Queen of Hearts 12 August 2017
Part 2 – Mozambique / Transkei / Morgan’s Bay
Wow! We are driving away from spending a super interesting night at our friend, Louis Magwa.
Louis lives in Transkei, about a kilometre from the magnificent Magwa Falls…
What a feeling of pure serenity!
Louis has been carving his own eccentric way of life here for the last 10 years. He is a man full of character, amazing manners…a brave and lovely man, bursting with interesting new ideas.
He has even brought his Mother to live with him about a year and a half ago. For anyone, it was clear to see how much they adore each other and this blessed my heart.
The two of them live in his huge rondavel. This is an extra-ordinary rondavel, as he build it so as to meet all their needs. He even has his leather works machinery inside as well as a top floor build with mezanine. The inside feel of their home is very inviting, calm and peaceful.
This morning he took us for a sightseeing tour where we came to 
understand why anybody would want to live here. The spectacular views and history of this part of the world is absolutely amazing.
As we wound our way out of a huge forest on the dusty roads of Transkei, we reminisced on our evening well spend around a fire.
Our food were a huge pot filled with an array of fresh vegetables. Delicious!
We were welcomed to stay in another rondavel and loved it.
There were also a third rondavel with six beds as he often have volunteers stay over.
The fact that he has two rivers (or one might be a fountain) that feeds his property with water helps a lot.
Before we left, Louis also showed us his amazing invention which is a rocket stove. I really hope that this will cotton on as it is very effective. If you would like to contact him regarding this…0832685611.
We stopped off at the Magwa Falls for a quick view…
18/08/2017
Today, we are on our way to Qolora after a lovely week spend with Tobie and Charmaine. (later more about this amazing piece of heaven)
We met Tobie and Charmaine at Mozamboogie and they invited us to come
and stay with them at their holiday home in Morgans Bay for a visit. They are absolutely awesome people and so we did.
We have never been to Morgan’s Bay and ended up staying for a week. We were only going to stay for a few days, but we were going to Coffee Bay next and the weather predicted heavy rains. We were superblessed with our stay at Tobie and Charmaine who spoiled us so much that it was hard to leave.
B and Tobie…
B says that we achieved our ‘PHD in Nothingness’… we became one with ourselves…pulled ourselves toward ourselves…we really just lazed around…and had fun…
Martin, our travel buddie / long-time friend as well as our Massuese, did a bit of work, as both Tobie and Charmaine had become aware of Martin’s magical hands. Martin had his hands full (pardon the pun), with quite a few massages.
I also did my part in thanking them for their generosity with my very own
Chi-Chi reminded us of how much we ate. She had a lot to do with it as she loves making food and does it so well. She is a vegan and loves creating healthier options…her brand name being ‘Raw-Chi’…lovit! My personal favorite being seaweed chips which she harvests herself…so a love process from beginning to the end product…and you can taste the love!
Back to Morgan’s Bay…
The absolutely beautiful view complete with bird life kept us captivated. The beautiful song of the fish eagle; gliding in front of us, catching fish…when we looked carefully, we could even see where their nest were.
Hummmingbirds, heron and various other birds song rang in our ears all day long and we kept the binoculours close. Nonnie (in the photo below) of course were my favourite.
We canoed and could even access the beach, which we did.
When the weather were really cold and wet, we watched movies in front of the fire or played scrabble. Their doggie, Vlooi was also to be kept busy with a bit of ball play.
Tobie drove us through the town of Morgan’s Bay and Keimond. We visited some of their friends, Billy and Annemarie next to the Kei River. They are lovely people and we were blessed with avo and coffee trees.
After our welcoming stay with Tobie and Charmaine, we are on the pond on our way to Qolora for an overnight stay…
21/08/2017
So…Qolora did not work out for us as they could not confirm our overnight stay and we decided to move on to Coffee Bay.
On our way we passed this amazing sculpture alongside the road, carved from a tree stump.
We slept that evening at the Kings Cottage of Coffee Shack. This is their biggest cottage as it has 2 double rooms with kitchen and bathroom as well as an upstairs loft area with more beds. Chi-Chi loved the decor and I even remember being there when our friend, Cindy van Schalkwyk, was busy working on the tiling of the murals.
The staff there remembers us well as we have visited many times over the years. Coffee Shack is definitely our favourite as we have so many awesome memories here. Friendships for life has been solidly forged here. Continental friends made.
Next day we went to visit our friends who lives close to the Maphusi cliffs. While driving to Nadine and Johan, we could not help but stop in awe of the splendorous views. We walked to the cliff overhanging onto the vast sea below. As we were standing there captivated by this view, it got even better…we first saw one turtle swimming in the waves. As our eyes fixed on it, we became aware of three other… four turtles riding the waves. We felt superblessed with nature…as we always are when we take time to appreciate… We were superblessed even more as our eyes feasted on a whale and some dolphins…all of this happening just because we stopped to appreciate…Gratitude.
Nadine and Johan has acquired a piece of land and have build two rondavels to live in. They are a lovely family, complete with a healthy baby boy, Benji.
Working hard to achieve a peaceful, pure life and enjoying every minute of it. Nadine use to live and work in Cape Town. Rat race got her down and I love the conscious awareness happening…as if most nowadays are seeking a purer life, growing our own food and in this process living in symbiosis with and honouring our earth.
B said that he got the feeling of back in the day…the wild west frontier…where you aquire a piece of land, arrive…and now you have to cope…get water on the land to start building a home for your loved ones and growing some food. Johan and his buddie also spearfish for food in the ocean.
A few metres from Johan and Nadine, lives an Israeli, who we met. He shared with Martin, that he swims out into the ocean for about 15 minutes, shoots good sized fish and then swims back…hardcore… then barter transactions take place, depending on what the other man have to offer.
Everybody eats and everybody helps each other…this is community!
What a magical visit this was to connect again with her and now also with her beautiful family. So much gratitude for this awesome experience.
22/082017
Back in Coffee Bay, we saw on social media that our friends, Christie and Marius, were also in the area. Christie arranged a surprise breakfast for the next morning with us as Marius did not know that we were there.
We walked into our friend, Karl of tribalrhytms.
After our breakfast the next day, Karl took us all on our next adventure to the opposite hill of Mdumbi at the mouth…Ethuleni is the area. Situated here is ‘Freedomoclock Backpackers’. What an experience this was..WOW!
Freedomoclock is the home of Otto and Lu with their confident little girl of six. They are lovely and we were very blessed. The accomodation is well recommended.
Camping can also be arranged, which Martin and Chi-Chi opted for.
Marius and Christie said their goodbyes, but we would meet up again soon for an adventure in Hogsback.
I loved all the beautiful signs everywhere. Chi-Chi loved the incredible invention of an amazing rocket shower.
Lu and Otto have worked very hard to establish this haven of tranquility. Everything just works well together, the kitchen and buildings and finishes…
We had a delicious seafood meal…oysters and crayfish, which the locals supply fresher than fresh and so cheap; white wine and lovely conversations as Johan and Nadine also came to join us for a few hours.
The sunset was unbelievably spectacular as we had uninterrupted views over the mouth and beach.
The sunrise the next morning after a good nights rest, was even more remarkable. We woke up with the crowing of roosters. All the amazing sounds of abundant nature…
We could not help but to put on our coats as it was still very early and quite chilly…B and I took a walk down to the beach. The more we walked the fresher we felt, as if the air was filled with healthier oxygen and with every breath we felt invigorated.
We came to a stunning tree and being very silly started with a photoshoot in and around this. 
Then we saw Martin and Chi-Chi who was also on the beach. They joined in our photoshoot before we walked on the beach. We did yoga stretches and headstands…feeling healthy and vibrant.
It was a perfect morning, but as we were walking back, the wind started up with a speed. We could not believe how quickly it could became so windy. I picked up a small planter pot which blew into the middle of the road with something inside. At first I wanted to just take the planter pot to Lu and Otto, but my intuition made me keep the little something inside as well. When I gave it to them, they were amazed as it were their own, complete with lemon seed still inside.
After our walk, the locals deemed us special enough to take us for a day out to a secret place…which was on the beach and absolutely lovely. Martin and Chi-Chi opted for a long beachwalk to the secret spot.
As we were driving, we passed a wide river and Karl, who was driving with us, told us about a day when he was in his rubberduck on the river and were blessed with a scene of a Fish Eagle catching a fish right in front of him…these definitely is the moments in our lives which is most memorable.
After being cajoled to have another meal,we drove away fairly late…we 
would spend the evening at Mdumbi backpackers, which is just on the opposite hill as the crow flies, but quite the drive around…
We found Mdumbi in the dark and after we settled in…here the staff also knew us…we decided to have a bath. A ‘donkey’ (also a rocket type stove) has to be fired up first and after waiting quite some time, we had an awesome bath…
…after this we slept like logs…
The next morning was quite windy and cold, so we opted to not have a walk down to the beach, but rather have breakfast indoors.
Martin and Chi-Chi on the other hand braved the outdoors and were rewarded with sightings of many dolphins swimming and jumping with the surfers. On their morning hike, they were also accompanied by Eco, the same dog living at Mdumbi for many years.
We left enroute to Hogsback…for another adventure…but first we had to show Martin and Chi-Chi the hole in the wall…just a quick drive past…as the wind were still howling…
Christie and Marius decided to join us for a Hogsback mission. They are an amazing couple. They have a very interesting business named Share a Villa. Accommodation for single professionals in Cape Town. Contact Christie at +27609800339.
24/08/2017
Hogsback was the coldest with snow on the mountains and frost in the 
stunning gardens of The Edge, where we stayed…
We arrived with rain actually turning into frost. We went to eat in their cosy restaurant, warming ourselves in front of the fire and only opting to sit at the table when our food was already placed. Be sure to try their Dark chocolate drink…lipsmacking…
The Edge is situated, yeah, you guessed it… right on the edge of a mountain peak overlooking a valley. There are houses to rent, but we would rather do this in summer time when the view will value the cost. For now we are renting a little house with fireplace where four of us can stay.
We did try some walks to the edge, but it was too cold for me, as I have been there before in the summer. Martin and Chi-Chi were blessed to see a magnificent Crown eagle in the Arbirithium when they braved the cold for this walk.
I am always looking for a better price on essential oils, for my perfume 
Alexia and we decided to check out Amathole. We found the owner, Ian, who shared so much with us. Martin also found him very knowledgeable. He will be having some workshops on oil extracting that I am interested in.
We all went for a walk in the Botanical Gardens later and the most amazing big old Redwoods towered over the other trees.
Afterwards we had a absolutely delicious lunch at the Butterfly Bistro where we could order vegan food as well.
Chi-Chi (+27834194658) is vegan and she makes her own range of food – seaweed chips, which she harvest herself, (I am so impressed), seed crackers, vegan pesto, sauerkraut, chi bars which is an amazing substitute for chocolate (it is a superfood bar), dehydrated veg patties, vegan chocolates… She sells these at the Vegan Goods Market in Plumstead, Cape Town which is on the first Saturday of each month…and Midweek market in Plett.
While we chattered on the recorder, we drove through the little town of Alice. Click on the blue, as I just had to research and see what it is about…
We do get around hey…
We are on our way to Port Elizabeth and will be stopping for lunch with our friends at the well known Nanaga farmstall…
We had an exciting stop to make at the most awesome Salt Restaurant in Port Elizabeth. Martin had a meeting for the upcoming Wildeburn. We also join in on the meeting as we are avid Burners. (more about what happened at the Wildeburn in a next post)
After a very good meeting we were ready to head home to Sedgefield as our friends, Marius and Christie were waiting for us and were going to stay with us for the night.
Next day the fun continued in our own backyard…
…What a trip…feeling Superblessed with Gratitude…