A breakfast for the home-sick, old and young

At 18, it started off with missing the food. Within a week, it quickly progressed to missing the constant supply of clean laundry. After that, I started to notice dirty dishes, empty petrol tanks and barren fridges. I though that because I have taught myself the basics of living and surviving on my own, I don’t need my mum anymore.  I have been away from home for five years now, and at the age of 23, the feeling of missing your family, your gran, and your beautiful bed; never really goes away.

I has been 9 weeks since I was last with my family and this previous weekend, the homesickness hit. I am lucky enough to have started this year by living with a friend and his lovely mother whilst I searched for cheap and close accommodation. As much as I was spending my food money on petrol driving into town everyday (Muizenberg-Town-Muizenberg), justifying that cost with the warmth of the homely environment was easy for me, but not so easy on my bank account.

Last weekend I went to Muizenberg for a night, missing home became too real. A wonderful home-cooked meal, endless cups of tea and conversations with a mum who offered the most comforting ear to all my vents and frustration was just what I needed. .

Every weekend it’s tradition in my family house to have a full English breakfast. So when I was taken to the beautiful Suikerbossie for a full buffet breakfast experience, I couldn’t have been more delighted. It was a perfect Sunday morning, clear skies and warm sunshine. It was about as close to Natal weather that I could have asked for. We were seated outside in the beautifully manicured garden and were immediately greeted by our waiter. The view was impeccable. On a clear day as it was that Sunday, I could see Hout Bay on my left and on my right, a snippet of the sea in front of Llandudno. The service was excellent, and it deserves to be highly commended.

It was a classic case of; eyes bigger than your belly, but I didn’t care. Fresh fruit, creamy yoghurt, cereals, warm muffins, scones, toast, savoury mince, roasted potatoes, liver, crispy bacon, eggs (any which way you like), grilled tomatoes, sausages… would you like me to go on?

As I sipped on my second cup of java (buffet includes bottomless tea and coffee) I realised that as much as I have grown up, about to start my career and a life of my own; nothing is as wonderful as my Dad’s awkward jokes, nothing as comforting as my mum’s nagging (just kidding mum 😉 ) and nothing as bad as both my brother’s inappropriate comments. With wonderful company that treats you as if you are a part of their family, gorgeous weather and a wonderful breakfast; waiting until December to see my family again will be a lot more manageable.

This full buffet breakfast cost R135,00 per person. If you aren’t a big breakfast eater, Suikerbossie has full buffet Sunday lunches which I’m sure is just as good as the breakfas at  R195 for adults, R55 for kids.

Suikerbossie is an incredible venue, for weddings, events and meals. The service of the staff was impeccable, the food was fantastic and the environment outside was exquisite.The breakfast may not have been as good as home’s (it was pretty close but shhh don’t tell my dad), it let my homesickness subside.

Image courtesy of suikerbossie.com

Image courtesy of suikerbossie.com

Give it a try this weekend:

Summary

Buffet breakfast: R165,00

Buffet lunch: R195,00

Meat your Monday good guy, HQ

The following are definitions of the word ‘Monday’. I wasn’t disappointed.

1.  Someone or something you hate with an extreme prejudice.
2.  The reason Sunday’s suck.
3. An adjective describing the feeling of Monday. Usually gloomy, slow, or a cranky feeling. The emotions you feel about starting the week and having to survive until the weekend.

I am not a pessimist, in fact I tend to look at the lighter side of things,but sometimes we all have those days. The typical cliche quotes are sometimes what you may turn to to improve your day: Keep your chin up. Live every day like it’s your last. Life is a gift, treasure it., etc. But if everyday is a gift, then why can’t we return Mondays?!

According to the various definitions, people look forward to Mondays like they look forward to root canals. People can’t wait to wake up on a Monday morning like they cannot wait to phone their cellular service provider. Mondays are the most unwelcoming of all days, with a reputation that is used to describe situations and emotions:

“Seems like someone has had a case of the Mondays.”

“I HATE Paul. He is such a Monday!”

Okay so maybe that is a bit dramatic. I mean, poor Monday. It never did anything wrong. The first day of the week; eager to please and eager to help get you to start your week on the right foot. But none of us see it that way. Mondays’ black wave of dread has emanated into Sunday evenings and afternoons, which cuts your weekend by almost a third and makes the Carte Blanche theme music the most dreaded end-to-your-weekend song of all time.

We cannot escape Monday, Monday is ALWAYS coming. However, there just might be a delicious cure for the case of the Monday Blues. If there was one thing that could get you through a Monday it would be a fresh, crunchy salad followed by a juicy, tender steak and thin-cut crispy fries.

HeadQuarters (HQ) has got Mondays down to a T. Twice the sirloin, twice the salad and twice the chips for only R175.

If Mondays are too crazy and you can’t make it; never fear for Tuesday date night is here. Every Tuesday night you can treat yourself and your partner to the same tender steak special, this time you each receive a glass of wine for only R200.

Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/HQCAPETOWN

This post may be a bit cheesy, but your steak won’t be. HQ’s delectable steaks come covered with a tangy mustard dressing, a perfect tantalizing touch to your sirloin. HQ has become quite popular, rightfully so. Book ahead to make reservations, and you won’t be disappointed. The first seating is at 6pm; second seating is at 8.30.

Summary:

Mondays: 2 for 1 sirloin special R175

Tuesdays: 2 for 1 sirloin special and two glasses of wine R200.

Good guy HQ

 

 

Cable Car and Creepy Shirtless Guys

Let’s climb Table Mountain?

Are we getting the cable car down?

Do you have R105 to pay for me?

Nice joke. I don’t even have R105 left for this month.

Girl, then best you say sorry to your legs now.

On Saturday a friend and I hiked Table Mountain. As you can tell from our conversation above; we endured this grueling activity to take advantage of the beautiful weather (we told ourselves). Deep down I think it was because we were too broke to do anything else. But it was an experience I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Not because of the views. Oh no. But this may be the longest DOMS (delayed onset of muscle soreness) I have ever experienced in my entire life. It is has been five days since we hiked and I can STILL feel the hiking experience, reminiscent through my tiny and achy calf muscles.

For some strange reason, my friend and I hiked up in record time. It took us 1hr30 to get up and about 45 minutes to get down. I am no Usain Bolt, a couple of gym sessions (yuss boet) and a run or two but I am by no means a threatening contender for Iron Woman at all. So how on earth did we make it up on our first time so fast?

A  creepy shirtless guy roughly our age with a poodle in tow was, for a lot of the way, almost breathing down our necks with the close proximity with which he hiked behind us. My friend eventually turned around and asked, “Sorry, would you like to pass?” A very odd/creepy/stalker look crossed his face and he then,“Oh no no. You guys keep going ahead. Slooooow and Steady.” From a close distance away and for a long time, this guy had been watching us hike up in front of him for what could have been about half of the distance up. After that I think our subconscious kicked an invisible red bull into our legs.

After the long journey, making ‘friends’ and stopping to ‘catch our breath’ (which we merely used as an excuse to sit down for a while) we felt ecstatic with what we accomplished. If we were rolling in cash we would definitely have skipped the hike down and gotten a lift with the cable car, but I am glad we didn’t. We made it down in record time, shaky legs, sweaty heads AND we had a late Saturday afternoon cappuccino, feeling really like proud mother hens over what we just accomplished.

For those who want to hike up Table Mountain and catch the cable car down, or for those that want to catch the cable car both ways, here are the mad cool specials that are offered:

It’s your birthday?

FREE

 

  A student?

Discounted rates every Friday

 

Senior Citizen over 60?

Discounted rates every Friday

 

All year round trips?

Cable card gives you access to the Cableway for a year, as many times as you want per year (once per day).

So give it a thought for a fun excursion this weekend. Hiking or not, the views from Table Mountain  are incredible.

 

 

 

Breakfast remedies for the ‘Wake-up blues’

It’s winter.
That means it is dark at 7am and its either misty, rainy or windy.
Your typical morning routine might look like this:

6.00 Alarm. Snooze.

6.10 Alarm. Urgh. Snooze

6.20 Alarm, try to hit snooze but your phone falls off the shelf and lands on the floor. Now you have to get up.

As you drag yourself out of your bed you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and thank the heavens above for not having anyone in your room to see that face before you can fix it.
You make you way to the shower and, (digs problems) there is someone who already beat you to it. You go back to your room and check your phone, just in case any important messages might have been sent through while you were out. Nope. No one would be up at this ungodly hour anyway, (so you tell yourself).

As you turn around you get a glimpse of the sultry, steamy former lover from the night before, covers wide open trying to seduce you back inside. Resisting the urge to climb back into bed, you go back to the bathroom and prepare to wait (im)patiently outside. Your housemate, along with a wave of steam,  almost screams at the fright she gets when she sees you lurking behind the door (you know the reason she screamed because she saw what your morning face looks like). Shaking off the insult you jump into the shower and…the water is cold. You hurry, wash what you need, step out and start brushing your teeth, and simultaneously putting your clothes on to save time. You end up losing your balance tying your boots and topple over the tub, cursing the damn thing for appearing out of absolute nowhere and causing an inappropriate amount of pain.

You walk past the kitchen, put on the kettle, walk to your room and see that it is 7.15am. You have to leave by 7.30am. Panicking, you half dry your hair (girl problems) and hope people will be able to see the wet-but-sexy-bedhead look you are going for (when in actually fact you represent the human equivalent of a wet dog).

You hurriedly throw some product on your face to avoid the, “But I TOLD you to use it EVERYDAY” lecture from your mum , add a quick brush of mascara, grab your bag and toss your duvet on your bed to show a little bit of effort in “making your bed”. You realise you forgot to make coffee and, silently screaming, you brush it off and rush out the house to your car.  As you reach in your bag to unlock, you become psychotic. Shaking the contents of your bag on the tarmac like a maniac in search of your car keys, your phone beeps another alarm warning you that it is now 7.50 am. Sprinting up the stairs to retrieve the keys, grabbing some deo and a hairbrush, you hurtle back down towards your car like a greade. Swinging open the car door you jump in and finally, fire up the engine.

That might not be how you exactly start the day, but it’s probably very similar. You haven’t had your morning coffee, you’re in a pretty dark mood and you now have to tell to your superior that “I am SO sorry, but for some reason traffic was absolutely ridiculous this morning!”.

So you’ve maybe tried this whole process, but this time you try waking up 10 minutes earlier. For some reason you end up leaving at the exact same time, rushing late as usual. From personal experience, what DOES make this whole process quicker is knowing that there is a reward at the end;

A large, extra strong cappuccino or a satisfying egg and bacon breakfast.

Monday – Friday
At Field Office you can get a large cappuccino between 7-8 am, for only R12.

At Knead between 7-8am you can get a choice of a variety of cheap, delicious breakfasts. Scrambled eggs on toast for just R15, bargain!

Image courtesy of eatout.co.za

Breakfast fans Saturday- Sunday:

Andiamo, Cape Quarter R69 Breakfast buffet

Even if you are not a morning person, knowing you can get a freshly filtered, hot coffee and a warm, creamy egg breakfast just makes the whole process totally worth it. Surprise your boss because now you totally have a reason to get up in the mornings 😉

Something Fushy I mean Fishy

Fresh fried fush. Fresh fush fried. Fush fried fresh. Fush fresh fried. Fried fresh fush. Fried fush fresh.

Why am I typing fish like fush? Because you are reading a Natalian girl’s blog and I am forever being ripped off for my “Durban” accent,with Fush and Chops, Hull (hill) and Ahce (Ice) to name a few SO…

fush fush fush fush fush fush fush fush fush fush fush fush fush.

On our school holidays my Dad, brother and I used to take our boat, ‘JayLaSco’ off the coast of Scottburgh and try our hand at catching fresh fush. I can honestly say that my love for fush and the ocean was developed during those deep-sea fushing trips; trying not to breathe as I cut up the off-putting  bait, my dad retching his lungs out over the side of the boat from seasickness and my brother munching on egg sandwhiches  simultaneously reeling in a YellowTail.  Along with being lucky enough to see whales and dolphins on our early morning trips, the 4am early risers spent with two of my favourite men were some of my fondest childhood memories.

So I love fush. Fush and Chups bru, like, it’s my favourite meal of all. (Sorry I’ll stop the Durban) Plus sushi (duh) calamari, game fish, tinned fish and all shellfish excluding oysters, (I just can’t deal with the apparent similarity to mucus).   Apart from enjoying the fresh fish caught twice a year on school holidays, living inland made fresh fish become a rare occasion. On one or two Easter holidays my family and I travelled to the Western Cape and this is where I can say that second to my boat trip, it was some of the best fish I have ever experienced. Fresh fish and chips at the good old Kalkies in Kalk Bay; deep fried, drowned in salt and vinegar and wrapped in newspaper, gourmet-like fancy fish at Mariner’s wharf and crispy, salty fresh fish in Sodwana Bay.

Fish is fabulous tasting, fresh and it has all them Omega 3s &6s. So what’s the problem? You might as well sell a kidney at some restaurants to enjoy a decent seafood meal, and like, who pays for Sushi full price anyway? So I have a few fish specials for those Cape Tonians that want something fishy this week. If you are ever visiting the Cape and you love fish, you will not be disappointed.

Mondays:

• Cape Town Fish Market: 50% off all hake and burgers
• Blowfish Restaurant, Tableview: R99 for a Seafood Platter For 2, 12pm -10pm
• Umi Restaurant, Camps Bay: R85 for Fish & Fries all day
• Roseberry, Mowbray: R109 Thai and Sushi Buffet 5.30pm- 10pm
• Brass Bell: R85 for 1kg mussels and chips/bread

Tuesdays:

• La Grotto, Plumstead: R45 for 200g Fresh Hake & Chips
• John Dorys: R29 Hake and Chips
• Seaforth : R155 all you can eat prawns
• Cape Town Fish Market: 50% off all sushi, 25% off all platters all day
• Surfside, Strand: 50% off all sushi 11am-10pm

Wednesday:

• CinCin, Century City: R119 seafood platter for two
• Blowfish: 50% off all sushi
• John Dorys: 50% off all sushi and Graca wine
• Beluga & Sevruga: 50% off sushi, dim sum and cocktails 2pm-7pm

Thursday:

• Umi Restaurant:R85 for Fish & Fries all day
• John Dorys’: R79 seafood platter
• Surfside:50% off all sushi
• The Lookout Deck: R120 for 24 Prawns all day
• Beluga & Sevruga: 50% off sushi, dim sum, cocktails 2-7pm

Friday:

• Golden Fish, Blouberg: R129 all you can eat sushi
• Brass Bell: R89 for a main meal and a 500ml Black Label, or House Wine or a Redd cider
• Seaforth Restaurant: R60 calamari eat as much as you like
• Active Sushi: R119 All you can eat sushi 11.30-10.30pm
• Beluga & Sevruga: 50% off sushi, dim sum, cocktails 2-7pm

Saturday:

• Umi Restaurant:R85 for Fish & Fries all day
• The Lookout Deck: R120 for a 24 Piece Sushi Platter all day
• The Lookout Deck: R46.50 fish and chips 12-3pm
• Fugu, Wembley square: 50% off all sushi 5- 9pm
• Beluga & Sevruga: 50% off sushi, dim sum, cocktails 2-7pm

Sunday:

• Beluga: 50% off sushi and cocktails all day
• Sevruga: 25% off sushi and cocktails from 12am-2pm, 50%  off 2pm-6pm
• Blowfish: 50% off sushi 5pm- 8pm
• Xian Yuang: R99 all you can eat sushi 10am-3am

These restaurants are just the few that I know of, so if you do know of others; I would be all to stoked to see them.

Girls nights, pillow fights and pizza specials

Cold weather, a bunch of girls, no money, a rugby game.

If this was a maths problem and you needed to find the value of x, I would have immediately started spelling upside-down word like Shell and Boob on my calculator and given up instead.

I will admit that I lose track of what team is where, who is playing who, and even what tournament we are currently playing in. Please do not get me wrong. I support The Sharks through and through. I just don’t have the privilege of my father braaing, drinking beer and serving the family biltong while we are all huddled around the TV waiting for the start, to keep me informed and up to date. Also my Rugby brain (would it be part of the left or right sided of the brain?) hasn’t been switched on in ages as it usually gets reminded by my dad with the same annoying questions: What position is he? What does he do? But then why can’t he run there? What does offside mean? Why did he blow the whistle?  I just don’t understand why the ref points to the other team’s side if they have to move in the opposite direction?

So having to inform a few friends  that the Sharks were playing this past weekend, we decided to try find a place where we could watch it and show our support, instead of spending a girls night painting our nails and having pillow fights. (THIS IS NOT GIRLS DO AT SLEEPOVERS BY THE WAY). A friend’s roommate had booked a table at Lyras restaurant, Rondebosch.

Lyra is a restaurant I haven’t heard of and I wish I had about them earlier this year. They have specials pretty much every day, with delicious cocktails(R35/litre jars) and food. It isn’t at all a pub, but the inside and outside can cater for various types pf crowds. The inside is suited for a more intimate feel that could definitely see the likes of an awkward first date or a romantic anniversary dinner. The outside area is enclosed with heaters and with two flatscreen TVs, which aids a great space for sport entertainment.

Photo courtesy from http://www.dining-out.co.za

Both areas are available to you if you are hosting an event, a birthday or a business function, suited to any function you need to host. That particular night a table of about 20 were having a birthday dinner and it looked very festive, especially with all the ladies cocktail specials.

So that Saturday night with the girls was spent watching The Sharks. What made it possible was the delicious pizza we had at Lyra’s. The special is everyday up until 6pm, Lyras has a special of R99 for two large pizzas. That’s R48 a pizza. Say what? And now for people that like to save some for a midnight snack (me), that’s about R35 for a meal and a R13 snack.

IF you aren’t a pizza fan, they have a great selection of other choices for you to take your pic. The burgers are pretty good too!

Delicious!I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a relaxed first date or for a group of mates looking for a quick dinner and pre-drinks before a night on the town. It is sort of in between a chilled restaurant and a classy pub, with the pub side being the awesome drink specials and delicious starter menu (spicy poppers eish) and the restaurant side showing personal and great service.  For example; the owner was there and came to chat to us about his 4 year old restaurant being named after his daughter. Could it get more personal than that?

Summary:

Any 2 large pizzas for R99 before 6pm

Ladies: 2 cocktails for R30 (frozen margarita and a strawberry daiquiri)

So the answer to my equation?

x=Lyras

(and my maths teachers said I battled with word problems)

 

Fountain Shopping Centre
Cnr. Belmont & Main Roads
Rondebosch

A Newlands everyday lunch special

Being on holiday for the past few weeks makes you really appreciate home. There is no better feeling than opening a fridge that is packed to feed thousands, and it comes with no price attached at all. Unlimited internet browsing thanks to uncapped WiFi, fully-stocked pantry cupboards, meals cooked for you every night and the effects of the invisible magician that washes, irons and packs away your laundry AND cleans up after you every single day.

Getting back to reality is a complete shock to the system.

When I arrived back in CT, it became the typical mad rush it always is on the first day back into the city. Flights, luggage, car, drive, unpack, admin, shopping, tea, more unpacking and finally, bed. There is absolutely ZERO time to prepare food for the next day, to avoid the constant ‘What’s for lunch?’ epidemic. I thought I would chance it the next day and pretend to forget about food at school. But of course, it takes only ONE person to mention that their worms are rumbling for food that somehow awakens your own worms to growl and bark at you for attention. And so provides the following:

“What’s for lunch? Are there any specials? What is today? Flip I don’t even think I have money with me! I’m starving, let’s go somewhere? What do you guys feel like? I don’t care, I just want lots of it! I agree! Guys, but something not too carby hey?”

Trusting someone’s recommendation they heard via word of mouth from an unknown source a long time ago, we headed to Barristers, Newlands: “Tasty and for people on a budget”.

What did we find?

• An affordable lunch special

R45 special from a choice on two pages of the menu. As long as you order before 6pm everyday, this special continues, every day of the week.

 

 

 

 

• Wide selection of choices (see website for clearer images)

• Great food and low carb options

Salad or chips are the side to most of the meals. As hard as it was to admit defeat to the lesser of the two evils and choose vegetables, the chips looked ravishingly good.

Smiles all around and a happy, satisfied bunch of students. Of course there is a full range of meals; from steak, egg and chips to bangers and mash. The portions are satisfying and hearty. This rustic, grand old restaurant gives a wonderful warm, homey feel- with the hearty pub lunches warming that cold, dark, empty pit in your stomach. Situated in the quieter side of the southern suburbs with quaint, pearl-white coloured buildings, the gentle bristling of leaves in the afternoon breeze and the bubbly chatter among the people as they sip on their glass of wine,provided one of the most comfortable, warm and ‘homey’ restaurants I have been to. Not too far from the lunches I have been having in my ACTUAL home.

A relaxed and old school pub, with no question turning into a festive location during sports games, this restaurant is definitely top on my list. Try it this weekend, winter warmer guaranteed!

Barristers Grill. R45 pub lunch. Everyday. 12pm-6pm. 

Photo courtesy from http://www.dining-out.co.za

Barrsiters Grill

Cardiff Castle

Cnr. Kildare Rd & Main St

Newlands

A winter rescued by (an) Italian

Winter sucks.

Back where I am from, in the land of sun, sea and humidity (KZN), the coldest we ever get is a slight frosting on a few cold days a season. Cape Town winters have thus far been let’s say… an experience. Could there honestly be anything worse than being bitterly cold, soaked and resorting to hanging onto the nearest tree for dear life to avoid being swallowed up tornado winds? Slight exaggeration but yes, it could get worse.

Can anyone say, power cut?

A couple of weeks ago, Cape Town was having one of its many week-long winter (ie death) spells. It was windy, pouring with rain, bitterly cold AND it was lunch time. On my drive home I was picturing a delicious, saucy, warmed up leftover chicken meal from the previous night (it is what it is) with a hot mug of tea, a blanket and my hard drive plugged into my laptop ready to rumble. At the end of what felt like ages, I finally reached my house, scrambled up the steps and opened the front door to the unwelcoming welcome of Eskom;

 

Anger, disappointment, sadness, frustration, heartbreak.

I’m not one to wait for something to be fixed if I can’t do it myself, so I refused to let this day get the better of me. I decided to go on a cold, bitter quest around my neighborhood to search for tasty food and a warm beverage.  Was I mad? Maybe. But I fear that the lack of electricity makes you go to great lengths in order to not succumb to a stone-age comparability; the feeling of uselessness and starvation, and to avoid the increased risk of the “Death-by-Boredom” disease.

Along my ‘great’ trek I came across an Italian restaurant called Bella Italia. A hooded jersey covering my vision I would have easily missed it if it wasn’t for the amazing smells coming from of Bella’s doors.

This quaint, cosy, family-run restaurant was just what I needed. The warmth of the cappucino, the delicious pasta and the free WiFi made the cold more than bearable, comfortable in fact.

Winter 0, Lauren 1.

My luck at Bella Italia continued. Every Monday and Wednesday there is a special for a R45 delicious pasta choice, beating the normal prices. Their food is honestly incredible, and I was immensely happy with my afternoon thanks to this wonderful gem of a restaurant. If you are ever looking for good Italian food without forking out the money (pun intended), this place is definitely one to try. I was able to finish all my work, surf the net AND satisfy the lunch time craving all well within budget.

A winter rescue by (an) Italian (a girl can dream), and an afternoon well spent.

Summary:

• R45 pasta special, Monday and Wednesday
• Traditional Italian dishes
• Free WiFi

 

 

Bella Italia

27 Derry street, Vredehoek.

Contact: 021 4610639

There is no website available, but click here for the review

 

 

 

Paradise for the Plebs

Pleb (informal)                                   Paradise (noun)

-an ordinary person                          – A place similar to heaven

This week I am featuring a holiday destination that is an affordable paradise experience for the plebs, for people who need to get away, for families, for me, and for you.

 Mozambique

For the past week I experienced what paradise is truly like; one that is secluded and rural, one with beauty as natural and untouched as you have ever seen it.  I was fortunate enough to go with my parents, and so the driving and packing was taken care of (thanks Dad). As rural as Mozam is, I found it to be a breath of fresh air. We were living in rustic simplicity, completely living off the land and the local resources. The local people are humble and friendly, never once did they impose on us or become rude. These locals earned so much of my respect as they survive solely off the money they  make bargaining items they have made, grown or hand picked such as: prawns, crayfish, dresses, shells, fresh portugese rolls, fruit and even airtime.

Fresh Crayfish anyone?

The language barriers force you to be more creative. Hand drawn pictures in the sand and rather embarrassing dance moves and gestures are very needed. Needless to say, our bargaining and maths skills were constantly put to the test, with their currency 3 Metica to R1.

A few things that I experienced for the first time:

• Crayfish (250MT per kg)
• Fresh coconuts (free, if you could climb up the tree).
• 4×4 drives to restaurants for dinner, ON THE BEACH
• Restaurants ON THE BEACH
• Waking up in a lodge that is ON THE BEACH
• R&R (Tipo Tinto Rum and Raspberry soda, not for the faint hearted).
• The wait for locals to come to your doorstep with food items that decide you options of food for that day

I think that my first amazing Mozambique experience can have full credit given to the lodge we stayed at; Barra Dunes.  A self-catering, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 8-sleeper lodge that has everything you need to relax and fully absorb the beautiful ocean views

My family and our lodge

Waking up every morning in a bed draped with a delicate white net, a picturesque view that could only be described as breathtaking, and the sound of rolling waves and rustling palm trees created a feeling that was surreal. Why have a dream when you can wake up into one?

A bedroom

The complete solitude and peace that I experienced here made me forget about the claustrophobic shopping centres, the crowded traffic-laden highways and the filthy streets back at  home. It was incredible.

Enough jabber, what’s the deal?

Apart from the whole trip being a deal for me; the fresh food, the full living on the beach experience and the quarter price version of a Mauritius holiday, Barra Dunes  is currently having a brilliant holiday deal.

From July until November:

• Pay for 5 nights, stay for 7
• Pay for 7 nights, stay for 10.

Rates are available their webpage, http://barradunes.com/

The deal is available right through the September holidays until the end of November. Right next door at Areia Branca lodge, there is a bar, a pool and kayaks to hire. Endless routes for you to explore on your quad bikes and 4x4s combined with snorkelling, diving and windsurfing opportunities, it becomes well worth the car or plane trip.

The bar and pool at Areia Branca

This trip was an absolute treat. With the experience I had at Barra Dunes, Mozambique has now become one of my favourite holiday destinations. A getaway that in my opinion, is far better than the typical commercial, expensive ‘touristy’ vibe in other countries.

PARADISE

Quad bike heaven

Sunrise

Sunset Image courtesy of Areia Branca

Link

So the first post to my blog will be a rather embarrassing one but the deal itself was just too good not to share, please bear with me.

On one fine Friday, I turned the tender, ripe age of 23 on the 23^rd of May- my golden birthday. I unfortunately didn’t have the privilege of a loving, home cooked meal surrounded by family and cake (probably better for my waistline anyway, sigh). So when it was suggested to head to JC’s for our traditional Friday drink, I was beyond keen. For once my birthday was on a Friday, with no exams in sight and my first birthday in Cape Town; what a treat hey?

As I sat at the table, I was told by my classmates that because it is your birthday, JC’s gives you R80 worth of a drink and a meal, free.

FREE.

I KNOW RIGHT? As stoked as I was in ordering my first free birthday beverage, I was informed by our waiter to write my ID number and my full name on a piece of paper. For NO other reason but to confirm that it is in fact, my birthday. Understandable. Through a couple of minutes, an embarrassing happy birthday song,  and one (or two) alcoholic beverages; my friends had called the waiter to the table to give him this:

Numbers were fully written at time this was given. 

One male waiter, a table of 15 intoxicated students and a birthday girl- it was going to be a bad time. Apart from his blood-red face and my purple cheeks, the bill given to us with the table numbered as “Hot girls”; the food was delicious and hearty, and the drink was the best start to my 23rd year.

So if it is your birthday and you are broke, or you want to take your friend out for lunch, try JCs for a great, afternoon pub lunch. Usually a very chilled place, depending on the rowdy crowd you’re with 😉

JC Brasserie, Cape Town

18 De Villiers Street, Zonnebloem