UKUVUSA - Vol.1 Issue.1 - Aug 2020

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PAGE 4 THE LEGACY

CONT ENTS

The inside scoop of the incredible journey of a 3rd generation family owned and run hotel on the Wild Coast

PAGE 13 BECOME A TRAIL MONSTER Mark Crawford tells us all about the trail running prospects in his neck of the woods

PAGE 17 ROAD TRIP CULTURE It's clear that guys do it any chance we get, so I asked a couple ladies to help me unpack what the ultimate road trip for the girls would look like

PAGE 21 WONDER WOMEN We get some inspiration from Lyn Crawford about what it takes to be a hotelier, a wife, a mom and a grandmother

PAGE 23 FLAVOUR Channel your inner neanderthal with the Caveman Steak... here's how!

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ukuvusa to awaken; invulnerable [ oo / koo / voo / sa ]

FIND YOURSELF Editor's Note Welcome to the first edition of UKUVUSA!

What you won't find contained in these pages is anything political, stress inducing or annoying.

What you will find contained in these

pages however is a legacy, a lifestyle, a culture... some feel good reading material to take your mind on a trip if you will... the legal kind.

This is the start of a symbiotic journey of discovery, to share our beautifully diverse stretch of coastline with you, along with all the adventure, leisure and wellness activities that are at your disposal.

There will be showcases of local talent, delicious recipes, interest pieces, cultural segments, and just plain positive vibes.

We hope you'll join us.

This is our providence.

Much love

h Jos

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Josh Steenekamp DISRUPTOR /Â EDITOR

AUGUST 2020

The Legacy The story of the Crawford's Family

Ian was met with a couple warning shots and a friendly greeting...

Old man Crawford, or Roy

Tragedy struck in 1975 when

should we say, was a dairy

the hotel burnt down and with

farmer in what is now

Old Man Crawford never

Sandton in Gauteng. Clearly

being one for great admin

having enough of what was

skills, all was lost for the

rapidly becoming a concrete

family as the proper insurance

jungle, he and wife Joan,

cover was not in place.

decided to relocate to the coast, and in so doing bought

With an astute eye for a

the Glengarrif Hotel, along

bargain, the Crawford's

the Eastern Cape coastline, in

family put down R15 000 as a

1964.

deposit on a piece of seaside farm land in Chintsa East in

The Glengarrif Hotel became

1976, that consisted of a main

one of the "hot spot" hotels

farmhouse and four cottages

along this coastline and

that were being used as

became famous, or perhaps

chicken hoks.

infamous depending on who you talk to, for its weekend disco’s hosted by Roy’s son, Ian.

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Once the pool was built, Roy started the tradition of braaing prawns around the pool on a Saturday evening...

This particular piece of land however had been repossessed and on arriving at the property, Ian was met with a couple warning shots and a friendly greeting from the previous owner, “Ek sal jou doodskiet, jou donder se

On one occasion Ian and Roy decided to spend R20 000 on the swimming pool and Pansy Cottage. Joan was furious that they had spent so much.

Engelsman”,

As it turned out, it could have been the best investment they Roy and Joan then opened a

made, as they are the few

simple self-catering resort,

remaining structures still

and the iconic "Crawford's

in their original state.

Cabins" was born.

Once the pool was built, Roy During ths time, Ian and Lyn

started the tradition of

took up positions managing

braaing prawns around the

Trennery’s Hotel between 1976

pool on a Saturday evening...

and 1980, and then Umngazi

and the legacy of the

River Bungalows between

Saturday Seafood

1980 and 1988. In those days,

Extravaganza had begun!

most of the Wild Coast hotels were owned by the Transkei Development Corporation as the Transkei was an independent state. Ian took the income he made at these hotels to send home to Roy, to develop Crawford's

n 1988, Ian and Lyn decided to relocate to Chintsa as they now had 2 sons in Komga School near East London and they felt a tad isolated, so they bought out Roy and Joan and proceeded to upgrade

Cabins.

the resort.

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It was during this time they built the Crawford's Restaurant and Bar, which for many holiday makers and locals, became an institution of a generation, and was instrumental in putting Chintsa East on the map.

At Lyn’s 40th birthday celebration, a local resident from the Chintsa village, decided that he would go toe to toe with the male stripper hired for the celebration. It ended with Dougie falling on top of the bands drum set.

Ian and Lyn had made

their mark on the business.

“At Lyn’s 40th birthday celebration, a local resident from the Chintsa village, decided that he would go toe to toe with the male stripper”

Around the early 1990’s there was turmoil in the Transkei that affected tourism along the coastline to such an extent that many Wild Coast hotels had to be temporarily closed down. The pinch was definitely felt in Chintsa too and Ian and Lyn devised a strategy to sub-divide and section off the cottages to sell on. By 1997 all the cottages as well as the restaurant were sold off to individual owners.

Before all this happened though, Roy Crawford had passed away suddenly in 1992.

Roy was a popular man in the village, and was dubbed one of “the 3 crazy Scots that had founded Chintsa”, the other two being old man Campbell and old man Cairns of Cefani.

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Roy had always maintained that he never

Known for his floral shirts and charisma, Roy was quite the character Known for his floral shirts and charisma, Roy was quite the character, he loved his guests

wanted a funeral, but Ian decided to host one for him anyway. It was a beautiful ceremony with the Crawford's staff standing and singing on the deck, when all of a sudden, the entire deck collapsed with all the staff on it.

There were no injuries thankfully, but Ian still wonders if that was a final word from Roy not to disobey his wishes.

More tragedy struck...

and loved to entertain them, just as long as you were nice, because if you weren't, he'd have no qualms about showing you the way

More tragedy struck In September 1998.

The restaurant caught alight and burnt

out.

down along with a few cottages within the resort. Unfortunately the owners at the time, decided not to rebuild.

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New beginnings...

The restaurant site sat vacant

In 2006 Ian and Lyn decided to

for many years and as a result

convert a cottage into 6 hotel

the dynamic of the resort

rooms and convert the living

changed. It became more of

area of their own residence

a private holiday home estate

into a dining room. Crawford's

and the name changed from

now offered B&B and meals

Crawford's Cabins to Chintsa

for guests again. This was

Chalets.

essentially the birth of Crawford's Beach Lodge.

In December of 2002, Ian and Lyn Crawford, after falling on

By 2008 Ian and Lyn had been

hard times and having

joined in the company by their

suffered some ill health

two sons; Justin, the elder, and

decided to re-establish

Mark, the younger brother.

themselves in Chintsa. They

They had completed their

were able to muster up a

studies and done stints

bond of R260Â 000 and

overseas in the UK. Things

bought one cottage within

were not easy at the time

Chintsa Chalets. They then

as another global recession

decided they wanted to

had taken hold, so there was

revive Crawford's Cabins.

again talk of selling the business, as Justin had also

Initially they started to

shown an interest in farming.

manage and rent the privately owned cottages. They did so

A decision was made not to

with relative success and built

sell, but rather to try set up a

up enough capital to start

second business, in the form of

buying back several of the

a farm for Justin, and carry on

units.

growing Crawford's. After some time in the farming business, Justin and his wife, Brenda started a self-catering business in Underberg, which is a favourite stay over spot for tourists, who visit the

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Drankensberg Mountains and Sani Pass.

AUGUST 2020

A little bit of luck transpired when Ian was offered the property where the old restaurant used to be situated and they had the idea to build, what are now the Dolphin Rooms at Crawford's. This decision proved to be a masterstroke, as it elevated Crawford's into a new league and this was when they officially decided to change the name from Crawford's Cabins, to Crawford's Beach Lodge.

In 2011, Lyn and Ian decided to hand over some of the reins at Crawford's to son Mark, as they felt it was time for some fresh ideas and for the legacy to live

“This decision proved to be a masterstroke, as it elevated Crawford's into a new league”

on, as the 3rd Generation of Crawford's now took the helm.

It's not difficult to understand the generational success after listening to a story like that, and I

Granny Joan, as she was affectionately known, unfortunately passed away in January 2012 after a Christmas with her family, and a few months after her 89th birthday, but not before being able to be a great grandmother to Marks twins, Tayla & Joshua who were born in 2011 and living at the lodge. She was a lady with a real zest for life and a feisty personality. Right until the end she managed walks on the beach and refused assistance to get back up

have been assured that "I dont know the half of it"! I have my own childhood memories growing up in Chintsa West from the age of 5, and the communities from across the country that would converge in these welcoming coastal villages every year, meant you had holiday brothers and sisters that you got to grow up with and jol together every Christmas.

the stairs.

As 16yr olds we would walk 25min across the beach and sneak in to the old Crawford's Cabins pub, where our favourite barman, Kingswood, would always serve us a cold hunters gold. The river mouth used to flow back then and many a time we would get caught on the high tide, having to cross kalgat through waist deep water, but don't tell our parents that, because we told them we were playing pool at the rec centre... definitely not sinking Fanta Browns at the Cabins!

So 25yrs later here we are, my daughter of 3 is growing up like I did, connected to the Wild Coast, and a welcomed new addition to the growing list of Crawford's guests who become family. For those of you who have visited this hotel right on the beach, you'll already know... for those of you who haven't... you just don't know what you're missing!

h Jos For reservations and inquiries go to:

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www.crawfordsbeachlodge.co.za

AUGUST 2020

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.

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AUGUST 2020

womens

MONTH

PROMOTION 50% OFF!

C'mon boys, spoil that special lady in your life, or girls, get some mates together and spoil yourselves!

CRAWFORD'S BEACH LODGE Starting at R795pp sharing, plus 50% of all Spa treatments Inclusions: T's & C's:

accommodation, breakfasts, 4 course dinners

minimum 2ngt stay, available for the month of august only, use code

"WONDER WOMEN" when booking to receive 50% off Spa treatments

For promotion inquiries contact Josh at:

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www.wildcoastbookings.co.za

AUGUST 2020

the rise of bed n' breakfast written by Josh Steenekamp / photography by JL King

With the traditional hotel buffet pretty much out the window for now, this could be your time to sniff out a bargain as bed n' breakfast rate offerings will come as a welcomed wallet pleaser.

For those of you who have visited Crawford's before, you will most surely remember the endless smorgasbord of delectable items available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For those of you who have yet to visit, the Crawford's family have long been one of the pioneers of what has become the expectation of a typical Wild Coast Hotel Buffet, and the endless abundance of it.

Times, they are a changing however, and just like every other business and individual out there, it's time to adapt, survive, evolve and thrive, and make no mistake, your dining experience is at the forefront of their evolution. We can't say too much right now, but there is a very exciting collaboration brewing with a local restaurateur regarding some exciting new concepts, menu ideas and all round foodie inspirado. In other words, turn that frown upside down, as you not losing a buffet, you're gaining some experiential dining in one of the few actual seaside, on the beach hotels in the Eastern Cape.

Dinner, Bed & Breakfast rates will still remain their most popular however, as their chefs will put together a daily changing 4 Course Set

For reservations and accommodation inquiries

Menu for dinners, that will focus on seasonality, nourishment and satisfaction. For lunches, the selection of pizzas, seafood and grills from the

Reception: 043 738 5000 www.crawfordsbeachlodge.co.za

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Deck Menu will keep you well satiated as you lounge around the pool, cocktail in hand.

AUGUST 2020

GET ACTIVE SIX BEST STRETCHES TO DO BEFORE RUNNING Walking Lunges Not only do walking lunges loosen up the major muscles used while running, specifically the quads and hip flexors, but they also simulate the forward motion of running, which makes them particularly useful as a pre-run stretch Stand with your feet together, then take a long step forward with your right foot. Bend the front knee to 90 degrees and the back knee until it almost touches the ground. Hold for 3 sec before rising up, bring your feet together and then alternate legs. Continue this way for about 10 lunges (five on each side).

Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch If you sit at a desk all day, you probably have tight hip flexors, since they're constantly in a state of flexion. This makes this pre-run stretch extra important before you work out.

Start in a lunge with your front knee at 90 degrees.

BECOME A TRAIL MONSTER Interview with Mark Crawford

Begin to straighten your back leg, so you feel a stretch along the front of your back thigh. Keep your front

Not being much of a runner myself... okay hang on I'm really

knee aligned over your toes. Raise your arms over your

underselling that, so let me try that again with a little more

head and hold for a few seconds, and then release.

Continue in a dynamic motion, shifting forward as you raise your arms up, and then lowering your arms as you come back to the starting position.Repeat five times on

honesty...

Finding any excuse I can to dislike running, from blaming my joints to a dodgy knee injury from my school days, hell i'd even pull the

each side.

"dog ate my tekkies", but alas we don't have a dog, and it's probably not right to blame Douglas, the neighbors 11 yr old Jackie.

Side Stretch Side stitches are a common complaint among runners, help

Bottom line, I just don't dig it because I am unfit. I feel that there are many sports and activities out there that you can get away with, with a minimum to mediocre fitness level, and running ain't one of them.

stretch before running. Perform this

There was a brief time in my life however when I was training at this

from a standing position or you can

CrossFit gym in PE and after a couple months of tears, sweat and

add a side stretch to the hip flexor

more tears, sprints and running was something that I actually

stretch.

Bring your arms over your head. Keeping your abdominals tight, lean to the right, bending at the waist. Hold for a few seconds, and then lean to the left. Do this movement dynamically, holding for one or

started to enjoy, albeit in very short bursts, but one thing that has always been apparent to me, is that it's as much a mental game as it is physical, and this is where I gotta take my hat off to all of you long distance athletes out there.

two breaths on each side before switching.

So to understand the inspiration of a trail runner, I caught up with a close friend of mine, Mark from Crawford's Beach Lodge, who has really been tuning his environment in to his own athletic

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morning out for me. I asked him some honest questions, he gave me some honest answers.

Continue reading on next page >

AUGUST 2020 | ISSUE 01

prevent them by doing this torso

GET ACTIVE SIX BEST STRETCHES TO DO BEFORE RUNNING Around The World Lunge Warm up and stretch all the major muscles of your legs with this lunge variation that gets you to move in all direction. Great for working every plane of motion and helps to keep the hips as open as possible.

Start with your left leg stationary and lunge backward with your right foot, holding the stretch for a moment.

Come back to center and lunge forward with your right foot. Follow with a side lunge, lunging out to your right and holding for a moment. Last in the rotation, do a curtsy lunge — bringing your right leg behind your left leg and bending your knees as if you're curtsying.

Repeat this pattern five times, and then switch legs.

Calf Raise Every time your foot leaves the ground during a run, your calf muscles contract to make that happen. Give them some pre-run love by doing a simple, dynamic

josh: So it’s certainly no secret that you have been hitting the tekkie to the tarmac pretty seriously in the last couple months, is running always something you have been passionate about?

calf raise.

Stand on the edge of a stair so that only the balls of

mark: It is, but I’ve been very stop start, so haven’t been able

your feet are on the stair and your heels are hanging

to gain momentum. Towards the end of last year I made the

over the edge. Hold onto a stair rail for balance, if

decision to give it a full crack and made a mental shift to be

necessary. Rise up on your toes, and then slowly lower

more healthy in general.

your heels so that they come below the stair and you feel a stretch through your calf muscle. Hold the stretch for a moment before rising up again and repeating. You can also do the stretch on one foot at a time.

josh: How did the start of the lock down in March impact your training?

mark: Both positively and negatively.

It certainly gave me

more time, and I use running as a form of therapy to clear my

Open up your hip flexors and quadriceps with a dynamic version of this classic stretch. Use a wall

mind. The difficult part was that we weren’t allowed to leave the property so I had to make a track within the resort and do laps. I guess in hindsight, that also helped though as it was more of an obstacle course.

for support or challenge your

josh: What has drawn you to the self-mutilating punishment of

balance by performing the stretch

trail running?

without support.

mark: Bend your right knee and grab your right foot or ankle from the outside. Pull your foot in toward your right buttock and hold it there for a count of 10. Keep your torso upright and your head and shoulders aligned over your hips. Repeat three to five times before switching

Where we live is just so picturesque and untouched.

Once you’re out in the open with the endorphins pumping and you witness a sunrise or sunset over this ocean, you’ll definitely want to experience that again. The weight loss and extra energy isn’t a bad perk either.

sides.

Images : Yolanda Cano

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AUGUST 2020 | ISSUE 01

Standing Quad Stretch

GET ACTIVE

Well the Olympics are delayed by a year giving me an outside chance to sneak in josh: It seems like sometimes your pace is on par with someone running from the law, is there an event set in your sights that you are working towards?

mark: Well the Olympics are delayed by a year giving me an outside chance to sneak in, but jokes aside, I feel I’m better suited to the longer runs, so the Skyrun, Two Oceans and Comrades are on the list, but as far as shorter events, the local Surfers Challenge is a race I’d like to win if possible.

josh: So the 33km “Kei to Crawfords” event happens every October and after sharing a lot of exciting discussions with you around Health & Wellness being a part of the future of Crawford’s, do you foresee more events of this nature throughout next year and will they be accessible for most fitness levels.

mark: Sports Tourism was already the fastest growing type of travel on the planet, and I think these type of events will surge after lock down as people will be even more aware of the health and personal well-being. The K2C is our "main" event, and is a great run because it covers all the different types of terrain with the added bonus of taking in some of the best sights SA has to offer. From the Cliffs at Morgan Bay to the endless beaches in Chintsa.

It is challenging though as there are some serious uphill’s and tricky underfoot conditions.

Crawford's. The RB Africa Challenge and GoChiMor are two well put together stage races that we work with too.

josh: So the word on the street is you’ve got some upgrade plans for the lodge, can you give the readers a little taste of the exciting developments to come?

mark: Yes we do, I can’t say too much now, but a new beach bar, wedding venue and upmarket board room are on the cards, plus four new “honeymoon suites”. We are taking this opportunity to reinvent ourselves a bit, with a new focus on health and well-being as an important part of what we offer, but watch this space, as we have many more exciting announcements to make in the coming months.

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It is also just one of 3 big races to come past

I READ, I TRAVEL, I BECOME.

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AUGUST 2020

Road Trip Culture IS IT ONLY MEN THAT TAKE THE GAP?

Ask any red blooded man child,

Nothing can bring more joy to the average dude

"whats better than a roadtrip with

than piling in to a car with some mates, pack more

your buds", and I'm pretty confident

beer than you can statistically consume in the given time frame, and hit the road on an adventure

the answer is gonna sound a little

that 100% of the time, ALWAYS, leaves lasting feel

something like this...

good, mostly hysterical memories, of your

Nothing! Absolutely nothing!

Now i'm not talking about "better" than the birth of your child "better" because some stuff, especially a child, is way more fulfilling than a weekend release from the world, in fact it's exactly the opposite, it's a life sentence! (disclaimer: I am a proud father and love my kid and

strengthened brotherhood, with the final comments of every trip upon arriving back at home base being... "we gotta do that again soon!"

So that got me thinking... If guys get a gap to smash a good roadtrip, without hesitation we're in... but is this a past time that is typically a "male phenomenon" or is this a culture that the ladies jump at when the opportunity presents itself?

i'm not advocating partying with your mates is better than parenting)

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So I dug a little deeper, this is what I found.

AUGUST 2020

With social media not being short of opinions, I asked some girl friends scattered around the globe the following questions, and the responses came in thick and fast.

Question 1: Is Road Tripping a culture that ladies also jump at should the opportunity present itself?

Jene: We definitely spontaneously road tripped way more often pre-child.

Brigitte: OMG road trips all the way, anytime and anywhere. I have been on many a mission and adventure, just because why the hell not, it's a road trip!

Kelly: Love spontaneous road trips and I don’t have a child or crazy husband though, so that always helps!

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Kristy-Ann: We did a girl's weekend once a year. Wish we did it more!

Hayley: We did a girls weekend away to Hogsback a couple of years ago during the June/July school holidays. We had the best time! Just a super chilled weekend where us moms didn’t have to worry about anybody but ourselves.

Question 2: What prevents you from doing it more often?

Jene: Since we now travel with child, there’s a lot more planning to do, but off course it all depends on your own kid. What they eat what they enjoy to do... it always helps if you know whats on offer at the spots you’re going to, especially for youngsters. I just need a dop and tjop to be happy, but as a Mom I cannot relax if the little one is not happy. Happy child, happy Mom/Wife!

Love spontaneous roadtrips, don't have a child or crazy husband though, so that always helps.

Brigitte: We had kids so you can't really just get in the car and go, can you? hhhmmm maybe you can and i just got old and liked more planning.

Kelly: I do think family commitments are a big thing for ladies. Child friendly getaway ideas are a great way to solve that problem and making sure there is something to suit every family members idea of fun, because it's not always possible for ladies to do an adult only getaway.

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Kristy-Ann: Problems were, children's schedules (sport / exams), money and trying to find the right time that suited every lady.

Eventually we closed our eyes and just did it!

Hayley: I remember it being quite a thing to organize dates. Would have loved to have stayed an extra night or 2, but it was easier to just stay the weekend, so the husbands were able to be at home to look after the kids.

Question 3: What would your ultimate road trip look like?

Jene: I’m not a normal girl, I would skip the spas for some outdoor adventure... lighting a fire and braaing riverside somewhere in nature. Staying in a log cabin and sipping some drinks in the sun in fresh water!

Canoeing, swimming, hiking, etc, so if you can find a group of girls that like that kind of thing, let me know!

t e w t e g t s y ju d n a s d n a

Brigitte: Great people who know your soul is all it takes to make memorable road trips. And good music… gotta sing along the way!

Kelly: Personally I love the outdoors and original experiences, whilst feeling safe and secure. For ladies only i would also suggest something all inclusive, where they don’t need to worry about cooking, cleaning, etc, so a laid back hotel vibe, but minus all the frills, and throw some bush into the mix instead.

Kristy-Ann: Our favourite was always Sun City (jhb gals). We loved to eat out, so no cooking, and go somewhere to dance, without the worry of drinking and driving. Loved the cocktails and all the venting we needed to do!!

Hayley: On our trip we ate, we drank, we went on hikes, we even got to play in the snow. We put the car into 4x4 and did a bit of “bundubashing”. We were all packed and ready to leave in a few minutes... usually takes forever to pack up when you have the kids.

So there you have it, after that riveting slice of investigative journalism the evidence seems to be clear, it's your kids that seem to ruin everything. In their defence however, most of us knew that going in, so we can't very well start casting stones at this stage of the game.

If 2020 is teaching us anything, it's that life is short, and the freedoms we all took for granted can, and actually will be, stripped away from us. If there was ever a time to stop looking for excuses and to get out there and do it, this reality check of the fragility of our species most certainly should be it.

So to all the ladies out there... get your favourite pals together, pick a date, pick a destination, pack the car and don't look back!

To all the fellas out there... Road Trippin is no doubt in our DNA. It's the explorer in us, the conqueror in us, the animal spirit that refuses to be tamed... at least for 48hrs that is, so here's the challenge: Encourage the ladies in your life to get out there, enjoy some freedom, take some time off from life's complexities... and just get wet and sandy.

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sh Jo

AUGUST 2020

YOU'RE GIVEN THIS LIFE BECAUSE YOU'RE STRONG ENOUGH TO LIVE IT. UKUVUSA

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AUGUST 2020

WONDER WOMEN interview with

Lyn Crawford

"THE CHILDREN OF OUR CLIENTS OVER THE YEARS ARE NOW OUR CLIENTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN"

Quite frankly every month should be Women's Month, because who would we be without the special ladies in our lives... so we had a chat with hotelier, wife, mom and grandmother, Lyn Crawford, and what pearls of wisdom we received indeed.

Read on....

josh: I feel I have been very fortunate to sit and hear first-hand some of the incredibly colourful stories about the history of Crawford’s and your multifaceted journey as a hotelier. When you were starting out in hospitality in the 70’s and 80’s, was it also a fairly male dominated industry and what challenges did you face being the boss? lyn: We were fortunate enough to work as a team on the Wild Coast at Umngazi River Bungalows and we learnt so much from the people who worked there and built up a wonderful relationship with the clients at the time. We find that the children of our clients over the years are now our clients with their children. josh: Working so closely with Ian over the years, how have your own unique skill sets complimented each other and what strengths of yours have been pivotal to the success of your business interests? lyn: My husband was the publican and front of house, and I handled the reservations, admin and the details behind the scenes. We found it important to concentrate on our strengths in the business and this meant that we complimented each other.

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AUGUST 2020

"learn to accept rejection with humility, but keep persevering and believing in yourself."

"I brought up two sons whilst breast feeding and working in reception" josh: Looking back, what would you do differently and what would you do again?

josh: Like most entrepreneurs, I am sure your journey to this point has also been fraught with challenges and some risks that didn’t pay off, can you share with the young entrepreneurs out there how you found the strength to face these challenges and the mind-set needed to conquer them?

lyn: I am very passionate about the hospitality industry and love living along our beautiful coast at Chintsa East. The things I would do differently would be, to stick entirely to this industry and not branch out into other avenues which did not always work out.

I think I have made no bones about the way my wife and I feel about Crawford's Beach

lyn: As a team, my husband and I have faced tremendous adversity over the years, and the thing to remember is to always bounce back and to learn to accept rejection with humility, but keep persevering and believing in yourself. josh: Being a wife and mother to two sons, what did you do to find that work life balance when you were starting out, and how did you manage to juggle your time between business and family in such a demanding industry? lyn: I brought up two sons whilst breast feeding and working in reception, but in this environment, the joy was that the kids were always close to us. josh: In this day and age, what do you feel are the biggest challenges facing young women in South Africa wanting to create a career in Hospitality? lyn: The Hospitality industry is very suited to women and in this environment there is nothing standing in their way to achieving their goals at all levels of the industry. In our business we have many more women than men which bears fruit to this.

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Lodge... we absolutely love it! The attentive, warm and welcoming staff, the casual feeling of the dining environment and the attention to detail, that doesn't take a rocket scientist to know, it's a woman's touch!

Being surrounded by men, it is clear Lyn you are the cement between the bricks, and as a frequent guest, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work and dedication, ensuring Crawford's is, and will always be, one of the best beach hotels in the Eastern Province.

sh Jo

u o Y e t lu a S e W

flavour

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AUGUST 2020

CAVEMAN STEAK Josh Steenekamp Cooking in the Apocalypse

Every fiber of your being is going to resist wanting to try this, but it definitely doesn't get more primal... so put your big boy pants on... or your big girls blouse, and get ready to transcend back to an era, where life had one simple rule, Eat or be Eaten!

So just like our neanderthal cousins, you are going to cook this right on the coals, that's right...not on a grid, directly ON the coals!

Now the real trick here is to make your fire using either hardwood or lump charcoal, avoiding briquettes due to the chemicals.

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"TRANSCEND BACK TO AN ERA, WHERE LIFE HAD ONE SIMPLE RULE, EAT OR BE EATEN!" AUGUST 2020

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"YOU ARE GOING TO GET THIS SMOKY, EARTHY CRUST THAT IS GOING TO BLOW YOUR MIND."

Get your hands on some venison or beef fillet, crack lots of black pepper and sea salt and roll the fillet to coat. Once your coals are call-thefire-brigade hot, fan with some newspaper to blow away as much ash as possible, and toss your steak on. Resist the urge to panic.

Your steak will not be covered in ash, but what will happen, is you are going to get this smoky, earthy crust that is going to blow your mind.

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DIFFICULTY LEVEL NEANDERTHAL Tong up, get the petrol and lets light this sucker!

Turn until seared on all sides, take off the heat, brush away any ash, place on a board and rest for 5-10 min.

Slice, season with cracked black pepper, sea salt and you can drizzle a little olive oil over if you like, our caveman cousins didn't, but you can.

"STANDING AROUND THE BRAAI, TRADING WAR STORIES OVER SOME HOPPY BEVERAGES"

Cooking over an open fire is about as traditional as it gets for South Africans. There is simply no better way to connect with your fellow man, than standing around the braai, trading war stories over some hoppy beverages and laughing the night away. The food is almost secondary to the occasion.

Over the forthcoming issues, we will be sharing some great over the fire ideas that every outdoor cooking enthusiast should add to their wheelhouse of expertise, so tong up, get the petrol and lets light this sucker!

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FOOD IS LIFE FOOD IS PASSION FOOD IS LOVE FOOD IS THE ULTIMATE CONNECTOR

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WILD COAST BOOKINGS WHAT WE DO Wild Coast Bookings is a holiday package platform, where we use our in-depth area knowledge, experiences and relationships, to curate fully customized itineraries that are truly unique and incredibly special.

We handle your

booking request personally, saving you time and ensuring you get the experiences you are looking for.

WHO WE ARE Growing up along the Wild Coast as a holiday maker for the last 35years, I quite simply could not deny the calling any longer!

The Wild Coast

needed to become our home.

Thankfully, without too much convincing, my wife and I relocated

Working with 600 km’s of malaria free

to the area with our little girl in

coastline from East London into the Wild

2018, trading in our city slicker

Coast, we have partnered with only the

lifestyles for a little Wild Coast lovin.

best accommodation facilities the area has to offer, giving you a safe coastal self-drive holiday experience, with minimal travel time wasted between locations and maximum time to enjoy the pristine beaches, adventure sports, game farms, wild animal interactions, world class golf courses, amazing fishing, relaxing spa facilities and some of the

With over 20 years of Hospitality and Corporate Marketing experience, I truly understand how important a good holiday is for the soul and with our in-depth knowledge and love for where we live, you are in good hands!.

best surf spots South Africa has to offer… the list just go’s on!

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AUGUST 2020

"SOUTH AFRICA IS HOME TO MANY WONDERS… HOWEVER SOME OF ITS SIMPLEST NATURAL TREASURES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED"

WHY WE DO IT South Africa is home to many wonders… however some of its simplest natural treasures are the ones that are often overlooked.

We are passionate about

the upliftment of our communities, the protection of our beaches and oceans, the preservation of our wildlife and the

CONTACT US www.wildcoastbookings.co.za josh@wildcoastbookings.co.za

positive impact tourism has on the Wild Coast and our local economy.

Why use Wild Coast Bookings over the

FOLLOW US

smorgasbord of booking sites spanning the internet?

Well that’s easy, it’s the

personal touch.

We are inspired by

where we live and we are passionate about sharing that with you.

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UKUVUSA DISRUPTOR / EDITOR

josh steenekamp

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

josh steenekamp

FOOD DIRECTOR

josh steenekamp

CONTRIBUTORS Mark Crawford, Lyn Crawford, Jene Gilmer, Brigitte Philogene, Kelly Freeth, Kristy-Ann Kirby-Smith, Hayley Drinkrow, Crawford's Beach Lodge, Wild Coast Bookings

PHOTOGRAPHERS Josh Steenekamp, Jason Gladwin, Mark Crawford, Tye Jordaan, Huw Morris