Articles in Lifestyle Features
Germany in focus at 2017 Durban International Film Festival
German films including Karl Marx City and Goodbye Berlin, women in film, German directors and a masterclass by German film industry professionals are on the program at #DIFF2017, the 38th edition of South Africa’s prestigious Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) where the theme is Transit Tales and a major support focus is developing the South African film industry and fostering talent.
Why Sunshine’s Felicity Vonmoos is a good egg
Felicity Vonmoos has stuck her finger up more chicken a-holes than she cares to remember. Hey, she’s a good mom! “Nine times out of 10 if a chicken looks unhappy, it’s because there’s an egg stuck in breach position. I turn it, make it easier for her to lay. Then she dashes off to eat.” Hens are great little creatures, she adds. “They just ask for food, love and water and in return, they work really hard and earn their keep. They lay an egg a day.”
On the way to the wedding: on track—or off?
Traveling to island nuptials by train is fine. Not missing the ferry and the whole blissed out event is even …
South African chef John Moatshe cooks for more than compliments
ICC executive chef John Moatshe has cooked for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, the late President Nelson Mandela and recently, for several thousand delegates attending Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban. When you quiz this urbane, unpretentious Chaîne des Rôtisseurs-awarded chef about highlights threading through his illustrious culinary career, you discover there are many.
Poland, France, German winners on European Film Fest 2017 Nouveau South Africa line-up
The fourth European Film Festival (2017 edition) for South Africa will screen at Cinema Nouveau in Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg beween May 5 and May 14. The films include award-winning entries from 12 countries: Austria, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Netherlands, and Ireland and Croatia for the first time.
Welcome to Berlin: now beware the U-Bahn station bandits
At the risk of inserting a spoiler at this point, my yoga friend’s Berlin Welcome Card didn’t serve as a lifeline when she was robbed — of her passport, credit cards, debit card and entire stash of cash — the first time she used it. Embarrassing as it is to admit, it was ‘streetwise’ and travel-wise me who fell prey to pickpockets. On the ‘up’ side, getting back on track was not the train-smash I imagined it might be.
Thailand Travel 35: Nai Yang late night massage surprise
“Mam” comes out and we chat. I ask her why she’s so busy when the others are empty. “I’ve been here a long time,” she says. She’s refined. Warm. Probably 50. I tell her I want a good strong Thai massage and had a bad one yesterday. She goes inside. Chats to someone. Comes back out…
The culinary travel phenomenon
Exploring tastes, traditions and cuisines while traveling — and savoring how other cultures eat, drink and make merry even in restaurants close to home or in ones own kitchen — opens up a whole new world and preserves culinary traditions.
Thailand travel 14. Sunday Walking Street Chiangmai and artist dinner
An hour is not enough time to get there. Again I am a monsoon by the time I concede defeat. Am past where the map indicates he lives, when I show the address to a woman standing with friends down an alleyway. She calls the number. She talks in Thai. She tells me to go stand on the corner I just rounded and someone will fetch me. And so it is I meet Buppha when she picks me up on her scooter. Takes me to their house. Serves two scrummy dishes she’s cooked, fresh, spiced, nutted, then goes off to her shop near the night market.
Thailand travel 13. Was my inmate masseuse a killer or an addict?
No sooner than I am settled on my belly wondering which way to put my head as only at one place in Thailand did I get a massage bed with a hole for your face or head to settle into that I had thought was standard, she is on top of me. Elbows, feet, heels, hands, fists, full body weight at the ready.
