The ZestCulture team thinks Garry Larson never gets old.

The one thing that Pc users can do that Mac users can’t. Shut up about how great their Macs are

Hey ZestCulture readers. It seems my predictions have come true. When reporting on the Bien Donne  Cheese festival, we experienced the very first signs of winter….The rain. In Cape Town? No…well go figure. It was at that wet but spirited day, that I guessed that this icy season’s hottest accessory will be ‘Designer Wellies.’ Seemed I guessed right.

First a little background. The concept of a waterproof boot caught on in England originally, in the 19th century, because of the rainy weather. Another go figure! Wellington Boots were some of the first waterproof rubber boots to be worn. Back in the day, they were considered quite fashionable among British aristocracy. It has been said that Wellingtons were the choice footwear of the 1st Duke of Wellington. But before long the dull colours were considered more industrial than chic. This dark cloud seemed to follow the Wellie, as they are more affectionately known, for many years after that.

Well Topboot, Gumboot, or Rainboot. Whatever you want to call them. They seem to have been reborn in recent years. The look of the boot has evolved into brightly coloured rubber footwear with hip patterns and funky designs. These boots are now not only farm essentials, but have also become a fashion statement in the rain.

Seems they have now arrived in South Africa for the chilly season. Seems the only place online I could find them though was at Tam Tam Trading in De Waterkant, Cape Town. A little birdie also told me that Pick & Pay Clothing will be stocking these babies. Talking about babies. If you are looking for mini me ones then check out Kapow in the V&A Waterfront…

The Western Cape has a lot to offer the visitor and resident alike. Within an hour or two from Cape Town are a multitude of quaint, homey small towns that offer stunning scenery, beautiful natural features and relaxation.

Travel an hour up the east coast and you’ll find Hermanus, a small coastal town, famous for the migration of the whales in autumn. Flanked on one side by the tiny seaside town Onrus, and on the other the by the smaller farming town of Stanford, the Hermanus area is a great spot for a weekend or even a day out, offering great eating out, art, craft markets, and even a movie screening on Friday nights.

In the town of Hermanus there is a variety of brilliant local restaurants, such as Savannah café, an owner-run café, serving delicious light lunches and delectable cakes. Just outside Hermanus, on the Stanford road is a local microbrewery, the Birkenhead, where visitors can sit and sample all the beer in the weak afternoon sunshine, while enjoying the tranquil views of the valley.

Over the hills and far away…well, through the mountains and about a two and a half hours drive, lies the tiny town of Montagu. In the Robertson valley, this area has become popular over the years for the amazing quality of wines, particularly sweet muscadel and red wines.

Another draw card for the area is the Hot Springs. Visitors to the Montagu area can go the hot springs, just out of town, for R60 for a day pass, or you can stay in the Avalon Springs resort and have unlimited access to the healing hot waters. Even if you don’t believe they’re as magical as the website would have you believe, you can’t deny that wallowing in hot pools isn’t relaxing.

The town of Montagu is a study in old world charm. From the Victorian era farmhouses, Cape Dutch gabled homes and the art deco Montagu Country Hotel, the town is a beautiful mix of architecture and natural beauty. Dispersed among the houses are vineyards and orchards, intensifying the country feel of the town.

Food in Montagu is homey and old-fashioned; accommodation in the guesthouses is personal and friendly, making this a short holiday to remember. The landscape offers much in the way of photo opportunities, with dramatic mountainous backdrops and orderly vineyards, stretching away into the distance.

So next time you have itchy feet and need to get away, think closer to home, within a few hours any side of Cape Town, you can find a beautiful little town, delicious wines and food, and come back rested and relaxed.

Article by Sigi

So is anyone else loving winter?! I don’t mean to sound like one of the crazies, but have you noticed that the weather has been delightfully spring-like lately AND we have a proliferation of incredible winter specials.

Note: winter specials and NO winter weather! SCORE!

Alright, here are a few I have personally tried out. It is by no means an exhaustive list, but it might get you started. For a proper, really good, very inspirational list go to Relax With Dax. That is where I go when I need inspiration.

Okay. To be begin.

Last Saturday I went to Sinn’s Restaurant, and had their special. This special offers 2 courses for R125 and 3 courses for R135, both with a glass of wine. Very good value people. Very good.

They change the specials menu daily, I think, but we had, between three of us, Thai fishcakes, potato and leek soup, and French onion soup, for starters. For mains we had chicken tikka and angelfish, and malva pudding for desert. The wine left a bit to be desired, especially the chardonnay, which was woody, but the red was palatable. The food was beautifully presented, and tasted great. The service was attentive, and decent, though there was a moment (eating chicken tikka) when I could have killed for a glass of water, and could not locate a waiter. But nevertheless, this comes highly recommended.

Next (the same weekend, yes I do cook, but I like to eat out on weekends!), we went to the Hussar Grill, in Camps Bay for their Sunday lunch special. This is a 3 course meal for R89! And they have cocktails! W

ho’d’ve guessed?! It was lovely, old-fashioned, hit the spot like your mom used to food. For starters we had a delicious veggie soup, with grilled French loaf slices, for mains there was roast beef with Yorkshire pud, roast potatoes, spinach and butternut. Delicious! And desert was bread and butter pudding, which I haven’t had since I was a child. You cannot go wrong with such lovely, old-fashioned food!

Lastly, for a special occasion, my boyfriend and I went to Aubergine, to take advantage of their special, since they are a fine dining, delicious and usually expensive place. Well, the special is great for a fine dining place. It’s not special if you’re after something cheap. Cheap it is not. It is very good value for money especially for such fine food. Back before the recession, before I graduated and found a real job, back when I was a student and a waiter and could afford dinners like this, we used to go to fine dining establishments often. Well, how things changed.

It would be impossible to describe the wealth of flavours that Harald Bresselschmidt, cuisinier of Aubergine manages to work into his food. I have not got enough words to describe the divine quail starter, the mussel and swordfish broth, or the blesbok. I won’t even try. If you have a small special occasion, a friend in town, anniversary, have nothing to eat tonight. GO. Go now. It is very, very worth the money you spend. But a word to the wise. Stay away from the exorbitantly priced wine list. It’s not that it isn’t good wine, I just think R265 is a bit steep for a nice, but ordinary shiraz. That’s just my opinion, use it, don’t use it.

So, for more specials, a very exhaustive list, go see Relax with Dax. And if, like me for the rest of the month, you have to stay home from over-indulgence in specials, go see What on Earth’s for Dinner? for some inspiration for the eternal question.

Article by Sigrid

I spotted this clip on YouTube. I think these kind of flash mobs are great. I think we can do with something like this is South Africa. This could make for a good reality TV show..

The Hiiiiills are alive with the sound of music! Brings back memories. What do you guys think? What kind of flash mobs do you think would be funny to do in an South African context?

Photo by Albert Arcona

This is definitely one of my Favourite videos on the net ZestCulture readers.

You either love it or you hate it.  ;-)

Chanty kinda likes it but isn’t impressed that I’m putting this up

Business socks,.. loving it. Can they be anymore random!?

Dune Tours have the adrenalin junkies in Cape Town covered. Here is a far more placid and relaxing experience for you ZestCulture readers that might be traveling to the East Coast. Between the end of May and the first weeks of December the annual Humpback Whale Migration takes place along the East Coast of Africa. Particularly along the coast of St Lucia. Here permitted operator Danie Bennett  has been operating Advantage Charters since the inception of whale watching in South Africa.

Danie is one in a million. Respected amongst scientists for his accurate interpretation and ability to identify species. In 2008 Danie was chosen to be part of a team of scientists from Marine and Coastal Management, the regulatory body for permitted boat based whale watching in South Africa.

Imagine coming face to face with one of the largest animals on earth…this is made possible when going on an tour aboard the Advantage Charters. No experience could be more satisfying  than the sight of a beautiful 40 tonne mammal, launching it’s enormous body clear out of the ocean a mere 50meters from the vessel. Or tail slapping with a majestic tail of about 5 meters. These creatures are huge, yet gentle. Mysterious and as curious about you as you are of them.

Early morning sea temperatures of around 21 degrees are surprisingly warm for those not accustomed to the warm Elephant Coast weather from this sub tropical region. It is for this reason why the Humpback Whale migrate along this coast on their way to Mozambique and Madagascar to breed and calf. A new born calf would not survive the icy waters of the Antarctic. Mothers give birth to their calfs which weighs in at around 700kg and are about 4-7 meters long. The little newborn drinks up to 600 liters of milk per day to be able to build up enough blubber to protect it’s body for the journey back to the Antarctic.

Humpback Whales are the singing whales. The males serenade potential mates with haunting songs that can last up to half an hour. When viewed underwater, their long graceful flippers invoke an incredible sense of weightlessness.

Recent surveys have shown a significant population recovery of Humpback and Southern Right Whales since the termination of whaling. We hope their continued protection will ensure that this extraordinary species will be seen on our coasts in greater numbers.

The St Lucia coastline also regularly has sightings of Southern Right-, Bryde-, Sperm- and  Minky Whales. Dolphins, sea turtles, whale sharks and a variety of  sharks can also be seen.

Whale Watching should be one of the activities on your to-do list. A soul stirring experience never to be forgotten.

I was once again surfing the internet & came across a very entertaining site. Now this is definitely one for all you maestros out there: Tone Matrix by Andre Michelle

It is a nifty little app on a website that can cause you to spend hours playing around making your own music. You just click on one of the squares & the music starts, click more blocks & the music becomes more intricate. Then once you’ve had enough press space & start the fun all over again.

It’s definitely the kind of place to go when you just need to clear your head before getting some work done, as I should be doing to deliver you with some real interesting news.

Hope you have as much fun with it as I have had.