“Quirky, unusual, fresh, and like nothing we’ve seen before…” – i-escape.com
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Exploring the World's Longest Golf Course in the Outback
It was conceived over “couple of beers” and no doubt a bottle of overproof Bundaberg rum – as you would expect in the outback of the worlds driest continent. The Nullarbor Links has opened in the Australian outback and a golf buggy won’t cut it on this course’s fairways, which span much of the dry…
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Bugs on the menu – The Explorers Club Dinner
Every year, the Explorers Club (the esteemed New York one) holds its annual black-tie fund-raising dinner and cocktail hour at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, featuring its famous array of unusual eats and bug-filled dishes. Just some of the things on the hors d’oeuvres menu that night: Yak Wellington, sweet-and-sour bovine penis, maggot-covered strawberries,…
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Top 20 Inspirational Travel Books of the past century
These are the books that have inspired generations to travel, and to write: the best of their genre in the past 100 years – by Steve Keenan
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Selinda Canoe Trail in National Geographic top 25 Adventures
Selinda Canoe Trail (see post on the trail, which we tested this year) has been included in the National Geographic Adventure 25 Best New Trips for 2010.
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Angus Paradice (age 11) wins Adventure Award
TWO MONGOLIAN ADVENTURES THIS MONTH!!! When Angus Paradice was 11, he went to the Nadaam festival in Mongolia two years ago on a family holiday and watched the traditional horse racing for children, thinking: ”I could do that.” Back at home in Scone, north-west of Newcastle, he trained for nine months, riding his horse 22…
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Horst gored by Rhino
True to form Horst (who contributed greatly to the ambience in the Explorers Club) has run into an ambush; a rather large grey aggressive one, while he was photographing it. Luckily he is back on his feet, after some rather nasty surgery to his rear, and full of beans after some care from Anne and…
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Breaking News – 'The Library' to join the Explorers Club stable
There is to be an exciting new addition to the Explorers Club stable in 2010, situated next to the existing Explorers Club in Franschhoek. The new property is to be named ‘The Library’ which will consist of two en-suite bedrooms, a further pool suite, a study/cinema and glorious views from the vast upstairs living area.…
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The Tale of Steve and Kat
June 2005 is the year and a long story begins. A tale of fellow adventurers, lives travelling in parallel, with similar goals and aspirations, culminating in the most longstanding of feuds. The battle of landrover versus landcruiser. After a long day in the heat of Namibia, on a long and dusty road at dusk, a…
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Barossa's delectable local produce
What a great tradition! Steeped in a long history of home produce the Barossa Valley, north of Adelaide, has established a farmers market full of mouth-watering goodness. When on a recent tour of the winelands over there I popped in on a Saturday morning and started with a trademark and gooey organic egg and home-cured…
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The Snakeman of Zagreb
Neven Vrbanic, professor of all things scaly and with forked tongue, has been surrounded by snakes since he was seven years old (and president of Croatian Union of Exotic Animals). An obsession that will live with him to the grave, and he will no doubt take a few along with him down there. We all…
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Saskia endures 1000 km on horseback across Mongolia
Twenty-five riders mounted their horses amidst the ruins of the Great Khaan’s ancient capital Kharkhorin, to face a gruelling 1000 km race across the empty wilderness of Mongolia. This was no ordinary horse race. The Mongol Derby was not a test of the horse’s speed, but of the rider’s skill and endurance… Franschhoek’s own Saskia Van Heeren has…
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A Remarkable Adventure connecting two swamps in Botswana
We went ‘testing’ a new canoe route on the Selinda Reserve, with an old fingerless mate Dorian Hoy, in between the Okavango and Linyanti swamps in May. Anyone who wants to witness an extraordinary natural phenomenon must do this trip. The annual flood of the Okavango Swamps has come early and for the first time in…
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The Classic Safari Boot
The multi-talented and ever useful Safari Boot. Can be ordered on line from Bata Kenya and posted anywhere around the globe. Even comes in the ‘skin’ design now. Worn with socks, sans-socks, climbs mountains and walks through swamps. Has even been known to hold quantities of red wine for consumption. Long lasting and extremely comfy…
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Franschhoek La Motte Classic Music Festival 31 October – 1 November
On the weekend 31 October – 1 November Franschhoek once again hosts a exciting variety of classical performers in an event that has become a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike. This year is the first time it is staged in association with La Motte Estate, taking it to even greater heights. Download the…
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Franschhoek Open Gardens Festival 24 & 25 October
Visit 10 of Franschhoek’s most spectacular gardens as they burst into bloom this summer. Programme. This year Franschhoek is proud to launch the Franschhoek Open Gardens Talks featuring well known Gardening Celeb Keith Kirsten (10:30am both Saturday and Sunday at the School Hall)and local speakers Bridget Kitley – herb & potager garden expert(Sunday at 14:30pm…
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Franschhoek families execute a safari
Five families. Ten adults (but could be classified otherwise) and thirteen children from Franschhoek decided to go on safari. South African, Dutch, Australian and Scottish. A cocktail recipe for disaster. The unfortunate hangover was for the neighbouring campers, that unbeknown to them, had to endure the onslaught of Franschhoek-on-tour. Your neighbours from the bottom-of-the-barrel; soused…
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Franschhoek 2009 Michelangelo Wine Awards
Grand D’OR WINNERS 2009 Allee Bleue Wines Allee Bleue Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006 Graham Beck Graham Beck Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Graham Beck Graham Beck Pheasants 2008 La Motte La Motte Millennium 2006 ESTATE WINE VINTAGE Akkerdal Akkerdal Petit Noir 2006 Bellingham Wines Bellingham St. Georges 2006 Bellingham Wines Bellingham Wines The Bernard Series Hand-Picked Viognier…
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Franschhoek Veritas 2009 Wine Awards
2009 VERITAS AWARDS Double Gold Awards Graham Beck Pheasant’s Run Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Môreson Premium Chardonnay 2008 Gold Awards Glenwood Chardonnay Vigneron’s Selection 2008 Graham Beck Pheasant’s Run Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Grande Provence Sauvignon Blanc 2009 MEDAL CELLAR VINT DG Double Gold G Gold S Silver B Bronze (O/D) Off-dry (S/S) Semi-sweet BLENDS Wooded S…
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Books For Cooks Bookshop in Notting Hill Gate, London
Books for Cooks is the perhaps the finest place in London to find the perfect present for anyone who loves food. When you walk through the door, you are hit by a wave of transporting cooking aromas emanating from the test kitchen at the back. It’s a foodie’s paradise. There are some 8,000+ recipe books filling…
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Jacob's Creek Retreat, Barossa Valley, Australia
A small collection of old rustic Australian bluestone buildings, tucked down a dirt track, by the side of a creek in a dell surrounded by old redgum trees. A quintessentially and romantic Aussie setting with some accommodation set in the old settlement. The owner, Wyndham, is at work in the kitchen putting out some exceedingly…