Table Mountain, Cape Town

Penguins, Boulder's Beach, False Bay - Southern Cape

The colony was established in 1982 by African penguins - Boulder's Beach is near Simon's Town and on the southern Cape towards Cape Point.  It is said to currently hold a population of around 3000 penguins.  With shiny black backs and white bellies, each individual stand about 60 centimetres in height and can weigh between 2.4 and 3.6 kilograms.

Three is a human swimming beach nearby but this is separated from the penguin colony.  We walked on the well thought of and maintained walk boards from Foxy Beach.  I reckon this is an outstanding place to watch and come near penguins in the wild.  It was a beaut afternoon with emerald blue calm seas and the light breeze in early September was perfect for being outdoors.

We strolled past panoramic views of sloping hills on the inland side and inviting vistas of the ocean.  The reward is tat he beach at the end of the walk board trail.

These penguins co-exist with human beings, whose residences can be seen in proximity and there are several shops and cafes along the tourist trail.  The penguins are not bothered by human beings - hey maybe they are also watching us! There are a couple of lodges for those interested to stay near the beach.

Other African penguin gathering areas are in Namibia (Sylvia's Hill) and at Betty's Bay in the Overberg in South Africa.

The Haze, I am not so Amazed

Haze, no matter how you describe it, has both an immediate and lingering impact on individuals who breathe in the extreme additional layer of unhealthy particulates into their human body, respiratory ducts and health system.   No one, given a choice, wants to breathe in such high risk pollutants that can aggravate in a negative way already pre-existing vulnerabilities.  Today in the modern world, in the 21st century, millions of people still have to put up with this attack on their health, partly because of their choice of residence, partly because of  embedded human and political non-cooperation and partly because of entrenched interests that are willing to sacrifice health standards.   The current acute level of haze that has overtaken Singapore Island and part of the territories of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia just underlines the fact that the environment is truly a shared resource - and that we only have one Blue Planet to nurture and take care of.

Such haze like particles normally arise in intensity from natural calamities, like volcanic explosions, wind storms and earth quakes.  For a phenomenon like the Indonesian sourced haze to occur almost every year since 1991, it speaks of volumes in the lack of willingness to resolve the matter, especially when it is man-made.  The South-east Asian topography hits rich natural resources an lies at the trading routes of world commerce, so it has invariably attracted huge migration numbers especially in the past thousand years, from the Indian sub continent, from east Asia and amongst its various islands and shores themselves.   In an age of mature and innovative human inventions and high standard of living, it breaks my heart as to why nothing effective has been carried out to reduce or resolve this occurrence of major hazes.

Haze is a label that was coined to relate to visibility but now its effects go beyond those of navigation.  I could never get a straight answer as to why annual burning has to take place on a huge scale on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan around this time of the year.  The ritual and culture of plantation soil and peat burning, I learnt from school years, is to mainly fertilise the soil in a cost -efficient manner.  Previously the practice was attributed to small persistence farmers eking out a precarious existence on their small patches of land - and some fires were truly arson, done in the heat of land owning conflicts.  Now I read from the media about the involvement of big business conglomerates and multi-nationals carrying out such burning, true or not, on their sizeable tracts of land, obviously bigger than Singapore Island, planted I understand with palm oil and more.  Suddenly I realise why all the campaigns against palm oil cultivation does not just work for the Orangutans but also for human beings like me.

There is a term called 'bush fire reaction" used commonly in Australia - and its meaning is self evident in that one can force problems and causes of problems building up, and yet action is only taken after the problems have flared up.   This aspect of human attitude has caused unnecessary suffering in historical events.   The Singapore Government is an unusual player in having a great urgency in planning, risk management, taking remedial action and practising continuity strategy.  However the Republic is surrounded by countries with Governments who have a different emphasis from theirs.   Even if one calls the fire brigade after a break out, it can be too little, too late  - and post bush fire management is then subject tot heresy of prevailing winds, occurrence of big rainfall and thunderstorms and hope.

Do the ill effects of such an acute haze actually reduce by keeping one's self indoors, with windows shut, air conditioners whizzing and Ion promoting machines switched on?  Does wearing of high filter nose masks actually make one feel good psychologically and nothing more?  The first symptoms that one is not reacting well can come with eye, skin, throat and nose irritation. Those with asthmatic pre-conditions have to be more mindful and take extra precautions.  Human behaviour tends to withdraw under such confronting matters. Negative long term effects, probably not visible immediately, affect the heart and lungs.  Human beings do not want to go outdoors, or minimise their travelling, or have been advised to suspend their economic-related activities - and you can imagine the rest of the story, the multiplier effect, the down turn in well being on all fronts.

Once the current haze goes away, individuals affected have to consider improving their nutrients and life style to strengthen their lungs, heart, ear and throat systems.

Parts of the south-east Asian sky look like in a  freeze frame - it could be 1997 or 2013 again.

In legends of lore, when a society seems to face multiple incidences of varying problems within a short time, back in Greece, Rome or China, that was a significant sign from the Gods that the specific society or its leadership has done something seriously wrong. In this modern age, do we ignore this old adage at our own peril, or do we wake up sufficiently to resolve serious matters, before it is too late.

If I dare be so bold, what applies in discussion of the acute haze above can also echo in the current management of the increased severity of the outbreak of Dengue Fever for many years now.

The Africa Cafe, Cape Town

Well dressed traditional dancers come to entertain diners with singing, dancing and beating of cultural drums.

Cheese, chick peas, sauces, cassavas, beans, breads and more.   The promise of a menu that stretches from Morocco to Malawi and the Transvaal.   Maybe too idealistic, perhaps a brilliant idea.   It is not just a food experience. The Africa Cafe wants you to also soak in the culture in a  fun and relaxing way.  And so they did pull it off.  On a Wednesday evening mid week, my group was provided a sumptuous banquet, had our ears open to rhythm, given an chance to dwell in the strong colours of costumes - and each of us realised that the continent is truly large in geographical spread.

Perhaps an unassuming outside but a much well though of and designed interior.

The variety of dishes can only be sampled if one tries to try all.

My way of looking at how to cover so much variety in the cuisine offered is to take nibbles, samplings and bites.   There are salads, deep fried stuff, rolls, condiments, meats  - the risk is a fish mesh in the mouth, so it is good to at least recognise from where each item originates.  

Basmati rice,  Dahl curry, Cape Malay offerings and broccoli salads are obviously foreign influences, from across the Indian Ocean.  Hey but wait,  there are filleted chicken breast marinated in a macadamia sauce; the Vet Koek (lightly fried bread balls); Channa fish; Karoo-style lamb stew; spinach cooked with peppers and tomato, from the Congo; and a chili dip from Mozambique.  Servings are on the generous side.

The ceiling above your dining table.

The menu tucked in a bottle.

We were seated upstairs, inside what seems to be an Euro styled mansion from the past, with walls brightly coloured to echo the colours outdoors.   May be it is fusion, with white cloths over dining tables, so-called exotic food, with a harmony co-existing amongst the grains, veg and meats.  

Did I sense a bit of a tourist trap?  Heck no, I felt like coming home to an extended family dinner.  The staff members are mainly young and I missed checking out the kitchen.  Located in downtown Cape Town, the Africa Cafe is easily accessible but I did not feel like I was in the proverbial middle of the forest.   I recommend this place as a viable entry point to African cuisine for someone who has not been to the continent but it does lack some iconic dish offerings from the north.

Our personal host explains before we begin our dinner course.

Starters, snacks and appetisers.

The wine list emphasises Blancs - Sauvignons and Chenins - plus Rieslings, Pinots and Chardonnays.  Reds include Merlots, Cabarnets, Bordeaux and Shiraz.   Concurrently there is a good choice of African liqueurs, freshly made fruit cocktails and world wide whiskeys, so there is much choice indeed.

Value of the food menu can be in the eye of the beholder so I leave it to individuals 
to judge whether prices are on the higher side or not.   Guests are provided with rose scented water to wash their hands on arrival.  Entertainment includes drumming but i noticed guests are freely allowed to walk about the premises as well and not just get stuck on their allotted chairs!  You can have a bit of face painting for a diversion in the middle of dinner.

Mid way we have some meat creations.

Salads and sauces.

The Africa Cafe is in Cape Town CBD at 108 Shortmarket Street, City Bowl, Cape Town, South Africa.Opening hours  - Evenings from 6pm to 11pm.Telephone + 27 21 422 0221