Bhoops

PILGRIMAGE TO HARIDWAR INDIA

2018-01-21T15:12:00.000-08:00

PILGRIMAGE TO HARIDWAR, INDIA: The highway from Dehradun airport to Haridwar has been in a state of disrepair for over seven years. One has to drive this treacherous stretch of highway to reach Haridwar. There is a huge army presence at the Dehradun airport and the entire area has visible security. Haridwar is the city/town through which the river Ganges flows. It is believed that a sacred bird (Garuda) dropped some miraculous water at the key point in this town (Har Ki Pauri) where thousands; and on some special occasions, millions of Hindus congregate to perform their pilgrimage and seek salvation.By dipping in the water of the Ganges, Hindus cleanse their physical bodies off all of the sins allegedly committed by them and embrace a spirituality in their lives with the hope that they will follow a path of righteousness and commit no misdeeds thereafter. It is also through the medium of the water of the Ganges that Hindus commune with their ancestors and pray that their souls have attained reincarnated to a higher plane.
Visiting Haridwar is like walking onto a 1960's film set. There is very little sign of modernity and progress. The span of pedestrian bridges across the Ganges serves the purpose of carrying the throngs of pilgrims to the holy sites (ghats) on the Ganges as its turquoise waters rushes from the Himalayas through custom designed concrete river banks that channel the waters through this town. Motor vehicles are barred from the areas of religious significance. One can get around in rickshaws or on foot. The increasing number of motorbikes using the narrow pedestrian lanes through the market area is a scourge that has to be tolerated and represents one other aspect of modernity that has crept into this town. There is just one temple that is built on the banks of the Ganges in the key religious area (Har ki Pauri). Twice a day, every day, at dawn and dusk, thousands of Hindu devotees and visitors gather to view and/or participate in the auspicious aarti, an act of light and song through which the holy deities are serenaded. It is a sight to watch and an unmatched experience to participate in. During this visit one offers a container containing flowers and camphor which is lit and carefully placed in the waters of the Ganges in memory of those (usually some named members of one's family) that have passed on. I visited in Winter. During this time, the mornings are characterised by thick fog and the afternoons and evenings by smog created from the number of fires that are lit for evening cooking and for keeping warm as temperatures plummet at the foothills of the Himalayas.

2017-05-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

VENICE, ITALY- A PHOTOGRAPHERS DREAM DESTINATION

2016-07-22T17:17:00.000-07:00

VENICE, ITALY (1)

Venice is a city that is so unusual and unique. It consists of islands connected by bridges and congested with buidings built with concrete that sits on ancient petrified logs. The streets are free of cars. Transport is on water and by the various types of boats. Access to Venice from the Italian mainland is by air, rail and road. The final path to your hotel or boarding facility is on foot. The piazza at San Marco is the best known attraction in Venice but one would be making an error if one does not attempt to visit as much of the islands as is possible. Each and every corner provides a surprise of colour and a feast for the eyes. Venice is well known for its excellent cuisine. It is a photographers dream destination.

The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival

2012-01-02T09:13:00.001-08:00

The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival is one of the many attractions that take place in Cape Town, South Africa during the summer holiday season. The Cape Minstrels have been performing on the streets of Cape Town for at least a century, the parade taking place on the 2nd January annually. The minstrel carnival has its origins in the period of slavery and was arranged as a celebratory party for the slaves on a day when they were given leave from their jobs. The colourful costumes adorned by the various troupes adds life to the streets of Cape Town. A crowd of approximately one hundred thousand people line the procession path of the troupes into town.

The 2012 event was advertised to start at 10h00, but the main parade only got going at about 2pm. This is unacceptable and this aspect should be seriously addressed by the main players involved in arranging this event. It is apparent that major infrastructure has to be put in place for this event to proceed safely and successfully. The police deploy many of their personnel and the city attends to ablutions and safety aspects. It would appear that the troupes are the source of delay in getting the event going. With many other attractions available to tourists in the city, it does not bode well when they have to wait for over four hours to see the event eventually commencing. Other items of entertainment can be added to this event to cater for any delays or smaller troupes can begin in order that the carnival spirit is initiated and maintained during the day.

Here is a selection of photos from the 2012 event.

Versailles Palace, Versailles, France (part 2)

2011-07-19T15:48:00.000-07:00

This is a photographic tribute to man's artistic abilities, endeavour and creations, traits; all of which find expression in the building and gardens collectively known as the Palace of Versailles or the Chateau Versailles.

The metal structures in the last photograph above are part of an artistic exhibition and are thus temporary. The two buildings on either side of the structures are the Palace's stables that housed the king's finest horses. Opulence amongst the aristocrats of the day are still evident in the buildings in the old city of Versailles. The story is that Louis XIV took the aristocracy with him from Paris to Versailles where he could keep a close eye on them.

No visit to France should omit the Versailles Palace from the itinerary. As I wrote in the first part, the beauty of the palace and its surrounds should not detract from the atrocities that were perpetuated by the rulers of France during the era that the palace served as the seat of the state.

Versailles Palace, Versailles (part 1)

2011-07-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

The palace of Versailles forms part of the opulence of French history during the reign of the kings and in particular King Louis XIV. The site for the palace was identified by his father King Louis XIII as a hunting lodge. Louis XIV moved the government of France and the aristocracy to Versailles where the seat of power resided till the fatal events of 1789.

The palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Europe. It has modern day relevance as its Hall of Mirrors was where the peace treaty of Versailles, bringing an end to the First World War was signed.

The first photo is the front view of the palace, the second the point of access to the palace. Attention to the development of the gardens of the palace was given ample consideration. The restoration of the garden to its almost original state is a view of breathtaking proportions.

The interior of the palace is characterised by pressed ceilings with artwork adorning walls and ceilings. Louis XIV was renowned for his interest in art. This interest was apparently persisted with by the three other kings who lived at Versailles.

The last photograph is of the Hall of Mirrors, a creation conceived by Louis XIV where he indulged his vanity. It is the venue where the Peace treaty of Versailles was signed.

The Palace of Versailles is a place of profound beauty and an expression of the artistic endeavours of man during the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The labour intensive construction of the palace and its gardens is a feat that is unlikely to ever be repeated. Whether the building and its content should ever detract from the opressive and brutal reigns of the incumbent kings of the day is for the individual to decide. History cannot be brushed aside, nor can the artistic expression of humankind.

This topic shall be continued in the next blog. Kindly respect the copyright that exists in this work, both in the pictures as well as the written material.

Location: Versailles, France
Photos taken during a normal tour of the palace with thousands of other tourists jostling for photographs
July 2011

Kruger National Park

2011-07-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

Vast expanses of land cluttered with exotic trees, rising up into hills and down into the crocodile infested river beds characterises this part of South Africa. It is terrain where the animals roam free, masters of their own survival and destiny. Man is visitor to this land and a guest of the animals. From the breathtaking sunrises to the sublime sunsets, visiting the Kruger is an experience to cherish and to savour.

The early rays of the sun filtering through the gaps in the curtains engulfs one with excitement, a sense of expectation at what is in store for one during the course of the daylight hours. The Kruger never fails to deliver. Every day is rewarded with a fair number of sightings of the big 5 animals either in their entirety or at least most of them and other animals that have this land their home.

The young lion cub exudes an air of importance as if already claiming the title of king of the jungle. The hard working lionesses carry a look of exhaustion as they search for the next prey to feed the pack. The male lion gives a steely look that says that he is the master of this part of the universe.

Herds of elephant comprising big and small members trample the forgiving earth as they trundle the bush feeding off its trees, shrubs, grass and fruit. One wonders how they grow so big on a daily diet of grass. Trust not this big mammal as the bull amongst it is renowned for its temper especially when in musth as he is likely to turn upon you with a full exhibition of elephant terror.

Then there is the rhinoceris both white and black heavy footed form their extreme weights yet capable of giving chase at speed and underlining another of nature's paradoxes. The white rhino flourishes in this habitat after being delivered from the throes of extinction and in spite of the attentions of despicable poachers destroying marvels of creation for just their tusks. The hippopotami are kings of the waterholes and easily display their ferocious set of teeth at the slightest encroachment into their territory. The leopard is the master of ambush and retreats into the nearest tree to protect its kill.

There are a plenty of our fine feathered friends adding their unique colour and exclusivity to the Kruger landscape. There are rollers, owls, storks, raptors of all kinds, larks and the nightjar making its appearance on the roads of the Kruger. Many of the bird species are endemic to this part of the world and are sought after by birders from near and far.

As the sun slides away into the distant horizon on its never ending route to lighten up another part of the globe, a momentous day in the African bush comes to an end...for the humans who must now retreat to their gated areas and retire for the night. For some of the animals, the day has just begun and in some unkind way the land becomes the killing fields of those that must eat and drench its soil with the blood of its killings. But this is the law of the jungle that ensures survival of some at the expense of others.
My heart, soul and every bit of my being yearns for a repeat of this experience. So will yours.

Location: Central Kruger Park, Mluwati concession, Imbali Safari Lodge, Imbali game drives
June 2011
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Some of the lions in the Kruger

2011-07-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Mluwati concession spans an area bordered by Orpen, Satara and Tshokwane areas of the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Amongst the big five animals (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) present in abundance in this area, the most intriguing are undoubtedly the lions. There are three private game lodges in this area including Imbali, Hamilton's and Hoya Hoya. These lions were seen on the Imbali game drives.

Access to this area of the Kruger National Park is best made through the Malelane gate situated in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. This is approximately a five hour leisurely drive from Johannesburg, the most popular city of entrance into South Africa through the Oliver Tambo International Airport. Cars in South Africa drive on the left hand side of the road. The roads are exceptionally good between Johannesburg and the Malelane Gate. The same cannot be said of the road between Delmas and the Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park. This stretch of road is treacherous with massive potholes, a testimony to poor service delivery in this part of the country. Having sacrificed an expensive sports utility vehicle tyre on this stretch of the road, you may understand why I caution against using this access (the Orpen gate) to the Kruger National Park. Cars can be hired easily at the OR Tambo Airport or the necessary arrangements for conveyance to the park can be made with tour operators. There is also airline access to the Kruger National Park from OR Tambo Airport.

The story behind these photos is that the lioness was rather aggrieved by the presence of two male lions in the vicinity and was roaring her displeasure at them. We were led to believe that they were all part of the same troupe of lions. I surmised for myself that the male lions were off gallivanting for the day leaving the lioness with the responsibility of caring for the cubs. She was rather peeved by their laziness and the prospects of having to leave the cubs unattended to at some time during the day to go out and seek food for them and for the good for nothing male lions to eat. Or so I think...

This pack is apparently known as the "Hamilton lions" as they frequent the area around the Hamiltons tented camp. During a stay of three days at the Imabli Game Lodge, lions were seen on two of the three days on the Imbali game lodge drives. On the day of departure, a whole pack were present just outside the entrance to the Imbali Safari Lodge. I used the word entrance rather than gate in its proper context as the Imbali private safari lodge does not have an entrance gate. This was a worrisome aspect of being a guest at this lodge given the number of wild animals that frequent this area of the Kruger National Park. Whilst in the Imbali game lodge, we noted the presence of elephants that had come into the area of the lodge during the night...but that's another story and perhaps a consideration when you visit the Kruger and when you choose to stay at the private game reserves within the park.

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Mantimahle Dam, Kruger National Park

2011-06-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

Location: Mantimahle Dam
Between Tshokwane and Skukuza on the H1-2, Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Date: 19th June 2011

"Have water, will come ", so said the herd of buffalo, the impalas, the waterbuck, the monkeys and the hippo. The oxpecker replied that as long as the buffalo and the buck were going, so were they in the for the ride, provided that the aforegoing species maintained a good infestation of ticks on their hides. The stork with its wooly neck offered to keep a lookout for the king of the jungle. The impalas played whilst the cats stayed away. The monkeys acted as monkeys would. The buffalo with some new arrivals were too hot to engage in anything meaningful, except to occasionally remind the oxpeckers with a swift swirl of their tails, that the latter were still a nuisance even though they performed some good pest control services.

He hasn't stopped heading the imaginary ball ever since the World Cup visitors came

Gautrain?, no waterbuck train, see the round signal at the back

its not inside here, check if it is on top please

Tick busters...... did you call?

My meerkat impersonation. You like?

The buffalo said: Scratch higher up please. The oxpecker said: Can't you see that I provide pecking services and am not your masseuse

Please remember that this material is copyrighted, i.e. if you like it, leave a comment and we can arrange a fee for you to use it. The other option is for you to visit the awesome Kruger National Park and take your own photos.

Pilanesberg Nature Reserve: Awesome nature viewing from the comfort of my car

2011-05-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

It is a crying shame that many of Africa's children have not viewed our awesome array of animals whilst others from the far corners of the globe make it a lifetime goal to come here on Safari to achieve this very goal. In preparation for the big one, my pending trip to Kruger National Park, I decided to do a nature reserve trial run by visiting the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve in the North West Province of South Africa. Yes I am a complete novice when it comes to viewing our animals in the wild and yes I have cried shamefully that I have not exploited these opportunities far earlier in my life.

Pilanesberg Nature Reserve is an attractive proposition for the novice game viewer for many reasons. The nature reserve is easily accessible from Johannesburg or Pretoria, it is malaria risk free, it can be done as a day visit, if you select your entry point carefully, you can view the wonders of nature from your fancy car whilst traveling on tarred roads with very little need to stray onto dirt and potholed tracks and the viewing is not congested by bumper to bumper traffic.

I set off from Sandton on Saturday 14th May 2011. I arose at 05h00, set my GPS at 06h00 and began an exciting day that took me through Diepsloot, Hartebeespoort dam, Rustenberg, Sun City and into Pilanesberg Nature Reserve. You are warned that your GPS may not have a listing for this park. In that event set your direction for Sun City. The trip would take you approximately three hours with stops for food and breaks which would include viewing of the magnificent scenery along the way. I stopped to capture the sunrise and the scenery and birdlife at the Hartebeespoort dam. This location itself requires at least a day to give it adequate viewing time.

The going was slow due to the rain that began falling midway through the trip. I passed the gates of Sun City just before 09h00. Give the Bakubung and Kwa Maritane gates a miss if you intend conserving the wear and tear on your vehicle. If your mode of transport is a 4x4 vehicle, then try the other routes.The only option for comfortable game viewing on tarred roads is to enter through the Manyane gate. Is your BMW, Mercedes, Lexus or hired car safe on these roads? If you stick to the tarred roads through the park, then yes. I attempted a few kilometres of dirt road traveling to get to the observation hides. Traveling at between 20-40 kilometres an hour would ensure that you negotiate some of the bad road patches safely, apart from giving yourself the best chance to spot the animals in the reserve. I borrowed my Son Rushiel's BMW 1 series vehicle for the trip and acknowledge him here for his generosity in lending me his car for this trip. As you can see, I had the added responsibility of taking care of his car in addition to negotiating the roads and spotting the animals.

A recommended day visit would then proceed from this entry point to the Pilanesberg Centre, located in the middle of the park The park entry fee was one hundred rand for one person and vehicle. Traveling this route of approximately 12 kilometres can take up to one to two hours depending on the game that is on offer on any given day. I spotted and stopped to view and photograph all sorts of antelope, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, a bull elephant, giraffe and some of the most beautiful birds, many of which I had not seen before. I saw a crimson breasted shrike, glossy starlings, speckled, white backed and red faced mousebirds and the majectic african fish eagle either perched on trees or foraging alongside the road.

Food can be purchased at the Pilanesberg centre. The food centre, rather than calling it a restaurant which it is not has a partly covered platform which allows game viewing at the waterhole close to the centre. On this day, antelopes, birds and a group of warthogs were cavorting in or near the waterhole. The rock strewn mountains, the plains and the watering holes make for some very beautiful landscape viewing. Allow at least one hour of viewing at the centre. There is a curio shop at the centre but I guess that this facility is more geared for the overseas tourists as far as pricing goes.

I saw African olive pigeons with their distinctive yellow beaks eye rings legs, red faced mouse birds, other pigeons and small brown birds in large numbers at the centre. The infrastructure and fencing at the centre needs attention. I left the centre and proceeded to the Mankwe dam area, a distance of approximately six kilometres which includes a one kilometre stretch of dirt road to access the hide.

As a novice birder, I spent approximately four hours at this hide entertained royally by the large numbers of pied kingfishers dipping into the waters to feed themselves fully on the fish in the well stocked dam. I observed a green backed heron, malachite kingfisher, cormorants, african darters, hippo's in the water, a crocodile, turtles and canaries. The banks of the dam were teeming with hippos, buck and giraffes. The antics of the pied kingfishers were the most absorbing feature at this hide.

There were butterflies, huge dragonflies bulbuls and flowering waterlillies in abundance. I had to extricate myself with difficulty from this spot, drove around and did more watching around the dam and at approximately 3pm decided to make my way back to the point of entry at Manyane complex. I did the hippo loop and stopped at the Fish Eagle picnic spot on my way back. On the hippo loop which is a detour on the main Tshwene route from the centre back to the Manyane gate, I saw giraffe, hippos and many birds including large numbers of cormorants. Needless to say that the trip back to the exit point was slowed with ample game viewing and photographic opportunities. The rivers were flowing full of water and the vegetation was lush.

I read somewhere that if one goes alone on a self drive Safari, then the best days to do this would be on public holidays and weekends. The reason advanced for this relates to the spotting of animals. I can confirm this as the congregation of cars at at one spot usually indicates the presence of some interesting animal or bird. The route that I followed represents just one small fraction of the Pilanesberg nature reserve. I am almost certain that I would have seen the big five if I chose to drive the many routes in this park. As this was not my objective during this trip, I am very satisfied with the route that I chose and the viewing opportunities that presented themselves.

I spent two hours at the Manyane complex which is just outside the Manyane gate. The complex has a good restaurant, a walk in aviary and facilities for day visitors including a park and swimming pools. The walk in aviary is a must view for visitors to the park. There is an abundance of hornbills, starlings and drongos in the aviary. The surrounding park and wetland is stocked with buck, plovers, pigeons, crows, brown hooded kingfishers and many other birds. I remained transfixed by the offerings her till just before a magnificent African sunset cresting the nearby hills brought a close to my trip to the Pilanesberg Nature reserve. I do recommend that you make this trip.

The Pilanesberg Nature Reserve
Recommended point of entry: Manyane Gate
Recommended as a day visit for the novice game and bird viewer
Entry fee: R100 for one vehicle with one occupant
Driving time from Sandton: two and a half hours with temperate driving and at least two rest and viewing spots, approximately 200 kilometres one way.

I hope you enjoyed this blog as much as I did in visiting the reserve and then writing about it. Please note that all materials contained in this blog are subject to strict copyright. Please leave a comment if you wish to contact me.

BIRDING IN THE BOULDERS BEACH, SIMONSTOWN AREA, CAPE TOWN

2011-05-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

The birding areas in Simonstown include the waterfront area of the harbour, Boulders beach and the upper parts of Simonstown and the Table Mountain Nature Reserve areas that span this town. Boulders Beach is the most renowned and popular area for birding in Simonstown. The African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach attracts many locals and foreigners to this site, one of two inland breeding areas for the African Penguin. The area that requires an admission fee of R40 for adults and R15 for children is but a small part of the Boulders Beach penguin colony. The area extends to the right and the left of the visitor centre, large expanses of which are easily accessible on foot and free. The penguins are within easy reach and many take the opportunity of physically touching them although this practice is prohibited.

The stretch of Boulders Beach excluding the pay to enter area abounds with birds including the cape canaries, cape weavers, bulbuls, sunbirds. The vegetation alongside the boardwalks is often visited by an array of land based birds. In addition to the penguins, the cormorants are present in huge numbers either congregating atop the rock islands just metres out from the shoreline or flying in huge flocks in and around the area. I witnessed a huge flock of Egyptian Geese flying in formation on the day of my visits in April and May of 2011.Two pied crows flew overhead often swooping very low. The starlings, red winged and common are present in large numbers forever ready to interfere with any of the raptors that appear overhead.

The upper reaches of Simonstown along Runciman Drive extending through Barnard Road to the Admiral's Waterfall area has a good selection of sugarbirds, malachite sunbirds, orange breasted sunbirds, cape bulbuls and many other little brown birds. One is amazed by the lush flower gardens that form part of the houses in this area. One gets the distinct impression that the flowers, shrubs and vegetation was deliberately planted to attract birds and butterflies. There are an abundant number of butterflies in this area.

The waterfront area of the Simonstown harbour abounds with cormorants, gulls, terns and the occasional grey heron. The birding on the way to Simonstown is satisfactory for waterbased birds. Sandvlei in Muizenberg and Cape Point can easily be added to a birding day trip down this route. The photos below were taken in the Simonstown and surrounds areas.

The signs that implore the visitor to check underneath their cars prior to departing for stray penguins is to be taken seriously as one of the photos above depicts a penguin in the vicinity of a parked vehicle. The penguins are also very photogenic and will provide the photographer with some interesting poses if they are in the mood to do so.

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The Black Shouldered Kite

2011-04-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

Easter Monday began as a bright sunny day here in Cape Town, only to turn dismally cloudy and rainy as the day progressed. This is bad news for the birder as the objects of our interest disappear with every darkening shade of the sky. The birding at Intaka Island on Easter Monday was slow. The herons, a purple, night and grey heron and the noisy hadeda ibises occupied my attention. The smaller birds were around and made their occasional appearance. The day was saved by the visit of the black shouldered kite. It landed on the tree between ponds 4 and 5 just when I was ready to call it a day. This is indeed an awesome example of the species.

The starlings were there in numbers to harass(?) the visitor, despite it showing the least bit of interest in them. I notice that the starlings regularly interact/ interfere with the pair of crows that have taken up resident in the buildings adjacent to Intaka Island. I wonder what is the relationship between them and the big birds.

The kite hung around at Intaka until the weather cleared, re-appeared on a perch overlooking the reception centre and then disappeared. The black shouldered kite is recognised by a patch of black in its shoulder area. It has a set of distinctive eyes that gives it a ferocious look. The black, white charcoal and bluish colour contrasts sharply with its distinctive yellow feet and beak.

I am most honoured by the interest that the game warders(?) employed at Intaka Island have shown in this blog. I therefore dedicate this post to you guys. You are very kind!

Please note that strict copyright exists in these works. They may not be reproduced without my explicit and written consent. Leave a comment in the comments box if you have an i9nterest in any of these items.

The Kingfisher Family of Intaka Island, Cape Town

2011-04-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

The resident Malachite Kingfishers recently added a pair of juvenile kingfishers to their family. It is no secret that most birders frequent Intaka Island, a bird sanctuary nestled amongst the concrete edifices of Century City to get a glimpse of the malachite kingfishers. A visit to Intaka island without spotting the malachite kingfishers is fraught with disappointment even if the numerous other birds residing or making an appearance there satisfies one's birding addiction. Here then are the newly arrived pair:

Like any other parents the babies were duly introduced to the world, taught to fly, feed and fend for themselves. I visited the island a month after these photos were taken and can report that the babies are growing steadily into fully fledged malachites who are able to fend for themselves. I am most intrigued at how they have grown in such a short period of time.

The parents, or more specifically the mother kingfisher duly caught fish and fed the babies. The body and beak language of the mother kingfisher suggests that she not only saw to their feeding, but also chided them occasionally as some of the photos would suggest. I am certainly not going to attempt to glorify the lives of the malachite kingfishers. So, I shall say nothing further and let you enjoy the photographs.

These kingfishers have given me immense pleasure and satisfaction in photographing them. I often regret that the photos do not come out as nice as they appear to the eye. The final shot is a single opportunity shot when three of them, the adult and the two juveniles perched on the dead tree trunk.

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KIRSTENBOSCH GARDENS IN AUTUMN

2011-04-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

The Easter holiday weekend is upon us. Many would look to spend the time with family and friends. The practice in Cape Town is to spend much of the holidays outdoors at one of the many attractions that has made this city famous. One of them is the national botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch.

Thus apart from the serious horticultural and scientific work that goes on at the Kirstenbosch Gardens, the venue is a tourist haven, fitness fanatics place of exercising, family picnic site, butterfly collectors and birders place of interest. The gardens are abuzz with the sounds of juvenile birds at this time of the year, including the sunbirds and sugarbirds.

The one factor that can throw the proverbial spanner in the works of a well planned visit to the gardens is the seasonal rains that begin about this time in Cape Town. My visit to the Gardens on the 20th April 2011 was indeed dampened by the downpours that affect the Kirstenbosch area in particular. The Table mountain range apparently accounts for the high rainfall that affects the Kirstenbosch area through the autumn and winter rainy seasons. The die hard outdoor enthusiast is undoubtedly unfazed by a good soaking on a cold autumn or winter's day in Cape Town.

The gardens can be accessed from the M3 motorway heading south westerly away from the city centre of Cape Town. The gardens clsoe at 6pm during the autumn and winter months. You are referred to the dedicated web resources for more accurate, scientific and detailed information about the Kirstenbosch Gradens.

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INTAKA ISLAND CAPE TOWN- A BIRDING ADDICTION

2011-04-15T16:03:00.000-07:00

I often wonder what I did during the hours that I spend birding in the past prior to this hobby becoming almost an addiction to date. I do recall that I spend far less time wandering around shopping malls or aimlessly googling my life away. Speaking of shopping malls reminds me that the Intaka Island bird sanctuary is part of the Century City Canal Walk shopping mall precinct. The bird sanctuary is accessible by boat from the shopping centre through the system of canals built around Canal Walk. There is off course the other way, i.e by car that brings you right to the doorstep of the reception area and education centre of Intaka Island.

Returning to this talk of addictive bird watching, the convenience of taking an hour or two off a days schedule, the safety of and the design and layout of Intaka Island has undoubtedly facilitated this process. The variety of bird species and the fascination of watching waterbirds mainly helps as well.

On Friday 15th April 2011 I feasted my visual senses once again on what Intaka Island had to offer on this day. The Malachite Kingfishers never fail to make an appearance nowadays as compared to the numerous times during my early jaunts to Intaka when they failed to show their brilliant plumage. I even got to take some unusual poses of them on this occasion.

Two purple herons made their appearance at pond 5 and struck up numerous poses suggestive of imminent success in capturing their meals, but nil was forthcoming. I still maintain that they are an epitome of patience, given the length of time they can remain rooted to one spot without the slightest movement but with the appearance of an almost exaggerated picture of concentration that is etched on their external countenance.

I have been observing an baby cormorant who visits pond 5 regularly and perches on the dryed out tree bark in the middle of the pond. I am amazed at how this bird has grown over a period of one month. Perhaps this is not surprising given the amount of time they spend seeking out their food. I am informed that there is an adequate supply, if not an oversupply of frogs and fish to keep the regular birds at Intaka Island happy. This is certainly borne out by the number of shots that I have managed with the birds in the process of catching or ingesting their meals. This remind me that I need to air a gripe about the removal of the dead tree barks from this pond. Although one was replaced, I do regret that the one with a pronged branch closest to the walkaway to the bird hide has not been replaced. This I remember used to be the favourite perch of the pied kingfishers. I have photos to prove this. I am however pleased that a recent clean up of encroaching vegetation along the walking paths makes access easier.

A sample selection of some of the other birds seen on this day follows.

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The Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens, Western Cape Province, South Africa

2011-04-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

South Africa is blessed with numerous nature reserves with abundant and exclusive fauna and flora. The seven national parks in the country emphasise the flora of South Africa and the world. The fauna is more prevalent in the nature reserves. The national parks are within easy reach of the major urban areas of South Africa. One of the national parks managed by South African National Parks is the Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens situated along the eastern coast of the Western Cape Province. The closest village to the gardens is Betty's Bay, the closest town, Hermanus and the largest city is Cape Town.

The main attraction at the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens is undoubtedly the waterfalls. There is an easy hiking trail that takes the visitor right up to the waterfall. There are other hiking trails in the gardens as well. I am no expert on the flora of South Africa, apart from recognising our beautiful national flower, the protea. You will thus need to consult more specialised web resources to access this information.

The bird species at the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens include the famous sugarbirds of the Cape and the sunbirds, A selection of photographs taken in the gardens follows.

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MORE BIRDS FROM INTAKA ISLAND CAPE TOWN

2011-04-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

Urban birding for Cape Town birders cannot be more convenient than at the Intaka Bird Sanctuary, Century City, Cape Town. The sanctuary has a fair representation of interesting bird species that can keep at least the beginner birder occupied for many hours on any one visit. The sanctuary enjoys the security of being isolated on an island in the middle of the concrete development of Century City as well as the security provided by the Canal Walk mall.

Here is another set of birds photographed at the sanctuary.

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Intaka island has the African (Ethiopian) shrike, many ducks, tow types of kingfishers, a heronry, cormorant species, and many other little brown birds amongst its attractions.

INTAKA ISLAND CAPE TOWN-BIRDING ON A PLATE

2011-03-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

Nestled amongst the dense concrete structures in the heart of Century City, Cape Town, lies a birding paradise named Intaka Island. The Island was created as a compromise solution to preserve the pre-existing wetlands that were threatened when shopping mall, residential and other structures at Century City were built many years ago.

The site offers a wide year round variety of birds coupled with security, two features that are a birder's dream. There are approximately four functioning ponds that filter the recycled sewerage water which eventually flows around the canals at the Canal Walk shopping centre.

A few of the bird species that can be found at Intaka Islad are depicted below.

On one visit lasting three hours, I photographed 2 malachite kingfishers, many waxbills, cape weavers, one pied kingfisher, pigeons, cormorants, african darters, sacred ibises, glossy ibises, plovers, bishops, double collared sunbirds, egrets, ducks, egyptian geese, coots and herons; grey, purple and night)

The island has one large bird hide, well constructed paths and an impressive reception building.

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The Green Point Urban Park, Cape Town, South Africa

2011-03-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

FIFA, the controlling body of international soccer insisted that a new stadium be built at Green Point for the 2010 soccer world cup. The stadium was duly built. The staging of the tournament was regarded as a resounding success more so as this was the first time that the soccer showpiece was staged in Africa. The Cape Town Stadium received very favourable praise. Then everything was over and the new stadium began collecting dust, literally. There was just one little aspect that remained outstanding.

During the construction phase, reference was made to the development of an urban park in the stadium precinct. The impression created was that this park would be completed at or before the commencement of the 2010 soccer world cup. Now there was some development and landscaping around the stadium at the time of the world cup. I for one thought that this was the sum total of the urban park that was envisaged for this area. Well, I was wrong. The development of the urban park was kept under wraps and was officially opened in February 2011.

The precinct within which the park was developed was used by too few previously. The old Green Point soccer stadium attracted a crowd to the area occasionally when a big soccer match was staged there or during the new year carnival when the Cape minstrel bands used the venue for their competitions or the rare occasion when an international show was staged there. The land was not put to good use. It goes without saying that the erection of the new soccer stadium changed things a little. More people were attracted to the site. An urban park was a necessary accompaniment to the development of the stadium and the full use of the surrounding land which was largely earmarked for sports usage. The existing golf course has been successfully relocated and completed. Other sporting venues are receiving a facelift in the area.

The new park has a meticulously clean feel to it, almost clinical and perhaps a bit soulless. There is something missing. It may well be the small number of people that are attracted to the park at present. The Sea Point beach front has been very popular with generations of Cape Tonians. The park is in essence in competition with the Sea Point regulars as far as the need to draw people to it is concerned. The Sea Point promenande has the added advantage of having the sea next to it, whereas the Green Point urban park suffers from being physically separated from the sea by the huge apartment blocks that stand tall between it and the sea. I think that the Sea Point promenade shall remain more popular with Cape Tonians. The Green Point urban park however is more likely to draw tourists. The visible presence of official personnel offers security of mind and body for the visitor.

The open water lakes and water features of the park and the adjacent golf course attracts a fair number of the usual seabirds especially the gulls. Hopefully, other species of sea birds shall be attracted to the park in the future. The indigenous gardens are still developing and may take a year or two to become established. I hope that thought was given to attracting non water birds with the selection of vegetation in the park. In this regard it may be an idea to plant some protea and erica bushes in the park to attract Cape Town's most beautiful sugarbirds and sunbirds to the park. Bird tourism and birding is big both locally and internationally.

Lest this piece create an incorrect impression, I state very unequivocally that the Green Point Urban Park is a welcome addition to the recreational facilities provided by the City for its people. The landscaping is of a high standard and so are the facilities. Allowing dogs on leashes into the park is an added bonus. Now it just needs people, many people to give it the stamp of a truly Cape Town venue.

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The Two Rivers Urban Park, Observatory, Cape Town

2011-03-07T15:39:00.000-08:00

The Two Rivers Urban Park, conceived as long ago as 2002 is till in the development phase. It is situated at the confluence of the Black and Liesbeeck Rivers. The eventual plan is to amalgamate a huge area stretching from Hartleyvale Stadium, across the Valkenberg Psychiatric complex to the Alexandra Institute on the Pinelands side. The park is a good concept in planning for the recreation needs of the urbanites of greter Cape Town, South Africa. It has huge potential.

The added bonus of visiting the Tow Rivers Urban Park is its abundance of bird life. This site will inevitably feature on the Cape Town birders list of must visit sites. It has in addition enormous eco-tourism potential if handled and marketed properly. The site incorporates the Raapenberg Bird Sanctuary. Critical to this aspect of the Urban Parks success shall be the guarantees required for maintaining the security of persons and expensive equipment that birders normally carry.

The Bird Sanctuary boasts approximately 100 species of birds. The site is in my view the easiest site to photograph the Kingfishers in Cape Town. There are at least three Malachite Kingfishers and six Pied Kingfishers. These sought after birds make their appearance quite often. The site also boasts numerous gulls, pigeons, cormorants, african darters, night herons and Egyptian geese.

The Two Rivers Urban Park should complement the Green Point Urban Park as another recreational venue in Cape Town. The plans for the Urban Park I believe incorporates a corridor through the Valkenberg Hospital precinct that shall include the development of market stalls, urban farming residential and commercial development.

It is no secret that there is an abundance of fish in the rivers of the park. This should however be controlled before the fish stock is depleted. The fish vary in size from the little critters caught by the Kingfishers to the giant sized fish caught by the ever increasing number of fisherman who ply their hobbies(?) in the park As the photograph above depicts, the fish stock is significant.

The City needs to make a concerted effort to reduce the pollution affecting large parts of the two rivers in the park. Similarly ongoing cleaning of the precinct shall ensure that regular visitors return to the park. The park needs more trees for shade. I think a bit of colour with the planting of flowers along the walking paths shall really pick up the dreary tones at the moment. Why not plant some protea bushes to attract the non water birds to the area?

So if the park is indeed completed as per the plans, I foresee this area attracting large numbers of Cape Tonians and visitors from out of Cape Town, as long as the users of the park respect the rights of others to use the park. This would then mean a tight discipline on the loud music purveyors who are immune to the enjoyment of others.

KOLKATA, INDIA...a city with many faces

2011-01-31T10:36:00.000-08:00

Kolkata, India projects many faces to the tourist. These include its slums, the colonial parts, the poorly designed and congested parts and then the newer areas with modern city design. The latter include Salt Lake City and the new city in the process of being built. The economic might of India is evident in the newer areas of the City. An overhead metro is nearing completion.The new metro shall complement the existing underground metro. International tourists arriving at the city's dilapidated and dirty airport form a poor first impression of the City. This should be rectified when the new airport is built. This has not happened as of January 2011.

The overall impression after completing one's visit of Kolkata is very favourable. The City has much to offer the tourist as the photographs above and the photographs in my future posts shall testify to. The people of Kolkata are very friendly apart from the taxi drivers who tend to overcharge once it is evident to them that you are a foreigner. The food is excellent. The hotel accommodation ranges across the spectrum of affordable to ultra luxury.

In the photographs above, the ubiquitous Fiat Ambassador, the city's Jain temple complex, the sugar cane juice maker on wheels, the ever present crow, the deity makers, the River Ganges 100km away from its mouth are depicted. I would consider Kolkata as a definite visiting destination on any tourists itinerary. It is steeped in history as the winter capital of India under colonial rule before the capital was moved to New Delhi, it has its human face in its slums and the mass of humanity that reside within these areas, its sheer population size meaning that wherever you go you are surrounded by people and its attempts to explode into the modern era asb large parts of the city and new ares are earmarked for development.

The river Ganges has its well knwon spiritual connotations. Large parts of Kolkata are waterlogged. It is a sight to watch people bathing at almost every pond, river bank and lake in the city. Shall I return? Unlikely as I feel that one visit is enough.

More of Cape Town's Diwali Celebrations

2010-11-29T10:40:00.000-08:00

aum
start the day, end the day,
for peace is transient, translucent and transparent,
aum,
for peace should be achievable, attainable and permanent,
end all tasks, start all new tasks,
aum.
shanthi, shanthi.
-A. Bhoopchand-

Cape Town Diwali Celebrations

2010-11-21T15:35:00.000-08:00

The Cape Town Diwali Celebrations was held at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront on Sunday 21 November 2010. The event was well attended and audience participation was very enthusiastic.

the pelicans of Cape Town

2010-10-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

GANDHI PEACE WALK CAPE TOWN

2010-10-17T06:37:00.000-07:00

The inaugural Gandhi peace walk took place on Sunday 17th October 2010 commencing in the Cape Town Stadium precinct.