The Royal Swazi Experience

Last weekend, I took a trip across the South African border to our neighbouring country of Swaziland. Eventhough it is one of the Southern Hemisphere's smallest countries, the congenial Swazi hospitality and stunning mountainous landscapes made it well worth the visit.

Swaziland borders Safrica to the north east, and is ruled over by King Mswati III.
Map via Google Images

Our accommodation for the weekend was the Royal Swazi Villas, a luxurious home away from home that superseded my expectations with it's spacious chambers and modern design. This double story chalet features 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, an open plan lounge, dining room and kitchen. The entire villa is encircled by glass doors and high windows, attracting warmth from the fiery Swazi sun and an abundance of light. 

The King Suite offers an imperial living experience where you can truly reside as royalty for the duration of your stay. The bed was so comfy, we almost didn't want to leave. A separate dressing room closeted all our luggage and the palatial bathroom with jacuzzi bath enhanced the grandeur of the villa. I wouldn't suggest opening any windows or doors though...one small gap and we found ourselves facing the cockamouse from How I Met Your Mother. 

Yes people, it does exist.

The Villa easily accommodated our group of ten people, with different suites to choose from. These were two of the other opulent bedrooms in the house. 

The African baroque themed lounge and dining room was like a page out of a home decor magazine, tastefully decorated with beautiful furnishings.

The best time to cruise the swimming pool would be late at night, where you can have the place all to yourself and escape the extreme daytime heat.

Image via Royal Villas.co.sz

For an authentic tribal Swazi experience, you can opt to stay in one of these traditional beehive reed huts within the compounds of the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.

Royal Swazi Spa is one of country's best golfing resorts with an 18-hole championship course.

Image via suninternational.com

We took a leisurely hike through the Mantenga Nature Reserve where a winding pathway paved with lush greenery, shady indigenous trees and soothing bird songs led us toward the majestic Mantenga Falls. Perfect for a picnic or afternoon dip, being immersed in such exquisite natural beauty was the highlight of the trip.

Being a short (and at times rainy) weekend, I didn't get a chance to see more of Swaziland, and as I have heard, there is a lot more that this wonderful country has to offer. It is only about a two-and-half hour drive (there is also an airport), so I would definitely recommend a trip to any fellow South Africans and international tourists.

Around the Arabian Gulf

This is the last set of pictures from my Arabian adventure. 

One of my stops on the Persian Gulf cruise was Muscat, in the Sultanate of Oman. I didn't know much about the country before I got there, and found it to be a bustling, very affluent city, where old meets new, culture collides with modern every-day living & the price of gas is just $0.31 / €0.29 per liter. So if you ever need to stock up on fuel, this is the place to go.

Lofty arches, strong geometric lines, arcaded colonnades and artful curvature are an integral part of Arabic architecture. This is a view of the Sultan Qaboos courtyard in Muscat, Oman.

A scene from an Omani Souq (or market place), where you can buy ethnic handmade crafts, traditional clothes, including the famous 'kummah' hat that is native to this region, as well as exotic glass mosaic and brass lamps to colorfully light up your home. (Although I don't know how you would get that through the airport all in one piece).

The Sultan of Oman reigns and hosts royal functions from the grand Al Alam Palace.

Our next stop was Abu Dhabi, where the glorious Sheikh Zayed Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks. It features 82 domes, Moroccan and Andalusian artwork, hand-knotted wool carpets and can accommodate up to 40 000 people. This is a perfect example of the decorative architectural style of the Middle East.

I had never seen chandeliers quite extravagant as this one before. Pictured above is one of seven sources of illumination in the mosque. Made in Germany from thousands of Swarovski crystals, this ornamented piece of art weighs about 2 tons.

Sivec marble was brought in from Greece to construct the incandescent white crowned columns, arches, floors and walls, which are embellished by colourful floral designs.

Calling all Italian car fanatics...Ferrari World is the first of it's kind and the world's largest indoor theme park. It also boasts the world's fastest roller coaster - the Formula Rossa, which reaches a speed of 250km/h (149mph). If you're not an adrenaline junkie (like me), you can stroll through the automative history of this spectacular car brand in the Galleria.

Thanks for sticking around through my journey around the Arabian Gulf. If you love high end shopping, fancy cars, sunny weather, vintage markets, luxurious resorts & magnificent architecture, look no further than the United Arab Emirates. With unlimited funds, and if you can brave the 45 °C desert heat, it can be as glamourous as Carrie Bradshaw made it out to be in SATC 2. Now if only I could have the wardrobe included in this stylish scene...

  

Dubai Daydreams

Dubai is a city that defies the odds, a modern metropolis made up of futuristic skyscrapers, set alongside traditional souks, man-made islands, seven star resorts, the world's tallest tower and enough shopping malls to empty any elite bank account. All this...in a desert.

A hazy view of the modern silver skyline of this illustrous city. In the middle is the Burj Khalifa tower, which towers over all the other buildings in its midst.

A view from on top the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which stands at a staggering 828 m/2 716.5 feet. This 163 floor-structure can be seen from up to 95 km away and is less than a 3-minute elevator ride to the top.

An aerial view of the Dubai Fountains, which comes alive to a musical extravaganza at night.

Note to all Shopaholics: The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping destination in the world, with over 1200 stores of buying bliss. Have a double shot of expresso to stay up on weekends, when the centre closes only after midnight. If you have a platinum credit card or miraculously inherited millions, you can indulge in one of the many luxury stores from Louis Vuitton, to Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs and Burberry. Or if you're just a normal-earning-human-being like the rest of us, have a browse at the usual brands of stylish chain stores like Zara, Bershka, H&M, Forever 21, Mango and a thousand more.

The most exciting, adrenelin-pumping part of my trip was a journey into the Sharjah desert, where an expertly trained driver steered us across the vast and rugged rolling sand dunes in a roller-coaster of a ride. 

After this head-spinning, stomach churning and exhilarating dune-bashing adventure, we were taken to a camp oasis set up in the middle of the desert, for a night of authentic Emirati cuisine under a golden desert sunset, and treated to dervish whirling, belly dancing, henna tattooing and a completely fascinating bedouin experience.

Whilst in the old city of Dubai, we followed the aromatic scent of exotic spices to The Spice Bazaar, where fresh and dried herbs and spices can be purchased at a bargain. The vendors offer an expansive variety of fragrant flavourants like saffron, peppercorns, cinnamon twills, turmeric, green cardamom, whole nutmeg and traditional Arabic coffee called 'Kawa'.

The (not so lost) City of Atlantis is found on the edge of the artificial island Palm Jumeirah, and is based on the resort of the same name in The Bahamas. The perfect anecdote to the scorching desert sun, you can drift down a lazy river pool on a tube, go scuba diving with sharks and sting-rays, slide down one of the many mind-numbing water rides and take a walk through The Lost Chambers aquarium.

Pristine beaches, blue cloudless skies and aquamarine seas...the best place to relax after all those days of mall-hopping, dune-driving, souk-searching and architectural admiring.

These were the highlights of my most recent trip to Dubai. 
Is this a destination you have visited or would like to visit?


*All images belong to me.

Just Cruisin'

Dearest Friends,

I blame my recent blog sabbatical on too much sun on the high seas, where the world of 
wi-fi was left behind, along with dry land, work deadlines, college exams, daily life stresses...and above all, reality. I joined the Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas cruiseliner for a memorable voyage along the tranquil waters of the Persian Gulf. 
These are a few snapshots from the trip.

The ship sails along the United Arab Emirates, through the Sultanate of Oman and Abu Dhabi. We were over 2200 guests on board from 65 different countries. It's a luxurious floating island fitted with a cinema, theatre, rock climbing wall, mini golf course, outdoor and indoor pools, hot tubs, steam room, a casino, spa, fitness centre and a range of bars & restaurants.

The Centrum (pictured above) is the central meeting point of the ship where all 13 floors reach a pinnacle. It's a great place for relaxing the day away, listening to live bands perform everything from Jazz to Lounge and Latin music. I spent hours here attending fun creative classes like sushi making, towel folding and cake decorating. The entertainment varied with quiz shows, dance classes and amazing aerial acts, with performers from Cirque du Soleil.

The best place to be while out in the 36 degree sun is at one of the swimming pools. 

 This dining room with the sweeping staircase reminded me of The Titanic (in a good way, of course). The decor along the many bars and cafés on the indoor decks was richly opulent and grandly romantic in velvet burgundy, cream and gold.

 One of the themed evenings was an Arabian White Night, where the dress code was all white or anything out of Aladdin's wardrobe. The spicy scent of hookah shishah filled the air, spirits were through the (open-air) roof, buffet tables were laid out with an abundance of delicious midnight snacks & the DJ spun the perfect soundtrack for guests to dance the night away.

A Beautiful Sunset at Sea 

Another themed event was the very lively and energetic 70's Disco Party, where the entertainment team led everyone in line dancing - although, to some people that meant 'zig-zag'. Also, the Village People made a surprise appearance to perform their 2013 cruise-line edition of 'YMCA', (pictured right). Not really - these guys are actually part of the crew. I hope they're being paid well enough to wear these costumes.

A scenic view from the shoreline.

I hope you've enjoyed my mini tour onboard the Serenade of the Seas. I will share pictures of some of the ports of call I visited soon.

*All images belong to me. 

How To Pack For A Holiday

I bid you all a fond farewell for the next two weeks, as I leave for vacation today. In the spirit of jet-setting and sightseeing, I thought it would be a good idea to share my tips on how to pack an ideally stylish and functional suitcase for traveling abroad. What you pack obviously depends on where you will be going, the climate, activities involved and type of vacation. These are the items that I usually pack for a spring/summer holiday away.

I start with adaptable pieces in neutral tones - basic t-shirts, skinny jeans and tights. Selecting fabrics that won't crease when folded is helpful for when you reach your destination. Looking back at former holiday snapshots, I realized that I have always packed a striped top, it can be repurposed in so many different ways. A shirtdress looks chic for both day and night, and travels well. It can be styled up with heels and dressed down with flat sandals. A 'little black dress' is a must if you intend on attending any formal evenings. For outerwear, I picked a classic trench, in case of rainy days, and an animal print cardigan, in case of chilly days.

Now that you have built up the basics, it's time to add some saturation. I usually pick one or two colours from my closet that work well with black, white, beiges and denim. Sticking to a similar colour scheme will also help cut down on accessories and allow for interchanging pieces. This holiday, my primary shade is coral. I picked skirts, blouses, a blazer, sweater and dresses in this shade, adding pink to spice it up, as well as hints of black, so that it will all cohesively blend into the contents of my suitcase.

I always find choosing the right type of shoes tricky. You never know what you will be in the mood to wear, and if there's a lot of walking and touring to be done, you have to ensure you carry a really comfy pair. Also, there may be occasions where you need to dress up and then you may require heels. I try to pick shoes and sandals that will match my travel wardrobe, dividing them into flats, trainers and heels. I don't ever take newly-bought-but-never-worn shoes with me - they may turn out to be feet assassins.

The most fun part of packing...is selecting co-ordinating accessories. I love vibrantly printed scarves for jazzing up a monotone look. I use a daytime bag that's big enough to fit all my travel essentials and also carry a easily foldable black clutch, for formal dressing. I keep jewellery simple with just 4 or 5 pieces in corresponding colours and metals. One or two skinny belts will reinvent that summer dress or shirt. A UV protectant pair of sunglasses and a sun hat is a necessity for me - They serve the purpose of shielding you from the scorching sun and also hide any sleepless nights and bad hair days you may have while on holiday.

I hope you will find my 'How To Pack' guide useful the next time you are planning a trip. I would love to hear any packing advice you may have for me too. 

I have prepared a few posts for while I am away, which will be wi-fi dependent. I will only be able to respond to comments when I get back in two weeks time, for this I apologize. I will miss my daily visits to your blogs and hope to catch up when I return.

Until Then...Have a wonderful Easter! I wish you all well and chat to you soon.

Ciao
Sam


*All images found via Polyvore.

Viva España

I may have physically returned to South Africa, but I left my heart and mind in Spain. Never before have I felt more 'at home' in a country and moreover, a city like Madrid. The Spanish way of life and joie de vivre is intoxicating - with all the sidewalk cafés, old-fashioned buildings with modern-sided façades, tree-lined streets, Chocolaté and Churros, languid 10pm sunsets and dinners that last through the night, impeccably dressed city dwellers and a Zara (literally) on every corner, what's not to love? It's a place that I could never tire of, there is so much to see and experience and Spain's eminent character and intrinsic sense of hospitality made my stay there even more memorable. These are some of the cities and sights I was lucky to visit while there last month.

The Plaza Mayor in Madrid is a popular city square where locals and tourists come to experience the contemporary culture that this engaging city has to offer. I sampled tapas for the very first time at one of the authentic Spanish bistros here. An eclectic array of artists, painters, dancers, buskers and street performers make their living in and around this 16th century 'rectangular' plaza. 

We took a coastal drive down the spectacular Costa del Sol, where the sun kissed beaches and turquoise waters make it the perfect playground for holiday makers. We spent a night in the luxurious resort town of Marbella, which is a favourite suntanning spot of the rich and famous.

The enchanting town of Avila, a sanctuary built inside Romanesque medieval walls, it is known for their very many Renaissance Palaces and churches, as well as an assortment of sweet treats made by the local nuns, with marzipan being at the top of the dessert pile.

One of the most spirited and energetic cities I visited was Salamanca. It's a charming fusion of young student culture, ancient architecture, foreign photo-happy tourists, Castilian heritage, serene landscapes and a leisurely atmosphere. Salamanca also houses the oldest university in Spain, imagine soaking up your education amidst these beautiful historic surroundings.

A view of the La Giralda, a minaret-turned-bell-tower that forms part of the remarkable Cathedral of Seville. This Roman Catholic cathedral happens to be the third largest church in the world, built upon 23 500 square meters of Sevillian soil. It flaunts magnificent Gothic architecture and vivid stained-glass art from the 15th century.

1. We booked a night out at a vintage theatre, where I was entranced by the incredibly talented, rhythmically stamping, castanet-clicking Flamenco dancers.
2. The striking black and red fringed Flamenco costumes on sale on the sidewalks of Seville.
3. A shady courtyard in the centre of Seville.
4. The Cervantes Monument and bronzed statue of Don Quixote in Plaza de España, Madrid.
5. You can't leave Spain until you've had Paella. I am now hooked.
6. The statue of famous matador Curro Romero outside the Plaza de Toros in Seville.

The picturebook town of Toledo, it's narrow winding streets and diverse archaic buildings tells a tale of three different religions and cultures that all resided harmoniously within ancient city walls during the 13th century. The town is connected by the Middle Ages-built Alcantara bridge that crosses over the tranquil river Tagus.

*All photographs by me.

Memories of Morocco

Traveling to the North of Africa, I didn't know what to expect. Coming from the same continent, I assumed it would be similar to South Africa, with all our tall skyscrapers, urbane sidewalks, modern cities and general mall-hopping culture. Well, I was in for a culture shock. Morocco is a country built upon a compelling history, where the opulent buildings and ancient avenues of the past still stand as it did centuries ago. Chaotic city streets, traffic jams made up of motorcycles and horse carriages, and tiny alley way markets where you can buy everything from your daily fruit and veg, freshly baked pastries to baby clothes, wedding decor, copper pots and pans or even a new sofa. An exotic explosion to the senses, I was immersed in the captivating customs, tantalizing food, rich heritage and diverse landscapes: sandy deserts on one side, the vast Atlantic ocean on the other and spirited old cities everywhere in between. These are some photos I captured on my recent trip there.

The Royal Palace in Fes, Dar el Makhzen, is still used as the King's residence when he visits the city. It provides a great example of the ornate architectural design that is prominent in Morocco. It's well worth a view just to see those grandiose golden doors up close.

A birds-eye view over the cream and beige Imperial city of Fes, a maze of over 9000 narrow streets, each one looking remarkably similar to the last, this is one place you do not want to get lost in! Legend has it that a tourist once went missing in the labyrinthine medina (old city) and only found his way out 3 months later...with a new wife in tow.

1. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, which is the third largest in the world. 2. You can stop by for a drink at Rick's Cafe, the hub made famous in the movie, 'Casablanca'. 3. Our hotel overlooking the city of Rabat. 4. Laying sight upon the red stoned minaret of Koutoubia is a sure sign that we had reached Marrakech. 5. A lavishly dressed guard keeps a look-out at a Mausoleum of a former King in Rabat.

The famous Jemaa el-Fna Square in Marrakech comes alive as the sun sets. This exuberant souk is where you will find snake charmers, folk dancers, tarot-card readers, music-makers, astrologists, herbalists & traditional healers. Seeing it on the Travel Channel and actually being there in the pandemonian are two completely different things. The market has an electric vibe, teeming with locals & tourists, eager to catch a glance of one of the 'professional posers' or have a taste of the inviting native cuisine from one of the countless food stalls. You can also shop for uniquely Moroccan souvenirs like a fez (the hat, not the city;), fragrant spices, argan hair oil at half the price, antique silver teapots & a Djellaba kaftan.

The vibrant culture, art and colours of Morocco. We spent time in the vast medina browsing for quaint antiquities and exquisite handwoven Persian rugs, one of which will set you back over €4000. One of the most memorable evenings was spent in an ancient riad-turned-guesthouse, where we served a delicious tagine and entertained by the sashaying moves of belly dancers to the ethnic sounds of folk singers dressed in traditional garb.

Red sands and a forest of greenery pave the Ulrika Valley, a place that the Berber villagers call home amidst the Atlas Mountains.

*All photos taken by me.