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Borobudur, Indonesia

As we started climbing the ominous stairs that stretched ahead of us and into the dark, we could only just make out the vague outline of Borobodur temple around us. The chatter of tourists mingled with the chanting of monks in the pre-dawn dark as we settled down leaning against Buddha statues waiting for the sun to rise over the horizon. There was something surreal about sitting there in this ancient site, the sun slowly lighting our surroundings, that stirred my soul and changed something in me forever. The temple appearing out of dark, Buddhas, statues and carved stone taking shape before our eyes and the melodious chanting of the monks sitting round the top pyre. 

The monument consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the centre of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside a perforated stupa. It is a work of art!

It's hard to describe the feeling of being there, the emotions that run through you as you become a part of this historic spiritual place but it should be at the top of your bucket list so you can experience it too. 

- Shan Routledge

 

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History of Bloemfontein 

Bloemfontein abounds with old buildings and all are worth a visit for their well-preserved period architecture and historical value. The Supreme Court of Appeal dates back to 1910 when four British colonies, namely the Cape, Transvaal, Natal, and the Orange Free State joined to form a single country, the Union of South Africa. Built using sandstone from Ladybrand and Ficksburg, the judicial chambers are an elegant example of free Renaissance style architecture.

The Eerste Raadsaal (first parliament building), a modest thatched-roof building erected in 1849, is the oldest remaining building in Bloemfontein. Having served as a church, conference chamber, parliament house and a school, today the heritage site is a satellite of the National Museum. Its exhibits depict the history of the establishment of the Free State and outside there is a Wagon Museum that’s also worth a visit...

Read more at www.nightjartravel.com/cultural/history-bloemfontein

 

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Baboons

Throughout South Africa, there are so many little towns that face the same challenge. Pest control. From the romantic coastal towns of the Western Cape to the dramatic mountain towns of the Overberg, baboons are the most frustrating, albeit the sweetest, thieves and looters of all. You think cockroaches are bad? How about a 30kg ‘cockroach’ that ravages an entire Strelitzia just for the stamen?! On the other hand, when I am watching these vagabonds prancing and playing in the local park, it is just too difficult to hold a grudge against their curious nature. Just like I would ogle them at the zoo, from a distance I know they are eyeing me too.

- Nightjar Junior

 

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The Lydenburg Museum

Some years back, the Lydenburg Museum swopped its downtown location for a spot at the entrance to the Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve outside town. It now shares its home with small mammals and birds in a grassland habitat. For the visitor, that means you can kill two birds (not literally, the park officials won’t like it) with one stone.

The museum delves into the cultural, historical, archaeological and ethnographic history of the area. It showcases items related to the Pedi, Ndebele and Afrikaner, all of whom have left their mark in the area. They also look at the history of agriculture in the region and builders of the Late Iron Age. Its prize display, however, are replicas of the famous Lydenburg Heads, which were found by a young boy on a farm outside Lydenburg in 1957...

Photo: Chris Marais/Mainline Media

(GPS coordinates: -25.103622, 30.486138)

Read more at www.nightjartravel.com/cultural/lydenburg-museum

 

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Pinnacle Gorge Rock Climbing

Pinnacle Gorge is set in an excellent location. It offers single and multi-pitch sport and trad climbing on a variety of sandstone and quartzite crags in an open gorge. There are 29 bolted lines and 397 trad routes across the grade range, most of which are crack climbs.

There are paths to all the crags and access is completely open, but there is a fee to camp and climb in the gorge. There are various lovely wild camping spots in the gorge (with no facilities). The Rudmans also hire out a very comfortable cottage...

(GPS coordinates: -33.534867, 24.807521)

Read more at www.nightjartravel.com/climbing/pinnacle-gorge-rock-climbing

 

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Mkambati – a place untouched

Walking alone in a beautiful place makes me feel so happy, I thought, negotiating the next landing place for my foot as I leapt from rock to rock. My attention was split between the roaring Indian ocean beside me, and the magical dainty flowers at my feet.

Mkambati Nature Reserve in the Wild Coast of Pondoland has twelve kilometres of pristine coastline between the Mtentu and Msikaba rivers. The ocean spills out onto rocky sandstone ridges and undulating grasslands, dotted with African plains game such as wildebeest, blesbok and eland. There are small patches of indigenous forest, home to shy and endangered species such as the Knysna Lourie, mangrove kingfisher, Narina Trogon, samango monkeys and a colony of about 100 Cape griffon vultures nesting along the steep standstone cliffs.

I wanted to be there forever, jumping joyously along the rocky shore. But I was brought back to reality by a sudden large wave wetting my feet through my shoes. I squelched my way home as the sun went down, grateful for this little taste of a world unharmed by man.

Mtentu River Lodge: www.mtenturiverlodge.co.za, Bridgette +27 83 234 0436, Russel +27 84 209 8543, [email protected]

Guest Blog by Rachel Lang

www.bushboundgirl.com

 

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Cradock Peak Trail

Cradock Peak, the lofty mountain that stands sentinel over the Garden Route town of George, is a tough trail in anyone’s books. Nearly 20km long, and with an altitude gain of 1 330m, the out and back route will take even a strong hiker seven hours or more. Not least because the path is somewhat slippery and overgrown at times. But if you’re fit enough, the rewards are immense. At 1 579m the peak is the highest in the area and the 360-degree view from the summit beacon is simply astounding...

(GPS coordinates: -33.93573, 22.42735)

Read more at www.nightjartravel.com/hiking/cradock-peak-trail