Corner Cafe, Durban

Looking for a place that offers good service, scrumptious food and a friendly local...then pop into Corner Cafe in Glenwood, Durban.  
After a hasty 'Help! Looking for fun places to visit in Durban' message on Twitter, the lovely Nadia from CupCakeCourture suggested I head to Corner Cafe for a fill up. She had also suggested Mooi & Wakaberry  which have since been plugged into 'Favourites' on my GPS! 

After a quick caffeine fix, I was bouncing off the walls while being given a delightful breakdown of other cool spots to check out in Durban by Corner Cafe's owner, Judd.  

Thanks for all the helpful info Judd, We will be back!


CornerCafe also boasts its own vintage store full to the brim with treasures that are "Resurrected and Recycled". 

Address
Corner of  Cromwell and Brand Roads
 Glenwood 
Durban

Phone 032 201 0219

Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday 07h00 - 17h00

Click here to visit Judd's blog, and click here for Corner Cafe's Facebook Group.


Exploring: 44 Stanley Avenue, Milpark *Part 1*

Here are a few pic's I took while wandering around this delightful little nook in MillPark. Click here for 44 Stanley's official website to stay up to date




Anatomy Design


"Anatomy Design is a unique shopping destination - with a focus on beautifully detailed contemporary furniture and homeware"




Verdange


"Vendange is a retail concept themed around food, wine and olive oil accessories. We also supply an extensive range or ceramics, glassware and some furniture"




Lucky Fish


"Lulu Baily is an artist who had a dream of owning a shop that would allow for a broader expression of creativity. Lucky Fish opened five years ago as a fusion of trading store and bazaar with classic luxurious comfort. The shop's antique cabinets and a shifting array of beautiful furniture house all sorts of interesting odds and ends. Lulu stocks a wide range gleaned from antique markets and high street shops in India. An eccentric mix of furniture, lamps, cushions, clothing, toys and china come from as far afield as Sri Lanka, Spain, France and Argentina"


**I have just received my badge for the South African Blog Awards! If you like my blog, and feel extra nice today, pretty please wont you click here and vote for me :) All you have to do is enter your email address and you will be sent a confirmation email, just click the link in that email and bombs away!**


I ♥ Market *October*


After resigning from my job (yes, some of you may be wondering as to my mental state as I had only been there for a month...let's just say, I would have completely lost all sense of normality had I stayed there) I thought it about time for a trip to the sea. And a trip to the north coast sea is never complete without a stop at the I Heart Market. I Heart Market happens once a month, where fabulously talented people gather to sell all sorts of lovely things. Here are just a few of the stalls at this months gathering:



omnomnom deliciousness



Up at the Top, Pottery and Mosaic Studio.
 Eleanor Gillitt: upatthetop@gmail.com
35 Laughton Avenue, Glenashley, Durban,


Freshly Found...vintage refreshed
Denise Kiggan: denise@freshlyfound.com





Vanessa: vanessa.matthews@telkomsa.net
To visit their Facebook page, click here


Sophia Basckin...I just had to treat myself...with another 2 pairs of her gorgeous earrings!
Email her at sophiabasckin@gmail.com for more info ♥



Market on Main...round 2!

I have done a post on the wonder that is the Market on Main in Joburg's town centre, but after a recent visit and lots more photo's I thought I'd do another...why not hey :)

So as not to confuse anyone, ArtsOnMain is the building which houses MarketOnMain :)

Check out her blog (click here) for more stock of her lovely pieces

View of outside, what a pretty Spring Day in Jozi!


omnomnom...ChocolaJ :) 


The most delicious *homemade* marshmallows I have ever encountered!





Get yourself there every Sunday to stuff yourface with good food, mingle with cool looking people and get decked out in awesome  accessories!

Open from 10 am - 3 pm every Sunday. Check out their facebook group for more info.

Directions:
Corner of Fox Street and Main, Joburg.

From the M1 North click here
From OR Thambo International Airport click here
From Jan Smuts Avenue click here
From Houghton Drive click here


Tea & Pancakes in Aliwal North

On a recent trip back from Grahamstown, tummies growling and needing a rest from the boring N6, we headed into "The Stable" Padstal & Coffee Shop just outside Aliwal North. What a delightful stop! With so much to look at (*and of course, purchase*) it took us a while to sit down and take a gander at the menu...pancake's and carrot cake, yum yum yum!







The Padstal also has offers accommodation, La Riviéra Guesthouse...9 luxurious and elegantly decorated en-suite rooms, click here for more info.

Directions:
On the N6 Route next to the Orange River on the Free State side, just before crossing the bridge

Definitely beats the Whimpy in town :)


Grahamstown Festival...Day 1

So, day 1 of "Amazing" has come and gone. Even the gale force winds and frequent burst of rain could do little to deter market-goers from their hunt for treasures. Here's a sneak peak of what was on offer at the Village Green Market today...




Even managed to catch a sneaky show, Tellin' Tales by Gavin Bonner...percussionist, storyteller, freestyle poet. What a treat! If you're around for the Festival, consider booking yourself a ticket. He is showing at the Monument B2 Arena, tickets cost R45. Click here for more info!

A great starts to what is hopefully going to be a *warm and sunny* week of festivities :)

Grahamstown Festival 2011!!


Starting next thursday, June 30th is the annual National Arts Festival...yipee!

To see whats showing click here for the website and click here for the facebook group to stay up to date with whats going on! 

I'm going to be here in Grahamstown for at least the first few days, so look out for some pic's and other cool stuff when the Festival kicks off next week :)

Accommodation on the N1...*Kuilfontein Stable Cottages* Colesburg

The 14 hour drive from Jo'burg to Cape Town, although very tiring, is extremely beautiful. 





But if you are looking for a half way stop point that serves mouth watering meals and crisp white linen, then Kuilfontein Stable Cottages are just for you.
Kuilfontein is a luxury Colesberg guest house offering bed and breakfast or dinner, bed & breakfast accommodation. The rooms are Their prices are definitely not for the faint hearted, but as is the case with most things in life, you really do get what you pay for here. Your hosts, Leigh and Penny Southey are friendly and charming, and will do their utmost to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.




For more information drop them a line at info@kuilfontein.co.za or check out their website by clicking here.



You won't be disappointed by either their hospitality or their Karoo lamb curry :)

London in a Day...

Being the self elected South African representative at the Royal Wedding left me with a few days to myself. And what did I get up to I hear you ask?? Well, I decided to explore some of the sights of good old London town! With temperatures peaking in the high twenties, it was a lovely sunny Saturday here in the UK.

Meeting up with a good varsity friend led to a very late night of catching up on the latest scandal, as well as getting the 411 on each others plans and dreams for the future. As you may well be aware, late nights are not conducive to early mornings and these 2 sleepy Saffa's (nickname given to South Africans living/traveling abroad) managed to crawl out of bed and hit the high streets of London before it got too chaotic.

Here are some great places to see if you only have a few days to spare and want to get the most out of your trip:

1. Portobello Market
antiques, food stalls and other odds and ends


Directions: By tube: Notinghill Gate, then follow signs for the market. 
By Bus: 7, 12, 23, 27, 28, 31, 52, 70 & 328, the driver should let you know the right stop to take.
Opening Times: 
Mon-Wed & Fri: 8:00am- 6.30pm
Thu is a half day closing at 1.00pm
Sat 8:00am- 6:30pm 



2. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch.
Just for just's you have to check this place out (you might even be lucky enough to see the 'changing of the guards')


Directions:
By Tube: Green Park Station is to the North, Victoria & St James Park are to the South and Hyde Park Corner is to the West. You can get to the palace from wither of these stations.\
Buses:  2B, 3, 9, 14, 16, 19,, 22, 25, 30, 36, 38, 52, 73, 74, 82, 137, 509, 510
Changing of the Guard: 11:30 May through August. September to April, the frequency changes to every other day.

3. St James Park
St James's Park is the oldest Royal Park and is surrounded by St James's Palace, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.
The park is one of the prettiest in London with spectacular flower beds, a lake with two islands and fountains. 



Directions:
By Tube: 
St James's Park - 

The Park is also easily accessible from Charing Cross Station, Westminster, Green Park, & Victoria
By Bus: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 53, 77A, 88, 91, 148, 159, 211, 453


5. Big Ben & the  London Eye 


After walking through St James Park, just follow the crowds and soon you'll find yourself staring up at Big Ben :)


Directions: 
By Tube: Westminster


Once you've seen Big Ben, it will be hard to miss the London Eye. It's  located within easy walking distance from several London Underground stations: Waterloo, Embankment, Charing Cross and Westminster. 

Waterloo is the closest tube station to the London Eye and  is about five minutes walking distance. Exit the station following signs for the South Bank.

Embankment and Charing Cross stations are close together on the north side of the River Thames. Both tube stations are a ten-fifteen minute walk to reach the London Eye. From the station, cross over Hungerford Bridge.
Westminster tube station is the closest station to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. From Westminster tube station, take exit one and follow signs for Westminster pier.

Tickets: Standard ticket prices for the London Eye are about 17GBP 


Opening Times: 
  • January - March: daily 10.00am - 8.30pm
  • April to June: daily 10.00am - 9.00pm
  • July and August: daily 10.00am - 9.30pm
  • September to December: daily 10.00am - 8.30pm

So there you go! Just a short review of some great touristy places to see while you're in London. But remember, its a *HuGe* place, so make sure you get yourself an underground map, and do lots of research on other places you want to check out.


P.S. A few other places are Hamley's (the biggest toy shop in the world-Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus & Oxford Circus Tube Stations) and Oxford Street for all of its big brand stores (Oxford Circus Tube Station).

The Royal Wedding *who & where*

So it's T-minus 2 days and counting until the big day where more than 200,000 people are expected to flock to Hyde Park to see the actual procession, and another 20,000 will gather in Trafalgar Square, where screens will show highlights. 
Everyone's getting into the spirit, especially this guy who is making sure he has got his spot!


:)

Here's some more info on the route that William and Kate will take, starting at Westminster Abby, and ending up at Buckingham Palace:


And of course the seating plan. With more than 2000 guests, whose going to get to sit next to the Queen??


Thanks to BBC for the above info. You can stay up-to-date on the latest by clicking here.



Camping in Cape Vidal...

Farmboy and I just got back from a really awesome camping trip with his family to the beautiful Cape Vidal Coastal Resort. Just outside of St Lucia, Cape Vidal forms part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (click here for a map). As your drive through the park towards Cape Vidal,  you get a chance to see a host of different species of wildlife. Once in Cape Vidal, it's a 5 minute walk to the beach, where you can take your pick from snorkeling, fishing, sun tanning, swimming or just plain relaxing...with so many options, who could ever get board :)


Cape Vidal is a camping resort, so don't forget your tents :)

 Here are a few pics of our trip, with more info to follow!








Byanston Organic Market

Looking for a place to buy fresh, home grown veggies for your home cooked Pizza and Pasta dishes??

"The Bryanston Organic & Natural Market is Johannesburg's original outdoor market. When you visit our market, you will enter an environment where the emphasis is on quality hand crafted goods, unique art and photography, clothing made from natural fibres, a deli filled with rich, wholesome foods and, of course, fresh organic and naturally grown produce" Byanston Organic Market
The market is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 9am until 3pm. 

Why not pop in for cup of tea and a snack, before checking out the wide variety of funky goods on sale...





How to get there:

Upcoming *Festivals* in SA!


A taste of whats happening in our beautiful country during the month of April:


Klein Karoo Nationale Kunstefees
Where: Oudtshoorn

The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees in Oudtshoorn features well-known and young up-and-coming artists in dance and theatre. Started as an Afrikaans alternative to the mainly English National Arts Festival, KKNK has 200 different shows on three different stages.




Splashy Fen
Where: Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal







Website: Splashy Fen


Every year the Splashy Fen music festival attracts thousands of people to a farm near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal for a feast of mainstream and alternative rock and pop. It offers plenty of facilities, but there are great bed-and-breakfasts in nearby towns for those who believe music festivals can be enjoyed without mud.




Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival
Where: Prince Albert, Western Cape


The Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival, held in the Swartberg region of the Western Cape in April, offers a whole lot more than just the region's famous olives and wine. There's an art exhibition, beer tents, live music, witblits tastings, crafts for kids, historic tours, a cycle race, an olive pip-spitting competition, culinary demonstrations, a midnight ghost walk, stalls, cabaret, a dance and more.

Thanks to SouthAfrica.info for the above information :)

Under the **Berg**

What are long weekends made for other than to go picnicking in magical places with special people (*apart from sleeping in reading a good book that is*). And Thats exactly what I got up to this long weekend. 

After a great start of relaxing on Farmboy's farm...


The chickens provide the the entertainment as well as the sustenance for good old farm style fry-ups (I'm talking about their eggs...not the chickens themselves!)


View from the patio...it's a tough life for some hey :)


More morning entertainment thanks to "Pirate" and her dislike of early morning dew  :)


It is a dairy farm after all!

Then we headed out to Drakensburg Gardens, near Underburg in KZN, for a delicious Sunday lunch and a little explore of the surrounding area...

Some sights along the way...



Little gorge...


Not so little when you are trying to cross!



The view from our picnic spot


Lovely drive home...another beautiful African sunset! It's good to be home!

Meandering Madness!





If you've got a few days and feel like some nice scenery and a bit of an arty*farty atmosphere, then why not head to the Natal Midlands to meander your way around restaurants, coffee shops, quaint b&b's and loads of funky arts & crafts!


Here is a map of the area: *For a more detailed interactive map click here for the official Midlands site*






On our way to Balito from Farmboy's Farm, we picked up our very own guide (Farmboy's delightful videographer friend, Luke) hopped into our car and away we went. Here's a few pics of where we stopped off:


1. Aladdin's-de-Light










A little disappointing as their coffee shop was closed for renovations. But, if your looking for some antiques you might spy one or two 'de-lights' :)


2. The Faraway Tree







Ummm...what can we say about this place...a little creepy perhaps? Not worth a stop unless your a real fairy fanatic :)











Chris offers a great introduction to all of the cheeses he has on offer (and of course a chance to stuff your face with cheese tasters!) . Also offered is a cheese-making courses from R750 a person for whole day filled with the intricate processes of turning milk into that yummy yellow stuff! Email Chris at Marrakesh@dillon.co.za for more details.


















Full of exciting bits of junk, this shop is filled to the brim with brightly coloured goodies from all over the show; as well as a very impressive range of 'antiquey' looking furniture. Definitely worth a stop!









Quaint little shop near Lions River with lots of scented goodies and loads of cute home made pajama's :) Definitely worth a browse.


And a few more pic's along the way...