The countdown has begun and it’s now 5 months before the Moving Sushi team officially plans to embark on the African Marine MegaTransect. But, like the past weekend’s storms that lashed the Cape coastline, thing have not been going as smoothly as we had hoped. Here’s the thing with expeditions, the images we see coming back to us show incredible scenes. Feats of endurance, epic discoveries and traversing massive personal and mental obstacles to achieve something beyond the mundane. But the blood sweat and tears it takes to get there, the toil behind the scenes is either very well curated or often overlooked completely.

So, in an effort to be transparent with our process and also to acknowledge the sometimes unseen, I sit back now and consider our situation. Currently we are made up of an expedition team of 6; Justin, Myself, Linda, Agg, Rhett and Roxy. Small, simple but highly effective at this point this is a team of all the essentials to get the job done up until we need to populate the crew of our boats. Each of us have our defined roles and are working flat out to literally launch these boats into the waters, so to speak. Planning an expedition and balancing the daily rigor of life, earning an income and with having limited operational budget things have quickly become challenging. Add into the mix the fact that Agg is in Poland, Justin is relocating to Kenya, Rhett may be in Tanzania or the UK in the next month and Linda, Roxy and myself, well, we are still boring and are at home in Cape Town. Everyone is working far beyond what is required and doing so with no financial compensation. It’s a tough ask from anyone, especially in the economic times we are experiencing in South Africa. So, let’s just say our backs are against the wall, and well, the wall is looking pretty high from this side.

Every so often the problems you face and the requirements needed to pull off such an expedition seem so immense that one has to start wondering what the point is in continuing.  And as fierce winds battered down against the shores of my home town, I found myself sitting looking out over the rocks that form the home of the Stony Point penguin colony and all that immensity crashed into me, stopping me cold. No financial security of my own, knowing that we will need to cover costs for fiscal sponsorship from the US and like a pressure cooker, creeping up slowly, all these issues started to eat away at my logic. A voice of doubt emerges, we all know that one right? It sits there, leans in close and whispers into your ear, “surely this is all a crazy idea, surely the best possible plan would be to throw in the towel, life would be so much easier if this just got benched don’t you think?”

It is a hard voice to silence.

My only solace is that I have been here before. In fact I’ve been here, listening to that voice, many times over the years. It whispered to me not to go to Gabon, it definitely told me I was crazy to get in a car and drive to Japan and it practically screamed me down when I was in the middle of the last East African expedition and we had to abandon our first boat after a month of going nowhere. Fortunately, time and experience have taught me a remedy, a mental salve to fend off the spreading infectious fear. I know that there are a few things that make it all worthwhile. Firstly, it is why you have a team and more specifically a team like the one I have. They have your back, not only so that you can succeed together but to also have people on your side when you are deep in the trenches who you know are fully capable when things start to hit murky waters. Then comes the fact that the meaning and value of the expedition warrants the effort. It’s not a holiday adventure we are planning, it has very little to do with our egos or being known as people who create pseudo adventurer science for popularity.   

For me, and the others, it is a sense of duty, and requirement that up to this point, is not being met. The data we plan to capture will provide critical insights into coral reef health and fish stocks in East Africa. We need this data, and if we have the means and passion to go and get it, then we should throw everything at the opportunity.

So, we go on. Even though I still have to sit with a whirlwind of anxiousness and self-doubt I hold fast on to ‘the why’, the reason that you choose to step out of the front door in the first place and turn on the key in the ignition. The path is there and I know the way, even if right now it does seem like a mountain to climb.

Mike Markovina

According to the United Nations Environmental Program, coral reefs are essential global life support systems. Along the east Coast of Africa lies one of the worlds most important coral reefs ecosystems. It represents the food lifeline to millions of people, yet we know very little and have focused hardly any attention to these reefs in comparison to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, or the coral reef triangle in the Pacific. The coral reef in East Africa, like many the word over is dying, but just how fast, and to what extent is largely unknown.

Climate change, increasing sea temperatures and ocean acidification are among the global challenges, while overfishing, the use of destructive fishing gears like dynamite  and pollution represent local challenges. In Lieu of the importance of understanding the how fast the coral reefs are dying and the relationship between climate change and societal needs, Moving Sushi is launching the African Marine MegaTransect Expedition 2017 – 2018. The task is simple: “To use scientific exploration and open access data to fast track the understanding of the social, economic and biological needs for the conservation and sustainable use of key marine resources associate with the coral reef ecosystem of East Africa." In doing so the team will use new innovative techniques for fish assessments and coral reef health determination. Furthermore the team will explore new innovative techniques like fluorescence to unlock new scientific discoveries in the region. The expedition is line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals by increasing scientific knowledge, developing research capacity and enhancing our ability to conserve key resources and ecosystems. 

By: Mike Markovina

Route 62 winds its way up the Western Cape passing through the Paarl tunnel and skirting along the edges of the 170km Langeberg mountain range.  They call this road a “journey to the unexpected,” an alternative to the well trodden road from Cape Town to port Elizabeth that often attracts many a holiday maker. There is a claim that the longest wine route in the world sits between Tulbagh and Oudtshoorn, and I guess I can see that having some ground because just the short section that I went to explore for two days, closer to Cape Town, is continuously flanked by citrus and wine farms peeping over the valleys and hills.

‘Unexpected’ is exactly the kind of word I would use to describe my little jaunt out into the Langeberg area. We ventured into an excavated underground cellar at Weltevrede Estate, close to Bonnivale, for a wine tasting in the dark, a forgotten part of the farms history that was discovered by accident. Sometime in the late 50’s a series of wine tanks were carved out into the rock walls underneath Weltevrede farm to store up litres of red, sweet wine. Somehow the hidden vats of fermenting goodness fell into the back of the owner’s mind, and over the years the knowledge of these networks of chambers were lost in the history of the farm. It wasn’t until Phillip Jonker, the fourth generation to take over, and his team were cleaning one of the areas where they house barrels of wine that somehow a gap in the floor was discovered and the hidden tanks revealed. They potentially have a field of hidden wine cellars under the ground, and excavation is ongoing. But in the meantime you can sit inside and enjoy wine parings without the usual distraction of the typical vistas you would find on most wine farms in the Cape. As beautiful as it is to look at perfect blue skies and rolling vineyards, it’s always welcome for something a little different, and I can’t think of anything more unusual that cave wine drinking.

This entire area has a fascinating history. From the road to nowhere in McGregor to Robertson’s status as South Africa’s first irrigation district, there is a deep connection with agriculture, fruit and transport that connects each of the little outpost villages and towns. I discovered that beneath each farm, hidden in the citrus trees and nooks and crannies of the barrels of wine and berry farms, there is a lot more to Route 62 than just a pleasant drive.

Adventuring Ahead

At Wildebraam berry estate liquors are hand made and pressed into row upon row of bottled preserves and slim bottles of delightful hard tack with flavours like Peppermint, lemon, rooibos and chocolate chilli. Wildebraam forms the central focus of the Swellenberry Weekend Festival, where you can race though the farms, dance the skoffelsbessies dans, pick and get pickled or berry brunch under the shade of a farm tree. And if that all gets a bit to sweet for your taste, around the corner is Excelsior estate, what is now wine, was once home to one of the most successful ostrich breeders in the Robertson district. Back in the early 20^th century ostrich plumes were all the rage with those looking to prance and pronk in high society haute couture. Jacobus Stephanus de Wet, who inherited the farm from his father saw this market potential and launched a massively profitable business sending ostrich plumes over to England. He created a small empire and displayed his new found affluence by building houses and farms in a Cape revival style known as 'feather palaces' , a Victorian structures embellished with Cape Dutch gables and filled to the brim with ornate European furniture. It all ended with the invention of the motor car and space inside these new modes of transport not conducive to large, feather brimmed hats, so the farm resorted back to cultivating wines.

Found along the bend in a road heading towards Swellendam in the southern tip of the Robertson wine valley is Jan Harmsgat. Established in 1723 a little bit of digging and I find out that in the farms history is peppered with tales of eccentric owners one who, after being riled up in a legislature meeting, took an axe to the vineyards surrounding the main farm house and planted a host of orange trees in their place. Another owner, a famous hunter, had his hunting career cut short when he was attacked and mauled by a lioness and soon after lived out his days under the watchful eyes of his 190 grandchildren. The farm is now home to orchards of fruit, nut and olive trees as well as a restaurant serving up some incredible dishes and wine to match. In the evenings, sitting around the bonfire amidst the orchard trees I can still imagine I hear the sounds of a roaming lioness…… it’s this area, it does something to your imagination. Jonty, our driver on a game drive we took up to the top of beautiful hill with sweeping sunset views over the Langberg mountains told us all about the shrubs and flora of the area. A particularity fun one being the Karoo num-num. “If you are out in the bush,” Jonty says with a laugh, “and you see a lion, you jump straight into this plant.” He crooks his head to the side and crushes a piece of the num-num branches in his hands, their thick thorns peering menacingly between the lush green leaves. “Personally, I'd rather face down the lion” he says.  

Mysterious Montague 

The real gem was spending a night in Montague. I have heard of this town before, mostly because of it’s connection to the famous Health spas and mystical ley lines that traverse across the main roads. That, and they have the only road sign in South Africa that has a cat on it. Apparently the story goes that the popular town cat, whom everyone loved and adored, was accidentally run over while crossing the road. A sign was erected in the very spot the poor feline met his/her demise and he/she was buried underneath. It’s a one of a kind in the country, and that is befitting of this one of a kind quirky little town. It is as if Montague forgot that it’s 2016, preferring to inhabit everything that would make The Great Gatsby smile with delight. Between the quant local pub, the fantastically named Burgundy Gherkin you spot the smooth lines, lavish decoration, geometric shapes and sometimes garish colour mixes that celebrate all things Art Deco, and none more so than the Montague Country hotel and the nearby Hot Springs. I almost half expected F. Scott Fitzgerald to pop out from behind the Hot Springs weirdly wonderful 1920’s styled construction or bump into him propped up against the Country Hotel bar.  It’s a trip back in time, and a trip well worth it. The springs themselves have their own myths and legends. Taken from Montague Tourism website the main tale goes like this; “according to our archives, the wagon on one such nameless pioneer venturing into the valley became stuck in the rocks of the river bed. In his efforts to free the wheels, the trekker’s hand was so badly injured that his party was obliged to pitch camp in the vicinity of the present-day Montagu. They drank of the clear, odd flavored water, found it wonderfully refreshing and traced its course through the Kloof where they discovered the hot spring. The injured hand, bathed frequently in the warm water, healed miraculously. News of the healing water was soon spread by word of mouth and as a result the sick and ailing visited the hot spring, sometimes from as far afield as 50 miles, which was a considerable distance to travel in those days.”

The pass through Cogmans Kloof that leads into Montague may be under some heavy construction, but it has not got in the way of the views of the area. We take a vintage1956 Cadillac Sedan De Ville up towards a lookout point with the perfect winters evening sunset for company.  A few of us are sleepy and yawing as we descend back to the sanctuary of Montague Country Hotel, but apparently this is taken as a very good sign. According to some, Montague is an area where strong magnetic lines of energy traverse through the streets and hillsides. At least all that magnetic energy does not seem to affect everyone that visits, as this is also a premier mountain climbing destination in the area, and I would hate to think of all those climbers between the Langeberg and Riviersonderend mountain ranges battling both their physical and mental fatigue.

Where the beauty of this area really shines through is in the fascinating people that call it home. I may have only been fortunate to explore for two days, but the warmth and hospitality of everyone made a big impression , one that will see me gathering up my bags and ensuring that I make this section of Route 62 a part of my weekend away plans.

Media Educational was put together by the talented  Hot Oven Marketing , opinions are all my own. 

Lauren, my travel partner, grabs onto her jacket as she gets out of the car in the Llanduduno parking lot. We are on a insiders guide styled treasure hunt around the Atlantic Seaboard with CheapflightsExplorers and the rain is quickly closing in on us as we try to make our way to our first location. This small little village blue flag beach is found down a winding road along the Atlantic seaboard of Cape Town. It’s only a meagre 200 meters long and the parking lot can, at best, squeeze in 35 cars, but that does not stop hoards of locals and tourists descending down the hills laden with dogs, kids, fire poi balls and mountains of beach paraphernalia. It’s a circus in summer and being a devoted hermit of personal space this little hamlet does not cut the mustard with me during peak seasons. Fortunately, today is balmy winter perfection; rain squalls rolling in over Camps Bay, the sea a clean, deep blue and most importantly, no crowds. “I should have bought a beanie along,” Lauren shouts over the Southwester. She’s on point, this wind is biting though the layers of clothes. Luckily the topography comes to our rescue, the sloping stairs down to the beach quickly gets a little bit of a sweat going and in no time I barely feel any of the cold. Llandudno is an incredibly picturesque beach, a hidden cove of perfectly white sand framed by large granite boulders looming out of the rough sea waters. Sitting south is Cape Towns only nudist beach, Sandy bay, incase you were ever wondering where to suntan in the buff, for whatever reason.

We stop for a quick photograph on the roadside where there would normally be groupings of craft sellers flogging hugely cumbersome wooden giraffes to passing tourists. I often have a quite giggle to myself when I see these poor humans trying to get their new giraffe sculpture onto the bubble wrap machine at the airport. I can only imagine they regret the impulsive drive to get the largest one they can find when it comes time to check these things in on your homebound flight.  The impending rain has driven everyone away, even the coffee vendors, which is a pity. We are bound for Camps Bay though, so not all is lost in the hunt for something warm and nourishing and I know of a little join along the corner of Bakoven called Baked Bistro that has wraps and coffee to die for. Bakoven is a real gem of a secret little area, filled with small, sweet beaches and the NSRI station tucked between bungalows. It’s main beach, Big Beach, was originally a small fishing harbour for the snoek, mackerel and cob local fishermen that needed a sheltered inlet along the shores.

Victoria road hugs the shoreline, the houses and emerging flats of Bantry bay at the foot of the Table Mountain National Park, large satisfying spaces of unique Cape fynbos flora and fauna between. Cape Fynbos, meaning ‘fine bush’ grows in an almost 200km belt from There are 9,000 species occurring in the cape area, and if you glance up at Table Mountain from the sandy shores of Camps Bay you are most likely looking at nearly 2,000 different species there alone. The first residents along Camps Bay were San and the Khoi before they were all but wiped out by smallpox. From 1652 onwards the 12 Apostles and Table Mountain were covered in thick forest and used as hunting ground for the governor of the Cape. In the 1800’s no one much cared about this neck o the mountain, it was actually originally named Schoenmaker’s Gat after an old shoemaker who, as the sole resident of the area, would mend passing farmers shoes. How times have changed. The beautiful wind free beaches could not be ignored and over the years holiday makers have turned this small little bungalow scattered cove into the home of some of Cape Towns most affluent and glitzy. Mighty mansions line the mountainside and a promenade filled with restaurants and bars often packed with the those wanting to see and be seen, runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean.

Then there is the wide stretching beach of Camps Bay, stretching out towards Sea Point , the curves of Clifton’s 1 to something or the other beaches peaking out from the rocks. I am forever getting confused whether it starts with Clifton 4^th beach or 1st. There’s a big difference in the types of Clifton’s; one being a beach with far too much exercise and flexing muscles, one dog friendly, one for the ridiculously good looking and one for families. Get them mixed up and you could land up dodging beach bats in your one piece surrounded by models when all you want is to have a quite dip in the ocean. I digress, what I really love about the ocean in winter is that it is somehow actually a little bit warmer than in summer. If you wait for a passing squall to clear and the winds to change form north to south the normally mind numbingly icy cape waters rise by a few degrees, a clear ocean inviting you in for perfect surfing session or Sup paddle. Glen beach is a big favourite amongst the surfing crowd when the wave turns on, and because it’s winter you wont have to fight the crowds for a spot in the break. Winter also ushers in whale season, you can often spot pods of dolphins playing in the waves off the beach and whales spouting water into the air close to the shoreline.

We are only 18km for the city centre and we could be in another world. I think that’s the beauty of the Cape, you always have coves, valleys and hidden corners to explore. I’ve been here a mere 6 years and I still get amazed every time I make a new find. Summer may be for the beach bunnies, bronzed bodies and wine clinking by the masses, but winter is still my favourite season. The city slows down; there is no need to rush off anywhere to beat the queue, traffic or the hunt for a decent parking space. Sure its cold, that’s kind of obvious, but nothing can beat the invigoratingly fresh feeling of a brisk walk on the beach and then a duck into a warm café with the fire radiating heat, peeling away those layers of scarves and beanies and slugging down some fortifying wine. It’s the perfect way to explore the city without the hustle and bustle and stomp in some puddles armed with bright coloured gumboots. 

The rain rolls in over the beach in splattering sheets. It's only been a few hours of exploring this deeply historical and beautiful part of the coastline that forms part of Cape Town. it's not hard to see why tourists flock here in summer.  But do yourself a favour and give winter a shot, it might surprise you. 

This blog post was part of #CheapFligthsExplorers  but as always, the opinions are all my own, as with all the photos. 

Welcome to Nosy Be

A few weeks ago Mike and i were lucky enough to be invited over to the island archipelago of Nosy Be in Madagascar. 

Mora Mora in Malagasy translates to ‘relax, it will happen – it just takes time’  and it has taken us a long enough time to travel here finally and that is fitting because much of Madagascar is relatively unexplored and undiscovered, a good match then. We spent our days diving in this wonderful part of the ocean and exploring the different bays, beaches and ocean culture that makes up the Northwest coast of Madagascar. Nosy Be means "big island" in Malagasy, and one of its other nicknames translates to “the perfumed island", its first inhabitants believed to be 15th-century Swahili and Indian traders. There is a rich history of ocean life and folklore that permeates through the islets that dot the waters around the planets fourth largest island and we were very lucky to be invited into this space. We are continually amazed by the quality of diving here in Nosy Be, Mike remarking that we found numerous mature red snapper on the reefs- it’s a sign that heavy fishing is not happening in the MPA as these would normally be the first to go. Move over Zanzibar, with uncrowded reefs in such good condition compared to to others in East Africa , it makes you want to come back and see more. 

This is a destination that I believe should be on every divers potential top ten list.

Thank you to MadagasCAT , Fly Airlink and Nosy Be Tourism for showing us a very special part of the ocean. 

The crisp winter air moves over my cheeks as I tuck my scarf into my jacket outside strand street’s central train station entrance, a bustling transport hub of Friday morning commuters both local and international. Passing the delicate mosaics that depict the history of transport in the cape and beyond myself and some 300 000 other people will walk through these doors each day, revitalised after the world cup in 2010 now a free flow of transformed public space and informal trading. Weaving between bodies of the 08:00 am commute I make my way towards the Southern line, train number 139 bound for Muizenberg.  The wheels squeal into a running start as we exit the station, clicks and clacks and wobbles along the Southern coastline tracks, easy to find an open chair this time of the morning with everyone concerned with getting into the city and not heading out of it. The real joy happens when you start to leave the edges of the city centre, heading out towards the coastline of False Bay. Bustling city noise breaks into leafy suburbs, the winter season creating rich palettes of brown and green between the flattening horizon of homes leading into the ocean. They may not always run on time, but the 50 minutes it possibly takes to get to my first stop for the day is worth sitting back and admiring without the hustle and rush through traditional traffic. And just before I have to to drift into a daydream brought on by the swaying of the carriage, there she arrives on the corner of the sea.

Muizenberg, sitting in the curve of the Cape Peninsula, is a seaside resort that for over a century has been the capes surfing heart center. The ?rst place where stand-up sur?ng was recorded in SA and a wave made famous by the cult classic of Bruce Brown’s “Endless Summer, a legion of long boarding 80’s hippies developing a surfing fraternity that has called Muizenberg home. It was here that, in 1919, Heather Price became the first South African to be photographed riding a wave while standing on a board and any surfer worth their salt will tell you that Cape Town in winter brings out some of the years’ best quality waves.

But I am not the best surfer, in fact I am no kind of surfer worth any kind of salt, but that will hopefully change today in a small way. I head down to the aptly named Surfer’s Corner, turning right outside of the old Edwardian station, the smell of ocean water and baking bread emanating from the array of stores and restaurants that have appeared between the traditional Herbert Baker styled houses inside this conservation area. My aim is to do a surfing lesson with Waves for Change, a programme that was developed to plug the gap in the provision of primary social care and emotional support for vulnerable young adults growing up in South Africa’s most violent communities. Surfing has some wonderful therapeutic benefits, not just because you are out communing with the ocean, which is always a good thing, but because some 400 children that have been affected by abuse and violence who come through the waves for change program receive essential support from the coaches, a change in some has started.  Grabbing a wetsuit and heading out into the light foamy ocean, that is surprisingly warmer than the outside winter air, becomes more than just adding a fun activity to my day out, and I can never fault supporting a good cause.

It’s surprising how being out in the water lulls you into a sleepy and yet incredibly hungry state and after just two hours of falling in the surf with my arms flailing in multiple directions I have worked up a serious hunger.  Learning a new skill is not always easy work, and even though I might not be standing to ride the waves with the best of them, the appreciation for natures craftsmanship in creating these perfect curls of water there for you to ride is not lost.

“The thing you cannot show is that fantastic speed and feeling you get in the pit of our stomach. It’s the kind of wave that makes you talk to yourself,” Endless Summer, the movie.

By the time the beautiful, tingling sensation of muscles worked and bundled out of wet wetsuits into cozy jerseys and jeans I am happily talking to myself about the waves in my future, the thrill of being able to try and one-day stand for the first time, something that will keep me coming back again and again. Back through the side streets to the train station to continue on the Southbound line only a hop away towards Kalk Bay to forage for steamy, hot food to fill a gap.

Leisure and labour live side by side in this fascinating little fishing village, an ex port for the Dutch in the 1700’s and home to emancipated slaves from Batavia, Java and Malaysia in the 1800’s to todays low key fisheries operations and antique, fashion, art and restaurant bric-a-brak shops. The walk along the road towards the harbor is filled with odds and ends, passing by Kalk Bay book shops, the famous Olympia Café (known for all things baked and scrumptious) and The Ocean Deck where I stop in to check if the Yoga classes have open up for a session, just incase my poor muscles need a stretch from the morning’s surf lessons. Kalk Bay’s streets are bustling with locals and tourists, winter jackets and beanie’s of varying shapes and colours bobbing in and out of nooks and crannies on the hunt for some antique bargain.

But food must be had, so I amble along the railway lines edge, towards the sounds of seagulls and sellers collecting inside the small harbour. Snoek is the winter fish of the Cape, a long bodied, silver, sharp teethed ‘kraafontein crocodile’ that is intimately tied to the ecology, history and culture of the Western Cape. Living in the temperate waters of the southern hemisphere generations of fishermen have gone to sea to gather up their catch using hand lines and small bits of rubber to cover their fingers as this ferocious fish twists and turns. ‘Snoekies’ I remember them being called, the middlemen who gather up the catch and ply it from the roadsides across the cape to land up in local households to be pickled, braai with marmalade or mulched into pate, a staple in many homes kitchens.

Sure there is the stylish Live Bait restaurant for tapas and Harbour House if table cloths and linen is more your thing, but Kalky’s, with it’s rich lashings of vinegar on hot-to-the-touch chips washed down with crispy fried sustainable hake amidst the shouting of waiters and fish sellers, is all a I can want in life. The saltier the better. Satiated, I stroll along the harbour wall, the resident giant cape seal barking and snorting its derision that it is not being thrown any fish scraps from the slabs of the fish cleaners. When my husband was a baby he and his father would come here to throw a fishing line over the harbour wall, along with lines of other men, to catch shad fish.

The sun starts to dip into the Atlantic and I walk back towards the station, flowing with the crowds and traffic back into the city for a night on the town. It’s cold, but it’s not that cold.

The evening lights perk up the buildings as the Fugard Theatre sneaks a peak through attractive brick work on the corner of Harrington Road. Named after Athol Fugard, South Africa’s most significant and internationally acclaimed playwright. Tonight they are showing a play by director and creator David Kramer called ‘Kanala, District Six,’ a poignant homage to celebrate the memory of the people and place that was declared a white group area in 1966 and over 60,000 people had their life destroyed under the Apartheid regime.  Sober and delicate but filled with Kramer’s ability to crate a unique sense of place and music I exit the theatre and pass by the windows of the next door salsa club, sliding in to pass some hours in dance or thought while lithe and athletic men and women spin across the dance floor, warming me up instantly from the cold breeze outside. It could rain, it could not, but either way is fine by me.

….

Saturday morning starts and after a night of sweaty dancing a piece of quite contemplation and relaxation is called for. Opened in 1908 Long Street Baths on upper long have Turkish steam rooms, the women’s only admittance for the morning luring me out of the early morning cold streets and into a wall of hot steam.

Afterwards I rush into my uber, steamed and pressed and ready to explore the city centre. First stop is the Old Biscuit Mill, a red bricked standout in the artsy and rejuvenated area of Woodstock.  It’s Saturday and if I am not early enough I know there will be no parking along the tight street corners, but that wont be a problem for me. Tucked inside the Mill is the the Neighbourgoods market, jam filled with the young and hip, the odd wandering plebe scouring the lanes of handcrafted local goods and seasonal winter food delights. Sure, the Biscuit Mill market is one of the more well know markets in the city, but as far as great SA inspired fashion goes this is the spot for all things locally glamorously crafted. It is also where the infamous Test Kitchen, currently sitting at number 61 on the Worlds Best Restaurants list of 2016 and the best restaurant in Africa-intrigued?  There is always the sister restaurant, the Pot Luck Club, to tempt you away from the stands of baked, roasted and toasted pieces of the fresh food section of the market. Being a newly christened surfer I sneak out the main gate, just opposite on the right hand side of the street to Bantu Wax, an African original surf and beachwear company creating board shorts and bikinis inspired by traditional African textiles. Founded by Yodit Eklund it seeks to break the clichés of blonde, blue-eyed surf babes with images from Africa's own surf culture and what has been produced from that are funky – unique for the next time out on the water.

A short ride late I pull out my phone as I stand outside of Atlas Trading Company spice shop in Bo Kaap. Logging on to my Voice Map app the sounds of storyteller Shereen Habib fill my ears, her laughter and personal stories of an area she calls home, built on the slopes of Signal hill with a rich and colourful history as the multi coloured walls of each house.  I remember to bring my headscarf so as to avoid offending anyone when I enter the mosque on the hill. It’s an easy hop over the streets from here down to the Two Oceans Aquarium. A little bird has told me that they have a brand new exhibit, a first of it’s kind in South Africa to boast a ten-meter-long tunnel where you can learn about the ocean life that makes this country so special, and when rain is potentially threatening and the lure of heated walls and an education into the underwater world that I plan on spending some more time in while the winter waters are so inviting is not something to pass on lightly.

Dusk comes over the mountain and it’s officially been 48 hours in my city, light winter rain settles in over the mountain as I wander along the fan walk back into the bustling city centre down Buitenkant street to tuck myself into the nearest available table at Tigers Milk, off Long Street. The night is coming alive with Saturday party goers, the winter months holding more promise of finding a good drink and food special outside of the heavier tourist season, nooks and crannies filled with warming fires and wine beckon. Some will wile away the evening hours over the lines of tables, the quirky modern hipster decorations and craft beer on tap swilling around wooden platters of delicious roast leg of lamb pizza and Jack Daniels-spiked chocolate mousse. As for me, Alice through the looking glass is screening at the Labia Theatre, an old Italian Embassy ballroom that for the past 37 years has served as the cities alternative movie circuit.

My night ends with popcorn and wine amongst the old-world ambience of a city I call home, the perfect winter escape.

This post is part of the #blogathon #helloweekend 

for Cheap Flights , Cape Town Tourism and Travel Concept Solution

There is no clear estimate but it is suggested that as humans we produce over 300 million tonnes of plastic each year, and nearly half of this we use only once and then throw away. This has a major effect on our environment where small fish ingest tiny plastic particles, seabirds and marine animals like penguins and turtles often die as a result of consuming or getting tangled in various plastic products like straws and plastic bags. Plastic is a huge problem in our environment and being ocean people we had to think hard about our reasons for participating in the campaign, because ideally in this world we would want zero plastic all together, but until that is the case or a feasible reality we reason that we are going to have to get proactive and not let it find it's way into the ocean. And this means that we start taking responsibility for the plastic we find in our immediate space and reusing and recycling it. The great thing is that it is actually pretty simple and easy to recycle. If you have young ones this can become a fun way of getting them to understand their impact on the environment and get creative to minimise this. In South Africa local artist Mbongeni Buthelezi collects plastic bags around Johannesburg and melts them to create art he calls "plastic fantastic" (video link here) Canadian Artist Aurora Robson makes some of the most ethereal and mind bending sculptures using recycled and use plastic bottles (do visit her website here) 

Our only limit here seems to be our imagination and for us as travellers we decided to take a page out of these creatives books and find was that we could be more responsible with reusing any plastic we come across in our travels. 

As part of the #Tangledtreelovestravelling Campaign we decided to take the different bottles and find creative ways to recycle and reuse them with this series of short videos. These are not our original ideas, we spent days scouring the web for different ways to reuse plastic bottles and picked the most applicable ones for people like us who love to travel a lot.

These wines are packaged with PET, a recyclable polyethyline terephthalate, unbreakable thermal polymer that is also up to 80% lighter than glass (even the cartons they come in are recyclable.) Very handy if you are wanting to carry these wines far and wide.

So instead of telling you how much we like the wine, you will have to buy some to find out for yourself, we decided to take the different bottles and find creative ways to recycle and reuse them with this series of short videos. 

Enjoy your wine, travel with it, but bring it home and find creative ways to reuse and then recycle, it's not hard.

Thanks to Van Loveren (@vanloverenwines) and Tangled Tree (@TangledTree) for letting us get creative with their product this campaign. 

Self Watering Garden with a recycled bottle. 

If you don't have the finances to install a home watering system for when you are away, plus you want to recycle, this is a handy slow drip system to keep your plants happy till you get home, just don't forget to remove the bottle and drop it off at your nearest recycling depo when you are done. (link Here for Cape Town recycling drop off points ) 

Homemade Mosquito Trap 

Camping is something that Mike and I love to do, but as anyone who has been out in the open will know , nothing destroys a good night sleep than the sound of a mosquito, it can ruin even the best of travel adventures. The Mosquito is attracted to moisture, heat and carbon dioxide, so here is where our trap comes in. The yeast breaks down the sugar and creates carbon dioxide,which is heavier than the air we breathe, so it sits in the bottle and the mosquito is attracted into the bottle , as opposed to your feet, leaving you to enjoy a good nights sleep. We tried this trap out and we caught a lot of small flies, give it a go and tell us what you think?

Mole Deterrent 

Using a recycled plastic bottle we made a little mole deterrent. The concept is quite simple, it's known as the "singing bottle." The vibrations created by the bottle that turns in the wind thanks to the cut squares  is said to annoy the moles and they make their way somewhere else instead of your garden. This is a favourite method that my father in law uses all the time in his long standing feud with the moles on his property that has been going on for the past five years. Good luck!

Join our guest post this week by Paul Trevino as he takes us on a journey through ten exquisite destinations that should be on your travel list this year

It’s 2016, and we’re finally becoming more aware of the complexity, fragility and inestimable value of our planet Earth. Ecotourism is gaining increasingly more popularity, and that’s mainly because the destinations revealed are exclusive, stunning, and particularly alluring. Today’s traveler wants escape the hustle and bustle of the big city and escape into a world of serenity, abundant vegetation, and sheer peace. The following green adventures are the best on Earth, so if you want to visit a new and breathtaking destination this year, make sure to add them to your travel plans.

1.          The Norwegian Fjords

Commonly known as the "Land of the Fjords", Norway prides with over 2,000 fjords. Some of them are thousands of years old, and they’re truly spectacular. These rare natural beauties attract travellers from all over the world; so if you’re looking for a wild, adventurous travel spot, the Norwegian Fjords should be on your list. Among some of the most famous, we should definitely mention Nærøyfjord and Geirangerfjord.

2.         Kerala, India

Kerala is one of India’s finest travel destinations. It prides with stunning beaches, virgin forests and adventurous boat tours. If you like hiking and trekking, explore Gaths Mountains and relish in the green biodiversity; but if you’d rather sit in the sun and enjoy swimming, then you should head to the golden-sand resorts of Kovalam and Varkala.

 3. Table Mountain, Cape Town

Cape Town’s landmark and probably the most recognized natural attraction is Table Mountain. The flat-topped mountain is a significant point of interest in the city because it offers stunning views, a varied fauna and flora, and incredible hiking and trekking spots.

4. Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon is located near Reykjavik, its stunning city capital. Formed in the middle of a lava field due to intense volcanic activity, the lagoon is an all-natural outside swimming pool with geothermal water. Those hunting for a place to relax their mind and body should definitely check out this amazing place.

5. The Canary Islands

This surreal Spanish heaven is the best place in the world to spend a rejuvenating getaway. The Canary Islands are surrounded by dramatic mountains, charming seaside villages and quaint pueblos. You’ll instantly fall in love with the cultural diversity and scenic beauty of the surroundings.

6.  Palau

Palau is a place like no other on Earth. It prides with an underwater ecosystem you’ve never seen before, as well as with endless natural wonders. The archipelago spans nearly 200 volcanic and limestone islands, most of which have never been touched by human foot. Diving is the most common type of activity here, but also snorkeling and kayaking.

7. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a tropical adventure land with misty crater lakes, secluded beaches and alluring waterfalls. Explore this place foot, with a kayak or on horseback and relish in its natural beauties. Costa Rica offers a wealth of outdoor adventure for travellers, such as world class surfing, high altitude trails and exceptional vistas of the abundant vegetation.

 8.  The Amazonian Rainforest

The amazing Amazonian Rainforest is home to the world’s highest biodiversity of plants. The whole basin encompasses 7 million sq. km; nearly 60% of the forest is included in Brazil. This wonderful natural reserve has over 40,000 species of plants and close to 1,300 birds. Exploring it will be like visiting a wild zoo.

9. The Galapagos Islands 

Galapagos Islands are an isolated amalgam of volcanic islands with an incredibly fragile ecosystem. It is completely secluded from the rest of the world, located in the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean. If you’re searching for peaceful, remote travel destination to enjoy a relaxing holiday, Galapagos Islands is the answer.

10. The Great Himalayan National Park

India’s Great Himalayan National Park is home to nearly 180 species of mammals and rare birds. The wildlife surrounding this reserve is breathtaking, as well as the scenery and the cultural diversity. The best activities onsite are hiking and trekking; explore untouched trails by human foot, get to know more about the fascinating Indian people and their customs, and have the time of your life admiring the world’s highest peak – the Everest.

The world is packed with exquisite travel places. However, only some are truly spectacular. Now that the modern tourist has started to value eco-tourism more than in the past, the 10 amazing destinations we mentioned above will certainly exceed all their expectations.

Paul Trevino is a travelling freak who has travelled many destinations around the world. He also loves writing about his travelling experiences and the places he has explored. He writes for Cape Portfolios which offers rental villas in Cape Town. You can also find him at Google+ and Twitter.

It’s the holiday season again. Boney M and Mariah Carey (you know what I’m taking about, the shameful CD that you hide and pretend you never bought once upon a 90’s day) is blasting through Clicks. Michael Buble has got another singing x-mas holiday special coming out. Everything smells like coconut tanning oil and those that can, and actually those that shouldn’t really, start wearing their shirts unbuttoned with shorts and flip-flops in the shopping centers shamelessly. 

AAAh the sweet smell and sounds of summer are here.  Even M-Net has got their go-to-summer season song playing on endless adverts at every opportunity.  Time to dust off the beach umbrellas, get out those dam silly paddle bat ball things that clog up most of the Clifton beaches available space and get sunburnt.

Most that might know me well know that I am a bit of a giddy x-mas fool. I love the lights, the tinsel, decorating a tree or the house or pretty much any available surface I can find all the while singing, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” on a manic loop. As much as I love all things x-mas related I have always never really connected with the image of x-mas that is projected at us through mainstream media this time of year, mostly (and to state the obvious) because it is unlike any kind of x-mas I have ever experienced.  I don’t know what a white X-mas is. There are no sleigh bells in the snow, there’s no snow actually, and the thought of watching all these people huddled around fires wearing turtle necks and wooly socks makes me ill, mostly because we are going through a giant heat wave south of the equator.

X-mas time is blindly hot sunshine; the smell of braai’s and family both wanted and unwanted arriving on doorsteps. And of course the beach, I mean just look at these amazing beaches we have in this country http://blueflag.org.za/wessa there is a reason that we are a top holiday destination and its etched in the silky soft white sands and dynamic vegetation that covers our coastlines from point to point.

So in the spirit of a South African x-mas filled with all things sun and surf I’ve put together some little tips and tricks for maximising your time spend at the coastline.

That bit between the arrows, thats a rip current 

Safety At The Seaside:

Every year across this coastline we have deaths related to drowning’s and they are incredibly tragic and can often be avoided if you just do a few simple things.

-Parents, watch your kids.  I cannot enforce this enough. To many times now I have had to be on the beach watching helplessly as a young child is being given CPR, sometimes with no result. It takes a fraction of a second for the little ones around us to get washed off their feet, even in the smallest of waves, and go under the foam.

- If you see that someone is in trouble in the water first up appoint someone as a spotter and then get another person to find/call help.  Put the spotter at the best possible vantage point, and they need to point at the person constantly. Don’t loose sight of whoever is in the water; this is so critical for a boat or lifesaver to get some kind of direction to find the person in trouble as quickly as possible.

-Rip Tides: If they draw you out to sea, conserve your energy and tread water. They normally dissipate after the backline of the surf, which means you are not going to drift out to the horizon. It’s going to feel worse than what it is. Try and draw attention to yourself by waving your hands, but the main thing here is relax, especially if the water is cold. Once the currant dissipates and even while you are drifting, swim sideways or 90 degrees to the direction you are drifting. You can’t swim against it, and this is where people land up in serious trouble. Once you have slowed down and stopped don’t panic, you are not in the middle of the ocean and you will most likely be able to calmly get back to shore. To not get in this situation in the first place, look out for the lifeguard flags. Those lovely guys are not there to sit around in red shorts looking pretty. They put those flags on the beaches so that you can see what areas are best for bathing and they are there for your safety. Listen to them if they tell you to move.  If in doubt, don’t paddle out.

-Accidents happen when beginner surfers take their boards and try and surf where lots of small kids or groups of people are swimming. One ill-timed wave and suddenly you have a giant board careening through people's faces at pace. I’ve seen broken teeth and noses from these kinds of things. Be conscious of where you are surfing, especially if you are a beginner and don’t have such great control over your board. Looking cool in the surf is going to drop down a few notches when you axe little jimmy in the nose and there’s blood and angry parents on the shore.

-Even when you are swimming or surfing keep an eye out on everyone in the water. Take notice around you, just care a little because when/if something does happen your quick reaction can be the difference between someone drowning or going home to their families safe and sound.

-Don’t dive into tidal pools. This is just asking for a spinal injury.

-Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen.  Don’t feel like putting it on? You have been warned.

-Choppy, windy waters? Just put down that fun little inflatable dingy you got in your x-mas stocking because there’s a good chance you are not a South African Olympic rower and you could end up drifting out to sea.

-Raise the alarm or assist depending on your capabilities. You know what you are capable of; don’t create another person for the rescuer to have to look after if it’s not necessary.

-Learn basic CPR, it’s so easy and quick to learn and can save someone’s life. I know, I’ve seen it first hand a few times.

The Big Guns:

By now anyone who is remotely ocean going might be aware of the Shark Spotters program in the Western Cape. They have those little huts with flags situated at specific beaches across the coastline.  Pay attention to them, here is a quick guide to the flags for reference (above) If you hear a siren, don’t go into a blind panic, just quietly swim back to shore- these amazing people are doing what they can to try and keep you safe on your holidays, so don’t dismiss them or their warnings.

Twitter: @sharkspotters

Need help?

The NSRI is your first port of call if someone goes missing in the water, be it a swimmer, board rider or boat. Memorize or write down the time, place and direction that you last saw the missing boat/person and then phone them asap.

They also have a handy app if you are out on the sea boating and run into trouble called SAfeTrx. It works by having certain details of the trip you are taking at sea logged into the app and then if something happens you can hit an emergency button and an emergency contact will be called. They can then call the Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC) who will have your trip data over a server (which sends your location to their servers periodically anyway) allowing the NSRI to get to you.

Download it here:  Andorid   Itunes

112 - National Emergency from your cell phone.

Saldhana: +27 (0)22 714 1726
Cape Town: +27 (0)21 449 3500
Port Elizabeth: +27 (0)41 507 1911
East London: +27 (0)43 700 2100
Durban: +27 (0)31 361 8567
Richard's Bay: +27 (0)35 753 1991

021 938 330 –MRCC Emergency Number

Some Basic Beach Etiquette:

-Clean up after yourself. Don’t leave a giant mound of mess behind you because it’s incredibly damaging to our amazing environment that we have and really you can be better than that. If there are not dustbins at the beach, or they are overflowing, bag it and take it home.

-Decant your drinks into anything that is not glass if you can. Ideally I would love everyone to only use reusable glass because it’s better for the environment and for our oceans, but you also don’t want to be that guy/girl who shatters glass all over the parking lot or on the beach sand so that the rest of us have to spend our holidays pulling out shards of glass bottle from our bleeding feet. Try using a water bottle, or anything that you can use again instead of buying mounds of plastic containers.

-I love music. You love music to I bet. But I might not like what you like, and here we need some mutual human respect. Don’t play your soundbox or cell phone at full tilt. Just wear headphones or I’m going to have to strategically kick sand on you.

-Our sweet little four legged friends need to be on leashes. Never mind that on certain beaches if you are caught without your dog on a leash you face a very nice hefty fine. The beaches are going to be full and as much as you love fido, not everyone else wants a wet, hairy canine crashing through their neatly setup beach party. And don’t even make me tell you to pick up any mess after you.

-If you are going to smoke, be a nice person and do it down wind or around the corner from the rest of the population. Just because you smoke doesn’t mean everyone around you has to as well. 

-Man don’t you just love playing sports on the beach? Yay for you. But for god’s sake, can you and your super selves please not demarcate your rugby field to include the rest of us who are also using the beach for normal activities, like sitting on a towel and eating sandwiches. Unless you are Victor Matfield with your top off I don’t want you and your tennis/rugby/cricket/soccer ball crashing through everyone each time you miss.

-Shake that sandy beach towel downwind you heathen.

Right, so now at least after reading this you are going to be leaving for that perfect day out in the sun with hopefully a few more tools than when you started.  Have a wonderful time soaking in some sand and sea everyone.

Merry X-mas form Mike and I

The boat engines revs in the water.

“Out, out , out quickly here come the dolphins!”

Blazing out of the water and hauling yourself onto the dugout you shake off any of the water from your snorkel mask, awkwardly kicking your fins round your body and onto the base of the boat. It doesn’t matter that it’s a frenzy of feet and salty water, there is a pod of wild dolphins cruising past the atoll and your boat captain is hell bent on giving you that perfect island experience- a chance to swim with dolphins and if your lucky get a underwater selfie.

I’ve seen this first hand, especially in places like Mnemba Atoll in Zanzibar.  On any given day I could count at least 20 boats out, filled with divers and snorkelers under the water and bobbing on the surface throughout a good diving day. As soon as a pod of dolphins moves through the area the boats speed around like the pod, chasing them down in an attempt to get in front of the group and quickly plop their tourists in the water. If you miss the pod because they are moving to quickly through the area, not a worry. The dive boat hauls everyone out the water, races ahead of both the pod and other boats to try and deposit you in the prime position. What is effectively happening here is that the dolphins are getting harassed. Even if you have been taken in by the romance of adventure holidaying on an exotic island, some part of you must feel a little bit uneasy when this kind of interaction takes place.  How far do we have to go to force a wild animal encounter, and can our drive to have wild animals interact with us be to their detriment?

As humans we cannot seem to help ourselves. We have this desire to want to touch and find a connection with wild animals. It the exact reason why you will find programs on people who have exotic pets and why people are enthralled by Animal Planet series that have a presenter in speechless ecstasy as a wild animal comes into the camera frame with them mere whispers away.

But that’s Attenborough, not us tommy tourists that travel across the globe, and we are not experts.  As more remote areas are now becoming accessible to tourism the chances of having an encounter with a wild animal is far greater than back in the day where you needed a whole bullion of cash, large boats and an army of Sherpa’s to get even remotely near the area of a wild species habitat.

Seeing an animal in the wild is probably one of the more memorable moments you will have as a traveller, and I think in this day and age we have to realize that truly wild places are not that easy to come by, albeit that they still are around us. People are going to want to interact with wildlife whether we agree with it or not, so perhaps its time we start talking about the ethics around this practice because there are some seriously dubious experiences out there, and like the just released documentary Blood Lions , which is looking into lion petting and its links to the canned lion hunting industry, we need to really think about how our small actions contribute to a bigger problem. 

Interacting with animals is generally considered a “hot topic’, and if anyone has ever peeked into online forums and comments sections when people write articles on the issues around animal interactions, you will often be inundated with many, many heated responses both for and against. It is like wading into the deeper ethical waters and it can be incredibly intimidating if you don’t have a background or deeper information on the issues. There is a lot of shouting, unflinching beliefs and sometimes name-calling. It can get ugly, but that should not scare us away from addressing the issue. This might feel like a long list of don’ts, so on the brighter side DO support the guys that are getting it right!!  Thank them, congratulate them, give them shout outs and all other means of encouragement because in a world where it is very easy to jump on the band wagon of wild animal tourism only for profit, the people working passionately to try an adhere to their ethics as well as protect a species are to be applauded for their effort.

A good example of a sanctuary that works to rehabilitate would be SANCOB  in and the African Penguin and Sea Bird Sanctuary based in South Africa. Here they have exactly all the right mixes that you would require of a research and rehabilitation facility, but the key is that their primary goal is what is in the animal’s interest. They are also dealing with endangered species and species that are at risk, but they don’t charge tourists to sit in the pens with the birds that are at risk. I have been criticised for speaking up about projects that I feel are not really adhering to standards of a rehabilitation centre and sanctuary should be, but I think that if we as tourists and travellers don’t speak up, then we are only be complacent when it comes to accepting bad practices.

A lot of the things we can do are actually quite simple and if you want to make subtle differences, as tourists and travellers we should really not feign ignorance and make it somebody else’s problem. You don’t need to support bad practices, because if you do it will just keep happening.

-If you are diving in the ocean, DON’T TOUCH!

Really now, I can’t actually get over the idea that this still needs to be explained to so many divers, and on many occasions I have seen this happen. One of the first things that you are taught when you start diving is to keep your paws to yourself. This is not just for your safety (so you don’t go provoking or popping your delicate fingers into potentially poisonous creatures-which can result in serious injury and sometimes death) but also for the animals and the ocean environments sake. Harassing and chasing after ocean creatures when they are not interested in you can affect them and their behaviors, and breaking off pieces of coral, picking up souvenir is just a blatantly stupid thing to be doing.  The ocean is a mysterious place, and even though sea creatures can be pretty resilient we still don’t fully know the effects of our unwanted interactions with them. Compound your negligent action with the thousands of other divers that also visit the same dive sites throughout the year and don’t assume that it wont have an effect.  Your actions do count, you special little human you.

-Let your money do the talking.

If you are out on a boat and going whale/dolphin/seal watching and you feel as if the boat driver is harassing the animals in order to get you to an encounter, say something. Speak up; it’s your right to as a paying customer and as someone who cares about our impact on the environment and you should not be made to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about it.  If speaking up is too much, then make a point of letting the company know that you found the experience disturbing. Sometimes companies that run these kind of programs are not even aware that this kind of practice is happening, it’s not about naming and shaming but helping them to understand that as a paying tourist you would like better standards from them. If that doesn’t work or they don’t seem to care or take future note, then take it online and let others know how you feel in forums like trip advisor.

-If you are in the water and you are lucky enough to have a wild creature swim past or find you something of a curiosity-let the animal come to you. Don’t chase after an experience, it dulls the beauty of the entire interaction and you are not fooling anyone. 

-Don’t just accept culture as an excuse for animal cruelty.  Just because people have been doing it or eating it for however many millennia does not mean it is still applicable in this day and age where we need to be more conscious of what we are doing to our environment.

-Don’t have your picture taken posing with wild animals, especially if it is out in local markets where a wild animal is kept on some kind of leash and made to pose with tourists for cash.

-Don’t purchase any souvenirs made from animal products. No shells, turtle shell, coral, fur and do I even have to say ivory and rhino horn? Many of these are also illegal to transport home, so just don’t.  

-Avoid riding wild animals like elephants as part of a tourism experience. And if you are on the ocean, for goodness sake don’t attempt to ride whale sharks/sunfish you will come across like the noddle head you are if anyone gets a photo of it on social media.

-Ask questions, and no question is to dumb, if someone makes you think that it is a silly question to ask then consider that a red flag. I do.  When a project is open and accessible with what they are doing and can give you validated reasons why they are doing it (backed up by actual science mind you- I cannot tell you how many times we have come across projects that say they are helping the environment with their research but cannot produce a single paper that has this research in it.) If you are not sure or don’t understand what the project is telling you do some research before hand and ask around for some experts opinions in the respective fields. The Internet is an amazing tool for gathering information on projects, and believe me if something is a bit off, chances are someone is talking about it online.

-Don’t go on any swim with the dolphins programs. There is a very good article written by Journalist Christina M. Russo that goes into the deeper issues of why we feel the need to have these kind of interactions, and the damage that we are actually doing: Please don’t do this….ever.  

It’s too easy to not ask the difficult questions, harder still too admit that there are faults and to work on changing a practice so that our wild animals are protected and educate the public at the same time. Not everyone can get it right, but we can join in the conversation and make it possible to change, we will see a difference.

Animal tourism only exists because of tourists- it’s time to start being a responsible one.

#Animalrightsintourism