise as a design of the hotel so at times we need to are catered for. Finding the perfect cut manager and after a lot of hard work and design something that is different to the of meat presents a mean feat for most invaluable training I became the owner diners, even more so if you are meticulous conventional design of our other stores.
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about the preparation. At all Butcher Block restaurants, what you crave is what you get – excellent quality, good value for money and a warm and friendly atmosphere that is difficult to come by anywhere else.
fantastic food umhlanga
of my own store. Thereafter I sold my store and joined Sun International, where I was appointed as divisional F & B Manager for the Main Hotel at Sun City. After two years or so I returned to Durban whereby I acquired a number of restaurants of which have since been sold...I have also tried a few other things but have always come back to the food business – I guess it is in my blood...I have been with Butcher Block now as Franchisor and Franchisee for the last 7 or so years. You have an amazing location. How did that come about? It was all with a bit of luck, coincidence and timing. I was up at our Rosebank branch in Johannesburg where a customer in our store there was raving about the Carpaccio we served. He told me that his job was to travel around the world testing the food in all the restaurants that are located in the hotels that were managed/owned by the property group he worked for. He told me that in all his travels this was undoubtedly the best carpaccio he had ever tasted. We began chatting and he told me about the Holiday Inn Express-Umhlanga that was about to begin construction and told me to make contact with the Operations Director to discuss the possibility of putting a Butcher Block in the hotel. As it turned out I knew the Operations Director, Gary Foster and coincidentally he had been trying to track me down for the very same reason, and as they say the rest was history. What do customers enjoy most when visiting the restaurant? From the feedback we have received, the thing that our guests enjoy most about Butcher Block Umhlanga is the knowledge that they are going to have a great meal, with good service in an amazing setting. Our top quality steaks keep them coming back for more, but customers like that we have something for everyone, including great desserts to finish off their meals.
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umhlanga
y h t r wo f a o t visi
> Is the vibe different over lunch time and dinner, especially since the view seems to change so much based on the time of day?
Our lunch time trade consists mainly of corporate diners or conference delegates so we find that they do not linger too long, although tables by the windows are always requested. With that being said our weekend lunch time diners do enjoy a long, relaxed lunch, sipping on a glass of wine while admiring the magnificent sea view. We find that dinners are a lot more vibey and guests take their time enjoying their meal after carefully selecting the appropriate wine from our well stocked temperature controlled wine cellar. Do the people of Umhlanga seem to have a favourite meal at Butcher Block and which is your fav? Our most popular item is definitely the Camembert and Bacon steak, this has pretty much become our signature dish and our guests absolutely love it. My favourite is a new menu item, the Mushroom Bordelaise steak this is a rump or sirloin
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umhlanga
es B Pair of Japanese Cloisonne Vases: These 2 vases, found hidden away in an estate clearance were identified by us, cleaned up and sold for the estate, R19,500.00
Arthur Butelezi Oil Painting: Night Fire by Kraal, on canvass, signed and dated 47, seller sent it to us with a R35,000.00 reserve, sold for R81,000.00
topped with sautéed mushrooms and a red wine and herb jus, it is unbelievable and I strongly recommend it. Does the menu stay pretty much the same or do you change it up a little to keep it fresh? We tend to keep the basics of the menu the same as we are a steakhouse and people come to us for our steaks. We do however change our menu at least once a year, and we like to add on a few new items to keep our menu fresh and up to date with current trends. At the same time this also gives us the opportunity to remove the less popular items. We have just introduced our new menu which includes Maple Glazed Pork Chops that are delicious and something we have never offered before. We are also offering some pasta options as we feel that there is a need for this. Are there one or two things people don’t know about the restaurant that they should? A lot of people hear that we are a steakhouse and assume that we do not
have anything else to offer but in fact we have an extremely varied menu that caters to all needs. Our dishes include seafood, poultry and pastas and combo meals, but undoubtedly our steaks are the best.
Pair of George V Silver 5 Branch Candelabra Birmingham 1928, 1930 Est R25000-30000 SOLD FOR R39 200.00
There seems to be new restaurants always competing for patrons – how do you keep your customers coming back? That is simple, we provide them with an exceptional meal, good service and value for money. How has the support from Umhlanga locals been since you opened? The support from our locals has been phenomenal. We are very fortunate to have an extremely loyal local trade who make all the hard work worth it. For bookings call Butcher Block on 031 566 3547 or email them at bbumhlanga@butcherblock.co.za. To pop in visit them at 2 Ncondo Place CNR Ncondo Place & Ntusi Road, off Umhlanga Rocks Drive
Pair of Victorian Burr Walnut Pedestals, sold R7,300.00 Dales Bros hold a monthly catalogued auction of Fine South African and International Art, Antiques, Silver, Porcelain, Persians, Retro, Crystal, Scientific, Stamps, Jewellery and Collectables from the Riverhorse Valley Saleroom, on the first Thursday of every month. Pop in daily to see whats come in and have a snack and coffee at Café Gavel. Consignments taken from private people, the trade, estate executors and beneficiaries. Redlyn Business Park, 5 Riverhorse Place, Riverhorse Valley (Off Queen Nandi Dr, towards the Heart Hospital) Tel: 031 512 5020 info@dalesbros.co.za Sms 083 280 0905 with your name and email address and we’ll add your details to our mailing list
www.dalesbros.co.za
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umhlanga property feature
umhlanga’s new
business centre setting the tone for serviced office space
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umhlanga property feature
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ocation, location and location is advice that always bodes well when we’re contemplating where to buy a house or where we should set up our first office. Prime office space with panoramic sea views, lush boardrooms and an in-house coffee shop are normally reserved for large corporate business and seem out of reach for many other businesses - but that is all about to change as The Business Centre Umhlanga opens up its prime serviced office space in Ridgeside Office Park this April. The team behind the company offering serviced office suites nationally, and quickly becoming South Africa’s leading serviced office provider with 565 offices, carefully
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selected the impressive Umhlanga location when doing the groundwork to expand their business to the coast. Umhlanga is a fast developing node on the coast, is perfectly positioned between the airport, Durban central and the expanding North Coast and the specific location offered spectacular sea views that are rarely found in corporate developments. Andrew Utterson, Travers Hathrill and Ceri James – founders of the company - considered all of the above before breaking ground on the 140 office building site that caters to the growing demand for affordable office space which targets a more mobile, dynamic business customer looking for a quality, professional ‘plug in and go’ solution.
property feature umhlanga
In Umhlanga the new centre will fulfil most of the demand for prime office space, starting below 250 square metres up to large spaces for corporate solutions, all while offering really flexible rental agreement periods. The Business Centre caters to a new type of business need in office space, starting with the single office - single desk client all the way through to facilities and space for corporate businesses . The single desk solution allows professional business people the option to come into a prime office location, enhancing the perception of professionalism and also increasing confidence in the entrepreneur or professional through the environment.
Smaller teams can also be accommodated in the centre, offering slightly larger spaces that allow for a shared work space. Interestingly large business will also be able to use the shared services offices for all business needs, be it to establish a new presence or location or in times when they are renovating their current buildings or needing somewhere to remain operational while moving between office sites. The easy plug in and go setup means that there is limited disruption to normal business, no matter what size you are, and if moving or building projects take longer than expected the team at the Business Centre can accommodate you for as long as you need. Shared serviced offices have gone through a positive change in perception recently
Meet Jacky Gillespie, Centre Manager of the new Business Centre in Umhlanga. What does a Centre Manager do? Ensure the smooth running of the centre, manage all the staff and be the smiling face for the clients. How long have you been with the company? Just over 2 years now Favourite place to grab breakfast in Umhlanga? The business centre cafÊ of course Blackberry or iPhone? Blackberry Whats you’re favourite area in the centre? The cafÊ area, with the light from the 3 story atrium above, the 4 metre tree in the middle makes it! If you interested in more information call Jacky on 031 819 7700
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umhlanga FEATURE
as more and more people realise that the investment made in furniture, fittings and other services required in establishing a business quickly becomes outdated and may need regular attention. With the pace of business increasing for all of us the ability to have someone else make sure our office and all the peripherals services are looked after allows us to focus on our core business is more appealing than ever. A quick calculation shows that telephony, IT and infrastructure costs can eat away at start up capital or operating profits in small and medium and even large businesses, but in a shared service environment those costs are all factored in – and the flexibility is there, meaning you aren’t tied into any long term rental or lease agreements – mitigating some of the risk you may have. What can be expected at the new Business Centre? Apart from the obvious professional office space and parking, use of the service will include a myriad of services such as managed reception, full furnished offices, fully equipped presentation facilities, meeting rooms, high speed internet, in house café, 24-hour security, full
access control, tailored office space, relaxation areas, state-of-the-art finishes and obviously some of the best sea views on the ridge. All in all this new ‘resident’ on the ridge is a fresh, new approach to business office space as we know it. It offers us something we all desire – aspirational, professional office space that is affordable and highly flexible with no binding, long term contracts that sometimes make doing business feel restrictive. If you’ve got time it’s worth making a turn and see all that is on offer.
To find our more about space and services available contact the Business Centre directly; Tel (031) 819 7700 umhlanga@thebusinesscentre.co.za follow them on twitter @needoffices
The passages are secured by full access control and lead to open spaces and balconies with expansive sea
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hotels umhlanga
ATTERICK By STORM C
s reds of traveller Every day hund ht d spend the nig visit our city an e of our many as a guest in on of a peek at some hotels. Here’s tels those great ho
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great hotels in umhlanga
Umhlanga has over the years fast become the heartbeat of KZN and assumed the identity of both a thriving business district and a leisurely beach holiday town- it is literally the best of both worlds! Mixtures of fabulous hotels, pristine beaches, and great weather, sumptuous restaurants and let’s not forget the ever famous Gateway Theatre of shopping Umhlanga is an unparalleled hub of activity! So where do you stay in a place that offers so much? Well at the risk of ruining your holiday by simple sleeping arrangements we have compiled a list of 6 of Umhlanga’s best hotels that offer unmatched service, atmosphere and quality.
City Lodge Umhlanga Ridge City Lodge Umhlanga Ridge, which is ideally situated opposite the hugely popular and successful Gateway Theatre of Shopping and entertainment complex, has developed an enviable reputation over the past few years as one of the area’s premier business and leisure accommodation venues.
With wireless Internet throughout (including 15 minutes free usage per day), City Lodge Umhlanga Ridge also offers a scrumptious breakfast, a boardroom, a coffee shop and a relaxing patio and pool area. All bathrooms offer both showers and baths.
This five-storey hotel, which includes basement parking, offers 168 quality rooms that provide the comfort, convenience, features and facilities expected by the discerning traveller. Umhlanga Ridge is an excellent location for this vibrant hotel as it is in the heart of the business, shopping and entertainment district. It’s also within easy walking distance of the local private hospital and a short drive away from the beach, the Durban CBD and the King Shaka International Airport. While the hotel mainly targets Monday to Thursday business travellers, it also provides a home-away-from-home for leisure visitors, especially during holiday periods and when there are major sporting events in the Durban area — especially when there’s a big Sharks match on!
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Beverly Hills Hotel
The Beverly Hills Hotel, an iconic hotel and one of the best-known landmarks in Umhlanga, has an excellent reputation for gracious hospitality and unobtrusive personal service. From the moment you step inside, you will sense that you have arrived at a very special place. All 89 rooms have private balconies and offer magnificent, uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean. Luxury rooms and suites are both spacious and sumptuous and offer separate dressing room and lounge areas. A personal butler is assigned to all suites and is on call 24 hours a day.
Guests can soak up the sun from the comfort of their private loungers set up on the pool deck or the beach and enjoy the beautiful coastline and warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The lower terrace of the hotel also boasts a fitness room and spinning bikes are placed on the terrace every morning for your fitness pleasure. What a way to start your day! There is much on offer in and around the hotel. Micro-lighting, dolphin viewing, deep-sea fishing and scuba diving are on the doorstep to tempt you. The Gateway Theatre of Shopping is a mere three kilometres away and some of the country’s most prestigious golf courses are all in close proximity.
The signature restaurant, The Sugar Club, offers dramatic views of the Indian Ocean in a romantic setting. A member of the Chaine de Rotisseurs, the food is rated amongst the best in the country. Elements Café Bar is a trendy, chic, yet relaxed café-style restaurant situated on the lower terrace. Large sliding doors open onto the swimming pool and panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.
Tel: 031 584 7194 Mike: 083 264 1352 Unit 8 - Equinox 12 Millennium Boulevard Umhlanga Ridge
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What are the Stars all about when grading a hotel?
Star grading is an independent quality assessment that will help tell you what facilities you can expect to find at your chosen accommodation or conference venue. An accommodation establishment can be quality-graded as one star all the way to five star, with one star indicating basic facilities, right through to five stars, showing the very best quality. Grading also takes into account the type of accommodation, so you could have a five-star B&B, as well as a five-star hotel, as long as they both offer the highest quality relevant to their category. It’s based on the venue’s overall quality and takes into account the specific facilities you’d expect to be available at a particular star grading. www.tourismgrading.co.za
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hotels umhlanga
Garden Court Hotel
A contemporary interior design of fusing water features with the colours and textures of natural reed sets the mood of the newly opened Garden Court Umhlanga, ideally situated in Umhlanga Rocks. It is close to the Gateway Theatre of Shopping and popular Umhlanga beaches. The hotel offers spacious guest areas with business and internet facilities to cater for business travellers. The environment is welcoming and inspires relaxation and the restaurant caters for business lunches, private meetings and serves a variety of light meals and refreshing beverages throughout the day.
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The hotel boasts a lush courtyard that offers guests a pool with a play-ledge for young children to enjoy. A comprehensive gym facility on the 5th floor ensures that health fanatics are also catered for.
The Square Boutique Hotel
Situated in the energetic retail and commercial hub that is the Umhlanga Ridge, leisure and business travellers staying at The Square Boutique Hotel and Spa are spoilt for choice and can take advantage of the area’s beaches, restaurants, and, of course, its mega shopping centre, the Gateway Theatre of Shopping. With its stunning location on the chic Umhlanga Ridge and just a short drive from the King Shaka International Airport, The Square Boutique Hotel and Spa is one of the few hotels with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Its swish rooftop Sky Bar makes it “the” place to be seen for Umhlanga businessmen and women wrapping up the work week on a Friday afternoon. State-of-the-art business facilities ensure that business travellers are well catered for and the rooftop spa provides a tranquil facility popular with both hotel guests and residents of the area. With just 50 beautifully appointed rooms, guests are made to feel spoilt by staying at this stylish yet homely hotel. The onsite Cosmopolitan Restaurant serves the very best in contemporary cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Square Boutique Hotel and Spa is the only Three Cities Group hotel which appeals to both the leisure and business markets in a truly luxurious setting.
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Cosmopolitan Restaurant offers an array of dishes to tempt and entice your palate with a combination of alluring flavours. An all-day Á la carte menu is available. Bring this magazine in with you and receive a free glass of wine with your meal.
For more information please contact The Square Boutique Hotel & Spa on 031 566 1814 or visit www.thesquare.co.za.
cosmo_ad 200x143.indd 1
2012/03/26 10:33 PM
Garden Court Umhlanga With a fresh, contemporary design, guests at Garden Court Umhlanga hotel are assured of a rejuvenating experience. Located in Umhlanga Ridge, the hotel is set in an attractive garden setting with views across the valley and to the sea, just 30 minutes drive to Durban.
R999
*
PER ROOM PER NIGHT
Breakfast Free
Our rooms offer:
Additional services include:
• 204 contemporary styled bedrooms with bathroom, bath and separate shower. • Limited interleading bedrooms. • 9 Queen Suites. • Room for physically challenged guests. • Direct telephone. • Remote control flat-screen TV with M-net and enhanced dstv channels. • Tea/coffee. • Hairdryer. • In-room dining service.
• • • •
southernsun.com Terms and conditions apply. *Rate valid to 31 July 2012
• •
And what’s more, you will always be in touch with wireless internet.
Garden Court Umhlanga Cnr. Aurora Drive & Centenary Boulevard | Umhlanga Ridge | 4319 Tel: 031 514 5500 | Fax: 031 514 5501 | Email: gc-umhlanga@southernsun.com
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• • •
Conference rooms available. Self service work station in lobby. Restaurant offers breakfast and dinner. Light lunch menu available through the bar during the day. Open lounge area. Bar. Lush courtyard with outdoor pool with play ledge for children. Fully equipped gym. Heated pool.
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hotels umhlanga
The Gateway Hotel
The eight-month-old Gateway Hotel is perfectly located on the doorstep of the Gateway Theatre of Shopping in the thriving Umhlanga Ridge precinct, which incorporates big business and a plethora of entertainment facilities. The hotel’s position in this shopping and business Mecca has made it extremely popular and it is fast becoming the hotel of choice for many business and leisure travellers. The 146-room Gateway Hotel offers Wi-Fi and business facilities, an online “What’s on at Gateway” programme, a superb onsite restaurant serving a continental cuisine and function rooms which can be used for weddings, conferences or banqueting. The rooftop pool is where guests, tired after a long day of shopping,
working or frolicking on the beach, can be found. Just 15 minutes from the King Shaka International Airport, a five-minute drive from the beach, the Umhlanga Village and close to Durban’s other attractions, The Gateway Hotel is a wonderfully versatile hotel where guests can truly experience everything Umhlanga has to offer.
The Royal Palm Hotel Its location a stone’s throw from the Gateway Theatre of Shopping in the heartbeat of Umhlanga’s lively commercial and retail district, makes The Royal Palm Hotel a popular hotel choice for business and leisure travellers as well as families. The hotel is just a short drive from all Durban’s leisure destinations, including golf courses, Ushaka Marine World, the interesting Natal Sharks Board and, of course, the famous Kings Park and Moses Mabhida stadiums where guests can get their sporting thrills. Being 15 minutes from the King Shaka International Airport means that it is easily accessible for out-of-towners. For businessmen and women, the 1 on 1 Conference Centre is a short walk up the boulevard and other conferencing venues are also well
With its comprehensive environmental management plan and innovative green policies, The Gateway Hotel not only takes pride of place in Three Cities Group’s stable as their green showpiece hotel, but guests can also rest easy knowing that they are staying in Umhlanga’s most environmentallyfriendly hotel.
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within reach. The hotel is also close to a busy taxi assembly point, which means those without cars can get around easily. There is plenty of underground parking for those with cars.
The hotel has 94 apartments, including 13 penthouses, and on-site facilities include a spa and the awardwinning Dish Restaurant. The Royal Palm Hotel stands out in the Three Cities Group as a versatile property that provides a convenient, well-rounded hotel package for anyone looking to travel to or do business in Umhlanga.
{
ed | The Dish Restaurant is one of our favourite pit stops for a quick coffee and cake after a night out in Umhlanga, we love relaxing in the high back chairs!
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By gillian scott
umhlanga route sixty two
For the love
6 2of the ride 40
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What prompted 32 leather-clad people to travel the circuitous route to Montagu in the Cape and then turn around and come home? Nothing less than their common love of riding their Harley Davidson motorbikes on the most scenic of routes in our beautiful country, plus the challenge of doing 3 800km in one week so as to meet 550 other Harley riders at the Route 62 Annual Rally. Riding a motorbike is a multi-sensory experience which incorporates the feel of
dew on your skin, wind in your face and the smell of newly-ploughed fields. A few travel virgins joined the seasoned riders to hit the road at 6am on a wet Monday, 13 February 2012. Monday’s goal was East London, but, as the day’s ride takes precedent over the destination, the group travelled via Bizana and Port St John’s, Umtata and Butterworth to the overnight stop. The 132 bends into Port St John’s were negotiated with ease, with one of the lady riders using her foot to right herself on a tight corner.
A few cows, many dogs and a dead horse added to the aroma of the tar heating up under the broiling sun. Umtata and the towns through the “Transkei” are always bustling and the bikes were greeted with enthusiasm by everyone — waving children ran alongside the bikes with wide smiles. Once you hit the freeway into East London, the roads are a pleasure but we had to wait at many “stop/go’s” because of road works on both main roads and arterial routes throughout the journey.
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umhlanga route sixty two
YOU CAN BECOME PART OF OUR FAMILY. FROM ONLY R82 OOO.OO
incl VAT
- XL883N Sportster Iron883
TAKE A FREE TEST RIDE TODAY
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©H-D 2011. H-D, HARLEY, HARLEY-DAVIDSON, AND THE BAR & SHIELD LOGO ARE AMONG THE TRADEMARKS OF H-D MICHIGAN, LLC.
route sixty two umhlanga
“transgressions” of the day. Ina, our fine mistress, was very perceptive and amidst much hilarity penalised us for taking out the warning signs at the “stop/go”, dropping luggage on the road, etc. On Thursday we rode from Mossel Bay to Riversdale and again hit Route 62. First stop was Ronnies Sex shop. Ronnie painted the name Ronnie’s Shop on this cottage next to the R62, planning to open a farm stall to sell fresh produce and fruit. His friends played a prank on him by changing the name to Ronnie’s Sex Shop. Initially angry about the involuntary name change, Ronnie left the name and continued renovating the dilapidated building. His friends would stop by for a chat, have a few beers and throw a couple of chops on the fire. During one of these evenings, someone suggested: “Why don’t you just open a pub?” An overnight at The Quarry Hotel replenished our reserves and Tuesday — being Valentine’s Day — began with lots of loving wishes. That day’s ride was to Jeffrey’s Bay via Port Alfred and Grahamstown. We hit the freeway to Port Alfred and then turned inland to Bathurst. This quaint town boasts the oldest licensed pub in South Africa — the Pig and Whistle. The old stone walls of the pub, built in 1831 by Thomas Hartley, an 1820 Settler, ooze with history and memorabilia. After a pub lunch we rode over the Kowie River and pass into Grahamstown where we stopped at the Observatory Museum. This is in a house occupied from 1850 until his death in 1886 by Henry Carter Galpin, a watchmaker and goldsmith who was also interested in astronomy. Here, in 1882, he constructed a camera obscura, still the only one in South Africa. Then it was onwards to the surfers’ paradise, Jeffreys Bay, home of the supertube wave. Our B&B was called
“On The Beach” and the name is literally correct, with long stretches of beautiful, clean beaches and surfers catching the waves. We had booked for dinner at Walskipper and what a feast, with sand between your toes and garlic butter dripping off your prawns — sheer heaven. Being a thirsty bunch, we went by taxi and I am sure Shane still tells the tale of his experiences as our driver. On Wednesday we headed inland to the start of Route 62. It originates outside Humansdorp and culminates in Montagu. This is truly paradise — the road is flanked by mountains and the valleys lush with citrus plantations. The smell of fruit perfumed the air from the quaint town of Kareedouw through to Uniondale. Then it was down onto the coastal road to Mossel Bay. My, how this town has grown in charm and popularity. We stayed at the Point Village Hotel and feasted at the Kingfisher. There is a tradition on rallies to “fine” riders every evening for the
Ronnie’s Sex Shop has had visitors from all over the world, judging by the graffiti. It has also become a regular pit-stop for bikers, local farmers and people who travel this road regularly. The Pumpkin in Barrydale was our lunch stop before arriving in Montagu. The Route 62 Rally is held annually for all Harley owners and 2012 saw 580-odd riders there for three nights of “kuiering”, music, touring the wine farms and relaxing in the hot springs. A few diehards rode to Paarl via the beautiful Du Toits Kloof Pass on Friday and then back through the Huguenot Tunnel and Robertson to Springfield Winery. After a day’s rest, 6am on Sunday saw departure for home begin. The 32 split up, with six getting home in two days and the rest over three days. The six hit floods, rain and low visibility from Graaf Reinet to Queenstown — but this is what sets bikers apart, with all weathers braved for the sheer thrill of riding a motorbike.
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umhlanga secret spot
By STORM CATTERICK
deli with a vibe Mamma luciana’s | A deli with a difference
An intimate, social and trendy Deli with great views set in an understated venue 44
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t may be a mouthful, but it’s a mouthful of fabulous flavours and an exceptionally awesome day out! We got to sit down with manager Bronwyn Friedman while we indulged ourselves in this sumptuous haven of fine fresh foods. Tell us something people don’t know about you guys. Well, firstly, if you look at where we are situated (Glenore Centre in Durban North], the view and the atmosphere, what we have is totally unique. Not many places can offer a relaxed lunch overlooking the ocean with massive ships anchored, waiting to dock. The deli is separate from the restaurant but both operate under the same name. My husband, Raymond, who is also the chef here, had always wanted to open a deli, so we jumped at the opportunity to merge with Mamma’s and start our own deli with Marco Conti, the owner of Mamma Luciana’s. What do you think makes your vibe different from any other deli or restaurant? It’s funny that you should mention vibe, because, as you can see, this restaurant has a great vibe. People love to come here and the service is phenomenal as we have a small staff complement so we are able to monitor what goes on and make sure that our customers are 100 percent happy and also get to know them personally. We also care about what we serve our customers and the memory they are going to take away with them when they (A) buy the products and (B) eat them — we’re about creating relationships and not about how much dough we are going to put in our back pockets. The whole ambiance of the place is unique, with the wooden crated sealing and old-school deli vibe. This is a place where you can come and relax and veg out in an upmarket environment — we’re not
about turning tables, we’re about creating a With so much going on, how do you think treasured experience. the store works so well? I think a huge part of it is that I am So what is it that you actually offer? so involved as manager. I chat to the We are open from Monday to Sunday, customers and always know what’s going offering both breakfast and lunch. We also on. I also try to keep things fresh and do a harvest table which is a great draw exciting by doing little things to spice up card that runs from Tuesday to Sunday for the deli side. Another thing is that our lunch. It’s a simple concept, much like a menu is never cast in concrete — we are buffet, but instead of paying an enormous not the type of restaurant that says you amount of money for a meal that you aren’t have to have what is on the menu. If you even able to finish, we work on a weighing like the sound of a smoked chicken salad basis whereby you dish your food up and Panini, but don’t actually feel like a Panini, weigh it to ultimately decide your price. of course you can have it as a salad — it Unlike most deli’s we know of, we are in all comes down to accommodating the fact very reasonably priced. customer and that’s what we strive for. We want you to have a great time because, On the table we offer a range of hot and when you choose to go to a restaurant, it is cold foods. On Wednesdays we have a to have a good time, eat good food and get half-price offer for ladies eating from things done how you like them. the harvest table, which means that for a full plate of food you’d pay about R20 — What are some of the challenges you something almost unheard of. Apart from face when it comes to running a deli food the harvest table lunches, we also offer a market? menu which includes Panini’s or you can What people don’t realise is that our deli order pre-made meals from our fridges foods are very reasonably priced and you — made by Mamma Luciana herself— and know that you are getting quality and fresh much more. food. Take our harvest table, for example — you get outstanding food that a great Our deli section includes goods imported deal of love and care has gone into because from Italy, which are the best-of-thethere is only one chef, my husband, best, but still at very reasonable prices. Raymond, and you know that every time We like to mix things up a bit, which we you eat there you are going to get the same think appeals to people and gives them great flavours and tastes. something to look forward to as well. We offer outside catering and do functions, but Where do you see your deli in the future? the great thing is we don’t charge venue I definitely foresee a chain in our future. It’s hire like most places — instead we charge a great concept and we love doing it, so if a very reasonable price per head. We like to the opportunity arises we will definitely try think that we are the most accommodating and spread it across South Africa. But for function venue around because if, say, you now we are just trying to get all the kinks want 60 people to come and your budget is worked out and establish ourselves as the tight, we’ll provide food to suit your budget, Number One deli in the Durban area. without compromising the quality! For more info call them on 031 572 7951
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umhlanga get away
Berg
Breaks
While we enjoy our beautiful beaches and top notch shopping even we (people of Umhlanga) need a break every now and then. Here are Five Fab Berg Retreats for us to slip away to...
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa!
Qambathi Mountain Lodge
Situated on 3000 hectares of private mountain reserve, The Cavern is set in a valley beneath the massive sandstone cliffs of the Northern Drakensberg, surrounded by mountains, forests and streams. The thatch accommodation and facilities blend beautifully with the natural surroundings of the area. This family-run resort has many sporting facilities on offer - daily guided walks & hiking, trout fishing, horse riding & floodlit tennis, as well as evening entertainment and more. The Cave Bar is a unique feature of The Cavern and the only one in South Africa — it is a reminder of the art of the Bushmen and their lifestyles. The Cavern Hotel offers full-service meals which include healthy meals for all ages with no limits on the number of courses.
The Qambathi Mountain Lodge is situated in the Qambathi Mountain Reserve in the heart of the Kamberg Valley, which makes for a truly romantic and magical ambiance. Relax and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere from the sala seats or pool loungers on the chill deck overlooking the gardens and mountains. Original art forms an integral part of the exclusive handmade furniture and decor used, setting a new standard for the Midlands. Take a scenic drive in an open game viewer to explore the magnificent view from the top of the mountain, or enjoy one of the horse rides that are available for the more energetic. Experience fine dining based on the rich African culture and its diverse cuisine.
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www.cavern.co.za
www.qambathi.co.za
Located in the Northern Drakensberg in the Sterkfontein Nature Reserve, Wild Horses Lodge is the perfect location for a luxurious romantic getaway. With its panoramic views of the majestic Platberg Mountain and the vast Sterkfontein Dam, the lodge is a masterpiece of architectural design in local sandstone and offers luxury accommodation, exquisite cuisine and a variety of activities centred around the dam and the abundant wildlife of the reserve. It offers personalised service and a warm South African welcome to guests seeking tranquillity, comfort and stylish sophistication in beautiful surroundings. The lodge consists of an accommodation wing, a dining room which opens onto an extensive terrace, a lounge with private library and a well-stocked wine cellar.
www.wildhorses.co.za
Lake Naverone
Inkungu
Situated among the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg Lake Naverone lies next to a secluded lake, a natural sanctuary far from the distractions of modern life. Lake Naverone is an idyllic Berg retreat where you and your family can enjoy nature in this World Heritage site all year round. The lake and surrounding 400-hectare estate provides an awesome environment for a variety of outdoor activities, such as trout fishing (river and lake), hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, birding and photography. The picturesque stone cottages, some situated on the lakeside and some in tranquil clearings shaded by the surrounding woods, provide fully serviced, self-catering accommodation.
Inkungu Lodge is nestled in the heart of Champagne Valley, and is set against the magnificent backdrop of the Drakensberg mountain range. Each room has been individually furnished, and the lodge showcases a fine collection of Victorian and Edwardian furniture, creating a unique upmarket look and feel. The lodge provides sumptuous breakfasts, lunches and dinners, as well as a well-stocked bar which opens onto the swimming pool area. The fireplaces and communal lounge area provide a welcome retreat from the winter chill where you can relax and read a book or chat to friends. For the leisure-seekers, the estate’s lapa is equipped with indoor relaxation activities, a communal braai area and a natural rock swimming pool. There are various recreational activities available on site and in the surrounding area.
www.lakenaverone.co.za
www.inkungulodge.co.za
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Wild Horses Mountain Lodge Drakensberg
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umhlanga
Distinctive Durable Classy Address : Unit 3, 9 Moffat Drive, Ballio (opposite Amandla Build-It) No registered sign.
Natural Stone Boutique
Time 3 -6
FOR THE NATIONWIDE DESIGN, SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF NATURAL STONE “celebrate our new natural stone boutique” Date 8th of December “for the nationwide…” Please note we need different pictures- we are showing a repetition of the same style in 3 images. I will contact Zimbali to find out if we can use the image of their wall.
NHBRC Registered. Accredited Stone Masons. Hand-axed stone specialists UNIT 3 9 MOFFAT DRIVE (OPP AMANDLA BUILD-IT) BALLITO
TEL: +27 (0) 32 946 3249 EMAIL: info@sandstonesupplies.co.za WEB: www.sandstonesupplies.co.za
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umhlanga
Real Life for
kids
By STORM CATTERICK
a kids game that is teaching our children about real life
I
recently went to visit Graeme Waite, deputy head of Umhlanga College, and his wife, Jackie, to find out more about their insightful creation, the educational game, Real Life for Kids, which is aimed at Senior Primary children. They explained that the game is a technological, educational and entrepreneurial game that incorporates a life skills programme which encourages children to come to school and shows them that learning can in fact be fun. We found out about the game at Ballito based school Ashton International College, who has been playing it for the last 3 years and has found it a complimentary and fun addition to their curriculum for their grade 6’s. Graeme originally played a form of the game with a colleague in Johannesburg which was a much simpler version of the game they have created today. After playing it at his former school he quickly realised that the game had the potential to be a great addition to the current school curriculum. He brought it with him to Umhlanga College, where both parents and students raved about it, paving the way for it to be further developed. Most kids that come out of school, or even college for that matter, have no idea about life skills — even simple things like making EFTs, writing cheques, medical aid,
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insurance and so on. When you leave school and complete your tertiary education you are pretty much left to figure these out by yourself. Real Life for Kids is a brilliant game that teaches the basic life skills that school doesn’t teach you. Much like the world we live in, money is the most important factor in the game — for the kids, money is the new gold star. As an incentive to work hard, the children are paid every week for coming to school and doing good things. Conversely, if they don’t come to school, they don’t get paid and if they are naughty, they are fined and have to pay the teacher the sum of the fine, which is a great motivator as no one likes to lose money! Every child has to pay for bus fare for the week unless they pay to write the games driver’s licence. They are charged for medical costs if sick, dentist’s costs if they have to go to the dentist, etc. There are also different roles in the game that each child gets a chance to play, such as bus conductor, policeman, doctor and journalist. One child gets to be the Mayor for the year and is chosen on how well he performs with his election speech and PowerPoint presentation. Whatever happens in real life affects the game as well — the petrol price went up at
the beginning of February so, therefore, the bus fares will go up until the price comes down again. The game demonstrates how every subject in school comes into play in real life by using it in a practical way in the game. English help with your speech when running for Mayor, Computers or IT come in hand when banking or doing presentations for tenders and Art enables you to design your election poster and build your houses to put on the board. Geography comes into play when the kids have to decide how the town is to be planned and where they want to build because there is a sewage works at one corner of the town and therefore the value of properties in that part of the town will be less. If the children get full marks for a test, they get the value of the mark in money as an incentive to get good marks. With the money the children have earned they then have to purchase land in the town and then purchase (build) a house. They get money back if they make their houses out of recyclable products as part of green points. The students then have to submit tenders for different projects in the city where, in groups, they have to build the various parts of a city such as an airport, game reserve and a hospital. Once the city has been built
umhlanga Kwa Du
kuz
a
Zinkwazi Beach
Pietermaritzburg
Ballito Umhlanga
Durban Amanzimtoti
up and the year is coming to an end, the teacher buys everything back at an increased value — from the land to the property and even the medical insurance. Once all the children’s investments have been bought back they get to learn about tax!
Umkomaas Scottburgh
A range of certificates are available and presented to every child in the game, which include the top children for the different aspects of the game. Umhlanga College has been able to link up with Deloitte for R500 gift vouchers for each of the winners which are handed out at annual prize giving. Over time the game has changed dramatically. Graeme and Jackie have worked tirelessly to make it more technological as it is easier for both teachers and children to connect this way these days. The web based functionality allows schools to buy the game at a much cheaper price as well as being a lot more effective, educational and efficient. The couple have also developed new boards that are an improvement on the original papier maché boards which they had to make themselves. The new boards are a lot more durable as they are made of three separate plastic pieces that are joined together with magnets. The game is really affordable for schools and teaches kids vitally important life lessons. For schools incorporating the game into the curriculum, the game is a major marketing tool to parents and can be a real draw card for prospective students. Graeme is passionate about what he calls “his baby” and the couple hope to see the game in at least 100 schools in three years’ time. Currently it’s used in 14 schools all over South Africa and they anticipate seeing that number rise to 40 this year. Great news for Graeme and Jackie the game is that Oprah Winfrey’s academy is coming to see the game as a potential buyer, which is a great accomplishment and shows that the game has a voice and that it’s being heard by others! As the game is very much web-based, it does require the school to have Internet access, but for those schools that don’t have readily available internet access for the students they do have another paper-based version, although this is, unfortunately, a little bit more expensive. But in the end you can’t put a price on a good education!
A whole new world just 15mins from Umhlanga • Internationally accredited Independent Examinations Board (IEB) and Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) offer the best of both worlds • Integrated Learning Centre introduced at the Ashlings • Action arena, heated swimming pool, Ashtonian Sports Café, Lifestyle Sports Deck • Sporting codes include rugby, hockey, soccer, swimming, action netball, indoor hockey, squash, cricket, golf, netball and tennis • Affordable aftercare facility • Variety of clubs and extra-murals offered on campus • 2013 and 2014 admissions open • Grade 000 to grade 12
“Excellence belongs to the Zealous”
For further details, visit www.reallife4kids.com email: admissions@ashtonballito.co.za tel: 032 946 2096 | fax: 032 946 2104 web: www.ashtonballito.co.za
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umhlanga
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
Chelsea Kane
Chelsea Kane Staub was born in Phoenix, Arizona on September 15, 1988. You may know this American actress and singer otherwise known as Chelsea Kane from her appearnces in a number of Disney movies and programs. Her first starring role was in the 2007 film Bratz: The Movie. She co-starred as Stella Malone in the Disney Channel sitcom Jonas L.A.. She also appeared in the Disney Channel Original Movies, Minutemen and Starstruck. She currently co-stars in the Disney Channel animated series, Fish Hooks. What you may not know about her is that she changed her surname to Kane because she found her real surname Staub was too hard for people to pronounce.
a palace Selene has grown up in s, ent par her h wit e Nil on the he y-t ton Cleopatra & Mark An ers rul ul erf pow most brilliant, man Ro s lou jea the t Bu on earth. Eg nts ypt Emperor Octavianus wa finally r wa for himself, & when loss of all the es fac comes, Selene build a to ced For ed. lov r she’s eve sehold hou s new life in Octavianus’ n tor f sel her in Rome, she finds two and n me ng between two you l she possible destinies--unti own. her im cla to out s che rea ngs to life This stunning novel bri sions of one pas & ies alit the person wonderful new s in history, & offers a of the greatest drama heroine in Selene.
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Sterling started acting at the early age of 10. He appeared on various plays throughout his school years and had his big film break as a supporting role in the movie 17 Again as Alex O’Donnell. In his first leading television role , Knight starred as Chad Dylan Cooper, a famous stu ck up celebrity who unintentionally falls for his riva l, Sonny Monroe (Demi Lovato), in Sonny With A Cha nce. Knight also played Christopher Wilde, a famous singer who falls for a Midwest down to earth girl , Jessica Olson (Danielle Campbell), in DCOM’s “Sta rStruck” which had one of the highest ratings in Dis ney Channel history.
Q: Why did the clock in the cafeteria run slow A: Every lunch it went back for seconds Q: What gets wetter the more it dries A: A towel Q: Why do you always find things in the last place you look?
A: Because when you have found it you stop looking! Q: Why are frogs so happy? A: They eat whatever bugs them
criss cross
umhlanga
Write each word in the correct boxes 3 letters egg 4 letters hunt 5 letters bunny tulip 6 lEtters basket bonnet chicks parade spring 8 letters
daffodil 9 letters chocolate
A: Jake T Austin B: Daniel Radcliffe C: Avril Lavigne
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By manuella botha
umhlanga
Dress to impress
make every day as special as a valentine’s day
So Feb is over which means the Valentines rush is come to a halt and men are back to being themselves, but what I want to know is why is it that every year on one day we are told to treat our special someone, special!!! Well not this year ladies and Gents – we have decided to make it a full year of love and treasuring, and we’re going to help you look and feel your best during this time!! To dress to impress, wear something that makes you look amazing — a nice outfit that fits your body well, light make-up and accessories to finish it off. So, as usual, red took over all the malls and shops and obviously everyone in town wanted to look red-hot. The so-in-love were probably busy picking out outfits for their romantic date and the single-and-ready-
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fashion umhlanga to-mingle were all set for a night out in flirty little numbers. But my question is why can’t every romantic night out be like this, the passion, the excitement and the irresistible urge to have someone say wow you look STUNNING! Come on, put some spice into your relationship and show how much you care by caring about yourself every date! For ladies in love out there, a romantic candle-lit dinner is the number 1 winner for any woman wanting to feel really set a loving mood - naturally ladies you want to surprise your partner, but how? Keep it simple and stylish. Wear something that emphasizes your personality as opposed to opting for what everyone else is wearing. If it is a smart dinner, choose an outfit that accentuates your strong points and conceals the parts you don’t like. For example, if you don’t like your bottom half, draw attention to your top half by wearing brighter colours on top or a piece of eye catching “bling” around your neck. This year, why don’t you give the clichéd colour of ‘luuuurve’ a rest and surprise your partner with something different. Red is what the whole world will be wears on a special date as the love bug hits them. If you want to stand out, why not opt for a “Little Black Dress” (LBD). You can dress it up or down depending on where your date is. To add some spice to the look, team it with some sexy, colourful heels and matching clutch or an item of jewellery that will make a statement on its own! If you really must follow tradition, freshen your look with something pink, orange or yellow — but if you would rather make an impression, go for dark blue. This signifies intelligence and self-reliance. When it comes to style this season, the “gown” is it! Long, sweeping and impossibly chic. If you have the figure for it, a maxi gown makes a great statement
on its own, so you can afford to keep accessorizing to a minimum. The best look would be to wear a one-shoulder gown with loose, messy plaits. Alternatively, tie your hair up in a bun/ponytail or simply let it flow in soft curls or waves. If you're single and out seeking some love this year, keep scandal at bay and indulge in subtle style instead. Wearing something too sexy will come across as desperate. Turn heads in a tasteful way by steering clear of the super-short numbers. Rather try out long dresses with low backs and a hint of cleavage. Keep the neck bare and try a swept-up style for your hair. Ladies, please don’t forget to put on some make up and don’t overdo the perfume. Men — what about you? Make sure you compliment her on how she looks and please remember good, oldfashioned manners when trying to impress the fairer gender. Graciousness and good etiquette can enhance communication, reduce human conflict/tension and bring people closer to one another. You, too, can choose an outfit that shows off your best assets. For example, if you’ve been told that you have a great butt, accept the compliment and wear a pair of fitted jeans. If your torso is lean and well-built, wear a fitted tee or formal shirt. Don’t bury yourself under layers of oversized clothes. Good tailoring is paramount. If you have a larger frame, wear clothes that suit your shape. Avoid oversized, baggy clothes as this will only accentuate your size. When in doubt, team up a pair of dark jeans/trousers with a formal shirt. Cardigans also make a great fashion statement and are right on trend. You could also keep it simple and classic with jeans (ideally dark denim) and a black fitted shirt finished off with smart leather shoes. A crisp white T-shirt and dark-
coloured blazer is another winner. Don’t wear sweatpants, thongs, board shorts or anything too casual. Show her that you have made an effort — not making an effort reflects poorly on you. When attending a romantic dinner it is wise to wear semi-formal attire but, it is always better to err on the side of overdressing rather than under-dressing. Bear in mind that too casual might make you look too laid-back while a formal outfit might make you look a little overdressed and stuffy. Remember, men, your hairstyle should complement your facial features. Wear Clean Shoes Most women draw their conclusions about a man by looking at his feet. Wearing good shoes is a must, but wearing clean shoes is what really counts. So, go ahead and put your best foot forward in loafers, keeping in mind your overall attire. Accessorizing A man's look is never complete without a watch on his wrist. A simple watch has the ability to lift your look from drab to fab in seconds. Instead of wearing a sporty watch, opt for something a bit more fashionable/stylish as this makes you look more mature, which is what women look for in men. A man who smells good creates an aura of mystery. You can win a woman over by simply wearing good cologne. What's stopping you then? Go ahead and make this year the year of incomprehensible love, but most of all make it your own! Need some help with your styling for this special occasion? Contact Manuella from Colourworks International today for your Fashion Styling and Etiquette session at manuella@imageconsultant.co.za or visit www.imageconsultant.co.za
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umhlanga inspiration
By tom basson
Seven Ways to Turn Off Technology & Get More Done Studies show that the average worker is interrupted every 11 minutes! Distractions destroy productivity and complicate your life. And you can’t blame others entirely for this. Tim Ferris, in his book “The 4-Hour Work Week”, says that “Blaming idiots for interruption is like blaming clowns for scaring children — they can’t help it. It’s their nature.” Oftentimes, too, our greatest distractions come from ourselves, so each of us must learn to be disciplined in how we manage interruptions and learn to protect our own time if we hope to get anything done. Here are some helpful tips on how to do this: 1) Turn off your e-mail and phone for 60 minutes a day and focus on doing your most important work. I find that the best time for this is first thing in the morning. You can still take voicemails on your phone, but the important thing is that you have a solid chunk of time to focus on creative work, or work that requires some lateral thinking and brainstorming. Something that I do that helps, is to put a “DO NOT DISTURB” sign on my door/cubicle and earphones in my ears. Even if I’m not listening to music, this inhibits my colleagues from interrupting me with things that ultimately
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can wait for an hour. (And, in my opinion, most “urgent” things can wait an hour.) 2) Stop looking at Facebook! I know this is hard, people, but if you need some extra help you can now get simple programmes like Freedom that prevent you from logging in to certain sites between stipulated hours. And you’ll need to reboot if you want to get back online while Freedom’s running! The hassle of rebooting means that you’re less likely to cheat and you’ll enjoy enhanced productivity. 3) Turn all your electronic notifications off. Other than calendar reminders, the rest of those notifications just create more anxiety and stress. Lose them! 4) Create your own e-mail culture. Tim Ferris is the CEO of a million-dollar organisation and checks his e-mail once a month! How does he do it? Well, to cut a long story short, he has worked himself into that place over a long period of time by creating an e-mail culture where he is able to DELEGATE, DISCARD or DEAL with e-mails immediately. He warns strongly against creating a “chat” e-mail scenario where you end each e-mail with a question, inviting back-and-forth conversation.
I am working at the moment towards checking my mail twice a day. And the more I do this, the more people get used to my system and learn to work within it. Generally, I find that most people are OK with receiving a reply within a 24-hour period. Checking your mail constantly fragments your thinking and is a huge productivity killer! 5) Don’t answer your phone every time it rings. Record a good, friendly and professional voicemail message on your phone and trust it. You can always listen to the message and then decide whether the call is truly urgent, or if it can wait till another time. 6) Work in 90-minute cycles Tons of science is now confirming that this is the optimal work to rest ratio. 7) Get comfortable with saying “NO”! Every time you say “Yes” to something, you are saying “No” to something else. OK, well, I hope that helped. Now stop reading my article and get back to work!
visit Tom at www.tombasson.com
directory umhlanga
PAIN FREE LIVING
STANDARD & CUSTOM MADE FRAMELESS & FRAMED SHOWERS, BATHROOM VANITIES, MIRRORS & GLASS SPLASH BACKS
EDUCATOR
Ballito (032) 946 1630 Umhlanga 082 367 3667 www.painfreeliving.co.za
Tel: 031 563 0656 Tel: 031 312 9095
Email: sue@showerhaus.co.za Web: www.showerhaus.co.za
Showroom: Lifestyle Design Centre, 892 Umgeni Road (Next to Old Lion Match)
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directory umhlanga
BRING IN THIS AD GET A FREE
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directory umhlanga
Working Together
Grade 8 -12 co-ed School KZN Registered School Small Classes Est. 1999
031 563 2221 www.oakridge.co.za
~ admissions for 2013 are open ~
“At Oakridge teachers are able to give individual attention to pupils. We focus on the ‘growth’ of the individual and provide a safe environment which helps students acquire basic skills, knowledge, attitude and values. This in turn helps them function in adult society” Our Students have achieved a 100% Matric Pass rate for the past 7 years !
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umhlanga Car Review
By richard webb
Sixth
T
he BMW 650i has been described by some of those “in the know” as “too digital, too accomplished”. Further, the car has been criticized for being “too accomplished and refined.”
That’s why you get headlines about cars like the BMW 650i saying “BMW 6-Series is boring”. Excuse me? I read somewhere that one journalist wrote, “it registers exactly nil for surprise and delight.”
Of course, that’s utter nonsense. Imagine for a moment if BMW made a car that was anything less than refined and accomplished? I can just see the headlines in the magazines that car bores read: “BMW take on Alfa Romeo at their own game. Electrics fail, but it handles well”.
Now bear in mind that this car has a 4.4-litre bi-turbo like the one in the new BMW M5, detuned a bit and remapped for cruising. It’s a real goer: 300kW of power and 600Nm of torque. From standstill to 100km/h in 5.0 seconds. I also coaxed the car to return around 11 litres/100km whilst emitting just 249g/km. That’s pretty clever stuff for an eight-cylinder with a pair of turbos nestled under its swathe of engine plastics.
Most motoring journalists work like this: they get a very friendly invitation from a perfectly nice public relations executive from a car manufacturer. It starts off by announcing, “We are introducing a new limited-edition model to the range. This exclusive model features the flawless combination of practicality, style and superb value.” Unwritten, but implicit in the invitation is that they would basically like to fly you to an exotic location, give you great wine and sumptuous food, in the hope that you will say something nice about this new car. So journalists arrive looking for a good time and, because they are so blasé about the many invitations they get, they start trying to find fault with a perfectly brilliant car, just to show that they have an opinion.
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sense It comes with a standard eight-speed automatic, which always impresses in terms of shift quality and speed. It’s capable of reaching eye-widening speeds with relentless reliability. The engine could do with a dose aural hooliganism though. It does bellow lower down in the rev range, with amusing pops and crackles between swift gear changes, but it sounds less sporty as the engine spools up to maximum revs. The car is jam-packed with technology. DSC-Plus and Park Distance Control, herds of leather xenon lights, a head-up
display and reversing-assist with top view, which you may need if you don’t know how to park properly. Does all this mean that the 650i is without fault? Alas no, but they are minor bugbears. Steering is via EPS (electric power steering) and it lacks feel. It also has a small boot and the styling is not for everyone. But the 650i is slick and the attention to detail is as you would expect from BMW. It’s a beautifully built, well-designed car that will bring joy over many years of ownership. It won’t fall apart and people won’t stare at you and giggle. (Unless, of course, you’re an “in the know” motoring journalist)
at a glance Price R1 116 500 Speed 250 km/h Claimed acceleration 0 to 100 km/h4.9 seconds 5 Year/100 000 km Motorplan, non-contributing service and maintenance contract Individual Model 640is 640d 650i 8-speed Sports Automatic Transmission Steptronic Cylinders/valves 6/4 8/4 Capacity (cc) 4 395 Claimed combined consumption (l/100 km) 10.6 Emissions CO2 (g/km) 246
umhlanga
Coastal EstatE
Choose From 2 and 3 bedroom Freestanding homes, enjoy walking trails, birding, Friendship, tranquility and a tremendous amount oF Fun why buy in phase 1 at Forest village? • vista Construction has a proven track record of building retirement villages since 1997 (ledomaine, somerset valley & ridgewood at mt edgecombe) • become part of the existing community of happy homeowners • privacy and space between the homes • Functioning community centre & clinic • 2 international awards for best retirement development in sa 2008/2010 Come & see For yourselF!
award winning best retirement development 2008 / 2010 For further information, contact 082 658 1181 or email info@forestvillage.co.za
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umhlanga
At your service! At Aon, our Private Brokers have experienced specialist capabilities to provide you with an unparalleled level of advice with exceptional personal service. Our exclusive Household and Motor Insurance is designed specifically around catering for the needs of the High Nett Worth Individual from Contents to Art to Antiques to Collectibles and even that little sports car in your garage.
Aon05523_1_E
Contact us today: 0800 400 400 or quoterequest@aon.co.za www.aon.co.za
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Aon South Africa is an authorised financial services provider | Aon FSP# 20555