Kiss Me Under The Light Of A Thousand Stars... And Swim Like It's Your First Day At The Beach... #HappyHolidays

 

You know when you look at a picture and you KNOW it's posed? The people aren't REALLY that inlove, THAT happy or having THAT much fun? Think of those "photoshoots" all over your social networks with people clad in unnatural white t-shirts and awful props. So naturally when people commented on my weekend away pictures to say that it "looked amazing" I responded "But it really was"... Sure 67% of the pictures were strategically taken with an Instagram filter in mind, but they also truly captured the feeling of the weekend my friends and I had.

It was truly one of THE best memory-making moments of my life!! And one I'd gladly do a thousand times over.

 I found Eselfonten Getaway on Google during my copious planning sessions. The Adrenaline-Junkie in me had suggested zip-lining to the friendship circle and I was quite pleased when they were up for making an entire weekend of it.

The farm & Guesthouse is absolutely breath-taking. (And be sure to say hello to Ben, Bella & Boris) I thought the absence of "Eskom electricity & plugs" would be an issue. But alas, we had fun figuring out the gas & solar power and watching the cows graze.

The dam and river also provided hours of entertainment and swimming lessons! :) Everyone should really swim like it's Shaaheen's first day at the beach, there's simply no other way to enjoy the water...

One of the other fun things was to cook and braai with a large group of friends. There is something truly special about sharing a meal together. Le Boyfriend and I combined our culinary skills (& tested our patience) by making our first Seafood Potjie (combined recipe of the father-in-law & Jan Braai no less).

The zip-lining itself was on another level. Pun intended. The service and coordination by Ceres Zipslide Adventures was phenomenal and such an amazing experience! Special thanks to Demetri for all the arrangements!

All-in-all an action-packed and ultimately BEYOND AMAZING (Running out of adjectives) holiday, and basically in our backyard. I'm starting to understand my father's insistence that I first explore at home before rushing to get my passport stamped...

Well, where to next friends???

 xxxo

 

  

I didn't greet you because I fear being harassed, robbed, raped or murdered, not because I'm a mean girl...

I’m wearing a dress today. Which for one means, I can’t walk past the construction site at the back, or even outside for that matter. What has our society become that we, women, have to constantly have our guards up against “compliments”, especially when they are delivered with a creepy leer?

And then when we don’t respond are labelled rude and ungrateful? UNGRATEFUL?!?! Really?!

  

A few journalists and other activists have recently conducted experiments on the streets of the world to see how women are treated by onlookers, the results are disgusting. 

  

As a society we need to stop teaching girls to protect themselves and rather teach boys respect and how to behave. Sure it’s not always gender based (see What Street Harassment Would Be Like For Men by Jessica Bell )

  

Much like the chicken probably hates his motives being questioned every time he crosses the road, I too hate having to walk any street in South Africa. Let’s hope the 16 Days of Activism heightens awareness for the various types of harassment above and beyond the campaign against abuse of women & children.

  

I’m not saying we shouldn’t exchange pleasantries, but unwanted attention is not a compliment. And overbearingness is quite frankly ridiculous. “Hello” is not an invitation for anyone to feel entitled to anything.