Suid-Afrika

3 to 8 Feb, 2026 - Durban, Johannesburg - (South Africa)



The plans for this trip were built around Brazil. The surprise was finding that South African Airways was offering one of the cheapest connections from Perth to Sao Paulo. Ideal, as we are finding the pulls to visit the shrinking family are growing stronger. A week long stop over appeared to be appropriate. Long enough for the desired visits, but not taking too much time away from our Brazilian visit.

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Bunny Chow and Stuffed Potatoes
Take a crusty loaf of bread, remove a plug from the top, and fill with curry. Now you have bunny chow.

I don't believe the curry is particularly different from anywhere else, and so it is theoretically a dish anyone can make anywhere. Perhaps bread selection is key, as it needs a good balance of soft and sturdy.

In any case, despite its simplicity, bunny chow remains a true Durban dish. From the day we booked our flights, I have been salivating in anticipation.


Our Dear Aunt Norma
We planned our stop in South Africa, primarily to visit Norma.

Honestly, the bunny chow was secondary, and family was first.

Unfortunately, just before arriving, Norma had to go in to hospital for a while. We made sure we visited as long as we could on the days we were there, pushing our luck on that final day.

I don't think the hospital has quite recovered, and our faces might be on a board entitled "do not allow entry". We caused quite the stir with our bursts of laughter and general joy.

The flowers we brought were also troublesome, not having a vase. We fashioned one from a soft drink bottle. Next visit, we discovered the flowers sitting separate and dry. Apparently it was not stable, and I believe there may have been muttering or worse when the staff had to do the clean up.


With Antonie
It was so wonderful to spend time with Antonie (and son, Michael).

We are so grateful that we re-connected with the family a few years ago. Sharon has since passed, but she was the cousin who linked us together.

We tried not to dwell on the sadness, but it would have been wrong to avoid the pain and grief entirely.

I think we got the balance right, or at least I hope we did.

We made a special effort to visit one of her favourite places in Durban, a place where her ashes were scattered.


Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg


BBQ meal, Jo'burg
We have flown in and out and through Johannesburg, but have never stayed.

This was the trip to rectify that.

This meal was a definite highlight.

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Is it Travelling When You Go Back Home?

9 Jan to 3 Feb, 2026 - Fremantle, Elevated Plains - (Australia)

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Sunset From a Freo Verandah


Lake Walk - with Yvonne, Allen, and Topher


Ribs for Two
I was restrained, and agreed to share. I really wanted the whole plate to myself!


Winery Lunch with Toots and Co


Out for Fish and Chips


Celebratory Brunch for John and Ros Anniversary

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Una Casa Abruzzese, and Two Aussies - Dutch Family

30 Jun to 5 Jul, 2022 - Goes, Ellewoutsdijk, Amsterdam, Heerhugowaard, Leiden, Nieuwegen, Utrecht, Best - (The Netherlands)



The pace was far more hectic than either of us would have chosen, but trying to arrange visits with family at times which suited each household did add a difficulty factor to the planning.

A significant reason to come to NL was to bring a tiny urn of my father's ashes to his land of birth. On a cold and blustery summer morning (yes, I said it right), we reunited him with Zeeland.

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With Ronald, and Cousin Inez
Inez is the about the only cousin on my father's side of the family with whom we have any contact. We stayed with them in Goes, close to where my father was born and grew up.


Stefan and Joep
Breakfast time.


Goes


Returning my Father to Ellewoutsdijk
So, we had a very small amount of my Dad's ashes in a tiny urn, which we decided to bring to his home town of Ellewoutsdijk. In classic Zeeland fashion, the blustery wind brought some cold rain showers, adding an appropriate atmosphere to the occasion. So we left him there, on the dike, where he would have played as a child and first dreamt of taking to the sea.


Dinner, Abcoude
Dinner with Oom Jan, cousin Vera, and her kids Tessa and Dion


Cat joins an Exhausted Tessa
During our long evening, Tessa slipped off to sleep. The cat decided she would be comfortable.


Breakfast at Vera's
With Dion, Tessa, and Nick.


Street Artist Sand Sculpture
In the street, Leiden, the guy was making a most extraordinary sand sculpture. A real dog came over and sniffed a little apprehensively at it.


Leiden Waterways


Catch up with Sharon
Sharon, a friend from years ago in Melbourne. Currently living in her home country, she came to Leiden to meet us for lunch, a walk, and plenty of eating and drinking.


Leiden Canal and Windmill


Cousin Daan, with Bobbie


Utrecht Central Library
Formerly the post office, this magnificent public space was a fun place to spend an hour or so. Lots of nooks to explore, and details only noticed when looking through a room for the third or fourth time. Although the building pre dates the period, the overall feel was quite Art Deco (although some features did make me think more along the lines of Art Nouveau).


Bitterballen with Rianne
A classic Dutch accompaniment to any drink. Crumbed and fried beefy balls. So tasty.


No Denying which Country we are in.
Canal trip in Utrecht.


Pre dinner


Afghan restaurant


Tante Riet with Jo
Between eating and drinking at various establishments.


Marc, Jo, Wim
Best was our last stop for the Netherlands. We flew out of Eindhoven, back to Rome.

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A Tiny Bite of South Africa - Cape Town and Surrounds, Christmas in Durban

15 to 27 December, 2019 - Cape Town, Gansbaai, Boulders Beach, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Durban - (South Africa)



Cape Town has been a wonderful and relaxing place to begin our Southern Africa adventure. Working up until the day of departure, we arrived exhausted, from both the journey, as well as the hectic pace in Melbourne. Straight to our
Bnb, an afternoon orientation and a few drinks, an early-ish night, and we crashed till the following morning. Jet-lag conquered, we were on South Africa time after that first night.

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Balcony View, Cape Town
Panorama vista from our Balcony in Gardens, Cape Town. The view far exceeds our expectations when we booked!

Unfortunately, the glorious weather depicted did not stay with us for our entire Cape Town visit, but c'est la vie, especially la vie travelling!

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So, rather than talking about things sequentially, lets start with the day trips out and about.

Day trip number 1 - sharks. From Gansbaai. This was supposed to happen later in our week, but wind forecasts had the operators worried about cancellations, so it was brought forward. A very early start had me picked up before 4:00 a.m. Breakfast at Gansbaai, and then out on the water.

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Dolphins Performed in the Bay
On our way out near Gansbaai.


Company for our Trip
Dolphins ride the bow of our boat as we travel out from Gansbaai.
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Sharks Feeding
Salmon is thrown in the water to attract the sharks. We had around 18 Bronze Whalers visit during our time in the cage, although I think 6 or 7 were the most we had the same time.


A Pair Come By
Bronze Whaler Sharks, also known as Copper Sharks, or Narrow Tooth Sharks.


Shark Feeding
A Bronze Whaler Shark swallows some of the copious amounts of chum.


Out of Nowhere
When under water, you don't discern there is anything about, until it suddenly emerges right in front of you. Visibility was apparently not too bad, but we could barely see the tail when we were looking at the head... Visibility: 2 to 3 metres, then.

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Sharks Video 1
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Sharks Video 2
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Sharks Video 3
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Later in the week, we hired a car for a couple of days. One day to the south, and one day to the east. Rough and rugged to the Cape of Good Hope. Relaxed and classy to visit wineries.

Our favourite winery (not pictured in the blog) was Leopard's Leap. We bought 5 bottles, and I am hoping we will consume them relatively quickly as I don't want to haul them around for the rest of the trip! However, it was way too difficult to say no. Especially at the price. Let's just say that we thought the price was per glass, not per bottle! Anyway, we do have some relies we are seeing soon and hope to share with them at Christmas.

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Cold and Windswept
That applies to us and the penguins.


Out of a Gap
Emerging from a gap between two rocks, this cute penguin was cautious, but not too perturbed, by our presence.


Penguin at Boulders Beach


These Two Know Each Other
It is so easy to anthropomorphise this interaction, that I will let each of you create your own meaning from the image.


Another Penguin Couple


Boulders Beach Crowd


Our Cats Do this Pose
A rock hyrax, or as the locals call them, a dassie. Looking something like a small wombat, with a quokka's head.


Dassie Face


Ostrich, Roadside
On our way through the National Park to the Cape of Good Hope.


On a Rocky Ledge
High above the Cape of Good Hope, there is a viewpoint that can be climbed to.


Jo, Cape of Good Hope


Self Explanatory Photo


Wine Tasting Beneath a 300 Year Old Oak


Boschendal Winery

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The rest of our week and a bit? Well, there were numerous coffees, lunches about, fine dinners and picnics. We slacked on the balcony, and passed time in parks.

Of course, we did heaps of stuff in between all that, but we didn't put ourselves out too much...

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Speampunk Coffee
Walking around town, we stumbled across Truth Coffee Roasting.

Steampunk themed, with pressed metal decorations, and exposed pipes in the large space. Wait staff with vintage styled vests and top hats, flying goggles and more.

The coffees available were intriguingly described. They included brewing, roasting, and preparation details that I found difficult to comprehend the significance there-of. However, somebody out there must feel those minor nuances make the result a better cup of coffee.


By Mandela's Side
Jo gives moral support to Nelson Mandela as he delivers a speech at City Hall, Grand Parade, Cape Town.


Bo Kaap
Colourful houses are the norm for the Bo Kaap neighbourhood of Cape Town.


Bunny Chow
A hollowed out loaf of bread filled with curry (lamb in this case). More of a Durban dish, but available here in Cape Town.


Seal
In the Cape Town harbour, seals swim and bask. Dodging the ferries and tour boats in the water, and then lounging in the sun on platforms that keep them a little isolated from the passing crowds.


Mandela's Cell, Robben Island
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."

Jo had a real connection, here, as she teaches Invictus as a Year 12 text.

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All too quickly, the time in Cape Town was over. A hop over to Durban, for Christmas with my cousin, Sharon, and family. It was amazing how quickly we picked up from where we left off, 4 years ago. Tony fired up the braai on day one, where 7 or 8 varieties of meat were represented. Already we were discussing whether we would have enough space left for Christmas lunch in 2 days time!

But, incredibly, we did. Sharon had an amazing menu planned. Three courses, times three cultures.

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Rob's Sweets and Biscuits
Jo with my cousin, Robert, in his shop in Durban.


Photo in a Frame
At Trail of Lights in Durban's Botanical Gardens.


At Trail Of Lights
In Durban's Botanical Gardens. Around 50% of the 2000 visitors (capped entry) seemed to know Sharon, Tony, or Norma!


Christmas Menu
Sharon went above and beyond, and we had the most amazing lunch! Our combined trio of cultures were well represented. Australian, South African, and Dutch.


Fun in the Kitchen


Post Christmas Lunch Slow Down
I avoided the temptation to sleep.

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