Try Waving like Miss World at Sun city! South Africa.Elsie Gabriel

 Waving like Miss World at Sun city! South Africa.

If you ever want to dive into a lush and tropical fantasyland deep in the African bushveld, try the Sun city! Two words- pure luxury. Pamper yourself and soak in the sun.

Located in South Africa's North West Province, only  two hours drive from Johannesburg, Sun City is a vibrant mix of entertainment, spas, swimming pools, wave pools, water sports, golf, gambling and family fun.  Besides all the shopping and games, the hotel group has not forgotten to maintain its natural spots.

The kids loved the twenty five hectare botanical gardens, with an aviary and pet corner too. We got to take a ride in the chuga chuga train ride which takes you all around the expanse of the hotels. The birding experience was awesome and fish in the lakes were plenty. The green jungle is threaded with meandering paths, boat rides, cascades, lakes, pools and a variety of water adventure rides.

  

I found the whole experience exhilarating.  Sun City is internationally renowned as Africa’s premier holiday resort. You are spoilt for choice. You simply don't know where to begin.The Sun city offers four  hotels to choose from, The Cascades, Sun City Cabanas,  The Palace of the Lost City and the Cabana’s.

 Sun City is often called the South African Las Vegas. Try your luck with any of the 852 slot machines and 38 gaming tables on Sun City's casino.  You can see a concert at the Sun City Superbowl  City Hotel where ‘The Beach Boys’, "Frank Sinatra', 'Paul Anka' 'Elton John' and 'Rod Stewart' are some of the big names who have performed there.

Sun city is famous for Miss World pageants and Miss South Africa Teen Pageants, which attract thousands of visitors to the site.

I of course was attracted to the Pilanesburg Safari treks which were close by and ventured to simply get lost in the jungles. But kept coming back to  pose and wave the famous Miss World ‘wave’ each time I took a dip in the pool to cool down!!

I knew I had missed the Miss World bus a long time ago!

Waterfront Amphitheater at Cape town South Africa. South Africa tourism. Cape Town holiday. Elsie Gabriel

Waterfront Amphitheater at Cape town South Africa.

Elsie Gabriel

Many budding artists have found their bedrock of success at this very Waterfront Amphitheater in Cape Town. It is said to be one of the best open air theaters in the world. And I second that.
It was a privilege to watch so many young artists perform live and entertain. One artist signed his autograph for the kids and serenaded us passionately. I guess, truly all the worlds really a stage literally! And it depends on how you make the most of your moment on that stage?

 You can enjoy an evening here and be swept away by the summer breeze filled with notes of music.

Choose Cape Town when arriving at South Africa as a tourist. You get to have a cauldron of experiences fitted well into your agenda. From Nature, to Penguins, Cape of Good Hope, Table mountains, celebrity beaches, whale watching, shopping and good food; all with a laid back atmosphere.

Just a few meters away from the amphitheater is the Cape Town harbour.
The magic of Cape Town comes alive with about a hundred habour restaurants all lined up to give you a gourmet experience of a life time. I had Calamari crispy rings and champagne all through the evening with seagulls as my food friends and family by my side, live music strumming away some old numbers gently,what more can a woman ask for ? Huh?
The mesmerizing experience of the mountain and sea views is intoxicating. The leisurely experience is relaxing. I couldn’t be more pampered.
Around the corner at the wharf you can also pickup some food items for your trip at Cape town.

The fresh market is located in the Pumphouse building off Nobel Square and the price tags will not hurt your wallets.

 And when you’re done with the ground work, you can takeoff on a 360 degree panoramic view of Cape Town from the Waterfront area on the Wheel of Excellence, a huge Giant wheel which moves slowly letting you soak in the views across the Mother City  which include City of Cape Town ,Table Mountain, Robben Island, Paarl Mountains and the Cape Town Stadium.

Cape Town launched its state-of-the-art Wheel of Excellence in 2010, from which World Cup fans would be able to see the whole of the Mother City.
I have seen the London Eye’s in U.K and this South African counterpart matches it well. The wheel has 36 luxury cabins with glass floors, air conditioning and LED lighting. About eight people can fit per cabin. You and your kids will love this twenty minute rendezvous.
And then you can gently set sail on a cruise around Cape Town's historic harbor, you get a closer look at the various fishing vessels and cargo ships in action, with the African seals joining in the fun.

Earth, Water and Wind, there you have it, Cape Town waterfront is perfect with all the elements of the planet sweetly smothering your coastal visit!
Cape Town is easily accessible from all airports around the world. This is only the beginning, starting point to your exotic South African journey. Believe me choose Cape Town to kick start your discovery of Africa.

You don’t have to be famous to save the world.The Sea Turtle Project in Bentota is worth your help to save marine turtles. Sri Lanka Tourism involves marine conservation. Elsie Gabriel.

You don’t have to be famous to save the world.

The Sea Turtle Project in Bentota is worth your help to save marine turtles. Sri Lanka Tourism involves marine conservation. Elsie Gabriel.

The Sea Turtle Project in Bentota is only one of the initiatives on the Island of Sri Lanka to help save the marine turtles from extinction. The island has many benefactors, specially after the Tsunami disaster, several crusaders have taken it upon themselves to save the sea creatures.

So, as the saying goes, you don’t have to be famous to save the world , surely applies here!!

Visitors and research students alike come in to study or observe the baby turtles and depending on the season and time of day can watch them being released in to the ocean. There are five different species of Sea Turtle to be found along the coast of Sri Lanka – Loggerhead, Olive Ridley, Leatherback, Green Turtle and Hawksbill.

 These turtle hatcheries were constructed to rescue and protect turtle eggs because of the rapidly declining numbers of marine turtle in Sri Lankan shores. Marine turtle eggs are purchased from the  local fisherman and re-buried along the beach and left there for two days allowing the eggs time to hatch. Thereafter the baby turtles are collected from the beach and kept in tanks for another week, and released into the ocean to fend off for themselves. And believe it or not,the few female turtles that survive may return to their natal shores after a decade to lay their own eggs.

My favourite was the three legged albino turtle, with not a care in the world. But the image of this turtle tells a million stories, nylon fishing lines destroying limbs, plastic bags in the ocean suffocating the ocean creatures, and harsh climatic conditions throwing them ashore. The harsh stories are endless. When will all this stop.

We can not change the old mind set who refuse to believe that our children and their children may never get to see marine turtles in the near future, they are among the endangered lot. But what we can do is educate the young adults and children, adopt, sponsor or campaign for creatures who can not fight for themselves.

Marine turtles were roaming the oceans for about 190 million years, much before we were born, so the ocean is their habitat not ours. Do not forget to visit and promote the conservation of marine turtles, wherever or whenever you take a vacation to a seaside destination.