Chobe National Park - Elephant Bath

Days of Advantage, Evenings of Past Glory

And it so came to pass, the glorious shine and gleaming wealth of cities now over taken by Nature, changes of climate, significant misfortune or a combination of all these.  The remnants of its tangible structures stand testament to its rather amazing wealth now lying forgotten in quiet bays, shifting sands or hidden beneath over run flora.  Reflect on Petra, Angkor Wat or Macchu Picchu.

What could have been, what were most prominent in the rise of such famous ports, hubs of civilisation and ancient towns?  Would the course of history have been averted, would it still have remained today?  I speculate on five critical factors as to how empires, great city states and remarkable cultures rose and fell - or continued to be.


The utilisation of natural or man made advantages.

Even if you sit on a pile of gold, it very much depends on what you do with the glitter that matters.
Several nations located especially around Equatorial regions are observed not to make the most of their naturally endowed minerals, resources and Nature given benefits, to the extent that only a select group of individuals  control the subsequent wealth whilst the majority of its population remain in squalid economic misery.  There are always outside parties with the technology, talk and power to take on a country's resources in the name of adding value, making huge middleman profits and exerting undue influence even if they are foreigners.

In contrast, there are states who recognise advantages in another form - logistics, governance and know-how - and make use of such factors to survive and prosper despite the odds.  Perhaps it is better to have non-natural advantages and be able to hold on to them longer.   Advantages can be seen as on shifting sands, for what was once valued can be discarded later, what was once taken for granted can surface as rare and two major factors - politics and technology - can make innovative nations or city states always worried and planning proactively for their future.


The creation of advantages when originally there was little or none.

We have witnessed or read about nations, even at the pinnacle of their wealth, which did not plan for their viable future or just simply sank into a debilitating comfort zone that sowed the seeds of their doom. It does not necessarily mean that regions or nations with sizeable amounts of natural resources would be ahead in the continuing competitive game of attaining a good standard of living.

City states are perhaps best illustrations of encouraging innovation and creating advantage when there are seemingly none.    To create an advantage when competitors see none is first to always make a difference.  If you are sited in a region that seems to thrive on instability, you offer the opposite - reliability and dependency of an educational, family and financial refuge.  When other nations reject diversity, you open your doors in generosity but receive the vibrancy of other cultures in personal intelligence, cuisine and culture.  When others are willing to endure pollution in the name of development, you create your uniqueness in clean air, agriculture and water.

The United States of America was formed by communities that fled the rising religious intolerance in old Europe.  From this inherent basis came a new emphasis of individual freedoms that are enshrined in the US Constitution - and this then arose the advantage that America offered like a shining beacon to emigrants from a troubled world.


The mindset of community and political culture.

There is a past that constrains, liberates or maintains a pervasive set of values, drivers and impetus to the vibrancy of any country or culture.  At times, clinging on to original political philosophy without adapting to changing times can be a formula for failure as well.   Royalty may have worked well in feudal times, communism may have been an answer to the excesses for the Industrial Revolution and native independence may have been the answer to  long periods of colonisation.   What now for going forward, to find an optimal governing structure that best responds in an age of instant gratification, fast technology, greater personal freedoms and social media?


The rise and fall of human leadership.

It may be the nature of challenging times that natural born and developed individuals step forward to make an impact on the thinking, running and outcomes achieved of a community.

History is evident with the power of one - with sufficient charisma, ensuing support and realistic outcomes, such individual leaders have toppled old orders, outdated thinking and ancient dynasties.
Such political leaders are often effective thinkers, good speakers and have this innate ability to induce others to act on their behalf.  The 20th century saw many such greats, from Sun Yat Sen to Nelson Mandela.   Any one of us have encountered the typical outcomes of a dynasty that started well but often finished up with a weak one.  Was such downfall precipitated by a regime that lost its initial hunger, passion and innovation?


The timing of advantage to build for the future.

Human built societies go through detoxification, purging and renewal all the time.  Periods of extreme deprivation are often followed by liberalisation but not is this always assured.  At times it reflects the cycle between extremes, like the constant tension between the forces of conservatism and outward looking freedom when you reflect on the history of the world's major powers.

So changes in a city or country's course of development and path in history are inevitable.  Just like investor-speculators always on the prowl to make a killing on the share, options or property markets, timing is of utmost importance.  You may have an obvious advantage but you may too late to arrive at the party at its height. In the period of European colonisation, countries that came too late to opportunity found that there was a limit to lands that could be exploited for its riches.  When Europe itself went through the dark ages, there was a flourishing of Islamic art, astronomy and sciences around the Mediterranean region.   When political correctness had not yet taken its hold, many acts of exploitation, atrocity and subjugation by various powers took place without battering an eyelid.

The Spanish conquistadors arrived in the so-called New World at a time when the empires of the Incas and Mayan had passed their peak and was in inherent trouble themselves.   The Mongol Empire, perhaps the biggest in world events, was dependent on the abilities of the horse, in an age when there was no better technical and effective weapon as this animal.  The Polynesians expanded their influence in the Pacific in relative isolation from the rest of the world.

On a more positive angle, increasing incomes meant more participation in air travel, rising demands for higher education and better health care, more activity in investment possibilities and the multiplier effect of economic growth.  How many cities can you think of are currently well placed to take advantage  in such spheres?

Southern Africa - September 2015

The canyon at Victoria Falls, sited between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg.

The African croc on the Chobe River, lying between Botswana and Naimbia.

The Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto.

Such grazers are big and powerful, yet are targets of lions.

Friendliness at Simon's Town, Southern Cape.

Iconic food from Cafe Africa, Cape Town.

The giant ferris wheel at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town.

A countryside vista at Franschhoek.

French Protestants sought refuge from religious persecution in Europe and came in droves to  the Cape Province.

A most generous picnic lunch.

Old world Euro charm in the dining room and lobby of the Commodore Legacy Hotel, Cape Town.

Passenger and pilot manning helicopter over the Victoria Falls.

Evening cruise on the Zambezi River, with French- Canadians, Australians and Chinese-Malaysians.

What a delightful and fulfilling experience on the trek beside the Victoria Falls.

The hippo in full glory, being away from the water for a change.

Downtown Johannesburg.

A bird hitches a ride on our safari boat along the Chobe River.

The scenic coastal drive to the Cape of Good Hope.

What Vasco da Gama and Bartholomew Diaz encountered at the southern tip of Africa.

The cable car to Table Mountain only operates when wind and cloud conditions suit.

Not keys and locks, but messages and names on solid stone on the coastal drive in the Southern Cape.

A Great Dane "Just Nuisance" is honoured by the South African Navy.

One of the most accessible penguin colonies.

Sharks and waves predominate the southern coast.

The future of young South Africa.

Noon in the Kahane Forest Reserve, Botswana.

The Protea.

Sandy Goodwich - Wollongong CBD

Corn pancakes with house smoked hock, apple slaw, hash, poached egg and chili.

I love the way key menu items and offerings are provided hanging on small vertical boards on the wall facing customers when they walk in.  The kitchen and preparation is set aside on a dedicated area of the two shop front site.  You have a choice of tables but as is often the case, the barista and order counter are close by side by side.  There is an Euro feel about the lay out, dishes are carefully formulated with attention to ingredients, texture and presentation.  Coffee blends utilised are Golden Cobra and 212 Roasters whilst meats are supplied from the local Keiraville Butchery.  Breads are provided by Berry Sourdough further down the NSW South Coast.  There is a buzz about sensitivity to customer and community requirements in food.   Preserves, pastries, chutneys, mayonnaise and pickles are made in house.    Sandy Goodrich is serious about engaging with the community part from just operating a cafe business.

For a quick takeaway,  I recommend the pomegranate glazed roasted pumpkin sandwich, replete with
dukkah, rocket, yoghurt dressing, tahini and smoked eggplant.   Otherwise,  most blokes may find a delight the slow roast lamb or pork, free range chicken and beef sandwich versions.  A light meal in contrast is the rice pudding served with mulled hazelnut.

There are obviously many brunch and breakfast related items on the menu.  There are lots of grains, vegetables, herbs and non-meats options, especially like the Egyptian beans, labna (a velvety cream cheese spread made by removing excess whey from salted yoghurt) , smoked eggplants, fried egg on flatbread - all very in tune with a much focused nutrition that echoes land, quality and cleanliness.  There is also an offering with poached quince and yoghurt sitting on top of cranberry and  almond muesli.

That does not mean you cannot have your in house cured bacon, hock and pork fry-up. It is also the variety of breads available that catches my eye - rye, multigrain, wholemeal, etc. Plates available during daytime include what I plan to have next - a Chinese inspired caramel pork omelette, accompanied by an Asian herb said and vermicelli (how Vietnamese!).

I was so glad to chat with Joyce, whom I know previously and who made a most delightful coffee.
The staff are busy but do make an effort to see how each customer is getting on with the chosen meal.
The road outside can be busy ( Princes Highway) but I do find inside is a refuge of delightful cuisine.
Sandy Goodwich also opens on two nights a week with a wine list selected by Deb Pearce (includes the rare finds from Lebanon). One of the sides served evenings is an unusual combination of hassle back sweet potato,  house bacon and golden syrup.  The fish pie, bone marrow and lamb croquette dishes are worth trying at night!

Sandy Goodwich is located at 2/363 Crown Street, Wollongong, towards the southern end of the city centre, opposite the post office.
The nearest cross road is Gladstone Avenue.
Telephone 612 4244 4690.
Opening hours - 7am to 3pm on weekdays and 7am to 2pm on weekends.  Dinners only on Thursdays and Fridays.
Monthly communal gatherings and cooking classes are hosted by Sandy Goodwich which also caters.

Braised lamb with pumpkin Hummus, beetroot, egg plant chips and chickpeas.