CHAPMAN'S PEAK & CHAPMAN'S PEAK BEACH HOTEL

Fighting off the temptation to do yet another report on something in Cape Town, but the fingers that type this seemed biased. Its been decided by the powers that if we choose to finish off a 'Breathing Space' segment in a TRAVEL & RELAXATION section of our Wellness Trail, there is only one final destination, ANYWHERE NEAR MOTHER MOUNTAIN. We at least avoided her this time, you'll see her anyway....its like going home and not seeing Mom, never gonna happen, but we just wanted to remind you of Dad, Grandma, and the Kids. 

Mom ALWAYS wins right?!. 

Meet CHAPMAN's PEAK, beauty at its finest, with a view that travels, it takes you places, it has many sides, literally, which makes it unfair, but mother spoke of her favourite child, and this was the one she chose for us to talk about. 

Chapmans Peak Drive even has its own website, yes, its called www.chapmanspeakdrive.co.za, such an organised little road isn't it?! Now if you take a little peak, haha, at this fabulous site, you'll find that the Mignon's that Chappy employed to look after the website have included all the activities surrounding the this beautiful part of Cape Town, events, galleries and more. Have a squizz. 

We think if you're going to make the effort to go there, go everywhere that is touched by the peak, and everywhere it leads to, TAKE IT ALL IN, give it a few days. But mostly, and our original point, was this, take this in, go for the drive, and stop often, get out your car, and just watch, listen to what Mother Nature has to say, she'll tell you more than you think...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annd look we found this video, so clever, its called a cyber drive, LOVE IT!

We hope when you come visit that you'll stay, over night at least once, and being the fairest Cape, there are poo-loads of places to stay, but we rather like this one, 

The hotel is situated at the foot of the world-famous Chapman's Peak Drive, in the beautiful valley of Hout Bay, yet another place to visit and take in, truly another one of our gems.

Its 20min from Cape Town's city centre and 45 Min's from the airport and wine routes, but distance and time never really matters in Cape Town, does it, you are meant to get lost in time, and on the drive, and never be on time for anything. 

The hotel has an awesome restaurant known for its Calamari, enjoyed on the large sun-drenched terrace with even better views of the bay, beach and valley. In fact, Calamari at the Chapman's Peak Beach Hotel was voted as one of the Top 20 Things to Do in Cape Town, and the hotel is known as one of the Top 3 in Hout Bay. 

Find them @ www.chapmanspeakhotel.co.za

 

 

 

  

 
#WellnessisEverywhere

Another Week in the Kitchen, Karen Dudley

On our search of food, recipes and things that make you smile, we found Karen Dudley's, Another Week in The Kitchen, Karen Dudley's 2nd cookbook. 

Now lets backtrack for two moments, we are looking for anything that makes the heart happy, and food, is certainly one of those undeniable happy drugs, most often healthy, happy drugs, real happy drugs, and even when they are not so healthy, provided you know what you can and cannot eat, a little escapism in food wont harm. Now we are not talking A LOT of escapism, just a little, unless its healthy, then go ahead, make every day your cheat day. 

In MEDIA & GASTRONOMY this month, we end off with a fabulous recipe book by Ms Dudley, that will leave you wanting to eat all day, every day, and whilst we urge self-control, we also urge that you try cook everything in this book, it all looks so yummy. 

Ms Dudley grew up in Cape Town, celebrating diversity, and after studying all the wrong things at University, (don't we all), worked in a historical mansion in Washington DC, where she discovered new possibilities of what could be done with and to food. 

Karen also had a working stint in England at Finn's Chelsea Green, just off King's Road, where she learnt how to 'do' parties with and for the upper crust of London's elite, and there she gained acknowledgement as a chef to be reckoned with. 

But then Karen settled back into South Africa, in Cape Towns fabulous Woodstock and started her own catering business. The business has over time gained a strong following of dedicated clients and loyal staff, and then its own Shop-Front, 'The Kitchen'. Its her base for her catering business, but its also a celebrated eatery serving the fabulously talented and cool live-ins of Woodstock.

Woodstock if you don't know is awesome, and a must see, but go to Karen's Kitchen and see that too, move in if you have to, she'll feed you well with her legendary salads, healthy yay, and her Love Sandwiches, now how could say no to a little love.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karen with Mrs Obama...now we wonder who's the real 'first lady' here....

If you don't buy the book, at the very least go make friends with Karen on her Karen's Kitchen Blog, or visit her website @ www.karendudley.co.za , or go and meet her in person....you know when you just know that you'll fall in love with someone just by looking at a smile, she's one of those people, and she will feed you, you cant go wrong. 

#WellnessisEverywhere

ROWING MACHINE DKN R310 & MI-FITNESS

Cardio Equipment on our strict budget of R 5000.00, or less, JUST.AIN'T.GONNA.HAPPEN, wow, now we know why we join gyms, and not do our own thing, let them pay, its so much cheaper than doing it yourself....but, we still believe that having your own stash of the right toys, @ the right price, is imperative. 

This month in PRODUCTS & APPAREL we went looking for HOME-BASED GYM EQUIPMENT, under R 5000.00, obviously there is a lot we haven't listed, as there is SO much to list, but given the norm of free-weights, mats, flexi-bands, medicine balls, kettlebells, we wanted to focus on what we think is the best start for your home gym, getting as much in with as little equipment as possible. 

So we found you the ultimate cardio equipment....

The DKN R310 Rowing Machine 

from

The better build quality of rowing machine tend to be VERY expensive, especially when you are looking for those extra features that will add comfort, convenience and motivational programming. Add to that the need for smooth vibration free movement, step-less resistance adjustment, auto-controlled runs, integrated HR-Training, etc...

The DKN R-310 Magnetic Rowing Machine is the benchmark in Home Use Standard Rowing Machines, constructed from the highest grade components, equipped with ALL of the above features, and much more. The framework on this model is a heavy gauge welded steel platform, providing a solid and stable foundation for serious training, featuring a real fluid and smooth rowing action, which further facilitates good/proper posture, even for you long-legged folk.

Its 10% inclined rail, with an effective travel distance 750mm, enhances the authentic feeling of real outdoor rowing. 

This model features a new LCD console display with 6 preset runs auto resistance controls, and offers the My Zone Program heart rate control including 4 heart rate control options, compatible with the optional Chest Belt Transmitter. 

There is also the option of 4 multiple user profiles and manual run, so this way you can keep track of your training and performance. 

This machine is all kinds of fabulous, with a super comfortable seat and foam hand-grip making this machine a total pleasure for prolonged training periods. 

WE.LOVE.IT, go to mifitness.co.za for more, and while you are there, check out everything else they can convince you to buy, they have loads of cool stuff, for every budget, and every wellness need. 

#WellnessisEverywhere

MAGOEBASKLOOF MTB CLASSIC CHALLENGE - Limpopo

MTB Challenges are the order of the day in MARATHONS & SPORTING EVENTS this month, and jirre, but some these challenges are WOES ne'?! 

We tried to pick what we think is a tough race, but not going to scare the crapples out of your first maybe-I-should-do-a-MTB-challenge attempt. 

Meet....

Now again, the area we find ourselves in is MAG.NI.FI.CENT, wow, the truely beautiful Magoebaskloof in the Limpopo Province. We haven't visited here yet, and its about time. 

Now the Stanford Lake College, in Haenertsburg Limpopo, is the host of this fantastic event, and alll registration details are available through them @ SLC MTB CHALLENGE

But lets back-track a bit and discuss the actual race... The Magoesbaskloof MTB Challenge came about after Gray Braadvedt & Rudi Viljoen sparked the brilliant idea of hosting a MTB event in the beautiful surroundings of the Limpopo Province. Its is a spectacular area with immaculate scenery and some of the best bike trails South Africa has to offer, so its only a natural choice for a race event. 

Any event of this nature draws the community in and opens up travel and tourism gateways, and taking to Standford Lake College brings the youth in too. 

The actual race has 4 options, ranging from the "I JUST WANNA FEEL WHAT ITS LIKE TO SIT ON A BIKE" race of 5kms the "IMA GONNA TEAR THIS RACE APART" version which is 80kms, but it doesnt matter which one you do, or how competitive you are, hell you might find yourself totally distracted by the scenery that you forget you are even in a race, and that's ok too, isn't it?!

Have a look at these pics of the area and of the race...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of the school property and surrounds...wow, I think its time to go back to school....STUNNING!!!!

 

 
#WellnessisEverywhere

STREET DANCE with DancEnigma (Port Elizabeth)

YAY, something we can use without a partner, to get your groove on in a Club, or alone, in your own lounge, but SO MUCH FUN, and they can take you to stage, and perform, why not, you only live 9 times right? Each time you should dance til you die!

In FITNESS TRAINING & ACTIVITIES, we are focusing on Dance for Exercise, and this week, STREET DANCE. With so much focus on it of late, especially with movies dedicated to it, we thought we'd follow trend and join the party. 

Meet...

DancEnigma is Street Dance for everyone! They are the No.1 provider of street dance and hip-hop classes in South Africa, and have a flair for Beginners & Intermediate, so if you are completely new, you are sorted. 

They will work with any age group, and are currently only based in Port Elizabeth. 

So, for those of you who don't know exactly what street dance is, its a fusion of choreography from a variety of styles making possibilities endless. More popular styles taught at DancEnigma include, Popping, Locking, Vogue, Wacking, Krump, Dance Hall Funk, Nu Skool & Houes...(and you're like what???) Simply put for the complete beginner, its close enough to Hip-Hop, Google that and you'l have an idea. 

Its a fusion, with no boundries and many options, but it'l leave you feeling seriously cool.

The talented, friendly and energetic instructors have experiance in various styles of dance and have worked with a huge array of abilities, so you will never feel a fool, in fact, you might even think you should be the lead in the next 'Step-Up' or Street Dance' movie, (even if only in your head, its fine). But this will also help you being newer to it all as it'l help you develop your own unique style, which is the best part of Street Dance, its your style that matters most. 

So you have to watch a few videos to get an idea, because we cant describe this more, BUT, we must tell you, IT IS AMAZING EXERCISE!!!

 

 

The Movie...

Rehearsal with DancEnigma...SO MUCH FUN

Find them @ www.dancenigma.com #WellnessisEverywhere

HOLE IN THE WALL & The Oceanview Hotel

When was the last time you experienced the Wild Coast? Its incredible how lucky we are that most of our country is surrounded by beaches and water, ok not most but more than half, right?!

So, we continue our journey in this months TRAVEL & RELAXATION section of The Wellness Trail, and investigate BREATHING SPACES that leave you feeling like you are in meditation, just by being there, that leave you feeling at peace with everything, just sitting still and taking it all in. 

We believe Coffee Bay & the HOLE IN THE WALL, in the Eastern Cape, are both that and a marvel of nature, have a look...

Now Coffee Bay, and the HOLE IN THE WALL, are situated on the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape, closer to the KZN end of the coast than the Western Cape end, but its oh-so-beautiful. 

The 'Hole' is a unique structure with a hue detached cliff that has a giant opening carved through its centre by mother natures intrusion of waves. 

The local Xhosa call this place "izi Khaleni", which means "Place of Thunder". 

During certain seasons and water conditions, (high tide), the waves clap is such a fashion that the concussion can be heard throughout the valley. 

Xhosa mythology tells a far more romantic tale of the sea people, semi deities who look like humans but have supple wrists and ankles and flipper like hands and feet. 

A beautiful girl living on the Wild Coast, in a village near a lagoon, cut off from the sea by a mighty cliff, was seen by one of the sea people who became overwhelmed by her beauty and tried to woo her. But in dealing with the wrath of her father, the sea people enlisted the help of a huge fish who battered its way headfirst through the wall of rock. Through this hole spilled the sea people who swept the young Xhosa maiden away. 

But the entire area is beautiful, the whole damn coast is magnificent, really breathtaking, yet it will provide you with the most incredible breathing space second to non. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And if you are going there we suggest a nice stay-over night or several at the www.oceanview.co.za, its older but has the best views and a quaintness to it that'l feel like home, its lovely. 

 

 

 
#WellnessisEverywhere