© olgite

In 2003 a new ritual was initiated when a boat load of 90 young girls dived into the water and formed the number 90 behind the statue. The 94th birthday celebrations in 2007 were somewhat marred by an influx of anarchist protesters wearing shark fins, who decided this was an ideal photo opportunity to display their displeasure at demolition of the Youth House earlier that year. Let's hope that this years birthday celebrations will only feature one fin, that of the little mermaid.

Her tour doesn’t hit North American shores until late fall, but thankfully, one of the few dates is a stop at the MGM Grand on November 8.

The “Sticky & Sweet Tour” is directed by Madonna’s longtime creative collaborator Jamie King, and draws its set list from both the singer’s current CD – her 11th studio recording since she burst on the scene in the 80s – and her twenty-five year history of chart-topping singles.

She shows no signs of slowing down either. Earlier this year, in addition to scoring yet another smash single with “4 Minutes,” which was co-written and co-produced by Madonna, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake, the pop icon was also finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her many contributions to music history.

Though it’s not officially on the MGM Grand calendar yet, tickets for the November 8th Las Vegas show will go onsale at 10am on Saturday, May 31 at the MGM Grand box office and online via Live Nation and Madonna.com. Tickets will be priced from $55 to $375 (plus tax) and there will be a limit of 4 tickets per person. Citi credit card members will also have access to presale tickets beginning next Tuesday, May 13, via Citi’s Private Pass Program.

Additionally, all ticket buyers will receive a free trial one year membership to her online fan club, Virtual Icon, which will provide access to rare photos, contests, news and a social networking community dedicated to Madonna.

Considering her last tour in 2006 was the highest grossing tour of all time by a female artist, with tickets selling out in a matter of minutes, I highly recommend you get them as soon as they go on sale. Otherwise you”ll miss a show that might even get Vegas talking the day after.

Smoke on the Water

Malawi used to be famous for two things: some of the best bud on the planet, and the lake. These days it is famous for Madonna, which is better, because Madonna carries more weight than the bud and the lake combined, so now is without doubt the time to say a few words on Malawi for the sake of our curious readers.

Malawi is a tiny landlocked country situated more or less between 10º and 15º of south, and dominated by the lake that is the most southerly of the defining features of the Great Rift Valley. It is a demographically mixed society, with a small white population, a slightly larger Indian community, and a polyglot jumble of black people made up of a variety of indigenous language groups, alongside many others that have immigrated into the country during the course of the colonial and liberation periods.

Slavery

Malawi began life as the Central African Protectorate, a British dependency dominated somewhat by Scottish missionary and trade interests, and famous at that time for being the front line of the British assault against the incredibly persistent east coast slave trade. Readers will no doubt be aware that the trans-Atlantic slave trade was abolished by convention in Britain in 1833, and had more or less been eradicated in the western hemisphere by mid century. However the Indian Ocean trade, serving India itself, the various potentates of Arabia, and the French Mascarene islands, persisted off the east coast of Africa until beyond the turn of the 20th century.

Once under British protection, however, notwithstanding current liberation philosophy, the Arab and Swahili perpetrators of what Dr. David Livingstone referred to as the ‘open sore of the world’ where banished, and some peace and sanity returned to a highly traumatised little corner of the continent.

Colonialism

Thereafter Malawi, or Nyasaland as it was known prior to independence, developed as one of the breeding grounds of advanced African national sentiment, proving the little colony to be a beacon of hope for other dominions and protectorates in the region groaning under the weight of increasingly heavy European political and commercial domination. In the late 1950s and early 1960s Nyasaland was absorbed into the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which, whatever else it might have been, was a grand attempt by a triumvirate of white dominated colonial administrations to prolong the life of minority rule in an increasingly politicised region. Nyasaland was the first to challenge the status quo, and under the leadership of the iconic Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the first to free itself from British Central Africa as an independent nation.

Liberation

The relatively benign dictatorship of Hastings Banda survived for thirty years, during which Malawi developed in fits and starts, but, without any significant mineral deposits, or any other rich natural resources, it remained primarily a pastoral and agricultural country, never rising much above the status of the poor man of the region.

Since the collapse of the Berlin Wall Malawi has developed a style of multi-party democracy that has flirted with occasional political malpractice, but has never descended into the kind of violent anarchy that many other poor African nations have suffered. As a consequence Malawi is one of the safest and friendliest tourist destinations in the region. It has a rich collection of attractions, most notably the lake, but also a handful of wildlife parks, a few superb highland walking and hiking venues, and the general appeal of a country of water and mountains, that, even if you don’t do much, is a superb place to relax and get to know a society that is amazingly accommodating and friendly.

Tourist Attractions

Styling itself The Warm Heart of Africa, Malawi is indeed centrally placed in the region, and is an ideal midway point for travel between east/central and southern Africa. Bordered in the east by both Moçambique and Tanzania, and in the west by Zambia, access to and from all of these countries is very easy. Border controls are not difficult or exploitative, and Malawi is close enough to South Africa to enjoy the services of South African coach and bus lines, either through Zambia, or via the Tete Corridor to Zimbabwe.

The lake is naturally the main attraction of the country, and along its extensive shoreline there are quite a few funky backpackers lodges and resorts, perhaps best defined by Kande Beach, which has the lovely slogan: Those Bits that you Remember, you Will Never Forget. This, for the naïve amongst you, refers mainly to the Malawi Gold. There are other options also, with standards ranging from super luxury to quaintly local, and even the occasional rural mission will open up a clean and safe room for you, although don’t expect to find too much Malawi Gold there.

Dive options on the lake are offered from most of the backpackers lodges, where also local excursions in kayaks or dugouts present an opportunity to get out on the water. There are loads of sandy beaches along the 300km length of the lake, and the water is warm, clean and usually crocodile free. The water theme continues on the Shiré River that drains the lake, and confluences with the Zambezi River about 100km inland from the Moçambique coast. An interesting feature is the Elephant Marsh, a naturalists and birdwatchers paradise, which is complimented by a handful of parks and reserves, all associate with the river. Climbing and hiking interests are best served by Mount Mulanje situated in the tea and coffee region of the country, and although not a particularly high mountain, with peaks at 2600m on average, it is an ecologically diverse range with attractive scenery and some reasonably challenging walks.

So if you are looking for a pleasant and accessible African destination that will neither stress nor challenge you, then Malawi is definitely one to consider. There is hardly a square inch of Malawi upon which someone does not live, and so getting around is noisy and colourful, but for small country the life and variety is amazing. The road network is good and the local bus services very authentic. You can hire a bike just about anywhere, and touring is loud and dusty, but normally quite safe. Look forward as you move around the countryside to unlimited fresh lake fish and fruit – mangoes and bananas in particular – and all kinds of fresh veggies. Living is cheap, and travel is easy. Go forth and enjoy.

Photos: Thanks Flickr Babasteve

An African Oddity

Swaziland certainly is an oddity. It is a tiny landlocked country that is viable as an independent nation only in the loosest sense of the word. It is also one of the few remaining absolute monarchies in the world. Statistically notable for both its extreme rates of poverty and having one of the single largest concentrations of aids sufferers globally, Swaziland is ruled by a fickle, anachronistic, self serving, preening and pampered multiple polygamist who goes by the name of King Mswati III. Bordered to the west by fiercely republican South Africa, and to the east by thoroughly revolutionary Mozambique, it is hard sometimes to determined exactly where Swaziland fits in.

Controversy

In the interests of getting the ugly bits over first, the myths surrounding King Mswati’s personal indulgence read somewhat like the habits of a feted dauphin of an oil saturated Middle East principality. Inasmuch as Swaziland is indeed an absolute monarchy, Mswati has cultivated an almost medieval approach to governance, characterised by his prevailing attitude of I am very much alright, and be damned to the rest of you.

Just how alright is evidenced by his 13 wives and 23 children, his US$500 000 presidential Bentley, which is just one of a fleet of luxury cars, not to mention those of his wives, and of course their various luxury palaces. Perhaps the most obnoxious controversy of all, however, was his recent attempt to sequester US$45 million from the national treasury for the purchase of a luxury Gulfstream jet for his personal use, which was justified by the need for him to tour the world in pursuit of his various international appeals for aid. Indeed, according to the United Nations, about 70% of the 1.1 million population of Swaziland live below the poverty line, with a quarter of those depending on food aid, and an average life expectancy among them of 39 years. Certainly keeping up with the aid expectations of a country like that would keep a man very busy indeed.

What’s Good

So much for that, on the upside Swaziland is a great tourist destination, and for little country of just 17 364 km² it has plenty to offer. If the grinding poverty of South Africa has a post modern, industrial feel about it, in Swaziland the same phenomenan is almost picturesque. The vast majority of the population live in a rural setting that is agrarian and pastoral in texture, and with the benefits of a lovely highland backdrop to compliment a deeply traditional view of life. It must be said, if you have to live on the bottom rung of the human ladder, let it at least be among the gorgeous forests and hills of rural Swaziland.

Having said this Swaziland is not all hills and forests. The western half of the country is indeed divided fairly evenly between the open montane grasslands of traditional usage, and the rolling and ubiquitous plantation forests of SAPPI (South African Pulp and Paper Industries). The latter, although an industrial monoculture, is very soft and pleasing to the eye, and without doubt lends a gentle background to the occasionally startling stands of indigenous forest, and the streamlets, rivers and waterfalls that compliment this land of ochre and green, of mist, cloud and sunshine.

The eastern half of the country, on the other hand, is more traditionally African, with long, flat, dry stretches of open bushveld savannah, thinly populated, hot and dusty, with only occasional glimpses of green from the extensive South African owned sugar estates.

Rural & Urban

As an overwhelmingly rural society it is hardly surprising then that the two main cities of Mbabane and Manzini are not brimming with excitement. What they are not, however, are the grubby sprawls bereft of character that many other poor African nations boast as their capitals. Here again South Africa dominates, and well maintained black top roads lead in an out of town, South African banks and franchises fill out South African style strip malls and shopping centres, and as with South Africa, things function in Swaziland surprising well. A good sign is always the discovery of a public telephone that works, an internet café with a broadband connection and a bank with a fair rate and quick changeover of currency (in fact SA and Swazi currency are equally valued and more or less interchangeable).

Mbabane is the de facto capital of Swaziland, and is set in the cool hill country to the west of the country. It is a very pleasant and quiet city with a well maintained aspect and a generally peaceful and calm mood. There is not much to do, however, and not a lot to see, and it is usually to the nearby Ezulwini and Malkerns Valleys that visitors head in search of activities and local crafts. Facts about these two destinations can be obtained at the Tourist Information Office situated in the difficult to miss Swazi Plaza shopping centre in downtown Mbabane. There you can also find information about accommodation and local tour options, of which there are quite a few, despite the fact that Mbabane has very little of genuine interest to keep you in town.

Wildlife

For the nature enthusiast Swaziland has a collection of fairly compact parks and reserves that cover both the highland and bushveld aspects of the country. Nowhere is very far from anywhere else in Swaziland, but the park closest to Mbabane is the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a very pleasant, well appointed and tranquil private reserve, and while it clearly lacks the vastness and grandeur of some of the region’s other wildlife destinations, there is a lot to see in the way of antelope and birdlife, not to mention the occasional ostrich patrolling the campsite that will battle you hard and fast for your salad greens if you don’t watch out. There are plenty of accommodation options and guided or unguided tours available, all information being obtainable at the Tourist Information Office in Mbabane, or at the main park office itself.

Hlane Royal National Park is probably the most authentic national park in the country, being more traditional in nature, and set in terrain more conventionally associated with African Wildlife. It is situated in the top northeast corner of the country, and borders the Lebombo Mountains that separate Swaziland from Mozambique. The park hosts lions, elephant and rhino, with both guided walk or drive options, and with camp accommodation, tented and lodge, in two separate locations. Again it is not a huge area, but it is compact, well run and well protected, and the chance of seeing good stuff at Hlane is always very high.

Worth mentioning also is the Mkhaya Game Reserve, a high end private sanctuary that offers the increasingly rare sight of Black Rhino. Swaziland is a key player in the regional drive to conserve and protect this very vulnerable branch of the rhinoceros family, numbers of which are slipping back towards viability after a nasty series of scares in the 1980s and 1990s, thanks largely to efforts concentrated in southern Africa. Mkhaya is not a cheap option, all inclusive between US$145/US$245 per night, but it is worth it for the sake of both the rhino and the fact that the service and accommodation offered is commensurate with the price.

Culture

So while wild Africa might be a little on the tame side in Swaziland, what the kingdom is best known for is its well preserved and well maintained traditional institutions. Central to this is the monarchy, and best known is probably the annual Reed Dance. Otherwise known as Unhlanga, the Reed Dance is an Africa style debutantes ball wherein some 20 000 of the most eligible women in the Kingdom step out in traditional dress (almost nothing at all) for the edification of the King, who is permitted to choose from among them his new wife. Where the reeds come into it, it is difficult to ascertain, but during the dance each woman holds a bundle of them that have been gathered specifically from an area some distance from the venue.

The practice has in recent years drawn some controversy due to the apparent objectification of woman, and their suggested presentation to the King in the guise of potential chattel. However with a fairly even number of supporters and detractors, and bearing in mind the deeply traditional nature of Swazi society, the practice has been preserved. It is worth noting in this regard that King Mswati does not surround himself with supplicant women, and quite a few of his wives are highly educated and accomplished, and as proof of their liberation a few of them have even walked out on him for a variety of reasons.

So while Swazi women are prepared to bare much for the sake of tradition, it would be wrong to assume that the Reed Dance implies that they are slaves to it. If anything it is a case of tradition being the glue of a very tight society, that binds the old with the new, and the liberated to the orthodox. It is moreover the grail of an ancient society’s defining institutions, which in Swaziland seems to mean more to the general public than it does in most countries. This notwithstanding it is a fact that throughout Africa, just beneath the surface of the generic veneer of modern life, tradition is very acute, well preserved and usually religiously observed. However it is in few places that this fact is so visible, and celebrated with quite the enthusiasm, verve and colour as it is in Swaziland.

So if you get the chance during your South African journey it is well worth the effort to stop over in Swaziland. As a virtual extension of South Africa it is very easy to get to and around the Kingdom, and moreover it is quite feasible to access Mozambique from the northern frontier, meaning that a drive through Swaziland to get to Maputo from Johannesburg does not add a great deal of time and distance to the journey, and in fact might even save you time because the Namaacha border post from Swaziland to Mozambique is lot less congested and lot friendlier than the main port of entry at Ressano Garcia. There is a lot to see en route, and even if you do not stay for long, it is the scenic drive of all scenic drives, and is a touch of traditional Africa in the otherwise overwhelmingly first world experience of travel in South Africa.

Photos: Thanks Flickr Sigur Ros, (RED) & photorc

An African Oddity

Swaziland certainly is an oddity. It is a tiny landlocked country that is viable as an independent nation only in the loosest sense of the word. It is also one of the few remaining absolute monarchies in the world. Statistically notable for both its extreme rates of poverty and having one of the single largest concentrations of aids sufferers globally, Swaziland is ruled by a fickle, anachronistic, self serving, preening and pampered multiple polygamist who goes by the name of King Mswati III. Bordered to the west by fiercely republican South Africa, and to the east by thoroughly revolutionary Mozambique, it is hard sometimes to determined exactly where Swaziland fits in.

Controversy

In the interests of getting the ugly bits over first, the myths surrounding King Mswati’s personal indulgence read somewhat like the habits of a feted dauphin of an oil saturated Middle East principality. Inasmuch as Swaziland is indeed an absolute monarchy, Mswati has cultivated an almost medieval approach to governance, characterised by his prevailing attitude of I am very much alright, and be damned to the rest of you.

Just how alright is evidenced by his 13 wives and 23 children, his US$500 000 presidential Bentley, which is just one of a fleet of luxury cars, not to mention those of his wives, and of course their various luxury palaces. Perhaps the most obnoxious controversy of all, however, was his recent attempt to sequester US$45 million from the national treasury for the purchase of a luxury Gulfstream jet for his personal use, which was justified by the need for him to tour the world in pursuit of his various international appeals for aid. Indeed, according to the United Nations, about 70% of the 1.1 million population of Swaziland live below the poverty line, with a quarter of those depending on food aid, and an average life expectancy among them of 39 years. Certainly keeping up with the aid expectations of a country like that would keep a man very busy indeed.

What’s Good

So much for that, on the upside Swaziland is a great tourist destination, and for little country of just 17 364 km² it has plenty to offer. If the grinding poverty of South Africa has a post modern, industrial feel about it, in Swaziland the same phenomenan is almost picturesque. The vast majority of the population live in a rural setting that is agrarian and pastoral in texture, and with the benefits of a lovely highland backdrop to compliment a deeply traditional view of life. It must be said, if you have to live on the bottom rung of the human ladder, let it at least be among the gorgeous forests and hills of rural Swaziland.

Having said this Swaziland is not all hills and forests. The western half of the country is indeed divided fairly evenly between the open montane grasslands of traditional usage, and the rolling and ubiquitous plantation forests of SAPPI (South African Pulp and Paper Industries). The latter, although an industrial monoculture, is very soft and pleasing to the eye, and without doubt lends a gentle background to the occasionally startling stands of indigenous forest, and the streamlets, rivers and waterfalls that compliment this land of ochre and green, of mist, cloud and sunshine.

The eastern half of the country, on the other hand, is more traditionally African, with long, flat, dry stretches of open bushveld savannah, thinly populated, hot and dusty, with only occasional glimpses of green from the extensive South African owned sugar estates.

Rural & Urban

As an overwhelmingly rural society it is hardly surprising then that the two main cities of Mbabane and Manzini are not brimming with excitement. What they are not, however, are the grubby sprawls bereft of character that many other poor African nations boast as their capitals. Here again South Africa dominates, and well maintained black top roads lead in an out of town, South African banks and franchises fill out South African style strip malls and shopping centres, and as with South Africa, things function in Swaziland surprising well. A good sign is always the discovery of a public telephone that works, an internet café with a broadband connection and a bank with a fair rate and quick changeover of currency (in fact SA and Swazi currency are equally valued and more or less interchangeable).

Mbabane is the de facto capital of Swaziland, and is set in the cool hill country to the west of the country. It is a very pleasant and quiet city with a well maintained aspect and a generally peaceful and calm mood. There is not much to do, however, and not a lot to see, and it is usually to the nearby Ezulwini and Malkerns Valleys that visitors head in search of activities and local crafts. Facts about these two destinations can be obtained at the Tourist Information Office situated in the difficult to miss Swazi Plaza shopping centre in downtown Mbabane. There you can also find information about accommodation and local tour options, of which there are quite a few, despite the fact that Mbabane has very little of genuine interest to keep you in town.

Wildlife

For the nature enthusiast Swaziland has a collection of fairly compact parks and reserves that cover both the highland and bushveld aspects of the country. Nowhere is very far from anywhere else in Swaziland, but the park closest to Mbabane is the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a very pleasant, well appointed and tranquil private reserve, and while it clearly lacks the vastness and grandeur of some of the region’s other wildlife destinations, there is a lot to see in the way of antelope and birdlife, not to mention the occasional ostrich patrolling the campsite that will battle you hard and fast for your salad greens if you don’t watch out. There are plenty of accommodation options and guided or unguided tours available, all information being obtainable at the Tourist Information Office in Mbabane, or at the main park office itself.

Hlane Royal National Park is probably the most authentic national park in the country, being more traditional in nature, and set in terrain more conventionally associated with African Wildlife. It is situated in the top northeast corner of the country, and borders the Lebombo Mountains that separate Swaziland from Mozambique. The park hosts lions, elephant and rhino, with both guided walk or drive options, and with camp accommodation, tented and lodge, in two separate locations. Again it is not a huge area, but it is compact, well run and well protected, and the chance of seeing good stuff at Hlane is always very high.

Worth mentioning also is the Mkhaya Game Reserve, a high end private sanctuary that offers the increasingly rare sight of Black Rhino. Swaziland is a key player in the regional drive to conserve and protect this very vulnerable branch of the rhinoceros family, numbers of which are slipping back towards viability after a nasty series of scares in the 1980s and 1990s, thanks largely to efforts concentrated in southern Africa. Mkhaya is not a cheap option, all inclusive between US$145/US$245 per night, but it is worth it for the sake of both the rhino and the fact that the service and accommodation offered is commensurate with the price.

Culture

So while wild Africa might be a little on the tame side in Swaziland, what the kingdom is best known for is its well preserved and well maintained traditional institutions. Central to this is the monarchy, and best known is probably the annual Reed Dance. Otherwise known as Unhlanga, the Reed Dance is an Africa style debutantes ball wherein some 20 000 of the most eligible women in the Kingdom step out in traditional dress (almost nothing at all) for the edification of the King, who is permitted to choose from among them his new wife. Where the reeds come into it, it is difficult to ascertain, but during the dance each woman holds a bundle of them that have been gathered specifically from an area some distance from the venue.

The practice has in recent years drawn some controversy due to the apparent objectification of woman, and their suggested presentation to the King in the guise of potential chattel. However with a fairly even number of supporters and detractors, and bearing in mind the deeply traditional nature of Swazi society, the practice has been preserved. It is worth noting in this regard that King Mswati does not surround himself with supplicant women, and quite a few of his wives are highly educated and accomplished, and as proof of their liberation a few of them have even walked out on him for a variety of reasons.

So while Swazi women are prepared to bare much for the sake of tradition, it would be wrong to assume that the Reed Dance implies that they are slaves to it. If anything it is a case of tradition being the glue of a very tight society, that binds the old with the new, and the liberated to the orthodox. It is moreover the grail of an ancient society’s defining institutions, which in Swaziland seems to mean more to the general public than it does in most countries. This notwithstanding it is a fact that throughout Africa, just beneath the surface of the generic veneer of modern life, tradition is very acute, well preserved and usually religiously observed. However it is in few places that this fact is so visible, and celebrated with quite the enthusiasm, verve and colour as it is in Swaziland.

So if you get the chance during your South African journey it is well worth the effort to stop over in Swaziland. As a virtual extension of South Africa it is very easy to get to and around the Kingdom, and moreover it is quite feasible to access Mozambique from the northern frontier, meaning that a drive through Swaziland to get to Maputo from Johannesburg does not add a great deal of time and distance to the journey, and in fact might even save you time because the Namaacha border post from Swaziland to Mozambique is lot less congested and lot friendlier than the main port of entry at Ressano Garcia. There is a lot to see en route, and even if you do not stay for long, it is the scenic drive of all scenic drives, and is a touch of traditional Africa in the otherwise overwhelmingly first world experience of travel in South Africa.

Photos: Thanks Flickr Sigur Ros, (RED) & photorc

Rachael Ray Shoots Around Vegas Restaurants

Culinary celebrity Rachael Ray was in Las Vegas this week shooting for two of her shows on the Food Network.

For her newest show, Rachael Ray Vacation, she visited Origin India restaurant (4480 Paradise Rd) and met with owners Raja Majid and Alena Olevic. During the show, she interviewed them and chef Bhuwan Bhatt, and showcased some of their special dishes for the episode.

She then brought her film crew to The Palazzo to tape segments for her Tasty Travels show at fellow celeb chef Mario Batali’s new Carnevino restaurant, as well as grabbing shots of her talking in the entry area to the resort.

She then headed over to film at one of my favorite eateries, the Hash House A Go Go at 6800 W. Sahara, as well as the Vintner Grill at 10100 W. Charleston.

No word on when these episodes will air.

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Hash House A Go Go Hosts Charity Blood Drive

Speaking of Hash House A Go Go, the restaurant is partnering with United Blood Services for a community blood drive this Saturday, April 26.

The event runs from 8am until 2pm, and all participants not only receive a free pancake, T-shirt and fresh-squeezed orange juice from the restaurant (yum!), but as an added incentive, all donors will also get vouchers redeemable for one ticket to see The Scintas at the Las Vegas Hilton and two tickets to see the Mega Bubble Show at the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood.

To schedule your appointment, call 702.228.8400 or visit www.bloodhero.com and use the code word “HASHHOUSE” when booking your slot to give.

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Shelby Corner Cafe Opens To Public

Auto enthusiasts who visit the Shelby Automobile headquarters near the Las Vegas Speedway will now be able to partake in a new experience, as the Shelby Corner Cafe is now open to the general public.

Originally opened as a place for Shelby employees to eat lunch, the restaurant caters to both race fans and those enamoured of the Shelby brand of cars with a decor that includes racing memorabilia such as photos, car parts and televisions showing Shelby video footage.

The 13,000 square foot cafe features a classic Americana menu with breakfast served from 6am to 11am. Lunch crowds can enjoy hamburgers, salads, sandwiches and founder Carroll Shelby’s Classic Chili from 11am to 2pm. The restaurant also offers guests a coffee bar and free Wi-Fi.

“Shelby Corner Cafe is a fun place to dine while visiting Carroll’s two favorite places, the track and his factory,” said Amy Boylan, President of Shelby Automobiles. “We initially planned to open a place for Shelby employees as the selection of eateries is a bit limited at the Speedway. We had so many requests by enthusiasts to eat here after a museum tour that decided to open the cafe to the public. On any given day, you might see our chief test driver, production crew, or even Carroll himself eating at the next table.”

Shelby Automobile and the Shelby Corner Cafe are located at 6755 Speedway Blvd. The museum is open 8am until 4pm daily with free factory tours at 10:30am every Monday through Friday.

Dunes, Delta and Falls Discoverer

Boots n’all Adventure Travel Shop has launched its Dunes Delta and Falls Discoverer, which, as the name implies, is a journey through the western quadrant of Southern Africa, combining the best of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Victoria Falls.

The trip kicks off in Cape Town, which at your leisure you can explore before jumping on the truck. From there it is north to the first stop of Lamberts Bay on South Africa’s Atlantic coast, which is a charismatic and often quite rustic appendage to the better known South and East Coasts. Here the focus tends to be less on sun and surf and more on whale watching, seafood, perusing the seasonal Namaqualand wild flower displays, and likewise the seasonal spectacle of some 30 000 Blue-eyed Gannets concentrated on Bird Island.

Namibia

From here it is north into the arid regions of the Namib Desert fringe with an overnight stop on the frontier between Namibia and South Africa along the Orange, or Gariep River. Activities are centered on the river, but also the surrounding scenery with it’s focus on a diversity of succulent plants for those interested in such things. The trip really gets cranked up, however, upon arrival at Fish River Canyon, the largest of it’s kind in Africa, and one of the most interesting and rewarding hiking destinations in the region.

The next day the journey into unique desert landscapes continues with a visit to Sossusvlei, which is a largish salt pan situated within the central Namib Desert, and protected by the Namib-Naukluft National Park. It is predominantly a red dune landscape with the haunting silence of a dead zone, but only deceptively dead, as a walk through the dunes with a local guide will soon reveal. Stunted trees, however, are fair testimony to an extremely harsh landscape, some as much as 900 years old.

Hereafter it is a relatively short road journey (Namibia has a superb road network) through the Naukluft Mountains to the town of Swakopmund, where, being as Namibia has smallish cities with a conservative outlook, you are unlikely to trip the light fantastic, but it is a pleasant coastal town at the mouth of the Swakop River, and abutted to the unique African Atlantic Coast, and also something of a showcase of German colonial architecture.

Etosha Pan

The next phase is a longish haul to the world famous wildlife sanctuary of Etosha Pan, where the few words of a grizzled local overland driver once fairly described what can be expected here: ‘Etosha Pan is always surprising.’ There is no doubt about this. One can always expect the unexpected at Etosha, one of Southern Africa’s principal wildlife destinations. In Particular you will very likely see numbers of elephant, but also at least a couple of the big five, and a wide selection of antelope and other little oddities that, surprise, surprise, will surprising you.

Heading East

From here it is a quick return to Windhoek, national capital, in preparation for heading east across the Kalahari Desert towards Botswana. The objective is the delta jump off point of Maun, and another of region’s principal wildlife destinations, and moreover a phenomenon of life in the desert that is unique not just in Southern Africa, but in the world.

The Delta

The Okavango Delta is in essence the waters of the Okavango River in northern Bostwana that leach into the desert creating one of the only inland river deltas in the world. The effect is an oasis on a grand scale, and in Africa the word oasis runs synonymous with an explosion of natural diversity on a scale seen almost nowhere else in the sub region. Bird life, plant life, animal life, and, not least, human life, center on the delta in a celebration of living that is only possible when surrounded on all sides by the waterless wastes of the Kalahari. The signature excursion here is a mokoro (dugout) trip through the extensive wetlands and narrow reeded channels to sojourn for a day or two in utter and natural seclusion.

Chobe

From Maun the next stop is Chobe, yet another of the principal wildlife destinations of Southern Africa. The author, having visited Chobe many times, recalls most vividly fighting off birds of particular rarity, those that ornithologists can spend a fornight in search of, stealing the scrambled eggs off my breakfast plate. That is Chobe. The midnight and midmorning snort of hippopotamus, the sudden rush of a monitor lizard, and the unexpected sight of an elephant strolling through camp, are all spectacles not to be missed.

Victoria Falls

To round off a great trip through the heated heart of southern Africa is your arrival at Victoria Falls, the unabashed adrenalin capital of Africa. My own experience of the Zambezi white water rafting was that my neck muscles hurt for a week afterwards after clenching my jaw for six solid hours as our raft plunged over one graded whitewater pot boiler after another. And if that is not enough then leap off the Vic Falls bridge on a bungi cord and see if that lights your candle. If it does not then a micro-light trip through the mists of the falls itself, a booze cruise up the upper Zambezi, or yet more game viewing in the Victoria Falls National Park. It is all there, so go forth and enjoy.

Photo: Thanks Flickr

Black On Black

In an action rich in irony this week a certain Mr Black successfully brought legal action against the notorious ‘whites only’ South African holiday resort, Broederstroom Vakansie-Oord, situated near the Hartebeespoorte Dam in Gauteng Province. In common with a handful of other facilities, notably the Orange Freestate, an element of white society in South Africa has, and continues to attempt to retain what racial exclusivity the liberal constitution of South Africa will allow. On 5 March this year Mr Black and his wife, who are white but who have two adopted black children, were evicted from the resort thanks to the mixed race status of their family. This enraged Mr. Black, causing him, with some justification, to lodge a complaint aginst Broederstroom with the South African Human Rights Commission, which in turn initiated proceedings in the Equality Court in terms of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000.

The matter was settled out of court, but this is not the first time that the proprietor of Broederstroom Vakansie-Oord, a certain Mr H Pretorius, has pitched this particular race policy regarding public access to his property. Earlier in the years he disallowed the presence of world famous South African filmmaker Anand Singh (a gentleman of east Indian origin) from joining his crew filming Leon Shuster’s follow up Mr Bones 2 at Broederstroom. Pretorius was in fact out on bail at that time on a charge of attempted murder in an incident involving himself, a rifle, several shots and a black man walking through his property.

Meanwhile investigators from tourism board responding to the general hubris were also denied access to the Broederstroom Vakansie-Oord for the same reasons, with Pretorius fulminating about them, the government, the general state of South Africa and the merits of the President, threatening all the while that there would be war if entry on to his property was enforced.

What is Anything?

So many questions arise from these incidences that one hardly knows where to begin, but the main question must certainly be why a black man, and even more a man named Black with two non-white children, would even want to venture into a holiday resort with a name like Broederstroom. Certainly one imagines that any person intending to visit a public establishment for a day or two would research somewhat the tenor of it beforehand, and thus it is hard to imagine how all the blacks involved, the white sangoma and the Indian, did not know in advance what to expect from Mr Pretorius and his wife.

Racism, of course, is not a one sided phenomenon. Quite recently an incident involving a white journalist being barred from covering the ex deputy president and current president of the ANC Jacob Zuma’s address to the Forum For Black Journalists highlighted the relative acceptability of black on white racism, although in fairness the matter stirred up a very rich debate and was taken by lying down no-one.

Should there be an exclusive, whites only vacation facility, or indeed a blacks only news conference, held anywhere in the world, let alone in a country with such thinly healed race wounds as South Africa? Certainly not, but if readers happen to want to visit Africa and not have to share a facility with a black man, then rather than spend three weeks as guests of the Pretorius family, go to Norway instead.

Ons Skrik Vir Niks

Meanwhile the matter of race in South Africa is being carefully examined in a photographic exhibition currently being held at the Blank Projects Gallery in Cape Town that purports to explore the invisibility of ‘white’. In essence this means that being white is a state of racial non-existence, quite, one supposes, as being male is a state of gender non existence. This is by virtue of the fact that the struggle for gender equality has never been part of the male identity, just as the struggle for racial equality has never really been part of the white identity. Being white is just, well, being white.

Ons Skrik Vir Niks, or We Are Afraid of Nothing, opened on 6 of April and runs to 9 May, and features provocative work from a number of artists, most of whom are white, and all display a preoccupation with race that barely features the black perspective so often associated with race commentary. More than anything, this, somewhat like the overwhelmingly white lineup of the Splashy Fen music festival held in the Drakensberg over Easter, is an indication of just how mixed the race landscape of South Africa is, and moreover how diverse and sophisticated is the general blueprint of the nation’s arts fraternity. It is likely that one will walk away more impressed by the fact that Ons Skrik Vir Niks is served up as artistic fare for the discerning consumer at all than the merits of the show itself.

This is part of what makes South Africa so interesting, and separates it from the canned experiences of game parks and curio markets that can make up travel in so much of Africa. The Anlgosphere has in common a certain Anglo/Saxon identity, mixed up according to their particular colonial experience, but nonetheless identifiable as all being trees of the same root. South Africa, however, has an emerging generation of positively charged race electrons who do not wish to take their cue from the xenophobic and backward looking north, but want to be part of the progressive, Afro conscious mix of social and political heat that is contemporary South Africa. This is not to deny the existence of race diversity, or individual characteristics of race, but to plunge into them, to celebrate and explore them, and to be able to speak and act freely in a race orientated society without platitudes and the customary and determined blindness of the global race entente.

Men like H. Pretorius are an anachronism, and with him is dying the entrenched suspicion that still infects the old guard of all races in South Africa. Such incidences as the Broederstroom Vakansie-Oord episode, or the banning of white journalists from a black journalist forum, are slowly bleeding out of South African society, and far from a lily white anaemia, the result is a richer, darker blood that owes it’s origins to almost a half millennium of diverse racial contact, and long may it remain so.

Event Details

Venue Name: Blank Projects

Sun 06 Apr to Fri 09 May

Gallery hours: Wednesdays from 4pm to 7pm or by appointment

Address: 198 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town, Western Cape
Tel: 27 072 198 9221

Photo thanks to: http://studio2666.blogspot.com

The hotel is a characterful old building which is simply but tastefully furnished. The prices are very reasonable with single room for 36 euros per night and a double for 70 euros, including breakfast. Half board is available for 48 euros per person. I stayed at the Rocca dei Malatesta in April 2004 and it was one of the most idyllic hotels and locations in which I've ever stayed. The room was lovely, with views over the village, the food was freshly prepared and tasty and the staff were charming. The hotel also offers themed holidays such as a language course, cookery, painting and ceramics courses. If you are looking a perfect rural retreat in a heavenly location at value for money prices, the Rocca dei Malatesta offers it all.

Bare at the Mirage opened a few weeks ago for its second season. With two dipping pools, the property offers European-style sun bathing, DJs, private daybeds and cabanas, and a raised VIP section. New for 2008 is a glass cover that can turn the pool area into a see-through dance floor. For the month of April, Bare will be open Thursdays through Mondays from 11am until 7pm. From May 1st on, it will be open seven days a week with the same hours. Admission for Friday, Saturday and Sunday is $20 for women and $40 for men. All other days are $10 for women and $30 for men. Guests must be 21 or older.

Ditch Fridays, the popular pool party at the Palms, opens its third season on May 2nd. Hosted by resident DJ Skribble of MTV fame, the parties feature live performances, fashion shows, prize giveaways and more. The event runs every Friday from noon until 7pm and cover is free for ladies and $20 for men.

One of the original old guards of the Vegas pool scene, Rehab at the Hard Rock opens its fifth season on April 27th and runs every Sunday through the season from 11am until 7pm. New for this year are more cabanas and an enhanced sound system. Cover is $30 for men, $20 for out-of-state women, $15 for local women and free for hotel guests with room key (up to 4 guests per room). The hotel will also bring back its Monday “Relax” pool party for a second year beginning April 28th, as well as the “Friday Night Live” concert series starting May 2nd with Puddle of Mudd.

Red Rock Resort’s Backyard will play host to a summer poolside concert series that kicks off on April 25th with Grammy Award-winning musician Kanye West with special guests Lupe Fiasco and N.E.R.D. (general admission tickets are $70). Other artists appearing throughout the season include Dierks Bentley with Bucky Covington on May 2nd (tickets – $45), and Crosby Stills & Nash on June 20th (tickets – $60). The resort will also begin season two of the Red Rock Retreat pool party starting May 5th that will feature tunes spun by new resident DJ Jack Lafleur, and soon after it will begin new Reggae Wednesdays and Sunday Night Live concerts poolside at Cherry.

TAO Beach is currently open for regular daily service but it will open its second season of its Sunset Sessions on Sunday, April 20th at The Venetian. DJ Graham Funke and Chris Garcia will be spinning from 10am until sunset. New for 2008 is the Good Fridays promotion that kicks off April 18th, with DJs spinning from 10am until 10pm and a bikini fashion show every week. In addition to cabanas featuring hi-definition plasma TVs and poolside spa services, guests can now have meals delivered from the menu at TAO Asian Bistro as they lounge in the sun. The pool area is open daily from 10am until 5:30pm, with later hours on weekend evenings to serve as an extension of TAO Nightclub. Admission charge varies, but usually runs between $20 and $30 per person.

Venus Pool Club at Caesars Palace is now open seven days a week from 9am until 6pm. It offers European-style sun bathing, private cabanas, DJs and poolside food and drink service. It is complimentary for hotel guests, except on Saturdays when there is a $20 cover per guest.

Wet Republic is the newest adult water playground and though MGM Grand hasn’t offered up any photos yet, from all reports, it seems they went all out in the creation of this new pool area. Billing it as the Strip’s first “ultra-pool,” the resort has built this new party oasis of eight separate pools and spas, featuring two saltwater pools, adjacent to the main pool area. Intertwined with the pools is a 2,500-sq-ft open air ultra lounge where DJs will spin daily, and a 4,100-sq-ft sundeck that will transform into a stage to spotlight weekly and monthly events, including international DJ guests and live concerts. Eight state-of-the-art underwater speakers in the pools and six cascading waterfalls will lend to the South Beach party ambiance. MGM Grand has set a mid-April opening for the Wet Republic pool area which will also feature a direct valet access so guests don’t have to walk through the casino in their bathing suits.