Gaberone - Botswana

Botswana - Always have been my favourite African Country and I dont think it will ever change. I love the people and I love the beauty of Botswana. The lime greeen grass in winter and the big beautiful moon as it shows its round face in the evening against the black ink sky.

This past weekend I went to Gaberone for a short trip. And was pleasantly surprised at the beautiful buildings. The city has grown beyond anything I could imagine. Honestly beautiful architecture. Lots of glass and shapes setting against the blue skyline. My favourite the Justice Deaprtment and courts with the statues on the round domes. The area around the goverment and state buildings are wonderfully kept and worth the sight seeing.

At the Airport Junction Mall, you can just about find anything you need and the restuarants are very metropolitan with designer coffees on offer. I am not a Mall person, but is is a very nice Mall.

As usual, what I noticed, was: no beggars on the streets, no hawkers right at the street corners, taxi's drive the speed limit of 80km/ph or less, not millions of hawkers hogging the areas in front of shops and guess what ?....no car guards. Botswana is a country well run and Gaberone is a shining excample of this.

I am proudly African and sometimes proudly South African, but South Africa, we can learn a lot from our neighbours. A lot!

Well done Gaberone!! Whatever you have done, it is working.

Ghana - a destination to consider

AKWAABA is an expression you will hear a number of times during your stay in Ghana. AKWAABA meaning, "you are welcome".
And you will feel welcome, in this Land of sunshine. The people here have been labelled with "being the friendliest" in Africa.

Here you will find wonderful white sandy tropical beaches, a country with a rich heritage, wildlife areas of interest. And of course the sun.

Ghana is nestled in between from the South by the Atlantic Ocean, on the West Cote d'Ivoire, the East by Togo and North, Burkina Faso, making this a tropical country. Ghana has a estimated population of 20 million.

Since the climate is warm and tropical throughout most of the year, remember to take light clothing when you visit Ghana. There are also no restrictions on what women may wear.

Ghana is any nature lover's dream, with it sunny climate, it offers wildlife ranging from elephants to monkeys, crocodiles to turtles and this country is an absolute must for the birders out there as well as the butterfly enthusiasts.

This country is well worth a visit.

I will be adding and reviewing some exciting and excotic lodges over the next week or so. So look out for those.

AKWAABA

http://www.afriqueescapades.co.za

Fun day at a Model Train track

With a little bellow of dark grey steam and the pulling of the steam train whistle, the little trains with names like Daniel, Julius and Halley Flyer with their little wagons full of small children and the odd parent, start their chug chug chug down the miniature railway circuit of approximately 900 metres of multi-gauge track which includes a tunnel, bridges, points, around a 2.5 hectare site situated in park with lovely green grass and shady trees, just outside Pietermaritzburg, KZN.

The Pietermarizburg Model Engineering Society encourages people to become involved in steam specifically and generally to preserve both the engines and machines of yesteryear, and the skills that are associated with them, but are fast disappearing in our modern high tech world.

Here they build miniuatre replicas of larger scale locomotives etc. There is a great emphasis on steam preservation.

Every first Sunday of the month it is open to the public when you can buy tickets to enjoy rides on these perfect little trains and enjoy a day out with the kids.






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Recipe for Curried Goat

We have had such uproar about the Goat meat which was found in some meat products in South Africa, that I felt it just right to blog a Curried Goat Recipe. It is a lean meat with 30% more iron, good for cholestrol sufferers and for the health conscience people out there. Curried Goat Ingredients • 2.5 lbs goat meat • 3 Tbsp (25 mL) of curry powder • 1 cup (250 mL) large onion, chopped • 2 cloves of garlic, chopped • 2 green chillies, diced • 5 whole allspice (pimento) • 2 cups (500 mL) potatoes, diced • 1 tsp (2 mL) sea salt & 3 bullion cubes • ¼ tsp (1 mL) peppercorn, crushed • 2 cup (250 mL) water Directions 1. Cut meat into one inch (2.5 cm) strips and place in a large pot. 2. Add the rest of the ingredients into the pot and cover. 3. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1:30 minutes or until the meat is tender. Stir occasionally Serve with rice or pap

Donkey found in our meat products? I Protest. Goat - Yes

We have an uproar in South Africa, as it was found we have have other "meat items" in out meat products, including goat, donkey and water buffalo. Now the only one I have a problem with is the donkey. No people!!!! We cannot kill little cute donkeys for our meat products. It is a big no no!! Imagine eating little Chocolate in a piece of Boerewors. (Sausage) I protest!! Goat. Yes. Water Buffalo. Yes. I have had some wonderful goat stews through the years. Nothing wrong with it. It is a delicacy in some restuarants overseas, but in Africa, it is a common meat to use in stews etc. Goat meat comprises 63 percent of all red meat that is consumed worldwide. Currently, goats are the main source of animal protein in many North African and Middle Eastern nations. Goats are also important in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and other tropical regions. Goat meat has been established as a lean meat with favorable nutritional qualities, and it's an ideal choice for the health-conscious consumer. Goat meat is lower in calories, total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol than traditional meats. Less saturated fat and less cholesterol mean healthier red meat for the health-conscious consumer. So really people. Donkey - NO. Goat - YES

Its a battle

This week has really been a battle so far. No phone lines or ADSL due to some very clever construction person who decided to cut all the cables. As well as damaging the electricity cables. And because of this now, I am in "transit". Moving from one office to another to get a "hit" of electricity when it decides to have a sudden spark of life in order for me to charge my notebook and phone. Seems like the whole office is surving on my notebook and cell phone.

Then of course: no water either as the very clever plumbers allowed cement bags and some cement to get stuck and bricked up in our new plumbing.

Yes, people, its a wonderful week so far. BUT, I am grateful. I have a job (at least until Thursday), I have health and happiness. And what more can one ask? And I am confident: tomorrow all will be well

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Want to be any where else?....No..not me

It’s once again a beautiful evening in the Bushveld. It is clear skies and the air has cooled down and it smells like only the bush can smell. Fresh and sweet. I am privileged to live in this place. That I know. And I am thankful for it every day of my life. Even though I work in the city during the week, I come home every weekend and am grateful. We have just come back from a walk down the farm road, and all we heard was the sound of the birds starting to settle for the evening, the crisp bark of the zebras and the snort of the blue wildebeest warning the others at the water that something is on its way, the lions in the distance and the call of the black backed jackals. If I could hear the laugh of the hyena now, my evening will be complete. As I sit here, I see the near full moon in appearing in the sky and the inky darkness of the night is nearly upon us. And I don’t want to be anywhere else.