In the latest installment of the weekly photo challenge, the guest host Xenia shares beautiful images and ask in these days of lockdown what Sanctuary means, where we find it or how to create a place of calm and healing. In order for me to experience healing in the quiet moments, I need to do serotonin producing activities in the not so quiet moments. Therefore even during the initial strict lockdown phase I ran around the home, punched the boxing bag and did cardio exercises with my daughter. When lockdown became less strict, I was able to cycle again and do my first love – hiking. And hiking brings the serotonin and the quiet moments.
It is my love for hiking which inspired a “culture crafter” at work to ask me to do a short video clip. Last year there was a lot of engagement regarding the culture in our business. This video was to show that the employees interests were not limited to work (i.e. balanced life). These were the actual specifications for the video :
- All we need is a 20 second clip of you hiking, enjoying nature.
- At one point stop walking, lift up your face to the sun, giving a content smile while doing so. This video is all about being happy to be outside.
- So film front the front, not from behind, we need to see your face 😊.
Pity about that last point, now I can’t showcase my behind… So last Saturday I was on a serotonin inducing mission again, armed with the children’s pink selfie stick in the hope that nobody will see me! The gif underneath is the moment of contentment – the epitome of my 20 second long acting career. The actual clip is at the end of this post. Should you watch it I can guarantee you it will produce a smile (there is a twist – please read the title when you get there).
And talking about culture the rest of this is in Afrikaans, I think I owe my Afrikaans followers something in Afrikaans, but you got the gist. All the photos were taken last Saturday.
- Goeiedag (amper sê ek kollegas, maar dalk is daar tog 1 of 2 van daardie spesie wat hierdie gaan lees).
- Goeiedag Afrikaanssprekendes, onder andere die Towerinne (en indien daar dalk nog 1 of 2 mense op die aardbol is wat nie weet wie hulle is nie, klik op die skakel).
Ek het die oggend later by die berg aangekom het as wat ek sou wanneer ek ‘n lang stap doen. Die gevolg was dat op die heel onderste parkeerterrein moes parkeer. Daar was baie mense by die berg want die kabelkar het pas oopgemaak vir lui stappers – niemand mag nog op ry nie, maar stappers mag afry. Dit het my die geleentheid gegee om deur die gedeelte te stap wat ‘n paar maande terug afgebrand het. Hierdie huis was ‘n slagoffer en dit is merkwaardig dat dit die enigste huis is wat afgebrand het. Baie bome en protea struike het in die slag gebly.
Op pad boontoe het ek by India Venster gaan draai. Jare terug het iemand vir my gesê die venster lyk soos Indië, maar nee dit is nie die geval nie. Deur die venster kyk mens af op ‘n kloof wat soos Indië gevorm is (India Ravine). Links is die tradisionele hoek wat dikwels gebruik word as ‘n raam vir menigte ‘n stapper se selfie-foto’s en regs het ek dit geneem met my rug gekeer op Indië. Ek doop dit nou amptelik Atlantiese oseaan venster aangesien dit uitkyk op die see. Hier het ek ‘n jong man raakgeloop wat se Engelse aksent ek nie heeltemal kon peil nie (dalk Oos-Europees). Ek vra hom toe maar waarvandaan hy kom? “Pretoria” – en ek reageer in Afrikaans, dat dit my vermoede bevestig dat hy van ‘n ander land afkom. Dit was sy eerste keer by Tafelberg en hy weet nou heelwat meer van die berge (in Afrikaans nogal) as wat hy sou, indien ons mekaar nie raakgeloop het.
So 600m verder het ek by die eerste van die 3 plekke wat ek as “on location” identifiseer het aangekom. Op laerskool (hopelik die laer standerds) het ek aan die einde van films opgelet dat dit “on lcation” by verskeie plekke gedoen verfilm is. Daar het gestaan location maar ek het vacation gelees en gedink. Ek kon nie verstaan waarom mense altyd op vakansie was wanneer films gemaak word nie… Hieronder is die tweede “location” met ‘n skermgreep van die video van my wat stap in die eerste skeur van die Right-face Arrow-face traverse roete. Hierdie roete volg ‘n rotslys wat op 2 plekke verdwyn. Mens moet dan opklim en deur die skeur beweeg en stap dan “binne-in” Tafelberg. Dit is helaas op hierdie roete waar die persoon geval het wat onlangs by Tafelberg dood is.
Op pad na “location” nr 3 het hierdie Himalayan Tahr my aangestaar asof ek uitheems is. Hester raak in ‘n onlangse griffel nostalgies oor die Bloemfonteinse dieretuin wat nou gesluit is. ‘n Broeipaar van die Himalayan Tahrs het uit die Grootte Schuur dieretuin ontsnap, wat verklaar waar hierdie diere vandaan kom. Dié dieretuin is al vir meer as 80 jaar gesluit. Lees meer oor die Tahrs se interessante geskiedenis op Tafelberg hier. Ek deurkruis Tafelberg en dit is maar die tweede keer dat ek ‘n tahr sien.
Die video wat ek vir die werk gestuur se beeldkwaliteit is heelwat beter en ‘n voëltjie het verskeie kere gefluit, wat nogal goed inpas. Ek hoop julle het geniet om saam met my ‘n paar van die ongewone plekke by Tafelberg te besoek het (en in die proses het julle filmsterre geword)! Ek sou erken dat ek nogal nuuskierig is hoe hulle hierdie in kultuur-aanbieding gaan inpas.
Oh Abrie, last week we saw the cover for your memoir and now we are treated to a video/film premiere! You are truly spoiling us and thank you so much for letting us walk along with you here on this amazing hike. Thank you so much for sharing and for your wonderful contribution to the challenge 🤗👏
LikeLiked by 1 person
It must be my season. Xenia you must have an excellent sense oh humour as you get mine🤣🤣 Thanks for humouring me by playing along. And thanks again for featuring my post in your challenge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Abrie and you’re very welcome, it’s such fun seeing you step onto the big stage and spreading the joy!
LikeLike
Abrie, ek is baie beïndruk met jou filmdebuut (en die temamusiek). Jy laat voetspore agter op mooi plekke. Ek het nooit geweet van die Himalayan Tahr op Tafelberg nie, dis nou baie interessant en ek gaan ‘n bietjie oplees oor hulle geskiedenis. Dankie vir die “tag” – ek het jou skrywe geniet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hester ‘n lawwe vriend van my het dit in ge-edit. Ons het whatsapp groep met’ n paar mansvriende ek ek stuur dit toe vir hulle..(meeste van ons het al daar gestap. Hy stuur dit toe terug met die boodskap “Kaapstad is weer veilig” Nie geweet wat dit beteken??? totdat ek eers later besluit om op sy weergawe te klik…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dankie vir die heerlike Afrikaans, Abrie. En daardie pragtige foto van die suksesvolle emigrantebok teen die hange van Tafelberg.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Plesier Frannie, ek was onder die indruk daar is nie meer van hierdie bokke nie, so dit was verrassing vir my ook
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow… what a hiking experience. The Table mountain is amazing, the views are unusual and stunning. Thank you for the tour, Abrie! Great images along your hiking.
The video is really, really cool!!
LikeLike
Thank you Amy I appreciate your remark
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy your post, as always.
Have a wonderful weekend, Abrie. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh Abrie, will you remember us when you move on to movie stardom after your movie premier?! Enjoyed it immensely, especially the sound track LOL. In the U.S. we would call you a hot dog – do you use that expression in SA? A beautiful hike my friend, glad you are able to be back to what you love. Here on Kiawah we are at sea level so mountain hiking is quite out of the question unless we drive several hours. I’ll hike with you vicariously!
LikeLike
Hi Tina apologies for the belated reply. No I don’t think hot dog is a general term used in South Africa unless it has ketchup on it (tomato sauce in South Africa actually). Is that related to being a cool cat? Last Monday was a national holiday and I went on hike again with Franschoek valley as backdrop. Don’t know if you were there when you were in South Africa. A lot of French people settled in the area so there are a lot of places with French names. The nature reserve monsieur Joubert (being me) hiked in is called Mont Rochelle. Wonderful to have you as a hiking partner like you Tina
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes we did visit Franschoek for a day of food and wine. Wonderfully scenic area with friendly people and excellent wine. Here in the US, a hot dog is an affectionate term for someone fun and perhaps a bit of a showman. Hmmm….who does that sound like ?😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
It vaguely reminds me of somebody I know. It might be one of my daughters father…
LikeLike
Ek het hierdie pos baie geniet!
LikeLike
Baie dankie Anne
LikeLike
Fun video. 😊
LikeLike
Thanks Irene
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Dit was nou sommer baie lekker – dankie, Abrie!
LikeLike
Danke viir jou inloer Dries
LikeLiked by 1 person
Danie Dries ek het Maandag in die Month Rochelle natuurreservaat naby Franschoek gestap een van die mooiste plekke waar ek nog gestap het
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ek gaan bietjie Google, dankie Abrie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Prettig Abrie, ek laaik! En dan leer ons nog ook!
LikeLike
Dankie Vuurvliegie
LikeLike
Hi, Abrie. The soundtrack is fabulous and very appropriate for a man of mystery and intrigue. Well done! You definitely put a needed smile on my face. Much appreciated! I love your creative responses!
LikeLike
Thanks Patti a man of mystery and intrigue like me appreciate your comments
LikeLike
Table Mountain is such a beautiful place and ideal place to spend a couple of hours hiking and with nature! A great sanctuary.
LikeLike
Hi Janaline apologies for only coming back to you know. I have probably spent more hours on Table Mountain than the average Cape Tonien. Table Mountain has also been the source of many a blog post. This post covers quite a few aspect od Table Mountain (including Afrikaans) 🙂 for when you may become nostalgic https://abriejoubert.wordpress.com/2016/10/25/kom-klim-tafelberg-saam-met-my/
LikeLike
Nou eers hierdie ‘dkrywe ontdek. Maar jou filmdebuut video is nie beskikbaar nie. Ai Abri, lanklaas van jou gehoor!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Abri, Abri, waar gaan jy heen? Dis n jaar dat jy laas geskryf het. Is julle ok?
LikeLike