In the small town of Robertson, 170km outside Cape Town is a cactus farm called Sheilam Cactus and Succulent Nursery. For those who love these prehistoric, low maintenance plants, the farm is a gem. Sheilam opened in 1954 and is owned-managed today by the Schwegmann family. Stroll through the nursery- a …
Travel
Travelling on my own is something I’ve been doing since 2008. It’s liberating and I love it! But, happy wandering aside, you have to be savvy when going it alone as a woman. Personal safety is everything and over the past decade of tripping around the globe toute seule, I’ve …
A quick escape from the city Staycations are a thing, fake vacays if you will, those snatched getaways where you pack an overnight bag and escape somewhere fabulous for a night or two. It may involve a road trip, a quick flight or, even better, it could be a …
It began with Jack Bousfield, explorer extraordinaire When the late explorer Jack Bousfield asked what lay in the Makgadikgadi of Botswana he was told ‘Nothing-only idiots go there.’ “fine,” he said, “ that’s the place for me.” Go there, and it’s at once glaringly obvious that the ‘idiots’ were on point because the nothing …
This article first appeared in the Sunday Times SA on 11 November 2018 You’re in the ‘Dam and time is tight. Here are a few of my recommendations – things to do and great places to eat, drink and visit. Have a fijne dag! 08h00 COFFEE Google ‘coffee shops’ in …
A few weeks ago I attended a superb luncheon at the 12 Apostles Hotel in Cape Town. The event, hosted by Stephen Towler, Senior Beverage Advisor Emirates Airline, and several other representatives of Emirates SA, showcased a few of the exceptional South African wines that the airline has introduced into …
Amsterdam is a magnet for anyone with a penchant for design. If you’re headed there, ignite your inspo flame with a stay at Room Mate Aitana, a modern masterpiece that has established itself as one of the city’s trendiest accommodation options. My first encounter with the Spanish Room Mate chain …
Last year, award winning chef Cheyne Morrisby crossed the border of the Republic of Hout Bay and opened his first eatery city-side, SHIO, located in the chic Grey Hotel in De Waterkant. I first ate there in August 2017, loved it, and returned last week with a group of friends. …
A version of this post appeared in Khuluma inflight magazine in July 2018 It was Gandhi who said that achieving outward peace was dependent on what was happening within. Wise words indeed but unless you’re blissfully ensconced in Utopia and immune to the rat race, la vida is loca for …
This article first appeared in the Sunday Times SA on 9 September 2018 Julia Hattingh is a conversation ambassador and all in the name of food, glorious food. At Reverie Social Table, the d’hôte style dining concept she introduced in the Cape Town suburb of Observatory three years ago, it’s …