As we enter a new year – a time for new hopes and dreams. To more travels, food and excitement! All the best for 2016!
Food and Rest at the Cape
Cape Town has established itself for its world-class fare, combined with great views and historical venues. It is quite unfortunate that I only had three full days in this city to try out its food. Three restaurants that I had my agent book a month and a half prior to my arrival are Test Kitchen, Aubergine and La Petite Ferme. Opened in November 2010, Test Kitchen is the 30-seater restaurant of celebrated chef Luke Dale-Roberts. British-born, Luke trained in Switzerland and England before heading to Asia for a five year stint, launching restaurants in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and the Philippines. Today, Test…
V & A Waterfront
The Victoria and Alfred Basins date from 1860 and remains a working harbour. Recent developments at the V & A Waterfront have cemented this precinct as tourist-oriented with shops, restaurants, bars, and other attractions, making the waterfront as a visitor’s favourite. My favourite spots are the Market (similar to a fast food concept, with interesting food stalls) and the Watershed, which features locally made and designed handicrafts and products. Both of these areas attract less tourists.
Winelands
The large mountainous Winelands of South Africa is home to more than a hundred estates and farms. Stellenbosch, around 46 kms east of Cape Town, is a charming town founded in 1679 by Gov. Simon van der Stel, who among other achievements, planted hundreds of oak trees throughout the Cape. Today, Stellenbosch is known informally as Eikestad, or “City of Oaks“, and is the most historic of the Winelands towns. Another 33 kms east of Stollenbosch is the prettiest valley of Franschhoek or French Corner. This is the land that Simon van der Stel gave…
Cape Town
I have taken the so-called “long road” to reach Cape Town in South Africa. A circuitous route from Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), I fly northwest to Nairobi (Kenya) and then head back south to Johannesburg, and connect further south to Cape Town. Never mind the 10 hour travel it takes to get here as I have always wanted to visit Cape Town – the oldest city in southern Africa and by far the most cosmopolitan in this country. The Mother City occupies one of the world’s most stunning locations, with the iconic Table Mountain in its centre, surrounded by beaches and vineyards. Driving through the Cape…
Sayari Camp
The camp I stayed at for four nights in Northern Serengeti is the Sayari Camp, part of the Asilia group of camps and lodges. Lying across the border of Kenya by the famed Mara River, this is where the migratory herds of wildebeest brave the crocodile-infested waters of Mara River to reach the grasslands of the south this time of the year. Sayari Camp is comprised of 15 tents spaced 20 to 25 meters from one another. There is a main camp with a lounge and dining room where it opens up to a pool overlooking the game-rich plains. The game…
Circle of Life
In full view in Serengeti in Tanzania, is the inter-connectedness of each living animal. From birth, to full life, and into death – either due to kill or sickness.
The Great Migration
The main reason I went to the Serengeti National Park is to witness what has been dubbed as the “greatest show on earth” – the annual migration of the hoofed animals. Of course, I wish to spot the Big 5 game animals as well, namely, the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and the black rhinoceros, but that was not my main purpose. This time of the year, the herds are to be spotted in Northern Serengeti close to the Maasai Mara (by the Kenyan border), as they head south in anticipation of the rains. The hillier and heavily vegetated area in this northern…
Tanzania
Jambo (hello)! After a 10-hour flight from Toronto and an 8 hour stopover in Istanbul, I board another flight — this time for another 6.5 hours to bring me to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. And no, I am not here to hike the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro. Arriving at 1:20 am local time, I am driven for an hour to the city of Arusha for a short shut eye before I catch a bush flight to my final destination in Tanzania. Arusha is a cool, lush and green town near the foot of Mount Meru and fringed by coffee, wheat and maize estates. So it is no wonder that…
Dublin Eats (& Sleep)
Dublin is one serious food lover’s destination. Chalk it up to pure ignorance, but I was delightfully surprised at the number of excellent restaurants and eateries in town. My very first stop after I landed and checked into my hotel was to have the hotel concierge book me a late lunch at The Greenhouse located off St. Stephens Green. Chef Mickael Viljanen, who was crowned the Best Chef in Ireland 2015, prepares innovative Irish cuisine that is both sublime and “art” in itself. Etto on Merrion Row was added to the Michelin Bib Gourmand list that recognize restaurants that offer…
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