2009

And a start to a busy and exciting year.

Our first course is on the 22 February which happens to be on the day of the South African Grand Prix. Just shows how we follow that programme! 

The first outing is in Fouriesburg Eastern Free State from 27 - 29 March. We will have an excursion into Lesotho, a poet - Ruth Everson and an artist John Moore, as well as various photographers. So it should be an exciting and entertaining weekend.

Our website is being re-designed by Elizabeth, so we are very excited by the thought of a new look for the new year. 

With many travels and weekends planned here's to 2009!

2009

Our workshops and tours are booking very nicely - a great relief as always.

We have just received a wonderful booking for the Masai Mara tour in August 2009. We will be visiting Lake Nakuru as well - where the greatest mass of flamingoes can be viewed. It is most strange to see rhino, water buck and buffalo grazing with millions of birds feeding behind them.

Of course the Masai Mara itself it a lifetime experience. Look at our website for more. www.creative-escapes.co.za

Hogsback

David and I have just returned from another great excursion, this time in Hogsback. I attended a poetry retreat with four Wizards of Words. Brian Walker, Dorian Haarhoff, Bob Commin, Father Cathal. 

We stayed at The Edge where we stayed in a self-catering cottage called 'Fire-Fly' which overlooked the valley and natural forests of the area.

Every day the four aspiring poets met with the four professionals for inspiration, direction and writing time. 

David indulged in an orgy of photography and joined us afternoon and evening for meals and discussions. 

Must end now - have a poem surfacing. 

Ponto

Ponto d'Ouro must be one of the most beautiful spots along the coast. 

The beautiful beaches and varying activities are remarkable. David and I stayed in a time share unit which was comfortable with a view of the sea. We ate prawns, calamari, ocean-fresh fish and prawn-cakes everyday, with copious amounts of wine and beer [and dare I say it Diet Coke] to ward off the terrible thirsts you get in Ponto.

We experienced everything from R&R's [rum, ice and raspberry Sparletta] to shooters at anytime of the day and night. As I recall my mother and father had 'liquers' after dinner with coffee. Here they are available in and unending supply. 

We walked along the beach. Explored the coast line. Snoozed and socialized. We boated out to view the dolphins - here my angels were working overtime as fortunately we were unable to swim with them because they had young. We did see flying fish, tuna churning the waves and a phantom whale. 

And then, did I tell you about........but I nearly forgot, what happens in Ponto, stays in Ponto.

We are now preparing to travel to Hogsback where I shall indulge my passion - writing and poetry. No doubt David will use his new 50D and will explore the area as I hope to explore the written word.

CE-October workshop Fouriesburg

We have packed and are ready to travel to the Eastern Free State again for another Creative Escapes workshop weekend.

Jeremy and Kim Jacobs will join us for the Spiritual weekend. We hope to have a quiet, contemplative time.

We arrive back in Johannesburg on Sunday and then head to Limpopo for the PSSA photographic congress at Magoebaskloof which should be great fun.

A report back on our return.

Workshops and Weekends

David is slowly working through the thousands of photos taken in the Mara in preparation for the Creative Escapes 2009 brochure launch on 26 October at C3 9 Caroline Crescent Cresta.

We also have a photographic workshop on the same day from 10h00 to 16h00 followed by the launch at 17h00.  Jenny Harrison of Finesse wines will hold a wine tasting. A few short shows on our trips this past year will also be shown. And of course, food and wine for all.

We drive to the Free State over the weekend of 10-12 October for the Spiritual Moment workshop which should be good.

Other travel plans include Mpumalanga, Mozambique and the Eastern Cape. That all before the end of the year. 

Masai Mara Moments

We have just returned from another wonderful trip to Kenya. 

As always we landed at JKI and over-nighted at the Mayfair Hotel in Nairobi. The Kenyans are friendly and helpful [something which our service industry here could learn from].

We then flew into the Mara where we were greeted in fine fashion by all at Kichwa Tembo. Coffee and eats on the airstrip, hugs and pats on the backs by the rangers and warm smiles all round.

The sightings we experienced can only be described as exceptional. If last year was the time of birds, this year was the time of mating lions - so there will be many cubs next year!

The wildebeest were scarce. We saw few crossings, but those we were privileged to view were sensational.

David's images get better every year and once edited will be put onto our website: www.creative-escapes.co.za.

The exceptional rangers added to the Mara experience. Their knowledge and concern for the well-being of the client cannot be empahsised enough. From tent custodian to to chef, management to ranger, we cannot speak highly enough of their people skills.

Kichwa Tembo is a beautiful tented camp on the edge of the Mara conservancy. Near enough to drive in for early morning drives, far enough to be out of the madding crowd.

We ballooned, had lunch in the bush, viewed game and of course re-established our friendships.

The group we took had fun and 'the experience of a lifetime'. So did we [again].

We also visited Lake Nakuru which was beautiful and peaceful.

We return exhausted but delighted by our travels in Kenya. 

Dates for 2009: 28 August - 6 September 2009.