The African Lost City

The brain child of a man who had a Standard 8 (which in international terms means he did not complete his basic schooling), Sol Kerzner went on to create a fantasy-land in the form of The Lost City, with an incredibly expensive and ultra-luxurious palace, with facilities only movie stars can afford. The penthouse suite is a not-so-small fortune per night! More than 5 star material! Luxury in the extreme. This consists of a stunning fairytale hotel, and a waterworld-wonderland. There is a fake sea (with real beach sand and rolling waves), rapids, quite a few water rides etc. A lot of fun for adults and children alike.

He has built an oasis in the midst of this, and created employment for thousands of locals, where unemployment is rife. We never got to go here as kids because we didn’t have the extra money for the excursion, but as a young adult I started to go a few times with friends from Technikon, for pop concerts (Richard Marx), and to spend the day in the sun and sea in The Lost City.

Not being one who enjoys gambling, I didn’t do much of that – but if you DO enjoy gambling, this is a gambling mecca! They do conduct a 'responsible gambling policy', not sure exactly what that entails, but as it can become an addiction, they have obviously taken strides to prevent this. They work in conjunction with a National Responsible Gambling Programme Toll Free Helpline: 0800 006 008.

Easily driveable from Johannesburg (2 hours drive), this is a lovely day outing/week end getaway for the family, or with friends. There is a bus service that operates from some of Johannesburg's finest hotels.

London's urban hike with Jenniflower

Regent Street

A wonderful way to see and experience London: walking. Come and join in!

Begin London's urban hike at the Lancaster Gate entrance to Hyde Park, just off Bayswater Road. Reach Lancaster Gate by underground via the Lancaster Gate tube station. Start the hike sufficiently early in the morning to be able to visit Hyde Park at a pleasant time.

Discover Hyde Park by walking through the park to the Marble Arch. Until late 19th century, Marble Arch was the site of public hangings. From Marble Arch continue east along Oxford Street. This street is London's most important and crowded shopping district. Major department stores are found here. Selfridges, Debenhams, C and A's, and Liberty's are all located on in the area. Do some browsing, but try not to buy anything on the walk, as whatever you buy, you have to carry! Hikers carry water and plasters only! ;)

Where Oxford intersects Regent Street, turn right and continue down this stunning street until you reach Piccadilly Circus. Hamley's is a favourite stop ~ 6 stories of delight for all ages!

(this first photo was taken with my camera phone, so is poor quality unfortunately)

Okay, and then?

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is surrounded by shopping, restaurants, and movie theaters.

This is where I work! I really enjoy my lunch hours, where I amble around to the art galleries, squares and sights all around me. I feel very spoilt sometimes to be working in such a beautiful and historic place. Anyway, that aside, you are on a hike and must try and savour the sights around you, but not be distracted! lol

From Piccadilly Circus, follow Piccadilly to Leicester Square. Leicester Square is where all the movie premiers take place, and where stars turn up in the freezing cold weather of winter in skimpy dresses, pretending not to feel the cold :)

From Leicester Square, walk along Charing Cross Road to Trafalgar Square.

From stars to columns to squares...

Lord Nelson's Column is found in the center of Trafalgar Square. Before reaching Trafalgar, pass directly by the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery. The National Gallery is located on the north side of Trafalgar Square.

National Gallery

From Trafalgar Square, continue up the Strand. This is London's theatrical district. The Strand becomes Fleet Street in several blocks. Fleet Street is the legendary home of the British press.

Wedding bells, something smells ;)

Catch a bus (preferably a red Routemaster!) from Fleet Street to St Paul's Cathedral. St Paul's Cathedral was built by the great architect Christopher Wren. This gorgeous, baroque cathedral was completed in 1711. Prince Charles and Princess Diane were married here. A visit to St Paul's should include the crypt beneath the church.

St Pauls Cathedral

One can walk up some stairs, all the way up to the cathedral's rotunda. It is a spectacular view :) St Paul's floor plan is a lateran cross. The rotunda is located directly above the center of the cross.

From the dome to the tower to the crown...

Take the St Paul's tube to the Tower Hill Station. The Tower of London is located here.

William the Conqueror began the Tower in about 1078. In subsequent years, much English history has involved the Tower. Imprisonment, torture, murder, and execution have all contributed to establishing the Bloody Tower's reputation. The famous have been housed here awaiting their fate. Henry the VIII imprisoned and then executed his wives Ann Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, and Margaret Vicountessa of Salisbury within the Tower. Elizabeth I was, herself, kept a prisoner at the Tower for some time before becoming queen.

Tower of London

The modern Tower is associated with the Beefeaters or Yeoman Warders who wear the distinctive Tudor style uniforms. The Crown Jewels of England are kept here. White's Chapel within the Tower contains a superb museum, including a well displayed armour collection. One could spend an entire day here... But YOU cannot! You have a hike to complete... move on now!

Bridging the water... not swimming it!

After visiting the Tower, walk along the Thames River. There are some British navy ships anchored along the Thames that can be visited (H.M.S Belfast being a particular favourite), or, for the Tower Bridge enthusiasts, there is a walkway along the upper level of the Tower Bridge that can be used to cross the bridge. From the Tower, take the underground to Tottenham Court Road Station, and Bloomsbury, London.

Looking out over the Thames, inside Tower Bridge

Bloomsbury's fame is often linked to two reasons, the British Museum and the economist John Maynard Keynes. The British Museum is only one block to the west of Tottenham Court Road Station. The British Museum is a favorite of Londoners. The museum's large collection includes exhibits of things from classical times to the present. A half day or more can be effortlessly spent exploring the British Museum.

Meet up with Ben and Abbey!

Next, take the tube to Westminster Station. The British Parliament Buildings are located in the Palace of Westminster. Big Ben is also found here. Walk across the Thames River Bridge for a famous view of Parliament. If Parliament is in session, admission to the strangers' gallery in either the House of Commons or Lords may be possible.

Westminster Abbey is next to Westminster. Since 1050 AD, all but two of England's kings and queens have been crowned at Westminster Abbey. Many of England's monarches are also buried here. Brass rubbings from Westminster Abbey are familiar decor. These brass rubbings can be made from cathedral artifacts. Purchase paper and ink and try a brass rubbing.

Westminster

After leaving Westminster Abbey, walk across Parliament Square and north on Whitehall. Downing Street is a few blocks up Whitehall on the left hand side. While visitors are no longer allowed outside 10 Downing Street, the famous residence can still be seen from Whitehall.

...end it off with tea with Lizzy :)

After leaving 10 Downing Street, return to Parliament Square and walk up Birdcage Walk to St. James Park. Walk through St. James Park to the Mall.

Buckingham Palace is at the opposite end of the mall. If the Queen is in residence, one can see her distinctive flag with the three lions of England above the palace. The changing of the guard takes place at Buckingham Palace at 11:30 am every day in the summer and every other day in the winter. Buckingham Palace completes the London urban hike!

Buckingham Palace

We hope your enjoyed your virtual hike with us... now why not do it for REAL? The London experience will be substantially better for first having got out and found the city on foot, this we can guarentee!

Going back to South Africa ~ the reality

Jobs arent that plentiful in South Africa and an entrepeneuring spirit is needed if you want to have a roof over your head and food in your tum. So, we will go back with our thinking caps on and hopefully create jobs for ourselves as well as others... there is alot of opportunity available! It's just a question of time.

We are wanting to work with Hiv AIDS orphans when we return home to South Africa, we have had the privilege of working with some orphans before and look forward to returning to this work in a fuller capacity, although at this stage we are unsure in what capacity.

So many children are orphaned not once, but twice, and three fold sometimes too. Two generations of people are being wiped out.

They need our help. NOW.

Travelwires

Travelwires is a new website detailing what's going on in the tourism industry, primarily within South Africa. It has some very interesting articles and information!

My birthday!

Thanks everyone for the emails, comments and phone calls, it sure made my day, especially as I have been in bally bed all day. Caught a nasty little bug on Friday. Still on apple juice and water. Off work till Wednesday.

Something that REALLY sucks is that hubby has organised a 'surprise' chocolate birthday cake for me, and I can't eat any!!!! Aaaaaaaaaahhhh... (I say 'surprise'.. as he tried to hide it in the kitchen on top of the fridge behind something, but I found it hehe ;) It's really large too... I am not sure who else he is expecting tonight??? haha

Scrumptious huh?... yeah I can live with that!!! :))

*5 mins later!*

The 'mystery' of the cake is no longer a mystery.. hah... he was expecting family round tonight, which he's had to cancel due to me being ill.

I am my own person

I so enjoy chatting with people I meet (even on the plane too!), about their faith and what it means to them in their life. In a spiritual, practical and fundamental way.

I am a Christian, a believer in Jesus Christ. I have my own thoughts and study his teachings and make up my own mind. I challenge teachers/pastors on their teaching of the Word because I long to learn more about this God I love so much, love and fear, yes, fear. In a respectful way, not in a trembling of the knees way.

I am in no way conditioned. I do not belong to a cult. I am my own person. I believe each and every one of us has the choice of allowing a faith/religion to 'conditon' one's thoughts, or not to. Eg: I have wonderful, peace-loving Muslim friends, and yet there are other Muslims that are full of hate and murder people as suicide bombers.

This goes for all faiths and religions, Christiantiy included. People are people, and it's really sad when people allow a theology/teaching to dictate (condition) their thoughts and deeds, but this can happen to anyone under any faith, whether Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish etc.

Saffa joke

South Africa :)

In the beginning God created day and night. He created day for rugby matches, going to the beach and braais. He created night for going jolling, sleeping and braais. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Second Day.

On the Second Day God created water - for surfing, fishing, swimming and braais on the beach. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Third Day.

On the Third Day God created the Earth to bring forth plants - to provide food, malt and yeast for beer and wood for braais. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Fourth Day.

On the Fourth Day God created animals and crustaceans for chops,
boerewors, steak and prawns for braais. God saw that it was good.
Evening came and morning came and it was the Fifth Day.

On the Fifth day God created an oke - to go to the rugby, enjoy the beach, drink the beer and eat the meat and prawns at braais. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Sixth Day.

On the Sixth Day God saw that this oke was lonely and needed someone to go to the rugby, surf, drink beer, eat and stand around the braai with. So God created buddies, and God saw that they were good okes. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Seventh Day.

On the Seventh Day God saw that the okes were tired and needed a rest. So God created Chicks - to clean the house, bear children, wash, cook and clean the braai. Evening came and it was the end of the Seventh day. God sighed, looked around at the twinkling braais, heard the hiss of opening beer cans and the raucous laughter of all the okes and chicks, smelled the aroma of grilled chops and sizzling prawns, and God saw that it was not just good, it was very good, He created a great place and HE called it SOUTH AFRICA.

Amen Brother!

(anon)

2 prayers I love

Surrender
Lord, we do not know what this life has in store for us,
but be it good or bad, we are willing to be used by You.
Use us until that moment comes,
when we go from service good to service best -
when You begin to use us in glory!
~ Corrie ten boom

~ ~ ~

In His image
Guide us, teach us and strengthen us,
Oh Lord, we beseech thee,
until we become such as Thou wouldst have us to be:
pure, gentle, truthful, courteous, generous,
dutiful, useful, and above all, valiant in all our doings;
for Thy honour and glory.
Amen
~ Charles Kingsley

The unveiling of Philippi!

Basilica B, 540 AD

To think this all used to be swamp-land! The ruins of Philippi lie near the deserted hamlet of Filibedjik, fifteen kilometres from Kavala.

My Philippi Travel Page

We arrived on a VERY hot day - 38 degrees C *phew*... even for us South Africans, that was HOT! lol Thankfully we had pale clothing on, plus sunscreen, caps, hats, sun glasses and plenty of water. The site is large, so one does a bit of walking. It is so fascinating! From Roman scripts, to seeing the ORIGINAL floor mosaics, to seeing where Paul and Silas were held captive. This was a definate holiday highlight for us.

99% of the city of Phillipi was under a swamp until it was drained. The only protruding parts of the ruins were the highest points of the Basilica. When the swamp was drained the city below was revealed...

Turbulant history in Philippi!

Philip of Macedonia took possession of this village and gave it his name, Philippi in the plural.

In 168 B. C. the Romans captured it. In the autumn of 42 B. C. the celebrated battle between Brutus and Cassius was fought on the neighbouring marshy plain. In the first conflict Brutus triumphed over Octavius, whilst Antony repulsed Cassius, who committed suicide. Unable to maintain discipline in his army, and defeated twenty days later, Brutus also took his life. A Roman colony was established here. The Archdiocese of Kavala was reunited to the metropolis in December, 1616.

This amphitheatre was built during Philip ll's life.

Remnants of a time long gone...

What an awesome discovery this is! They have started restoration, and it’s coming along well, but most of it is still in ruin. We wanted to spend much longer there and take in everything, but had to stay with the *time keeping* tour group. We would love to go back some day!

Madame Tussaud's ~ tourist trap, but hey!

The Beatles

We love you yeah yeah yeah!!!!!

This was a really funky and fun arrangement...

Sherlock Holmes

My handsome hubby and that infamous detecive... Dr Sherlock Holmes!!!



2 good people... they have been crucial and fundamental in the change that has been seen in South Africa since 1994.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi!!!! Go girl! We go way back!

Sean Connery ~ 007

Well, he usually likes his drinks 'shaken not stirred'... but I decided to do some stirring... hehe

George Clooney

A marriage proposal from George Clooney himself! Woohoo... but so so sorry, I am taken ;)

Albery Eienstein

Who's the brains here? ;)

Hulk

Watch out Laaaaaaaaance!!!!!!!!!!

F.W deKlerk & Nelson Mandela