“What is this self inside us, this silent observer, Severe and speechless critic, who can terrorize us, And urge us on to futile activity, And in the end, judge us still more severely, For the errors into which his own reproaches drove us?” – T. S. Eliot
Prakash Bhikha and I hit the shores of Ballito Beach this morning. Afterwards it was The Coffee Guys – South Beach for the 2nd fix of the morning.
0.5 sec. F 11. ISO 50. Canon EOS 6D. Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens
“The Grey Goose which is situated at the foot of the Drakensberg mountains, offers a sense of tranquillity and promises your stay to be a home away from home, come enjoy your stay with us whether its work or play we guarantee to give you the stay you will remember. We are proud to be one of the few places in Newcastle to offer a variety of fun activities that you will enjoy without having to leave Grey Goose. Our activities include fishing, horse-riding, breath taking game drives, picnic walks, exhilarating helicopter flips and a two day hike up the Northern Drakensberg mountains” ~www.greygoose.co.za/
Ideal for weddings to get some amazing sunset shots after the church / ashram and before the drinks start flowing
“The Grey Goose which is situated at the foot of the Drakensberg mountains, offers a sense of tranquillity and promises your stay to be a home away from home, come enjoy your stay with us whether its work or play we guarantee to give you the stay you will remember. We are proud to be one of the few places in Newcastle to offer a variety of fun activities that you will enjoy without having to leave Grey Goose. Our activities include fishing, horse-riding, breath taking game drives, picnic walks, exhilarating helicopter flips and a two day hike up the Northern Drakensberg mountains” ~ www.greygoose.co.za/
Ideal for weddings to get some amazing sunset shots after the church / ashram and before the drinks start flowing
F11, 6 sec, ISO 640 Canon South Africa 6D, 24-105mm
5 Star Durban Grey Goose Game Lodge Newcastle Advertiser Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal Strictly Weddings
Ports & Ships advises as follows:
“The idea of Durban as a port dates back to 1824 when the first European settlers made a landing with the intention of setting up a trading post.
The Bay of Natal (Durban Bay) was one of the few natural harbours available along the east coast of southern Africa between Algoa Bay and Delagoa Bay (now Maputo Bay).
Vasco da Gama is said to have sighted the Bay on Christmas Day, 1497, when he hove to off the Bluff with his three small ships San Gabriel, San Raphael and Berrio, before naming the land Natal as a mark of respect for the Nativity. However subsequent studies by Professor Eric Axelson have suggested da Gama’s ‘discovery’ was actually further south in the region of the present Port St Johns.
A later paper by Brian Stuckenberg, director emeritus of the Natal Museum and an entomologist by training, undertook extensive research into certain aspects of the Portuguese voyages of discovery and concluded that da Gama was indeed off the present KwaZulu Natal coast on Christmas Day 1497 (Natalia Vol.27 pp 19-29).
History appears to have decreed that it was while off the KZN coast and not Pondoland that the Portuguese named the land they saw ‘Natal’ in honour of the nativity.
Since then ships called sporadically over several centuries, and who knows which honest merchantman or perhaps pirate ship sheltered behind the protection of the Bluff, that wooded peninsular that forms a dramatic landmark of present Durban.”
The photo below was taken at 05:18 shortly before sunrise.
The view is from the Bluff overlooking Durban harbour towards Umbilo, Glenwood and Berea.
This is a “travel” post because if you are ever in Durban, South Africa, you don’t want to miss visiting this cosy yet vibrant “secret”.
Yesterday my dear lady and I visited Durban Botanic Gardens for a short while.
Entry is free and, within easy walking distance, one can find a lake, tea room with fresh scones cream or waffles, benches to sit on, luscious grass slopes to fall asleep on, wild birds, an assortment of plants (including cycads) and trees, an orchid house plus lots more.
On weekends one often finds a wedding photo-shoot taking place (traditional Indian wedding usually).
It is a gem of a place; a hideaway to go and gather one’s thoughts if need be or just contemplate.
Further links to be found here for the Gardens and tea room.
Before I can show my photos from yesterday, I need to post some photos taken in July and December 2007 using my Canon Powershot S5iS. That camera got stolen a couple years back and I now have a 550D (Canon of course).
This post will be followed shortly by Botanic Gardens, Durban 2012.
Ports & Ships advises as follows:
“The idea of Durban as a port dates back to 1824 when the first European settlers made a landing with the intention of setting up a trading post.
The Bay of Natal (Durban Bay) was one of the few natural harbours available along the east coast of southern Africa between Algoa Bay and Delagoa Bay (now Maputo Bay).
Vasco da Gama is said to have sighted the Bay on Christmas Day, 1497, when he hove to off the Bluff with his three small ships San Gabriel, San Raphael and Berrio, before naming the land Natal as a mark of respect for the Nativity. However subsequent studies by Professor Eric Axelson have suggested da Gama’s ‘discovery’ was actually further south in the region of the present Port St Johns.
A later paper by Brian Stuckenberg, director emeritus of the Natal Museum and an entomologist by training, undertook extensive research into certain aspects of the Portuguese voyages of discovery and concluded that da Gama was indeed off the present KwaZulu Natal coast on Christmas Day 1497 (Natalia Vol.27 pp 19-29).
History appears to have decreed that it was while off the KZN coast and not Pondoland that the Portuguese named the land they saw ‘Natal’ in honour of the nativity.
Since then ships called sporadically over several centuries, and who knows which honest merchantman or perhaps pirate ship sheltered behind the protection of the Bluff, that wooded peninsular that forms a dramatic landmark of present Durban.”
In the next few posts I will give you more sight of some buildings, objects, machinery and other things around the fringes of the harbour.
When I was in junior school my friends and I would venture down to the harbour to fish, explore and get up to mischief.
The harbour at that time was grimy, noisy, busy and quiet in places. Nothing has changed for the better; it’s just become more extreme for the worse.
I remember jumping into the water on the harbour side of the dry-dock at age 12. I emerged with an oily coating on my skin and hair; my friends laughed their heads off.
Despite this, one would find the schools of Mullet jumping around all over the harbour. Springer would provide tons of excitement during night-fishing. These days the Mullet are far fewer in numbers and choked up on oil.
Read a 2006 news article here.
Andrew Harvard Photography 