Flags, Zakumi’s (official World Cup mascot), soccer jerseys everywhere makes me feel that we can unite as a country, evident in the progress made.

*** I love SA ***

Am I going to be watching any of the matches live? Obviously! I have never been to a soccer match before and will be attending my first on Friday, where France and Uruguay go head to head (or ball to foot in this case) :). I will be glued to a giant screen somewhere before this game starts to watch RSA vs. Mexico and rooting for Bafana all the way. First live match ever, World Cup fever, feeling SA unite, can anyone say “excited”, “excited”, “excited”?

The feeling I hope for South Africa is that we stay this way long past the end game is played. Everyone is watching and can see that through working together and progress, we can be pushed into another league and be part of a set of countries people all of the world would like to visit sometime in their life.

So, Bafana, we are behind you 150%, make us proud and do your best.

Visitors to South Africa, our country is beautiful, take the opportunity to visit places off the beaten track  you’ll be pleasantly surprised and p.s. don’t forget to shop!

It is an architectural piece of art and the new bridges and highways and being built, puzzle-like and every few weeks I see a new addition being added.

Awesome ツ.

As proud as a peacock. As excited and nervous as a mom who is taking her child go to school for the first day. As excited as a teenager about to land her dream spot at her dream university. This is how I feel ツ.

A few days to go before the 2010 World Cup and things are looking great. The stadium, wow, I am speechless and each time I see it, I am breathless.  I am so proud to be a South African and I am so proud of everyone working together to get the world to see that we have come really far in the past twenty years and that we are an awesome country to visit ツ.

So, well done South Africa, keep up the great work and know that along with millions of South Africans (and other citizens), we are proud of how far you’ve come and that we support you 100%.

Good job ツ.

Sigh. Not always :).

My response typically followed with an “even though my business is running a software development company (at the time) and I met you via the internet, through all this my pet lion was standing right beside me.”

I have to laugh.

Because as absurd as this may seem, every now and again, I do see horses roaming about the freeway or cows crossing the road. Traveling slightly out of town, one has to be careful of the baboons crossing the freeway or donkeys watching traffic go by.

Only in Africa.

This is true, but there is a catch. We have the best of both worlds. We can be hustling and bustling away in the city centers, lunching at the Waterfront or having cocktails at the One and Only or we can travel for 30-60 minutes and have a taste of the open road and country life. Only 30 minutes from the airport, we can pop in for a swim in Gordons Bay or travel a bit further and head for Goudini Spa. Do we want some adventure, lets go abseiling off the Knysna Heads or Bungee off the Gouritz river.

We have it all.

My point? The rest of the world may (or not) think that we are nothing but a third world country straddling along to make ends meet, when really they are starting to realize that we have the skill, technology and resources available to make things happen (evident in the 2010 World Cup being hosted here).

At the end of the day, I am a South African and I may have a baboon (literally) as my neighbor, but at least I can still get the best coffee in town, surf the web via wireless internet access and stare at the most magnificent view (ocean and/or mountain) one has ever seen. Bliss.

Technology rocks, but South Africa rocks more!

A piece of local, Charly’s is most certainly lekker and the evidence is in the tasting as well as the many tourists starting to add it to their lists of places to visit. Cakes, muffins, cupcakes, ginger bread girls and boys and many cute fancy cakes with writing in neon-colored icing spelling words like:

• I ♥ CT
• I ♥ u
• Mucking Afazing

The thing about Charly’s, are their legendary cupcakes. The chocolate cupcakes (not muffins) are dee-lish. A friend of mine gets carried away each time she visits buying one of each because “she cannot help it” and “they are soo pretty“.

Take your friends for a coffee, buy your grandmother a cupcake saying “I ♥ u” or take the time to break your detox with a double espresso, spinach and feta pie and round it off with a double chocolate fudge goo-ey brownie, drenched in chocolate sauce. Do I know anyone who would actually do that, yes, I confess, it was me and dare I say, it was the best way to break it :).

Happy eating and say hi to Charly for me ♥.

The first time I heard about Greyton was when my boyfriend asked me to come along at the beginning of this year. I wondered what this little town could offer that would make it so special? When mentioning Greyton to friends, the reviews were positive and I started getting very excited at the idea of going.

The drive from Cape Town to Greyton is pleasant. One and a half hours away, on passing over the (well, dare I say) pass (giggle), the mountains start disappearing and the immediate sense of calm takes hold.

On driving into Greyton for the first time, it is immediately apparent that it is in fact a small town. But what is so amazing about this place, is the many quaint restaurants, art galleries, coffee shops and not to mention the friendliness and hospitability of the people who live there. Many sports enthusiasts go to Greyton because of the many hiking and biking trails which is a sports persons’ paradise.

Be careful to drive slowly through the town as animals often roam freely (these include cows and horses).

My favorite spots to visit are:

• The Vanilla Cafe
• The Oak and Vigne
• Your Friendly Grocer
• The Tate Modern (for art lovers)
• Barnards
• Picodillos

There are a few quaint organic stores selling delicious bread and other delights. There is a market every Saturday morning, a little one, but good for socializing with the locals and getting good tips on fun things to do.

So, if you are looking for a some peace and quite or do take to nature in a big way, visit Greyton, you’ll love it and will definiately go back once you’ve been.

Happy holidays,
Shana Kay

What caught my attention though, was not the green of the Global Wraps wall :), but the recycling bins in the food court. It is inspiring to see that one of the largest shopping malls in South Africa is contributing to the going green campaign by more than just talking about it.

The company I work for has also recently embarked on a “green” campaign and it really is easy. All you need is some bins to separate your items into plastic, paper, glass and metal …. and Bob is your uncle (okay, he may not really be, but you know what I mean).

My contributions include switching off lights when not in use, turning off plugs when leaving home and cooking less (okay, this is more about me than the environment – giggle) .

So, join the cause and make your contribution, even if this means pausing to decide which bin to use post lunch fest at the Canal Walk food court, please remember that every little bit helps.

Going green, because green is more than my favorite colour.

I often tell everyone I meet how much more one loves this country until you leave and come back. I’ve always been proud of where I am from, but until my first time abroad, then and only then did my true patriotic colors emerged.

Those who have never frequented our beautiful country, cannot imagine until they have been here, the magnificence our borders have to offer. When abroad and I mention that I am from Cape Town, South Africa, and the typical “oh you’re from Africa” line usually follows (not always, sometimes). South Africa and Africa are often used interchangeably as though they are the same, but we know better :).

I must confess, that I have not traveled much locally apart from:

• Port Elizabeth
• East London
• Knysna
• George
• Garden Route
• Durban
• Pietermaritzberg
• Johannesburg
• Pretoria
• Sun City
• Kruger National
• etc.

Each place is special is their own regard and beautiful, although unexpected. When traveling locally, I am always amazed at the new places I find and find it hard to believe that I live here.

So next time you find yourself traveling locally (abroad has become slightly costly), remember that no matter how green the grass is on the other side, the real grass is grown here, often exported to other countries where it is nowhere near as fresh as at the source.

Happy traveling, local is lekker :),
Shana