Secrets at the V&A Waterfront

I was exploring the V & A Waterfront recently and discovered some incredible facilities - many of which are located on the periphery of the main shopping area. It was like Christmas; all I wanted to do was sample every single activity available. Here's a short list of things to do at the Waterfront:

1. Fly around Cape Town. Yes - FLY. Did you know there are several helicopter tour services available right at the Waterfront? Incredible.
2. Float around Cape Town. Hop onto a chartered boat and discover the shimmering sea-fronts of the city.
3. Visit Scratch Patch (remember those school outings to this magical place?). Trust me, as an adult digging for gemstones the activity is a whole lot more entertaining.

Road trip?

Its that time of the year when it can get too cold to do major adventurous stuff but one fun thing that will always be great no matter the season is a road trip.

Doesn't matter what your age is or what city you are in, road trips are always fun. Renting a car can sometimes get tricky if you don't know the right/trusted car hire.

Better Car Hire is definitely one we recommend. Whether you are a student, doing an internship in a company or working full time, Betta Car Hire delivers a service at an affordable price.

So next time you think of going on a road trip...think about them.

A Little Vacation

Hermanus is a picturesque seaside town, known for its festive atmosphere, friendly residents, gorgeous scenery and its whales. The famous visitors return to its shores annually to calve and their graceful antics are watched by the hundreds of people who flock to Walker Bay to witness the majestic creatures in action.

 Whale watching in Hermanus is world-renowned – no other place provides the same opportunity to witness the phenomenal animals in their natural environment, cavorting in the bay. The tell-tale sudden explosion of a jet of water, or the appearance of a gigantic tale, is a give-away that there is a friendly whale lurking below the sea's surface.

 Hermanus loves its and every year they are celebrated with the immensely popular Hermanus Whale Festival – South Africa's only Enviro-Arts festival. The whole town gets involved and the carnival atmosphere is infectious, with numerous musical performances, comedy skits, cabarets and exciting stalls to discover.

Choose from an overwhelming selection of exquisite arts and crafts and delight in the multiple acts on offer. As soon as the Whale Crier sounds his seaweed horn, everyone knows that the first whale has been spotted and it's time to start the festivities.

Opting for a group Cape Town tour to Hermanus is a wonderful way to experience the best that the town has to offer, while the informative, knowledgeable guides enhance your experience with their fascinating commentary about the area's past and its whales. It's also a fantastic way to meet new people and spend some time with your family and friends.

Stroll along the superb, pristine stretches of golden sand and climb up the rippling dunes for outstanding vistas of the sea and its gentle inhabitants. Hermanus is famed for its rugged, wild landscape, with its captivating natural beauty and serenity.

 The town may have grown and developed a great deal, but it still maintains its integrity and small fishing town feel. It's a place of immense charm and allure, with much to offer, including its well-known Whale Festival, which takes place annually in September.

Finding Work In The Finance Sector

There's a trick to choosing the right job. Deciding on the correct carreer, getting qualified, locating the right job for you and then nailing the interview. Each step is equally important, as one without the other will inevitably result in not obtaining work which of course is the goal.

Of course, some jobs offer a more stable lifestyle than others and jobs in the finance sector generally tend to be stable and rewarding. Your location will also play a role in the availability of jobs. For instance if you're looking for finance jobs in Pretoria or FMCG jobs in Johannesburg, you might have more luck than if you were looking in Piketburg.

Either way if you're looking for a solid carreer path, these would be good options to consider for your future.

Hire a Car & Travel through Kalk Bay

With over thirty years in the industry, Vineyard Car Hire offers car hire Cape Town using only superior quality, brand new vehicles which you can trust to be reliable and affordable as well. Known for providing outstanding service, the Cape Town car hire company will greet you as soon as you step off the plane and also offers a convenient collection and delivery service all around the peninsula.

Kalk Bay has a very different ambience to anywhere else in Cape Town, with a laid-back, eclectic, arty lifestyle that is incredibly appealing, making you feel instantly relaxed and at ease. Time seems to slow down in this vibrant district, where your senses are overwhelmed by the bright colours around you and the noise of the sea, the fishermen and the happy chatter of locals and visitors alike.

This is the perfect place for a road trip, with much to offer including numerous boutique stores and restaurants. Drive over Boyes Drive enjoying magnificent vistas of False Bay beach and look out for whales surfacing in the waves. When you arrive in Kalk Bay make sure you have put aside enough time to explore everything on offer.

Stroll down the street and take in the noise, smells and colours around you. Stop at some of the antique shops and rustle up hidden treasures from ancient sewing machines and old-fashioned cameras to delicate porcelain china and tiny pottery animal figurines. From the enticing antique stores wander to the superb second-hand book shops where the smell of old books welcomes you in and the promise of knowledge and secrets lies on every shelf – from a history of South Africa to sultry romance novels.

Elegant boutiques like Mythology and India Jane offer gorgeous, one-of-a-kind clothes with whimsical dresses and beautifully constructed blouses lined up in irresistible rows. Embrace your free hippie, tree-hugging self at Gypsy where long flowing skirts, dresses, shiny bangles, henna and sparkles are the order of the day. Next door, gaze in wonder at the remarkable, unique jewellery designs or skip over the road to look at more antiques and bric-a-brac items.

If you’re feeling peckish then pop into Olympia Café and indulge in the tastiest pastries in town. The café is always buzzing with a simple, rustic charm and glass windows looking out to the sea. The chocolate brownies and croissants are honestly to die for, as is the special artisan bread. Tribeca offers scrumptious home-made bread and tasty breakfasts while you can sit on the Brass Bell’s deck and listen to the waves crashing up against the windows while tucking into mouth-watering pizzas. For incredible ice-cream head to the Ice Café and try some of their more exotic flavours including the divine cinnamon concoction.

Kalky’s is world-renowned and serves amazing fish and chips, Cape Town style, at the bustling Kalk Bay Harbour. Across the road, Lucky Fish gives Kalky’s a run for its money with generous portions of golden battered hake with chips. You can walk to the lighthouse and admire all the brightly coloured boats bobbing in the harbour and look out for the resident seal which sits on the steps next to where the fisherman sell their fresh fish, waiting for offcuts.

Kalk Bay is a wonderful little place, which is the perfect destination for a road trip and a day of fun in the sun with family and friends. Vineyard Car Hire is a superior Cape Town car hire company, easily accessible in Kenilworth. The car rental service offers great value for money with affordable, top-quality vehicles and excellent service.

Original Source: Vineyard Car Hire Cape Town

Eco-Hotels in Cape Town

An eco-friendly hotel is an establishment committed to green, sustainable living, by implementing key operational strategies to actively reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact. This could include choosing energy-saving lighting and appliances, using non-toxic products and detergents, collecting and conserving water, etc.

Cape Town is one of the world’s top tourist destinations, boasting phenomenal natural beauty and a thriving, cosmopolitan metropolis. Spend your days admiring the breath-taking vistas from the top of the famous Table Mountain, hiking Lion’s Head or watching the sunset from Signal Hill, strolling along gorgeous, golden beaches, trekking through numerous forests and nature reserves, or enjoying the vibrant city which offers an array of shops, restaurants, bars and a legendary night life.

This buzzing city is a place to fall in love with, offering its residents and visitors a healthy, active and balanced way of life. There are many eco-friendly Cape Town hotels to choose from, located all around the region, offering a green lifestyle and world-class comfort and facilities. Opting for a green Cape Town hotel means that you have the opportunity to explore the superb beauty of the area, while being secure in the knowledge that you are actively aiding in conserving it.

Ocean View House offers chic, stylishly-appointed accommodation in the trendy, upmarket district of Camps Bay. The rooms provide superb ocean and mountain views and are optimally located close by to the world-renowned Camps Bay and Clifton beaches. Guests can revel in the exquisite, indigenous garden, which incorporates a beautiful stream which flows down from Table Mountain. Ancient Milkwood trees preside over pristine fynbos and a flourishing succulent garden conserves water. The establishment also uses solar geysers to save power and reduce its carbon footprint.

Mariner Guest House is an architectural marvel, built to extend over three levels, nestled on the slopes of the fynbos adorned mountain in the scenic area of Simon’s Town. The building is modern, streamlined and elegant, offering its guests an outstanding, memorable experience with tasteful, sophisticated décor, which hints at the maritime theme.

The Guest House is impressively designed to be eco-friendly, with the rooms incorporating high ceilings and large glass windows in order to capitalise on natural light. Solar geysers are utilised, saving a considerable amount of energy and recycling is strictly enforced. The indigenous garden conserves water, energy saving light bulbs are utilised, guests are encouraged to reuse their towels and all laundry and dishwashing detergents are bio-degradable and non-toxic, as are all the complimentary bathroom amenities. The food served is mostly organic, with fresh, home-grown herbs adding a special touch.

Cape Town is a remarkable city and your visit will be even more enjoyable if you choose eco-friendly Cape Town holiday rentals, offering green living, as well as comfort, convenience and astounding natural beauty.

Original Source: The Green Life

Parker Cottage and Society

While the ornamental marble and cast iron fireplaces, stately oak dressers and wardrobes, grandiose light fixtures and delicately furnished rooms may pervade the air with luxury and elegance, Parker Cottage is very much a harmonious blend of simplicity, environmentally friendly accommodation and down to earth hospitality. Tucked away in quiet Carstens Street in the historical residential neighbourhood of Tamboerskloof, this Cape Town bed and breakfast is an exclusive 4-star establishment offering all the grace and opulence of a world class guest house, while still maintaining its reputation as an environmentally friendly and socially aware bed and breakfast in Cape Town.

Displaying an active concern for the environment with ambitious plans to transform the quaint 1895 cottage and show that while it may be easier to build a new structure with energy efficient designs, historical buildings already possess several environmentally conscious elements and can be acclimated to protect the environment. However, while their dedication to the environment plays a tremendous role in their lives, Phil and Liz have taken their humanitarian concerns one step further with their involvement in several social upliftment projects.

Their support of The Haven Night Shelter is one of their most well-known social upliftment projects. The Haven Night Shelter is a welfare organisation was established in 1978 and is dedicated to providing temporary physical care, social welfare, family re-unification and temporary shelter services to the Western Cape’s destitute population. During their stay at Parker Cottage, each guest is entrusted with a ‘passport’ (small plastic pieces which allow individuals free entry to one of the night shelters). This way guests are given the opportunity to become involved and make a difference in the local community by giving the ‘passport’ to someone in need.

Another project close to their heart is the involvement in a primary school in the economically depressed Bo-Kaap where Phil offers support lessons which complement the existing curriculum and are aimed at increasing the literacy of grade 7 learners from a multitude of African countries. Parker Cottage’s engagement in local schools also extends to Ntaba Maria Primary School in the Eastern Cape where Phil taught for several years. Parker Cottage are actively involved with this flagship school by offering two anonymous scholarships to learners who display exceptional promise but are prevented from developing their potential as a result of limited financial resources.

Having founded several social initiatives, Parker Cottage’s involvement in the local community is not limited to the mere financial aid of social development projects. Their involvement ranges from endorsing local welfare organisations to managing social upliftment projects and supporting disadvantaged entrepreneurs by purchasing their produce and making use of their services. The influence and genuine philanthropic concern of this guest house for the people of South Africa and environment as a whole is felt throughout the country.

Original Source: Parker Cottage