1. Sushi!!
mm mm...raw fish...gotta love it! I got dragged to Food Lovers Market which is an amazing, sushi-selling restaurant just outside of Cavendish in Cape Town. If you are trying sushi for the first time I personally recommend the avo maki and the salmon California rolls, and make sure you eat it with ginger and soy sauce for the complete sushi experience. Oh and remember, the green stuff they give you in a little side dish is NOT avocado dip, it is extremely hot wasabi...I made that tiny error, not ideal! Here's a link to the restaurant, check it out...
www.dining-out.co.za/member_details-MemberID-3133.html
2. Ushaka beachfront in the evening
Grab a big group of mates, head down to Ushaka in Durbs, hit Moyo, get your face painted for free, have a cocktail, walk along the beach for a ridiculously long distance ( well it seemed long to me ) and then lie down in the cool sand and appreciate being alive. Try it, you'll thank me!
ushaka! it's a must!
3. Grahamstown Arts Festival
This happens once a year around July. Its freezing cold but that's a small price to pay if you are a drama junkie like I am. There are amazing productions being put on, all kinds of workshops and lots of stalls for those of you whose money burns a hole in your wallet. You don't even need a car, you can walk everywhere which means: you're on holiday; embracing arts and culture; and getting fit while doing it...perfect!
4. Camps bay ocean.
Okay so I was in Capetown a few weeks ago and a wonderful friend of mine decided to throw me into the paralysingly cold ocean of Camps Bay. Naturally ( being the drama queen that I am), I complained and moaned about how cold it was, but you want to know a secret....it was absolutely amazing! I felt so renewed and energized afterwards and I really encourage you to take the plunge the next time you happen to pass through the Cape. Besides that, being at Camps Bay makes one realise that we don't have to spend thousands of rands on a holiday to Europe because we literally have Europe in our own backyard!
5. Head Boys hair salon in Pretoria
I often feel that there isn't much to do in Pretoria besides shopping, but the one place I always go to when I'm there is Head Boys to get my hair done. Good prices, great hairdressers - by far the best I have found in my ancient 19 years of experience. Look it up in the yellow pages - I mean, everyone needs a good hairdresser right?
6. The Ice Cafe ice cream shop in Kalkbay
This is all I'm going to say : Jamie Oliver had ice-cream there. Have cherry and honeycomb flavour ( two half scoops). Added bonuses are that you can catch the train to Kalkbay and visit tons of trendy shops. yes please!
7. The Sphinx
A very chilled, but beautiful hike ( though I suppose for serious climbers it's more of a walk ) up to a rock which resembles the Sphinx. On the way there you can stop at a beautiful waterfall known as Crystal Falls, have some cheese and crackers and fresh river water, and then tell yourself that you are an accomplished hiker. Well, that's what I do. Ha.
8. Mojitos
First discovered illegally ( I was only 17, don't tell my mom!) at La Med in Cape Town and now one of my favourite cocktails! Of course you could just be boring and go to any old restaurant and order a mojito but if you want something special go to La Med and then afterwards take a drive up to signal hill and watch the sunset. Beautiful!
9. Tubing!!
I put aside my fears and tried this for the first time at Midmar Dam in January last year. I have to admit, it is incredibly fun...I don't think I have ever found as much joy in getting flung into the air and bouncing on water as I did that day. So find a mate with a speedboat and some tubes, head on down to the dam near you, get on that tube, and enjoy getting completely owned!! Oh also, don't be afraid to scream like a girl , no one will judge you.
10 Chip 'n Cheese Roti's
House of Curries on Florida Road in Durbs. R26 gets you the most ginormous, unhealthy, amazing roti you will ever have in your entire life ( yes, i am claiming). It's literally hot chips covered in melted cheese with mutton or tomato sauce, wrapped in a roti. You might need to share it with a friend but you definitely need to try it, it's RIDICULOUS!!
I hope these discoveries make your holidays of the future a little bit more interesting!! comment and tell me some other amazing discoveries you have made on holiday!
adios
