Posts Tagged ‘Cape Town’
Favorite Foto Friday
Earlier this week I wrote about South African artist Fortune Sitole and his paintings of the shanties on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa.
I thought I’d offer some perspective as to what a shanty town like Khayelitsha really looks like. This is one of my favorite photos from South Africa as it was a very impacting moment that I will carry with me in my heart for the rest of my life. Upon driving into Khayelitsha I was so rocked to my core. To the point where I started to realize THIS is more the norm in the world we live in more than our lives here in America. It still blows my mind to contemplate.
To me, Sitole’s paintings and their vibrant colors add an aura of happiness to the paintings. I find that to be an accurate representation of Khayelitsha. The people and the children in Khayelitsha that I met were just as happy, if not happier, than the people I work and interact with in my daily life here in San Francisco.
It’s pretty amazing, but it really comes down to perspective. Does that mean that the living conditions of those dwelling in these make-shift houses aren’t horrific? Or that all the inhabitants of this community are in fact happy? Absolutely not. I’m not that naive and won’t pretend that I know the faintest thing about the daily lives of these people because I met a few of what is estimated to be hundreds of thousands.
I digress. I was speaking to perspective. It helps me remember that while my life these days is not what I imagined it to be, for better or worse, it’s still pretty damn fabulous.
I woke up, made a cup of coffee, put on some Bob Marley (REGGAE FRIDAY!) read the headlines in bed, wrote a few updates for a client and then got to sit here and write. Plus I get to wear jeans to work today and I’ve allowed myself to splurge and buy my lunch. These simple little indulgences and freedoms are all too frequently taken for granted in our society. I remind you to stop, breathe and enjoy the littlest things.
Fortune Sitole, artist
These days I try to spend my lunch break in the Union Square park whenever it’s nice out. Though a large amount of homeless people and tourists tend to also be flocking around the park area, it’s a great spot to people watch and enjoy the sunshine. Plus it’s two blocks away. #cityliving
Anyway, during the day Union Square is filled with various displays of art work as well. The other day when walking by I saw a group of paintings and instantly was brought back to South Africa. Right away I knew the pictures were displaying the townships on the outskirts of Cape Town, specifically Khayelitsha.
A friendly reminder of an adventure into a world so vastly different than my own. I could almost feel the sunshine and see the faces I passed many years ago when writing an article about the water supply and sanitation conditions of the townships.
The art exhibit by Fortune Sitole, is part of Red Umbrellas, a non-profit organization of independent artists whose aim it is to bring thoughtful and provocative art exhibits into public spaces.
The following is a statement from Fortune Sitole explaining the exhibit:
“I want to foster an awareness of the conditions suffered by South Africans, who create makeshift shelters by optimizing outside space and leftover materials – metal, tires, stones, etc., whatever they can find to build their homes.
Fashioning my work as homage to my ancestors, family and community these pieces are a reminder of the day-to-day life in black South African townships. But shanties exist throughout the world and my art actually tells a story of the universality of poverty.
The characters in my scenes are about communities who have overcome adversity and have progressed into the braiding hair and wandering drunken fathers. Pictures of everyday events, ironically set against the backdrop of Shanties are slowly disappearing from South Africa’s landscape. Redevelopment and investment begin to paint a brighter picture for the future of South Africans, an encouraging example for the people of the world who are experience poverty today.”
Favorite Foto Friday
This photo I know is just another sunset photo to some, but it was taken from the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa and means much more to me.
You’ll notice that a lot of my Favorite Fotos are from South Africa. That’s because it was truly the most beautiful space I’ve ever been to on this planet. The coast of Maine is up there too.
Anyway, we raced to the top of the mountain nervous that we had underestimated just how tough the climb was and that we wouldn’t get there in time to see the sunset. But we made it. With enough time to grab a quick glass of wine too!
The feeling of finally getting to that top of the mountain was amazing. For some reason when I was in South Africa I had very few worries. On that day, climbing a mountain to see the sun set was my challenge. It was all that mattered on that day and I accomplished it.
South Africa was the one time in my young adult life that I can point to and note that I was literally care free despite leaving a lot of loved ones and an unknown path back home. Perhaps it was because I felt guilty that if I did worry it would be insulting to those in the country who endured countless tragedies and hardships, or maybe because I knew my trip would end in a month and I had to become saturated in each and every moment and enjoy it.
When I recently left for California I also left loved ones and headed for a path un known. However, it has been much more difficult than my journey to a seemingly much more dangerous place. Maybe it’s because it’s a permanent move or maybe it’s because I’ve lost loved ones back home while here making the separation from family a harsh reality, but either way those carefree moments that I seemed to encounter daily in South Africa have been few and far between since arriving to San Francisco without a job.
Life is much more difficult when we have expectations. When we have dreams. When in South Africa the dream was to have as much fun and experience in one month as possible. The dream now is to have a life time of fun and experience. In order to get that the stakes and challenges have become much greater than climbing a mountain.
Just yesterday, I started a my new job, I’m officially a 9-to-5er, or rather a 9-to-6er! Everything I have been working towards is the past year is finally concrete. While this is most definitely only the beginning of a new dream, for the first time in a long time, I feel like I did when I climbed to the top of that mountain years ago.
Favorite Foto Friday
Bet you want a cupcake now! 
Today’s photo is my all time favorite food pic (that I’ve ever taken). I just think the quality is pretty awesome. That would be mostly due to my incredible camera, Cannon T3 Rebel.
Anyway, I’m feeling like a could really go for one of these adorably decorated cupcakes right about now. My blood sugar is running low and October in general always makes me want sweets! Luckily, thanks to my mum, I have a whole basket of Halloween candy in my living room, so that will have to suffice.
This picture was taken on a Saturday at the Old Biscuit Mill in the art district, Woodstock, of Cape Town, South Africa. Probably one of the most magical places I’ve ever been to.
Read my vivid description of this incredible market on Voices Around the World.
Favorite Foto Friday
It’s another BEAUTIFUL summer Friday. The weather the past two days has truly been perfect! I’d love to be out sailing in Casco Bay but I’ll settle for my long runs by it, at least.
This picture was taken from another truly beautiful summer, the summer month of January that I spent in Cape Town, South Africa. This is a photo from Muizenberg Beach, one of my favorite spots in Cape Town. Obviously, it was a beach! These colored changing houses are a famous subject of many photographers visiting Cape Town.
I remember taking the train from Wynberg, where I lived, to the beaches we would often frequent. Muzienberg was one of the first stops, and then you could walk along the ocean all the way up to Kalk Bay passing the beautiful beach of St. James as you’d go.
Taking the beat up trains out to the coast took about 40 minutes and I’ll never forget the anticipation as we got close to something so beautiful, to the ocean (my deepest love), to the sun, to a kind of peace I have felt only by the ocean. I would catch a few glimpses of the ocean right before you pulled into the Muzienberg stop, my heart would skip a beat.
I can’t say it enough, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to on this earth. As if the picturesque landscape weren’t enough, the culture is also so rich with vibrant life as well. I miss it every day.
Favorite Foto Friday
Is there anything better than being a kid in the summer time? Nope! Pretty sure most of us subconciously are searching for that sense of freedom .
The heat this week has been brutes! (abbreviation for BRUTAL) I can’t complain though, it’s summer. I much prefer this to the cold and the rain. Now if I could only get off my lap top and get to the beach and lay in the tide like these two little munchkins. Hopefully this weekend!
This picture was taken on my walk to Kalk Bay in Cape Town, South Africa. These kids clearly killing it and just chilling on the cool sand with a “hey American lady why do you want to take our picture” look on their face.
I was drawn to the universal concept of being a kid at the beach in summertime and the carefree attitude that it brings with it, no matter what country.
The water behind these little kiddies, though this was in the middle of summer in Cape Town, is numbingly cold. As I sit here, fan at my feet, chugging my smoothie and getting brain freeze, I can almost feel it again. Ahh.
I love summer.
Favorite Foto Friday
Today’s photo is of a surf competition in Camps Bay, Cape Town that I stumbled down the hill upon on my third day in South Africa. Tough to see why I quickly fell in love with the country isn’t it? The beauty of the landscape, of the people and of the general atmosphere that breeds respect and love for life left a permanent stain on my heart that keeps me constantly remembering what life is all about.
I remember when I decided to go to South Africa it was a go-after-your-dreams moment. I always wanted to go to Africa to write and had heard great things about South Africa. So, I researched this Projects Abroad program a friend of a friend had been on and suggested to me. It looked like a good program and I would get to knock off a HUGE bucket-list item- to live in Africa and write.
This morning, while ever so coolly listening to some Frank Sinatra, as I do from time to time when my heart starts to ache for adventure, I started perusing my photos from my travels. I hold my travel to South Africa very near and dear to my heart as it was at a time when I didn’t even necessarily want to leave the life I was leading. I was splitting my time in Boston and Portland, working in Boston and living with my best friends in Portland. I was a waitress and dating the guy I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with. Turns out this was exactly the time I needed to leave.
Even though this was a dream of mine, I remember having feelings of resistance. Of not wanting to get on the plane. Maybe it was because I knew that South Africa would be the start to a year long awakening. Where my entire life would change and I would realize that I needed to get back on track to the life I was meant to lead, one filled with adventure and writing.
Today, I feel as though I’m on that track again, but it’s time for the next big move. I’m longing for that euphoric feeling of unknown, of adventure, of raw life. The feelings that were present as I took this photo then walked down that hill into Camps Bay to find the friends I’d known for all of three days.
