The World through the Lens of an African Princess: TRAVEL BEGINS AT HOME

When asked where they would go if money was no object, most people will respond with a name of a city located outside of their home country. Cities such as London, Paris, New York, Milan and Tokyo generally spring to mind. I am equally guilty of this many a times. I believe that we tend to be more inclined to tour foreign countries (as opposed to learning more about our own countries) as the word "travel" itself is associated with: 'adventure', 'discovery of something new', 'learning different cultures', 'tasting unfamiliar food' and even 'learning a new language'. And we unfortunately perceive the above experiences as only being unique to overseas travel. I have come to learn that this is not always the case.

Now there is absolutely nothing shameful about deciding to tour another country. In fact I highly recommend it. I believe that sharing in the life of a foreign country and its people brings about an unique and enriching experience. However I am also of the view that one does not necessarily have to step outside their country's borders in order to encounter diversity, learn a different language, taste unfamiliar food, learn about different cultures or discover something new. South Africa is a primary example. Having being born and raised in KwaZulu Natal, a province in South Africa which is the home of the "Zulus", I had spent most of my life unaware of the experiences of other South African cultures outside my own. Prior to my moving to Cape Town in 2010, I had never (save for two trips to Johannesburg during my final year of law school) been away from KwaZulu Natal, nor had I ever been away from my family for more than two weeks at a time.

South Africa is a country rich with ethnic and cultural diversity, which has given rise to the term "Rainbow Nation". Not only does the country have the apparent racial diversity, but even within a specific race group there are many different cultural groups (e.g. Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Pedi, Ndebele etc). Each will have their own traditions, language, skills, food and arts. What this means is that you can spend two months in the province of KwaZulu Natal experiencing the richness of the Zulu culture, and have an entirely different experience in the Western Cape as you will be exposed to mostly the Cape Malay traditions, culture and food, even though you are STILL IN SOUTH AFRICA.

I discovered this when I moved to Cape Town in 2010. I had completed my postgraduate Masters in Law, and had moved to Cape Town to begin my articles of clerkship. I packed my bags, bid my family farewell and embarked on this new adventure to a new province entirely different to the one I was familiar with. In the (almost) five years of having lived in Cape Town, I have learned so much about cultures different from my own. So in addition to enjoying the normal tourist attractions such as the Table Mountain cableway and the Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts, I have learned so much about the 'Cape Malay' culture and especially fallen in love with the food. The Cape Malay cuisine has definitely captured my heart. I probably enjoy it so much as it reminds me of home. Having been born and raised in KZN, I was exposed to a lot of indian cuisine (which is rich in traditional spices ) and the love affair is still going strong. If you are ever in Cape Town make it a point to try a uniquely Cape Malay "GATSBY". A Gatsby is a super sandwich stuffed with chips (or rather French fries), various sauces (depending on your preferences) and various fillings which can include steak, chicken, polony and even calamari. However, if you are the type who tends to "watch their figure", then a Gatsby may be a little overwhelming for your delicate stomach. If that is the case, then I would recommend a more "lighter" yet equally tasty "SALOMIE". A salomie is, very simply put, a curry wrapped in a roti. It is as equally filling as a Gatsby, but carries with it half the guilt :)

Therefore, my posts for the following months will be themed around uniquely South African experiences. Most of these experiences will be centred around Cape Town (as that is where I have spent the last five years), but may include other provinces. I truly believe that in our rush to see what is "out there" in the world, we sometimes neglect to appreciate the beauty that is right outside our doorstep. So I challenge everyone reading this post to make an effort to explore their own town, city, and country. It will definitely take you on a journey of discovery, and you'll begin to realize why foreigners flock to your part of the world for a vacation, as they notice the beauty that you have come to take for granted.