Creative Mastermind!

Happy New Year!!

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:17:00 +0200

Happy New Year everyoooooooonnnneee!!!

It’s been too long since my last post, life just got in the way towards the last few months of 2011, but I am ready to kickstart 2012 with a bang! Feeling refreshed, rested, and filled with gratitude to the amazing things I have experienced in 2011! Here are some reflections to share with you all =)

Fond memories of 2011

- Grew more familiar with Cape Town, after moving to this amazing city in Oct 2010. Am in looooove with the city and its people, and incredibly grateful to have the opportunity of living in this city, right here, right NOW!

- Explored the Eastern Cape, travelling up the Garden Route using buses (Translux, SA RoadLinks, Intercape) from Cape Town -> Grahamstown!

- Challenged myself and completed 2 “big” cycle trips: cycling from PE to Addo Elephant Park through Motherwell (approx. 60km), and cycling from Cape Town to Darling for Rocking the Daisies festival (approx. 93km)!

- Saw the most beautiful spring blossoms (gouwsblomme) of Namakwaland with my dear friends, explored Ceres and Wupperthal, a beautiful mission station village!

- Celebrated my birthday with some of the incredible friends I have made in Cape Town - they are the ones that have made me truly feel like HOME!

- Weekly lunches with Abu, an ex-District 6 resident who volunteers at the District 6 Museum. Hearing the stories from his friends & himself, and finally organized a trip to visit the community in Athlone, Mitchell’s Plain!

- Joined Ernst & Young Toastmasters, meeting another great group of aspiring people who continue to help me grow & develop as a young professional! Found my two mentors Bill Russell & Rehana Rutti, who are incredible!

- Planned our family vacation, where my entire family visited from 2 continents (USA & China) for 14days over Xmas & New Year!! Grateful to have the opportunity to bring them to South Africa, and share this incredible city with my family!

There are so many more incredible moments, but these are definitely some of the key highlights! As Abu often says, “We have to know where we are from, before we can find the path to the future”. On this new year day, it’s important to take some time for myself, simmer, and reflect on all that has happened in the past year, 5years, 10years, your life even!

Taking a page from the late George Carlin: “We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour,” human connections and a continuous aspiration to learn from those around us should be the most treasured of all!

CPT Love,

Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

COLDPLAY concert - simply EPIC!

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:29:00 +0200

Aaaaah!

The COLDPLAY concert was well, simply EPIC!

Starting off with the FAN WALK towards the Stadium, the street was buzzing and Keenwa’s balcony filled with people! We were walking with the masses - 60,000+ attendees to be exact! Th MyCiti buses were flowing and everyone got to the stadium without causing any traffic accidents!

Highlights from the concert - apologies for the bad quality shots!!

Had an incredible night with Jon Jon & Patrick!! Thanks for making the COLDPLAY concert extra special tonight!

HUGE SHOUT OUT to Matthew Davidson & the team over at The Rooftop Studio, THANK YOU SO MUCH for the concert tickets!! Hope you guys rocked out at the concert and don’t suffer from a HANGOVER tomorrow!!!

Peace out!

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

Cape Town Kodak Blogger Meet-Up tomorrow!

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:21:13 +0200

Thanks to the lovely Natasha Clark, I got the invite to the Kodak Blogger Meet-Up in Cape Town tomorrow evening! Promised to be an incredible events with some of Cape Town’s top blogger, even We Love Pictures are setting up a PHOTO BOOTH!

Now we all know how much I love Photobooths…. especially after the notorious Balkanology parties!!!

Welcome drinks, bottles of wine and some really yummy tapas from our lovely hosts at French Toast Wine & Tapas Bar!! Need I say more?

And of course, the bloggers shall unite to unlock Foursquare SWAM BADGE for >50ppl checking in at the same time…. !!

Can’t wait to meet the bloggers I’ve been following (practically stalking) in cyberspace!

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

20th Hermanus Whale Festival Over the weekend, we went to...

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:48:00 +0200

Hermanus Whale Fest! Food booths!

Checkers Arts&Craft tent

So many visitors! Vibey hermanus

Whale watchers!

Whale fin!

Whale sighting!

20th Hermanus Whale Festival

Over the weekend, we went to Hermanus for the annual Two Oceans Hermanus Whale Festival! Celebrating the 20th anniversary this year, the festival was promised to be bigger & better!

Boasting over 10 venues, 30+ FREE Eco-talks, Checker’s Living Table with celebrities, and Saturday night performances by PRIME CIRCLE/D-Seven, there were so much entertainment beyond watching the Whales!

Given that it’s my first time at Hermanus during Whale season, needless to say, I was SUPER EXCITED to finally admire these beautiful mammals up close. During the festival, I learned that Hermanus is known to be the world’s BEST land-based, whale watching location!

The Southern Right Whale is distinguishable from others by the callosities on its head, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye.

And yes, I saw ONE whale breaching!! It was the most magnificent moment, not captured on film but surely fulfilled my dream!! We stood on the shoreline at the Old Harbour, freezing our hands off trying to keep the camera still, hoping that we will see another breach…! The whales simply teased us for the next 30min, dancing in the waters & showing off fins & tails… but no body =(

Alas, the crew on Free Willy must have felt the tingles in their belly as they saw Willy breach for the first time!

The whales will be at Hermanus, resting, mating, and nurturing the new calves! So get yourself a weekend trip plan, and head out to Hermanus before November!

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

SNEAK PREVIEW!! STHE AND THE UNTOUCHABLES What an incredible...

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:31:00 +0300

SNEAK PREVIEW!!

STHE AND THE UNTOUCHABLES

What an incredible show!!! Here are some photo “spoilers” - will post more about Saxy Sthe & the Untouchable dudes tomorrow!

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

Cape Town's hidden gem: Turkish Lahmacun!

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:17:45 +0300

As the summer approaches, do you find yourself wanting a lighter, fresher dinner option? Made to order, seasonal ingredients that doesn’t break the bank?

Tonight was one of those nights!

Having stayed in the office waaaaay later than expected, I left hungry & wanting something refreshing but still filling - perhaps a salad? Or Chinese fried rice?

Having my mind set on the Pork Fried Rice special by Jewel Tavern on St George’s Mall & Church Street - I walked quickly & determined. Only to find out that my favourite Chinese restaurant (with amaaaazing lunch specials!) had MOVED!!!!! aaaaaagggh!! Bye Bye Jewel Tavern, guess I have to find you on Kloof St in the future!

Plan B: Doppio Zero right across the road!

Doppio had the amazing Gypsy Kings album on! Score! On closer look at the menu, the cheapest salad was R50++…. hrrm, after all the fresh produce I bought at the Earth Fair Market this afternoon, I was left with R50 in my pocket…

Plan C: Kauai? Crave?

Both were closed and it was only 7:30pm! Ugh! The Italian restaurant across from Purple Turtle was opened though…. again, cheapest salad = R50+… this is really not my day >.<

I was meeting a friend at OnBroadway tonight, to see the STHE AND THE UNTOUCHABLES! Perhaps that Turkish hole-in-the-wall booth right next to OnBroadway?

BINGO!! Baris Bufe - Doner Kebab!

I could not believe my eyes! Kebab in pita with chips, salad for R35? Lamb kebab for R45? Turkish Lahmacun with salad for R15?!!?!?! I was sold!

This is my Turkish Lahmacun - a Turkish pizza with very thin, flat base! Topped with delicious spread of mince, chopped onion, tomato, fresh parsley & green pepper!

The Lahmacun dough was freshly rolled, baked, and was literally ready within 8minutes. Toasty & warm, I gobbled up my treat and sat content with a wide GRIN on my face!

Dinner & Grapetiser = R27. Now that is a HARD DEAL to beat!

Shhhhh….. but I think I’ve discovered Cape Town’s Hidden Gem! Find Baris Bufe - Doner Kebab at 44 Long St!!

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

[China Edition] Two weeks in Shenzhen!

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:02:20 +0300

I now understand why Business Trips are so taxing & tiring…

2 weeks, new office, more than 20 teams needed for meetings! That translates to living, breathing work 24/7, and it is virtually impossible to switch off.

Wanted to share this [China Edition] even though my blog is typically centered around Cape Town! Having lived & worked in China, with the family living in Shanghai since 2004, the Shenzhen experience was nothing like I imagined….!

Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China’s Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China’s first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones (SEZs). In May 1980, Shenzhen was formally nominated as a “special economic zone”, the first one of its kind in China. It was given the right of provincial-level economic administration in November 1988.^{- sourced Wikipedia}

Walking around the city, it’s hard to imagine that merely 30years ago, this was a small village with farmlands as far as the eye can see! The government was able to start from scratch - designing the new city’s roads, infrastructure development, public transportation and more. This was different from my experience in Shanghai, where it is an rarity to see blue skies as Shanghai is normally covered in a thick, grey smog… Shenzhen was surprisingly GREEN - trees lining the streets, well maintained highways and underground subway system. For a moment, I actually felt as if I was back in Singapore!

Typical street view of Shenzhen, home to the world’s 14th highest building (not picured)

It is actually surprisingly rare to find a “local” in Shenzhen - someone who is born & raised in the city. With SZ’s close proximity to HK (connected by 6 land custom points), many businesses chose to open up shop in SZ for its convenience and lower cost. During my 2 weeks spent in our office, I must have met over 100 colleagues, none of whom are from Shenzhen!

Not surprisingly, with the city’s boom and migration of people from other cities seeking jobs, price level raised sharply! To buy an apartment in the city, each sqm = RMB 20,000 - 40,000! In fact, the city is getting so expensive that some people actually choose to buy apartments on the HK side (across the border) and commute to work instead!

View of Shenzhen city from the top of LianHua Mountain - the strange building in the center is a government office!

Besides a great designed city, and first hand experience of rising price level (Food & beverage costs are on-par with Cape Town, rent is lower depending on how far out you live), I got to check out the night life near CoCo Park - a vibrant shopping area popular among locals & expatriates. Surprisingly, I met 3 South Africans on my first night out!

South Africans in Shenzhen

Us: 1 American, 1 Thai, 1 Taiwanese
Them: 1 Irish, 1 British, 1 American, 3 South Africans

We met at an Irish pub in CoCo Park. On average, these “locals” have been living in Shenzhen for 5 years…. with the longest tenure = 8 years! Almost everyone spoke fluent Chinese, and the 3 South Africans were extremely confused when I greeted them with “Hoe gaan dit?” Patrick works on films production & deal in diamonds, while William/ Niel teach English to locals. They were from Jozi, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town - and only met each other in Shenzhen, China!

Learning about their experience living in China gave me a completely different perspective: having grown up in Asia, I no longer find China to be an “exciting” place to live in. While I was mesmerized by the beauty and laidbackness of Cape Town, my new South African friends were thriving in the fast paced, constantly evolving Shenzhen. Despite missing braais & biltong, they’ve all been living in China for over 4 years now and still going strong!

When asked what they love most about Shenzhen, Patrick answered: “Because China is where it is happening, right NOW. Especially Shenzhen - the city is expanding and growing so quickly, the exciting buzz is definitely addicting!”

Something to ponder. Will post more soon!

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

FAT PIG Preview night: Great laughs On Broadway!

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:18:52 +0300

Cow. Slob. Pig. How many insults can you hear before you have to stand up and defend the woman you love? Tom faces just that question when he falls for Helen, a bright, funny, sexy young woman who happens to be plus-sized - and then some.

And that sets the stage for the sparkling new show On Broadway in Cape Town, FAT PIG! Winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play in 2005 penned by American playwrite Neil LaBute, the play explores issues that we can easily identify with in our own lives: Self image, friendship, and love! No spoilers but this is not your typical girl-meets-boy story: what happens when you fall in love with someone who is far from your “ideal”?

Attending a play on it’s preview night is always a gamble. Will the actors’ nerves will set off the show in a disasterous direction? Are the audience going to respond with the right energy? Will the set fall apart….!? There are so many factors that could go WRONG! However, FAT PIG’s premier night truly wowed me! Colin Moss, Chanelle De Jager, Clayton Boyd, Lee-Anne Summers engaged the audience with incredible energy from the get-go: the first scene when Tom & Helen met, Carter’s larger than life narcissistic comments, Jeannie’s confrontation, I was living the lives of all 4 characters as the play unfolded in front of my eyes! LaBute’s rhythmic and colloquial writing draws the audience in, and memories of the Carter, Jeannie, Tom & Helen in my life came naturally to me.

After the show, we were treated to a Q&A session with the actors. It was incredible to hear their reactions to their first audience of the season: unexpected laughters, tears, anger and frustration at different stages… With a group of ACT Cape Town students present, the audience threw out technical questions such as

“How do you laugh so naturally, even after hearing the jokes a thousand times during rehersal?”

“Are lines re-interpretated constantly? Or do you stick to the script every night?”

Colin, Chanelle, Clayton & Lee-Anne answered each of the questions with light humour, giving acting tips to the students while conveying how their unique roles evolved over the past few months! The one thing that truly stuck with me was Clayton’s comment:
“There is no such thing as a one-man monologue: it is simply a conversation where one gives and one takes.”

Whether it be with a friend, a lover, or with your family, relationships can only formed when someone is willing to give!

Buy your tickets to the FAT PIG through OnBroadway’s website, call them at 021 424 1194, or grab the GrouponDeal today for discounted tickets at R59/person here! http://www.groupon.co.za/deals/cape-town/pay-r59-for-a-ticket-to-see-the-play-fat-pig-at-on-broadway-theatre-valued-at-r125—save-53-/803471/.OJbHET

Enjoy the show!

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

A magical weekend in Biedouw Valley (near Clanwilliam, Northern...

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:24:05 +0300

A magical weekend in Biedouw Valley (near Clanwilliam, Northern Cape) to see the beautiful Spring Blossoms “gouwsblomme” that come out after the winter rains! Flowers, new friends, Potjiekos…. no better way to spend the weekend! :D

Check out the Clanwilliam Flower Routes:

http://www.clanwilliam.info/info/infoflowers.htm

The flowers are in full bloom! When are you planning a trip up the Flower Route?

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

Do you ever find yourself wrapped up in the spinning ecstacies...

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:15:00 +0300

Do you ever find yourself wrapped up in the spinning ecstacies of everything happening around you, so much so that you lose focus and stumble down the wrong fork of life?

I think that’s what happened in the past two months.

Before starting this blog, I told myself: If you are going to try this, you gotta give it your best and WRITE - at least once a week!

Of course, life got in the way. Admist all the packing, unpacking, traveling, family, friends, birthdays, farewell parties, work, business trips…. there were so much I wanted to post about (and still do, have a running list of “I shall finish writing up on this restaurant/ event/ light-bulb moment when….”), somehow they were lost amidst the craziness.

September is going to be a restart, BOOM.

After a refreshing trip to Namakwaland, sitting amongst the beautiful Spring Blossoms or “gouwsblomme”, as I have learned from my Afrikaans travel buddies, I felt re-energized. I even posted photos from the trip within 24hours!

On the bus trip back to Cape Town, I realized that every moment in our lives are truly unique, once-in-a-lifetime moments. You will never be able to replicate a single moment, even with the same people, same cars/buses, same location, same time of the year…. heck, even down to the minutes! We can never recapture the beauty, or the pain, of any single moments in our life…. There are too much beauty in this world, too many interesting people, and TOO MANY LIFE LESSONS that I am learning every day.

This is why I have to keep writing. Time to pick myself back up, and get back on track!

It is great to be back =)

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

What’s diversity in my town, you ask? Cape Town has the ...

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:21:00 +0300

What’s diversity in my town, you ask?

Cape Town has the truest form of diversity - celebrating birthdays in BO KAAP, the traditional Cape Malay quarter where houses are painted in bright tones of yellow, turqoise, and pink! Here you will find a rustic, cozy Mexican restaurant owned by Arturo’s family - where Arturo Sr & Arturo Jr serenades special guests (my birthday!) with authentic Mexican mariachi songs!

It doesn’t matter where you are from, what colour you are, what languages you speak.

Welcome to Cape Town!

** San Julian Taco & Tequila
+27 (0)21 419 4233
3 Rose St
(the bottom end, near Green Point)
Bo-Kaap

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

Happy Birthday, Madiba! Nelson Mandela Day!

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:12:00 +0300

“Following the success of Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in London’s Hyde Park in June 2008, it was decided that there could be nothing more fitting than to celebrate Mr Mandela’s birthday each year with a day dedicated to his life’s work and that of his charitable organisations, and to ensure his legacy continues forever.

The Mandela Day campaign message is simple: Mr Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. All we are asking is that everyone gives 67 minutes of their time, whether it’s supporting your chosen charity or serving your local community.

Mandela Day is a call to action for individuals – for people everywhere – to take responsibility for changing the world into a better place, one small step at a time, just as Mr Mandela did.”

On July 18th, donate 67 minutes of your day (and more!) to do something good - Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life to the struggle for social justice. Can you spare 67 minutes of yours to support a charity or serve your local community??

Come share how you have celebrated Madela Day today!

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

Visionmaking Should be a Daily Activity

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:33:00 +0300

Life has been quite hectic for the past 2 weeks: moved into a new flat, packing & unpacking all my boxes, meeting new people, saying goodbye to old friends, packing again to visit family back home (Taiwan!), writing up mid-year reviews at work… lots happening in a very short time!

There are so many blogs I have intended to write: Review on 7th Vodacom Funny Festival, my thoughts after watching I am Slave documentary, new restaurant review for PAIVEPO Cafe…..!

Just as life gets busy & out of control, my sister forwarded this great article to me - and I couldn’t agree more! “Visionmaking should be a daily activity” , how can you go forward when you can’t see the path?

I hope you will enjoy this article, as much as I did!

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One of the most important responsibilities of every leader is to envision the future. Visionmaking should be a daily activity … and deal with practices of inventing the future, a future that frees us from the quagmire of the status quo and allows us to enter a “field of possibility.” Possibility is the geography that supports individual and collective growth, development and achievement.

Every leader has an enemy … and that enemy is the status quo. The status quo is defined as “a state of stasis where there is neither motion or development and where there is no hope of change.” It is common knowledge that in business, as in life, we either advance or decline and there is nothing in between. The status quo disguises decline. We are seduced into the false sense that things remain exactly the same, when we’re actually heading downhill but so slowly that it is virtually imperceptible until free-fall occurs. By the time we recognize we’re falling, it’s too late.

Wise leaders see that the status quo is the breeding ground for organizational inertia, the inability or unwillingness to move or act. Once this condition arrests an organization, team or individual, the result is lethargy, apathy and disinterest. These are the signposts of decline…and an announcement that leadership has been abandoned. Sir William Ostler, the father of modern medicine, suggests that such conditions can be formidable in their ability to undermine our energies and jeopardize our preferred future: “By far the most dangerous foe we have to fight is apathy — indifference from whatever cause, not from a lack of knowledge, but from carelessness, from absorption in other pursuits, from a contempt bred of satisfaction.”

Carelessness, distraction and narcissistic pre-occupation undermine a chief resource in leadership — the practice of reflection. Reflection is the act of turning the eyes from the outer world to the inner landscape of our aspirations, dreams, and possibilities and opportunities. This is the domain of the future and vision is fashioned in the silence of careful contemplation.

— Patrick O’Neill, from “Envisioning a Preferred Future”

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CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

Cape Town Bloggers Get Together & Tweet Up

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:49:37 +0300

rememberyoulive:

30 June 2011 6.30pm
Cool Daddy Bar at The Grand Daddy Hotel
Long Street
Cape Town, South Africa
Organised by Betty Bake and Being Brazen

Thanks to Memnto Vivere for sharing this event!! Excited for the Cape Town Bloggers Get Together tonight!!

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

ilorejo: The Africa they never show Absolutely love this...

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:46:43 +0300

ilorejo:

The Africa they never show

Absolutely love this post! Do check out ilorejo’s blog on all about Africa -the beautiful Africa that remains unappreciated.

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

Table Mountain has to be the most signature landmark/ sight in...

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:29:00 +0300

Table Mountain has to be the most signature landmark/ sight in Cape Town, and it is perfect for giving reference to directions around Mother City!

“MM… you want to go to a hip bar where the locals hangout? Check out Rafikis - walk up Kloof St towards the mountain, turn right to KloofNek st & keep walking to the table, yup you can’t miss it!”

“Have you checked out the Special Collections at the National Library of South Africa? With maps from as early as 1619? Enter Company’s Garden from Adderley & Wale St, walk straight toward Table Mountain, and you will see NLSA on your right!”

Looking up at Table Mountain every day, I am still dazed by its majestic beauty that never ceases to take my breath away…! You can hike up Table Mountain on a good day! There are many hiking trails catering to all levels of climbers: from the Stairmaster-from-hell granite steps up Platteklip Trail from the cable car station, to a 4-6hr hike via Skeleton Gorge, where you will walk through waterfalls and the beautiful Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden!

It is incredibly beautiful when the night lights lit up Table Mountain, I love the multiple dimensions Table Mountain has throughout the year!

What’s your favourite view of Table Mountain?

Pssssh…… don’t forget to VOTE FOR TABLE MOUNTAIN to become one of the New7Wonders of Nature!! Follow them on Twitter @Vote4TableMount

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

Have you seen the Eggshell Man in Cape Town? He’s the...

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:37:00 +0300

Have you seen the Eggshell Man in Cape Town?

He’s the single most jolly character in Green Market Square! Always smiling as he greets tourists, balancing a gigantic puppet of shells on his head! You can join his “call” on the walking-talking lanline!!

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

Never-ending weekend in Kaapstad!

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:56:11 +0300

This is what I tell my friends when they ask me about social life in Cape Town~

When I first moved to Cape Town, I was overwhelmed by the bustling night life in the city! Julep/ Carnival Court/ Dubliners on Long Street, Asoka/ Knoxville on Kloof St, DecoDance in Seapoint, Cafe Caprice/ Dizzy’s in Camps Bay….

By March, I realized that the weekend truly starts on a Wednesday! With amazing DJ sets in Waiting Room, Labia Theatre dinner + movie promo, Balkanology at the Fez….!

NOW, I am in no way exaggerating when I say that the weekend NEVER STOPS in Cape Town! Just as I thought Monday will give my liver a break and some “downtime” to relax, I find myself at Theatre Sports on Monday night, Unplugged at Zula Bar, shows and events like That 80’s Show at GrandWest Casino on a Thursday night, braais or cookouts at my friends’ flats!

Since getting on Twitter & blog, it’s amazing how social media truly channels the energy of Cape Town - internet at its best! This is how I found myself at Boston T Nightclub’s launch party in Tygervalley last night!

Celebrating Boston T’s launch with JC Le Roux bubblys, we were treated to champagne, sushi and the new Berry G cocktail & evening wear fashion show! The club is on Edward St, where you can find the likes of Bunker 9, Stones, China White and….. even HOOTERS! Definitely the “mini Long St” of Tygerville area, which was a refreshing change from all the backpackers!

The club welcomed a diverse crowd, locals & foreigners mingled with bubblys and food, as the DJ spin a mix of House & Hip Hop! We didn’t stay long after the show, but Goodluck was in the house with their jazzy keyboards and funky sax, spicying up the dance floor!

Needless to say, the best part of the evening was a chance to relax & chill out with friends!

Here are the girls at Boston T! From left: Ploy, myself, Karina!

Cape Town truly spoils you with choices: Africa nights at Alliance Française, star gazing at the Observatory, poetry readings at Still Life…. you name it!

What are you doing in Cape Town, tonight?

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

It is amazing how different Cape Town looks in four...

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:31:00 +0300

It is amazing how different Cape Town looks in four seasons!

Gorgeous pic of Cape Town taken last weekend from Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. That’s winter in Africa for you! I ♥ Cape Town

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)

Beauty of Cape Town - Day 3

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:27:00 +0300

“So… is Long Street the only main road in Cape Town?”

“No Mom, that’s just one of the busiest streets in the city center!”

This was my Mom’s comment after her first day in Cape Town. Having lived in metropolitan cities all our life, Cape Town did appear smaller on first glance. What I’ve grown to learn and love about Cape Town is exactly that - it can be as small as you want to make it, or LARGER than you can ever imagine!

With colonial buildings lined Long Street, palmy Camps Bay beaches, it is easy for locals (or transplanted locals, like myself) to stay in the comfort of City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard! But there is so much more to Cape Town - Northern Suburbs like Tableview & Blouuberg, Southern Suburbs like Claremont & Constantia, further south towards Kalk Bay, Simonstown and more!

Here’s an example of changing landscapes you can experience, within half a day drive from Cape Town!

View from Seapoint flat - you can see the promenade!

Century City Mall - where it’s summer all year round and waaaay too many shops to experience…!

Picturesque Muizenberg - surfer dudes unite!

Chapman Peak’s drive! It took 17 years to carve out this scenic route from the very mountain it hugs up against!

The Wharf at Hout Bay - find the freshest seafood from markets/stores directly from the ocean!

Driving back towards city bowl - sunset hikes & sundowners on Lion’s Head is a guaranteed local favourite!

Night view of foreshore… did you know the old coastline of Cape Town ended at the Castle of Good Hope?

CPT Love,
Lisa Huang

Check out my Travel Blog here, and follow my adventures on Twitter! (@bestCapeTownSA)