The Bush Bubble

I have been exposed via social media, to the reality of  life in the cities of South Africa, and have found myself going to bed with a head full of negativity. Reality or not, I prefer not to indulge in the news, and take the ostrich stance on it all, by burying my head in the bush bubble.

While most of you that read my blog, and follow my stories, are constantly faced with day to day happenings, as well as the pressure of regular city life, I am daily awoken by the sounds of a hippo, a hyena or a lion. I do feel that by sharing my stories and my inner thoughts or perceptions, I may in some way be making a small difference to the world. Whether it is by bringing a smile to someone’s face with one of my light hearted reads, or by educating people on the beauty that not only Africa has to offer, but South Africa, I am certain that even the tiniest bit of a difference is better than no difference at all.

So with all the recent negative light being shed on our beautiful country, I feel it is time to share some colorful positive light in there too.

Just a few days ago, I was graced with the presence of a family made up of a wife from Sweden, a husband from England and a daughter, who’s heart, I am certain was once in Africa in a previous lifetime. This young girl who tended to veer away from strangers and stick to herself, was in a world of her own, and this world was filled with African animals and so much knowledge about them gained in factual books. She had spent months reading all about our landscape and its creatures prior to arriving, because this is what inspired her the most. The sparkle in her eyes when she chatted to the ranger about the different species, and facts surrounding them, was something magical to see. In a world full of negativity and pain, this was definitely an absolute delight for me to witness.

Each drive with this family was filled with laughter, jokes and animated commentary of the animals we saw. At one point Helena (The Swedish wife) and myself were watching this spotted eagle owl sitting in the middle of the road, his expression was one that made us giggle. (If owls even have an expression).  His face was all scrunched up like an angry English police officer, and the fact that he was in the middle of the road only created a perfect scene for a few animated comments. With my best British accent I started off with a “AH Good evenin’ folks, and what would you be doin’ drivin’ around at this time of the night’?” to which Helena followed cue with a “I’m gonna hafta check that you haven’t been drinking or nuthin” at this point, the angry faced owl turned away from us and I just could not help myself “Ey Jerry, what ya think? These folk been drinkin tonight?” as he turned to face us again, the angry look on his face seemed much more severe and I had to continue with what we had started. “Ey, are you mockin’ me, d’ya think this is funny”. Well that was it,the whole car was in stitches. Even though I cannot recall the exact detail of the entire made-up play write, the memory of laughing so hard that my stomach hurt, will never leave my mind.

These are the moments I refer to as my Bush Bubble, the place I bury myself in when it all gets too much. I either go on a game drive, or write a story about one of those pure and usually funny moments, or i just sit and remember them with a few solo giggles. Sometimes i wish i could look at the world with the eyes of that little girl, and see what she sees. The innocence and purity as well as the untainted bush bubble she lives in must be something spectacular, although with a little reminding, i am able to enjoy just a glimpse of it, and i am almost always sure to write it down.

Sitting here now, watching the much needed rain drip down my window, I smile to myself remembering that it doesn’t matter where you come from or who you are, a connection is made none the less. We are people, and culture, birthplace or color do not separate us or create barriers. We create those barriers, society creates those barriers, and the news only fuels it. I will never forget that family, nor the joyous time I had with the three of them. I had only known them for three days, and I will probably never get to see them again, but I made a friendship with a woman who I had only known for a few minutes, and the friendship will either dwindle or I will have the opportunity to connect via social media. Regardless, the memories have already been created and the moments were so valuable, and I am so grateful to have had them. Two different women from totally different places were able to create a friendship in just under five minutes. It was Africa that brought us together and brought out the best in us, it was Africa that opened our eyes to the beauty in others by showing us the beauty in her. Africa certainly is the mother of us all, and whether you are a visitor or born here, we are all children of the land. Ubuntu – We are one! Stop Xenophobia!

Dutch on your doorstep

Melkstal

Hidden in the gems of Tulbach I found myself amidst the essence of tranquillity created by not only the breathtaking surrounding mountains that the melkstal was nestled in, but also by the hospitality poured out from the heart by both Frank and Adele who  are the owners of Melkstal.

Tulbach came to be In 1699, when Governor Willem van der Stel visited the valley at the foot of the Winterhoek mountains, and named it "Land van Waveren" in honour of the Waveren, a prominent Amsterdam family to whom his mother was related. At that stage the area was part of the district of Stellenbosch, but on 11 July 1804 it was proclaimed a separate district with its drostdy at Tulbagh.

Almost immediately Willem van der Stel began to allocate loan farms to landless Dutch families and by the mid-1700 the area had become a prosperous farming district more commonly known as Roodezand. In 1743 the Roodezand Dutch Reformed congregation was established, and its church was completed in 1749. The village which inevitably grew up about the church was formally established in 1795, and was named in honour of Ryk Tulbagh, former Governor of the Cape, 1751-71. Lichtenstein visited Tulbagh, which he still called Roodezand, in November 1803, and was much impressed by its inhabitants who: "... owing to their frequent intercourse with Cape Town, have more civilization than the distant colonists, are more active and industrious, and more attentive to their own interests. There is more taste about their houses, more luxury at their tables, the wives and daughters are better clothed, and they make some pretensions, not wholly without reason, to polish and education ..." In 1817 the Rhenish Missionary Society established a station near the village. The 1865 census indicated that Tulbagh had a population of 542. In 1875 this number had risen marginally to 548, and in 1891 it was 659. By 1904 it stood at 796.

In July 1822 the village of Tulbagh was all but destroyed in a storm. As a result the seat of its drostdy was transferred to Worcester and its district was renamed accordingly. On 9 March 1848 Tulbagh was proclaimed a separate division, and in May 1889 the greater part of its eastern lands was given over to the new division of Ceres. The economy of the region was based primarily upon the production of grain and wine, although the income of many farmers was also supplemented by the manufacture of farm wagons and carts. This is what I know to be the start of this quaint and heavily Dutch influenced little town.

After a lovely lunch I was fortunate to steal a few hours of Franks time where I became enticed with the history of the melkstal as well as a few delicious extra tidbits on how he and Adele met and came to fall In love. Frank explained that he had just visited Tulbach briefly and he needed no more than that moment to know that this was where he wanted to be.

From the local grapevine he discovered that a deal had gone what we would refer to as a little pear shaped, on a place down the road, and I guess he was just at the right place at the right time, because the owner was willing to sell it to Frank. Disgruntled by the first deal, Frank was given only a short amount of time to transfer the funds for the melkstal and guarantee his permanent residence in the little town that stole his heart.

As all stories with a happy ending, Frank DID seal the deal,and him and Adele moved in to begin their next chapter together. Being that the melkstal was originally a milkshed on a beautiful piece of land, the natural thought would be to purchase a few cows, and indulge in the beauty of farm life.

Adele had explained to me upon my arrival, that they used to live in their caravan on the concrete slab they built just in front of the milkshed,which has now become the patio where you can sit and unwind while enjoying the natural sounds, that tickle your ears and numb the stresses of day to day life. After selling their cows Adele and Frank turned the milkshed into a gorgeous self catering guest house.

Now of course I have left out a few minor details about the process of transformation, but the one significant part of the transformation was that they also built themselves a house on the land,a few meters in front of the milkshed.

My first day I spent my afternoon fishing in their dam, where i managed to catch not a badly sized carp. Of course I released it, and did a little victory dance, but when I looked around the dam and the surroundings all my senses were drawn to the magnificent scenery and I forgot all about my victorious catch for just a moment.

That moment felt like a lifetime,I did a full three sixty on the spot and just absorbed all the beauty that enveloped me. Time stood still, and for just a minute I felt completely peaceful. All my senses were heightened, and it's as if in that very moment even the hairs on my body were trying to absorb all that mother nature had to offer.

I could have been part of an oil painting on a wall, still, quiet and frozen in the picturesque landscape of mountains, lightly dusted with sunsets golden rays. In the very next second I was pulled back to reality by the sound of a fish jumping in the dam and decided I would continue the competition of trying to catch the most fish for the afternoon.

I consider myself lucky to have been connected to nature long enough to remember every detail, as well as short enough to still appreciate it. The best part of these short weekends away to the magical places South Africa has to offer, is realising I really don't need to go far in order to feel like I am experiencing something new. There are so many places rich in beauty and culture right on my doorstep.