Images of a beach holiday

Sunshine Coast, Eastern Cape

After traveling across southern Africa and seeing many friends and places it was time to unwind and 'chill' along the Indian Ocean. Over a 10 day period we explored this seemingly forgotten but incredibly beautiful part of the region.

Sunrise

Endless pristine beaches were ours for the walking, collecting shells and being awed by the vastness of the ocean. Unending swells crested and broke onto the beaches awaking us a daybreak and lulling us to sleep at night.  Here are some of the images that captured our imagination.

The view from our lodging

Structure for the day

Sunshine Coast is an apt description of a coastal belt beset with countless little villages, each offering access to beaches, rivers, lagoons and hiking trails that stretches between the Tsitsikamma and East London in the Eastern Cape [sa-venues.com].

Speckled Mousebird taking off

The glorious weather, the seaside-resorts of Kenton-on-Sea and Port Alfred - considered the heart of this stretch of coastline - St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis, Jeffreys Bay and their access to warm waters, water sports, eco-walks, friendly locals, sheltered coves, rock pools and nature reserves, makes the area's attraction blatantly obvious [sa-venues.com].

Seaside Village

African Oyster Catcher

We indeed were here!!!

Zeitz MOCAA [Museum of Contemporary Art Africa]

The museum building was constructed from the conversion of the 57m tall historic Grain Silo, originally built in 1921 and decommissioned in 2001. The architects, Heatherwick Studio,aimed to conserve and celebrate the original structure's industrial heritage, while simultaneously excavating large open spaces from the 42 densely-packed concrete cylinders from which it is was comprised. Using a variety of concrete-cutting techniques the interior of the building has been carved-out to create a number of galleries and a large central atrium. The remaining concrete shafts have been capped with strengthened glass in order to allow natural light to enter and create a "cathedral-like" interior. [Wikipedia]

Zeitz MOCAA houses the largest collection of contemporary African art on the continent and is the  only museum of its kind in Africa.





The exhibits portray reality from an African perspective and challenge western domination of art form. Some pieces are post modern, graphic and jarring exploring ideological and racial conflict and tension. Others reflect African heritage.

The work of artists include Nicholas Hlobo, Cyrus Kabiru, Hank Willis Thomas, Jody Paulsen, Kendell Geers and William Kentridge. Nandipha Mntambo’s solo exhibition, which spans five rooms is unmissable, while Kudzanai Chiurai’s mixed-media work goes right around the floor.

The focus is exclusively on 21st-century work from Africa and the diaspora, centred around the private collection of Jochen Zeitz.

A visit to Binga District

Zimbabwe is a land of struggle and hope and transformation. Today - more than in a very long time there is a sense of hope bordering on the possibility of significant change. Time will tell but indicators include much greater freedom of speech, a minimal police presence on the roads (ie very few roadblocks) and political discussion everywhere. Elections are to be held in July this year and that will be a landmark defining how the immediate future will unfold. People want and expect change!

It was a unique opportunity to visit Zimbabwe  as part of our travels in the region. Upon arriving at the Joshua Nkomo
Airport in Bulawayo we were warmly greeting by long time colleagues from the MCC office. It was good to be back having last been here in 2015.


As we drove to town from the airport we received an unexpected invitation to participate in a road trip to Binga District to visit some community based schools we had previously been involved with. Early the next morning the team headed out. It was to be a 10 hour trip (on day one) stretching some 500 kms with stops at 5 schools. We drove through woodlands, past Hwange National Park and into the lowlands surrounding Lake Kariba.

An outdoor blackboard - a remainder of the past

Siamatelele Secondary School is a success story in the midst of extreme hardship. This school is in a remote area of Matabeleland North. In 2013 most all of the classes where held under the trees. Students periodically could not get to school due to lions or elephants blocking their path (how's that for an excuse for not getting your homework in on time?). The determination of the headmistress, however, made all the difference. She grew up in the community and was determined to ensure that future students would get the education they  wanted and needed.

In 2015 MCC agreed, in collaboration with 5 schools in the region, to support the building of essential school infrastructure through a unique partnership with key donors in Europe and Canada. The end product of this at Siamatelele is a school that can house all it's students indoors and meet qualifications for official registration. It was exciting to see the progress made.

At the end of the day we rested our travel weary bodies at Ganda Lodge - close to Hwange National Park. It was a memorable way to end a memorable day. As the sun set we watched the elephants tussle at the water hole and the antelope settle for the night. The raucous baboons found their roosts for the night - safely out of reach of potential predators and the crowned cranes finally stopped their calls to one another.


Early the next morning we woke to the roar of lions calling through the pre-morning darkness. As soon as light crept into the sky I got up and warmed myself by the fire the night watchman had kept going. Together we tracked four lions making their way around the water hole in front of the lodge. As soon as they were gone the baboons crawled down from their refuge and walked to the plains to feed. At that I made a cup of coffee, breathed deeply the fresh air of a new day and gave thanks for this gift of time in Zimbabwe.

Kruger National Park

Wildebeest

Where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivaled diversity of life forms fuse with historical and archaeological sights - the world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa!

It was our privilege to once again enjoy the beauty of nature as we traversed the plains of Kruger National Park.  We had booked accommodation in centrally located Skukuza Camp and made daily forays from there to explore the park.

Early morning and late afternoon trips provided the most successful game viewing. Whether it was the multiplicity of birds, antelope or predators - we were reminded time and again of the creative, self-sustaining and complex eco-systems that made it possible for such a rich variety of plants, birds and animals to survive a sometimes extremely hostile environment.

Grey Heron - drying out its wings

Elephant munching on a tree

Nyala

 The life of any one organism provides food for the next level up  - grasses nourish the herbivores which in turn nourish the carnivores. While we enjoyed the grace and beauty of the impala and zebra we knew they were food for the lions and leopards we so much wanted to see. One cannot exist without the other. Energy is transferred from one to the other and the cycle of life is extended.

Occasions for hope ... Belfast, South Africa

The pursuit of the elusive leads down many roads

Destination - Belfast, SA

 


"The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." - from Fly Fishing - a Sacred Art

 There is something very peaceful as a natural silence wafts over one and a rain sodden fog blankets the land in a white mist. Emboldened by the soft swish of the fly line singing through the air and the gentle splash as the fly lands on the water - things spring to action. After moments of intense focus the snap of the fly rod as a fish takes the bait causes an intense surge of excitement and the pursuit gains momentum...

 

The delight of companionship brightens the day  - irrespective of the rain and the competition under the water...

In the evening the warmth of the fireside, sumptuous food and anticipation of the new day make for a relaxing and energizing stay.

Images of welcome...

It was with growing excitement and anticipation that we landed at Oliver Tambo International Airport... and yes we were tired and feeling the need of a good shower and sleep but at least and at last we were in a place we long called home.

The grass was green, the weather in the mid 20's (Celsius) and the people welcoming - even at immigration. We now have a 90 day visa to explore this incredible place (but unfortunately we can only stay a small portion of that time.

Baptist Guest House Accommodation

The Baptist Guest house near the airport has long been a haven for MCC workers flying to and from southern Africa as a stopping point in between flights or in preparation for returning to their northern homes. It was our first stop on this trip and home for the first week.

Trinity Presbyterian Church

Trinity Presbyterian was our church home for many years. Upon being introduced on Sunday morning they all gave us a warm welcome. Tea in the courtyard after church is a lovely tradition.

Fall Hibiscus bloom

Fwship Group

Part of our former fellowship group gathering to celebrate our friendship.

eMseni Conference Centre

eMseni is a Methodist Conference centre. Since our departure MCC has set up its offices on their grounds. It too is a gathering place for workers to find renewal and to engage in meetings, training's and workshops along with partners. We met many of the MCC Reps there one evening prior to their regional meeting.

One day with some good friends we travelled to a nearby game reserve called Reitvlei. It was a favourite place in the past to unwind from the demands of a strenous job. We traversed the plains and hills, saw many animals and had a lovely picnic by one of the dams.

                          

And so we are welcomed back...

Enroute once again

It has been two years since we returned to Canada from our previous sojourn in southern Africa. This journey will provide opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues from as far back as the 80's as well as to explore our sense of where we belong. We have spent 14 years in the region living and working in multiple countries.

Southern Africa has become 'home' for us in many ways and has a familiarity that is comfortable. One of the challenges faced in this kind of multi-cultural life framework is that the concept of 'home' and 'identity' takes on different meanings depending on the place one is in and from which one looks outward to the rest of the world.  Both of us, Lois and Bruno, will revisit and explore this concept from various vantage points.  From the Calgary Intn'l Airport the journey begins...



The travel is long - 20 hours flying time plus airport layovers. Yet in such a short span we cover some 18,000 kilometers flying a speeds of 900 km/hour and at heights of 11,000+ metres. Hopefully things will slow down once we land at Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.