Prestige Magazine Issue 35

PRESTIGE i n

t h e

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Special Focus on

Southern Africa

AFRICAN STYLE ISSUE NO. 35

R49.95

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contents

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lifestyle 28 SA’s Finest on Display 78 Gramophone Speakers 96 Daring Design 114 RICH Restaurant Absolut Art Gallery

Hearing is Believing

Twiice International Real Grill Bar

special features 20 David Tlale 42 The Beat Generation 74 Modern Artists 88 2010 FIFA World Cup 98 Timbuktu Manuscripts Fashion Designer Extraordinaire

Burroughs, Kerouac and Ginsberg No Longer Hidden

Get Ready

Preserving Africa’s Written History

boating & yachting 16 SuperYacht Vive La Vie 50 Kobus Naval Design 68 SA’s Boatbuilding Industry 90 Blue Sky Satellite 108 Boating World Mighty Graceful

Architecture on the Water Producing Premium Craft Stay in Touch

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11 Years Strong

business & csi 40 The Alchemy of Barter 62 Thought Leadership 112 Mythmanagement Turning Empty Rooms into Gold Investment Advice from ABSA Capitalism’s Own Great Wall

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contents

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motoring & aviation 26 Koenigsegg Trevita 58 Supercar Club 92 Helicopter Safari 106 Lanseria International Airport Diamond-Covered Supercar Share the Experience

Explore Zambia by Air

Excellent 2010 Aviation Base

haute horlogerie 32 SIHH 66 Panerai’s Mare Nostrum 104 Mille Time The Industry Keeps Watch Making Its Debut

The Watch-Making of Richard Mille

southern africa 36 Medjumbe Private Island 47 Paperbark Lodge 54 Chobe Capture and Release 80 Coral International Hotel 84 FlyCastaway 100 La Plantation D’Albion Villas Heaven in the Indian Ocean

French Fantasy Meets African Bush Photographic Safari

The Bo-Kaap’s Best-Kept Secret

Indian Ocean Fishing Adventures Idyllic Mauritian Retreat

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regulars 10 From the Helm 12 Letter from the Chairman 14 Live the Life 82 Savour 116 Premier Travel Portfolio 118 Premier Property Portfolio 120 Making Waves

Airplane Charter

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PRESTIGE i n

fromthehelm

Charl & Tanya

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CHAIRMAN – Vivien Natasen vivien@neoafrica.com Image: © BOB GUTHRIDGE/POLARMUSICPRIZE

Woza, stop the bus. We were just getting used to the slow pace of 2009, the most lethargic market since the Great Depression, when the momentum and excitement of the New Year grabbed us squarely by the shoulders and dragged us right back to the maddening pace of the 2007s. A friend of mine In Our Next Edition: remarked that 2010 was a BB King – Jazz Legend thief. It stole 2009 and large parts of the year before it.

There is not a single person this side of the world who has not uttered the words, “2010,” multiple times over the past few years; all in anticipation of the largest spotlight ever to be focused on the Southern African shores as that which the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup South Africa™ has precipitated. And, by all accounts, the tangible optimism with which all those around us have kicked off this longawaited year augurs well. To really put this groundswell into perspective - at Prestige, we could not stay ahead with the media bookings pouring in during the first two weeks of this year.

In this “Special Edition on Southern Africa,” Prestige turns the looking glass on ourselves and that which South Africa is about to present to a global audience. We celebrate some of the places and personalities that make this part of the world so special. The creativity and resolve of our people is mirrored in a feature on fashion designer David Tlale. We write about the Timbuktu Manuscripts to demonstrate our brotherhood with the continent and the timelessness of our shared world. The physical beauty of our Southern African countries sparkles in several travel and destination features – from a private island off the coast of Mozambique, to the heart of the Bo-Kaap in the Mother City. And, our own productive prowess is trumpeted with a feature on the South African boatbuilding industry. Never is a prophet recognised in his home town, as this industry is well-respected and held in extremely high regard across the international yachting world, yet this is a fact less well known at home.

Then, we stake our own peoples’ place in the world with an additional mix of features on a variety of luxury products accessible to local readers. Take a peek at the new Koenigsegg Trevita supercar, of which only three were produced, one of which was delivered from Sweden to South Africa. Also glance at some sound speakers designed in the same Swedish tradition. Our team visited SIHH Genève, the world’s foremost luxury watch show and an event where South African business interests have significant clout. This year, we suspect, the world may feel completely accessible again, just as it was in a better era. And we will continue to provide the temptation and motivation to our readers to make this journey.

Enjoy the read, and thank you for the continued support and enthusiasm that has propelled Prestige from the small, luxury yachting magazine it was just a few years ago to the unassailable regional leader in the luxury space that it is today.

t h e

PUBLISHER – Neo Publishing (Pty) Ltd Tel: +27 82 452 8110 Fax: +27 86 699 2266

MANAGING EDITOR – Charl du Plessis charl@prestigemag.co.za GROUP EDITOR – Tanya Goodman tanya@prestigemag.co.za EDITOR – Toni Ackermann toni@prestigemag.co.za AVIATION EDITOR – Kevin Barker (Durban) kevin@prestigemag.co.za ADVERTISING Adie Pranger Tel: +27 83 601 2291 / +27 11 465 1572 adie@prestigemag.co.za Rui Barbosa (Sales Manager) Tel: +27 84 290 2070 rui@prestigemag.co.za Michiel Faber (Cape Town) Tel: +27 82 922 3856 michiel@prestigemag.co.za

Jean Ramsay Cell: +27 79 508 0428 jean@prestigemag.co.za Lodene Grobler (Gauteng) Tel: +27 79 876 4130 lodene@prestigemag.co.za Namibian BUREAU Mynard Slabbert (Commercial Manager) Tel: +264 81 227 2380 mynard@prestigemag.co.za Wilna van Eeden Tel: +264 81 359 9692 wilna@prestigemag.co.za Anne Bertinot Tel: +264 81 277 3848 anne@prestigemag.co.za DESIGN & LAY-OUT VDS Design Studio Liesel van der Schyf Tel: +27 82 336 7537 liesel@vdsdesign.co.za SUBSCRIPTIONS R499 for 12 issues; R949 for 24 issues SMS the words SUBSCRIBE PRESTIGE, followed by your name and email address, to +27 79 876 4130. Alternatively, email your name, cell number and delivery address to mail@prestigemag.co.za.

Print Business Print, Pretoria DISTRIBUTION Prestige is available on newsstand and through subscription. Free public space distribution includes over 50 charter fleets operating in the Southern African region.

Top five-star hotels and all major business class airport lounges nationally receive free monthly copies. Also look for Prestige in up-scale coffee shops, spas, and private banking waiting areas.

Cover Images © Simon Deiner; iStockphoto.com All rights are reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. PRESTIGE is published

by Neo Publishing. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or any of its clients.

Information has been included in good faith by the publisher and is believed to be correct at the time of going to print. No responsibility can be accepted for errors and omissions. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information and reports in this magazine, the publisher does not accept any responsibility, whatsoever, for any errors, or omissions, or for any effects resulting there from. No part of this publication may be used, or reproduced in any form, without the written permission of the publisher.

Copyright 2010. All copyright for material appearing in this magazine belongs to Neo Publishing and/ or the individual contributors. All rights reserved.

www.prestigemag.co.za

Subscribe to Prestige and stand the chance each month to win a

Canon Powershot SX1 IS camera, valued at R7,999.

10

SMS the words 'Subscribe Prestige' to 079 876 4130 or email your

PRE S TI G e name, cell number and delivery address to mail@prestigemag.co.za.

January Winner: Ron Hammon of Johannesburg

letter

from the

chairman

We currently find ourselves facing an interesting dilemma at Prestige: how do we take the best and make it better? This forms the basis of our challenge for the coming year.

I have had an amazing induction to a great magazine and am fortunate to have insight and input into the strategic direction that Prestige will take to cement its prime position among the lifestyle genre’s editorial elite. We at Neo Africa were part of a fortunate few to not only survive the financial mayhem of 2009, but record unprecedented levels of growth for our Group. Most pundits seem gungho for 2010 though, which is amplified for South Africa and the continent through our hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

To us, 2010 represents Africa not only taking its rightful place on the world stage, but a milestone for our continent too; a time to showcase our magnificent natural beauty, culture and history. The largest tournament on the planet is coming to town and the excitement is mounting. Generally unnoticed by the masses, however, are the large, leading global brands now turning their attention to the sleeping giant of Africa and establishing operations here. It could be that sales volumes in the developed world have fallen so drastically during the so-called global meltdown that retailers have had to turn their attention to the developing countries, or, my preferred rationale, that the developing world, with its different value systems and business models, is surging ahead to seize leadership in these territories; so creating new wealth and demanding the presence of such exclusive brands.

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So yes, taking the best and making it better means we must continue to ride that edge – the edge that continues to cement Prestige’s reputation for presenting our readers with exceptional content in the way they want to read it; to bring thought leadership into the mix to advise our readers on the myriad options available; and continue to astonish them with the incredible new experiences to be had. It is a daunting task to maintain this standard of perfection for a target market that prides itself on being different, which for me makes this magazine one of the most important investments we have thus far made.

I am honoured to now be a “player in the game” rather than just a critical bystander to the action, though I must admit, so far, close to that action is where everyone would want to be, not just in the sporting arena but for the exhilarating growth and development on which our vast continent is about to embark.

For me, one of the most definitive moments was in the buzzing Mother City where I rang in the New Year, happily tapping my feet to the beat of I Gotta Feeling with the rest of the partygoers, many of whom where grateful to see the end of 2009…

The world is watching and we are proud to help Africa take its place centre stage. Bring it on!

Vivien Natasen

the life

live

Patek Philippe’s

Ladies First

Chronograph Watch The watchmaking world applauds yet another breakthrough from the celebrated house of Patek Philippe: the traditional, column-wheel-controlled CH 29-535 PS calibre. Although the CH 29-535 PS movement is based on the classic architecture of column-wheel control and a geared clutch system, it unites six patented innovations, with calibre engineers aiming to improve on the piece’s precision, reliability, longevity, and convenience. As befits Patek Philippe’s heritage, the CH 29-535 PS presents itself as a new point of reference for aesthetic appeal and artisanal workmanship. Its salient features include elegant components and old-style bridges that are meticulously chamfered, polished, and decorated with Geneva striping. Every surface, no matter how small, is beautifully finished in numerous consecutive steps, most of them manually executed. And, in compliance with the criteria of the Patek Philippe Seal, none of the movement embellishments interfere in any way with the calibre’s functional integrity. Available exclusively at The Watch and Jewellery Gallery, Shop 33, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton; contact +27 11 784 2587.

GUCCI Women’s Cruise Collection 2010

Monogram Idylle from

Louis Vuitton The latest offering from the house of Louis Vuitton is an urban, casual chic collection of city bags, luggage and small leather goods in new Monogram Idylle canvas. A study in understated elegance, this vintage-inspired fabric is a remarkably supple, lightweight and hardwearing blend of cotton and synthetic fibres. The items are available in three shades, namely Sepia, Encre and Fusain, and will be available in store from the beginning of March. Contact the Sandton store on +27 11 784 9854 or the V&A Waterfront store on +27 21 405 9700 for more information.

Frida Giannini, Gucci Creative Director, proposed new basics for this 2010 collection.

Chic and simple but elevated above the ordinary through striking detail and exquisite fabrications, a strong scuba influence weaves through the collection, giving it flavour and bringing structure to the sculpted silhouettes. Fabrics possess a weightier, more compact hand, such as white mesh, featherweight silks and draw-strings, with thick, wet-suit zippers adding a sporty component.

Waists are nipped with tech-stretch buckled belts, while short skirts are slightly puffed. An elongated line is emphasised by way of secondskin stretch pants, lean blazers and seersucker short-shorts. Newly invented basics like a sharp GG mackintosh, a washed calfskin trench, the high-waisted slim trouser, or a fitted strapless dress are timeless; likely to hold their place in your wardrobe for some time. Exclusively available from GUCCI Boutiques in Cape Town and Johannesburg, contact +27 21 421 8800, +27 11 784 2597, or visit www.gucci.com.

F E AT U R E

SuperYacht

Vive La Vie

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SPLENDID

With a heritage spanning over 135 years, Lürssen has, since day one, recognised that quality yachts and quality services can only be provided by qualified people using quality facilities. Its continual investment in human capital has translated into ships and yachts that connect with people on a different level – one that is extra-sensory in nature.

T

asked with creating a totally new concept in a private, 60-metre yacht by re-arranging the typical charter yacht layout of a formal dining area on the forward main deck and owner’s state room and private exterior on the upper aft deck, Lürssen teamed up with the new owner and his family to synergistically give birth to the refreshing superyacht, Vive La Vie. Created for the experienced yacht owner who aspires to “living the life,” Vive La Vie takes your breath away as soon as you step into the main foyer, dominated by a masterpiece that also functions as a staircase – decked out in Santos rosewood. Suspended in a dream-like state are a number of glass bridges leading off the staircase into the airy interior spaces and to the glass elevator that moves between levels. The elevator itself is rather nifty and features an illuminated

Words: KEVIN BARKER Images: © LÜRSSEN YACHTS

glass sculpture equipped with controllable lighting, allowing the sculpture to change colour depending on the time of day, or to create an owner-specific ambience.

Astern of the main foyer is the open-plan salon, which is made up of four separate areas. The starboard side features a raised veranda that functions as a luxurious rest and relaxation area with expansive outside vistas spreading in all directions. In addition, there is a dining area able to seat up to eight guests for casual meals, while a separate section houses the audio visual entertainment area fitted with Tresserra lounge chairs. The main area of the salon embodies a circular seating area dressed in white leather, with each and every piece of furniture being a modern piece of art, not least the oval coffee table in light brown leather with a glass inlay. A plush white carpet with square pattern

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further complements the overall design, which oozes comfort, cosiness, and style.

Forward of the main foyer is a fully equipped fitness area with magnificent views of the outside world. This can be operated as an open-plan area, or closed off by louvered wooden panels if desired.

On the starboard side one finds the VIP cabin, which has immense windows and white fittings, making it open, airy and light. This cabin was designed

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using complex and alluring curves to maximise space and bring an appealing fluidity to the flow of the cabin.

Interestingly, though, it is the formal dining room that demands the most attention in that it not only functions as a luxurious space in which to take meals, but its forwardfacing orientation and unimpeded views of the surrounds make it one of the most attractive spaces in which to spend time – even at night, when the table can be raised and retracted into the ceiling, changing the space into a dance floor. In its normal, horizontal position the table is lit from below by an element of gold wires which, when the table is raised, becomes the ceiling lighting of the room.

Ascending the stairs to the bridge deck, which houses the bridge and captain’s cabin, is the part of the yacht primarily reserved for the owner. From here, you can either go forward to the bridge and captain’s quarters, or to starboard into the owner’s open lobby and owner’s office. This owner’s area is the signature masterpiece aboard Vive La Vie and is laid out in royal fashion. A central corridor leads to a children’s cabin portside and a small lobby to the rear, which separates his and hers bathrooms, two dressing rooms, and the majestic sleeping quarters further aft. Designer lighting illuminates the gold-leaf ceiling here, though the bed is clearly the centre-point of this stateroom. This rounded suite has a large bed set on a rotating circular platform in the centre, meaning its position can be adjusted to make the most of the spectacular view through the full-height windows.

The exterior private deck has a bio-alcohol gel fireplace in a glass atrium, which allows for superb stargazing, while the sun deck above can be customised with various lighting settings to vary the mood from night club to beach house. This space also features a bar and seating area.

The rear glass wall can be completely opened up to reveal the aft deck with outside dining area and over-sized sun deck. From here, the skylounge leads forward through to the Jacuzzi and sunbed which have been very skilfully integrated into the structure by Lürssen’s master craftsmen.

One double and three twin guest cabins are situated on the lower deck; identical in design but each with its own colour schemes. The shapes and curves mirror one another in these cabins, with the desk units resembling folded books, and copper-sheet covered windows that allow in the diffused glow of the sun.

Two tenders are stored on the lower, rear deck and can be launched from either side through the large side shell doors by way of an onboard crane. In addition, there is a multifunctional passarelle with an integrated lifting device to handle two motorbikes, which are also stored in the tender garage.

The yacht is built on a proven hull design and fitted with an individually styled superstructure. Powered by two Caterpillar engines of 1,455kW each, Vive La Vie reaches a top speed of 15.5 knots. The generator sets are located in soundproofed walk-in rooms, while advanced sound and vibration damping features guarantee an extremely quiet cruising experience.

Built to Lloyds Register, Vive La Vie is able to cruise all around the world, and has been doing so for many months now, garnering impressive accolades at every port of call.  Contact Lürssen Yachts: • Tel: +49 421 66 04-166 • Fax: +49 421 66 04-170 • Email: yachts@luerssen.de • Visit: www.luerssen.de

David Tlale

F E AT U R E

Among South Africa’s Best

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F E AT U R E

Since his catwalk debut in 2003, and following the launch of his own brand just five years ago, award-winning David Tlale has grown from a young, standalone designer to a formidable design force, his creations exceeding all expectations and making it onto runways as far afield as New York and Paris.

Words: TONI ACKERMANN Images: Š SIMON DEINER; DAVID TLALE STUDIOS

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owadays, the David Tlale brand is considered one of the most remarkable labels in South Africa. I am scheduled to meet David Tlale at his Parktown Studios in Joburg. It’s a sweltering day in Gauteng and while I wait in the entrance hall of what was clearly once an old manor house, now open, elegant, and beautifully refurbished, I am served a chilled bottle of mineral water – branded "David Tlale Studios," I notice. The space is all moulded ceilings, wide passages and polished oak floors; fitting premises for the

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intense creative construction that goes on here. Once in his office, David settles into an elaborate, high-backed gold chair, looking relaxed and rather regal. He is dressed in loose, light fabric, and flawlessly groomed. He leans, back, offers me a wide smile and starts talking.

“All this, to me, is a surprise, because I never planned it,” he says of his incredible success. “If you had asked me four or five years ago I really would not have known. I don’t know how it all came about; it just happened.” Ruthless hard work and intuitive talent is how it came about, and indeed a very fortunate change of mind. You see, after high school David set off to study internal auditing – yes, a surprised guffaw was my response, too. Luckily for him – and fashionistas the world over – Tlale realised eight months in that he had made a grave mistake and switched to fashion at the Vaal University of Technology. He says: “I think there has always been an element of creativity in me because I remember, when I was younger, constantly wanting do things with my hands, though I did not always consciously pay attention to the creative spirit within.”

It came as no surprise, really, when David was awarded "Fashion Designer of the Year" at last year’s Arise Africa Fashion Awards, where the Studio presented a ready-to-wear collection that left audiences undeniably impressed. This under his belt, David showcased at the Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week, in September 2009, where his collection – entitled Cultural Intimacy – was lauded by international critics and fashion journalists, many of whom pegged it as being the collection most likely to do well in the New York market. David says, “People might perceive Americans or Europeans as being better at this, at fashion; but fashion is a product, and if my product is appealing to you, what’s to say it won’t appeal to someone in Europe?

The only way to make a statement without being loud is to put on your clothes and walk down the aisle, down the red carpet, into the

boardroom. This is a unifying factor of the human fraternity.”

David describes himself as fun loving, free spirited and outgoing; traits easily evident in his designs, which are daring and dramatic, often heralded as the most innovative, bold and surprising. Those who love the brand appreciate its elaborate, avantgarde, almost bohemian elements. At times, his collections dare to straddle the often-indistinct gender lines. The David Tlale style, the brand, is one that defies convention, employing unpredictable use and understanding of fabric, colour and texture. David's eyes shine and he leans forward to

tell me that playing with textures is something he enjoys most about his work. “Textured material says a lot about you as a designer; about the signature and direction you are taking. Sometimes I love synthetics – plastic, PVC – simply because of the way they look; so that you have to come closer to see, to touch,” he says.

“I love silk too, anything that is 100 percent natural fibre – nothing drapes quite like it.”

Among other high profile silhouettes, David Tlale designs have draped the likes of Queen LaMbikiza of Swaziland, Dr Precious MoloiMotsepe, Metro FM personality

IRELAND/DAVENPORT 64316/1

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F E AT U R E

Azania Ndoro, and Member of Parliament Juanita Terreblanche. His design process is one in a constant state of flux; of evolution; the designer never satisfied until the absolute last stitch. “In my creative environment I create as much as I can and then leave room for natural processes to take place, also for God and the universe. It is endless.”

I spy a large Bible stacked beneath an assortment of volumes on art, architecture, travel and fashion on his desk, and David admits he is very much in tune with his spirituality. “I believe everything that we have achieved, that we want to achieve, is due to God. I take my inspiration from life, the universe, my environment; the space in which I live. I always reflect a lot on where I come from and where I’m going. A designer is only as good as his last collection. People see it, copy it, crush it and kill it. Take a bow, it’s gone. So, I always consider how to improve,” he says, thoughtfully.

So who does he admire in this cut-throat industry? “Galliano and Gaultier I would say are the icons, but being an icon in the world of fashion evolves from time to time because, with fashion, you’re a hit now but tomorrow you’re not. For creative reasons, I admire Gaultier, Galliano, Givenchy and McQueen but businesswise I look to Armani, at how he’s built his empire. Locally, I have much admiration for Clive Rundle.”

Our conversation takes its lead from the topic of local, and we talk about South Africans’ sense of style.

David says: “We are fortunate and blessed that we are so diverse. We have 11 official languages and so many cultures, each culture different not only from another, but within itself too. Our fashion, our traditions and heritage, make us stand out.

International designers come to South Africa to take inspiration from here and put it onto international catwalks.

Galliano put the Ndebele influence up there,” he says with fervour. “It’s time for us to teach the world this is how it’s supposed to be done – fabrication, beadwork, colours; it’s about the

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aesthetic. South Africa will become one of the hot fashion capitals of the world before we know it.”

And which nation would he peg as the world’s most stylish? “The African nation,” he laughs. “Our nation can carry any colour, regardless of whether you are black, white, yellow or brown. In Africa we exhaust colour like nowhere else in the world; we celebrate it so much more than other nations, which prefer to play it safe.”

In terms of industry progress, David feels the era of Afro Chic is over. “We have moved on from that element and now we need something else; a recreation of what African fashion is all about. We have so much to give and I think we hold a strong place in the global fashion industry.

Two or three years ago there was a global revival of tribalism, nowadays there are still elements of Africa being explored and experimented with, but in South Africa, we need to move on.”

And where does he see his fashion – our fashion – in coming years? “I really hope we are going to become more than just South African designers. I see us as global designers.

People will travel from Kenya and Europe to come and shop here, instead of us going there. I believe that one day we will get there, we just aren’t doing enough right now to get ourselves there.”

So, one day New York, and certainly David Tlale Studios will succeed here. But in the immediate future, a wider lifestyle offering is on the cards. “We recently did a beautiful collaboration with Luella.

We had always thought of creating shoes so this was a stepping stone to learn how. I think it is an awakening of the industry to say ‘we aren’t only a fashion brand, we are a lifestyle brand.’ There will be more ranges to come from us; we have a lot in store.

For now, let’s just say watch this space. Our journey as David Tlale Studios has only just begun.”  Contact David Tlale Studios on +27 11 214 2700 or visit www.davidtlale.co.za.

IRELAND/DAVENPORT 64316/2

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F E AT U R E

DIAMONDS

on the Move Koenigsegg Trevita

Swedish supercar maker and future SAAB owner, Koenigsegg, manufactures the CCXR, one of the most exclusive, exotic and expensive cars in the world – it sports a nifty price tag of $2 million. And they recently unveiled a very limited edition of this model – the $5-million Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita; a diamond-weave, carbon-fibre supercar.

Words: INGRID KENMUIR Images: © KOENIGSEGG/STUDIO E

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milestone is what can be seen on the Trevita: the Koenigsegg Proprietary Diamond Weave.

By utilising a new and previously unheard of method, Koenigsegg has managed to coat fibres with a diamond finish, which makes the car sparkle like millions of silvery white diamonds when touched by sunlight.

The process was fully developed at Koenigsegg headquarters in Ängelholm, Sweden, where the fibre treatment is conducted carefully in small quantities, prior to further processing of the material.

The Trevita is based on the CCXR model and so, under its iridescent hood one finds the same 5-litre, biofuel-capable, twin supercharged V8 engine able to produce the same level of anticipated performance as the standard CCXR – some 749kW of power and 1,060Nm of torque. The CCXR weighs 1,280 kilograms and

O

nly three of these beauties were built for collectors worldwide, one of which made its way into the hands of a certain someone in South Africa – of course we’re left wondering who, as the owner's details are shrouded in secrecy. An abbreviation of a Swedish word, Trevita translates into “three whites,” and when sunlight hits this car the meaning becomes clear. Crystal clear.

The car transforms into a shimmering automotive menace that glistens as if millions of diamonds were infused into its bodywork – probably because,

in a way, they were. The three owners parted with a slightly less-thanreasonable $5 million to take tenure, making the Trevita surpass the Bugatti Pur Sang as the world’s most expensive supercar.

But why so pricey, you might well be wondering? Aside from there being only three of them around, the new and unique method with which this car’s skin is made is sensationally special. Now, Koenigsegg’s visible carbon-weave bodywork is world renowned. But thus far, only the classic black carbon fibres have been utilised. Constantly striving to create new technologies, Koenigsegg’s latest

manages 0-100km/h in a staggering 3.2 seconds, with an impressive top speed of 395km/h. The supercar features a double carbon-fibre wing, paddle-shifts, inconell exhaust system, carbon ceramic brakes with ABS, airbags, infotainment system, tyre monitoring system, and chrono instrument cluster. A hydraulic lifting system ensures some everyday usability.

Of course, we might not know who in South Africa took ownership of this marvellous piece of machinery, but all will surely be revealed as soon as she pulls off into the South African sunset. Visit www.koenigsegg.com for more information. 

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STROKE

The

Absolut

Finest

Above: Hugo Naude; Oil on Board; 300 x 450mm

Opposite: George Pemba; Oil on Canvas; 610 x 455mm

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Beautiful South Africa, with its diverse people and constantly changing political scene, has for many years been an inspiration for countless artists; those who have sought to take as their muse its landscapes and cityscapes, its people and culture, its fauna and flora; and its incredible diversity.

Words: INGRID KENMUIR Images: © ABSOLUT ART GALLERY

O

wner of Absolut Art Gallery, Gerrit Dyman, has spent the better part of the past three decades building his understanding of the South African art scene. Many years ago, when Gerrit finally made the decision to retire, it was to focus on something about which he had always been enthusiastic: art. His tale goes back to 1982, when Gerrit found himself in need of a little extra money.

He made contact with a local artist and, putting his amateur sales skills to the test, set about selling the artworks. He was successful, and soon found his love for the art surpassed his need for money. When asked how he collected this extensive knowledge, Gerrit replied: “From going gallery to gallery over the years, and learning more day by day. I am still learning.”

In 2001 Gerrit opened his first gallery, a relatively small operation, from premises in Cape Town’s Durbanville suburb. A year later the gallery moved to a place in Van Riebeeckshof, though they soon outgrew this space too. In 2005, Absolut Art Gallery took up a more permanent place in the upmarket Willowbridge Lifestyle Centre in Bellville. The gallery grew fast; floor space expanded after just 12 months in order to meet the mounting demand.

Gerrit’s son, Gerrit Junior, has since become involved in the business, and it is now a proudly father-and-son-run outfit. And the pair makes a formidable team, with clients coming from around the Peninsula and across South Africa to talk to them, hear their opinions and heed their advice. The Dyman duo provide good, honest service – qualities much lacking in today’s fast-paced, consumer-driven world.

The worth of the stock the gallery keeps has become quite superior.

Initially handling mostly decorative art, nowadays, the clientele lacks for nothing, as an extensive range of original and unique investment art is

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Clockwise from left: David Botha; Oil on Canvas; 605 x 505mm, JH Pierneef; Oil on Canvas; 520 x 635mm, JEA Volschenk; Oil on Canvas; 525 x 830mm

available from the Old Masters as well as established well-known painters and sculptors, and upcoming novices.

From decorative art to investment pieces fetching a hefty sum, styles cover Impressionistic, Expressionistic, Abstract, Contemporary, Decorative, and African, while mediums include oil, pastel, acrylic, charcoal, threedimensional, and ceramics.

In the Contemporary genre you can find pieces by John Kramer, Conrad Theys, John Meyer, Kobus Louw, Pieter Uitlander, Marie Vermeulen Breedt, Andre de Beer, Hennie Niemann, William Kentridge, Richard Scott, Simon Jones, Rob Macintosh, Vivian Van der Merwe, and Carla Bosch adorning the walls.

And if it is a piece by an Old Master for which you search, Absolut can offer you works from Maggie Laubser, JH Pierneef, Hugo Naude, George Pemba, Adolph Jentsch, Adriaan Boshoff, David Botha, Gregoire Boonzaier, Piet Van Heerden, Pranas Domsaitis, Amos Langdown, Frans Claerhout, Alexander Rose-Innes, Terence Mccaw, Maud Sumner, Tinus De Jongh, WH Coetzer, and Carl Buchner.

While some artists do supply to several galleries simultaneously,

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Absolut does have on its books numerous artists who prefer to keep their work exclusive, thus supplying only to Absolut and perhaps two or three other galleries.

But how can the gallery be sure that the artists they stock are going to sell? “You need to know your product, your market, your customers,” Gerrit Sr answers. “You need to have a sharp business brain, though some of it is trial and error.” Talking about the progression of the industry, and those grinding away behind their easels, Gerrit Jr says the quality of what we are producing locally is improving on an almost daily basis, and thus the market is doing exceptionally well.

The overseas auctions, too, have done much to put South African art on the map. Says Gerrit Jr: “Although we have a ‘credit crunch’ on our hands, art is still exceeding the expectation set out for it. According to some, the market has dropped a few percent, though buyers are still ready to pay handsomely for quality art.”

The actual practice of shopping for art at Absolut is a pleasure in itself. On entering the gallery, clients are met with a warm, welcoming vibe, and much laughter. Gerrit Sr has surrounded himself with capable,

vibrant personnel, who introduce themselves politely, eager to assist in any way and happy to employ what has been passed down from the owner’s amassed experience. The layout is open and inviting; gentle music drifts from innocuous speakers scattered through the tranquil space, plush couches begging to be reclined in, exceptional art just waiting to be admired.

Over the past few months, Absolut Art Gallery has held exhibitions for renowned sculptor, Jean Doyle; Old Master Impressionist, Adriaan Boshoff; and photo realist, Rob Macintosh, Wildlife Artist of the Year in 1989, out of 350,000 contestants.

What the gallery has in store for future only time will tell.  Find them at Shop 43, Willowbridge Lifestyle Centre, Carl Cronje Drive, Bellville, Cape Town. For a more extensive list of who and what they stock, or to find out about their complementary services, which include art valuations, antique trading and framing, contact: • Tel: +27 21 914 2846 (Gallery) +27 83 700 0734 (Gerrit Sr) +27 72 699 5918 (Gerrit Jr) • Email: info@absolutartgallery.co.za • Visit www.absolutartgallery.co.za

SWISS

Salon International

de Haute Horlogerie

JeanRichard Diverscope JR1000 Goldwaters

Restraint marked the 2010 Salon International de Haute Horlogerie, though it did not manifest itself in low prices or low-key launches. Acknowledging that the world is currently undergoing financial upheaval, the exhibitors – 18 of the world’s most prestigious watch manufacturers – demonstrated prudence by limiting their “novelties” to tightly targeted new models instead of the traditional flood of debuts.

Words: © Ken Kessler

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S

alon International de Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), however, remains a monument to luxury, and more than a few new items carried high sixfigure price tags. Limited editions were plentiful, reinforcing the strength of a trend among the most sophisticated and discerning of watch connoisseurs – everyone values exclusivity, so owning a watch of which only 99 exist is more satisfying than wearing one of 10,000 or more.

That’s not to say there was little new to see. It simply meant that the watch buyer, in 2010, will be presented with more coherent collections. As a British sage once remarked, “The customer confused buys nothing.”

With fewer models to distract them, the watch buyer has more time to savour what’s on offer – and time is what it’s all about.

Audemars Piguet Millenary Carbon One Tourbillon Chronograph Employing Audemars Piguet’s unique, ultra-lightweight, superstrong “forged carbon” cases – made entirely in-house – the Carbon One Tourbillon Chronograph mystifies the wearer: how does a macho masterpiece like this measure

47x42mm, yet weigh only 69.44 grams? Inside the coal-black case is a Calibre 2884 hand-wound movement, equipped with tourbillon fixed to a blackened steel bridge, with twin barrels for a 10-day power reserve, and column-wheel chronograph mechanism.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Chronograph Girard-Perregaux turns to 1966 for a sublimely retro chronograph; only the 40mm diameter marks it as of the current era. The white or pink gold case houses a self-winding movement, visible through the sapphire glass back.

In classic fashion, the 1966 Chronograph is a two-button, twosub-dial model with a tachometric scale encircling the off-white dial, its gold hour and minute hands offset by blued steel for the central chronograph hand, small seconds and 30-minute counter hands.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox International Jaeger-LeCoutre’s iconic Memovox alarm watch is a favourite with travellers, who have learned not to depend on hotels for their wake-up calls. Enhancing the usefulness for globetrotters is the self-winding Master Memovox International,

paying homage to the 1958 Memovox Worldtimer. Available in steel or pink gold, it features a central dial with indicator for the alarm by the hour, and a disc featuring different towns and regions. It is offered in two limited editions, 18k pink gold or steel, restricted to 250 and 750 examples respectively.

JeanRichard Diverscope JR1000 Goldwaters JeanRichard’s Diverscope range, secure to depths of 300 metres, has been enhanced by a stealthy model called the JR1000 Goldwaters. It blends pink gold and rubber to create a sexy look without compromising its machismo one bit: the 43x43mm case and bezel are made of stainless steel coated with vulcanised rubber, while the hands and two crowns are pink gold. The warm metal also appears on the arc that features on the rotating inner bezel, to indicate the last 15 minutes of diving time.

Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Daymatic Lange & Sohne’s has released its signature model, the Lange 1, with an automatic movement. Not that there’s anything wrong with the original’s manual winding; it’s just that some users have neither the time

Ralph Lauren Slim Classique Collection; Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox International; Vacheron Constantin Ultra-Thins

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Audemars Piguet Millenary Carbon One Tourbillon Chronograph; Girard-Perregaux 1966 Chronograph; Montblanc Villeret Metamorphosis

nor the inclination to wind their watches every day. In contrast to the manual versions, the Daymatics feature the main dial on the right and the “big date” at 11 o’clock; the seconds sub-dial moves over to the 7 o’clock position as well. The Daymatic will be offered in yellow gold, pink gold, or platinum.

and large minute and seconds hands in the centre, with date at the bottom.

When the slider on the left is moved from the “10” to the “8” position, the watch morphs into a chronograph in approximately 15 seconds. Only 10 Metamorphoses will be produced.

Montblanc Villeret Metamorphosis

As the Ralph Lauren watch collection enters its second season, the focus remains on classicism, as with the company’s understated clothing. The star for 2010 is a round timepiece with white dial and black Roman numerals, Guilloché barleycorn pattern centre section, Breguet hands and an exceptionally thin case

Montblanc’s Metamorphosis changes its dials, but in a manner not seen before: operating a slider transforms it from a wristwatch with an hour, minute and second display into a chronograph.

The 47mm case starts out as a timeonly watch with hour dial at the top

Ralph Lauren Slim Classique Collection

measuring just 5.35mm thick. Inside is a Piaget-made Calibre RL430 movement, itself only 2.1mm thick.

For the diamond-set bezel, this 18k white gold treasure was fitted with two rows of 96 round, brilliant-cut diamonds, for a total of 192 stones, each set by hand and positioned in staggered inner and outer rows, to create a narrow pavé section.

Vacheron Constantin Ultra-Thins According to Vacheron Constantin, the Historique Ultra-fine 1955 is “currently the world’s thinnest mechanical hand-wound watch,” its round, rose-gold case measuring just 4.1mm thick. Inside is the legendary hand-wound 1003 movement, itself a mere 1.64mm thick. To mark its 55th anniversary, the movement has been re-designed and rebuilt with the bridges and main plate made of solid 18-carat gold, while preserving the original dimensions. Re-issued alongside it is the square-cased Historique Ultra-fine 1968, bearing the ultra-thin self-winding 1120 movement, also supplied in an 18k rose gold case, its case sides slightly curved. Updates beyond the original include water resistance to 3 bar and a sapphire crystal.  Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Daymatic

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“Man is born to live,

not to prepare for life” (Boris Pasternak 1890-1960, Russian novelist)

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F E AT U R E

F E AT U R E

Medjumbe

Private Island

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Heaven in the Indian Ocean As a fellow guest lazily commented to me over our third Caipirinha of the afternoon, “I suspect there are some brochures of tropical islands that are airbrushed or Photoshopped.” At Medjumbe Private Island, however, Mother Nature is the artist.

Words: TANYA GOODMAN Images: © TANYA GOODMAN; RANI RESORTS; ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

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am flying 30 minutes north from Pemba, Mozambique, to nowhere, somewhere, a place, an island in the Indian Ocean that only a few others have visited. Through the window of our six-seater CFA Cessna, I see a lone piece of land with a long, white spit come into view. There are 13 thatch cottages spread along one side of the island, the water of their personal swimming pools glimmering in the sun. My gulp of awe is involuntary as we begin our descent.

Medjumbe, part of the exclusive Rani Resorts collection, is located in the marine reserve of the Quirimbas Archipelago off the northern coast of Mozambique. It has only been developed as a resort over the last four years. As tropical islands go, this one is paradise. Besides its sheer beauty and isolation, there are no mosquitoes, no snakes, and no cell phone reception. Now that’s an invitation for romance and relaxation.

Most guests at Medjumbe are South African, though many hail from Italy, Portugal and Russia. Many are honeymooners and stay for at least a week. (What a way to start a life together!) Time becomes endless here and it is virtually impossible not to slow down. It comes as no

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surprise, then, that the island is in a different time zone; a different reality; a liminal space.

At the risk of sounding clichéd, there is a pristine white beach that stretches on endlessly. But this one reaches to the horizon with a swirl of a sandspit that beckons hundreds of seabirds at sunset and changes its shape with every tide. A crystal-clear ocean revitalises the body and detoxes the mind, simply by gazing out across it. These colours, too, change with every tide, leaving bands of white sand exposed and a tapestry of azure and turquoise waters as far as the eye can see. This vision offers a range of blue I have never before seen and for which there are simply not enough adjectives. They say the Eskimos have more than 100 words for “snow” – I wonder if it is the same with islanders and the colour “blue”?

The chalets are luxurious in their simplicity, made of timber and grass, with a wooden deck that drops off onto the sand. A private plunge pool overlooking the warm sea, an outdoor shower for stargazing, and a bath tub big enough for two suggest you will enjoy time in the water this holiday.

There are finer touches too – icy air conditioning to cool off the heat of the day, a television if you just cannot bear to read another novel, and a hammock for drifting into an afternoon nap after a morning of phenomenal scuba diving.

Delightfully prepared meals are served al fresco in the main lodge, where the breeze is gentle and you can watch the constant stream of white dhows slowly traverse the horizon. The Caipirinhas at the bar are a perfect balance of sweet and sour and they flow from 10:00 am

until the last guest says goodnight.

Should you want to punctuate your days with activities, some of the most dramatic scuba diving sites in the Indian Ocean are easily accessible and a resort diving course is available on site. The snorkelling is fantastic, too, and a boat goes out every morning to different spots on the nearby reef, part of which is accessible from the beach at certain tides should a 9:00am commitment be too much.

Kayaking, fishing and other water sports are also on offer.

If you are on honeymoon, and desire even more privacy than your chalet and the miles of secluded beach offer, your hosts can arrange a sunset cruise on a dhow or a day trip out to a tiny, private island where you can picnic and nap at your leisure. For those seeking the ultimate retreat, the island can be booked out to a single party of guests.

On my first day on the island, I wonder how I could possibly stay seven days. On my last day, I am wondering, how can I possibly avoid leaving? When we were greeted on arrival, our host suggested we take our shoes off. When it is, sadly, my time to depart, I can’t remember where I put them. I do, however, have some new words for the colour “blue.”

If you want the best of both bush and beach, Rani Resorts can tailormake an itinerary that combines Lugenda Wilderness Camp with one of their private Quirimbas island resorts on Medjumbe or Matemo Island.  Contact Rani Resorts on • Tel: +27 11 658 0633 • Email: info@raniresorts.com • Visit: www.medjumbe.com.

Airlink offers seamless connections to regional towns, cities and leisure destinations throughout Southern African and the Indian Ocean islands.

Now with two weekly return flights (Wednesdays and Saturdays) between Johannesburg and Pemba, the beauty and culture of Northern Mozambique as well as the pristine Quirimbas Archipelago are a direct and convenient hop away. With Airlink you will also earn Voyager Miles.

Go to www.flyairlink.com, call +27 11 451 7300 or your tour operator.

For inter-island transfers, contact CFA Air Charters on +27 11 312 0196 or visit www.cfa.co.za.

The Neo Africa Group Neo Africa as a group lives by the philosophy and value of empowering nations through recruiting, developing and positively impacting historically disadvantaged individuals, not just in South Africa but all over the continent.

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F E AT U R E

Alchemy of The

Barter Turning Empty Rooms into Gold

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sw A p

Smart five-star hotels convert under-utilised capacity into significant cost savings and worldclass media campaign.

Words: DEAN DE KLERCK Images: © ONE&ONLY; MICHELANGELO

I

t is the same problem faced by any business that sells expiring inventory – sell it or lose it. Car rental companies, hotels, B&Bs, media empires, airlines, and conferencing venues all know that dreaded feeling when it’s the end of the day or deadline and there is unsold stock remaining. If no one sleeps in that bed tonight, it cannot be sold a day later; yet, staff members still need to be paid, marketing budgets stay the same, and that devastating water and electricity bill still arrives in the mail.

Enter the wonderful, creative world of barter. Or call it by its more formal name – “trade exchange.” In essence, what clever business people are discovering increasingly is that there are several service providers who traditionally had to be paid in cash but who are more than willing to trade their respective services directly without money changing hands.

One of the absolute masters of this business model is a famous Seapoint boutique hotel. The extremely entrepreneurial proprietor tells us that he can comfortably reckon on no more than an average occupancy throughout the year of about 35

percent. Not a bad revenue stream considering that each one of the 80-odd rooms sells at around R3,500 per person per night. What management had been able to do, though, is to convert most of the other 65 percent of under-utilised capacity into significant cost reductions.

Instead of paying for expensive marketing, more than R4 million in media exposure this past year was obtained from big print and electronic media companies who were willing to offer the hotel free advertising in exchange for their executives, sales people or journalists enjoying the luxury and centrality of this hotel absolutely free of charge.

Run through the hotel’s income statement and list of suppliers, and you will find that wherever there is any major cost item that could be bartered, it is in place. So, despite the lower capacity at certain times of the year, cash received on the top line from paying guests drops straight down to the bottom line. Well, that is apart from the obvious old-style suppliers such as the water and electricity account and Telkom. The ideas might just be too fresh to move through these systems, although one

should not be surprised if our model hotel soon does a barter deal with a solar energy company and a generator supplier to independently provide its own energy.

The one aspect that the hospitality industry could not possibly underestimate is the potential for add-on sales. Once you have your barter clients under your roof (even if effectively cash free), the extras start ticking over on the cash register.

Minibar, movies on demand, business services, room service, and three meals a day all add up to even the stingiest of trade exchange partners still laying out a fair amount of cash at the end of their visit.

Barter might be as old as trade itself, but with the endless possibilities to quickly promote your business through the Internet and to find trade exchange partners for most of a business’s typical cost structures, it is surprising that more businesses have not already caught on. This combination of the oldest human business impulse with the marvels of modern information technology is busy reshaping the market, and it is time for your business to wise up and join the barter revolution. 

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SIXTIES

The

Beat

Generation

Either this title elicits a sense of nostalgia for a mischievous youth well spent, or it elicits a twinge of annoyance at the thought of a group of overindulgent, drug-toting lunatics. Either way, the post-World War II generation seems to possess a uniform quality demanding of an adjective.

Words: CARMEN POOL Images: Š MARIJA ANJA VENTER

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T

ake yourself back to the days of ducktails, Springbok Radio, the ubiquitous Volkswagen Beetle and the literature of William S Burroughs. In short: the 1950s. The stench of postWorld War II lethargy and resultant rebellion against "the man" was the status quo, and the buzz of activism filled the air. It was on the tip of everyone’s tongue, but it was Jack Kerouac who coined the name “The Beat Generation.” Generalising from his social circle to characterise the underground, anti-conformist youth of the time, the adjective “beat” referred to being “tired” or “beaten down.” The term was later synonymous with a group of American writers known as “The Beatniks.”

The Beats were the alluring embodiment of rebellion. During the very conformist post-War era, the Beats engaged in a questioning of traditional values, which produced a break with the mainstream culture that to this day people react either to, or against. They spurred a great deal of interest in lifestyle experimentation (notably with regards to sex and drugs), and they had a large intellectual effect in encouraging the questioning of authority. Hints of their influence even began leaking into the music industry. The Beatles spelled their name with an “a” because John Lennon was a fan of Kerouac.

The three most prominent Beats are undoubtedly William S Burroughs, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

Remember reading and rereading and rereading yet again Naked Lunch to find a semblance of meaning? Well, luckily we have the gift of hindsight today, which may offer us a modicum of clarity into these disjointed works of art. Perhaps a closer look at these literary iconoclasts is in order?

The beginning of the Beats can be traced back to Columbia University, New York, to the meeting of Jack

Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and others in the original Beat circle. They bonded because they saw in one another a potential that existed outside the strict conformist confines of the postWar, McCarthy-era America. It was on the hallowed grounds of this Ivy League university that Ginsberg discussed the need for a new vision to move away from Columbia University's conservative notions of literature.

Burroughs was a pivotal member and was introduced to the group at Columbia through a mutual friend.

Unlike the others, Burroughs was a Harvard graduate who came from a wealthy family and received a monthly allowance of $200, quite a tidy sum in that time. This allowance was enough to keep him going, and guaranteed his survival for the next 25 years. The allowance was his ticket to freedom. It allowed him to live where he wanted to, and to forego employment.

In 1944, two of the original Beats were involved in a rather convoluted stabbing affair, which resulted in murder. The stabbing precipitated a brief collaboration between Kerouac and Burroughs entitled And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks, a novel about the killing. The book was not published during the lifetimes of either Kerouac or Burroughs. It was shortly after this incident that Burroughs started abusing morphine, which would eventually become a life-long struggle with addiction.

In 1951, Burroughs accidentally shot and killed his wife, Joan Vollmer, while playing a drunken game of “William Tell.” He spent 13 days in jail before his brother came to Mexico City and bribed Mexican lawyers and officials to release him on bail. He was sentenced to two years, which was later suspended. Burroughs believed that shooting Vollmer was a pivotal event in his life, one which provoked his writing: “I am forced to the appalling conclusion that I would never have become a

writer but for Joan's death, and to a realisation of the extent to which this event has motivated and formulated my writing. I live with the constant threat of possession, and a constant need to escape from possession, from control. So the death of Joan brought me in contact with the invader, the Ugly Spirit, and manoeuvred me into a life-long struggle, in which I have had no choice except to write my way out.”

In 1954, Burroughs started working on the fiction that would later become Naked Lunch. Under the strong influence of a marijuana confection known as “majoun” and a German-made opioid called “Eukodol,” Burroughs settled in to write. Eventually, Ginsberg and Kerouac helped him type, edit, and arrange these episodes into Naked Lunch. This was Burroughs’ first venture into a non-linear writing style. Excerpts from Naked Lunch were first published in the US in 1958.

The novel was initially rejected by City Lights Books, the publisher of Ginsberg's Howl.

Howl was considered scandalous

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44 PRE S TI G e • Fly-in Safaris • Transfers

at the time of its publication because of the rawness of its language, which is frequently explicit. Shortly after its 1956 publication by San Francisco's City Lights Bookstore, it was banned for obscenity. The ban became a rallying point for defenders of the First Amendment, and was later lifted after Judge Clayton W Horn declared the poem to possess redeeming artistic value.

Ginsberg was also a great advocator of his friends and worked

roll that he then fed into the typewriter, and which allowed him to type continuously without the interruption of reloading pages. The resulting manuscript contained neither chapter nor paragraph breaks and was much more explicit than what was eventually published. His manuscript was also rejected several times because of its experimental writing style and its sympathetic tone towards minorities and marginalised social groups.

Many editors were

The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars, and in the middle, you see the blue centre-light pop, and everybody goes ahh... – Jack Kerouac hard to get excerpts from Naked Lunch published. Irving Rosenthal, student editor of Chicago Review, promised to publish more excerpts from the book, but was fired from his position due to the obscene content of these extracts. Rosenthal went on to publish more in his newly created literary journal, Big Table No. 1. However, these copies elicited such contempt that the editors were accused of sending explicit material through the US Mail. This controversy put Naked Lunch at the fore of attention and it was subsequently published in 1959.

Whilst Burroughs and Ginsberg toiled upon the path to publication, Kerouac completed his masterpiece, On the Road, in 1951. The book is largely autobiographical and describes Kerouac's road-trip adventures across the US and Mexico in the late 1940s, as well as his relationships with other Beat writers and friends. Before beginning the book, Kerouac cut sheets of tracing paper into long strips, wide enough for a type-writer, and taped them together into a 37-metre-long

uncomfortable with the idea of publishing a book that contained such graphic descriptions of drug-use and homosexual behaviour; a move that could result in obscenity charges being filed – a fate that later befell Burroughs' Naked Lunch and Ginsberg's Howl.

In 1957, after being rejected several times, On the Road was finally purchased by Viking Press.

The Beats were a generation of constant conflict. They chose to push and struggle against the grain, and in so doing opened the path for many others in terms of anti-war activism, gay rights and experimental literature.

They were a group of brave souls who had the courage of their convictions.

They told it like it was, no matter how hairy the truth. Their writing is entangled with their very humanity; their works are immortal pieces of their semi-lucid lives. When we read their words, we assimilate their very mortality; we inhale their ideology and ingest their beliefs. Who could ask for anything more exhilarating? 

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F E AT U R E

Paperbark

Lodge A French Fantasy in the African Bush

If you are seeking a decidedly decadent experience in the African bush, Paperbark Lodge is the place for you. In the midst of the Big Five Welgevonden Private Reserve, just a few hours north of Gauteng by road, or a mere 45 minutes by private helicopter, is where romantic French Baroque encounters rugged African chic. Strange juxtaposition you say? Believe it or not, it works.

Words: TANYA GOODMAN Images: Š PAPERBARK LODGE

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aperbark is the family property of renowned local businessman, Zunaid Moti, and the interior design brainchild of his charismatic sister, Taz. Originally a weekend getaway spot for the Moti clan, Paperbark has recently been transformed into a five-star plus, all-suite retreat open to the public. Or, rather, for those who can afford it.

Suites range from R8,000 to R12,000 per person per night, not including the private transfer by Augusta A119 Koala helicopter, which tacks on an additional R20,000. You are, however, welcome to self drive and be met at the entrance to the Reserve by a Paperbark entourage. Did I mention the staff uniform is head-to-toe in Pringle of

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Scotland, save for the Dolce & Gabbana shoes? You get the picture.

The eclectic character of the place overwhelms the senses from the moment you enter the main lodge.

Though you are greeted by a traditionally African exterior – thatch

eight suites have their own veranda with personal plunge pool and al fresco shower. Inside, a Rasul chamber and enormous tub round out the bathing options. The Charlotte Rhys toiletries, mosquito repellent and sunscreen, are only the icing on this

cutting-edge technology, with topof-the-range aerobic equipment and Endless Lap Pool.

But the best secret is saved for last. After a sunset game drive, replete with monogrammed blankets adorned with the Moti family crest and the

roofs, stone walls, and slate patios, the interiors embody a radically different plane of reality. Enormous mirrors, bedecked in gilt frames; period pieces of furniture enhancing every room; essence of vanilla from giant candles lit day and night wafting through the formal lounge with fresh white roses adding to the ambience; and Napoleonic-sized sofas overflowing with velvet throw pillows situated on the glassenclosed game-viewing deck, beckoning you to sink deep into this comfort zone. The dining table alone is fit for a king, as the candelabras blaze and the tassels of the brocaded curtains dance in the African breeze.

Other options for feasting include a boma, the casual bar, and the pool deck. You can even join the chef in the kitchen. The cuisine and wine list, of course, would satisfy any royal party.

The outright lavishness of the interiors continues into the individually decorated suites, each with a theme, such as the Moulin Rouge in burgundy and black or the Crème Da Masque all in white. All

magnificent cake.

It is these fine touches that please and delight. A giant Swarovksi crystal embedded in the fireplace; a certificate in the library announcing the naming of Zunaid’s personal star in the galaxy; or the limited edition Montblanc pen holding pride of place on a writing desk.

Someone with a keen eye has clearly set the scene for a most remarkable escape from reality. Nevertheless, the family portraits scattered throughout are a constantly reminder that this is actually someone’s reality.

And you’re invited.

When it comes to the other amenities, 18th Century tradition meets 21st Century technology with a bang. Besides all the in-room, hightech multimedia, lighting and climate control options, the main lodge features a state-of-the-art, multiroom music system and one of the most advanced custom-installed mini-theatres around. Movies, live sports events, and all the latest games are available on a giant screen at the light touch of a finger. Popcorn and jelly beans, too. Even the gym boasts

requisite gin and tonic – never mind the animals – followed by a sumptuous dinner, where else does one retire to but the hookah bar? Hidden in a room structured like Aladdin’s cave and accessed via a spiral staircase though a discrete trapdoor, one enters yet another plane of reality. Here, Middle Eastern opulence comes face to face with French antiquity in a bizarre mix of textures and tastes. We are welcomed by a buffet of pastries and desserts piled higher than the eye can see, with individual hookahs, charcoal already burning, placed before us and the latest club music pumping through the sound system.

Besides being confronted with the choice of pineapple, liquorice or cinnamon flavoured tobacco for my hubbly bubbly, there are imported cigars, fine wine, and age-old brandy on offer too. Completely sated – aesthetically, gastronomically, and metaphysically – I eventually meander back to my suite wondering, “What on Earth do the lions think?”  For bookings and inquiries, contact +27 11 888 8888 or visit www.paperbarklodge.co.za.

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SCALE

kobus NavalDesign

African Excellence

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Capetonian Kobus Potgieter cut his teeth in naval architecture and design through his studies in the US and a three-year stint at Zodiac International in the UK, where he worked on military boat designs. Today, his team of naval architects, mechanical engineers and industrial designers comprise the largest naval design outfit in Africa, servicing custom manufacturers in Africa and Europe and working closely with the Swedish, Turkish and Irish Coast Guards in keeping their rescue fleets ahead of the pack.

Words: CHARL DU PLESSIS Images: © NUMARINE; KOBUS NAVAL DESIGN

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t all started with a gift from a father to a son back in the early 1980s. No sooner had his father given him his first inflatable dinghy, than Kobus took it all apart out of curiosity, seeking to understand the inner workings of the boat. Within two years, he had started his own factory manufacturing Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) for the local market. Two successful business ventures under his belt led Kobus further afield to

enrol in Maine for a few years to study naval architecture in all its fine detail. Zodiac recognised his talents and assigned Kobus to their military boat division, launching him in the direction where he has his best success today. Back in South Africa by 2006, Kobus landed the contract to design and build water taxis for the Angolan market, of which eight are on the water as we speak and with more on order as Luanda develops further waterways for this fast-

growing African economy.

As designer, Kobus’s team has developed close relationships with some of the world’s rescue fleets most dependant on solid, reliable and innovative inflatable watercraft. For the past few years he has collaborated with the Swedish, Irish and Turkish Coast Guards, the latter possessing one of the world’s largest fleets, constantly upgrading their craft in order to meet the daily challenges they face on the water. Concurrently,

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the team has worked closely with Turkish custom luxury yacht manufacturer NuMarine to bring some of the world’s most exciting bespoke yachts, ranging from 55 foot to the newly launched 130 foot vessel, to market. In the process, Kobus has also become NuMarine’s agent for the whole of Africa, recently introducing this very classy range of luxury yachts into African waters with

explains that this might be the way of the future, as a vessel like this is infinitely more seaworthy and lighter than its solid-hull cousins. The size of the buoyancy compartments makes the boat virtually unsinkable, and the RIB acts as an extra fender where luxury yachts often lie side-by-side in port like sardines.

The other exciting project Kobus brings to the fore during our discussion

Kobus Naval Design’s mould-making department, which consists of a stateof-the-art 5 AXIS CNC ROBOT that shapes the desired surface of the design out of high density foam, to eventually create world-class quality moulds. And it ends with happy clients, operating in areas where the margin of error is too small for any compromise.

Failure, for these types of clients, means loss of human life or income.

delivery of a $4.5-million, 78-foot Fly on its way to a client in Angola.

NuMarine will roll out in South African waters during 2010.

Never quite ready to rest on his laurels, Kobus is currently engaged in a project with a Dutch manufacturer to design and building the world’s largest inflatable RIB. Under construction in Rotterdam, this 100foot craft sets a new precedent for large yachts, which have typically only been built with solid hulls. Kobus

is their delivery of two crew supply boats to a Nigerian oil supply company, respectively 24 and 30 metres apiece.

This naval design team does not end its client relationships in the design studio. They actively get involved in the design, surveying, launch and ongoing troubleshooting of each craft with which they are associated. It starts with their own in-house test tank and modelling facilities in the Cape, where their own models are put through rigid stress testing. Thereafter

The continued engagement of Kobus and his team with clients who have such exacting standards speaks volumes about the quality of work.  Contact Kobus directly to discuss your commercial needs or to arrange an opportunity to experience the exciting range of NuMarine yachts being introduced to Southern waters presently: • Tel: +27 82 574 2160 • Email: kobus@kobusnavaldesign.com • Visit: www.navaldesign.co.za

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F E AT U R E

Chobe

Capture

and Release

Immortalise the beauty of Botswana’s bountiful Eden with a photographer’s eye, onboard a boat specifically suited to photographic safaris on the water.

Words: Tatum Davy Images: © Tatum Davy; Johan Pretorius Photography

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SPOT

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hen the sun rises over the Chobe River, the baboons are already at play on the water’s edge, storks wade in the shallows and waterbuck keep a wary eye out for crocodiles. Early morning and early evening are the best times for wildlife photography, a fact exploited by the photo guides on the boat. “Come around to that side of the bank,” says an excited Lou Coetzer to the boat driver. “We want to catch the light in their eyes.”

Coetzer, a renowned wildlife photographer, sits in the middle of the shallow-bottomed boat. All around him, members of our tour group are preparing to take their shots, adjusting their camera position and settings.

The small group are guests of Nikon Travel Africa’s Chobe “photo safari,” a photography-focussed game viewing holiday gaining in popularity among the well-heeled and well-travelled elite of Southern Africa.

“Here they come,” whispers Coetzer. The waterbuck have made their way right to the water’s edge in front of us. Through my lens I see a fluttering of long eyelashes before a dewy eye comes into focus. The shy antelope is so close that my camera’s huge lens can only focus on the minutiae of her. I have to wait for her to walk away so I can capture her whole body in frame. There isn’t a noise in the boat for a full minute and then suddenly a photographer laughs.

A group of immature baboons are play-fighting in the mud puddles. Our attention – and lenses – swings towards the troop.

The Chobe National Park is an established nature reserve in the northern corner of Botswana. The Chobe River, the lifeblood of the park, forms a natural border between Botswana and Namibia to the North.

Famous for its large elephant population (some 100,000 individuals), Chobe is home to a huge and diverse group of animals, including the Big Five.

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F E AT U R E

Guests of the Nikon trip are accommodated in Chobe Safari Lodge, a rambling and elegant resort in Kasane, the nearest town to the Chobe Park gates. Kasane has a small but nonetheless charming international airport as well as several luxury lodges. Every second vehicle on the dusty roads is a 4X4 and it seems almost everyone in town works in the tourism industry.

Despite years of tourist influx, Chobe remains an almost pristine wilderness. From the boat we can approach even the most skittish of animals slowly and quietly, and the water attracts all the animals at one

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point or another, especially in the heat of Botswana’s summer.

All our time in the boat is led by Coetzer and his wife Veronica (also an expert photographer). Coetzer has an eye for opportunity, often instructing the driver to head for a tree or an island that appears quite deserted, until a rare African skimmer or a huge water monitor lizard catches my eye.

There is always some action or a good shot to be found, and the companionship in the boat is a pleasure. When one person takes a great photo, the others share in the excitement. On land, guests dine

together by the pool and come together as a group to edit their photographs. During the stifling heat of midday, when viewing is less eventful, the team can be found gathered together in the boardroom, working the image contrast and colour saturation like pros under Coetzer’s watchful eye.

As the last rays of sunlight gild the water, a large herd of elephant have gathered at the river to drink.

We can hear them from far off, and our driver cranks up the throttle as we round an island in the water. The wind whistles in my ears and I make a grab for my flapping hat. As soon as the

herd is in sight, we turn off the engine and drift onto the bank. Here are the famous elephants of the Chobe. The youngest ones romp around the legs of their guardians, while the older individuals keep an eye on us, none of them letting up on their respective playing and drinking.

The access that the boat enjoys is unrivalled. With its shallow profile, the boat slides in easily over the tree roots and reeds until we’re just metres away from the grey giants. But the bank isn’t theirs alone. After a short while the boat has drifted and a hippopotamus decides we’re too close. Suddenly one ton of angry

animal comes barrelling our way.

Our swift driver throws the engine into reverse and the hippo becomes a well-timed photo op and an exciting memory.

Time is measured differently out here. There’s time off the boat – a period used to enjoy a steaming shower or compare photos. It’s quiet time. The time on the boat is focussed, enjoying the warmth of the sun on your back while Eden unfolds in front of you. And then there’s Chobe time – one that has barely changed in centuries, one unobserved in the daily drama of animal life, as if caught forever in a lens reflex. 

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Join F E AT U R E

the Club The Private Supercar Club

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SHARE

Private Supercar Club was founded on the absolute passion and impression left by a supercar. The thrill, the excitement, the allure of the most appealing Marques – from Lamborghini and Ferrari to Porsche, Aston Martin and Maserati; at Private Supercar Club the belief is that driving these supercars should not be deterred by service intervals, hefty insurance costs, vehicle depreciation and other market factors. Instead, they have found a smarter way of enjoying these magnificent vehicles; a new sort of fractional ownership, if you will.

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xplaining how this revolutionary idea came about, Riaaz Jeena, part owner of Supercar Club, willingly explains: “I’ve always been into supercars, my business partner too.

Both of us were planning to buy either a Ferrari or a Lamborghini and had discussed each buying one and doing a swap. The trouble, though, was that his risk would be different to mine, and there would be difficulties if he crashed my car and so on.

While discussing it all, I realised there could be another option. And there should be; buying into some sort of business; a club or dealership that had the car you wanted available when you wanted it.” Jeena set about researching and soon found that companies in the US and Europe had been doing this for almost 10 years already. “We realised that there was a good story to tell,” he says, “it was not just an idea but a reality that could exist in this country.”

Together the pair devised a good, solid business model, with access to a number of vehicle models for a limited period of time as the foundation of their plan. “After all,” smiles Jeena, “who wants to drive the same car days on end, weeks on end, months on end?”

Jeena continues: “We have different types of members. Whether young or old; whether they made their money through technology or business; the reality of the situation is that buying a vehicle of this sort is

Words: INGRID KENMUIR Images: © SUPERCAR CLUB; MOTORPICS.CO.ZA; QUICKPIC.CO.ZA

unnecessary – we’ve made it unnecessary. Think of the mega costs involved – maintenance, insurance, depreciation, potential loss or damage, the pain of owning a vehicle you might only get to drive on the weekend or every second weekend.

We remove this hassle. Also, while some guys might have one, two or perhaps three – if they’re really lucky – supercars parked in their garage, most will unlikely get to enjoy as many as 15. They’ll surely never get into a Ferrari this weekend

and an Aston Martin the next. So this sort of programme has a lot of flexibility.”

Various insurance firms were approached before ABSA called back having created a portfolio specific to Supercar Club. The Club is open from members aged 28 to 65, though an exception can be made, with certain limitations of course, to members younger than this.

The Club offers different levels of membership, depending on your financial resources and your need for

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speed. The vehicles are split into different groups ranging from the Group S Lamborghini Murcielago through to the Group B BMW M3, dependant on the value and running costs of each vehicle. Some of the Italian exotics are naturally found in upper tiers (Groups S and A), though there are very exciting vehicles in Group B, including the striking Porsche Cayman S and the powerful Mercedes Benz C63 AMG. Also on offer is the Maserati MC Victory,

offer. The theory course is taken at the Supercar Club offices, led by Top Gear trainers and tailored to the vehicles on offer. Members are then taken onto the road in an unintimidating vehicle, to go checkpoint by checkpoint to assess their capabilities. “They do a thorough assessment,” says Jeena, “and give pointers about exactly what the driver is doing and what he or she needs to be doing. Drivers need to be confident and in control of the car, and not intimidated by it. The Academy

which the marque built specially for their 100-year celebration. It is the only one left in South Africa, and in fact number 72 of just 180 worldwide.

Signing up to the Supercar Club is a cinch. You fill in an application form and an insurance vet and criminal record check is done. If your application is accepted, it should not take longer than 24 hours to be cleared. Your payment terms and package preferences are then discussed. Driver training is mandatory and part of the paid-for package, and is scheduled immediately, at your convenience. On successful completion of this course, a certificate is issued, after which you are ready to get behind the wheel of your own supercar.

The driver training, which is provided by the Top Gear Driving Academy, is thorough, and a crucial step in the process – understandable, given the nature of the vehicles on

trainers change a person’s perceptions and existing bad habits.” The training includes what to do in an attempted hijacking, defensive driving habits and experience on the skid pan. The members learn how to control and get the most out of their vehicles and must, of course, obey the rules of the road, which is where the legalities of speeding come into play. “They must be safe in our vehicles,” Jeena emphasises.

Thus far, Supercar Club has received excellent feedback, with every single response a positive one, and many people annoyed that something this ingenious has taken so long to get to South Africa. Interest in Durban has taken a firm hold, and Jeena hopes a Cape Town branch will be up and running within the next few months. But there is something even bigger on the cards, and that is a partnership with the largest supercar club in the UK, which wants to

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collaborate with Supercar Club for the 2010 World Cup, and going forward too. Jeena explains: “When our members travel to the UK they will drive their vehicles. When their members come here, they will drive ours. The fact that you’ve got a business man who flies from here to the UK and has a Ferrari ready and waiting for him on touchdown is brilliant. The UK has the biggest contingent of fans coming through for the World Cup, and we can leverage off this – everyone in South Africa."

What started off as purely a club has now become a total driving experience that people can enjoy.

Coming months will see Supercar Club launch their Supercar Driving Experience, which can last five hours or the whole weekend, and be undertaken by someone wishing to drive him or herself around or by way of a chauffeur. The Experience will include breakfast, lunch, plenty of driving along a chosen route, and special parking privileges at several of Joburg’s hotspots. “Someone will get to experience the power, the thrill of the vehicle, as well as what it does for you – the status, you know,” says Jeena. The cars will be fitted with pen cams, one focussing on the driver, and one on the dashboard and steering controls, so that footage can be kept as a very special memento. “We are also attaching ourselves to the loyalty programmes of certain leading financial institutions,” says Jeena, “so this Supercar Driving Experience will go onto that, too.”

Says Jeena in conclusion, “We’re trying to get one point across, and that is the fact that there is another option; another way. In the past supercars were reserved for the rich and famous, but now, if you’ve got a certain amount of cash, you can live that sort of lifestyle, and we’ve made it perfectly accessible.”  Go on, join the Club...

• Tel: +27 11 835 1409 • Email: info@supercarclub.co.za • Visit: www.supercarclub.co.za

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LIFE PASSION ADVENTURE

S AV V Y

Wealth Management

A Risk-Based Approach to Strategic Investing 62

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S AV V Y

In the face of uncertainty, investment decisions can be difficult at best – even agonising for some. Many investors have accumulated wealth through the fruits of their labours, be it via their own businesses or over the course of a corporate career.

Image: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

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ither way, most people have the greatest confidence in generating earnings in a business environment that they know and over which they have control. Understandably, they feel less confident in investment markets.

Making decisions is an inalienable part of growing and preserving wealth. Investment markets are by definition unpredictable; yet, in the absence of risk, long-term returns are

likely to be muted. In other words, investors need to come to terms with uncertainty in a way that is compatible with their aspirations, financial objectives and levels of composure.

Finding the right answers involves financial personality, financial circumstances and a method for combining and linking them to strategic solutions. Regardless, it drills down to gaining an understanding of risk as a starting point and deriving a strategic plan thereafter, independent of market noise at any point in time.

Confusing for the lay investor is that the experts seemingly cannot agree on the right approach, especially given recent experience where essential trust has been eroded. On the one hand, the pure theorists hold that the world and events can be described through models. The sceptics, on the other, point to empirical evidence that events contradict the theory. In reality, neither extreme has it completely right. While theory is a powerful frame of reference that provides insights into building an intelligent approach to strategic investing, it often does not have the shorter-term (and often even medium-term) predictive power that many disciples would claim. When existing theory is apparently contradicted by evidence, the temptation is simply to build a better mousetrap; which often ignores some fundamental truths about

models in general. The complete disbeliever, who uses empirical evidence to trash any form of economic and financial theory, is also being disingenuous.

Hindsight does not undermine the fact that, on a forward-looking basis, investors prefer less uncertainty to more – all else being equal; they expect to be compensated for voluntarily assuming more risk.

Whether or not investors' expectations are always rational is debatable. But that is not the point. If there was, in practice, no evidence in support of some underlying principles, there would never be any reasonable basis for decision making. This view is extreme.

Asset classes, current noise notwithstanding, do have certain predictable qualities, for example: • Equities are verifiably riskier than bonds, which in turn are riskier than cash.

• Verifiably, over time, equities have delivered much higher returns than less risky asset classes.

• Verifiably, returns are not only often materially different, but are not perfectly correlated either – that is, they do not always move in sync with each other.

• Hence, uncontroversially, there are risk benefits to combining assets that do not rise and fall in unison – it is called diversification.

Based on this, evidence that some asset classes perform way below or

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above expectations for often prolonged periods of time (ask anyone who invested in Japanese equities over the last couple of decades), or that lower risk assets can produce sustained out-performance relative to risky assets (bonds versus equities in SA for many years), does not contradict the principles or longerterm evidence supporting the role of strategic asset allocation. Neither does the fact that risk itself is not constant (markets at times are riskier than at other times), nor does the evidence that correlations are unstable contradict the benefits of diversification (often, when markets move quickly, asset classes move more in sync with each other).

The willingness and ability to assume risk differs across investors, as do asset class returns and their risk characteristics; as does the benefit of combining different assets in a portfolio. How, then, can one apply client insights to constructing riskbased solutions consistent with what the client actually wants? This involves three elements: • Finding a disciplined approach to modelling a client’s financial personality; • Taking a rigorous approach to modelling (and unravelling) the complexity of the client’s financial landscape; and • A robust methodology for optimally combining different asset classes for a given appetite for risk (an approach that is pragmatic, relevant and combines sound theory with good practice).

Financial personality assessment has, at the global cutting edge, become significantly more sophisticated in recent years. It involves the application of the science of behavioural finance to investor profiling, often assessing multiple dimensions of a client’s personality (way beyond the more traditional one-dimensional characterisation of risk tolerance). Not only is there more richness in the understanding of preferences, tolerances, attitudes and

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views, but also far more method in the calibration of solutions.

The importance of financial personality cannot be overstated.

While the strategic plan must be sound, how you give effect to it must be customised for the individual client. There are many possible paths to reaching the same goal. The client’s comfort level is critical, as it affects composure and the ability to stick with a plan and avoid shorter-term knee jerk decisions, which often carry disastrous consequences.

The ability to systematically model a client’s financial circumstances is as important as personality profiling. This involves understanding assets and liabilities, future cash flows, contingencies and legal or regulatory considerations. Only with these insights can one interpret the interplay between objectives and constraints and then reconcile an investor’s ability to assume risk with their willingness to assume risk (a consideration that is often ignored).

Competing objectives are frequently incompatible. Finding workable solutions involves an iterative approach that not only looks at evaluating the timing and magnitude of expected cash flows, making appropriate portfolio adjustments and optimising the regulatory aspects of solutions, but also doing so in a way that is consistent with client preferences.

While gaining a deep insight into the client is a pre-requisite to building appropriate solutions, the methodology for deriving the solutions themselves is critical.

Bluntly, the riskiness of the solution and approach adopted must be compatible with the client profile.

However, much more than just finding solutions that suit the client’s risk parameters, the objective is to find solutions that offer the highest level of efficiency for a given risk budget. In other words, one wants to avoid exposing the client to risk that does not carry the commensurate expected rewards.

Inefficient portfolios are those that can be de-risked without compromising expected returns, or those where expected returns can be improved for the same level of risk (or some combination of the above).

Finding such efficient solutions requires deep insights into risk premia, volatility and the interaction of different asset classes.

It is often said that asset allocation is the primary driver of portfolio returns. This is often misinterpreted to mean market timing. More correctly, one’s strategic asset allocation, or long-term allocation decision, typically explains the majority of returns. Hence, it has got less to do with timing, which is notoriously difficult to get right with consistency, than the indispensability of formulating the right strategy and sticking to it.

In short, a risk-based approach that marries individual client circumstances with a carefully formulated strategic approach remains the cornerstone of good thinking.

Many refinements to the older models exist and best practice requires remaining at the leading edge of global developments and improvements. The underlying principles, however, remain constant.  Supplied by Brandon Zietsman, who heads up Absa Wealth’s Investment and Product Office. Absa Wealth, a division of Absa Bank Ltd and an affiliate of Barclays Wealth*, serves ultra high net worth and family office clients in South Africa providing investment management, fiduciary services and structured lending solutions. With the backing of Absa Capital, Absa Group and Barclays Wealth, Absa Wealth offers clients a sophisticated, integrated wealth management proposition, centred on the individual, leveraging the depth and breadth of its global and local expertise. *Barclays Wealth is the wealth management division of Barclays and operates through Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiaries.

F E AT U R E

Panerai’s

Mare Nostrum

Collectors love nothing more than a bit of romance, history or mystery attached to the targets of their obsession.

Watches generate this mainly by association: a pocket watch retrieved from the Titanic, Lawrence of Arabia’s Omega chronograph, Steve McQueen’s Heuer Monaco. Rarity is inherent, while the relevant stories fuel conversations when two or more watch connoisseurs gather. For a brand as esoteric as Panerai, such tales are legion.

Words: Ken Kessler Images: © PANERAI

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t is enough that Panerais were made solely for the world’s navies, denied to civilians, from the late 1930s until the late 1950s. According to the most authoritative source, Panerai Watches From 1936-1997 by Mario Paci, approximately 1,200 examples were made of all types, including prototypes, for the Italian and German navies during World War II, along with special orders for clients such as the Egyptian Navy in the mid-1950s.

Every surviving example has a tale to tell, for each was worn by a diving specialist, the equivalent of today’s Navy SEALs. Arcane and obscure serial numbers, scars and scratches possibly acquired during sabotage missions, the patina of age – all of these combine to make any original Panerai worth a minimum of US$40,000. A handful of A-list collectors fight over these whenever one appears on auction; enthusiasts in Italy, Japan, Germany and the US, must bid against the most fervent collector of all: Panerai itself, for their staggering collection at the Officine Panerai Museum in Florence.

Why the slavish cult for a watch few had even heard of before the 1990s? It’s a mix of confluences, not least being that many Panerais were powered by Rolex movements, thus making them the targets of the most fanatical collectors of them all. But something happened to turn this historical footnote into one of the most desirable of all the world’s masculine sports watch brands; a rival for IWC, Breitling and Rolex. In 1993, Florence-based Officine Panerai, which manufactured assorted wares for the military, decided to launch a range of replica watches, targeted mainly at Italian collectors.

A handful of models, with production of a few thousand pieces, sold out quickly, particularly after they had caught the attention of one Sylvester Stallone. The Hollywood A-lister fell in love with the oversized watches – then considered elephantine, now considered midsized – and ordered a few hundred for

friends. In addition to the familiar Luminor models, Panerai also reissued 1,000 examples of a watch that had existed only as a prototype in 1943: the Mare Nostrum chronograph. The “re-imagined” replica measured 42mm in diameter, with a flat dial and a movement based on a Lemania calibre, modified with Dubois-Depraz components.

Because of Stallone’s invaluable patronage, Panerai added the name “Slytech” to the models he purchased, among them 100 Mare Nostrums. All Slytechs are now highly coveted, selling for considerably more than the “normal” editions, while the Mare Nostrum remained a lesser-known offering than the familiar Luminor, with its locking protector over the winding crown. But all this is about to change.

Considered by Panerai itself as “the most mysterious and rarest of all Panerai models,” the Mare Nostrum was developed in 1943 as standard issue for officers to wear on deck.

Unlike all other Panerais, which were developed for divers, the Mare Nostrum did not have to withstand submersion – a good thing as it was almost impossible to make a chronograph waterproof in the 1940s, due to the apertures through which the pushers were positioned.

Development of the Mare Nostrum ended because of the war, so only a handful of prototypes were produced, believed to be three in total. When Officine Panerai reissued the Mare Nostrum in 1993/4, they worked with scant information, as the watches and most documentation were lost, in part due to a flood that hit Florence in 1966.

In 1997, the Richemont Group (then Vendome) acquired Panerai and set about establishing the brand as we know it, ever conscious of its exceptional history. In 2005, one of the prototypes turned up on auction, and was acquired for the Officine Panerai Museum. This genuine, circa 1943 Mare Nostrum has inspired a new replica, and the fracas it will cause will rival that for last year’s replica of the Panerai Egyptian –

Panerai is producing just 99 examples.

It’s not just the rarity that will cause palpitations amongst collectors: the new Mare Nostrum is one helluva watch, regardless of the saga connected to it.

Reproduced as an exact replica, identified as Reference PAM00300, the Mare Nostrum’s most noteworthy aspect is its 52mm diameter, dwarfing the 1993 replica. Its bezel is smooth, unlike the majority of the 1993 pieces, most of which featured tachymeter scales. Also like the actual prototype, the dial is a two-part, layered affair that adds visual depth to the watch.

Inside is a modified version of a historical, hand-wound Minerva movement, of which the purists will approve even though the prototype was fitted with an Angelus calibre, as Panerai had dealings with Minerva in the past. This masterpiece is visible

through the Mare Nostrum’s sapphire crystal back.

As a final touch, Panerai has fitted the Mare Nostrum with a strap in the same colour and material as the original: military green in leatherlined fabric. The only other visual clue to its 2010 provenance is the buckle, a large trapezoid shape similar to those on other current models. But that will hardly affect its desirability. As you will see four or five years from now, when the first ones appear on auction… 

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Eyeso n t h e

Water

SA’s Booming Boatbuilding Industry The Cape Town Boat Building and Technology Initiative (CTBi) – developed as an industry body responsible for the promotion and development of the local boating community – has long been at the forefront of shaping and driving South African boatbuilding. It is regarded as the industry’s informative hub and has over 100 members, many of whom produce world-class vessels worthy of international praise.

Words: ROBERT SHONE; KEVIN BARKER Images: © CTBi; SABBEX; KNYSNA YACHT COMPANY; LEOPARD CATAMARANS

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outh African leisure boats are very popular in the international market and are world-renowned for their high build quality. Like many other sectors, the boatbuilding industry has suffered at the hands of the recent recession. The export market is certainly not what it once was, with many prospective purchasers, particularly in the leisure boating industry, more reluctant to part with funds. CTBi, in partnership with its exporting arm, South African Boatbuilders Export Council (SABBEX), works to boost and develop the sector, to promote members to an international market, and to act as an integral facilitator between various spheres of the boatbuilding industry.

The Initiative also identifies new markets and products for, and assists in, developing a proper regulatory and legislative environment. In essence,

CTBi is the voice of the South African boatbuilding industry; the hub one might say; fulfilling the role of conduit between the industry and the public sector.

One of CTBi’s members really shaking up the industry is TAG Yachts, based in St Francis in the Eastern Cape, which will be launching its TAG 60 catamaran in April this year. The highly experienced team at TAG comprises some of the biggest names in the local boatbuilding industry, including Young (Young Yacht Design NZ), Chris Mitchell (AES NZ, High Modulus NZ, SP Gurit UK) and Dave Tether and Nigel Calder (EMP USA).

Their collective vision has seen TAG producing market leading catamarans that utilise green energy wherever possible.

One of their craft, the TAG 60, is a high-performance racer-cruiser, carbon-fibre catamaran that is designed for exciting coastal sailing

as well as world cruising, in winds as gentle as 10 knots. This translates into fast, exciting sailing on smooth water.

Even in choppy waters her high bridge deck clearance ensures a comfortable ride. The TAG 60 is easy to handle either single handed or as a couple, and boasts next generation features such as hybrid electric propulsion and power generation, hydraulic push button sail handling systems, digital switching and networking of electrical components to name but a few.

Another innovation is the distinctive accommodation layout with four cabins in the hulls, though it is the bridge deck level layout that makes the TAG 60 exceptional, as the apartment-style design allows for twice as much usable space as with traditional layouts. See www.tagyachts.com for further info.

Founded 20 years ago, Two Oceans Marine, another of CTBi’s members making waves in the

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industry, has developed into a fully fledged design and manufacturing facility for ocean-going craft, and specialises in power and sailing catamarans. Located in Cape Town, in close proximity to the harbour, the facility can handle the construction and launching of craft up to 30 metres, with its abnormally high roof allowing flybridges and antennae to be fully installed before launch.

Two Oceans Marine boasts a staff complement that has extensive experience at sea, both under power

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and under sail. With this support structure in place clients can be assured of knowledgeable, first-hand advice during the specification buildup of their chosen vessel.

In addition to its own line of wellrespected power catamarans, Two Oceans Marine has successfully produced several custom-built power and sailing catamarans designed by well-known naval architects. In fact, they will be launching their own 34 footer to join their current range, which spans from 23 to 32 foot catamarans. Notable launches include a 75-foot commercial ferry designed

by Bob Van Niekerk, Open Ocean 500s designed by Alex Simonis, and a range of power catamarans designed by John Shuttleworth.

John Shuttleworth’s live-aboard “powershuttles” have been extensively modified to cope with the demanding sea conditions experienced during deliveries off the South African coast.

The craft are available with inboard or outboard power, though outboard power has definite practical advantages over the customary diesel inboards for vessels operating in remote areas of the continent, as engines can easily be rotated, or replaced, without any significant vessel downtime. Two Oceans Marine

is gearing up excitedly for 2010 with two new custom builds already being started – a 63-foot Sailing Cat and a 70-foot expedition Power Cat, both being designed by Anton Du Toit. See www.2oceans.co.za for further info.

The award-winning line of Leopard Catamarans built by Robertson & Caine offers unparalleled standards for seaworthiness and cruising performance, combined with comfort and an extensive equipment list. The latest model to launch is the new Leopard 38, which has received numerous top accolades including the recent “Multihull of the Year,” “Best Overall Import 2010,” and “Best Multihull Cruiser 2010” Awards. For those interested in power cats, the Leopard 47 Powercat and new Leopard 37 Powercat offer ground-breaking innovations in efficiency, space, comfort, and safety.

Every Leopard cat is delivered on its own bottom to destinations across the world, and Leopard Catamarans is proud to say that over 700 cats have now covered more than seven million miles of the world’s largest oceans.

These catamarans are available for ownership with Charter Yacht Management programmes through the world’s largest yacht charter companies, The Moorings and Sunsail.

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F E AT U R E

You can purchase a new Leopard cat in one of these charter fleets and receive guaranteed monthly revenue, up to 12 weeks per year on your yacht, all maintenance, dockage, and insurance paid for, plus access to yachts at over 35 destinations worldwide; an ideal solution for those who want the joys of yacht ownership but not the hassles.

See www.leopardcatamarans.com to read more.

water sailing, the all-new and dramatically designed Knysna 480 combines unequivocal quality and style with the painstaking engineering of Naval Architect Angelo Lavranos – a combination that ensures reliability, optimum space utilisation and very safe handling.

The list of new and improved features includes, among many others, unsurpassed 360-degree views; an open-plan cockpit and

In essence, CTBi is the voice of the South African boatbuilding industry; the hub one might say; fulfilling the role of conduit between the industry and the public sector.

The Knysna Yacht Company, builder of the much-admired Knysna 440, recently announced the latest addition to its exceptional line of luxury South African catamarans.

Designed for the upmarket charter arena as well as for comfortable blue

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saloon; an all-new bimini; an elevated bridge deck; wide open deck space and aft-walkways; and interior styling that could be called clean and futuristic. To find out more, email kevin@knysnayachtco.com.

On sign up, CTBi offers its

members a host of very real and tangible benefits including, among many more, skills development and accreditation pathways; preferential access to courses on offer; assistance with corporate governance matters; great exposure via various marketing portals; frequent opportunities to network; industry research and export figures; international representation via the working groups and standing committees; and training and assistance with procedures such as export, customs, immigration and so on. Members will also have greater access to a variety of government departments and receive assistance with local issues affecting their productivity.

At the CTBi, much time is spent working closely with other industry players in an attempt to establish a National Boating Association. A body like this would aim to tackle any issues concerning provincial or local overlap, and seek to facilitate a unified boating community under one well-managed umbrella. CTBi also chairs the SABS ISO Technological Committee in South Africa and recently won the tender bid for the Elliot Basin Marina in Cape Town harbour, scooping a major boost for the local boatbuilding industry, on whose behalf it will manage the facility. Furthermore, CTBi encourages and fosters skills development and empowerment with the continuing successful operation of their Boatbuilding Academy. They are also involved in providing assistance at the Whisper Boatbuilding Academy – a training institution for deaf learners. Their Jumpstart Programme, now in its fourth year, is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs, as well as assisting and coaching new entrants to the boating industry in the Western Cape. ď ?

To learn more about CTBi or for further information on their events, initiatives or members, visit www.ctbi.co.za, email info@ctbi.co.za or contact + 27 21 447 6541.

S U R FA C E

Hodgins, Robert Griffiths (1920- ); “Family in a Barren Field”; Oil on Canvas; 91.5 x 121.5cm; Signed: “Hodgins” (Versa); Dated: 2003

South African Modern Art

No Longer Hidden

in Plain Sight

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The market for South African 20th Century art has increased dramatically in the past few years, with record prices being paid both locally and abroad for works by artists such as Irma Stern, Maggie Laubser, Gerard Sekoto and JH Pierneef. While works by these and other South African modern artists have always been prized by local collectors, the sharp escalation in the prices of their work internationally is attributable to several key factors.

Words: FEDERICO FRESCHI Images: © GRAHAM’S FINE ART GALLERY

S

Villa, Edoardo (1915-); “Mother and Child”; Bronze; 298 x 80 x 50cm; Signed: “Villa” (Left/Side); Dated: 1983 (Cast: 2004)

outh African modern art was, for a long time, hidden in plain sight.

The country’s remote location, later coupled with political isolation, meant that while the art developed its own exceptional character, this was largely invisible to the international market. The increasing interest in South African modern art has drawn attention to the myriad expressions of style and subject – from Impressionist Landscapes to Abstract Expressionist “colour field” paintings, which we associate with local modern art. This interest enabled us to focus attention on the ways in which local modern artists responded to the challenges of the 20th Century’s artistic reinvention of form, colour and surface for its own sake.

Indeed, the interest in surface and the ways in which this can be manipulated to articulate the variety of ways in which the South African experience of modernity is envisioned, is perhaps one of the most salient factors of our modern art. In effect it suggests that what one might call a modern palimpsest; an interest in the expressive surface as much – in true modernist fashion – for its own sake, as for the extent to which it provides an insight into the layered complexities and contradictions of what it means to be a 20th Century South African artist.

From the lustrous impasto of JEA Volschenk and Ruth Prowse to the

restrained austerity of JH Pierneef, the measured formalism of Douglas Portway and Edoardo Villa to the startling boldness of Irma Stern and Maggie Laubser: 20th Century South African art is a compelling record of the pursuit of an unmistakeably South African vision. Taken collectively, their multiple surfaces, with all their varieties of form, subject, intention and effect, constitute a palimpsest as diverse and multi-layered as our society itself, and are a compelling evocation of WJT Mitchell’s assertion that “we can never understand a picture unless we grasp the ways in which it shows what cannot be seen.”

In effect, these artworks challenge us, with Mitchell, to recognise that they have significance beyond their beguiling materiality; that their meanings are not necessarily to be found in intention or appearance but in the ways that they provoke us to think beyond their surfaces. This is as true of figurative painting, which invites us to willingly suspend disbelief and to experience vicariously a parallel universe of people, places and things, as it is of the abstract works with their infinite potential to express the otherwise inexpressible.

On the one hand, South African modern art is a microcosm of modernist movements: the fragmented brush strokes, spontaneity of form and interest in effects of light and shade of the late-blooming Impressionism that held sway over many of our artists in the early decades of the 20th Century are well represented in the work of Gwelo Goodman, Nita Spilhaus, Maud Sumner, and Ruth Prowse, among others. The aesthetic experimentation of the early 20th Century European avant-garde, with its bold arbitrariness of colour, distortions of form and utopian evocations of the “primitive,” is the animating force behind the Expressionist style of Irma Stern and Maggie Laubser, while the significance of form over content of mid-century High Modernism is masterfully evoked in Douglas Portway’s elegiac colour fields and Edoardo Villa’s elegantly refined steel sculptures. The trajectory is completed by the wryly Neo-

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Portway, Douglas Owen (1922 - 1993); “Yellow Sun”; Oil on Canvas; 127 x 126.7cm; Signed: “Portway” (Lower/Left); Dated: 1969

Expressionist works of Robert Hodgins and Simon Stone with their ironic, post-modern reappraisal of the formal and contextual implications of these trends.

On the other hand, the overlapping histories that underscore these styles intertwine in a body of work that seems to speak – like great art everywhere – of one’s imagining of oneself in the world and one’s relationship to it. In the South African context, the inevitable corollaries of this imagining devolve around the implicit questions about self and other, power and belonging, memory

and history that lie under the surfaces of these works. Thus, the pale, subdued palette of JH Pierneef’s characteristically monumental and silent landscapes celebrates the majestic beauty of the pristine bushveld, while serving also to establish a regional style that is powerfully animated by deeply felt notions of identity and nationhood.

The raw sensuality of Irma Stern’s lustrous images of the “exotic” are as compellingly beautiful as they are somehow deeply unsettling in their uncritical construction of otherness, while Maggie Laubser’s sensitive

Stern, Irma (1894 - 1966); “Cape Town Harbour”; Oil on Canvas; 69 x 87cm; Signed: “Irma Stern” (Lower/Left); Dated: 1959

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meditations on notions of prelapsarian innocence in her portraits of young women also raise uncomfortable questions about racial stereotypes.

The charming naïveté of Gladys Mgudlandlu’s style belies a deeply felt affirmation of anti-colonialist identity, and George Pemba’s figures are at once intensely intimate and personal while also bearing stark witness to the shared experience of black South Africans under Apartheid.

We simply cannot assume that the non-figurative works are purely academic essays in abstraction. In their subtle synthesis of European and African forms, Edoardo Villa’s elegantly stylized sculptures remind us that culture is never static, nor is it the exclusive preserve of one worldview. Beyond the surface of Douglas Portway’s seemingly empty fields of colour lie profound existential meditations on the anxieties and instabilities of post-Second World War life. Indeed, something about the tightly focused introspection of these works conveys a similar sense of what the American Abstract Expressionists Mark Rothko, Adolf Gottlieb and Barnett Newman described in 1943 as the only valid subject matter of art, namely that which is “tragic and timeless.” Thus, even in their selfconscious celebration of the seductive possibilities of form exploited for its sake, these artists recognise that the surface, no matter how seemingly complete, is always contingent – it cannot help but summon what lies beneath.

“We live amid surfaces,” Ralph Waldo Emerson tells us, “and the true art of life is to skate well on them.”

Long hidden in plain sight, South African modern art, with its complex layering of intertwined histories and overlapping identities, now provides a compelling argument for the opposite view.

For further information, contact Graham’s Fine Art Gallery on +27 11 465 9192 or Sarah Sinisi (Cape Town) on +27 84 568 5639 or Graham Britz (Johannesburg) on +27 83 605 5000. Alternatively visit www.grahamsgallery.co.za. 

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SHHHH

Sensual Sounds for

Audiophiles

While most offerings in the world of audio visual equipment can “blame” their form solely on their function, Swedish company Aesthesis, with its Gramophone Speakers, can honestly lay claim to seamlessly intertwining form and function, to produce sound of a quality matched only by the visual statement they make.

F

ounded as a response to the stereotypically masculine consumer electronics industry, Aesthesis brought to the market a new level of intrigue, prestige and sensuality that was previously unheard of in this market segment. Its first product, Gramophone, pays homage to an avant-garde design ethos without settling for any level of compromise in audio output quality.

Hand-crafted from start to finish, with fierce attention to detail, the Gramophone Speakers owe their immaculate sound quality to an intricately designed shape that lies behind the impeccable quality emanating from the elegantly curved, yet comfortably familiar form.

Standing 1.2 metres tall, the speakers offer more than just good looks. The single, co-axial driver consists of a one-inch dome tweeter located at the centre of a six-and-ahalf-inch woofer, allowing the entire frequency range to emanate from a single point source while minimising any phase anomalies. The full-range driver, which is sourced from Norwegian audio specialists SEAS,

Words: KEVIN BARKER Image: © MARIA FREDRIKSSON

sits at the mouth of a curved horn that enhances the higher frequencies, while the volume behind the driver is shaped to provide a reflection-damping waveguide with a slit-shaped port near the base to boost the lower frequencies.

The Gramophone Speaker is the only speaker in the world to combine horn and waveguide loading in a bass-reflex enclosure that makes for frequency response from 37Hz to 20kHz with a tolerance of roughly 3dB and a sensitivity of > 97dB/W/m. This means that the

best talent in their respective areas, and commissioned several companies to collaborate on the development of the Gramophone Speakers, including Eker Design, Carbocomp and Ergonomidesign, which are all intimately involved with Swedish supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg, resulting in immaculate attention to detail – from the overall sound quality, right down to each individual component.

Gramophone will only be made in limited numbers, with each pair selling for €60,000 – including tax but not

The high requirements on finish and tolerance demand that everything is done by hand. speakers will deliver an exceptionally honest reproduction of sound, at more than high enough volume with only 80W of continuous amplifier power. For definitive power in the very low range, a sub-woofer can be added.

The high requirements on finish and tolerance demand that everything – from the construction of parts, to coating and assembly – is done by hand. For this, Aesthetics required the

freight, as the speakers weigh 20 kilograms. The speakers can be ordered directly from the Aesthesis website or through Quintessentially Bespoke. The standard colour of the set is black, though this can be customised to any colour the customer desires, as long as it is specified in a Natural Colour System code.

Contact Quintessentially Bespoke on + 44 0 845 224 2617 or visit www.aesthesis.se. 

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SUBLIME

Bo-Kaap

magic

C o ra l I n t e r n a t i o n a l C a p e To w n The doorman stood as tall as a tree, garlanded in a most dashing red Moorish nobleman’s costume.

His equally tall glass door was like walking under a rainbow – leaving behind the opulence and air conditioning of Cape Town’s newest five-star hotel to enter the pulsing heart and soul of the city’s richest culture. The Cape Minstrels were having their annual parade right on our doorstep, and we joined the jolly fray.

Words: CHARL DU PLESSIS Images: © CORAL INTERNATIONAL

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M

instrel-white faces, spinning umbrellas, straw hats, trumpetstubas-trombones and booming bass drums rolled past to the tune of La Vida Loca. The local community was on the sidewalk, selling samoosas, coffees and glow lights for the children to shake to the rhythm of the bands as more and more troops joined the parade. Our kids made quick friends with a few little locals, melting into their games in the alleys of the Bo-Kaap. We adults sipped coffee with the warm

SUBLIME

and welcoming owners of a makeshift street kiosk on their front stoep.

We all covered our ears as fire trucks sped past with sirens wailing, up the mountain where the South-Easter was threatening to push large flames closer to the highest parts of this pastel-painted neighbourhood. People greeted each other by first name, hugged like long-lost siblings, and talked about the fire, the new hotel, the parade, and caught up on gossip. For a brief few hours, our being resident at the Coral hotel made us feel as if we had been part of this vibrant community since the day we were born.

It is a stroke of genius, building

cater for the needs of the important business and tourism guests from the Middle East and beyond. The breakfast fare includes mouth-watering Arabic, Asian and African delicacies, and the hotel is proud to be an alcohol-free establishment that offers Halaalcertified meals. On the Pool Deck level, adjacent to a well-appointed Conference and Business Service Centre, guests have access to a prayer room. Across from the hotel is a mosque, with a number of other places of worship within walking distance. Whenever in the vicinity, ask to go upstairs to look at the magnificent wallpaper in this section of the hotel. You will feel as if you are

televisions, high speed Wi-Fi, exquisite bathrooms (our kids were mesmerised by the light patterns that the glass cast across the rest of the bathroom), full bath and shower, mini-refrigerators, and tea/coffee facilities. The suites include an elegant living area, some overlooking Table Mountain; others gazing over the Bo-Kaap. An outdoor heated pool offers reprieve on hot days or an escape from the crowded beaches and frosty bite of Clifton’s waves. A Bedouin canvas canopy shielding the pool from the heat of the day adds a nice touch, as does the large shaded cane lounger on the deck. Service is prompt and genuinely friendly – to us

the Coral at this juncture of Cape Town’s effervescent culture, within walking distance of all else that draws visitors to our most beautiful city. The markets, antiques alleys, gardens, museums and plazas of downtown are all just a few blocks away, as are the convention and conference centres and the V&A Waterfront’s attractions. And from our window we had a stunning view of hallmark Table Mountain.

Physical positioning, however, is perhaps less important than market positioning, as the Coral brings several new dimensions to the select band of five-star hotels in the topend accommodation segment. The Coral has gone to great lengths to

standing on the rooftop in Fez, glancing across an ancient city. On the pool veranda, reclining guests tucked into alcoves adorned with rich pillows and tapestries bellow sweet smoke from hookah pipes into the cool evening air. On the other side of the hotel, Chef Stefan gets ready for another busy night, his cuisine rumoured to have quickly overtaken an old city favourite of many local residents as the best Indian food in town.

Boasting 137 rooms, including executive and family suites with private kitchen and meeting space, the Coral International takes modern luxury to the next level. Magnificent linens, state-of-the-art plasma

it is always a sign that management is on top of their game when the staff you encounter are happy.

It is with honest sincerity that I say our family will make Coral our hotel of choice in the Cape every time. For South Africans, it is an exotic encounter with both a part of our own history and culture in the Bo-Kaap, as well as with the old traditions from other parts of the globe. And for the foreign visitor from these lands, the Coral will quickly feel like a home away from home.  For reservations, contact: • Tel: +27 87 310 2273 • Email: info@coral-capetown.com • Visit: www.coral-capetown.com

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About Chef Stefan Muller

Lebanese

Zatar Fillet with Hummus & Moutabal Words & Image: © CHEF STEFAN MULLER; CORAL INTERNATIONAL CAPE TOWN

Ingredients For the fillet • 600g beef fillet, cut into 8 medallions • 60ml pomace olive oil For the zatar • 2t fresh thyme, finely chopped • 2t lemon salt • 2t sumac spice • 2t maldon salt • 2t sesame seeds For the hummus • 300g boiled chickpeas, husks removed • 4g lemon salt • 60g tahini • 4g salt • 2 ice cubes • 25ml extra virgin olive oil For the moutabal • 300g brinjal • 4g lemon salt

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• 4g salt • 50g tahini • 25ml extra virgin olive oil For serving • pita bread • marinated olives • pickled vegetables

Method Spice the fillet Take two skewers and thread four medallions onto each. Coat the meat with the olive oil. Combine the spices for the zatar and sprinkle over the meat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Prepare the moutabal Over an open flame or braai, or using a griddle pan, burn the brinjal black on the outside (this will give the dip a smoky flavour). Place the brinjal in cold water and remove the burnt skin.

Chef Stefan started his career in 1987 as a commis chef for Fedics food services. From there he worked for the Southern Sun Group for about eight years before getting the chance to work with one of South Africa’s top chefs, Ralph van Pletzen, and so joined the restaurant scene.

Since then he has held several executive chef posts for a number of top local restaurants. He started lecturing for IHESA (Institute for Hospitality Education South Africa) three years ago as a practical lecturer, as he loves sharing his knowledge with young chefs, hoping to one day see them in top positions.

His motto is: “keep it simple.” He says, “There is nothing better to me than good, easy food.” Chef Stefan is the Executive Chef at Coral International, in Cape Town. To book, contact +27 87 310 2273.

Press out excess water and place in a blender together with the lemon salt, salt and tahini, but not the olive oil.

Blend until smooth. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Transfer to a ramekin, smooth over with a knife, and top with the olive oil.

Prepare the hummus Place the chickpeas, lemon salt, tahini, salt, and ice cubes, but not the olive oil, in a blender and blitz until smooth. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Transfer to a ramekin, smooth over with a knife, and top with the olive oil.

Cook the fillet Over a braai or using a griddle pan, grill the fillet to your liking.

Serve On a plate, place the ramekins with the hummus and moutabal alongside the cooked fillet skewer. Take 2 more ramekins and fill one with marinated olives and the other with pickled vegetables or a similar condiment of your choice. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve with warmed pita bread.

Serves 2. 

The “IC T Th “ICON CON OF NAMIBIA”

is a former Presidential Douglas Do DC-6B aircraft. It is also the last DC-6B built in 1958 and nd also the only ly remaining passenger DC-6B aircraft in commercial use.

The aircraft was proudly restored by Namibia Commercial Aviation in the mid 90’s and scrupulously maintained to date.

Interior conguration allows 60 passengers in business class comfort, including an 8 seat stateroom for private couples, 3 spacious toilets, in ight bar service with two cabin attendants ensuring rst class service. For a true nostalgic adventure committed to memory, join us on a venture through Namibia and adjoining countries. Visit remote areas never thought possible in a large airliner. Pressurization and the harmonious drone of the 4 engines will ensure comfort and the relaxation of in ight entertainment.

BE THE FIRST TO INFORM YOUR FRIENDS! Don’t be disappointed, book now and ensure to be on top of the list for your group tours, incentive adventures or contact us for day trips to the Fish River Canyon.

Contact us for a visit to our facility at Eros Airport and for a tour surrounding the history of the Douglas DC-6B which includes soft drinks and a short video of the restoration program.

Tel: +264 61 223562 Fax: + 264 61 234 583 www.nca.com.na Email: y@nca.com.na

F E AT U R E

The Trip of

Your Life

FlyCastaway

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Ever dreamt about fishing and exploring the most remote and pristine atolls of the world, an experience sure to forever alter your outlook on life? Ever dreamt of stepping somewhere not yet spoilt by the impact of mankind; your eyes forced open for the first time as you gaze into a world that carries on its daily routine uninterrupted, as it has done for centuries?

Words: KEITH-ROSE INNES Images: Š HENRY GILBEY; MARK HATTER

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et acquainted with FlyCastaway, specialists in locating remote and un-fished destinations and overseeing the “mothership operations,” which allow them to access and fish these otherwise inaccessible areas with minimal impact on the location.

Not leaving behind an ecological footprint is something they take very seriously; so much so that all fishing is done using appropriate catch-andrelease methods. The only human evidence left lingering will be a set of footprints on the snowy white beach, which themselves will be washed away with the next high tide.

FlyCastaway maximises clients’ chances of success with a combination of vast fishing knowledge, worldwide guiding experience, the best locations, the best infrastructure, and the best time of the year. Everything is built around one thing and one thing only: world-class fishing in pristine localities.

One of FlyCastaway’s Indian Ocean destinations, let’s call it Destination X, is a group of over 50 small islands, coral ridges and vast sand flats. Situated almost 500 kilometres north-east of Mauritius, this area is supremely rich in fish stocks and flora and fauna. The magnificent condition of the coral and the lobster-populated outer reefs are proof that, other than a small population of Creole natives who live on one of the islands in the north, this

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area has had very little human interference. The fishery at this spot in the Indian Ocean is extremely well balanced and offers anglers a variety of species from which to choose. It is also the most spectacular place for “bonefishing.” At most tides, anglers can expect to see shoals of these shallow water speedsters as well as enormous singles and doubles, all of which are eager to devour a wellpresented fly. The FlyCastaway team fervently argues that there are more adult Indo-Pacific Permit – the Holy Grail of saltwater fly-fishing species – on this atoll than at any other destination they have ever operated in or visited in the Indian Ocean. There are also plentiful Trevally species; including Bluefin, Golden, Yellow Dot, Green Spot and of course the infamous Giant Trevally, which reaches weights of over 45 kilograms.

Another one of FlyCastaway’s mysterious playgrounds is Providence Atoll. Situated 710 kilometres south of Mahé (the main island of the Seychelles) Providence Atoll has remained largely untouched, with fewer than 1,000 people having visited this tropical wilderness in the last century. Just short of being the most southerly isle in the Seychelles, it measures 46 kilometres from north to south and contains two major land masses: Providence North and Cerf Island.

Thanks to its sheer size and incredible abundance of marine life, Providence Atoll is one of the most

exciting and diverse fishing destinations. Whether your interest lies in stalking Giant Trevally, Bonefish, Triggerfish, Indo-Pacific Permit, Milkfish or Bumphead Parrotfish in the gin-clear water of the flats, or cruising the deep blue in search of tackle-testing Sailfish or Marlin; Providence has it all.

On this trip, the 130-foot motor yacht, the MV Dugong is home for the week. The Dugong is an ex-research vessel that has been upgraded and modified to cater for long-range flyfishing expeditions and can accommodate up to 12 fly-fishermen, four guides and eight crew members.

Large, spacious and extremely stable, and able to store and transport four newly built tender boats on its spacious aft deck, the MV Dugong is the perfect floating base from which to explore the remote outer atolls of the Seychelles and Indian Ocean waters.

All FlyCastaway trips are led by a team of four world-class professional fly-fishing guides, including one head guide. Each is a qualified skipper, has first-aid training and is enormously experienced in all facets of fly-fishing these remote saltwater destinations. The team’s passion and dedication is infectious and they will go out of their way to find the fish about which you thought you would only ever dream.

For more information, email keith@flycastaway.com or info@flycastaway.com. 

F E AT U R E

Africa Takes its Rightful

Place on the

World Stage

South Africa’s massive investment into infrastructure to host the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup is realised in the 10 beautiful stadia, of which six are newly built, world-class venues. Similar business has come to the party in terms of actioning resources to make this – to borrow the words of former President Thabo Mbeki – “the best World Cup ever.” And the excitement is mounting at a rapid rate.

Words: Willem Steenkamp; Heidi Dyer Images: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

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ike every country that has previously hosted events of a similar scale, where it is critical that the legacy leaves the country with sustainable use of such infrastructure, South Africans have had to apply their minds to innovative, practical ideas to ensure the continued use of the venues and stadia once the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ is over. And this is where we identified the need to use this event to showcase our tourism potential and firmly establish ourselves as a mega sporting and conferencing venue, which builds on our already having successfully delivered both a Cricket and Rugby World Cup, last year’s Confederations

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Cup, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development of several years ago.

A critical milestone in the run up to this year’s World Cup was the Final Draw, which took place in Cape Town in December 2009. All those who watched and attended agree that this event set the tone for a well-executed and exciting tournament to come.

This draw put to bed the debate regarding team locations and venue allocations, thus allowing us to make more informed decisions on tourist volumes and attendance at venues. It also gives an indication of where and what resources need to be deployed or supplemented.

Beautiful South Africa is an amazing mix of ecological, cultural, historical and geological tourist attractions and we all appreciate that different people enjoy different things. A careful analysis of these experiences shows that while game lodges and visits to South Africa’s heritage sites will be the most soughtafter attractions, there is a definite demand for “something different.”

This is where exclusive locations and the attractions of other African countries come into play. There are a handful of companies with the aptitude to deliver a full end-to-end service that covers the entire sphere of tourism and concierge, which is done with in-house resources and limited sub-contracting so that visitors can rest assured they are dealing with one reliable and dependable team who will take full accountability in ensuring an expert, enjoyable and safe experience. There is only one company who can do this, and which is also a World Cup National Supporter, a title that gives them a detailed understanding of the tournament and the credibility of being a FIFA affiliate, and that company is Neo Africa.

But, as is typical of its effervescent and entrepreneurial founder, Vivien Natasen, the Neo Africa Group is not just about business – it is about lifestyle too. Neo Africa has divisions that handle publishing, events, provide luxury concierge services, and

arrange air charters and exotic car hire, all of which will be of particular significance during the World Cup. “Our services will help manage celebrities, VIP guests and other highend spectators and ensure an unforgettable experience with worldclass levels of hospitality and security,” says Natasen. “What’s more, as an official FIFA Fan Fest™ sponsor, Neo Africa will be helping make the 2010 World Cup experience accessible to all South Africans, as well as overseas and African visitors, by sponsoring the 10 official Fan Fest venues. These venues will present free, all-day entertainment and broadcast all live matches on giant screens in a safe and secure environment.”

The ability to develop, plan and deliver exceptional experiences is made even better by Neo Africa’s understanding of, and role within, the tournament. Their model is to treat every transaction as a “trusted asset” and to ensure that their back-up works well to minimise risk.

Neo Africa has developed several superb packages for astute clients, including trips to Zambia, the

Seychelles and Mozambique, which allows for other Southern African countries to benefit from the returns of the tournament. In addition, Neo Africa has secured exclusive access to some of the most sought-after game lodges in South Africa, ensuring they can offer their clients an assortment of privileged experiences. The existence of their own charter and vehicle fleet, not to forget VIP security services, will further ensure that only the highest levels of service are delivered.

But Neo Africa’s involvement with the world’s footballing showpiece is by no means its only activity in support of sport. The Group also sponsors South African boxing and motorsport, and more recently entered the arena of top-flight rugby with its sponsorship of the Neo Africa Tri-Series, a new triangular competition involving the Vodacom Stormers, the Sharks and the Western Force. “We believe in being the best, and that’s why we deliver world-class service in everything we do,” concludes Natasen.  Call +27 11 484 2833 or visit www.neoafrica.com for more info.

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Bringing Satellite Communications

Down to Earth Blue Sky Satellite, with its extensive knowledge and wide range of products and services, has made keeping in touch when miles offshore or out in the farthest corner of Earth, simple and safe.

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tarted in 1997 by Pedro Camacho as a one-man concern, Blue Sky Satellite Communications was registered as a company a year later. It specialised in land-based services, providing satellite phones to NGOs, hunters, game lodges, military personnel and others working in remote areas. Nowadays, through the Inmarsat range of satellite equipment, Blue Sky provides satellite communications to the maritime market in particular, catering to all aspects of this market, both commercial and leisure, with regards to Internet access, voice, safety and security, and tracking.

These services are complemented by land-based and aeronautical services, both private and commercial. For the past year they

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have been operating as a fully fledged telecommunications company, having received their licence from the South African government.

Says Pedro, “A lot of maritime customers don’t realise they have these products available to them when commissioning yachts or boats.

In reality, they can have all this, all their onboard communications, builtin before delivery.” It is simple, really.

Before buying a yacht, the owner is advised to plan what communications he would like onboard – just as one would plan the kitchen or bar – taking into consideration the cockpit or bridge, deciding what comms he would like, and where he wants them.

“You can have Wi-Fi, live Internet access, satellite TV; there are so many options,” says Pedro, “and

planning it all beforehand means it costs a lot less.”

Their many years of experience have seen Blue Sky Satellite working in conjunction with a US company called COMSAT Communications, which was part of the US Department of Defence, and later, in 1999, providing around 60 percent of the portable satellite communications for contingency plans for the anticipated Y2K fallout. In 2006 they were presented with Intelsat’s “Excellence in Corporate Network” Award, while in 2005 they received Telenor Satellite AS’s “Best Inmarsat Service Provider for Africa and the Continent” Award.

In addition, the ANC Progressive Business Forum has recognised them as the Most Innovative Product Developer. In a different but no less exciting league, Blue Sky also did the first live video broadcast from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro – the first and only live video link from here – and were instrumental in doing the first live radio broadcast from Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba and Vic Falls, and from the top of Table Mountain. When asked why, Pedro coyly replied: “Just because we could.” And, during the 2006 Cape to Rio yacht race, Blue Sky made it happen that a live radio show ran for three hours a day from the communication vessel, The Panther.

This was another first.

Expanding more of late, into the leisure market, Pedro explains that they took the experience gleaned from their commercial endeavours and applied it to this new area. “We know we can give the best possible prices, services and value-adds,” he says with pride, “and this makes us very competitive.” Blue Sky Satellite will fit comms at the manufacturer but also has remote crews to install at the shipyard or travel to wherever a customer’s yacht may be berthed.

They deliver, ship whatever is needed, and install wherever it is most convenient for the customer. “It’s platinum service,” Pedro assures. And they offer a consulting service too, should an owner not know exactly

what he needs or how to go about deciding this. “In conjunction with designers and builders of yachts, and based on the design of the craft, we can suggest where things can or should be fitted, what power ratings are required, what interference of frequencies to expect, ergonomics and so forth. We can design all this for the customer. Also, we can modulise everything, plan and make provision for his comms, if he would prefer to do it in stages, for example, and with said provision made, everything can be installed later at the customer’s convenience.”

Following the old adage “the customer is king,” Pedro insists that he runs his company on a simple basis: the customer is always right. He says: “Our philosophy is: if we can keep our customers happy we will have a good business. All our staff know that the customer’s every need must be met as quickly and as cost effectively as possible. We strive to give them the best possible solution for what they have, and nothing is too much. This means that our customers are loyal, many of them having been with us from the beginning. They stay with us because we are efficient and diligent at what we do.” And all of this they achieve through a rather minimal staff contingent – just 12 people work from the Johannesburg office, and another 40 spread globally.

Says a zealous Pedro, “We love what we do, we are good at what we do, we are passionate about what we do. For us, satellite is everything. We want to get people talking where it is impossible to talk. We want people to have access to their email, to Twitter, to Facebook; to watch something from the middle of nowhere. We want people to talk, to be in touch, to use bandwidth. Being out of reach is just no good."  For a full range of products and services, contact Blue Sky Satellite: • Tel: +27 11 432 0075 or 0860 18 19 20 • Email info@blueskysat.com • Visit www.blueskysat.com

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On the Wings of

Angels

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United Air Charter’s Helicopter Safaris "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all."

– David Livingstone Words and Images: © KEVIN BARKER

I

f David Livingstone saw the most value in explorers whose boundaries were not defined by endless miles of insipid tar, he would have been most excited to discover Livingstonebased United Air Charters (UAC).

Perched on Baobab Ridge, overlooking the Victoria Falls and operating a fleet of the world’s most modern turbine helicopters, UAC has re-opened the book on African exploration with its bespoke helicopter safaris – unveiling Africa’s untamed splendour from above, from the comfort of a reliable, air-conditioned helicopter.

Established in 2001, UAC has taken aerial sight-seeing to a new level. Electing to operate modern Eurocopter EC120 and EC130 helicopters, their goal is relatively simple: to maximise viewing potential from the most comfortable platform.

Few will argue that experiencing from above the mighty Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya, as the falls are known locally, borders on something of a spiritual experience.

Aside from the overwhelming beauty of the Falls and plunging gorges, Zambia has remained relatively under-explored and undermarketed. UAC, however, has made it their mission to show clients the farranging beauty that this country has to offer. And what could be better than kicking-off this epic journey from the lively tourist hub of Livingstone, before traversing the country from end to end? Though the onus is certainly on the majestic landscape and plentiful wildlife, each safari is tailor-made to the client’s preferences.

The trip we embarked upon departed UAC’s base at its private

heli-pad on Baobab Ridge, leaving the rumbling Victoria Falls behind. Our first port of call would be the Kafue National Park, Zambia’s oldest and largest nature reserve, comparable in size to the entire country of Wales.

The park is home to massive herds of antelope, large numbers of elephant, tsessebe, hartebeest, hippo, zebra and buffalo. Prime predators are drawn to the plains due to the wealth of prey, and include large prides of up to 20 lions; several sprinting cheetahs and lone-roaming leopards. A veritable paradise for bird watchers, Kafue hosts more than 400 bird species with some notables being the wattled crane, purple crested loerie and Pel’s fishing owl. From the Liuwa Plains, which see the annual migration of 35,000 blue wildebeest, to the Zambezi River, renowned for tigerfishing, UAC offers exclusive

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views of this wild and wonderful territory.

Should a client prefer, he or she can add customised stop-overs to the journey, based on his or her preference for wild fishing, water wonderment or wildlife sanctuaries. Should you opt for the latter, the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust is definitely a treasure to experience. Flying over the economic hub of Solwezi and its large copper mines to get to the sanctuary allows the magnitude and size of this Wildlife Trust to make an impression.

The Trust has purchased a neighbouring farm of 10,000 acres, with the intention to create a 2,500acre fenced enclosure for the chimps, while the balance will be dedicated to a wildlife preserve, education facilities and a tourist lodge.

Flying eastwards to the Kasanka National Park takes us over the Livingstone Memorial, built in 1902, which marks the spot where missionary explorer David Livingstone died in early May 1873. The Park, situated on the south-western edge of the Lake Bangweulu basin, unveils a vast aquatic ecosystem consisting of rivers, lakes and wetlands, forests, lagoons, meadows and dambos, which support a wide range of animals and abundant birds and fish, including the rare shoebill stork (one of Africa’s most elusive birds). A major draw card here is the evening departure of millions of fruit bats leaving their roosts to feed. The sky literally turns

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black as they take flight in their nightly search for sustenance.

Kasaba Bay, on the shore of Lake Tanganyika and the longest freshwater lake in the world, is our next stop. Its immense depth, some 1,433 metres, is due to its location – it lies in the Great Rift Valley, which has also created its steep shoreline. Lake Tanganyika boasts over 350 species of fish, of which most are indigenous to the area. This lake rewards the visitor with incredible scuba diving and plentiful fishing opportunities in its gin-clear waters. The south-eastern border of the lake is home to the Kalambo Falls, a spectacular jet of water falling in a single uninterrupted stream 221 metres down to the gorge below and then on into Lake Tanganyika.

More National Parks are an option for those guests who thrive on wildlife spotting. The South Luangwa National Park, dubbed one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, has the most intense concentration of game in Africa. The Luangwa River is part of this awesome Park, with the most intact major river system in Africa and is the lifeblood of the Park's 9,050 square kilometres.

Another park, which lies further south, opposite Zimbabwe’s famous Mana Pools, is the new Lower Zambezi National Park, the beauty of which lies in its untouched, wild state. Herds of elephant, some up to 100 strong, are often seen at the river's edge.

“Island hopping” buffalo and waterbuck are common too, as well as good populations of lion and leopard.

Our last destination is Lake Kariba – Zambia’s own “Riviera.” Kariba is Africa's largest man-made dam, at 226 kilometres long and in places up to 40 kilometres wide. It provides considerable electric power to both Zambia and Zimbabwe and supports a thriving commercial fishing industry.

The sheer size of it makes one forget it's a dam and in certain places it feels more like an ocean.

All in all, on a map, our total trip distance comes to about 6,000 kilometres, however on UAC’s helicopter safaris, no more than two hours are spent in the helicopter on any given day. While some might be hesitant to sit in a helicopter for such a period of time, the craft are fitted with hugely capable air conditioners and flown by pilots with a minimum of 1,000 hours of experience. These specific helicopters were designed with sight-seeing in mind and offer unrestricted views from their large windows while transiting between destinations. With extremely low noise signatures, they are the perfect airborne game viewing helicopters as they don’t scare away the animals. Also, stops along the way are plentiful, allowing you to stretch your legs or view something spotted from above, making the helicopter an ideal platform for such a journey.

Accommodation en route can be as luxurious or as rustic as guests prefer, and will be set up by a team of experts in the field of impromptu luxury camps. Prices start from US$60,000 for a group of four; bearing in mind the safaris are infinitely customisable according to taste and budget; limited only by your spirit of adventure. Contact United Air Charter on +260 213 323 095, email info@uaczam.com or visit www.uaczam.com. 

STYLE

A story

Told Twiice

What does it take to set up a dynamic furniture business in the new South Africa, offering some of the most eclectic imported designs and tailor-made solutions? If you are Tin Korver, who came to this country for a short holiday but ended up falling madly in love with it, it takes sheer determination and a Citi Golf laden with brochures.

Words: BIANCA GARDELLA Images: © TWIICE INTERNATIONAL

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t took only three weeks in South Africa for Tin Korver to decide he was smitten. It took another 18 months to write up a business plan back in Amsterdam.

When Tin contacted a well-known Dutch

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furniture supplier to get involved in his new concept, Twiice International, their response was a laugh followed by the words, “please go away.” Not one to be dissuaded easily, Tin sold his existing company and packed his bags.

His vision was to sell high-quality furniture in a country where product design was still an industry not quite understood. This was no easy feat in the beginning for a foreigner having to deal with acquiring a work permit and getting a phone (never fun

F E AT U R E

dealing with the infamous Telkom).

With business cards in hand, the next step was sitting in hotel bars and restaurants listening in on conversations between business owners and then finding an appropriate moment to introduce himself. It was at such a meeting that Twiice International landed their first business deal with the Managing Director of Geiga Pharmaceutical Company. The rest is history.

To date, Twiice has done installations for MTN, Daimler Chrysler SA, and the Cape Town International Convention Centre, among others. One anecdote from Twiice’s early days, which Tin recalls with amusement now despite his fury then, was an installation project for the Office of the President of Zambia.

When the furniture arrived, the rest of the premise’s interiors were still not finished. Tin was asked to place the furniture in situ in the interim; but to his extreme dismay, when the carpets were finally rolled out, instead of moving the imported furniture pieces out of the way, they simply cut holes around the feet of the tables and chairs. Shocked, he realised that the designer pieces he had so carefully

chosen could never again be moved as the holes in the carpet would be exposed.

Although it is tough to pinpoint a favourite piece these days, at the moment Tin is captivated by the designs of the Bourollec Brothers, whose products are completely visual, unusual and colourful but yet make so much sense. It is obvious that these designers put enormous thought into the practicality of the design. Then, of course, there are the iconic best sellers such as the Louis Ghost by Philippe Starck for Kartell; you just never bore of this chair.

For Tin, the South African market offers great potential, though there is still a learning curve when it comes to design – consumers needs to develop a knowledge of what they are buying and to recognise the difference between the original and an imitation, both aesthetically and financially. There are many products in this country that are inauthentic yet are sold at a similar price to those which are genuine. With China now having hit the market with an inundation of copies, the pressure for independent suppliers to produce has increased significantly and a new trend is developing. In the old days, new prototypes would have been shown at trade fairs and then only a few months down the line would the items be released into production.

Now, high-interest generating items go immediately into production and are made available for purchase.

Tin’s latest venture is Designfakotrii a company that will specialise in local, high-quality production with the aim to export to an international market. Despite the assault to his senses of Chinese knock-off products, and with the stories such as cutting-off parts of products, Tin has found the whole adventure of start up an enjoyable one that keeps him waiting day by day to see what the next challenge will be. 

Images © HALDANE MARTIN

2010 Design Indaba Expo The annual Design Indaba Expo is a 100 percent, local-is-lekker celebration of South Africa’s ingrained creativity. Advertising, architecture, craft, décor, film, fashion, graphic design, interior design, jewellery, new media, publishing, product design and visual media – all are presented shoulder-to-shoulder.

Each of the more than 260 exhibitors are evaluated and endorsed by an advisory panel of top South African designers, stylists, critics and industry experts. Setting a high curatorial standard, all products are original, contemporary and innovative, not to mention conceived and manufactured in South Africa.

A chock-full daily programme of additional activities includes allday fashion shows, a short-film festival, the new Design Indaba Kids workshops, a suave designer bar, scrumptious food, and daily Pecha Kucha presentations by leading local creatives.

Visit www.designindaba.com for more information.

Images © EMMA ANNE

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Timbuktu

Manuscripts

The Timbuktu Manuscripts – or Mali Manuscripts – some of which can be dated to the 13th Century, are Arabic and African texts that hark back to the city's glorious past, when Muslim merchants traded gold from West Africa to Europe and the Middle East in return for salt and other goods. South Africa has thrown its weight behind efforts to preserve these ancient documents, which are thought to hold the key to some of the secrets of Africa's history and cultural heritage.

Words: WWW.SOUTHAFRICA.INFO Images: © RIASON NAIDOO

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ritten in a variety of styles of Arabic calligraphy by scholars and copyists who were part of an African Islamic intellectual tradition centred in Timbuktu, the manuscripts have shattered the historical view of Africa as a purely “oral continent,” pointing to the fact that Africa has a rich legacy of written history. While most are in Arabic, some are in indigenous languages such as Songhai and Hausa, written using Arabic script.

The largest collection of manuscripts, numbering about 30,000, is housed in the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Islamic Studies, named after the famous 15th Century Timbuktu scholar Ahmed Baba. The remainder of the texts are housed in the private libraries of families in and around the city.

Some of the manuscripts are beautifully decorated with gold illumination and kept in finely tooled leather covers. Subject matter covers a range of disciplines, including medicine, philosophy, mathematics, astrology and Islamic studies, as well as history and literary forms. Also included are manuscripts dealing with legal judgements and commercial transactions, which give a sense of the daily life of the citizens of Timbuktu.

The South Africa-Mali project was initiated by former President Thabo Mbeki in 2002, following a visit to Timbuktu in 2001. The project, a flagship cultural initiative of the New

art archive to house the manuscripts and training staff in their conservation.

In late 2009, the building, with all the temperature and humidity controls necessary to provide the correct conditions for preserving the

The manuscripts have shattered the historical view of Africa as a purely “oral continent,” pointing to the fact that Africa has a rich legacy of written history.

Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), aimed to conserve the collection at the Ahmed Baba Institute through the building of a state-of-the-

manuscripts, was officially unveiled.

South African academics are involved in studying and deciphering the documents as they build a digital

archive to complement the manuscript collection.

Long-since a symbol in Western popular imagination for remote and exotic destinations, Timbuktu 500 years ago was not only a wealthy trading port but also a centre for academics and scholars of religion, literature and science. As a result of this project, the world, its readers and its thinkers are now endowed with a largely unexplored intellectual legacy.

For more information on the Timbuktu Manuscripts, visit www.timbuktufoundation.org. 

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S T R AY

Club Med’s

La Plantation ,

D Albion Villas

Enjoy the luxurious comfort of your own private villa at La Plantation d’Albion, Mauritius; a new concept scheduled to open in early April this year, situated in an exceptional and beautifully preserved site on the island’s west coast.

Words: INGRID KENMUIR Images: © CLUB MED

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ut of 40 stately villas, 24 lie in 12 hectares of magnificent grounds with beautifully preserved, tropical vegetation. Each villa has been designed in complete refinement with its own garden, Mauritian veranda and swimming pool. Along with a choice of two, three, or four-bedroom villas (sized from 100 square metres for the onebedroom, 241 square metres for the three-bedroom, and 296 square metres for the four-bedroom), guests can enjoy a view of either the sea or the mountain while the inimitable experience of “living together,” which includes customised, top-quality service replete with personal butler and chef, ensures total comfort and well-being.

The entire design and decoration of La Plantation d'Albion Club Med Resort was the work of Parisian design team, Marc Hertrich and Nicolas Adnet. This pair was subsequently commissioned to create the interior design of the Villas d'Albion, while Mauritian architect, Jean Michel d'Unienville, designed the spacious buildings – select, genuine Mauritianstyle villas positioned in lush surrounds. The Parisian pair opted for a contemporary look that integrates Mauritius's magnificently colourful melting pot of cultures into an elegantly modern idea, swathed in Creole charm. The duo said: “We wanted to create settings specific to the island of Mauritius by playing on the country's multicultural nature.

We deliberately avoided overly-trendy aesthetic options so as to create contemporary environments which are clearly Mauritian. The relaxed lifestyle and the beauty of the surrounding environment are emphasised to create a space to live

and spend your holiday in as well as to enjoy a more sophisticated experience.”

D'Unienville also took into account the island environs. Thus, the villas make use of a blend of local materials and typically Mauritian details, resulting in an elegant and harmonious environment. Inside, the living room is finished in warm colours, spacious volumes and wooden beams, which together create a welcoming, intimate feel. Outside, the overflow pool and veranda provide an ideal environment area in which to relax in the peaceful outdoors. The Villas spread across as much as 400

with teak deck chairs and parasols, as is the second beach, immediately accessible from the Resort.

Situated next door to the 5-Trident Club Med Resort, guests have all-inclusive, free access to a wide variety of sports activities, facilities and services. Spoil yourself with a personalised welcome and concierge service; beauty treatments in-villa, private excursions and your own chef. Enjoy free access to all the activities offered at Club Med’s flagship 5-Trident Resort, as well as unlimited daily golf on the 18-hole Tamarina course, while your children (ages 4 to 11) have access to the

with a butler available throughout the day, able to adapt his hours to suit your needs and your schedule and ready to prepare breakfast or refreshments, and book any excursions or services you require, all while remaining a perfect example of discretion. The concierge service can be contacted any time for information about Mauritius, to make bookings, borrow books or a computer, video game consoles, games or DVDs, send a fax or make a photocopy. Everything, including fullboard dining for the duration of your stay, open bar and snacking as well as Club Med’s unique

square metres of space, with a private garden up to 300 square metres. The Mauritian veranda completes the space, from 40 square metres, and pool from 35 square metres. The surrounding vegetation includes cacti, tamarind, and flamboyant and banyan trees, in 65,000 square metres of gardens. Numerous ornamental ponds and water features, and the superb ruin of the Fort d'Argenson, add character and charm to this grandiose setting.

Guests can enjoy easy access to two beaches, set in a natural, wooded setting, and which are protected by a coral reef. The first, a white coral sand beach some 300 yards from the Resort, slopes gently into the water and is easily accessible via a little footbridge over the Belle Eau River. It is a defined swimming area equipped

Mini Club Med facilities and, during main school holidays, access to the Juniors Club Med for teenagers.

Children will enjoy the thrills of the new Flying Trapeze, the first of its kind in Mauritius. Services available to residents include a butler service,

entertainment, is included to transform any stay into an unforgettable experience.

For more information, contact the Club Med Travel Boutique on 0860 CLUB MED, or visit www.clubmed.co.za. 

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LIFE PASSION ADVENTURE

OfямБcial agent for Riviera luxury motor yachts in South Africa.

NATIONWIDE : 0861 324 754 DURBAN HARBOUR : Durban Yacht Mole Tel: 031 301 1115 / 083 324 4630 DURBAN POINT : The Quays Tel: 031 332 1987 / 079 872 2335 CAPE TOWN : The Waterclub, Granger Bay, V&A Waterfront Tel: 021 418 0840 / 082 881 2607 / 072 860 6401 www.boatingworld.co.za | info@boatingworld.co.za

LIFE PASSION ADVENTURE

F E AT U R E

Mille Time Perhaps it was inevitable: Richard Mille fit snugly into the sumptuous milieu of the Salon International de Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), as if the exhibition were made for the brand. One of a handful of truly select independents that shared in the Richemont-organised event, Richard Mille earned its place by doing something not normally in keeping with Swiss attitudes toward watch production and presentation: being a maverick. Then again, the brand is very, very French.

Words: Ken Kessler Images: © RICHARD MILLE

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n under a decade, Richard Mille – the man – has created a watch house that has developed its own look, its own cult and, perhaps most importantly, a level of credibility not normally granted to new manufacturers in so short a time. With hindsight, we see that Mille’s plan from the outset was not merely to create a style, but to do so with true horological merit. Mille did nothing the easy way, for his watches boast unique movements rather than bought-in designs, usually featuring serious complications – the man loves tourbillons – while the shapes, construction techniques and case materials owe nothing to other houses. “Radical” is a word you hear whenever Mille watches are mentioned.

On every level, Mille has been innovative; the rewards best summed

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up in two manifestations of his success, one a predictable by-product of creating something fresh and individual, and one best described as something deliciously naughty. The first, so common in this industry, was the appearance of copycats that ranged from pocket-money throwaways to rival brands working at the same high price points.

Oversized cases, big dates – come up with a trend and it will be copied within months. Mille, though, made it tricky by producing models so distinctive that copying would only result in weak facsimiles. More telling, however, is the naughty bit. So highly coveted are Richard Mille watches that whispers abound of high-profile celebrities, especially Grand Prix drivers, being seen sporting Mille watches when they are contracted to other brands as “ambassadors.” Felipe Massa, on the other hand, can wear his whenever he likes.

Mille himself had already been in the watch industry at a high level for more than a quarter-century when he launched his eponymous house in 2001. And he did it with panache, kicking off with RM 001, a stunning tourbillon in a modified tonneau shape that has become the Mille signature silhouette. This timepiece set the stage for a series of watches that would possess the brand’s core values – many established by the standards of Formula One car construction – regardless of other trends. Despite costing a heady €200,000, it was an instant success, and Richard Mille watches have been back-ordered ever since.

In the nine years following the arrival of RM 001, the brand has introduced over 20 models – no mean achievement for a small, exclusive company. It is a litany of innovation, and one can see why there are collectors who focus on the brand, one telling me that, “Once you’ve worn a Mille, you’re hooked. I can’t stop gazing at the movement.”

Remarks like this confirm that Richard Mille was wise to make skeleton dials a hallmark of his designs.

In the ensuing years, Mille’s

watches have featured a tourbillon with a second time zone; fresh takes on rectangular and round cases; a movement with a skeletonised “tubular” frame; an automatic winding movement with a variable geometry rotor that can be adapted to the wearer’s lifestyle; the use of carbon nanofibres and assorted titanium alloys; all-new split-second chronograph designs and more. It is as if Mille cannot stop concocting lateral approaches to watch design.

And the three new models highlighted at SIHH 2010 did not disappoint.

RM 017, aka the Ultra-Thin Tourbillon, is a notable achievement because tourbillons often require “breathing space,” which leads to thicker cases. RM 017 employs a further development of the

movement. As if by magic, the digits on the disc are highlighted only when positioned on a clear background, at the 3 o’clock position. Setting the second time zone is a matter of pressing the button at the 9 o’clock position, for one-hour advances with each press. A “classic” Mille design, RM 022 is housed in a titanium or 18k red or white gold case measuring an impressive 48mm long, 39.70mm wide and 13.85mm thick.

Even with conventional shapes – in this instance, a round case – Richard Mille manages to reflect the brand’s DNA. The RM 028 automatic diving watch, a descendant of the RM 025 tourbillion chronograph first launched in 2009, provided the maker with a notable entry into the crowded world of diving watches. RM 028, at

Once you’ve worn a Mille, you’re hooked. I can’t stop gazing at the movement. rectangular case first seen in the RM 016, its dimensions a wrist-hugging 49.80x38mm, with total height being a scant 8.70mm. Manually wound, the RM 017’s movement features a base plate in carbon nanofibre.

Particularly clever is the way the watch is set. Based on a car’s gearbox, it provides the three normal applications courtesy of winding, neutral and handsetting, but a special pusher in the centre of the crown adds a “speed handsetting function.”

Pressing the push button allows the user to change the hour hand independently of the minute hand.

A second new tourbillon is the RM 022 “Aérodyne” Dual Time Zone, which will appeal to travellers as it adds a second time-zone to the highly praised RM 021 Aérodyne launched in 2009. The first Aérodyne impressed for its use of titanium innards and an external structure in titanium combined with “orthorhombic titanium aluminides” alloys and carbon nanofibres.

The dual-time-zone indicator is particularly clever: in the centre of the dial, a transparent sapphire crystal disc inscribed with hours permanently rotates through the

47mm diameter slightly smaller than RM 025, respects ISO diving standard 6425 with water resistance of 300 metres and a unidirectional bezel to prevent accidental misreadings of the time remaining in a diver’s tanks.

Richard Mille ensured dependable water resistance with three-part case construction and 22 special torque screws, with complete integration of the lugs into the case system. Available in titanium with titanium lugs and rubber bracelet, RM 028 adds Richard Mille technology and the distinctive aesthetic to what remains a wholly functional timepiece. Above all, nothing has been allowed to compromise its strength or legibility.

With a trio like this appearing every year or so, Richard Mille has become a favourite of enthusiasts who value inventiveness, bold styling, bomb-proof assembly and, it must be admitted, rarity. Will Mille’s watches ever be produced in large numbers?

Unlikely. They’re too complex, too specialised, too costly to relinquish their exclusivity. And that’s just how the company’s fans want it to stay. 

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SNAP

Gateway to the

City of Gold

While air travel initially had at its heart the noble intention of cutting down misspent time, the opposite has unfortunately become true, spawning the adage: “Time to spare, go by air.” Ringing painfully true due to the rigmarole traditionally associated with hours spent at airports nowadays, it is nice to know that there is a beacon of hope just north of Johannesburg that alleviates the pain and makes flying a pleasure: Lanseria International Airport.

Words: KEVIN BARKER Image: © JOHN MILLER

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ituated just 20 minutes north-west of the throbbing heart of Johannesburg’s economic and tourism centre, and accessible by recently refurbished roads, Lanseria offers quick, convenient access to Pretoria, Sandton, Midrand, and the West Rand, making it probably the Gauteng Province’s most strategic airport location.

Lanseria’s appeal in the greater scheme of things is not defined so much by what it has but far more by what it does not – the hassle of a typical bustling, metropolitan airport.

While it cannot accommodate the largest wide-body aircraft, Lanseria

F E AT U R E

Airport (IATA: HLA, ICAO: FALA) is a privately owned international airport equipped to handle aircraft up to the Boeing 757-300. Although the passenger throughput is not as high as OR Tambo International Airport, Lanseria handles more aircraft movements per year (take-offs and landings) than any other airport in Africa.

Lanseria’s real strength, though, is as a hub for private charters, VIP flights and corporate shuttles, whose passengers can do without the pains of large airport operations. This airport’s modern design and layout minimises time spent between the terminal building and parked aircraft.

In fact, its convenience is of such a nature that passengers off a private flight can be aboard their road transport within 20 minutes of landing – which includes clearing customs and immigration and baggage collection.

Unlike a large number of South African airports, Lanseria’s main services operate on a 24/7, 365-daysa-year basis and include air traffic control, fuel, security, apron handling services, emergency services and fixed base operators such as Execujet, National Airways Corporation, and Swiftflight, all of which have excellent handling facilities at the airport.

Customs and excise, immigration and health services are also available on a 24-hour basis. Furthermore, this airport is home to the largest number of charter operators on the African continent.

From an operational perspective, the main runway is 2,918 metres long, with a secondary runway of 1,760 metres available for smaller aircraft. At present, Lanseria is equipped with distance measuring equipment (DME), Doppler VHF omni directional radio range (DVOR), instrument landing

system (ILS) and non-directional beacon (NDB). The load classification number is 68. At an elevation of 700 feet lower than OR Tambo International, pilots have more success in landing at Lanseria on foggy winter mornings than at OR Tambo, a most valuable point to consider during your World Cup preparations. During winter in particular, it is interesting to note the number of airliners diverting to Lanseria because they are unable to land at OR Tambo due to fog and smoke.

For those conscious of their security, Lanseria offers safe, undercover parking with securitycontrolled entrance and exit booms as well as a CCTV camera system. The entire airport is geared toward passengers with special requirements, with disabled passengers being catered for throughout the airport, both landside and airside. Indeed, Lanseria prides itself on its facilities, which include four outstanding executive lounges – certainly the finest in South Africa – located in its domestic and international departure areas.

Unsurpassed service and comfort in an upmarket setting are what the lounges are all about, and the staff members are attuned to the needs of discerning flyers, not to mention wellversed at handling even the most particular of passengers, as well as those concerned with tight security.

The airport has the requirements to ensure the safe, speedy and successful handling of VIPs, dignitaries and celebrities, due to its tenant mix, welltrained staff and internationally recognised security arrangements.

In terms of convenience, location and ease of operation, and with time as its most valued priority, Lanseria is unequalled in Southern Africa, and is a most viable hub from which to operate during the World Cup. 

Concierge Division Neo Africa’s concierge division prides itself on being an industry leader in turnkey solutions for managing VIP’s and groups seeking new and unconventional experiences. We are more than a travel company with our innovative thinking and the depth of resources to be able to deliver seamless and reliable services throughout the globe to our discerning clients.

We have a special VIP package to the exclusive Abu Dhabi Boat Show taking place at the Yas Marina from 25 to 27 February 2010. This is the same venue that neighbours the new famous Formula 1 GP track.

Please contact Komla Natasen on +27 11 484 2833 / +27 83 5618645 for more details.

Email: komla.natasen@neoafrica.com

2833 w w w. p r e s t i Tel: g e m+27 a g . c11 o . z 484 a 107

Fax: +27 11 484 2899 www.neoafrica.com

F E AT U R E

Boating World

Leader in Luxury Motor Yachts Boating World has been a leader in the large luxury motor yacht sector in Southern Africa for some 11 years now, and as a fourth generation boating and marine business, it is little surprise that they are still at the forefront.

Words: JESSICA WEBB Images: Š RIVIERA & FAIRLINE

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oating World is proud to be celebrating its 11th year in the luxury boat industry and its second year since expanding from Durban into Cape Town. The company has become an established leader among the marine industry’s elite dealerships.

Specialising in luxury motor yachts between 20 and 120 foot from prestigious brands such as Fairline and Riviera, Boating World has become synonymous with top-drawer luxury, and its staff well known for their meticulous attention to detail concerning even the most basic necessity.

This fourth generation business is led by life partners and owners Derrick Levy and Suzanne Glock, a couple that shares a passion for the industry – a key element in

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the success of their company, and which has been pivotal in driving Boating World to the top of its game.

Derrick, as Managing Director of Boating World, is a renowned powerhouse and visionary in the marine industry. His many years of industry experience, coupled with his specialised knowledge and expertise, gives Boating World a real edge when it comes to matching a discerning client with one of the award-winning motor yacht brands they represent in Southern Africa.

Suzanne has been in the boating industry for more than 12 years and is fanatical about her role as Director.

Together, Suzanne and Derrick ensure the best possible advice for prospective buyers, but more than anything, love sharing their enthusiasm with their clients. Once a client becomes a part of the Boating World family, they seldom leave; a breath of fresh air in an industry that often sees “fly by night” dealers come and go.

Clients also have a young, dynamic and incredibly capable Boating World team behind them.

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Together, the team has an accumulated 150 years of boating knowledge with an impressive 70 percent holding motor yacht skippers’ tickets – something that is invaluable to retailers and brokers of such products. “We don’t want our clients to sweat the small stuff,” says Derrick.

“It must simply be plain sailing, or should I say cruising or sport fishing.

Leisure time is precious and one wants to enjoy every minute without problems or the mundane. That’s what we do for our clients – we keep their lives hassle-free.” And they do it well, thanks to their enthusiastic team of experts. “Many people are looking for new leisure opportunities, often entering the marine industry for the first time. We are able to provide these opportunities in the style to which they are accustomed, and with the back-up and expertise that they would expect,” he says.

Boating World offers buyers not only sales but also exceptional backup service, a brokerage service, expertise and the best quality new and pre-owned products. With two offices in Durban and one in Cape Town Boating World is one of the only importers to offer three full-time offices in South Africa, providing a strong network of service and support to their buyers wherever they might find themselves in Southern Africa.

The company’s Durban premises at the Point Development in the Waterfront are perfectly situated and overlook the warm Indian Ocean, which is a huge draw card to thousands of marine enthusiasts all year round and gives instant access to

the boats on sale. They recently relocated their Cape Town branch from their offices in the V&A Waterfront, to a beautiful showroom on the water’s edge at the famous Water Club. Home to many of the bigger craft in the market, the showroom conveniently overlooks one of Cape Town’s largest marinas, offering instant access to the water and the craft on offer.

Boating World does not only import and sell luxury motor yachts though. They also offer a range of complementary services that will satisfy any boating need the marine enthusiast might have. With two inhouse technicians assisting clients with onboard training and arranging services like cleaning and mechanical checks for hassle-free upkeep, these services are imperative when making a major investment like buying a multi-million-Rand luxury motor yacht. Other services include marine insurance, GPS and fishfinders, airberths, and more.

The recently introduced Luxury Boatshare Programme is an exciting new addition to the Boating World stable. For those who thought owning an asset like a luxury yacht but a pipe dream, this new initiative offers a more accessible way of ownership through a very clever co-ownership programme. It includes all the pleasures of a luxury cruising lifestyle without the immense investment, running costs and hassle. For a much smaller initial investment than buying it outright, each 10-percent shareowner receives a share package of five weeks per year, which is managed in its entirety by Boating World. For the time-poor individual who simply does not want to invest millions into boating as a leisure activity, this is certainly the answer, offering the best of both worlds.  For more information on Boating World’s Luxury Boatshare Programme or any of their awardwinning luxury motor yacht offerings, contact 0861 324 754, email info@boatingworld.co.za, or visit www.boatingworld.co.za.

B1 Western Bypass, Windhoek South, Namibia Windhoek, Namibia Tel: +264 (0) 61 205 5911 Fax: +264 (0) 61 205 2797 E-mail: windhoek@legacyhotels.co.za GPS co-ordinates: 22°37’6”S | 17°4’23”E

Namibia 2 Theo-Ben Gurirab Avenue Swakopmund, Namibia Tel: +264 (0) 64 410 5200 Fax: +264 (0) 64 410 5360/1 E-mail: swakopmund@legacyhotels.co.za GPS co-ordinates: 22°40’27”S | 14°31’13”E

F E AT U R E

, Capitalism s Mythmanagement

Own Great Wall

The front door of the executive suite is the jealous domain of the Personal Assistant to the CEO. Those of us with a few miles on the clock will remember navigating this entrance to the chief under the disapproving gaze of a motherly spinster with a purple rinse able to hold its own against the fiercest of the Cape’s South-Easters. Typing, coffee and dry cleaning pick-ups were somewhere on the job description.

Words: CHARL DU PLESSIS Images: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

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imes have changed, and so has the new guard. Today’s PA has ditched the dictaphone, delegates coffee to the outsourced caterers, calls the IT manager by first name, and knows that the ILO and our own labour laws would frown upon the laundry trips of old. A few brave men have even broken through the Ricoffy ceiling and can now lay claim to the title of “PA to the Chief.”

What has not changed one bit is that the modern PA to the CEO still causes the biggest setback to

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capitalism since its inception – the stifling of information and ideas.

None of the Great Depression, two World Wars, droughts, political change, ethics scandals, or any other major calamity has done more to slow down the march of capitalism and industry than this fiery brand of selfappointed censors of ideas. The front office of the executive suite is still a veritable Great Wall intended to keep the world of mere mortals at bay while the CEO performs his or her other important duties. The promise to accept a fax, and more recently an email that would be slipped into

the less-important pile of internal office memoranda (what happened to the paperless office idea?) has become the polite excuse by which to shield the CEO from impostors with information.

A smart young Chicago economist, Frank Knight, published his ideas on the relationship between risk, uncertainty and profit in 1921, and would later win a Nobel Prize for Economics for his insight. Knight contended that profit was intimately tied to true uncertainty and not to risk – so much for the old saying “high risk, high reward.” Risk could be calculated

probabilistically, and mitigated through contracting or pooling (think “futures” or “insurance”). The only strategy by which to approach true uncertainty, and hence profit, was to gain better information about the future. The discovery of entrepreneurial opportunities – under which we can include corporate venturing and corporate entrepreneurship – functions as a kind of informational arbitrage.

The more diverse the sources of dissonant information available to the entrepreneur or manager, the better the chance of discovering new opportunities for profit. When the portals to the chief are only accessible to corporate insiders from one level down, who knows what wonderful opportunities lie rotting in the PA’s inbox or fax tray?

But who should gain access to the hallowed suite then? A good start would be to replace one scheduled appointment with every investment analyst, corporate banker, and the CFO with an opportunity for the CEO to meet with one sales representative, one small entrepreneur, and one company old-timer drawing a pension from the firm. These are the custodians of the valuable information currently going lost while the CEO discusses stock-price performance with highpowered types who do little to move its value in the right direction.

We are conditioned to dislike sales representatives. Yet, if we exclude the guy with the duffel bag selling the Taiwanese talking alarm clock, behind each of these sales representatives is a bevy of research about your industry, your competitors, and a sincere belief that your company would benefit from introducing their product into the operations of the firm. Virtually all that makes the firm function properly was introduced by a sales person at some stage – the ERP system, the production equipment, the payroll function, the auditors, the fleet, and so much more. That first sales call that got stumped by the PA was initiated because of a carefully considered match between your firm’s needs and the representative’s product or service.

Small entrepreneurs operate deeply in some niche tangential to the firm’s operations. They frequently observe one small area of the firm’s operation that could be changed for the better with a solution they are desperate to communicate to the CEO. They stand ready to commit time and effort to making this one small area work better, and their life dreams may be balanced on making it work.

Yet, access is tough, and they are scared stiff that the CEO may simply make the idea his or her own and leave the entrepreneur stranded without recourse. Even if only at a rate of one meeting a week, how much better off would the firm and its stock price not be after one year if 52 small areas within the firm functioned better? Or like the story of Apple, your firm’s next generation of competitive advantage might already be sitting in some entrepreneur’s small garage.

It never fails to amaze me how keen CEOs are to dump their pension commitments for the sake of cash flow and stock price, rather than embracing the old-timers with 30 or 40 years of hands-on experience on the floor and now with time to think about the firm and to discuss its fortunes with other old-timers. These people’s lives are defined by their service to the firm, and they hold the photo album of the firm’s growth in their mind’s eye. This is the firm’s long-term memory bank, and could be a remarkable source of valuable information.

My suggestion would be that we declare 2010 the year of the PA, and get Ricoffy (and Amstel Light for the modern PA) to sponsor a yearlong tea party for PAs at the local botanical garden by which we dismantle the virtual Great Wall outside the CEO’s front door. The remarkable growth of the Chinese economy has shown what can be achieved when opening up to the world. Who knows where our own economy might turn if local CEOs became more accessible to those who come knocking with valuable ideas and information.

SCRUMPTIOUS

RICH “Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion.” – Benjamin Franklin Words & Images: © RICH RESTAURANT

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n the fashionable surrounds of Joburg’s Bedford Square, RICH Real Grill Bar beckons like a beacon to those with a discerning palate and a taste for the good life. Having welcomed patrons through its gilded doors and into its plush interior for only two months, RICH has served a fair few portions of its signature dish – Fillet on the Bone – and topped plenty crystal glasses to the brim.

The name RICH is entirely appropriate. Attention to detail reigns supreme, from the outside to the inside; the bar to the bathrooms. The colours – be they tones of taupe and gold or shades of silver and pewter – were carefully considered, and work well in the range of textures and furniture they represent. Everything in this restaurant was custom-made; much of it imported – the elaborate chandeliers, for example, hail from

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France. It is a wonderful melange of old and new – antiquated and modern, all parquet floors and mirror-like, gold Perspex ceilings.

And the menu leaves nothing to be desired. From carefully wrapped parcels of creamy camembert and phyllo pastry with a black cherry, date and cranberry sauce; carpaccio with parmesan, rocket and truffle oil; to fresh or tempura oysters with wasabi mayo; traditional Portuguese Trinchado; and peri-peri prawns.

Moving onto main course, the specialties most certainly come from the grill, where a variety of steak options smothered in the sauce of your choice come sizzling to your table – cooked to near-impossible perfection.

RICH’s Beef Wellington is another favourite, as is their roasted lamb steak, and honey, soy and gingerglazed ribs. But the menu is varied, and an assortment of seafood and pasta dishes – from risotto and ravioli to

Scottish salmon and Lobster Thermidor – look good too. Be sure to leave ample room for dessert, because, while they are all worthy of praise, one in particular is so very decadent it should come with a warning label. It is, of course, the chocolate parcel – warm, velvety Lindt chocolate in a phyllo pastry shell, served with home-made pecan and praline ice-cream.

And diners will not want for liquid refreshment either, as an exotic cocktail menu, extensive wine list, and fine line-up of international bubblies can be perused at leisure, until the perfect accompaniment to your meal has been chosen. To end your evening, perhaps a glass of Lambrusco, a tumbler of Chivas Royal Salute, a nip of 30-year-old Glenfiddich, or a lingering dram of Rémy Martin. And should you really wish to make an event of it, might we suggest a Montecristo or two.  To book, call +27 11 615 4562.

premier TRAVEL

FORDOUN SPA MIDLANDS

NKOMAZI GAME LODGE BADPLAAS

This family-run hideaway in the Natal Midlands, with its pristine country air and rolling hills, offers luxurious accommodation and some of the most advanced, award-winning spa facilities.

Highly personalised service includes the very best in traditional African treatments. Fordoun is the perfect place to escape and refresh mind, body and spirit. www.fordoun.com Reservations: +27 33 266 6217

Known as the “place of water,” Nkomazi represents the true symbol of Africa – with its vivid scenic beauty, dramatic landscapes and wildlife. Accommodation is offered in the form of “African Campaign” styled tents where nature-loving guests can enjoy various exciting activities or be pampered and rejuvenated in African style. www.nkomazireserve.com Reservations: +27 41 407 1000

HOTEL LE VENDÔME CAPE TOWN

MICHELANGELO HOTEL JOHANNESBURG

Ideally located within walking distance of the vibrant Seapoint promenade, and boasting picturesque views of the Atlantic coast, Hotel Le Vendôme is a luxury boutique hotel with impeccable attention to detail. This timeless, elegant hotel is a benchmark in South African hospitality and five-star service excellence. www.le-vendome.co.za Reservations: +27 21 430 1200

FRÉGATE ISLAND PRIVATE SEYCHELLES

Away from the frenetic pace of modern living, Frégate is a different world. Not solely a means of escapism, Frégate strives to set new standards by integrating luxury tourism with a focus on the environment. Private butlers are also assigned to each villa.

Combining the most elusive qualities – space, seclusion, security – makes it distinctive among its competitors. www.fregate.com Reservations: +27 21 556 9984

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A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, The Michelangelo’s Renaissance architecture in the heart of Sandton's business and leisure district, service excellence and world-class facilities set it apart from others. Built around a central atrium, guests enjoy the decadent use of space and a feeling of grandeur. www.michelangelo.co.za Reservations: +27 11 282 7000

ONE&ONLY CAPE TOWN

In the finest tradition of this very select international group, the One&Only is located in the V&A Waterfront, walking distance (or water taxi) to the convention centre, conference venues and the best tourist attractions and restaurants. Enjoy spectacular views of Table Mountain and the city’s yachting life, with the world-famous Nobu restaurant ready to treat you. www.oneandonlycapetown.com Reservations: +27 21 431 5800

premier TRAVEL

TWELVE APOSTLES CAPE TOWN

Stand at the edge of the world where you can enjoy nature or explore Cape Town’s cosmopolitan V&A Waterfront with car transfer or helipad services. Voted Africa’s leading spa resort, the Twelve Apostles welcomes children and pets and promises an idyllic getaway for the whole family. www.12apostleshotel.com Reservations: +27 21 437 9000

BUSHMANS KLOOF CERES

An oasis of luxury in a breathtaking landscape of savage untamed beauty, 270 kilometres from Cape Town. Multi-award-winning Bushmans Kloof offers an exceptional wilderness and wellness experience. As a South African Natural Heritage Site, it is a sanctuary to endangered wildlife and flora, and home to over 130 Bushman rock art sites. www.bushmanskloof.co.za Reservations: +27 27 482 8200

RADDISSON JHB & PORT ELIZABETH

Spas, gyms and a unique “Yes I Can” concept that includes 100 percent Guest Satisfaction, both hotels have conference facilities and free Internet and offer luxurious rooms, fine dining experiences as well as opportunities to “paint the town Blu.” www.radissonblu.com/hotel-portelizabeth and www.radissonblu.com/hotel-johannesburg Reservations: +27 41 509 5000 (PE) and +27 11 245 8000 (JHB)

THE SAXON BOUTIQUE HOTEL & SPA SANDHURST Voted the World’s Leading Boutique Hotel six years in a row, The Saxon is the ultimate city base when in Johannesburg.

Close to the financial and business hub of South Africa, the lush tranquillity offers a calm retreat from a busy day’s work.

Enjoy discreet and highly personalised service in a tasteful African elegance. www.thesaxon.co.za Reservations: +27 11 292 6000

OYSTER BOX DURBAN

Hovering on the ocean’s edge, the Oyster Box Hotel is conveniently close to Afro-chic Durban, yet exudes an air of charm and elegance. This iconic hotel’s dramatic revamp now offers guests a vibrant, contemporary old-world experience, while evoking the warm nostalgia of days gone by. www.oysterboxhotel.com Reservations: +27 31 514 5000

BANYAN TREE SEYCHELLES

Nestled in Intendance Bay with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean and one of the world's most beautiful beaches.

Picture the sun on your skin, the sand at your feet, and plenty time on your hands while experiencing Banyan Tree's signature blend of romance, rejuvenation and exotic sensuality. www.banyantree.com Reservations: +27 11 463 8195 or +248 383 500

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French Chateaux Mooikloof, Pretoria

This 1,400 square-metre home is perfectly built. The exceptional quality, design and finishes become apparent the minute you enter the majestic wrought-iron gates. The entrance hall, with its impressive staircase and chandelier, invites you into a home with soaring ceilings, chiselled moldings, exquisite floors – no expense was spared. The expansive entertainment rooms tumble out onto a north-facing outdoor area with breathtaking views and swimming pool. Upstairs there are four spacious bedrooms, all with en suite bathrooms. The TV room, lounge, bar, dining room, wine cellar and study are located downstairs. A Jacuzzi, gym and play room are also featured. The kitchen is a mix of old and new with its paint technique, dark wooden cupboards and modern technology, including the best kitchen equipment available. Extras include a walk-in fridge, separate laundry, pantry, underfloor heating, air conditioning, gas fire places, and alarm system. Besides three garages, there is a doublestorey granny flat with own garage. A beautiful garden with water features and an expansive boma area can host 150 guests. Words do not do justice to this home.

Asking price is R13.9 million.

Web ref: 338543

Contact: Yolanda: +27 72 797 2019 Liesl: +27 82 377 8857 Visit: www.realnet.co.za

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Unsurpassed Views – Mooikloof, Pretoria This extraordinary Tuscan Villa (1,400 square metres) welcomes you with a double volume entrance and sweeping staircase. The home features five bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, enclosed braai area and gym. Flowing entertainment areas include a cinema, steam room and wine cellar. With superb finishes, underfloor heating, aircons and gas fire places, this magnificent residence conveys an air of luxurious comfort. Outdoors, a stunning garden with a borehole and irrigation system with automatic fertiliser dosing system, swimming pool, and Jacuzzi offer numerous options for relaxation.

Asking price is R16 million. Web ref: 321521

Stately Thatch – Mooikloof, Pretoria Situated against a hill in Mooikloof Equestrian Estate, this 1,500 squaremetre thatch home is designed for easy living and effortless entertaining on a grand scale. Enjoy sipping sundowners on the pool deck encompassing magnificent views or hosting guests in a large space that can function as a conference centre or leisure area. The home boasts five bedrooms, a large study, lounge, dining and TV rooms. Outdoor highlights include a Jaccuzzi, immaculate garden and a dam. Seven garages and generator add to your sense of security. The large stand provides privacy and creates a feeling of space and tranquillity – a piece of paradise in the middle of suburbia.

Asking price is R15.75 million. Web ref: 323149.

French Beauty – Mooikloof, Pretoria

This home offers everything your heart desires. The master bedroom with en suite bathroom has doors opening up onto a balcony overlooking a breathtaking garden with pool and pond. Kids have a separate wing with playroom/study and two spacious bedrooms with large bathroom to share. The guest wing offers two bedrooms, also sharing a bathroom.

The beautiful kitchen, formal lounge and dining areas, TV room with entertainment centre, wine cellar, braai area and large patio all make this an entertainer's dream. A huge, self contained flat with own braai area is part of the offer.

Asking price is R16 million. Web ref: 324807

Modern Mansion – Mooikloof, Pretoria Located in Mooikloof Equestrian Estate, this 1,500 square-metre, modern mansion exudes class and sophistication, yet offers a comfortable environment in which family and friends can mingle. Room by room this home tells its own story of superb craftsmanship and design by award-winning Architect, Hein Viviers. Each of the five bedrooms has its own balcony, and three have en suite bathrooms. A formal lounge, wine cellar, bar, dining room, TV room, study, playroom, two kitchens, pantry, scullery, walk-in fridge, and separate laundry are just some of the features. All living areas have doors leading out into a picturesque garden and braai facilities are available inside and out.

Visitors are greeted by a stunning water feature and koi pond. Five garages plus two carports and a fully-equipped flat or studio round out the details. Only once in a lifetime does a unique home blessed with spectacular views and remarkable sunsets become available.

Asking price is R15 million. Web ref: 320923.

Visit www.privateproperty.co.za/vt/J11597.htm for a virtual tour.

Contact: Yolanda: +27 72 797 2019 Liesl: +27 82 377 8857 Visit: www.realnet.co.za

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HTC Tattoo

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Bringing Android to All The Tattoo, which features HTC Sense, represents an easy way to shape your mobile experience and really make it your own. An Android-based phone, the Tattoo brings broad personalisation to the masses through its distinct design and its ability to personalise all aspects of the device, from its hardware and applications to its content and appearance. The Tattoo was designed by listening and observing how people live and communicate, and integrates users’ communications and applications including voice calls, emails, texts, photos and status updates into one consolidated view, providing an innovative and fun phone experience. It is small and compact, fitting snugly into a hand or pocket, and incorporates Google’s innovative mobile services including Google Maps, search, Google Mail, and Android market, where users can download thousands of popular applications and games. It also comes complete with a wide variety of hardware features including a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera, 3.5mm stereo headset jack and expandable microSD memory. The HTC Tattoo is available now in all major leading SA Telco stores. Visit www.htc.com for further information.

Need for Speed Yamaha WaveRunners

Building on the massive success of the 08/09 models, the 2010 Yamaha WaveRunner line-up delivers on every expectation and then some. From recreational models for novices and water-sport enthusiasts to ultra-highperformance sport models and even functional fishing craft, all models feature reliable marine engines, superb-handling hulls and a host of technological advancements. They are, in no particular order, the VX Series (for recreation), the FX Series (for high performance), the FZ Series (for sport), and the SuperJet Series (for racing). For your nearest Yamaha dealer or more information, visit www.yamaha.co.za or call 0800 926 242.

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Get on It TRIKKE uPT Personal Transporter

Looking something like a cross between a child’s scooter and a bicycle sans the wheels or seat, TRIKKE uPT has been lauded as a breakthrough transportation tool largely thanks to its practical and convenient features. These nifty little units can be used to complete any number of errands, including commuter transportation, staff and security mobility on large properties, destination tours and for recreation.

Marvellously lightweight, the units require very little maintenance and are easily foldable for transport and storage. And, they are an eco-friendly, green transportation choice too.

Driven by a 250W internal, brushless hub motor and a 36V, Lithium-ionpowered, hot-swappable compact battery, the TRIKKE uPT delivers zero carbon emissions. The unit is completely safe, with three wheels in constant contact with the pavement.

Capable of speeds up to 30km/h, the unit can travel as far as 40 kilometres on a single charge, though the rider can go faster and further by “carving” – a fluid motion that propels the vehicle forward, and which feels very much like the sensation experienced by skiers when carving down the slopes. Visit www.trikkeme.net.