For Valentine's day this year, my husband surprised me with a train trip for two to the small town of Cullinan, 30km east of Pretoria. Much to my surprise our romantic day was to be on board of a steam locomotive. A true living museum operated by Friends of the Rail.

We left Hermanstad station, in Pretoria a bit later than expected due to unforeseen circumstances but the wait made for more excitement.  My previous train ride was with my parents and I was still in primary school and it wasn't a steam locomotive. I have been on the Gautrain a couple of times but it is more of a convenience getting to the airport than to get stuck in traffic than anything else. 

We were seated opposite each other. I was gazing into my lover's eyes and thinking I am the luckiest woman in the world. The train cars started rolling forward on the tracks, the engine chuffed and we left the station in a cloud of smoke. Then came the significant "whoo-hoo' of the steam whistle. There were smiles all round. It is as if we were all anxiously waiting for that sound. I think kids would be this happy if they were on board Thomas the tank engine. 

We chugged past metro rail stations and we're stationery at some them for a while. Please take into account when you do choose to make use of FOTR (Friends of the Rail) that they do not have riding priority over metro rail. We had to stop a lot on our journey. Not that it bothered us a bit. The scenery towards Cullinan is much better than the beginning where you travel through squatter camps. Neither is is dangerous nor is it unsafe it's just not very scenic. We had quite a long stop at Eerste Fabrieke Station and had the opportunity to take photo's at the locomotive and I tripped over a piece of steel sticking out in front not once, not twice but three times. Some of the kids and one adult even had the privilege to pretend that we were driving the train. What an experience.

Basically the same rules apply when driving in a train or a car, and one of them is to not lean out of the windows.

The town of Cullinan is within walking distance from the station and there are numerous restaurants, a tea garden and even a brewery to choose from. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation. We had lunch at the tea garden and the food was really outstanding. We both had savoury pancakes. After lunch we still had two hours to kill before we would leave for Pretoria again. We strolled through the shops and made our way back to the restaurant/bar located at the station, where we had a drink or two and took some more photos. Marius had my name engraved on a penny and he placed some coins on the track for the kids. After the train drove over them they totally loose shape. What an awesome memoir. 

December holiday in Kosi Bay

The start of our official Christmas holiday was 24 December 2014. The car was packed and stacked to the brim. Kids and dog in the back. New battery to run the inverter and fridge from - check. We were ready for a nine hour drive to Kosi Bay.

We passed some towns that I have never had the pleasure to visit like: Piet Retief, Pongola, Jozini, eManguzi and we drove on the Pongolapoort Dam wall. While driving to Kosi Bay as well as during our stay, temperature was a scorcher. The highest measuring 45°C. Thank heavens for an air con in the Range Rover. At times it felt more like a weight loss program than a holiday. Except for the last two days. That was rainy and messy.

We stopped at Utshwayelo Lodge at around 18:00 and Enock went to show us where the bush camp was. We picked a lovely tree to camp under that would shield us from the burning rays of the sun during day time. There is only one toilet and one separate shower that supply the camp. Did I mention it was in the open air. Only a couple of reeds (for privacy) and a strip of corrugated roof sheeting is used to build amazing outdoor shower experience. Complete with a spider above the think tank. There's obviously no door, so you have to "halloooo, is there anybody in there?" to know if it is safe to enter.

Back to our tree - there is no electricity. Hurray! That meant I couldn't blow dry my hair, which in turn makes me really happy. I could relax and tie my locks with an elastic. Make up was only reserved for the days that we travelled. It was just such a waste with the heat. You sweat it off faster than you can put it on. Loosing weight and saving time because of not having to do my hair and saving my face from harsh chemicals - I could hear angels sing in unison - HALLELUJA!

We had a laid back Christmas day. We went to the beach and the kids had a blast. They loved every minute of it. Armani called it the best day ever! We tried to minimize time in the sun to avoid getting bad sunburn on our first day. Did I mention the heat?! Later that day went I made some gourmet canned sardine sandwiches and Armani said I was the best chef and my food is so good. She is so cute. Both of my kids are.

The next day we lounged around camp and the day after we went to St Lucia and I did use some make up. Had to. We saw some crocs on the riverbed and some hippo's in the water. The kids were amazed that wild animals were that close. We want to give them experiences they remember. A day in the zoo is not the same as seeing an animal in their natural habitat. Best parents ever - check! We went for some much needed pizza at Reef and Dune. Hands down best pizza I've ever had. No seriously. There's so much toppings on you can't see the base. Alonzo (son), was happy. He asked for pizza ever since we left Centurion. Marius' dad and his wife decided to join us for a day or two. We had to gulp down the pizzas and meet them on the road. Happiness. I love my parents in law. They are super relaxed and easy to chat to and you don't have to pretend.

The next day we took them to the beach and we enjoyed some family time around a fire. Unfortunately they had to leave the next day and we saw the opportunity to explore. We did a day excursion to 9 Mile beach, Lala Nek and Black rock beach. Unspoilt beaches like you have never seen. I have a question - why go to Moz and get trampled by Valies if you can experience this. I mean during night time and when the wind was right we could hear music coming from Ponto du Ouro. That is not my definition of a nice relaxing holiday with family. I want space and freedom and I want my children to experience it as well. I don't want to take them to over expensive commercialised holiday spots; I want to give them the best that this world has to offer.

Hope your holiday was as amazing as ours.

Love travel

To travel sets me free from the every day routine. It breaks a boring habit. It creates the feeling that I live a life of adventure and I love it!

 

Whether it is going to the ocean and hearing the waves break or the slightly mouldy smell of a forest. My body gets transported to another place. A place away from work and every day life and stress and traffic jams!

 

I close my eyes and breathe in and suddenly I am calm.

 

To travel does something to my soul. It makes me happy. Money can't buy you happiness but it can buy petrol or a ticket to anywhere which is kind of the same thing.

 

 Where have you travelled to lately and what does travel do to your soul?