Everyone wants to be a Durban Kid.

Popular to contrary belief, I do actually love Durban a lot. Let me explain.

Many people have felt that I love Capetown more than Durban because I am always travelling there and I do talk about it a lot, and I tend to go on and on....and on. This is true. BUT - as much as I do love Capetown and would love to live there one day, Durban is and always will be my home, which is why I decided to dedicate a blog to just how great Durbs is ( and please notice how I have not yet dedicated a blog to Capetown).

I have possibly had the best past two weeks experiencing Natal and its rad-ness which all started off with a day at Midmar Dam.

There we were piled into a car, on our way to Tam Ballard’s birthday party at Midmar and (as to be expected), our road trip came with an adventure (which was actually just an epic fail).

So most of you should know that as you drive along the N2 and get past Hilton, there is an off ramp that specifically says MIDMAR on it and basically brings you directly to the dam. Well, my mate John* (this is so he doesn’t get embarrassed) was driving and ‘according to his directions’ we needed to take the off ramp just before that. Despite a car full of protests, he was set in his ways and proceeded to take us on some distant farm road which slowly but surely led us AWAY from the dam. Also a random guy in a car told us in Zulu that he was going to ‘shaya us’! Only after 15min of driving on an endless road did John agree to turn around and once we were happily back on the freeway he realised that had he listened to us, we would have gotten to Midmar in about 5min. [I would like to take this opportunity to point out the STUBBORNESS of men when it comes to driving, and yes that may be sexist but it’s true].

Anyway to cut a long story short the day was full of floating on lilo’s;  being pushed off of lilo’s; dipping our hair in the water and flinging it around while singing “ I whip my hair back and forth”(an annoyingly catchy song) ; eating burgers and grapes and cake and nice things; yachting; and taking lots of photos. Oh and playing ultimate ninja – hilarious! If you want to learn how to play this game(and you do) then click on the link! 

In other news though, we get home from our day at the dam and head off to watch Desmond and the Tutu’s, Coals of Juniper and Skylit City play at Unit 11. Have no idea what I am talking about? Let me just paint the picture for you:

A dodgy alleyway, a street full of the most awesome Durban peeps you’ll ever meet, lots of (sweaty) dancing people, and of course, music!!

So great, so indie, and so Durban. I really love my city.

I honestly have not had that much fun in a long time (you might laugh at that and think that I don’t get out much, but trust me, it was the vibe, oh wait, I mean, the VAAB).

By the way, if you are ever looking for something epic to do in Durbs and you aren’t really the clubbing type, then pull in to Unit 11, just off Stamford Hill Road every Thursday night for some table tennis, foosball, old school Nintendo and lovely acoustic sets.

It’s my new favourite hangout. I think I’m a little bit addicted actually. So come find me there!

Life is an adventure, and when it’s not, make it one!

{Above Photos by Matthew Knight}

Unit 11