Voyager joie de vivre: travel seris, #1

By Abbas QriquaS

Mambisa to Durbs is in part a story of romance where typically the girl meet the boy and they fall in love until something else forces them to part, in this case the guy, a Travel Writer, gets submerged in his never ending travel commitments the demands of his work. Palesa must decide whether to save her relationship and avoid premature ending of their romance or chose her  radio career first. Mambisa to Durbs, is also a story of a social justice activism where Palesa crosshairs with misogyny and patriarchy in Thembisa where she lives. She grapples with elementary problems such as women hair that is still subject to ridicule by male chauvinists and body shaming. Dika, Palesa's Tribesman follower is erroneously misidentified a homosexual and get attacked by a group of gangsters outside Wilson High the school he attends. Palesa get to know of the assault on the innocent and turns to the power of social media and the airways to make noise on behalf of Dika. She not only draws attention to the marginalised but wins new friends along the way and succeeds turning public opinion against misogyny. This is a narrative that challenges the stereotypes and social prejudices. The author weaves issues of social justice into fast moving dialogue without reducing the character into a mouthpiece for the LGBTQ+ community.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abba QriquaS
• Release date: Feb 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224900671

Abbas QriquaS

Abba Qriquas has the following collection to his name: Fiction Hello series Travel series The world temporarily closed Current affairs Betrayed, broken & corrupted Twilight at dawn Free humanity free the earth 1632 centennial series Biography Ek is 'n Qriqua YA Inspiration Soaring eagle Letters for my sons The kingdom series Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4

Book preview

Abba Qriquas

Copyright © Abba QriquaS

The characters and events in this novel are fictitious, if an actual place it is used fictitiously any resemblance to real persons living or dead is not intended but coincidental.

The right of Abba QriquaS to be identified as the author of Joie de Vivre a travel series book three has been asserted. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

Shout out to Alemselam-Gebrelweld from Unsplash for the cover image

addis to herms

CONTENTS

About the Novel

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

QS

‘I am in buoyant mood today. Who could have imagined the support we received. Fashion lovers are the most loyal patrons on earth. ’I proudly tell Aida.

‘I have to tell you even if you don’t believe me, you were absolutely fab yesterday. The show went beyond my wildest expectations, thanks to you.’ She says.

‘No, you who did the most, I am happy to have been there making small contributions to support your project. As you prepare to devote your time to the next big project, you can do so knowing your business will be stewarded by the most capable hands.’

‘I have no doubt, Nonz will be in good company flying under your wings. Will you take care of her for me Hun?’

‘No worries, I will take good care of your girl, Hun.’

To her friends she is known as Nonzwakazi Kgolofelo Jack. She is Aida’s preferred stand-in while she’s on a training sabbatical abroad. Nonz is a fashion designer by training, an emergent talent from Gugulethu. She is 26 years old, rises to 168 metres in height, slim and sinewy. With her ravishingly hypnotic look Nonz is simply Sexy. Potent. Lethal. Her features are accentuated by a dimple on the left and gleaming eyes. The exquisite porcelain beauty is complemented by an excellent sense of style and then her penchant for chick and glamour add to the mesmerising presence. This yellow bone adorns a sleek coiffed hair and glittery nails. She looks as if she should always be dressed in garments of a romantic past sitting beside a glowing fireplace among the Princes and Kings. Call her queen of shades or slay queen; either way she comes up shinning.

Aida and I spotted this young genius at the AQ Creations launch event. We were suitably impressed with her professional approach to her craft. Aida had offered Nonz an opportunity to work at AQ Creations during her training abroad. Nonz instead expressed a preference for ownership stake in the business, to which we agreed on the understanding AQ Creations held senior equity. This was a simple decision for all parties.

Incorporating the Khoe, Xhosa and Ethiopian elements into the design philosophy, our brand would stand out appealing to a wider base of fashion enthusiasts especially the outlandish A-listers. Our boutique would showcase something unique to the local and international clientele. A vision that excited us to no end.

Preliminary arrangement were that Nonz will combine her studio in Gugs with AQ Creations in Addis and take the new boutique to  Hermanus, where new money has migrated to. Nonz is going to be the Head Designer and the face of AQ Creations free to express her creativity unbounded.

My role will now combine two functions President and Marketing Executive. With this arrangement in place, all parties felt  there was a win-win arrangement, the agreement would come into effect as soon as notarised and incorporated in law. Happiness all round.

Aida and I have been back and forth to Cape Town raking several thousand flying miles on our accounts. I have become accustomed to the joys of seeing new places as well as the not so glamorous part - loneliness that comes with travelling solo - the one part I find hard to adjust to.

I am holding a boarding pass for seat 2D, BA flight 367 to Cape Town Sobukwe International Airport, there I will meet Nonz and we will make a drive to Hermes.

Hermes is an upmarket town makes me feel ill at ease with its intimidating exclusive character. A preserve privileged of white settlers. We are crossing fingers hoping to find letting space for AQ Creations  that can fit in our tiny budget.

Hermes is a crown jewel of the South African tourism assets, a real attraction for what our country’s beautiful coastline has to offer. Hermanus Pieters, an itinerant teacher from Caledon farm, was the first permanent resident of this place around the early 1800s. Having come across a fresh spring and greener pastures he settled on the shore of this enchanting bay.

The bay was formally known as Hermanuspietersfontein, but a certain Administrative Official had complained that the name was too long to fit in Post Office stamp. And so, in 1904 the long name was changed to its current short version Hermanus, through a Municipal edict.

Located 115 km southeast of Mother City, this coastal scenic town is connected by R44 and N2 motorway from Cape Town. From the airport, I took the N2 from Borcherds Quarry Road onto Settlers. Carrying along the N2 into Somerset West and through the area and over Sir Lowry’s Pass until I reach the turnoff to the R43, a turnoff that took me to Hermanus.

According to the Hermanus Tourism Bureau the town was built along the beautiful shores of Walker Bay and was the official whale watching capital of South Africa as well as the exclusive holiday destination for the privileged few with deep pockets.

Stretched along a narrow ribbon of land between towering mountains and a spectacular shoreline, Hermanus is surrounded by nature in her grandest style. Sitting on the edge of Walker Bay, this small coastal town offers a bewitching array of experiences. Whales and great white sharks, the most diverse floral kingdom in the world, mountain walks and pristine beaches, secluded forests, crashing surf, lagoons, and a hidden valley so beautiful it is no wonder someone was moved to name it Heaven and Earth.

Hermanus is a breath-taking scenery; it is a spectacular natural beauty with its unparalleled scenic beauty, modern infrastructure, upmarket shops, and endless adventure options, it is no wonder that this beautiful hidden treasure is ninety percent owned by foreign property moguls and other investors who have transformed this otherwise quiet town into a bustling hub of activity in-season as well as out-of-season.

Its residents are the heart and soul of the town providing an unforgettable holiday experience. Hermanus is surrounded by majestic mountains, indigenous Fynbos Cape’s floristic region one of the highest plant diversity levels in the world. For any intrepid tourist or appreciator of nature's wonders, this is the ideal location for an unforgettable experience.

This coastal resort offers the best land-based whale watching in the world. Visitors can watch whales from the clifftops, from the air or via boat-based whale watching. Visitors are often treated with close displays as these creatures often come to within 10 meters of the coast. About 60 to 100 of these magnificent animals come here from Antarctica to breed and rear their young.

Hermanus hosts an annual whale festival at the end of September, to celebrate the calving and mating season. Eco-tourism is the main theme of the Hermanus whale festival with the eco-marine village. Residents and visitors celebrate the migration of Southern Right Whales and other marine wildlife with ocean-themed activities and exhibitions, emphasising education and environmentally responsible adventures and activities. Prior to this main whale festival, a calf festival is held, to welcome the first whales usually in August.

Both festivals are characterised by food and craft stalls, environmental presentations, and South African drama productions. Hermanus caters for every taste besides whale watching, Hermanus offers horse riding, paragliding, kayaking, shark cage diving, fishing, hiking, plane trips to simply swimming and sunbathing at one of many gorgeous beaches. Another popular activity in Hermanus is shopping an incredible selection of galleries, fashion boutiques, jewellery shops and more are near the centre of town or within walking distance.

Tourism is the cornerstone of Hermanus’ economy. Visitors have an excellent selection of accommodation and restaurants to choose from. Besides the hotels there are many guesthouses, self-catering cottages, backpackers’ lodges, and campsites, offering visitors excellent hospitality.

After a busy day, visitors are invited to settle down in one of many restaurants for a delicious taste experience. From humble fish ‘n chips to five-star cuisine, the variety is endless and guaranteed to satisfy any craving.

As well as the shops, activities and sightseeing opportunities, there are many markets in and around Hermanus, the country market trades from the Hermanus Cricket Grounds every Saturday from 08h00 to 12h00 and specializes in wholesome organic produce and home-made products. Another interesting addition to the variety of markets in the town is the farmer’s market or Boeremark, also held every Saturday.

Here people can sample excellent food together with unmistakable wines. Once a month the Onrus Market opens its doors with various knick-knacks, snacks, home baked goods, books and much more. The Lemm's Corner Craft Market every Saturday is an old favourite, with unique crafts, artwork, clothes and of course, food!

Since August 1992, Hermanus has had the world’s only Whale Crier, the first being Pieter Classen 1992-1998, then Wilson Salukazana 1998-2006 and Zolile Baleni since April 2006, who sounds his kelp horn to announce where whales have been sighted. Zakes Mda would write in 2005 The Whale Caller a novel in which the Whale Crier of Hermanus is the principal character, a man who gets enthralled by a southern right whale he names Sharisha. The whale house presented daily slide shows throughout the year explaining the life cycle of our fascinating annual visitors, the southern right whales.

The greater Hermanus area is between two large lagoons on the western side and to the eastern side with a small lagoon in the middle. It comprises various settlements namely, Fisherhaven, Hawston, Vermont, Onrus, Sandbaai, Hemel en Aarde Valley, Mount Pleasant, Zwelihle and Hermanus.

A diversity of communities lives harmoniously in this exquisitely beautiful heart of the Cape whale coast. The town of Hermanus proper meanders along the western cove of Walker Bay, between magnificent sea cliffs and the foot of the Olifantsberg Mountains.

Hermanus has a station that has no trains or railway lines, thanks to Sir William Hoy, Commissioner of the South African Railways, who in the early 1900s stopped any rail development making certain that Hermanus keeps its clear, crisp, clean champagne air to this day. The Hermanus Tourism Bureau is housed in the Station Building on Mitchell Street.

Hermanus, also referred to as the Riviera of the South, is attractive to travellers not only because of its wondrous setting, quaint fisherman’s cottages, and unspoilt natural beauty, but also because it offers a myriad of activities all year round. The sun and pristine beaches which has blue flag status in summer and land-based whale watching in the green months.

Fishing, diving, hiking, cycling, fly-fishing, boating, bird-watching, paragliding, golf, bowls, quad biking, mountain biking riding, and great white shark cage diving close by at Gansbaai. The golf is a sporty 27-holes course and meanders along the base of the mountain range, below up market area called Hermanus Heights towards the Fernkloof Nature Reserve.

Fernkloof, one of the nature reserves in the greater Hermanus area, is saddled between Lemoenkop and Olifantsberg and hosts one of the richest of the six floral kingdoms in the world. It has 50 km of hiking trails and a mountain biking track.

The walk along the 14 km cliff path is spectacular, especially in whale season, and has earned the village the reputation of offering the best land-based whale watching in the world. On the opposite bank of the lagoon lies Die Plaat, part of the Walker Bay Nature Reserve, 12 km of unspoilt beach that goes all the way to De Kelders.

The Old Harbour Museum gives visitors an insight into the history of the village. There is a telescope above the harbour for visitors to see the giant when they are far out in the bay. De Wet’s Huis Photo Museum provides a fantastic photographic documentation of the history and development of the town. The beauty and magic of Hermanus has attracted many famous artists. The town has thus become home to a few Galleries that house both local and international works.

The village holds several festivals and events every year, including a Passion Play in the Old Harbour; celebrates the arrival of the whales in the bay with the whale festival which is an art and environmental feast; offers some of the best local and national theatre productions mainly in Afrikaans at the Calf festival; serves the most glorious seafood at the Hawston Sea Festival in December.

Chasing away winter chills is the Food & Wine Fair with delicious cuisine and delectable wines from over 60 exhibitors. The easternmost part of Hermanus, at the foot of the Kleinriviersberg which stretches to Stanford, is the residential area of Voelklip. This is where beaches are dotted in coves along the shoreline culminating in the long Grotto beach, which stretches out to meet the magnificent lagoon at the mouth of the Kleinrivier.

Fisherhaven, the most westerly settlement on the R43, is a quiet little place and has one shop and many holiday homes. Originally a holiday resort, Fisherhaven is now home to many locals who prefer the peace of the hamlet to the bustle of Hermanus. Situated on the beautiful Bot Riviera lagoon with amazing views and sunsets, it offers fishing, sailing and boating facilities and accommodation.

Vermont and Onrus River are situated where the river runs into the sea through the small Onrus lagoon. Though the Onrus River, which rises in the Babilonstoring mountains, is little more than 10 km long, it was regarded by the Dutch settlers who first saw it as restless and they named it Onrust. together with the fact that along its banks higher up in the valley a leper colony was established until 1845 who used its water for washing.

The spelling of Onrust has been modernised to Onrus despite opposition from traditionalists. Particularly vocal defence of the ‘t’ came from a group of distinguished artists who have homes at Onrus and the adjacent resort of Vermont. Many artists have settled here over the years including Uys Krige, Jan Rabie, Jack Cope, Elsa Joubert, Bill Davis, Gregoire Boonzaaier, Marjorie Wallace and Cecil Higgs.

Vermont and Onrus consisted mainly of holiday homes and their owners arrive in droves during the holidays to bathe on the beach. Today there are many permanent and retired residents who have settled in these beautiful surroundings.

The lagoon and beach offers showers, cloakrooms, and a restaurant right on the beach make this a friendly spot for holidaymakers; it is also a favourite surfing and body boarding spot. The Jewish Habonim holiday camp borders on the beach, preserving the green belt behind the beach from development.

Brekvis Bay at Vermont lies on the boundary of the Vermont Nature Reserve and is one of the most undisturbed beaches in the area. Shielded by high dunes, Brekvis Bay is the perfect place to picnic and paddle. Vermont and Onrus have excellent accommodation from camping sites to luxury 5-star guest houses.

Sandbaai lies on the coast at the entrance to the Hemel-en-Aarde valley. It is the most recently developed and fastest growing residential area of Hermanus with an eclectic range of homes. There is an even mix of holiday homes and permanent residences with permanent residents being, in the main, families with young children.

The Sandbaai beach is dotted with rock pools and coves and provides safe swimming at low tide. It is a popular snorkelling spot and there are cloakrooms and showers. Sandbaai has a few art galleries, one specialising in aviation. A wonderful seaside meander has been built along the Sandbaai shore where whale viewing is a pleasure. Sandbaai also sports a variety of accommodation establishments from budget self-catering and B&B to 5-star guest houses.

The Hemel-en-Aarde village is behind Sandbaai and has a variety of shops: farm stalls with delectable home-made items, restaurants, ceramic studios, galleries, jewellers, wineries, nurseries and more. It is the first stop on the Hermanus wine to wander up the serene valley. This valley, heaven, and earth, between the Babilonstoring Mountains and the Kleinriviersberg was not always the propitious place it is today.

In 1817 Moravian missionaries established South Africa’s first leper colony in the valley. It was also the country’s first specialised public health institution and operated until 1845 when the lepers were transferred to Robben Island. The valley truly is the epitome of its name, making the Hermanus an extremely pleasurable experience, as guest may visit many wine farms to sample the wines and partake of the fare at wonderful restaurants. Accommodation is also available in this heavenly valley.

Towards Hermanus along the R44, a quick left turn onto the R320 at the Wine Village will find you travelling along the stunningly picturesque Hemel en Aarde Valley, which is a beautiful route and is a perfect way to experience a different side of the Overberg. This road is also an alternative route linking Hermanus and the surrounding areas. Once a gravel road, it is now tarred, making the 35 km trip to Caledon a winding and enjoyable route that passes by several wine and entertainment facilities.

The wine route, along the R320, boasts more than just its vast array of wine farms. It is also famous for its uninterrupted views of the