THE GOOD LIFE

Durban has been my home for 20 years now. 

It has an ambiance all it's own. It is cosmopolitan, diverse, laid back has people of all colours and races. Apart from India itself it has the second highest population of Indians. That's mind boggling.

Our beaches are clean and what a pleasure to walk along the beach front, or cycle as the above cyclists are doing. I was a frequent cyclist along this route and  one can cycle all the way to Blue Lagoon which is a lovely picturesque route and a good distance away. Keeps us fit!

As you can see from the man on stilts, we have our fair share of entertainment too!

On the down side, yes, there IS a down side! Everything flourishes. I don't mind the plants flourishing so much, BUT when a giant size cockroach strolls across the room, I wonder which would be best, saddle it or spray it. Spraying these monsters doesn't always do the trick as they can live for at least a day if not longer just lying on their backs and with one leg kicking themselves in circles which terrifies the life out of me. I slapped one once, mindless thought that was, but automatic when I see anything crawl near me, and it has such messy innards, I won't be doing that again. Ever. And Spiders. Even they are diverse in their size, colour, and the damage they can do if they bite a person can take months to heal. The amazing thing is that the smaller they are the more poisonous they are. To slap them is out of the question.

See the Rickshaw in the background? They are as timeless as Durban is itself. At one time they were the 'taxis'. They transported people from A to B and even moved furniture when folk moved. Now they are a tourist attraction and and very slowly dying out which is a shame. I remember as a child there being rows and rows of Rickshaws to choose from, they were magnificent  and  colourful, and at the helm would be the puller with an enormous headress  which glittered  beautifully as the sun caught it. I remember the thrill of the Rickshaw puller when he jumped amazingly high in the air. Bit scary when one is small!

And even dogs are welcome! As long as they are on leashes and their owners carry poop scoopers!

Then there is the tourist season when all the locals step aside and make way for  the rest of world and, of course others from within South Africa, to spend their holidays and money. It is exciting and festive.

 No room to walk on the pavement for everyone so I often find myself walking between parked cars and traffic. Town? Well, if one has any sense at all they would be well advised to just leave that for the tourists and visiters! Visitors from inland sleep on the sidewalks, have their meals there and if we are not careful falling over people and legs is a very real hazard! There is not enough accommodation and many cannot afford it. They just know this is where they want to be even it if means sleeping in locked up garages and shop entrances.

I live on the beach front, 2 blocks from where these photos were taken. It is lovely out of season for us of course, we get our beaches and city back. Then the stifling hot weather with it's suffocating humidity slowly leaves us, and with the onset of Autumn, the weather is glorious, and cool air fills our lungs, and what a joy it is to have winter on it's way!! 

Hey, but we have to take the good and the inconvenient and the annoying don't we? Because although the tourists have gone, they will be back for Easter folks!

And guess what, Easter is upon us!!