In the past three years since I wrote this piece for the Sunday Times, I’ve met Coetzee Steyn in person and I’m delighted to say that the Bosjes Chapel he designed has picked up numerous accolades including being featured in the Architizer/Phaidon hardback: ‘The Best Architecture in the World’ …
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LET’S GO! Thailand is open, all Covid protocols observed and as usual, the anticipation of amazing experiences is real. On my last trip two years ago I explored Chinatown, a lively neighbourhood in Bangkok’s Samphanthawong District, well worth a few hours immersion. Trawl through any major global capital and you’ll …
Reunion: going off the beaten track into lava plains, volcanic craters & wild terrain ~ by Allison Foat
by capetowndiva
Reunion- an island extraordinaire. If you’ve been following my posts about Reunion (here & here), you’ll know that as island destinations go, the French overseas region in the South-West Indian Ocean took me by surprise, in all the best ways. My Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives FAM trips leaned towards eco …
In November 2020 Michelin Guide Thailand 2021 announced that super cook Jay Fai would retain her Star a Michelin Star for her street-side food operation on Maha Chai Road. My allegiance to Bangkok is compounded by the vibrant chaos, the humidity, the people and, best of all, the street food …
It’s Travel Tuesday and the spotlight is once again on Reunion. This time, I’m sharing about cuisine and one of the islands most celebrated national pastimes, le picnic. CREOLE CUISINE While elements of the Indian Ocean Départment echo France, Creole cuisine is plates apart from what one might find on …
During Lockdown I had the wonderful opportunity to interview (for the Daily Maverick) three Chefs I greatly admire. I’ve met them all and, lucky me, have eaten their sublime cuisine. They are Vladimir Mukhin of The White Rabbit in Moscow, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen of JAN and MARIA …
Truffle harvesting season in South Africa has wrapped and Hanene van Dyk is content. It’s been a good year at Altima, the vineyard farm belonging to Anthonij Rupert Wyne that has been producing Black Périgords since 2015, five years after the first inoculated oaks were planted on the slopes …
‘UNFAIR GAME’~ a book by Lord Michael Ashcroft about SA’s heinous captive-bred lion industry
by capetowndiva
UPDATE: Lord Ashcroft’s book UNFAIR GAME was submitted to South Africa’s Department of Environment’s High Level Panel (HLP) back in June 2020. Appointed by the South African Minister of the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, the HLP was established to review policies, legislation and related practices on the management, breeding, hunting, …
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A week on the high seas with Oceania Nautica ~ by Allison Foat
by capetowndiva
As a travel writer with nowhere to go, one of the things that has kept me inspired during this protracted Lockdown has been scrolling back through my camera roll and re-living trips I’ve been fortunate to experience. One of my most memorable this year, done just before Corona interrupted life …
The live jazz landscape in the Cape Town is smoking hot. In the absence of dedicated jazz clubs in the city centre, bars, back yards and halls are clearing space for jazz performance. On any given night you can catch a number of industry legends at play – musos like …