INDIAN SUMMER

... or, in my case it was an Indian winter with temperatures dropping to 2°C early mornings. I visited the northern area of the subcontinent visiting specifically five of the major national parks: Sariska, Ranthambore, Bharatpur, Kanha and Bandhavgarh and which meant seeing the cities of New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur as well.
If I wasn't so dumb as to have left my camera at Indira Gandhi International Airport (I am ever hopeful) I could show you pics of the Royal Bengal tigers. The only word to describe this magnificent creature is awesome but, sadly, the day before my departure home the Hindustan Times ported that the latest five-year census shows their numbers have dropped by 50% and the species per se is doomed to extinction. The impact on the environment is profound: the predated species (antelope and deer) will over-populate and thus over-graze, turning the meadowlands into desert areas.
There’s also great pressure from the abutting villagers for the land, its water resources and wood for fuel. With 1,2 billion people India - let alone the tiger - is hard-pressed to survive.

The West Coast has its own unique cocktail

A visit to what will soon be the biggest aquaculture farm in South Africa was a ‘must’ on the itinerary of visitors Elsa and Brian van der Spuy and Marlene and Jan Beukes. The operations are run by qualified oceanographer Peter Pesch who nurtures his little babies “from sperm to worm” as he wryly puts it.
The cocktail-sized abalone (“perlemoen”) ultimately will find their way to the tables of the great chefs of the world where they will hold their own alongside such delicacies as truffles and caviar.

From Europe to sunny South Africa

Holger Grebert and Petra Flassig from Germany landed at Cape Town International Airport on the 25th, which meant a Christmas Eve of a different kind, considering that Europeans celebrate the night before. Exhausted, they indulged in an hour or two’s lie-down before dining by candlelight overlooking Britannia Bay. What more could they ask for than sunny skies their first morning - no wonder Petra’s laughing so much!
Now headed for the Cederberg and then onto De Eike on a wine farm outside Tulbagh where they’ll see the New Year in, this pair spent two days walking the beaches of the West Coast and had much to relate of their estuarine experiences. From there via Beaufort West to Port Elizabeth and then a meander through the Garden Route – if the rain would only stay away!
Thanks for sharing the festive season with my Mom and me and be well in 2008.

Septembers in December

Newly-weds (well, in my book, 14 April makes them still on honeymoon!) Ian and Michelle September spent two nights at Dolphin B&B unwinding from their stressful careers and the build-up to Christmas Eve, returning revived to the hubbub of the city and all it entails. Writes Michelle in the visitor’s book, “It was just what the doctor ordered”. I do hope that you had a truly spiritual time with your respective families and I wish you both well for the New Year.

Seasonal good wishes

On this the eve of the Eve of Christmas I would like to wish all guests past and those (hopefully) to visit St Helena Bay on South Africa's West Coast - and me at Dolphin B&B+S/C - all the very best for the festive season, a well earned break (for those of you who get to have one - and I'm not snivelling, see!) and good health and personal happiness in the New Year (Oh yes, Prosperity too if he's not too busy to drop by).

Martin and Tanja marry

His first trip to the West Coast was in December 2004 and in October 2006 Martin Moser brought fiancé Tanja Kaestli to meet me and to see the sights. They tied the knot on 8/09/07 and say they will be returning to this part of the world next year as a married couple. I look forward to that indeed.

Scientists have a whale of a time

Colleagues Dawn Grebner, Susan Parks and Sally Mizroch from the USA attended the 17th biennial conference on cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in the Mother City at the conclusion of which fellow colleague Desray Deeb, who had worked the area as a member of Dr Peter Best’s team some years ago, led the group to the West Coast specifically to see Southern Right whales and the endemic Heaviside’s dolphins.
Experts in their chosen fields, these scientists allowed only 48 hours to locate and delight in the highly social behaviour of the Southern Rights, the dolphins sadly eluding them and a seasonal southerly offshore wind preventing them from taking a boat trip. Perhaps another time.