Exploring the West Coast {National Park and Yzerfontein)

Hello there!

We explored the West Coast last weekend and I had the privilege of experiencing the flower season. I am so happy that Spring has sprung and that the weather is becoming gradually warmer. We camped at Yzerfontein Caravan Park (I grew up here over summer break in December. I have spent all my summer's here up until the age of 18). I have not been here in a year and a half''s time, so I was super excited when my parents said "let's go camping!". 

I took a gazillion pictures and I had a tough time sorting through them and deciding which I am going to share with you. I find photography challenging and exciting. I don't want my pictures to just be a picture. I want it to say something. I have to say I found it quite challenging photographing the flowers. It is not easy and I am not quite satisfied with the outcome. I will just have to research the topic a bit more. The first few pictures was all taken in The West Coast National Park and it is just flower galore. There is also some animals to see and there is a shop (which is open in peak season) and a restaurant where you can enjoy light meals after you're done exploring the park.

The lagoon rounds up into the West Coast National Park. I am a bit obsessed with the sea, so I took even more beach photo's! This was really tough going through them. I tried different angles, compositions and my shoes even made they debut!

9km from Yzerfontein there is "Die Padstal". Here you can enjoy a cup of coffee, freshly baked scones, cake and light meals outside while listening to the sounds of the exotic bird's. They have a shop with hand made products, jams, clothing and here you can buy a fresh baked farm bread. The bread is delicious! You can ask anyone who's been there! The service is always with a smile and the food is delicious. Off course we stopped here for a scone and coffee and I took off with my camera in tow. 

My friend's parents owns a house at Yzerfontein. Everything about the house is hand made and they re-did the house all by themselves.

Now, this is the fun part. I went a bit bonkers on the beach with my camera trying out different angles, different times of the day, different compositions ect. Some of the shots came better out than expected and some still needs some practice. I had an absolute blast!

We even had some visitors. Don't let them fool you by their cute faces. They are quite the vicious ones. We fed them some meat, but they didn't want to take take it out our hands, oh no they flicked it out with their paw and we had to stand back a bit and then they grabbed it and ran away. It's actually quite cute. I enjoyed their company. I really miss my black cat, Batman.

I love the West Coast. There are all these cute town further up like Paternoster and Vredenburg and then Saldanah. Lovely people, great company, lay back atmosphere and Yzerfontein is just over an hour's drive from Cape Town (with a car only). And don't forget about the Strandloper (link not affiliated) restaurant. If you have not been here before you are missing out! There is loads to do, so jump in your car and go for a ride!

Do you have a place that you like to visit? Tell me about it in the comments!

xoxo

We went up Table Mountain

Good day guys!

Recently my sister celebrated her birthday. She has never been up Table Mountain with the Cable Car (she walked up once-brave girl she is), but she had to experience the cable way as well. 

We enjoyed an hour or two exploring and taking a.lot of photo's (well I did to everybody else annoyance) where we ended the morning with lunch at the Waterfront. 

I don't have to much to say accept that if you have not been up Table Mountain come and visit and add it to your bucket list! 

I want to go again!

xoxo

A lovely portrait of the birthday girl

Me:)

Me having a moment

Sisters xx

The three musketeers ( I know it is so cliché haha)

A pano with Lionshead (you can walk up Lionshead too)

Fresh oysters for lunch (I do not eat oysters)

The cable car making its way down

This is one of my favourite shots.

The Cable Way house and shop with Lions head

This is your view from the cable car

Clifton Side

View from the Cable Way house at the bottom

The Mother City

Table Mountain from The Waterfront

Waterfront Farris Wheel

Reading old tweets

Well Hello there!
I thought for today I would go back in time. It would have been nice to have a time travel machine at this this stage because what I am about to share with you actually needs some explaining, I think.

I have seen a few videos of these and thought well, this looks like something I would find amusing. So I asked Twitter to send me my archive. Now, going through 2000+ tweets (some of them really just a pit of dullness) is quite a mission, but I chose 12 that I thought might be amusing/concerning/funny.

Starting with my 1st official tweet

I just couldn't think of something more creative? Lovely. The problem is, it is there.Forever. #justsaying

Then it kind of went down hill

Really? Who in his right mind would only use this few characters and waste a tweet that could have made a difference in somebody's day? Maybe I thought "hey, this would remind me some day" of what? It is insignificant for other people really. I don't think they care what you are counting down to. Oh wait, this was a month before my wedding. Who would have guessed.

Hmm, do I want an apple? Am I referring to Apple inc? Hmm maybe I am an apple. Goodness. I wish I could remember. What if it is something of significance? Maybe a password for a bank vault or something! haha

(What a revelation!!!Pitbull is WHITE?!)

I am very, very ashamed (and amused) of this tweet. I am sorry Pitbull. I have NO IDEA what I was thinking...It sounded great in my head.

All the spelling errors! And I should be thankful. There is random people that think I am interesting. And then did I mean this literally or "twitter wise"?! This is a bit of a concern. 

Sometimes I am just plain idiotic. I have an idea this had something to do with our London trip. Who would have guessed that?! It's that typical thing of "let's post a one word hash tag tweet and hope someone asks me about it". I am still waiting for that question...

 And then I was also one of those people. I don't have anything to say. Oh wait, it is cold, let's say something about the weather. Oh thank you captain obvious!

 And sometime you need a kick in the face. I think this was when I saw the first videos of Llamas in Hats or somebody the unicorn. Dear me. 

WOW! Aren't I just a ray of sunshine. Again one of those wasted tweets, This isn't Facebook. Nobody cares and nobody is going to ask you what is wrong. I was still working at Flight Centre though...

(Today is a bad day. How much more rude and incompetence should I accept?)

Hmm, another ray of sunshine-brought to you by Ivyline. I am thinking to myself. Was it really necessary to share this?

Oh.my.word. I was one of those people too! This is so sad! I wonder if I was thinking "hmm lets look for some attention". Where should I hide my face?

This is getting ridiculous. I really was a lousy tweeter. I did move back though.. something positive happened. Yeah me.

Looking through this tweets I want to slap myself. I have to say I changed quite a bit and my tweets are pretty cool lately. (hahaha no shame in self promotion). You can click on the twitter icon on the left and follow me ;)

I have learned a few things

♥ Once it is on the net, it is really difficult to get rid of

♥ If you thought twitter is a great way to get some "support" or "haai shame" you are sadly mistaken. Twitter is for the cool, down to the point people. They don't have time for sorry sandy.

♥ Keep it short and simple but not one word or encryptions nobody has time for deciphering your issues.

♥ Something in your head does not always look good on paper/the net.

♥ Oh, and when people follow you-be thankful. Without followers you would be an egg icon (that's when you don't have a profile picture).

I found this quite amusing. I hope you did too. Don't make the same mistakes I did! Do you have a tweet(s) you wish you never put out there? Please share with us in the comments!

Have a brilliant weekend. I am off to a kitchen tea.

Speak to you soon!

xoxo

My dream destination

Lately I have been thinking a lot, mostly about destinations. I also found myself pinning destinations and looking up facts and talking to people about traveling.  I have also been reading blogs about where people would like to travel to or revisit. I would like to share with you my nr 1 destination I would like to visit (before I die of course). 

I have had this fascination with New York for quite some time now. I don’t really have an explanation; all I know is there is a piece of my heart in New York. My dad asked me why I wanted to go there (he is really not into going over sees as we say). So, I turned to him and asked him why he wanted to visit St Helena (which is basically just one big giant rock off the coast of Africa) and why he wanted to go to Gamkaskloof (this place is as hot as hell if I had to imagine hell) and then I rest my case and he understood. I still remember September 11^th like yesterday even though I was not directly affected by it. I just need to go and I am going to leave it at that.

New York is a photographers dream. New York is a foodies dream. New York is a travelers dream. There is SO much to do and see. You cannot possibly be bored there at all! The only decision I have to make, apart from that I am going in 3 or 5 years’ time (depends on the savings) is whether I should go in summer or winter? 

Since I decided to go I was saying winter. I want a white Christmas and I want to be there for the dropping of the ball in Times Square on new year’s. It’s just that Central Park is so beautiful in summer, but it is just as pretty in winter. I mean you can skate at the park and who does not like that. Black and white photography is also just so good in winter with the snow and everything. Man, why is it so heard. When would you suggest I go and why? Leave me comment.

I went and googled and Pinterest some pictures. I mean look at these!

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New York has a very rich history. I found this nifty website with a whole New York Timeline*. Did you know that New York has 722miles (1161.95km) of subway tracks!? Have you ever wondered why Big Apple? Well, The Big Apple is a term coined by musicians meaning to play the big time. I find this very interesting. 

I stumbled across this blog, First timers guide to NewYork *. Obviously I have not been there, but this seem really helpful. Also, if you are like me and like “useless facts of the day” you do want to go and read 40 blow your mind facts about NYC *. I am preparing for this trip and I have lists (I love making lists) about what I want to photograph (and for inspiration) I am following New York Airbook on Instagram*. His photos are amazing and I hope I get the opportunity to take shots like these.

So, these are a few things I would like to do in New York:

♥Visit Ground Zero to pay my respects

♥Get a tattoo at one of the best shops in NYC

♥Eat a corn dog

♥Ride in a yellow cab

♥Ride the subway

♥Ride a bike in Central Bike (maybe through the city)

♥Skate in Central Park

♥Go for a run in Central Park

♥Watch a show on Broadway

♥Visit Brooklyn

♥Visit the Istore..and maybe buy something (hahahaha)

♥Be there for the countdown and dropping of the ball at New Year in Times Square!

♥Ride the ferry

♥Do as much free stuff as possible

♥Get a tour with a local to check out all the local spots!

♥Maybe visit a club…( I’m still thinking about this)

My main objective is to experience the culture, eat funny stuff we don't get in SA and  take as much interesting photos as possible. I want to take pictures that people want to look at. 

I made a photography bucket list:

♥Aerial shot from the top of a building (empire state if possible?)

♥Black&White shots ALL OVER the city

♥Grand Central Station in colour and Black&White

♥Times Square at night!

♥Skyline at night (and day)

♥Central Park at day and night, colour and Black&White

♥Brooklyn Bridge at funny angles in Black&White

♥Central Park on Christmas Day

♥A Yellow Cab! I need one of that photo’s like I have above in B&W with the yellow

♥A street vendor selling corn dogs (and maybe a doughnut or two)

♥Ground Zero

♥Buildings, buildings, buildings and did I mention buildings (any suggestions?)

♥The sunset at Brooklyn Bridge

This is my dream. This is where I would like to go. I will probably work in a side trip to Washington DC as well and of course visit my friend. I am going to do anything and everything in my power to make this dream a reality. 

I would like to hear from you if you have a destination that tickles your fancy? Please share your dream destination with us!

I will speak to you soon!

xoxo

 *These links are not affiliated links.