Nina Challis's Blog
Posted by Nina Challis
As mentioned in my article hitchiking, it is advisable not to hitch in South Africa. Safety and crime is a huge problem in the country, and although I don't every want to turn tourists away from visiting one of the most beautiful countries in the world, one needs to be an informed traveller. There is a vast array of public transport options to choose from, as well as specifically tourist buses and trains. Air, rail and road transport, especially for long distance travel, is excellent and safe, and will only get better with the 2010 World Cup fast approaching. Save your hitch hiking adventures for further north.
Posted by Nina Challis
It takes nerves of steel to barter against a seasoned stall holder in North Africa. Remember they have been doing it for centuries, and they know very well that we only get to do it for the few weeks of our lives that we are on holiday.However there is never any reason for it to become tense, and if it does it is best to walk away. Be prepared for any shopping to take up more time than expected, especially when much of the time is spent drinking mint tea. Also remember not to drink so much tea that half your afternoon is spent trying to find a toilet. Be prepared to walk away from a deal, but if it is something that you really want and you are running out of time then don't bargain too hard. You don't want to lose out on the item just in order to have saved yourself a few cents but to have won an argument. Guides often take you to 'the best shops with the best deals" - they are usually getting commission from those shops so they are usually not the best deals. The best advise would be to take an afternoon to look through everything, barter on price at more than one stall for the same item and get to know what is available. Only take money the following day and do your shopping then. If you want two of the same items, get one from one stall and then you can set that price and lower when at another stall.
Posted by Nina Challis
Musical concerts are held every Sunday afternoon during the summer months on the lawns at Kirstenbosch - featuring mostly local bands from jazz to reggae bands to the Philharmonic Orchestra. In winter smaller concerts are held in the Silvertree Restuarant around a huge roaring open fireplace. Brian Adams claims that the lawns is his favourite concert venue in the world!
Kistenbosch also has a sculpture garden, displaying unique stone sculptures from Zimbabwe which blend perfectly into the background of the gardens.
The function halls and restuarants regularly hold exhibitions of local and international artists, and once a month a craft market is held around the stone cottages at the entrance to the gardens.
Posted by Nina Challis
The Pyramids of Giza is a vast area in the desert on the outskirts of Cairo, and can be a daunting place to visit if you are not familiar with the ways of Egyptian vendors and guides. Here are some tips:
Always bargain! It is exhausting but if you don't you will have wasted alot of money. It is also expected.
Bargain before you get on your horse or camel.
Expect to pay for photographing someone or someones camel.
If you are feeling harassed call an Antiquity Policeman.
You are not allowed to climb up the Pyramids, or clamber on any of the stones/bricks.
Take a torch or lighter when going down to a chamber. It is dark, cold and claustrophobic.
Don't go down to a chamber if you are unfit - the climb in and out is steep and the air inside is stale.
Only 300 people a day are allowed inside the chambers of the pyramids, so get there early.
The informative Sound and Light show is held at the Sphinx every night, in a different language.
Posted by Nina Challis
What better way to find out what is happening in a city that you are visiting, than to tune into Tourism Radio? It is South Africa's recently launched dedicated tourism radio station, and a world first. Tourism Radio works through a GPS, so that relevant information can then be aimed at the listener depending on which area they are in. Local shows and cultural events, historical information on that specific area and anecdotal information is then available to any listener in the area. The perfect companion in a hired car!
Posted by Nina Challis
Having written about Table Mountain in this weeks article, I thought it pertinent to mention how many people are running around her, and at some points over her, this weekend! Saturday 15 April is the Two Oceans Marathon day, an ultra marathon of 56kms, which could well be the most beautiful marathon course in the world. Starting at the foot of Table Mountain in the southern suburbs, runners follow a course that takes them along the Indian Ocean beaches, over the hills to the Atlantic Ocean side, over Chapmans Peak (which will be written about shortly), through the forests at Constantia Nek and back to the southern suburbs. Suffice to say I am sitting here writing this rather than running, although last year my sons did run the 2 km funrun!