Another kak day of South African splendour – Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, random ostriches popping out in the middle of the road, fynbos, Smitswinkel, and do not feed the baboons! 🤣🐒🙈 it was very windy 🌬
Cape Point is often very windy at the southern tip of South Africa in the Table Mountain National Park. Living close by I’d often go into the park for some peaceful reflection. So it’s no accident I had to go on this trip, and watch the crashing of waves along the coast and peer down a great drop of cliff face. Plus hearing the sounds of the wild sea around the tip of South Africa is a spectacular experience, with the gale force winds blowing too!
Cape Point
Driving along the coast from Smitswinkel Bay towards Simonstown there are baboon signs as warnings, as quite often they’ll be sitting in the middle of the road in their pack. There are lay-bys to pull over and people often have picnics not realising they risk their lives as the baboons come down from the mountain in search of food. If you do come across stay in the car and keep your distance and windows closed if they approach.
I used to work in Kommetjie and they would come into the clinic and waltz in through open doors and windows and cause havoc. They knew exactly where the kitchen was! We’d have to chase them out with the baboon whistle, or bang a pan with a wooden spoon and call the local baboon monitoring team to come help as they are protected species. Respectfully baboon and humans do live near each other, and knowing the boundaries is important as they are wild animals. As a former local we learnt not to feed the baboons or keep food out if you live in an area close to the mountainside and tribes.
The Bo-Kaap (“above the Cape” in Afrikaans) is an area in Cape Town formerly known as the Malay Quarter which is situated on the upper sidelines of Cape Town city centre hugging the slopes of Signal Hill.
With the backdrop of Table Mountain and brightly coloured homes and former cobbled stone streets, it’s an area rich in history and core of the Cape Malay culture in Cape Town. The Cape Malays are descendants of enslaved and free Muslims from different parts of the world who lived at the Cape during British and Dutch rule.
The bright colours of the homes are freshly painted and no one home can have the same colour as their neighbours is custom. You can have a different shade of blue, pink or green but not the same shade!
Initially Malays were from the Dutch colonies of South East Asia who were practising Muslims and scholars came to teach in the Bo-Kaap and bring their wisdom to the area.
Muslim temple
Due to the origins of the spice trade and links to Malaysia, India and other SE Asian countries, Cape Malay cooking is popular in South African cooking. The community played an important part in the creation of local dishes which are a favourite of many locals and expats living overseas today.
Cape Malay or Cape Dutch cooking utilises eastern spices including chilli peppers, nutmeg, starseed, coriander, and cinnamon to name a few influences by the slaves brought by the Dutch East India Company to the Cape and from the Dutch settlers from the Netherlands.
If you like curries, stews, sambals or picked fish you won’t be disappointed by the dishes on offer locally. A South African favourite I like to make is Bobotie a spicy mince meat baked dish with an egg based baked topping. Served with yellow rice both these dishes have Cape Malay origins. A dollop of Mrs Balls Chutney and friends are smiling sitting around the dinner table and you’re on fire!
Bobotie at home for my birthday with an African themed cake
If you want to find out more I highly recommend a walking tour or a visit to the local history museums. Zainie Misbach and her family offer ‘The Bo-Kaap Cooking Tour’ which is a great way to embrace and learn more about the Cape Malay traditions, and customs dating back to 400 years of food, culture and religious practices.
Whilst back to visit my former home and friends I decided to embrace the local community and met up with the local family who have been running cooking lessons and walking tours. I spent Saturday exploring the streets, visiting the local spice merchant Atlas Trading Company which has been around since 1946.
Of course I had to pick up my old favourite masalas which I frequently used when I lived in Cape Town: mother in law masala (hot spicy heat), father in law masala (low spicy heat) and the medium heat leaf masala. Top tip when grating fresh turmeric is to wear surgical gloves unless you wanted yellow stained fingers! Fresh curry leaves are used to make tea and have many health benefits including to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure with calming and relaxing side affects too. I know I’ll be looking out for them next time I visit my local Asian cooking supplier in Sussex.
We then headed over to Rose Street to learn how to make dhaltjies (chilli bites), samoosas, a traditional Cape Malay Chicken Curry and rooti. Afterwards we sat down and enjoyed a laden table of the dishes we had cooked together.
I highly recommend a visit to this rich area full of history and to explore an area where once a upon time homes were rented only; until apartheid restrictions were torn down and now local residents enjoy the freedoms their ancestors did not have.
The walking tour is fascinating and listening to Zayed and Zoelfah share the highlights of their family growing up in the area, the 12 noon gun salute shaking the homes and light fittings, and generations of stories make it a unique experience as a local or a visitor. The chatty and humorous family are full of joy and share openly about their community and tips to make Bo-Kaap soul food come to life.
Tossing rooti
The people are beautiful and I feel like I’m home again stepping back into moments and memories of my old life. Reconnecting with friends, the local people, the hum; it’s an energy that weaves through everything I find hard to describe. I’ve lived in other countries and travelled far, but Cape Town will always have a very special place in my heart. There’s something very special about the Mother City and the Bo-Kaap is one reason of many.
One of my happy places living in Cape Town was hanging out with the African Penguins in Simonstown. I’d walk amongst the coves and climb over the boulders with my dog TJ. Often penguins would waddle out from swimming in the sea and head back to huddling with their families.
I can spend hours watching them and they sometimes wander off from their nests and waddle around the local streets too; which is quite a comical sight and always gives me the giggles. If you visit the area make sure you check under your car before you drive off, as the summer heat may tempt them to take cover in a shady spot.
The local Boulders Beach Sanctuary is worth a visit to the centre to help support the preservation of these endangered species. The beach is secluded and to swim in the cool False Bay waters you’ll need to pay a conservation fee. If you have a South African ID book make sure you have it as there is a different fee for international visitors vs. local residents.
It’s been fantastic to hang out with them again this week, and I had the opportunity to swim at Boulders Beach and a few came to swim near me.
Before I head back to the northern hemisphere I know I’ll be back again for another day at the beach, tucked away in one of the many secret coves along this impressive wild coastline.
Conservation Boulders Beach Simonstown, Cape Town Another day hustling African penguins choose a mate for life 💗🐧💗
On Sunday en route to my holiday accommodation in Lulworth Cove I stopped at Monkey World; an Ape Rescue Centre in Wareham, Dorset. I was going with the flow on my road trip, stopping wherever took my fancy and had plenty of time before I checked in. Feeling free spirited and listening to Spotify tunes I was sensing the joy; as I let go thoughts of work and to do lists.
Having driven past the centre a few months earlier over Easter, I wanted to visit the next time I was in the area. The idea of an ape rescue centre intrigued my curiosity. I’m not one to visit zoos since I was a kid; as I have read and seen some horrific stories of animals abused for selfish pleasure and profit. Some zoos get it right and yet others don’t!
This rescue centre appealed to my heart, as the centre has helped many primates globally recover and rehabilitate in a safe and loving way in an environment that supports their healing. Much like humans who have experienced trauma, neglect or abuse this centre epitomises a wonderful story of how this rehab was intimately started in 1987, and you can read more on the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre website, the legacy of Jim Cronin and his wife.
Growing up in multiple countries, loving the diversity of animals and being an animal lover; I’m all for supporting the humane treatment and rights of all animals. There are plenty of animal lovers in the world who have helped protect different species and rescued animals from harmful practices where they were abused or mistreated, or lived in habitats that were cruel to their natural instinct and survival.
I wandered around in awe engaged with exploring the park and learning more about the life journeys of the rescued primates. The centre has been actively involved over the years to bring about change to UK law to stop the abuse and trade of monkeys as pets and primates.
I found observing these ‘new primate’ friends so fascinating in their home. I likened it quite simply as ‘connection’. Humans like apes, chimpanzees, and monkeys thrive in their tribe when loved, feeling safe, validated and connected. The primates I watched were clearly content and happy. As an empath or a sensitive person – I pick up on vibes even in animals.
“Right said Fred”
The chimps (and other primates) too use their faces to express messages with body postures, and gestures alike to human behaviours and connection in their social circles. It’s about body language and sensory awareness as the way we all communicate.
In particular, there were a group of chimps huddled together on one of the high wooden platforms in their enclosure. I had grabbed my camera from the car last minute, so I was guaranteed to capture some shots up close and personal with my zoom lens.
I was delighted to watch their facial expressions and poses, as I was in my own little world; in the present moment and fully engaged.
One particular chimp was clearly besotted with his mate as I watched him send flirtatious signals. Well what I imagined anyway – likening it to ‘courting’ couples, or meeting someone in your circle or network.
Intuitively you both know there’s a connection of some sort as you navigate the social rituals of becoming friends, and exploring other more ‘intimate’ possibilities over time (or not). I named this particular chimp, Mr Chillman! Likened to my preference for making friends and/or ‘courting’ with a mate – cheeky, interesting, calm, curious, funny and sexy!
Leaning in, Mr Chillman chimp caressed her cute chimp face and picked up her hand to examine it in great detail. Up close he proceeded to give her several kisses on her hairy face, and at times she turned her cheek away looking elsewhere, before turning her face back towards him.
I was chuckling to myself as I was thinking back to my own past relationships and getting to know someone; sometimes slowly, or sometimes quickly in other cases. LOL! Now I was really going into dreamscape as I was comparing these chimps’ behaviours with my past ‘major’ intimate love relationships.
Not one myself for online app dating I was thinking these chimps had it right. Be yourself, stay authentic, know your tribe and if it happens organically, great! You attract who you’re meant to meet!
These photos are some of my favourites, and if you’re in the Dorset area be sure to visit. I won’t say anything more as I’m rambling random thoughts after a windy and sunny day out at sea today.
I read a long time ago we are destined to meet our twin flame on our love journey when we are in love with ourselves too. And by that I mean healthy love. A concept I learned along the way. Self care is so important for wellbeing and I had to learn to become friends with myself too.
There are three major loves we experience, young love, the love that gives the lessons, and the one we don’t see coming, true love or twinflame love. I liken it to twin flowers a journey of transformation that prepares us for the one.
Listening to music certainly raises my vibes and I feel happy listening to uplifting songs. Meaning and connection comes through music, sounds, sensations and dancing for me since I was a little girl. My family were big lovers of music as I listened to my parents’ records growing up as I played on my little SuitcaseCally recorder and baby guitar. Music fuels me as I’m a big fan of live concerts too and am looking forward to seeing one of my favourite bands next month followed by another favourite in July from my teen years!
My guitar has been a lifelong passion to learn and lessons are back on the table as I keep stopping for some reason. Progress not perfection!
Recently I explored this hesitation again through the ‘Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron’s three month course. I had started this artistic process in Cape Town years ago when I lived there and was working in a Addiction Counselling role. I loved what I created in Cape Town and moving back to London, back on the rat race wheel I forgot to do what I love as I got caught up in working, doing, and learning again. Mental!
This time around so much more was uncovered as I reclaimed creative parts of myself again I had buried, due to limiting beliefs strongly influenced by others projecting their beliefs and comparison to others on me.
A load of BS stories I had made up again. So I made a decision to start again where I am now, there’s no right or wrong way. For me ‘selfie artist dates’ are a norm now in my week. I love the ideas that come flowing through me when I’m in the present moment, and magic happens organically leading me to navigate my life more peacefully and feeling joy.
Attracting like minded friends and souls who have experienced similar experiences and challenges has been a blessing, and I know my twin flame flower is out there soon to be united as friends.
The SuitcaseCally photos below are taken on my ‘selfie artist date’ on Saturday 30 April 2022 enjoying the sculptures by South African artist Anton Smit at Leonardslee Gardens in West Sussex. Well worth a visit to embrace the beauty of nature and art connected in this wonderland tucked away.
