BY Clay Larroy
When
you choose to travel,
whether it is for business or pleasure, it is important to plan your trip well
before hand. Here are some tips to help you. Don't be afraid to cash in your
airline miles. Many travelers let their miles accumulate and never bother using
them. Reap the rewards of your traveling and spend the miles you've earned!
Miles have expiration dates, so be sure to use them before they expire. Travelling
is a great way to use your airline miles. When you need to
plan a vacation contact me!
DURBAN - The pulse of the
Zulu kingdom
The rickshaw was waiting outside my hotel. "Durban, she is
an exciting, playful city; but the Madam, she does not want to play," said
Zuma, my rickshaw-puller who pounded tirelessly along Marine Parade, ordained
in a magnificent head-dress, resplendent with beads and other decorations.
"The madam, me thinks she wants the mountains and the seas." I told
Zuma of my plans to travel through KwaZulu Natal. His handsome ebony face
beamed a radiant smile and his features softened as he spoke of his land and
his people. "The madam, she is going to the heart of my land. The city she
is only the pulse." Only later would I understand what he meant.
ZULULAND - The heart of the kingdom
The following morning I hired a 4x4 and headed north along the Indian Ocean coast road, taking me through Zululand. The sheer majesty of this region was awesome - the cobalt blue Indian Ocean, the Mangrove swamps and limpid lagoons, the rolling green hills and indigenous forests and always, the wide welcoming smiles from the locals.
Driving through the Valley of the Zulu Kings, I felt certain, when listening carefully, that I could hear the wind sigh and whisper the secrets and sorrows of great battles, made visible by lone forts and small graveyards on ghostly undulating landscapes. I found the battlefields where I followed the footsteps of famous military strategists - Shaka - King of the Zulu’s; Winston Churchill; Mahatma Gandhi. The Zulu kingdom that once lay in blood-soaked conflict today lies in peace.
Some 100 miles from Durban, up the coast near Eshowe (milk-bush shrubs), a guide took me by ox wagon to ShakaLand, a small Zulu village of beehive huts especially built for the movie set of Shaka Zulu. Here I experienced Zulu hospitality at its best and observed a traditional wedding ceremony. I visited a Sangoma (witchdoctor) who threw "the bones" for me and "cast away the evil spirits".
ZULULAND - The heart of the kingdom
The following morning I hired a 4x4 and headed north along the Indian Ocean coast road, taking me through Zululand. The sheer majesty of this region was awesome - the cobalt blue Indian Ocean, the Mangrove swamps and limpid lagoons, the rolling green hills and indigenous forests and always, the wide welcoming smiles from the locals.
Driving through the Valley of the Zulu Kings, I felt certain, when listening carefully, that I could hear the wind sigh and whisper the secrets and sorrows of great battles, made visible by lone forts and small graveyards on ghostly undulating landscapes. I found the battlefields where I followed the footsteps of famous military strategists - Shaka - King of the Zulu’s; Winston Churchill; Mahatma Gandhi. The Zulu kingdom that once lay in blood-soaked conflict today lies in peace.
Some 100 miles from Durban, up the coast near Eshowe (milk-bush shrubs), a guide took me by ox wagon to ShakaLand, a small Zulu village of beehive huts especially built for the movie set of Shaka Zulu. Here I experienced Zulu hospitality at its best and observed a traditional wedding ceremony. I visited a Sangoma (witchdoctor) who threw "the bones" for me and "cast away the evil spirits".
SODWANA BAY - 7 Mile Dive
I continued my journey up the Zululand coast passing numerous deserted beaches and eventually reached Sodwana Bay. Sodwana Bay is one of South Africa’s most popular dive sites and is situated in the northern reaches of KwaZulu Natal. Sodwana, meaning "little one on its own" in Zulu, is easily accessible - only four hours by car from Durban. The reefs at Sodwana are named after their distance from the launch site, starting from "2 Mile" going up to "9 Mile". Perhaps the most scenic reef is "7 Mile", which on a good day can compare with the best in the world, like Wakatobi in Indonesia, the Red Sea, Australia, or Madagascar’s Barra Reef - where I learned to dive. Sodwana is diveable all year round, with the best conditions during the warm summer months from November to May.
While at Sodwana Bay, a German adrenalin junkie, Klaus, convinced me to join him in Gaansbaai (Afrikaans for Goose Bay), a coastal town on South Africa’s famed Garden Route. "Gaanzbaai", he claimed, "offerz ze bezt shark cage divink in ze world." Taking comfort in his fearlessness and evident indestructibility, I agreed. A few days later I joined him on the "Barracuda" and motored out of Gaansbaai’s Harbor. Frankie, our Skipper, said we were heading towards Dyer Island and would be there within 20-minutes - this statement evoked frantic activity on the deck. I found a discreet corner to ooze myself into a diving suit and true to his word, 20-minutes later we dropped anchor. The crew excitedly began chumming the water with bloody entrails. Moments later Klaus and I were lowered into ocean. Too late for regrets now, I thought and said a silent prayer.
Klaus pointed out a Great White effortlessly gliding by; it took a bite at the innards which had been thrown overboard. In the gloomy distance I spied a dark shape fast approaching. When I realized what it was - a Great White of gigantic proportions, I began frantically gesturing at Klaus to look. Just as I was preparing myself for death, the mammoth beast turned away at the last moment, its tail glancing off the steel bars, sending the cage crashing into the hull of the boat above, and us tumbling within it.
Later on deck, with a cold beer in hand and wrapped in a warm towel, Klaus enquired about the "dangers of South Africa". He asked the Skipper what the chances were of him being shot and stabbed. Frankie regarded him sternly and replied, "It depends on what you mean by dangerous - inoculations are available against most tropical diseases; being shot and stabbed rarely happens, unless you"re extremely unlucky. Being savaged by a wild beast is more likely but most people manage a more or less complete recovery - given time and physiotherapy - many even walk again." Klaus was ashen. Frankie chuckled, looked away, and winked at one of his crewmen.
When my feet touched dry land later that day, I felt deep admiration and respect for the ocean. Klaus and I were ready for several very large drinks and were marched off to the nearest watering hole by our Skipper and his crew.
I continued my journey up the Zululand coast passing numerous deserted beaches and eventually reached Sodwana Bay. Sodwana Bay is one of South Africa’s most popular dive sites and is situated in the northern reaches of KwaZulu Natal. Sodwana, meaning "little one on its own" in Zulu, is easily accessible - only four hours by car from Durban. The reefs at Sodwana are named after their distance from the launch site, starting from "2 Mile" going up to "9 Mile". Perhaps the most scenic reef is "7 Mile", which on a good day can compare with the best in the world, like Wakatobi in Indonesia, the Red Sea, Australia, or Madagascar’s Barra Reef - where I learned to dive. Sodwana is diveable all year round, with the best conditions during the warm summer months from November to May.
While at Sodwana Bay, a German adrenalin junkie, Klaus, convinced me to join him in Gaansbaai (Afrikaans for Goose Bay), a coastal town on South Africa’s famed Garden Route. "Gaanzbaai", he claimed, "offerz ze bezt shark cage divink in ze world." Taking comfort in his fearlessness and evident indestructibility, I agreed. A few days later I joined him on the "Barracuda" and motored out of Gaansbaai’s Harbor. Frankie, our Skipper, said we were heading towards Dyer Island and would be there within 20-minutes - this statement evoked frantic activity on the deck. I found a discreet corner to ooze myself into a diving suit and true to his word, 20-minutes later we dropped anchor. The crew excitedly began chumming the water with bloody entrails. Moments later Klaus and I were lowered into ocean. Too late for regrets now, I thought and said a silent prayer.
Klaus pointed out a Great White effortlessly gliding by; it took a bite at the innards which had been thrown overboard. In the gloomy distance I spied a dark shape fast approaching. When I realized what it was - a Great White of gigantic proportions, I began frantically gesturing at Klaus to look. Just as I was preparing myself for death, the mammoth beast turned away at the last moment, its tail glancing off the steel bars, sending the cage crashing into the hull of the boat above, and us tumbling within it.
Later on deck, with a cold beer in hand and wrapped in a warm towel, Klaus enquired about the "dangers of South Africa". He asked the Skipper what the chances were of him being shot and stabbed. Frankie regarded him sternly and replied, "It depends on what you mean by dangerous - inoculations are available against most tropical diseases; being shot and stabbed rarely happens, unless you"re extremely unlucky. Being savaged by a wild beast is more likely but most people manage a more or less complete recovery - given time and physiotherapy - many even walk again." Klaus was ashen. Frankie chuckled, looked away, and winked at one of his crewmen.
When my feet touched dry land later that day, I felt deep admiration and respect for the ocean. Klaus and I were ready for several very large drinks and were marched off to the nearest watering hole by our Skipper and his crew.
REFERENCE SITES:
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/
"I am a passionate traveler, and from
the time I was a child, travel formed me as much as my formal education.”
David Rockefeller
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