The colours of Zanzibar

The first thought that crossed my mind when we stopped at Prison Island, which is a 20-minute boat ride from Stone Town, was: “The pictures I’ve seen of Zanzibar's beaches weren’t photoshopped.” The sand is really that white and the water is really that turquoise and that blue. And just before sunset - as the sky turns shades of yellow, red and pink - it is as if the water is almost silver.

    



Prison Island, close to Stone Town.




Locals use these boats to take tourists on sea safaris,

which could include snorkelling, a visit to one of the

smaller islands around Zanzibar, and 

freshly prepared seafood for lunch.  

 

Traditional hand-crafted dhow boats.





Watching the sunset from the Africa House Hotel in Stone Town.




Colour, colour, and more colour. Sunset in Nungwi.



Let me show you the world...

With the help of a few friends, I recently created a video to enter the See the world with Spar competition. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which will allow me to realise my dream of travelling the world while sharing my experiences with others (via Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms). Thanks to my family, friends and all their contacts the video was posted and shared all around the world, which secured my place in the top 5. 

Next step is an interview at Spar SA's head office tomorrow and, if I make it through to the top 2, I will be going through to the final round in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where the winner will be chosen.

Quoting a Facebook post of my housemate (and one of my top 'campaign managers'), Janice Keogh: "It began with a small advertisement on Bizz Community for a Spar travelling reporter. Before I knew it, our flat was transformed into a studio where videos were recorded and created. This is the final product!"

In the Berg

When driving down to the coast of KwaZulu-Natal I prefer not taking the N3. You might encounter a few (or sometimes many) potholes, but once you get off the highway the spectacular views of the Drakensberg make it more than worthwhile. 

It is, however, advisable to make sure that the road you choose is not in an extremely poor condition or currently being worked on. One example is the part of the R74 that goes past the Sterkfontein Dam. If you're heading to the Northern Drakensberg, an alternative would be to exit the N3 just past Ladysmith on to the N11 and proceed to Bergville. 

The Automobile Association's website is a good reference: http://www.aa.co.za/content/57/road-conditions/

This photo was taken just off the R74 on our way to the Royal Natal National Park in the Northern Drakensberg.    

Signs and Scribbles

Being someone who makes a living out of words, I always notice interesting, inspirational, strange or funny signs. These are a few I came across on a recent family holiday in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.





Who loves tombstones? (Flagstaff, Eastern Cape)

 


A wooden door in a 'forest' between Port St. John's
second beach and the blow-hole.

 


Port St. John's second beach or bitch?

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Buy one dumpy and sit for free. At a shebeen in Port St. John's.




In Delicious Monster, a cozy restaurant (with mouth-watering
seafood and outstanding service) in Port St. John's.

 

 

Watch out! Next to a road in Port St. John's. 




And when it is not children... Royal Natal National Park.