13 Things for 2013

With just 2 days left of 2012 I've completed about 90% of my resolution list. There are just 3 things which I will not be able to complete.

I've already compiled my list of resolutions for next year. Just like my 2012 list, my 2013 resolutions are simple, realistic and I am confident that I will complete at least 80% of the items.

Most of the items on my resolution list form a greater part of my Bucket List so slowly and surely I am getting stuff done and making the most of this life ^^


1. Travel, travel, travel!

2. Take an overseas vacation. This is related to no.1 but is more specific. No.1 covers general travel in and around SA.

3. Complete my masters degree. Not 100% sure about this because I have a full time job but it's definitely something I need to complete in order to get that University job in Korea!

4. Do an internship at an environmental NGO or complete my articles.

5. Complete my SETA Assessor training.

6. Continue saving for the Soccer World Cup: Brazil 2014 ^_^  My saving fund is growing and I'm so excited!! ^^ 

7. Read 13 books. Currently on book number 3. 

8. Learn Spanish.

9. Start dancing again. I miss it so much!!!!

10. Exercise/ gym!!!

11. Continue saving for short/long term assets. Done ^^ 

12. Blog more!! This year I wrote a total of 28 posts across all my blogs. Next year I'm hoping to increase that number and get more involved in the blogosphere ^^  We're only in April but I've got 20 blog posts across all my blogs. I'm really on a roll! 

13. Buy a car. But I'm also not 100% sure about this. It would depend on the stability of my job. But nevertheless it's still something I'm working toward!!

Happy New Year Y'all!! ^^

Silly Season and The One Year Anniversary of my First Blog

It's Silly Season!!!!

For those of you that don't know, the festive month of December is also known as silly season for pretty much obvious reasons. The traditional definition of silly season is "the last few months of summer typified by the emergence of frivolous news stories in the media". In America, the same term is known as 'slow news season'. However, in SA, NZ and AUS silly season has come to refer to the Christmas/ New Year festive period because of the higher than usual social engagements where the consumption of alcohol is typical. Silly season is also famously used as an excuse to break certain rules... whether it's your diet or whether it's doing something you wouldn't normally do. We've all heard the famous line "C'mon it's Christmas, live a little". Well lemme tell you honey, you're gonna be packin' those pounds on and it's not gonna look pretty.

I spent my last silly season looking at my computer and surrounded by 13 and 14 year old Korean kids. I had to work right up until the 24 of December and had to return to work on the 26th. No fun!!!

But something good came of all that 'desk-warming'. I started my first blog!!!! December 14, 2011 to be exact. The blog "Life In The Fast Lane" was a lovely write-up about my life in Korea. It wasn't as detailed as I wanted it to be but I captured a lot of great memories. Last Friday the 14th was exactly a year, and although it is no longer my main blog, it was certainly a success (for me). It was my first blog ever so I obviously didn't know what to expect. The over all view count was 703 over a period of 9 months with a total of 8 published posts. My post on Jester's Pies had exactly 205 page views and the number continues to rise every month.

Before I go on to, here is a list of all the blogs I have, just for y'all that don't know:

1. Life In The Fast Lane (Started December, 2011)

2. 6 Weeks, 6 Cities (Started January, 2012)

3. Slowing Down (Started August, 2012)

4. Face It! (Started September, 2012)

5. Globe Trotting (Asia Edition) (Started October, 2012)

My current blog "Slowing Down" is a contrast to the fast life I lived in Korea. It's a lot more chilled and I'm enjoying little things that I previously took for granted. Slowing Down is only 4 months old but the readership is steadily growing. It takes over from where Life In The Fast Lane left off.

I'm still keepin' on and trying daily to think of new and great blog ideas. I'm so glad I did this for myself. What started out as a simple idea to keep busy has now turned into a vibrant hobby which fills up my spare time nicely.

Here's to many more blogs to come!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Red Brick Beauty

I've been living in Pietermaritzburg for about 4 months and one building I just can't stop admiring is the city hall. I can't help but look at it every time I walk or drive pass. And rightfully so, the city hall is remnant of a very interesting history of South Africa and the city itself.

The City Hall is the largest red-bricked building in the Southern Hemisphere (google confirms that it still has that title). The original red-brick building was destroyed by fire in 1895 but was rebuilt in 1901 using the same style of brick. I've only ever been inside the hall once. 

One side of the City Hall.  The largest red-brick building in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The building itself is absolutely beautiful. The city hall organ is also one of the largest pipe organs in the Southern Hemisphere. The building was declared a national landmark in 1969. The regal city hall in all its glory, is a constant reminder of our Victorian past with its prominent 47m high  bell tower which rings every hour, on the hour. 

I haven't explored much of the inside but certainly from the outside I can admire its beauty and the high level of craftsmanship that went into its construction.

The west-side of the hall. 

The building looks its best when the sun is setting and all the lights are on. It gives it an amazing glow. 

Located at the intersection of two very busy streets. 

As with most city halls, the hall is used for all sorts of events. The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra also makes regular visits to the hall and you can hear the sound of violins and harps through the hallways. 

Colourful Unspoken Legends

Although native to South America, Jacaranda trees can be found all over the country but more so in Pretoria which is popularly known as Jacaranda City due to the large number of Jacaranda trees on the streets, parks and gardens. In flowering time (October - November) the city appears blue/purple in colour when seen from a nearby hill. Other cities however, also have Jacaranda trees, but not as many as Pretoria.

Some Jacaranda trees in Pietermaritzburg CBD.

The trees have a superstition attached to them. It is said that if a Jacaranda bloom falls on your head, it's considered good luck and you are likely to pass your exams (it's also possible to be stung by bees lol). However, if you have not started studying by the time the Jacaranda blooms, it is considered bad luck and you are unlikely to do well. So the blooming of the tree becomes an unspoken time marker for when you should start studying. These superstitions exist not only in South Africa but also Australia and America. 

The blooming is a festive time as it welcomes spring. Reminds me of the cherry blossoms in Korea and Japan. Unfortunately South Africa has passed new laws regarding the planting of these invader trees in order to protect indigenous species. They don't have to be removed however, new trees are prohibited from being planted. 

Jacaranda blooms against the blue sky. 

It's a special time for matrics in South Africa, who started their final exams yesterday. It's obviously too late to start studying now but let's hope a few Jacaranda blooms fell on their heads for that extra kick of good luck. 

Workin' The Big City: SAB World Of beer

On Friday my Uncle and Aunt made a surprise visit to Jo'Burg. My weekend adventure was awesome. I really got to know city and I got the most out of my trip.

Bright and early on Saturday morning, we headed out to see a very interesting and famous site- the SAB World of Beer. Unfortunately beer was not flowing from waterfalls, but we did get a lot of freebies (including beer) all for only R55.

Up until this visit, I was unaware that such a museum existed. Again, I was excited to see what it's about.

We joined a 10:30 am tour group which had about 10 people. Our tour guide was a chirpy, middle-age man with detailed knowledge of the process of making beer as well as its history. The tour was about 90 minutes.

The World of Beer is a museum that shows the history of beer by way of videos, demonstrations, models and information from our guide. It includes the traditional and modern ways of making beer as well as specific focus on the South African Brewery (SAB). Beer is of course a staple in the alcohol-consuming world so this is a major tourist destination in the city and the country as a whole. Of course you have to be interested in history and how beer is made, otherwise you'll be extremely bored. 

Barley and hops 
growing.  

To celebrate the SAB's long brewing tradition and its 100th anniversary, SAB established the SAB World of Beer in 1995 in the heart of Johannnesburg. 

The tour starts with an introductory welcome from Charles Glass the brewmaster who brought us Castle Lager, and the man who laid the foundations of SAB as it is known today. He's projected on 6 large independent screens. 

We then take a look at beer's earliest origins in Babylonia, Mesopotamia. 

After a long and detailed tour of the origins of beer we moved on to the actual process of beer brewing. We started off with the actual planting, harvesting and curing of barley, hops and malt. You are taken on a detailed journey through the beer making hall also known as the Green Fields Greenhouse where you will be up close and personal with the natural ingredients used to brew SAB beers. The room is flooded with a natural light and you are greeted with the pungent smell of barley as you enter. 

Beer first arrived in South Africa through the harbours of Cape Town, the main stopover between Europe and the East Indians. South Africa's first brewery was first established in 1696 in Newlands. Over the next 200 years Newlands became the center of brewing activity in South Africa. 

A quick stop is made at a bar complete with draft beer and a free glass. The glass comes with beer (if you're a beer drinker). If you're not a drinker you can just give your beer to someone else or spill it down the drain, but remember to keep your free beer glass!  

A mock shebeen. 

We also stopped at a traditional South African beer house called a shebeen. This is a replica of a Sowetan shebeen. Shebeens are most often located in black townships as alternative to pubs and bars, where under apartheid and the Rhodesian era black people could not enter a pub or bar reserved for whites. Originally shebeens were operated illegally selling home brewed and home-distilled alcohol providing people with a place to meet and discuss political and social issues. Shebeens also provided music and dancing. Today, they still form an important part of the social scene. 

Still in the shebeen. 

The Sowetan shebeen concludes the historic journey through the world of beer. Thereafter we're taken to the barley tasting room which is the first step in the beer making process - the malting process. The doors of the brewing chambers swing open and you're greeted by large replicas of the brewing vats used in the SAB beer making process. After the malting process the malt rests and moves on to the other steps in the process. It's a rather long and boring process. 

The final section of the tour leads us to the Celebration Hall. A panoramic film is screened showing the celebration of beer. It shows us the final stages of the beer being delivered to the people for enjoyment. From there we are led to the Tap Room to cash in our drinks vouchers. You can take a seat on the balcony and enjoy Newtown or you can just stay inside while you sip on a selection of SAB's finest products. The two vouchers are included in the price of the ticket. 

Overall I really enjoyed the tour. You have to be really patient and remember that all the good stuff comes at the end. Great for photos and great for increasing ones knowledge of beer. 

The World of Beer website:

http://www.worldofbeer.co.za/

Hollerrrrrr!! 

Workin' the Big City: Finding our Feet and Receiving The Call

In my third month back in South Africa, I was anxious, I was bored and I wanted to be fabulous again. I needed something to do and I needed to do it fast. My lifeline came in the form of my dear cousin Rachel (Ray) who invited me on a trip to Johannesburg to visit her sister Gen and her (Gen's) husband, TK. Gen had also previously asked me to visit her and TK. 

Of course I was immediately excited by this. I had never been to Jo'burg before. I was excited to see if everything I heard about the city was true. Some people thought my excitement was quite sad. Jo'burg is, after all, considered one of the party capitals of South Africa. It's also the entertainment hub of the country where all the rich and famous are based, but apart from that there's really nothing else that entices me. 

So off we went on Tuesday June 18 at 10:30 pm, ready to take on this giant of a city. I was all kitted out in my wongas, bohemian beanie and a killer attitude. We took a 6 hour bus from Pietermaritzburg all the way to Midrand (somewhere in between Jo'burg and Pretoria). We arrived at 5 am- cold, half asleep and still lookin' fly. We were picked up about 15 mins later and whisked away to what was to be our home for the next week or so. Randburg. A nice suburb just outside the CBD. My first impressions of the city: big, cold and far too many people. 

My day ended before it began. We were so bushed so we naturally spent half of the day sleeping before waking up at about 3 pm in time to cook and sort our lives out. Highlight of my day was seeing the Coca-Cola Dome (gosh I sound so lame,but there's more lameness to come!) I had to stare at it for a few mins before realizing it was time to go. For those who don't know the Dome, it's a multi purpose events venue, but it's used mainly for concerts and shows.

On Wednesday I decided to venture out a little. I convinced my cousin to go for a walk with me to Northgate Mall (which coincidentally is across from the Dome). In my mind I knew how to get there. Up the road, turn right, turn left and then straight for about a kilometer. Well, a third of the way there I realized this trip is not happening. I admitted to my cousin that I underestimated the distance so we settled on having coffee at a little bread-and-milk mall which we had stumbled on en-route to the 'mall by the dome'. 

While sipping on my cappuccino, I received a call that was going to change my life, at least for the next few months. I was invited to an interview for the job that I have now. The interview was scheduled for the following Tuesday. I was ecstatic and over the moon! After almost 4 months I was finally making progress. I didn't realize it would be so difficult trying to secure a job in the middle of the year. Nevertheless, I was really excited just to be going to the interview!

I finished my drink on the edge of glory. Hyper and excited. I later learned that I was one of two candidates being interviewed and I knew that I stood a good chance of actually getting the job.

I walked back home hurridly so I could start preparing for the interview. I went to bed tired, dreaming of a day well spent wandering around the streets of Randburg and the prospects of a new job.

Read about my other adventures in the big city and see which local celebrities I met!! ^^

81 Things to do before I die

AKA My bucket list. 

I've been working on my bucket list since November last year so it's definitely a work in progress.

There are soooo many things I still want to do in my life and I think by writing and confessing them, they are more likely to happen. Life is short so I want to make the most of every opportunity.

There are currently 81 items on my bucket list. I will continue updating as time goes on. 


Sports and Athletics

1. Do an extreme sport. ✓ In March 2012 I went white water rafting for the first time in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

2. Run a marathon. 

3. Take up a new sport.  ✓ I played badminton for the first time in May 2011 but I never continued with it. 

4. Learn to play golf properly. 

5. Learn to play tennis. 

Language and Culture 

6. Learn a new language.  ✓ Started learning Korean, Feb 2010. 

7. Learn Spanish properly. 

8. Learn sign language. 

9. Learn to use chopsticks.   ✓ Learnt how to use chopsticks literally 2 weeks before leaving for Korea. My good friend J'son Li taught me. 


Music, Song and Dance 

10. Be a competitive dancer.  ✓  Started competing in 2009. 

11. Be a professional dancer.

12. Be in a musical.

13. Dance in a music video for a famous singer.

14. Learn to play the piano. 

15. Go to a concert.  ✓ My first concert ever. November, 2011. Asia Song Festival: Daegu, South Korea. 

16. Go to a Halloween party.  ✓ October 2010 and 2011. First Halloween party ever: South Korea. 

Adventures 

17. Buy rollerblades and go rollerblading.

18. Fly in a helicopter

19. Go trekking (hiking) in a forest.  ✓ Northern Chiang Mai, Thailand. March 2012. 

20. Ride a horse. 

21. Ride a roller coaster.  ✓ Sentosa Island, Singapore: July 2011. 

22. Go on a roadtrip. 

23. Ride an elephant.  ✓ Thailand, July 2010 and March 2012.  

24. Ride a camel. 

25. Ride in a hot air balloon. 

26 Go camping in the woods. 

27. Sleep in a hammock.

28. Stay awake for 24 hours straight.  ✓ Friday NY Eve, Saturday NY Day, Sunday my birthday. Enough said. December-2010 - January 2011. 

29. Experience true love.

30. Find my soulmate.

31. Stay awake for 48 hours straight. 



Travel 

32. Explore a castle.

33. Climb the great wall of China.  ✓ In May 2011 I climbed the wall with good friend Reneldon Moodley on our trip to Beijing, China. 

34. Travel Africa 

35. Experience the Rio carnival in Brazil.

36. Go to the full-moon party in Thailand.

37. Fly first-class.

38. Live overseas for an extended period of time.  ✓ Feb 2010 - Feb 2010: Lived and worked in South Korea. 

39. Travel Asia. ✓ Feb 2010 - March 2012 (South Korea, Thailand, China and Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia). 

40. Visit America. (New York and California first on the list). 

41. Take my parents on a vacation abroad. 

42. Experience a sunset in all its glory ✓ The closest I've come is watching the sun set over the Angkor temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia. March 2012. 

43. Go where the road takes me.

44. Visit the pyramids in Egypt. 

45. Visit the Eiffel Tower. 

46. Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 

47. Live as a local in South America (Brazil or Argentina). 

48. Visit the Taj Mahal. 

49. See the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco.

50. Visit all 7 continents of the world. (Latin America, North America, Antarctica, Australia and Europe remain). 

51. Visit Robben Island. 

52. Visit a desert. 

53. Visit all 9 provinces in South Africa. (North-West, Northern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Free-State remain).

54. Live in Cape Town, South Africa. 

Career

55. Appear in a Magistrates court. 

56. Appear in a High court.

57. Appeal in the Supreme court of appeal

58. Appear in the Consitutional court.  

59. Be recognized as an authority in Environmental  law.

60. Be an admitted (licensed) attorney.

61.  Invest in the stock market.

62. Buy my first car. 

63. Have my dream home. 

64. Start my own business. 

Hobbies 

65. Work in the entertainment industry.  

66.  Be on TV.  

67.  Be in a movie.  ✓ In 2009 I was an extra in 2 locally made movies. 'For better, for worse' and 'My Secret Sky'.  

68. Be in a newspaper. ✓ Had my University graduation pic in the community news section of the newspaper. April 2009 ^^ 

69. Have 250 page views on at least one of my blogs.  ✓My Korea blog: Life in The Fast Lane

70. Have 500 page views on at least one of my blogs.  ✓ My Korea blog: Life in the Fast Lane

71. Have 600 page views on at least one of my blogs.  ✓ My Korea blog: Life in The Fast Lane

72. Have 750 page views on at least one of my blogs.  ✓ My Korea blog: Life in The Fast Lane and My Health & Fashion blog: Face It

73. Have 1000 page views on at least one of my blogs. 

74. Take a photography course. 

75. Learn how to play chess. 

76. Start a blog.  ✓ Started December 2011. 

77. Start Yoga.  ✓ Started in April 2011 with good friend Fay-Lee Hutchinson.     

78. Fly a kite.

79. Go camping.

80. Be in a magazine. 

81. Read the bible from cover to cover.