Experience It!

First Trip to Korea

2021-02-23T18:50:00.001+02:00

I arrived around 10PM Monday night. My director and her husband took me directly to the closest mart to do some shopping. I had to buy a duvet for my bed. They almost chose some flower bedspread, but I quickly changed it to the better one in store, which felt like it was made from a lumberjacks’ shirt.

My apartment had two rooms a kitchen and a bathroom. It came with a bed, cupboard, fridge and microwave. They say that I will get my desk and chair soon as well. This should be more than enough for a year for one person.

Afterward I was taken to the school, to meet the other teacher, who comes from New Zealand. He has been living here for eight months and said that he enjoyed it very much so far.

I was unbelievably tired, but they insisted on taking us out for dinner and getting to know me. I also met my directors’ cousin. The introduced me to this nice little place called, Guppa Guppa. There I found my first Korean snack before dinner. It was dried anchovy, vinegared radish and some peanuts. Tasting my first anchovy, I was quite surprised. It was actually good and bit fishy, but good. The radish is my favourite and I couldn’t get enough of it.

The next day I slept late because I only started at 2PM in the afternoon. On my way to school, I saw the onion fields behind my apartment and a beautiful mountain at the top. There was also some beautiful scenery looking the other way. I can’t wait for spring, as it looks like there are some cherry trees on my way to school as well. And finally I saw my school.

My desk was pointed out to me as well as the little classrooms, the blue, red and yellow room. I also met one of my students. She is almost always the first one at the school.

We usually get to eat at school, but one night I was home earlier than the other teachers and went out to by myself some food. I didn’t know what to get, so I went to the only place I knew, Guppa Guppa. They had incredible chicken the first time I was there. The lady put a box meal together and while waiting for my food, she offered me some snacks again as well as some coffee

The next time I ate at Guppa Guppa, I met some other foreign teachers. Again I was introduced to some fishy snack, which was some sort of sweet snack, again, not too bad. Soujo (don’t know how to spell it) is a drink that almost tastes like vodka, but it has a sweet taste to it. It is also very strong, with about 19% alcohol content, it’s dangerously cheap.. Hite is another cheap bear, but very good. It is also a very light beer. So you can have a few without filling yourself.

After traveling a few hours and receiving this welcome, I immediately felt welcome in this strange new town.

Changnyeong Market day up next…

Untill next time.

Vietnam - Cat Ba Island to Halong Bay | PART 1

2017-08-23T12:12:00.002+02:00

Victory House - Johannesburg

2017-02-09T17:43:00.001+02:00

Victory House

Johannesburg is a city with an amazing history. If you look at the photos from the late 1800's and early 1900's, you'll see just how ambitious they were back then.

Being in the center of the gold rush, Johannesburg was booming and because of that, they built an amazing city, ahead of its time.

Victory House, was one such building. It was the most prestigious building in Johannesburg at the time. It had 5 stories and was one of the first "skyscrapers" and lead the way to the future. It also featured the first lift in Johannesburg, which had visitors in awe for weeks. (1)

This building also housed the offices of Mahatma Gandhi, who was the leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India.

Today this building is being used as a "sweat shop", where hundreds of tailors are making clothes to sell.

The Heritage Property Portfolio acquired this building and have big plans for it. They gave us a little insider access to all the nooks of this property, including the basement areas, where we got to see the original lift.

I couldn't be more excited to see that this building will be restored and even better, used to its full potential. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to divulge any plans, but I'll say this, it's going to be a luxurious space and really something to behold.

Thank you Gavin, for allowing us some insider access.

Tokyo Wanderlust - Sponsored Video

2017-01-24T15:36:00.001+02:00

If you've ever had the urge to travel to Japan and don't know what to expect, have a look at this stunning promotional video.

Japan is vibrant and absolutely something that you can't miss. Plan your trip today!

Northcliff Hill Sunset | Johannesburg

2016-11-16T00:02:00.000+02:00

The Potato Sheds - Johannesburg Eats

2016-11-15T23:12:00.000+02:00

There are a lot of articles about The Potato Sheds, so I'm not going to say much about the history and the how it came to be. You can read more here:

Instead, I'll say a quick few words about the beauty and the good food.

The amazing thing about the sheds is the organic feel that it has to it. The wood and copper and metal finishes is what makes this place.

Your mouth will water when you get a sniff of the food from the open kitchen windows. On occasion you'll see the lamb being rotisseried from where you sit. Trust me if I say that you have to try it.

Although they are open throughout the day, nothing beats the atmosphere that you get in the evenings. The lighting, the food, the music and people all play a part in this amazing restaurant.

When you visit Johannesburg, be sure to stop by one evening and get a taste of the good life.

Top of Africa - The highest Commercial building in Johannesburg

2016-09-14T00:26:00.000+02:00

ICON2016 - ALWAYSON WIFI

2016-06-25T15:24:00.000+02:00

ICON 2016 - If you're a geek and you missed out on this event, you will kick yourself. This super geeky event was hosted in conjunction with Alwayson Wi-Fi. Alwayson provided everyone with 1GB of free internet data to upload and share everything about the event instantly.

What I loved most about the event, except for the free wifi, was the internationals speakers who hosted talks about the history and future of comics in our current society. One of the speakers were Raymond E Feist. He's a fantasy novelist and gave a very insightful talk about all things fantasy, yes including Game of Thrones.

The coolest thing to see was the costumes that some people made and entered into a competition. I didn't get a chance to see everyone, but the ones I saw were amazing. I even met Gandalf.
The merchandise and comic books were top notch and there were board games till the end of days.

I really got my geek on for a little bit and it was really fun.

Thank you Alwayson Wi-Fi for hosting an incredible event!

Scroll down for more pictures.

And lots and lots of board games

Of course, what is a game and comic convention without all the

Then all of the costumes as well

The Springbok Nude Girls - The Good Luck Bar | Photo Diary

2016-06-22T16:35:00.001+02:00

Gateway to space - The exhibition

2016-06-21T00:49:00.001+02:00

Over the weekend, me and my friend Jade Roberts from writestyle.co.za attended the GATEWAY TO SPACE - The exhibition. We were really excited to experience our first "encounter" with space.
Lucky for me, she recently watched "The Astronaut Wives Club", so along with all the info boards and videos, it was like I had my own personal guide. She told me all about some of the first astronauts and what they did, as well as all the different spaceship models and more.

We didn't want to wait in any queues, so we went early in the morning to avoid the big crowds and all the kids.

The kid inside me was really excited to see all the models, space suits, and rockets. I can just imagine how I would have felt when I was a kid. To have seen a full-size lunar rover model and to have been able to touch a moon rock. I think it might have inspired me to become an astronaut myself.

Here are some highlights for those of you who would like to get a glimpse of the exhibition.

I leave you with this amazing preview

Instameet - FNB Bank City | Jun 2016

2016-06-11T22:55:00.000+02:00

The Hardest Part Of Traveling No One Talks About

2016-06-08T01:49:00.001+02:00

I recently wrote a blog post about "Starting over after starting over". The intention was to describe how one can move on again after moving to a new place or coming back from your year abroad. It resulted in a few tips on what to do to make new friends and how to adjust to the new (same old, but different) place that you find yourself in now.

It's not easy to move back or on to a new life when you're haunted by the either a good or bad past.

I find myself being reminded of everything that I did in Korea on a daily basis. For example, I got so nostalgic when I saw a Ginkgo Tree with its yellow leaves in the botanical garden in Johannesburg. It reminded me of the stunning yellow tree lanes all around Korea during autumn.

Today, I found this article, written by Kelly Donnelly on Thought Catalog. It perfectly described the way I felt for the longest time, trying to adjust to my life back home. Read this article and share it with your traveling friends.

The Hardest Part Of Traveling No One Talks About

by Kelly Donnely

You see the world, try new things, meet new people, fall in love, visit amazing places, learn about other cultures – then it’s all over. People always talk about leaving, but what about coming home?

We talk about the hard parts while we’re away – finding jobs, making real friends, staying safe, learning social norms, misreading people you think you can trust – but these are all parts you get through. All of these lows are erased by the complete highs you experience. The goodbyes are difficult but you know they are coming, especially when you take the final step of purchasing your plane ticket home. All of these sad goodbyes are bolstered by the reunion with your family and friends you have pictured in your head since leaving in the first place.

Then you return home, have your reunions, spend your first two weeks meeting with family and friends, catch up, tell stories, reminisce, etc. You’re Hollywood for the first few weeks back and it’s all new and exciting. And then it all just…goes away. Everyone gets used to you being home, you’re not the new shiny object anymore and the questions start coming: So do you have a job yet? What’s your plan? Are you dating anyone? How does your 401k look for retirement? (Ok, a little dramatic on my part.)

But the sad part is once you’ve done your obligatory visits for being away for a year; you’re sitting in your childhood bedroom and realize nothing has changed. You’re glad everyone is happy and healthy and yes, people have gotten new jobs, boyfriends, engagements, etc., but part of you is screaming don’t you understand how much I have changed? And I don’t mean hair, weight, dress or anything else that has to do with appearance. I mean what’s going on inside of your head. The way your dreams have changed, they way you perceive people differently, the habits you’re happy you lost, the new things that are important to you. You want everyone to recognize this and you want to share and discuss it, but there’s no way to describe the way your spirit evolves when you leave everything you know behind and force yourself to use your brain in a real capacity, not on a written test in school. You know you’re thinking differently because you experience it every second of every day inside your head, but how do you communicate that to others?

You feel angry. You feel lost. You have moments where you feel like it wasn’t worth it because nothing has changed but then you feel like it’s the only thing you’ve done that is important because it changed everything. What is the solution to this side of traveling? It’s like learning a foreign language that no one around you speaks so there is no way to communicate to them how you really feel.

This is why once you’ve traveled for the first time all you want to do is leave again. They call it the travel bug, but really it’s the effort to return to a place where you are surrounded by people who speak the same language as you. Not English or Spanish or Mandarin or Portuguese, but that language where others know what it’s like to leave, change, grow, experience, learn, then go home again and feel more lost in your hometown then you did in the most foreign place you visited.

This is the hardest part about traveling, and it’s the very reason why we all run away again.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

So I had to learn to speak a new language again. I needed to see where I fit in amongst all my friends who got married, had babies, bought or build houses. It's not so easy to reconnect the bonds you had before, but it's okay. You just need to learn to speak the new language again. You are after all a traveler at heart. Adaptability is what you excel at.

I'm not going to lie if I say that I really want to travel somewhere right now. I'm already making plans. It's not going to happen anytime soon, but all in good time.

Look out for more upcoming posts soon.
Until then...

The Panasonic Senseperience

2016-05-04T23:39:00.000+02:00

Panasonic recently began trading as an independent (PTY) Ltd Company on 1st of April 2016. They are investing heavily in SA and it was clear to see how much at the recent Panasonic Senseperience Expo held at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre.

I was very excited to attend this launch. I know Panasonic for their quality manufactured products and I was very curious to see what they were pushing out this year.
I especially couldn't wait to see their latest cameras.

Bret Magill, from www.milled.co.za and myself, was really impressed by the features that these cameras came out with. The Panasonic Lumix GX-85 was the one that attracted me and Brett enjoyed the G7. All of them were beautifully designed with stunning craftsmanship.

The conference introduced Panasonic's vision for the investment here in South Africa. They also announced their expanded product range which includes new cooking and beauty appliances and a selection of air conditioners and fridges. The product that got me all excited was the latest smartphones that they have launched. Previously Panasonic hasn't been seen in the smartphone game in South Africa and it's nice to see what they've put out there.

The Panasonic Senseperience has been great. I'm happy to see how they are investing in South Africa by putting up new factories and creating jobs. I'm excited to see what Panasonic will be able to achieve in South Africa in the future. Read more about it in the press release at the bottom of this page.

Here are more photos from the event.

**This post was not sponsored in any way

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Panasonic investing heavily in SA

Having strengthened its foothold in the South African market in the past year, Panasonic South Africa began trading as an independent PTY Ltd company on 1st of April 2016. Backed by the support of Panasonic global management, this move is intended to send out a strong message of confidence in the company’s position in South Africa and its intention to become a leading electronics giant in South Africa.

Operating as an independent company, Panasonic South Africa has the freedom to tailor its product offering to the local market. Immediate plans include an expanded product range that will include, for example, new cooking and beauty appliances and a selection of air conditioners and fridges. Panasonic is also launching a range of washing machines into SA in 2016. This is a key product category for Panasonic, having already exceeded sales of over 100 million units globally.

Since the re-introduction to the local market last year, Panasonic has taken great strides to establish itself. During the past year Panasonic has extended its distribution networks, expanded its product range and increased brand awareness with two successful national marketing campaigns.

Panasonic Senseperience 2016

Following a successful year in the South African market, Panasonic hosted the Panasonic Senseperience 2016. This prestigious event was organised to showcase not only some of the company’s recent successes over the past year but also Panasonic’s vision for the year ahead in the South African market.

The Senseperience 2016 event – an expo demonstrating Panasonic’s extensive product range - reflected the coming year’s marketing direction by focusing on sensory experiences. Visitors were given the opportunity to experience, first-hand, how Panasonic’s world-class products enable consumers to see more, hear more, feel more, and taste more.

With almost 100 years of experience in the appliance industry, and holding top market shares in many countries around the globe as an Eco-technology company, Panasonic understands customers’ ever-evolving needs and lifestyles. Using their research and insights in the development of their products allows the company to improve people’s lives on a sensory level, and enable richer, more immersive experiences daily.

Panasonic’s product expansion will be supported by accompanying marketing campaigns planned for the year ahead. This year’s marketing will draw strength from the values already associated with the Panasonic brand, bringing together Panasonic’s promise of innovation, quality and reliability with South Africa’s aspirations for greater living.

Panasonic is also focussed on offering a high level of service and has already built an extensive network of Authorised Service Agents throughout South Africa. The company continuously invests in resources to improve the service experience. By creating more personal touch points and by anticipating customers’ needs, Panasonic wins customer trust and loyalty.

Staying true to its Japanese legacy of craftsmanship, Panasonic looks forward to continuing its journey in South Africa in the year ahead. By bringing high quality products, built with world-class technology, Panasonic enables greater sensory experiences and fosters life-long relationships with the people whose lives is touched by this global brand.

Starting over after starting over

2016-04-12T14:48:00.001+02:00

It's official, I've been back in South Africa for a little over a 1 year now! I came back after a three-year expat life in South Korea and starting over wasn't as easy as I had thought. I expected to go back home and just get right back into the full swing of things, but it didn't work that way.

I came back with a reverse culture shock without even knowing it. I did everything that KATKA LAPELOSOVÁ wrote in her post on Matador, granted to a lesser degree, but I did it. I told stories to the point of annoying myself, I was angry and depressed at times at the way that we live and do things back home and most of all I made plans to go back or go to another place.

Imagine that you've just gotten back from a hiatus or an extended trip and now you're back. Or you have moved to a new town, city or country and now you have to start all over again. It's a scary thing. You have to find a place to "fit in" again, make new friends, get a new job and navigate your way around town.

I've had to do this 3 times already and here are some tips that helped me to start over back home.

1. Your new spot

Find an area where you would love to live. A place that inspires you and would be an escape for your soul. When you go for a jog or drive down the streets, you have to feel that this is where you belong. THIS is HOME and where you can see yourself thrive.

This is my new neighbourhood, it inspires me and makes me smile every day.

2. Your job or hobby

Make sure that whatever you're doing, whether it's your new job, business or hobby, aligns with who you are and the values that you have. There is nothing worse than finding out that what you do is a complete and utter drain of your lifeforce. You'll only ask yourself - WHY? WHY? WHY? - all the time. The cliche - "when you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life" is very true. Your passion for it will only grow and you'll start to thrive where you are.

Don't survive - thrive!

3. Put Social Media to good use

Make new friends in your area.... "But how?" I hear the question asked.

Firstly, ask yourself what your interests are, make a list.
What do you like to do, for fun? Or find something that you think you might be interested in, like photography or exploring your city. Then make good use of the social media platforms out there.

You can use Instagram to find local groups of people who meet up every now and then, to take pictures while they explore the city or other places around. It's called Instameets and it's an awesome way to meet people who know the city. The best thing is you don't need to be a photographer or even a great Instagrammer. You just need to have a common interest in whatever the group is doing, for example, foodie meetups, fashion, photography and more.

If you can't find any Instameets, better yet, create your own invite and tell random people about it. You'll never know who you'll meet. It might be your new best friend.
Use other social apps like Meetup. What makes Meetup so brilliant, is that people create events for all sorts of hobbies, passions or interests. For example k-pop dance lessons, language exchange, knitting classes, food and wine tastings, urban exploration, art and so many other things.
You most certainly will meet someone who shares your interests.

And if that didn't work, look for events on Facebook. Find events like in your area, like markets, traveling groups or other social events. Join them and find out what they are all about. The good news is, that there are a lot out there. You just need to find the right one.

Like "they" say... "You'll attract the right people when you do the things you love", or something like that.

Remember, a stranger is only a stranger if you let them.

4. Get involved

No not in a relationship, rather in your community. Learn things about them. Like why they do things the way they do them. You might get angry at the government or someone, but you'll get angry at things that are related to your new life, which means that you care more and think less of the past and how things were before.

Rebecca Crook a.k.a @stickylittleleaves on Instagram is one of those amazing people that inspires you to get involved in the community around you. Go have a look at her Instagram for more.

5. Start a blog

Write about your life in that new place. Write as you discover new places to eat out and hang out with the newly made friends. Write for the people back home or just as a way to keep track of your progress. This is a great way to reflect on how much your life has changed. This was my first entry... "MY GAUTRAIN EXPERIENCE!", about my very first train ride in Johannesburg, South Africa and how we got lost. It wasn't very well written, but I wouldn't change it for the world. It's a moment for me that I never want to forget. It's a benchmark of where I started to think about writing and this is where I'm at now.

These are some helpful tips for someone who needs to start over somewhere in the world. If you have some helpful tips, please leave them in the comments and I'll be sure to pass them along. And of course, if you're someone who would like to talk to me and need some advice. Please contact me. I will do my best to help where I can!

Instameet - Kameraz Rosebank | Apr 2016

2016-04-02T00:05:00.000+02:00

I Have This Strong Desire To Travel

2016-02-09T13:22:00.002+02:00

My recently gifted diary had this title: " I have this strong desire to travel". It's something that many people just dream about.

What is this urge all about? I tried to break my desire down to the following.

Discovering new places

I love to traveling to new places. Not only traveling, but also finding those hidden gems. I feel exhilarated when I walk down hidden alleys and probably get lost to and from my hotel.

That feeling that you get when you discover a beautiful old bookstore, covered in books from wall to wall.

Then there are the moments when you really get lost and have to ask for directions. This evolves into a conversation and quite possibly dinner and drinks with the locals.

Expanding my senses

A lot of places will literally take your breath away and not in the good sense. The air is filled with pollution or some awful lingering smell of something that should not be allowed in public. You breath the air that the locals are breathing and for a moment you can imagine life as a local in some other part of the world.

The same can be said about food. I'm an adventurous eater (or at least, I like to think so). I like to try new things, like tasting seaweed or kimchi for the first time. Tastes that I've never tasted before and didn't enjoy right away, but it grew on me. So much so, that I still crave it sometimes even after a year of not eating it.

I remember the first time I ate freshly chopped raw octopus, which was not as bad as you might think, but there are things that are probably better left unseen, un-smelled and un-tasted. For the most part though, those are the best experiences. Those are the ones that you remember and tell long after you get home. The sights, sounds, tastes and smells that left you breathless.

Admiring the past, Appreciating the present and Glimpsing the Future

Curiosity is something that drives me. I'm curious to see how people had lived, how they live now and how they will live in the future.

I can just imagine a world where the ancient Romans, Egyptians and the Inca's had lived in ( All places I still have to visit ). The technology they had to build all those amazing places were incredible for their time. It's hard to imagine anything primitive.

When I had visited Amsterdam, I found some houses that were built in the 1600's. The fact that some houses have been standing longer than when South Africa were discovered and colonised, just blew my mind. I still can't imagine how it was even possible for people to have done the things they did back then. It truly fascinates me.

Then to see how they are living now and how the world has changed or stayed the same. To see how cultures and traditions have been passed down in spite of all the outside influences.

Then every now and then you visit a place that makes you feel like you're living in the future. The futuristic buildings, public transport and the other infrastructure that just work perfectly. You get a glimpse of a world that is leagues ahead of it's time.

Your turn - what drives your desire to travel?

Tell me what drives your desire to travel? What makes your heart jump whenever you see a photo or read a travel article? Here are a few thoughts to get you going.

Scenery
Food
Cultures
people
history
city

Thanks so much for the love and support that I've been getting from you recently. I appreciate it immensely!

Instameet - Fordsburg | Jan 2016

2016-01-23T14:59:00.000+02:00

Instameet - Braamfontein | Jan 2016

2016-01-16T00:49:00.000+02:00

Instameet - Jeppestown Meets Maboneng | Dec 2015

2015-12-19T23:47:00.000+02:00

Mauritius Through Their Eyes

2015-12-11T01:08:00.000+02:00

When you think about Mauritius you think of a stunning island with white sandy beaches, palm trees and resorts.

A little over a year ago, I started to follow 2 brothers, who live in Mauritius, on Instagram. @bastienhere (Sebastien To) and @fabouls (Fabrice To). I started to talk to them and actually became good friends over the course of the year.

Looking at their photos, I wanted to know what it's like to live on a beautiful island. So I decided to have a Q&A session with them.

A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Oct 5, 2015 at 2:03pm PDT	A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on Oct 28, 2015 at 1:32pm PDT

1. Sebastien and Fabrice, what is it like to live on a tropical island, is it really fun on the beach all day, everyday?

Farbrice:

We feel very fortunate to live in Mauritius with it's tropical summery climate, white sandy beaches and multicultural people. I believe that all Mauritians really enjoy spending the weekends at the beach with the family, playing sports, dancing Sega, bbq lunch or simply relax under the filao trees. It's a very cozy and joyful atmosphere!

Traces of humans.

A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on Nov 15, 2015 at 12:28pm PST

2. Sebastien, what languages are spoken in Mauritius?

In Mauritius, languages used and spoken go from French, English and Creole. Understanding our use of languages can be a bit tricky; our national language is English, however, our mother tongue is Creole (and sometimes French too). In my case, it has been Creole and French.

#WWIM12! Yet for a short moment, I had an amazing time with these chaps! Can't wait for the next one! #instameetmauritius @tamassaresorts

A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Oct 3, 2015 at 8:28am PDT

The languages used here, were brought long ago when the French colonised our island back in 1726, then by the British in 1810. Although the British were the last to colonise the island, French was widely known and spoken by the Indian immigrants and slaves. The original French stayed, but the slaves needed a much simpler language; this is where the Mauritian Creole was born. It is a rough mixture of mostly French and some English! As being part of the Commonwealth, English stayed as our official language; the parliament is in English, teaching is in English (except French classes of course), letters and e-mails too are written in English!

3. Fabrice, what is your favorite place on Mauritius and why?

The South West coast of Mauritius, from Case Noyale to La Prairie. It seems to me, that nature is still untouched there and we can watch the most beautiful sunsets on the mangrove plantations. My favourite place is Le Morne Peninsula.

#mauritiusworldwide #igersmauritius #igersmaurice #mauritius #maurice #sunset #monilemaurice #airmauritius360 #vscoawards #vscocam #vsco #vsco_hub #featuremeinstagood #bestofvsco #vscoonly #igmasters #huntgram #summer4igers #ilemaurice #summer4igers #jj_summer #jj_beach #communityfirst #minimalism #jj_minimalism #ig_minimalshots

A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on Oct 31, 2015 at 3:25pm PDT

4. Where can you find the best local food and drinks?

Fabrice

Almost everywhere? You will always find local dishes in small restaurants around the island. You just have to ask for the good ones, depending on where you are. If you are looking for typical Mauritian snacks and drinks you'll need to find merchants in the local markets. Follow the good smell!

Me wanted Fish 🐟

A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Sep 20, 2015 at 1:26pm PDT

Sebastien

The most authentic local food will of course be on the streets, or in the markets! Street food in Mauritius is very rich in variety and culture; you will mostly find food of Indian and Chinese origins. Some very popular food would be the dholl puri, the gateau piment (literally translated from French as chili cake), Chinese dumplings, and an awesome drink called alouda**.

Mauritius' Chinese cuisine resembles a lot to Cantonese food; it is not so spicy, but tastes amazing with lots of flavors from sweet to sour! It could be comparable to the cuisine in Hong-Kong. Popular dishes to mention would be the Magic Bowl, fried rice and fried noodles.

Meeting the crew again for an #instadinner brainstorming. We have so many ideas about the upcoming instameet in October! Stay tuned 😊 #igersmauritius #igersmaurice #mauritius #maurice #monilemaurice #airmauritius360 #mauritiusexplored #vscoawards #vscocam #vsco

A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on Sep 11, 2015 at 10:52am PDT

**Alouda is made of a cold sweet flavoured full cream milk, and in the latter is tukmaria seeds (also known as sweet basil or sabja seeds) with an ice cream ball floating on top. The tukmaria seeds are quite tiny and when boiled, have a soft slimy coating (slimmier than tapioca seeds). They are so slimy that it is nearly impossible to actually bite and munch them, so we just swallow them, haha! It is the best local cold drink you can have in Mauritius!

🍦Food is everything! #whpcolorplay

A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Apr 12, 2015 at 10:31am PDT

5. How has Instagram influenced the way you see Mauritius and the way you want to show it to the world?

Fabrice

My brother and I started using Instagram as a hobby three years ago. We have since been exploring the island, discovering new and remote places. We aim at capturing the natural compositions and raw beauty of such a small island.

#mauritiusworldwide #igersmauritius #mauritius #maurice #monilemaurice #thevisualvibe #airmauritius360 #bchotels #beachcomberprint #vscoawards #vscocam #vsco #vsco_hub #featuremeinstagood #bestofvsco #vscoonly #igmasters #huntgram #ilemaurice #summer4igers #jj_summer #communityfirst #minimalism #jj_minimalism #ig_minimalshots A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on Nov 29, 2015 at 7:06am PST	A little isle rich in endemic plant and birds, surround by a clear blue sea 😲😍💦💙. . . .#Instameetmauritius #instameet #mauritius #mauritius_exxplored #igersmauritius #jj_summer A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Jul 26, 2015 at 12:55pm PDT

Sebastien
Before I discovered Instagram, I wasn't much involved in photography honestly. I didn't notice the details that made Mauritius a really beautiful island. Instagram has really been the fuel for my passion in photography. The way I want to show Mauritius to the world is that, despite being tiny, it is rich in beautiful landscapes and beaches!

Family ❤

A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Sep 22, 2015 at 1:25pm PDT

6. Do you always explore together? I see you are featured a lot in each others' feeds.

Fabrice

Yes, we usually explore and share ideas together. Sometimes I ask him to pose for my shots (since there's no one else haha) A human figure in photography is a plus.

#mauritiusworldwide #igersmauritius #mauritius #maurice #monilemaurice #thevisualvibe #airmauritius360 #vscoawards #vscocam #vsco #vsco_hub #featuremeinstagood #bestofvsco #vscoonly #igmasters #huntgram #ilemaurice #summer4igers #jj_summer #communityfirst #minimalism #jj_minimalism #ig_minimalshots

A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on Nov 26, 2015 at 12:05pm PST

Sebastien
Well, Fabrice provides the transport, so we always tag along, haha! I also like to put a human subject in my photos. Since he is the only one around, he's in many on my photos. I admit that another person other than him could be more fun. (haha).

7. What resort would you recommend to travelers and why?

Fabrice

I prefer Trou aux Biches Resort and Spa. It has a fantastic beach and pool, excellent service and great food. You can also do lot of free sea activities.

A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on Jun 2, 2015 at 9:09am PDT	A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on May 11, 2015 at 10:33am PDT

Sebastien

Resorts to recommend to travelers who want nice beaches and top-notch quality services, or for a lovely honeymoon would be the 5-stars hotels. Some of them where I have been and that I loved would be:

Your view from above at @luxsouthari Maldives! #TravelTuesday

A photo posted by LUX* Resorts & Hotels (@luxresorts) on Dec 1, 2015 at 7:15am PST

LUX* Resorts Hotels,
Constance Belle Mare,
Sofitel (not Sofitel So, which is... well meh),
Shangri-La Le Touessrok (really AMAZING!),
and most Beachcomber hotels.

A photo posted by Beachcomber Hotels (@beachcomber_hotels) on Dec 3, 2015 at 9:00am PST	A photo posted by Constance (@constancehotels) on Dec 7, 2015 at 4:58am PST	A photo posted by Shangri-La Hotel, Mauritius (@shangrilamauritius) on Dec 6, 2015 at 5:51am PST

Certain hotels providing great golf fields are Le Paradis Hotel and Four Seasons Anahita.

8. Where is the best beach?

Sebastien

It's hard to pick the best beach, but beaches in the North, West, South-West and South East are the best!

The North is probably the most popular place for beaching (Trou aux Biches). It's always sunny, with an all-year summer weather! Popular beaches are: Flic-En-Flac, Mont Choisy, Pereybere, Blue Bay, and Le Morne.

For snorkeling, Blue Bay and Trou Aux Biches are excellent, with rich sea-life!

Sunset chill 🌅

A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Dec 6, 2015 at 12:40pm PST

9. Where can one see the best sunsets?

Sebastien

On the west coasts of course! Le Morne and Flic-En-Flac are incredible places for sunsets!

17:45 🌅

A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Aug 31, 2015 at 1:08pm PDT

Fabrice

Other's include Case Noyale, La Prairie.

Everything you can imagine is real. #mauritiusworldwide #igersmauritius #mauritius #maurice #monilemaurice #thevisualvibe #airmauritius360 #vscoawards #vscocam #vsco #vsco_hub #featuremeinstagood #bestofvsco #vscoonly #igmasters #huntgram #ilemaurice #summer4igers #jj_summer #communityfirst #minimalism #jj_minimalism #ig_minimalshots

A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on Dec 2, 2015 at 10:19am PST

10. What other activities can you do on Mauritius?

Fabrice

Quad biking, hiking in the gorges or on the mountains, sky diving and water activities at Ile Aux Cerfs.

👶 #riucreole #riuhotels @riuhotels #igersmauritius #airmauritius360 #monilemaurice #mauritiusexplored #mauritius #maurice #vsco #vscoawards #vscocam

A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on Sep 4, 2015 at 8:17am PDT

Sebastien

Other popular activities could be Zip-lining, Snorkeling, Swimming With Dolphins (yes, REAL dolphins!), or simply just fishing, you will probably catch a fish on your first try haha.

The great dive!! 🏊💥 A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Aug 5, 2015 at 1:59pm PDT	A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Aug 6, 2015 at 2:36pm PDT

11. Is it expensive to travel on the Island?

Fabrice

No it isn't, bus fares are cheap in Mauritius. Be careful of some taxi drivers, they can ask you more than they should.

Sebastien

Since Mauritius is called Paradise Island, it will inevitably be quite costly to come here! But inland transport is relatively cheap. Public transport is a free service (for students and the elderlies). A bus trip may cost you around 1 US dollar.

A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on Nov 23, 2015 at 9:49am PST

12. What is the best way to get around?

Sebastien

The best way to get around would be by car. Road traffic can sometimes be bad, but mostly only during peak hours. There is no railway system in Mauritius (yet...). But since the island

is small, you could travel from north to south in less than 2 hours! Many student or even employees travel by bike.

A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on Apr 9, 2015 at 10:41am PDT

So there you have it. Fun in the sun all year round. If this didn't give you some serious feelings of envy, then I don't know what will. Give these guys a shout-out when you visit Mauritius. They'll be more than happy to show you around the island. Thank you for the interview Sebastien and Fabrice.

Until next time!

Instameet Mr.Price Newtown Meet | Dec 2015

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Add caption

Instameet Jeppestown | Nov 2015

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Instameet - Modderfontein | Nov 2015

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Cape Town Redbus Tickets Winner

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I recently ran a competition in collaboration with City Sight seeing Tour Buses. They were so kind to offer 2 tickets to anyone who entered and retweeted my post about Cape Town. I want to take a moment to THANK City Sight Seeing Buses for this collaboration. You guys are AMAZING. You can also follow them on twitter at @joburgredbus and @capetownredbus #redbus

On 15 October 2015, we announced the winner! Congrats to Haanim Galvaan who was the lucky girl to score 2 tickets to the city that she wanted to explore the most. She chose Cape Town to explore and took her friend with her. These are their tweets and photos from their awesome Cape Town experience.

Perfect weather for a #redbus tour! @WaafiqahF @CapeTownRedBus @NVexpit #nvexpit pic.twitter.com/VDVCIxluUu
— Haanim Galvaan (@haanimpi) October 31, 2015

.@WaafiqahF is taking her new camera for a spin 📷 on the @CapeTownRedBus @NVexpit #nvexpit #redbus pic.twitter.com/l9KVJNMmkd

— Haanim Galvaan (@haanimpi) October 31, 2015

.@haanimpi @CapeTownRedBus @NVexpit #nvexpit #redbus pic.twitter.com/jsP7u9BtdF

— Waafiqah (@WaafiqahF) October 31, 2015

If you want to find out what other things you could do in Cape Town, have a look at my recent post "Top 15 Things to do in Cape Town" and if you're interested to find out what you could do in Johannesburg, my friend Jade has written this awesome post "Eat, Play, Love Joburg".

The purple of the Jakaranda tree

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