I was very fortunate to experience more than just the city life on my trip to China in April 2008. Not knowing what to expect when I got there the first time, I was amazed(and positively thrilled) by the high energy, fast paced modern life in Beijing … Enter a retreat to Cuandixia and you get to experience a part of China that is in line with images I’ve always had of rural China.
Following a winding road through the mountains we stopped seemingly in the middle of nowhere. A tiny village with a dirt road running through it, mountains all around and someone slaughtering a sheep for supper right there on the side of the road … It was as if the road through the mountains took us back in time and if it wasn’t for the cars in this village, you’d have a hard time convincing me that this did not in fact happen.
I’m leaving you with a few images …
Houses in the village
Following the dirt road along the mountain, perfect place for an ambush 
Surprise on the other side of the ‘ambush’
I believe in finding the perfect balance between enjoying whatever you are experiencing, and finding the time to capture your future memories on a photo or two … sometimes twenty.When I look at a single photo of something that happened 10 or 20 years ago, I can recall the whole experience, and therefore I will continuously be the one with the camera, wherever I go.
On Saturday I went on a horse riding safari through a game reserve … what an amazing experience … a memory that no-one can ever touch …
Also known as Chinese Venice … During my recent trip to China my colleague and good friend made arrangements for a quick trip to Suzhou, a city that surely has the potential to be a very romantic experience if you focus on the canals and gardens. I definitely want to go back there for a little boat trip on the canals … I kind of ended up having to choose between shopping and the boat ride and that was of course a no-brainer ! It was a great weekend, the fun factor was in overdrive and by the Sunday night I was just too pleased to use the next 12 hours on a train to Beijing as a good excuse to take it easy and get some much needed rest.
A few images from Suzhou …
Still on the topic of wildlife …. a few photos of up close and personal experiences with a Giraffe, Elephants, Lion Cubs and a Cheetah.
Each one of these experiences were indeed very memorable … and it is good to know that by having the experience you are also contributing to funding for research and care of them.
But there is something to be said about seeing wild animals in a natural habitat … a whole different experience.
So, I haven’t been on a bicycle in 17 years … but why would that stop me from going for a ride ? I must admit, I was rather nervous getting onto the bicycle yesterday … but then I realized that old saying is true! You know, the one that says “It’s like riding a bike, it will all come back to you”.
I was off to a shaky start, but as my confidence grew, so did the fun !
We went for a ride in the Koeberg Nature Reserve, a few minutes outside Cape Town. They have awesome mountain biking and hiking trails and you even get to see some wildebeest and zebra. And just around the next corner is the beach … absolutely awesome !
I think the bug has bitten me and even though I have a sore bum and aching shoulder muscles (apparently you really don’t have to cling to the handle bars for life or death …. ) I can’t wait for the next time we can go for a ride !
And of course what would a bike ride be without the photo as proof …
Credits: Template, Photo Overlay and Kit by Tash @ DSSA
Are you in need of absolute peace and quiet? Absolute darkness and starry skies ? Ever wondered just how farmers manage to get up at 03:00 in the morning ?
Well, come to this little settlement in the Outiniqua Mountains, situated at the start of the Montague pass. Herold is the name, Rest is the game.
Herold have a church, a postal agency, I think I can recall a ‘general dealer’ aka cafe. And of course the guest farm. Oh, and two ostriches. And a run-away peacock from a farm 3 kilometers away that were well exercised by our dogs.
We had such a lovely time and it was wonderful to just relax and fall in line with the peaceful pace of this Klein Karoo settlement. Of course our dogs were in the 7th heaven because they had so much space to run around and loved all the attention they got on the guest farm.
Our cottage were built in the late 1800’s with very thick walls. Which is probably a good thing since it was absolutely freezing with a mid-day high of 13 degrees Celcius on Sunday !
