FROM THE EDITOR...
December has always been my favourite month, it is my birthday month, so too for a lot of my family members, all the kids are off school so the whole family can be together, and of course there is Christmas to look forward to. December is a month of celebration and festivities, family and friends, memories and stories to tell for years to come. It is often said that it’s not about how you start it is how you finish that counts. The month of December is your final experience of a year and often dictates how you end up seeing that year as a whole, as either positive or negative. December also introduces a new year and that New Year ’s Eve party helps you start the year on a good note. Wherever you are spending this December I hope you celebrate all the joys of this year, get excited for the year ahead and end the year with lots of fun, laughter and love. This issue focuses on some fun activities and upcoming shows, more winey Witt from Fern of the vine and other interesting experiences to get your travel spots itching. Happy Holidays!
INSIDE FRONT COVER Lukimbi Safari Lodge
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ON THE COVER Credit: Keagan Lamb (Sandton Mile)
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FERN OF THE VINE Wine X? Wine Not!
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SANDTON MILE
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RAFTING 10 RIVER Ground Zero Adventures
12 TRAVEL WITH TRAFALGAR
Sacre Bleu! Discover Iconic Paris
14 THEATRE
Peppa Pig A Christmas Carol
15 BOOKS OUTSIDE BACK COVER Cinderella On Ice
Download or print TravelmagSA: www.issuu.com www.joomag.com Publishers Details: Cherry Berry Blue Publishing SA cc, Johannesburg, South Africa Editor: Keagan Lamb • keagslamb@gmail.com Cell: 084 474 5844 Contact for all Editorial & Advertising enquiries Contributors in this Issue: Fern of the Vine – Fern Ostrowick Travelling with Trafalgar – Amanda Hardy Editorial Design Concept, Production & Layout: Caroline Collings • caroline.collings@gmail.com e-Published 2017 © Monthly by Cherry Berry Blue Publishing SA cc. All rights reserved. Travelmagsa Finding Fabulous is registered by Cherry Berry Blue Publishing SA - ISSN 2220 – 413X While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this 39th edition of TravelmagSA, no responsibility can be accepted for quality of goods and services supplied by advertisers and sponsors. The publisher accepts no responsibility for material submitted by any client for reproduction, in regard to all relevant laws and regulations. Concept, text, covers and title of TravelmagSA is Copyright © and may not be reproduced by any process without the prior written permission of the publisher. The Publisher would like to thank all photographers, contributors, sponsors, advertisers and all parties involved for this exciting 40th edition.
V&A Waterfront Foodmarket, Cape Town T 021 433 0542 E enquiries@sundoo.co.za 11:00 - 20:00, Monday-Sunday
SUNDOO V&A FOODMARKET
South Indian Street Food, Tapas and Curry
Fern of the Vine
WineX? Wine Not! O
ctober is my eagerly awaited month in Johannesburg. In addition to the legendary grandeur of the city’s abundant jacaranda trees, which form a resplendent lilac canopy as their delicate lavender blossoms carpet the streets, for the past 18 years, in the last week of October, the Sandton Convention Centre plays host to RMB WineX, South Africa’s most prestigious wine festival. This is my favourite (wine) event of the year. My own “winevent calendar” - numbered bottles of wine, one to drink each day – counts down to my idea of Christmas.
If you adore everything wine related then RMB WineX is the adults’ version of Disneyworld. Imagine the whole of South Africa’s winelands coming together under one roof. The Pavilion exhibition hall inside the convention centre bursts with over 150 wine producers, each showcasing their wines. South African producers make up the bulk of the exhibitors ranging from prominent, big name farms down to the smallest bespoke boutique wineries and winemakers. There are also a few international wine brands, merchants and wine importers represented. You arrive at the door, present your ticket, collect your tasting glass and exhibition map and then take a deep breath before you go wild, tasting as much wine as you possibly can between 5pm and 9pm. The only dilemma I face every year is, “Where do I start?” This year there were roughly 800 wines available to sample, producers from most of South Africa’ wineries along the popular routes, as well as a vast array of grape varieties and categories of wine and grape spirits are showcased. Red wines, white wines, sparkling wines, dessert wines, single varietals, blended wines, brandies and fortified wines (ports) cater to everyone’s palate. This is a fantastic opportunity to literally taste your way around the country and sample wines from remote regions and wine routes you may never have had the chance to explore. I especially relish sipping on exotic single varietals, and new wine styles to develop my palate and expand my wine
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Fern of the Vine ers, designer wine coolers and storage solutions. It’s every wine devotee’s fantasy. The best part is that most of the wines are also available to purchase. WineX boasts a unique “Shop@Show” concept. You can either register your details on the website beforehand or with the helpful staff at the WineX payment counters. As I taste, I collect barcodes for my favourite wines to purchase as I leave, which Norman Goodfellows delivers to my door.
knowledge. I also ensure that I taste the most esteemed wines. With so many wine farms exhibiting, you can taste wine from new producers or experience wines from new farms. Many of the stands, especially the smaller producers, are manned by the winemakers themselves, who are approachable and eager to chat to their consumers. Their insight into their personal methodology and approach to winemaking is an ideal way to learn. Listening to the passionate creator of a beautifully crafted wine unravelling the enigmas of the wine world to you makes for an even more intimate and memorable evening. I especially appreciated visiting the international wine stands where I revelled in sampling a few exclusive (and pricey)
French wines, champagnes and Italian Proseccos. As an RMB invited guest I had the privilege of shunning the economy tasting glass in exchange for a Riedel “Vivant” crystal glass to enhance my tasting experience (which I got to keep) and enjoyed a delicious complimentary dinner, dessert and coffee at the Mastrantonio food counter.
If you missed it this year or have never attended, I implore you - diarise WineX 2018. Tickets are available from Computicket and can be purchased for one or multiple evenings at a discounted price. I would suggest booking tickets for at least two evenings as there is just not enough time in one night to taste your way around even one corner of the hall. I highly recommend hiring an Uber to there and back. I hope you will have the opportunity to welcome in 2018, with a superb glass of wine or bubbles in hand. Cheers!
WineX is not just about wine. Many wine-friendly food producers come to peddle their wares and entice your taste buds. Think olives and olive oils, charcuterie, cheese, chocolates, oysters and nougat. You can even peruse and purchase imported wine glasses, decant-
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n o t d n Sa e l i M
Sandton Mile
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ne always cherishes an opportunity to indulge themselves in a marvellous hotel, and taste the best drinks on offer. So to be invited to the Tsogo Sun Sandton Mile Whiskey and Gin run, to enjoy the outside venues of The Sandton Sun, Intercontinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers, Garden Court as well as the Sandton Convention Centre, which together make up the Sandton Mile, with Whiskey and Gin flowing, was a complete treat. To top it off, I got to share the experience with my personal friend, photographer and calisthenics pro Massimo Flaiani who is representing South Africa at the Street Work-out World Cup in Guadeloupe later this month. Each of these hotels stand on their own as masterful, and each one provides its own unique splash of brilliance. The Sandton Mile exudes luxury, indicative of its setting in Sandton, which is the richest square mile in Africa. As a group we got treated to four of the exquisite outdoor venues on the Sandton Mile which are all interlinked by the suspended interconnected bridge, known as the skywalk, which links the separate buildings, starting with The Sandton Sun VIN lounge. Entering the Sandton Sun gives you the sense that you have instantly acquired VIP status, showcasing an interior that almost appears
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to be painted and demands that you take photographs. We were greeted with all the necessary ingredients to make our own Gin and Lime cocktail which was thoroughly enjoyed, for which I take almost no credit. We then moved across the skywalk to the Intercontinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers, where we gathered on the exclusive and more private setting of The Sundeck to learn a bit more about Whiskey and Bourbon, and the correct way to serve and enjoy them. While we lapped up the sunshine and indeed the whiskey, we awed over the urban beauty of Sandton and relaxed by the sparkling pool. We then made our way further along the skywalk to the Sandton Convention Centre. The patio areas, outside Boardroom one and on level four, open onto a panoramic view of Sandton with a discrete outside area perfect for post-event functions and relaxed corporate occasions. We were treated to a classic G&T served with cucumber, which was a refreshing respite from the sweltering sun. After three “generous� tasting sessions, we tentatively proceeded to the Garden Court to experience the best of Hennessy Whiskey. The Garden Court boasts luscious lawns and
Sandton Mile
“after covering three of these remarkable hotels and the Convention centre it truly put into context the magnitude of how impressive the Sandton Mile really is”
flower beds, creating a remarkable contrast to the urban backdrop, which is just as picturesque. To be able to spend time in just one of these venues is an experience to be remembered, so after covering three of these remarkable hotels and the Convention Centre, it truly put into context the magnitude of how impressive the Sandton Mile really is. If you are looking for luxury, venture to the richest square mile in Africa, and either stay in, or host your event at one of Tsogo Sun’s venues on the Sandton Mile. For more information on the Tsogo Sandton Mile properties, please contact Adriaan Liebetrau on (011) 779 0000 or visit www.tsogosun.com
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River Rafting
o r e Z d n u o Gr
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s a Johannesburg city slicker, it’s often difficult to find new and exciting things to do without, having to travel for hours to get out of the hustle and bustle of the big smoke. River rafting through rocky rapids is not exactly an everyday activity for the average person, particularly for us Joburgers who spend most of our weekends at the mall. So to travel a little under an hour to Lanseria, to take on the Jukskei, river was a convenient and riveting adventure that I definitely plan on doing again, if not one of the other activities at Ground Zero Adventures which include quad biking, paintballing, tubing and more. I have never been river rafting before, and was both curious and a little anxious. Joined by my close friend Craig Van Straaten, we made a very unsure and inexperienced team. The friendly greeting party quickly put our minds at ease, made us feel welcome and ensured us that the rapids were quite tame. Just as we felt calmer about what was to come we were asked to fill out indemnity forms in case something went wrong, and were taken to fit our life jackets and protective helmets, needless to say it was back to wide eyes and nervous laughter. We caught a lift on the back of the bakkie to the river, which was the first wild ride we would have that day. Once we got down to the river our passionate and funny guide gave us our safety talk, each safety tip complete with props, jokes and hilarious demonstrations. We then jumped into our
boat and set off down the river. Rowing along the shallow water was a good arm workout, but there was plenty of time to just float and enjoy being out on the water. Unfortunately the banks along the Jukskei are quite littered, as is to be expected on a city river, and this served as a sobering reminder of how important it is to look after the environment and dispose of waste properly. Our peaceful voyage down the river was suddenly turned on its head (somewhat literally) after one of the rapids decided to capsize our boat entirely. I will attach almost all the blame to the infancy of my own rowing ability. Not only did the tumble extract much of my dignity, as these were after all only level three/ beginner rapids, but it also took my new GoPro, which we were unable to salvage from the churning water. We mutually decided that we had seen enough of the bottom of the river and proceeded to sail “effortlessly� over the more daunting rapids, like seasoned professionals. We were met with refreshments at the end of our trip, and made our way back to reception. We felt like we had a full day of adventure, even though we were only on the water for a little over an hour ,but we could have quite easily have set off on the quad bikes, had there been time. This is definitely an experience for the whole family, and I would recommend it for anyone looking for an escape from the city and a bit of adventure.
River Rafting
s e r u t n e v Ad
Travel with Trafalgar
SACRE BLEU! DISCOVER ICONIC PARIS Do you know the Notre Dame from the Sacre Coeur? Trafalgar invites you to discover the most famous sights in and around one of the most romantic cities in the world – Paris – and take the quiz to find out how well you know the city LOUVRE MUSEUM
EIFFEL TOWER Originally designed by Gustave Eiffel as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 World’s Fair, this 324m-tall art-nouveau tower continues to be the most prominent landmark of Paris. At night, beams of light shine from the bottom towards the top to illuminate the Eiffel Tower from the inside of its structure. The Eiffel Tower is the number one most visited paid monument in the world. Since opening in 1889 over 300 million visitors have enjoyed the views of Paris that it affords.
LOUVRE MUSEUM Home to Da Vinci’s masterpiece artwork – the famous Mona Lisa, this museum is the largest art museum in the world. A national monument, this former grand palace used to be a main residence of the French Kings from the 1546. After the French Revolution, it became a museum to house France’s masterpieces. It is estimated to have an average of 15,000 visitors daily.
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THE TUILERIES GARDEN This public park is the largest to be found in Paris and it features a French style garden with beautifully manicured trees. The origin of its name is due to tile factories (“Tuileries” in French) that were originally located on the grounds until Queen Catherine de Medici built the Palais des Tuileries in 1564.
PALAIS-ROYAL Originally known as the Palais-Cardinal, this imposing building was home to Cardinal Richelieu until his death in 1642, whereupon it became the property of the King and was renamed Palais-Royal.
Travel with Trafalgar PALAIS-ROYAL
PONT ALEXANDRE III
PONT ALEXANDRE III
As you walk across this elegantly designed bridge built in 1892, across the River Seine with the Champs-Élysées on the Right Bank to the Eiffel Tower on the Left Bank, you can admire the views on each side. It was built low at a height of only 6 meters to ensure it did not obstruct the views on either side. It is also described as an open-air museum with gilded sculptures of lions, cherubs, nymphs, and it’s equally beautiful Art Nouveau lamps
PASSAGE VERDEAU Find collectible gems like old postcards, vintage stamps, rare books and French memorabilia as you visit the shops. Admire the pale pink flagstone flooring, its “fishbone” neoclassical glass ceiling and the quintessential shop fronts as you walk along these historic passageways. This passage was built in 1847 and was named after its developer, Monsieur Verdeau.
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY BOOKSTORE This independent English language bookstore is a Parisian institution rich in history and likely one of the largest in the world. With its first owner, Sylvia Beach, it was a place where literary legends like as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ezra Pound would hang out.
MONTMARTRE This bohemian-style enclave has been the inspiration to artists like Picasso, Van Gogh and Renoir. Located 130 metres above the city on the hill, the neighbourhood is buzzing with activity. Visit Pain Pain, a bakery known for their award winning baguettes. At the bottom of the hill is the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret, known to be the birthplace of “French Cancan”.
NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL This medieval Catholic cathedral is a historical monument, over 850 years old, is an architectural gem with its iconic stained-glass windows. Napoleon crowned himself emperor here at the church, and in 1768, geographers decided to measure all distances in France starting from Notre-Dame.
SACRE-COEUR BASILICA Located on the hilltop of Montmartre is Paris’ second most visited church.. In the bell tower is France’s largest and most famous bell called the La Savoyard that weighs over 18 800 kg and can be heard up to 10km away. The bell tower is 83 metres tall and with it on top of the Montmartre hill, its highest point rises above the top of the Eiffel Tower. Take Trafalgar’s quiz and find out if you are a true Francophile or clueless when it comes to the City of Lights? Bon chance! If you’d love to visit Paris then skip the queues with Trafalgar and fast track your way with the guided holiday by visiting www.trafalgar.com or call them on (011) 280 8440 for more details.
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Theatre South Africa” will open in Johannesburg at Emperor’s Palace on 29 March and run until 2 April 2018. The show will then visit Cape Town’s International Convention Centre from 6 to 8 April 2018 before heading to The Playhouse Company, Durban from 20 – 22 April 2018. The second leg of the tour takes place in June/July 2018 with stopovers at the Port Elizabeth Opera House from 22 – 24 June 2018 followed by Pretoria.
New live-action adventure ‘Peppa Pig Live in South Africa’ brings hit TV series to life in SA theatre tour starting March 2018
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ore fun than a muddy puddle! Entertainment One’s phenomenally successful preschool TV show, Peppa Pig, will move from the small screen to the theatre stage in South Africa next year as “Peppa Pig Live in South Africa” begins its much-anticipated tour. Marking the first ever nationwide stage show tour for Peppa and friends, “Peppa Pig Live in
“Peppa Pig Live in South Africa” is an action-packed rollicking stage show, based on the award-winning television series (broadcast locally on E-TV and DSTV) especially designed to give young fans an unforgettable first live theatre experience. A fully immersive musical production featuring a dozen familiar and original songs, as well as an interactive sing-a-long, the live stage show will have fans laughing, cheering and dancing – just like Peppa! Come join Peppa, George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and more in a fantastic adventure filled with buckets of surprises and plenty of muddy puddles! For more information about the show, visit www.peppapiglive.co.za or stay in touch via social media. Make it a big day out, don’t miss Peppa Pig LIVE! #PeppaPigLiveSA www.computicket.com VIDEO PREVIEW https://youtu.be/BcJ_Ff-uMYQ ONLINE #PeppaPigLiveSA Website www.peppapiglive.co.za Facebook www.facebook.com/peppapigliveSA Instagram www.instagram.com/peppapigliveSA Twitter www.twitter.com/peppapigliveSA YouTube www.youtube.com/peppapigliveSA
Books
Coco Discover everything you need to know about the exciting new Disney Pixar movie, Coco, in DK’s Essential Guide. Disney Pixar Coco: The Essential Guide is the perfect partner to Disney’s highly anticipated new movie. Disney Pixar’s Coco is the celebration of a lifetime, where the discovery of a generations-old mystery leads to a most extraordinary and surprising family reunion. This guide will cover all the memorable characters, plus key locations, themes and iconic moments from the movie in DK’s lively and informative non-fiction style. Hardcover | R230 | 9780241288412
The Book of the Year The Book of the Year will be precisely what its title promises: an entertaining, fact-filled journey into the more bizarre reaches of the past twelve months. Venturing fearlessly from Australia (where toad-flavoured sausages are being deployed to stop predators from eating real toads) to India (where you can now buy a washing machine with a special curry stain button), this will be the year, not as the headlines defined it, but as it ought to be remembered. The Book of the Year will prove the perfect Christmas gift, the ideal conversation starter (and stopper), and the ultimate source of wisdom for all lovers of trivia. Hardcover | R320 | 9781847948199
One of Us is Lying On Thursday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the geek, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the bad boy, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the jock, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app. Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon’s dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident… Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them. Paperback | R180 | 9780141375632