Cape Town

March 8, 2016March 7, 2016

Taste of Cape Town in Adelaide

Since eating at Africola in Adelaide I have been thinking of South Africa. Specifically I have been thinking about flying to Cape Town to see the penguins and to enjoy some time in the bush looking at animals.

20160123_183029 — The decor is fun, but my favorite part was the sign on the door that asked patrons to leave quietly out of consideration to the neighbors. Hint, hint Rind in Midtown.

I read about Africola in Travel+Leisure magazine. I made my reservation on a website similar to OpenTable. It gave me the option of a table or at the bar and since I was dining solo–I chose the bar.

20160123_183628 — Not sure if you can appreciate the deliciousness of the cauliflower above. It was amazing. I could have just eaten it for dinner. I wish I had the recipe. I even bought cauliflower when I got home at the farmers market. But it just tastes like cauliflower. meh

The service was terrific. With a gin and tonic and dessert my bill was about $65 US. I tipped even if it is not the custom in Australia.

20160123_182224 — Got to love a restaurant with Nelson Mandela on the menu and cornbread for all patrons.

If I could eat like this at every evening meal in South Africa I would be very content. South Africa is not in my budget for 2016… Perhaps in 2017.

20160123_190549 — Yes this dessert was too chocolatey. Never thought I could say that… it was out of balance. Only misstep all night.

February 12, 2014February 8, 2014

More Penguins!

I am blessed to have friends who are also great photographers. If you loved Mara V. Connolly’s post on African Penguins then you may find this Ted Talk on penguins interesting.

Dee Boersma does a great job of explaining the appeal of penguins and why we should care. This next Ted Talk is specifically about the penguin rescue of African penguins from an oil spill that Mara referenced in her post. Listen as Dyan deNapoli describes the heroic penguin rescue off the coast of Cape Town.

February 9, 2014February 10, 2014

Boulders Penguin Colony

Guest blog by Mara V. Connolly

During my recent trip to South Africa, we traveled to Cape Town where on the eastern side of Cape Peninsula lies the Boulders Penguin Colony, a part of the Table Mountain National Park system that includes Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope, and Table Mountain.

Boulders is home to a declining, and endangered rarity of land-based African Penguins, often called Jackass Penguins as they bray like donkeys. The Boulders website stated that in the 50 years from 1956 to 2009 the worldwide population of African Penguin breeding pairs declined from 150,000 to 26,000; an 80% decline over 50 years attributed to human interference from habitat destruction to oil spills. Boulders colony also declined from 3,900 birds in 2005 to only 2,100 in 2010. (http://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/tourism/attractions.php#boulders)

For 550 South African Rand (about $5.50 US at the time) you gain entrance to both Boulders Beach where you can lounge and swim amidst penguins who also appear to be vacationing from their colony a couple of beaches down the way, and the Boulders Penguin Colony itself that you view from boardwalks.

We arrived just after the park opened at 7am to having the place all to ourselves. We started at the colony and were amazed at the flurry of activity going on with hundreds of penguins and cormorants making a racket of noise. The “braying” of the penguins had me in amazement because when I closed my eyes and listened, I envisioned a whole herd of donkeys, yet when I opened my eyes, a whole beach of tiny little penguins belting out ‘hee hawing’ is what confronted me! Watching the penguins’ transition from beach to the ocean was awesome and mesmerizing. They are go from being intensely awkward and limited on land to graceful and powerful instantly by tipping over and freeing themselves in the water.

After a thorough investigation of the colony we headed back to the beach which was now thoroughly crowded a short hour later. Still, an incredible experience climbing over boulders to the outer beach area with curious penguins watching us as much as we were watching them. Floating about in the frigid ocean with penguins gliding around you is an experience of a lifetime.

Mara V. Connolly is a professional photographer, coach, facilitator, resume writer, and leader. Her life purpose is to be radiant illumination igniting passionate possibilities. You can read more about her leadership adventure at http://maravconnolly.com.