Port Elizabeth Daily Photo

Graffiti at Barnacles

2012-01-27T14:30:00.000+02:00

So how often did you mother rap you over the fingers for drawing on her walls when you were small. Now imagine somewhere they encourage you to do so. The walls in the Barnacles Restaurant in Seaview is covered in messages and names of visitors who have marked their visit on the walls of the restaurant with a bit of encouraged graffiti.

Ubuntu mural

2012-01-26T14:30:00.000+02:00

While on a township tour with a Argentinian journalist a little while ago we set off in search of a mural, painting or even just graffiti somewhere on a wall that depicted the fight against HIV / Aids. We finally found one on the wall of the Ubuntu Educational Fund's old building in Zwide.

Donkin Reserve post box

2012-01-25T14:30:00.000+02:00

One of the oldest post boxes in Port Elizabeth stands on the Donkin Reserve next to the old lighthouse keeper's cottage, now occupied by the NMBT visitor information centre. The post box has the Royal Cipher "GR" on it, indicating that it was erected during the reign of King George V somewhere between 1910-1936. The first roadside post boxes appeared in 1852 on the Channel Islands. Since then all post boxes in the UK has been painted red and bear a Royal Cipher that consists of two letters to signify the monarch under whose reign they were manufactured. As South Africa was a British Colony our early post boxes also bore the Royal Ciphers.

Our customers are important to us...

2012-01-24T14:30:00.000+02:00

I had lunch at Cafe Capellini in the Walmer Park Shopping Centre the other day and noticed this set of "reminders" regarding customers under the stairs. In this day and age where customer service is so important yet often lacking, this was a stark reminder how customers should actually be treated. And just to add, the service was excellent.

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

2012-01-23T14:30:00.000+02:00

I have seen stunning photos of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with some of the best interior ones being taken from the top tow of seats right in the very corner. So late last year during the IRB 7's I decided to venture up into the nose bleed section and get my own photo. Mmmmm.... Quite clearly the stunning pics I've seen were taken with a SLR with wide angle lens. Both of which I don't have. So for now I have to be happy with the pic I got. Maybe one day...

Nanaga jams

2012-01-22T14:30:00.000+02:00

The well known Nanaga Farmstall about 50 kilometers outside of Port Elizabeth may be famous for its pies, roosterkoek and pineapple juice, but there is so much more to see and purchase at the farm stall. Amongst others they have a fantastic range of jams and jellies lined up on their shelves.

Bon appetit

2012-01-21T14:30:00.000+02:00

Sniffing about one of the township corner "take aways" that I posted about yesterday, I was invited inside the shack to have a look at the sit down area. Nothing fancy. Wooden benches with tables covered in plastic. No fancy cutlery. This guy was eating out of a tin bowl with a spoon. I often think all white people should go on a township tour to see how the residents of the township really live. Break down a couple of preconceived notions, but also see what it really looks like. Experience the sights, sounds and smells.

Township meals

2012-01-20T14:30:00.000+02:00

I just can't get enough of observing the township corner "take aways" with their pots cooking away. These pots could contain chicken being fried or cooked, offal, sheep heads (smileys) or the inside of a cow's head. The pots are traditional three legged cast iron pots which are very popular with both black and white South Africans to prepare food over the fire. The gentleman in the green shirt is a customer waiting for his meal being dished up.

Life is one big buffet

2012-01-19T14:30:00.000+02:00

Elephants need to eat about between 160 and 200kg of vegetation per day which means that they basically eat all day as they go. For them, life is on long buffet.

Water monitor (aka Sundays River croc)

2012-01-18T14:30:00.000+02:00

Some of the residents of Colchester jokingly refer to the water monitors living in the Sundays River as Sundays River Crocodiles. The reason for this is because visitors spotting them swimming in the river often think that they are looking at a crocodile. Crocodiles never occurred in the area naturally as it gets too cold for them during the winter. Water monitors (or Water liguaans) can grow over 1,5 meters in length with their biggest defence being their tail which they can use like a whip. The last time I went on a cruise with the Sundays River Ferry we saw two water monitors sunning themselves on jetties along the river.

Zebra at university

2012-01-17T14:30:00.000+02:00

After yesterday's post on the Grysbok Nature Reserve tour, Peter Betts made a comment on my Facebook page regarding the reserve. Peter, who has a deep found love for nature, lives right on the edge of the reserve in the suburb of Summerstrand and commented on how interesting a trip it is. He highlighted something that I didn't mention which are the Khoisan shell middens in the reserve. He also mentioned how he loves hearing the zebras calling in the reserve on a quiet evening. I went to have a look at the pictures I took on the day of my visit and found one of a dazzle (that is the collective noun) of Zebra with a lone Red Hartebeest in the background.

Grysbok Reserve tour

2012-01-16T14:30:00.000+02:00

Alan Fogarty of Alan Tours does a very informative tour of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's Grysbok Nature Reserve. Usually the tours are conducted in an open 4x4, but on the day we went the weather was a bit iffy and he took us in his closed vehicle. We stopped a couple of times during the tour and Alan showed us the indigenous dune vegetation and fynbos as well as the plants that the Khoisan used for medicinal and other purposes. The biggest surprise for me was the fact that I have driven past the reserve thousands of times and have never realised that its such a diverse area.

Grysbok Nature Reserve

2012-01-15T14:30:00.000+02:00

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's South Campus (previously the University of Port Elizabeth main campus) is very unique in that it is the only university campus in South Africa wholly situated inside a nature reserve. The campus covers 830 ha and was declared a Private Nature Reserve in 1983. The reserve is dominated by the St Francis Dune Thicket and fynbos vegetation. The vegetation is highly threatened due to agricultural clearing and coastal development and the NMMU Nature Reserve, also called the Grysbok Nature Reserve, makes a significant contribution towards its conservation. The Grysbok Trail through the reserve, with 4,8 km and 2,5 km options, was established in 1995 and is designed to act as an environmental education and recreation resource for the University and the broader community. Visitors can also book a guided open vehicle drive through the reserve with Alan Tours, a local tour operator.

Information obtained from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University website.

Aya's garden

2012-01-14T14:30:00.000+02:00

In yesterday's post I wrote about Aya's Ceramic Studio in New Brighton. Visiting Aya's studio one immediately realises how artistic she is. Her studio, house and garden is one big exhibition area for her art with ceramic pieces scattered and placed all over.

Aya's Ceramic Studio

2012-01-13T14:30:00.000+02:00

A lot of artists like to settle somewhere close to the coast, in the mountains, a forest or a little town in the Karoo to draw inspiration from their environment to channel into their art. Then there are people like Ayanda (Aya) Mji who lives in the heart of the New Brighton township of Port Elizabeth and who draws her inspiration from the African landscape around her. She uses animals, birds and even her dreams to create some of the most interesting ceramic art you will find anywhere in the beautiful country of ours. Aya owns the only ceramic studio in Port Elizabeth's townships from where she sells a large range of ceramic art works. Aya's Ceramic Studio is situated in 90 Gunguluza Street close to the Red Location Museum in New Brighton. Just in case somebody wants to contact her for more information, her contact number is 041 4543350.

The ferry on the Sundays River

2012-01-12T14:30:00.000+02:00

One of my favorite attractions around Port Elizabeth is cruising the Sundays River with the team of Les Kingma and Maggie Mann of the Sundays River Ferry Company in Colchester. Cannonville in fact, but not everybody know that there are two villages on the banks of the Sundats River. But I digress. Les first cruises up the river just past the Mackay Bridge before turning back and heading towards the river mouth. When Maggie has an opportunity to be on board (in between running her guesthouse, Addo Gateway Lodge) she is a bundle of energy with a wealth of information about the river, the dunes and the birds along the banks.

Available here

2012-01-11T15:41:00.000+02:00

This township entrepreneur's shop (sic) is situated at Njoli Square in Kwazakhele. I asked one of my colleagues to help me out with a bit of translation for the Xhosa words I didn't know. She wasn't sure what Ntintile means but her assumption is that it's the guy's surname and that Rainbow Ntintile would be the name of the shop. The rest of the sign says: "Chips (that you know), biscuits (that you know as well), isonka (bread), bread (wonder why he put it twice) sikhona apha (available here). In other words, this is the place to buy yours bread, chips and biscuits.

Playing with cheetah

2012-01-10T14:30:00.000+02:00

Kragga Kamma Game Park offers visitors the awesome opportunity to interact with their two tame cheetahs. The two brothers live right next door to the park's restaurant and although fully grown adults they are as tame as kittens. And kittens they are. People have the idea that big cats must be in some way different from our every day house cats, but they aren't. As soon as you start scratching between their ears they start to purr like kittens and they just absolutely love it. So does the visitors who go in with them.

Stanley Street at night

2012-01-09T14:30:00.000+02:00

Over the last couple of years Richmond Hill has developed into one of the premier restaurant districts in Port Elizabeth with a number of very good restaurants, coffee shops and deli's opening up all over the area. In the evenings, specially over weekends, places like Stanley Street is a hive of activity with patrons dining both inside and out (depending on the weather).

Sweet and fruit vendor

2012-01-08T14:30:00.000+02:00

Unemployment in the townships may be high, but there are many township residents who don't just sit back and complain about it. They rather do something and show they entrepreneurial spirit by starting their own small businesses. Even if its something as simple as selling fruit and sweets on the street.

Storm over Algoa Bay

2012-01-07T16:19:00.000+02:00

I visited Cape Recife Nature Reserve a little while ago and there was a bit of a storm brewing over Algoa Bay. It made for a nice contrast between the dark clouds and blue sky and a bit of late afternoon light.

Where to find the animals?

2012-01-06T14:30:00.000+02:00

One of the easiest ways to find out where the animals in Addo Elephant Natinal Park can be found is by having a look at the game viewing road map in the main rest camp of the park. Visitors to the park can mark on the map where they have seen the "main" animals and although its not always reliable its a good indication where to head to once you drive into the park.

Rooftop veggie garden

2012-01-05T14:30:00.000+02:00

The Ubuntu centre in Zwide was opened in 2010 and is an over R40 million investment into one of the poorest communities in South Africa. The centre belongs to the Ubuntu Education Fund which is one of the most successful and internationally renowned NGO’s in the Eastern Cape and provides health and educational services right in the township. Due to a lack of space but still in need of fresh vegetables to feed the kids with, the centre has established a rooftop vegetable garden which means that they would always have fresh produce right there on the premises.

Waiting at the waterhole

2012-01-04T14:30:00.000+02:00

The Addo Elephant National Park's main restcamp has a water hole just below the parking area where visitors can sit and relax while watching the elephants and other animals come down to drink. Most tourists entering the park normally head straight to the lookout to see if they can glimpse their first elephant, but sometimes it's just nice to sit down, relax and take in the surroundings.

Queen Vic and the library tower

2012-01-03T14:30:00.000+02:00

The statue of Queen Victoria was erected in front of the Public Library in the city centre in 1903 in commemoration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (1897). The library building itself was erected in 1902.

Aloe along the Lower Guinea Fowl Trail

2012-01-02T14:30:00.000+02:00

This time of the year most people head down to the beach during the holidays, but what if you're not into crowds, screaming kids, girls in bikini's who will never go in the water and are just there to catch the boys' eyes or just sand between your toes? Why not do one of the many short hiking trails that can be found around the city? The Lower Guinea Fowl Trail is one of the main very good trail there is to do and stretches from the 3rd Avenue Dip to Settlers Park over 7,5 kilometres.

Hallo 2012

2012-01-01T14:30:00.000+02:00

Well, well, well, another year is history and a new one has started. I hope you didn't party too hard last night and please don't tell me you've already broken those New Year's resolutions. Come what may, 2012 is here. I just want to take this opportunity to wish all the PEDP readers a Happy New Year. May 2012 bring you lots of happiness, pleasure and prosperity. Now go take something for that hangover headache and enjoy the rest of the day.

Keep moving

2011-12-31T14:30:00.000+02:00

"Come on buddy, just keep moving. The new year is only one day away!"

I'm not sure what this giraffe at Kragga Kamma Game Park outside Port Elizabeth was trying to do. Looking at the pic he was either scratching his head or trying to prod his smaller companion into moving.

Taking township pictures

2011-12-30T14:30:00.000+02:00

An international journalist taking pictures of the outside kitchen of a corner take away joint in New Brighton. Informal restaurants like this can be found all over Port Elizabeth's townships and this specific one is a popular sightseeing stop on township tours.

The local waterhole

2011-12-29T14:30:00.000+02:00

Hapoor Waterhole is the most popular water(ing) hole in Addo Elephant National Park for the locals (both males and females) to hang out at and as they don't serve alcoholic drinks the littlies are also welcome.

Brookes on the Bay's view

2011-12-28T14:30:00.000+02:00

The new restaurants at Brookes-on-the-Bay have some of the best views of any of the restaurants along the beachfront with views across Kings Beach. At night you may not be able to see as far out to sea, but the harbour and city lights also make for a magnificent backdrop.

The place to be this time of year

2011-12-27T14:30:00.000+02:00

The places to hang out this time of year around Port Elizabeth is the coastline with the beaches along the city's main beachfront being the most popular. One of the busiest beaches tend to be Hobie Beach with the Boardwalk across the road and a lot of other eateries, the Pier and beachfront promenade right there. Why aren't I posting a picture showing the packed beaches? Well, as you read this I am on holiday having spent the last 10 days camping in Montagu in the Western Cape and on my way to another 9 days in Cape Town. But even though I am away I am still diligently bringing you your daily Port Elizabeth fix. I'll pop down to Hobie over the weekend after I get back and see if I can get you a pic of the beach full of people.

A true PE icon

2011-12-26T02:00:00.000+02:00

The Donkin Reserve with the Lighthouse, Pyramid and new Route 67 located there are truly one of Port Elizabeth's main iconic attractions both from a visitor as well as landmark point of view. Here a couple of tourists are standing next to the Donkin Memorial (yes, that's the pyramid's proper name) enjoying the view from the Hill.

Merry Christmas (from a beach in Africa)

2011-12-25T10:00:00.000+02:00

The traditional Christmas one always sees is a white Christmas with snow, a fireplace and all kinds of wintery things. But more than half the earth actually has a summer Christmas where Santa should probably be wearing board shorts and slops while driving an open top vehicle and enjoying the sun. When Santa isn't going around handing out gifts he must surely go somewhere and that somewhere is a beach in Port Elizabeth close to the Willows Resort.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the Christian Port Elizabeth Daily Photo readers and their families a Merry Christmas and a very blessed day.

Shark River lily

2011-12-24T14:30:00.000+02:00

The little stream that flows through Happy Valley towards Humewood Beach is actually known as the Shark River and used to be one of early Port Elizabeth's main water sources. The name have absolutely nothing to do with sharks though. Even in the early years the little stream never reached the sea and disappeared into the sand on the beach. In Dutch (and Afrikaans for that matter) the term used to describe the river sinking away into the sand is "sak" and they called it the Sakrivier. The British misunderstood the word used by the Dutch thinking it was called the Shark River and hence the name which stuck.

Ocean Basket at Brookes on the Bay

2011-12-23T12:25:00.000+02:00

With the redevelopment of Brookes Pavilion (now called Brookes-on-the-Bay) completed, the new tenants have started to move in. One of the first restaurants to open was Ocean Basket and I'm sure with the fantastic view it has over the beachfront its sure to become one of Port Elizabeth's most popular seafood restaurants.

The sun shines on the Wildside

2011-12-22T14:30:00.000+02:00

The coastline from Cape Recife to Schoenmakerskop is generally known as the Wildside due to it rocky coastline and the fact that the prevailing south-easterly wind can pump out there on the best of days and make the sea well and truly rough. Don't get me wrong though, the weather isn't always bad and when its good this piece of coastline is an amazing spot to explore, fish from or just have a family picnic. The spot in the photo is looking back from on of the view points towards Cape Recife. You can just make out the Cape Recife lighthouse at the point.

Going home for the holiday

2011-12-21T14:30:00.000+02:00

This time of year there are a lot of people all over South Africa returning to their home towns to be with their families over the festive season. A lot of people living in the townships in Port Elizabeth have family in rural Eastern Cape in what used to be the former black homelands of the Ciskei and the Transkei and most of them will make use of long distance taxis and buses to go home for Christmas. The long distance taxi rank at Njoli Square is one of the busiest long distance taxi ranks in the city.

Post Office tower reflection

2011-12-20T14:30:00.000+02:00

The Old Post Office tower in the city centre reflecting in one of the Feathermarket Centre's windows

Two of the Big 5

2011-12-19T14:30:00.000+02:00

Visitors to the Addo Elephant National Park often go home with stories of magnificent elephant sightings and sometimes have an awesome story to tell of how an elephant walked so close past their car that you could reach out and touch him (just don't actually go and do it). On a good day you could also tick buffalo, lion and perhaps even black rhino off your "spotting the Big 5 list", but not often can one say that you had more than one of the Big 5 in one place. I had a very fortunate day in Addo recently and one of the highlights was having both elephant and Cape buffalo at the same waterhole.

Langa massacre photographic essay

2011-12-18T14:30:00.000+02:00

The last in this short series on the Red Location Museum in New Brighton covers "You are my witness", a photo essay dedicated to the mothers, fathers, women, men and children of the Langa massacre, who sacrificed their lives for the liberation struggle of South Africa. The massacre took place on 21 March 1985 in Langa township in Uitenhage when mourners, peacefully marching in solidarity to a funeral of those who lost their lives while protesting against grave oppressive conditions, were violently massacred and systematically gunned down by the Apartheid State.

Memory boxes

2011-12-17T14:30:00.000+02:00

Today's post is the second of three posts about the Red Location Museum in New Brighton. One of the main concepts of the museum are the Memory Boxes. These boxes were inspired by the boxes that migrant workers used to accommodate their prized possessions when separated from their families. The Museum has twelve 6 meter by 6 meter and twelve meters tall, rusted boxes offering a set of different memories of struggle in South Africa. The boxes aren't identified from outside and the contents are revealed only on entry with the experience in each box being a total one. The spaces between the boxes are spaces of reflection where one can ponder on everything you see in the museum.

Hall of Columns

2011-12-16T14:30:00.000+02:00

The Red Location Museum in New Brighton was the first museum to be purpose built in a township in South Africa and remembers the struggle era, especially in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage. Although there is much room for improvement the museum has a number of very good exhibits. As you enter through the main entrance the Hall of Columns is on your right. Each of the 15 columns have a different struggle hero from the Nelson Mandela Bay area on them and the idea is to have a nomination process in the future whereby these hero's will be replaced annually to celebrate others.

South African Junior Chess Championships

2011-12-15T14:30:00.001+02:00

For the last week some of the brightest young minds in the country have been taking part in the annual South Africa Junior Chess Championships, this year hosted at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan University right here in Port Elizabeth. I popped down to the Indoor Sports Centre to have a peek and nearly fell on my back when I saw the amount of participants. More than 2000 kids from all over South Africa are taking part in this event and the hall was packed with tables and chess boards with the players pitting their skills against each other.

Celebrations

2011-12-14T14:30:00.000+02:00

Celebrations as the All Blacks receive the trophee as winners of the South African leg of the IRB 7's World Series in Port Elizabeth.

Another reason to celebrate is the fact that today is Port Elizabeth Daily Photo's 1500th post and thus my 1000th post since taking over the blog from Max and Sue. This comes shortly after I recently did post number 1000 on The Firefly Photo Files as well. Thank you to all the loyal followers of PEDP for your regular visits as well as to those who only get an opportunity to pop in every now and then and please know that I always appreciate the comments, e-mails and requests I receive. It's these that make the blog worth doing every day.

Running out for the final

2011-12-13T14:30:00.000+02:00

The Blitzbokke (South Africa) and the All Blacks (New Zealand) takes the field for the start of the final of the South African leg of the IRB 7's World Series in Port Elizabeth. The crowd went mad every time the Boks touched the ball and I think most people were on their feet for just about the whole game. Unfortunately for us the All Blacks got the ball seconds before the end of the game and went over for the winning try.

IRB 7's action

2011-12-12T14:30:00.000+02:00

On Friday and Saturday (9 and 10 December 2011) the South African leg of the IRB 7's World Series took place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for the first time. Getting the 7's to the city was a big scoop and the action on and off the field didn't disappoint. The event truly lived up to it's billing as "Rugby's Biggest Party". Below are a couple of snaps I took from both next to the field as well as the media tribune at the top of the stadium. In the main picture the Blitzbokke (South Africa in green) is playing France in the quarter finals. New Zealand eventually beat South Africa in the last couple of seconds of the final.

SAMREC educational visits

2011-12-11T14:30:00.000+02:00

In addition to the fantastic penguin rescue and rehabilitation work that the guys at SAMREC in Cape Recife do, they also have educational programmes running all the time whereby schools visit and get taken around the facility. What makes the place even more amazing is that they only have two full time employees which means that the majority of work gets done by volunteers. The last time I stopped by there was a group from a local primary school visiting. The school group was split into four smaller groups with this one being showed around the penguin pool.

Pier

2011-12-10T14:30:00.000+02:00

Shark Rock Pier seen from the Blue Waters Cafe

Happy Valley by day

2011-12-09T14:30:00.000+02:00

Happy Valley has always been a very popular spot for both young and old especially during the summer season when the lights are on in the evenings. I went down not too long ago to see what it looks like these days. Although there were one or two of the characters that were damaged the area in a whole was in good nick and looking beautiful. Its a pity that more and more people don't go there anymore due to the perception that its a dangerous area. The way I see it is that there are always a chance of something happening in places like this all over the world, so one just needs to be more vigilant and also to make sure that you rather visit in a small group than alone. Its because there are less people going to attractions like this that we allow criminals to operate there from time to time and by going there in numbers the bad elements are actually forced out.

Glittering Cape Recife

2011-12-08T14:30:00.000+02:00

The water around Cape Recife (and not some pretty boy vampire) glittering in the morning light. Real vampires don't glitter in sunlight anyway cause they would be incinerated. #justsaying

There's an elephant in the way

2011-12-07T14:30:00.000+02:00

Yesterday's post showed how stunning an encounter one can have in the Addo Elephant National Park when the elephants come walking down the road and passes your car. These encounters get even more exciting when they pass as close as this one. Luckily the elephants in Addo are used to vehicles and encounters like this is possible, but visitors must always remember that these are still wild elephants and not to take chances.

Elephant roadblock

2011-12-06T14:30:00.000+02:00

Some of the best sightings one can have in Addo Elephant National Park is to find a herd of elephants either on or right next to the road. The best way to enjoy this is to just switch off the car and sit back and watch these massive animals go about their normal daily routine.

Informal settlement road

2011-12-05T14:30:00.000+02:00

Most of us take driving on tar roads in the city for granted while there are many roads through informal settlements that are nothing more than a muddy dirt track. This one is in New Brighton right around the corner from the Red Location Museum.

Sundays River dunes

2011-12-04T14:30:00.000+02:00

The sand dunes at Colchester next to the Sundays River form part of the Alexandria dune fields which are the biggest coastal dune fields in the Southern Hemisphere. The dunes truly are magnificent specimens as far as coastal dunes go and the only way to really get to them is by taking a boat along the Sundays River. For those of us who don't have boats the easiest way to go about visiting these dunes are to book a cruise on the Sundays River Ferry. At its turning point close to the river mouth the ferry stops for about 30 minutes to give passengers the opportunity to climb the dunes to enjoy the magnificent views from the top.

Blue Wildebeest

2011-12-03T14:30:00.000+02:00

We really are fortunate to have so many game reserves surrounding Port Elizabeth and places like Kragga Kamma Game Park gives both residents and visitors the opportunity to view wild game up close without having to visit a zoo. One of the more common animals one get to see are the Blue Wildebeest or "gnu". Sometimes also called the Common Wildebeest, the Blue Wildebeest is a large antelope and one of two species of wildebeest. It got its name from the conspicuous silvery blue sheen to its short haired hide, differentiating this species from the plainer black genus member Black Wildebeest with its white tail. The name "gnu" originates from the Khoikhoi name for these animals.

Did you know? Blue wildebeest young can stand within six minutes of being born.

Library tower

2011-12-02T14:30:00.000+02:00

The Public Library is my favorite historic building in Port Elizabeth with its beautiful facade and many interesting features. The picture above of one of the library's towers could for all intensive purposes have been taken anywhere in Europe, but its stands proudly right here in good ol' PE.

Barber shop

2011-12-01T14:30:00.000+02:00

A couple of guys visiting a township barber shop in Kwazakele. Behind them on the wall are all the different styles that customers can choose from along with what they are called.

Traditional healers on the beach

2011-11-30T14:30:00.000+02:00

I had the privilege to accompany an Argentinian journalist around Port Elizabeth and the surrounding area for a couple of days showing off this beautiful part of the world I live in. Walking along Shark Rock Pier at Hobie Beach we noticed a couple of traditional healers performing a ceremony next to the pier (see more pictures on The Firefly Photo Files). After the ceremony we had a chat with them and the journalist asked if he could get a couple of pictures as it would make a very interesting addition to one of his stories.

City Hall clock

2011-11-29T14:30:00.000+02:00

The Port Elizabeth City Hall must be one of the most beautiful historic buildings in the city. It was originally built between 1858 and 1862 with the clock tower being added in 1883.

Fail!!!

2011-11-28T14:30:00.000+02:00

Today's post is slightly tongue in cheek. The association with Port Elizabeth is puerly the fact that these adverts seem to pop up all over the city and get stuck to bus stops, power boxes, freeway pillars and even on the back of stop signs. The thing that caught my eye was the fact that the middle advert says "Abortions" and "Penis enlargement" followed by "Relationship problems". I think those three sum up the problem right there. The middle one leads to the first having to take place which probably causes the latter. Ps, I took out the good doc's phone number just in case anybody on here got the idea to phone him regarding the middle one (or any of the other two for that matter).

Rivonia Trialists

2011-11-27T14:30:00.000+02:00

I had to visit the Nangoza Jebe Hall (previously Centenary Hall) in New Brighton for a meeting the other day and took a couple of minutes to study and photograph this painting of the Rivonia Trialists in the foyer. The Rivonia Trial during which ten leaders of the African National Congress were tried for 221 acts of sabotage took place between 1963 and 1964. The trialists were arrested at Liliesleaf Farm in the Johannesburg suburb of Rivonia and the trial led to Nelson Mandela spending 27 years in prison. A few of the trialists had links to Port Elizabeth and hence the mural in the Nangoza Jebe Hall.

Donkeys in pajamas

2011-11-26T14:30:00.000+02:00

Did you know?

There are three types of zebra. The most common of the three, the Burchell's zebra (Equus burchellii) is also called the plains zebra and the common zebra
The Burchell's zebra can be identifies by its brown "phantom" stripe on the white stripe
Each zebra has its own unique pattern of those distinctive stripes, just as humans have their own unique pattern of fingerprints
Stripes make a herd of zebras look confusing to a predator, especially when they're moving, and particularly at dawn and dusk.
A zebra's teeth keep growing for its entire life, because constant grazing and chewing wears them down.
A baby zebra can stand up just 20 minutes after it's born. It can run when it's an hour old.
A zebra's night vision is believed to be as good as an owl's.
A herd of zebra are called a ... dazzle

Circle patterns

2011-11-25T14:30:00.000+02:00

How often do we just wander blindly through life not noticing anything around us? I wonder how many Port Elizabethans have ever spotted the circular paving patterns next to Hobie Beach.

Baby Bontebok

2011-11-24T14:30:00.000+02:00

This time of year one gets to see lots of little baby animals running around the game reserves surrounding Port Elizabeth. Kragga Kamma Game Park is probably one of the best options to visit if you want to take the family and show the babies to the kids. I photographed these Bontebok moms with their babies at Kragga Kamma last week and just missed the first zebra born this season by a couple of days.

View from Blue Waters Cafe

2011-11-23T14:30:00.000+02:00

One of the best places to go for breakfast along the Port Elizabeth beachfront must be Blue Waters Cafe on the seaward side from the Boardwalk next to Shark Rock Pier. Last weekend I visited the restaurant with a visitor from out of town and while we were waiting for our food popped out onto their balcony to snap a pic. It was a cloudy and somewhat wet morning with no sign that summer is fast approaching, but it doesn't mean that the view changes (other for the fact there there is no blue sky).

"The Best in Town"

2011-11-22T14:30:00.000+02:00

Although the Damselfly just put the shaver through my hair every now and then I may just consider Ntleki Barber Shop at Njoli Square next time I need a haircut. Why? Because they claim to be the best in town.

Spaza shop wall

2011-11-21T14:30:00.000+02:00

Last week I had the opportunity to go on a township tour with Luvu Ndima of Jama Tours. I haven't been on one for a while and going on this one gave me lots of photo opportunities. What makes Luvu's tours stand out is that he doesn't just drive through the township showing you the sights through the vehicle windows. We stopped numerous times to getting a closer look at things like an informal butcher, a corner "take away", a tavern with a buy and braai option, a barber shop and all the vendors around Njoli Square. Here Luvo offered to pose in front of this very interesting spaza shop wall.

Stormy stadium skies

2011-11-20T14:30:00.000+02:00

On Thursday it was announced that the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium right here in Port Elizabeth will be hosting the third rugby test between the Springboks and England on 23 June 2012. Stunning news for the city, especially after the very successful Tri-Nations match that was hosted here in August. Port Elizabeth has showed SA Rugby that we can do it and do it with style.

Library gate

2011-11-19T14:30:00.000+02:00

I had a chance to walk around the Market Square area last Sunday morning without all the cars and people about that is the norm during the week. Unfortunately for me it was dark and cloudy, so I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted to. One of those I did get was the very interesting gate in front of the main entrance to the historic Public Library. In actual fact there are three of these next to each other.

Development on the horizon

2011-11-18T14:30:00.000+02:00

Although there is still over a year to go until the opening of the new hotel and conference centre at the Boardwalk complex on the Port Elizabeth beachfront, the construction is quickly starting to take shape and becoming visible from all around. Standing on Shark Rock Pier next to Hobie Beach one could only see the three cranes up to recently, but now the new building are sticking out as well.

Boardwalk in bloom

2011-11-17T14:30:00.000+02:00

The flower beds at the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment Centre is stunning at the moment and with the blue skies and palm trees its putting me in a holiday mood.

Did you bring us any carrots?

2011-11-16T14:30:00.000+02:00

The donkeys at the East Cape Horse Care Unit loves it when members of the public comes to visit, cause most of the time they would bring along a bag of carrots to feed the donkeys with. And how can one say no to a couple of handsome boys like these asking so nicely?

Campanile Clockwork

2011-11-15T14:30:00.000+02:00

Huffing and puffing my way to the top of the Campanile I noticed a couple of technicians working on the tower's clockwork. It gave me an excuse to catch my breath while having a chat and also gave me an opportunity to take out my camera for a pic. The clock's been standing for a while and the one guy said that the reason was that it's been running fast. I was hoping that they have found and fixed the problem.

Beachfront, boats and blegh

2011-11-14T12:30:00.000+02:00

Looking through the windows from the top of the Campanile there are a number of different sights to be seen. Looking south the Port Elizabeth beachfront is visible in the background and the Port Elizabeth Harbour in the foreground with rows and rows of fishing boats tied up by the quay. The problem is in the middle with the petrol tank farm and manganese ore heaps being the blight next to the beachfront. But from all indications they will (hopefully) be moved to the Coega Harbour within the next few years. *holding thumbs*

Loading ship

2011-11-13T14:30:00.000+02:00

Last week I decided to go and check out Bayworld's new mini display on one of the landings going up the Campanile. Seeing that I was halfway up the tower's 204 steps already, I decided to stretch my legs some more and head all the way to the top. Looking out the east view window the Port Elizabeth Harbour looked a little empty that day with only one ship berthed at the container quay.

Under the Humewood Bridge

2011-11-12T14:30:00.000+02:00

Humewood Beach in Port Elizabeth is the oldest Blue Flag Beach in South Africa and has just been re-awarded its Blue Flag status for the coming summer season. Humewood's main parking area is just behind the City Lodge Hotel and the easiest way to get to the beach is beneath the Humewood Bridge which goes under Marine Drive. Although the beaches are still quite, the blue flag is already flying and the life guards with all their equipment is on standby for anything that may happen.

PAG Memorial for Remembrance Day

2011-11-11T14:30:00.000+02:00

Today, 11/11/2011, is Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day and Veterans Day. It is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918 with hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. Without thinking I posted the War Memorial cross I was keeping for today on Wednesday, but decided to post another war memorial which can be found in St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth. The Prince Alfred's Guard Memorial was erected in remembrance of men from the Guard that have died in a number of wars which are inscribed on the memorial.

Boardwalk development

2011-11-10T14:30:00.000+02:00

One of the single biggest leisure developments ever in Port Elizabeth is busy taking place at the Boardwalk complex on the beachfront as we speak. The Boardwalk, as part of their new casino license agreement, is busy building a brand new 2400 seater international standard conference centre along with a 5 star hotel (a one billion rand investment) which will officially open in December 2012. I think most people in the city, specially those working in the tourism and meetings industries, can't wait to see the finished product. For now we have to be happy with peeking through the windows in the construction barrier like curious children though.

War Memorial cross

2011-11-09T14:30:00.000+02:00

Its always an exciting moment when I discover something in Port Elizabeth that I didn't know about before. This was the case the other day when I noticed this foliage in the shape of a cross in St Georges Park just behind the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Gallery.

The plaque reads: In memory of all those South African men and women who lost their lives in the various wars. Not for themselves but for others.

I always knew of the Cenotaph outside the entrance to the park, the Prince Alfred Guard Memorial and a third war memorial which I just realised that I haven't taken a photo of before (Note to self: Go take photo of war memorial plaque at St Georges). This means that St Georges Park has four war memorials... that I know of.

Traditional welcome

2011-11-08T14:30:00.000+02:00

The beating of drums... women dancing... a praise singer singing... all part of a traditional welcome to Africa and something that tourists just love to see. In fact, tourists just can't walk past them without taking pictures or even joining in and bobbing to the rhythm. A rhythm which is very addictive by the way. Last week we welcomed 56 Belgium travel agents for a four day visit to Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape and the guys from African Drumbeat welcomed them to the welcome function at the Beach Hotel in style.

Kids Expo drumming

2011-11-07T14:30:00.000+02:00

Over the weekend the annual Kids and Baby Expo took place at the Moffet-on-Main Lifestyle Centre here in Port Elizabeth. The expo's exhibitors covered just about everything that you would need for babies and toddlers as well as a lot of activities to keep the kiddies busy while at the expo. I manned a tourism information stand at the show and across from me there was drumming for kids in the form of a story. Every time the story started the kids just flocked in to participate. Needless to say I was just about able to tell the whole story by the end of the show. Ad to the drums the painball stall (where they did target shooting) next door and the constant noise of the inflatable soccer field's fan on the other side and I had a splitting head ace at the end of each day. But thoroughly worth it in the end.

The Lion King

2011-11-06T14:30:00.000+02:00

Port Elizabeth is surrounded by some of the best private game reserves in South Africa, not forgetting Addo Elephant National Park right on our doorstep. The majority of these game reserve have free range lions and its always a highlight on any game drive to encounter these magnificent and proud animals. Kalahari is one of two male lions in the Kuzuko section of the Addo Elephant National Park. He was one of the first six lions brought to Addo from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park when it was decided to reintroduce lions to the park a couple of years ago.

Happy Valley lilies

2011-11-05T14:30:00.000+02:00

I don't think there is anybody who have grown up in Port Elizabeth that didn't visit Happy Valley as a child. With the summer season apon us I was curious to see what kind of shape it is in and decided to take a walk up the valley. It was a stunning early summers day and I couldn't help but to sit down next to the stream for a couple of minutes to take in my surroundings.

From the top of the Duckpond

2011-11-04T14:30:00.000+02:00

The cricket season is on its way here in South Africa with the 1 Day Cup domestic competition that just started and the Australians touring the country. St Georges Park here in Port Elizabeth just hosted an ODI match between the Proteas and the Aussies and is now getting ready for the domestic series. I went to a function on the top floor of the Duckpond Pavilion the other day and couldn't help but to marvel at the magnificent view of the oldest test cricket stadium in South Africa.

Into the sunrise

2011-11-03T14:30:00.000+02:00

One of the best parts of an afternoon / evening game drive at a game reserve is stopping to enjoy a drink while the sun is setting, yet not many people would associate a game drive with a sunrise. Visiting Kuzuko Lodge north of Port Elizabeth recently we set off on our morning game drive just before sunrise and turned right into the sun just as it was hanging above the horizon. So where a cowboy would ride off into a sunset, we drove into the sunrise on our way to find rhino, elephant and cheetah.

Old Road signs

2011-11-02T14:30:00.000+02:00

I don't know why but for some reason this road sign is my favorite road sign in the world. It stands just north of the Zuurberg Pass on the old road inland. From this point you can head north towards Somerset East on the R335, west towards Jansenville on the R400 or east to get to the main road (N10) between Port Elizabeth and Cradock. South will take you past Ann's Villa and over the old Zuurberg Pass towards Port Elizabeth. Just a pity it wasn't a nice blue sky day when I passed it the other day.

The old road north

2011-11-01T14:30:00.000+02:00

In years gone by (and now I'm not just talking about a few moons ago, but more like a 100 years ago) the main road from Port Elizabeth heading north (today called the R335) crossed over the mountains via the old Zuurberg Pass before heading further north through Somerset East and Cradock. This picture was taken of the dirt road, now mostly used by the farming community and people heading towards Kuzuko Lodge and Darlington Dam, just on the northern side of the Zuurberg Mountains.

Death on the beach

2011-10-31T14:30:00.000+02:00

Although we don't really celebrate Halloween here in South Africa, I wanted to post a picture to go with the theme of the day. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to go and take a Halloween photo, so decided on this picture of a dead gannet on the beach at Cape Recife. Originally I considered calling it "Zombie Bird" but then changed my mind to the title above, "Death on the beach".

Love at first sight

2011-10-30T14:30:00.000+02:00

Judging by her love for animals, I have a feeling my daughter is going to be a vet on day. We visited the East Cape Horse Care Unit again the other day and Drama Princess got to go in with the baby donkeys. She just wanted to hug and hold them all the time. At home she's got a bird, hamsters, a dog, a box with silkworms and even a container with snails. Chaos Boy on the other hand would rather not touch any animal if he had a choice.

Campanile steps

2011-10-29T14:30:00.000+02:00

Heading down Campanile's 204 spiral steps

Cheetah

2011-10-28T14:30:00.000+02:00

While his feline cousins, the lion and the leopard, are part of the Big 5, the cheetah always seem to be a bit of a Cinderella animal. People tend no forget them with the Big 5 always being top of mind, but encountering them in a game reserves is like Cinderella arriving at the ball. The cheetah is a beautiful animal with his spots and sleek physique and if you are lucky enough to see it make a kill, the Big 5 is suddenly forgotten. This was one of two that we saw on a visit to Kuzuko Lodge about 2 hours outside Port Elizabeth.

Greater Addo Park sunset

2011-10-27T14:30:00.000+02:00

We recently visited Kuzuko Lodge in the northern section of the Addo Elephant National Park about two hours outside Port Elizabeth for our anniversary. I've been posting about the visit in The Firefly Photo Files if you would like to have a peek. On the afternoon game drive we encountered the lions and afterwards headed up to a lookout spot to enjoy a couple of drinks while watching another African sunset. Sunsets in Africa just never seem to disappoint.

Nanaga decor

2011-10-26T14:30:00.000+02:00

The inside of the Nanaga farm stall outside Port Elizabeth has a big grass courtyard with the shop to the one side and the restaurant to the other. Although there are some people who prefer to sit down and be served a meal, most people just buy a pie or roosterkoek and something to drink from the shop. In the background a couple of travellers are enjoying their Nanaga homemade pies in the relaxed environment of the courtyard.

Nanaga Farm Stall

2011-10-25T14:30:00.000+02:00

A road trip east of Port Elizabeth, doesn't matter if you are coming or going, isn't complete without a stop at the Nanaga Farm Stall. Although its only 50 kilometers outside of town, Nanaga is a must stop for something to eat and drink. Their speciality is their home made pies and roosterkoek while their pineapple juice is my personal favorite. What makes the location ideal is that it's on the main road into town coming from both the interior as well as the country's east coast.

Cape Recife Beacon

2011-10-24T14:30:00.000+02:00

In addition to the lighthouse out at Cape Recife, there is also this "lighthouse looking" tower standing on the rocks. It doesn't have a light though, but it is still a shipping beacon. This specific beacon is one of two that had to be lined up in the old days by ships coming from the west before they could turn north and into Algoa Bay.

Fittest Soldier

2011-10-23T14:30:00.001+02:00

Over the last week the fittest and fastest of South Africa's air force, navy and army soldiers came together in Port Elizabeth to participate in the annual Fittest Soldier competition. I went down to the army base in Forest Hill one morning an watched them do what they call the "Beep Test". The exercise looks quite straight forward with the participants running up and down a tennis court and having to get to the turning line before the beep sounds. The catch is that the longer into the race the faster the beeps go and soon participants start to fall out.

Big Walk for cancer

2011-10-22T14:30:00.000+02:00

We headed down to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this morning for the annual Discovery Health Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer along with about 7000 other people. It may not sound like fun having to get up between 5 and 6am to leave home just after 6 for a 7am start, but the weather was stunning and fun walks like this is a great way to escape the house and get some exercise along with the family.

It wasn't just us two legged homo sapience that took part in the race, but also a couple of our 4 legged friends. This one was even wearing a race shirt with a race number on his back.

Open air township kitchen

2011-10-21T14:30:00.000+02:00

This guy is busy cooking on the street corner in New Brighton township for the coming lunch time rush.

Why the long face?

2011-10-20T14:30:00.000+02:00

There is a very stupid joke that popped into my mind when I saw this picture. Please don't hold it against me. So here goes. A donkey walks into a pub and sits down at the bar. The bar tender asks, "Why the long face?" This long face belongs to one of the donkeys at the East Cape Horse Care Unit.