Here I am, Ladies and Gentlemen! My name is Sandra…

‘I am a transsexual - I’m not a transvestite and I’m not gay’

I met her at Plett’s Lookout Deck on a Monday afternoon, the restaurant about half-full. Sandra – who had expressed a wish to meet at a public venue in keeping with the point of the interview - arrived elegantly dressed in a lilac dress and pearls, make-up professionally done by a beautician friend, looking her best.
I say ‘her’ since Sandra lives her life as a woman. She has not completed the sex-change process, and is still biologically male, but she does have a pair of breasts that has been stimulated with hormones, and feels more comfortable in dresses.
She explains during the course of the interview that she is unable to finalise what has been a long and expensive process since being diagnosed with diabetes, but that she accepts this and it doesn’t make her feel any less feminine.
So why ‘come out’ pub...

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Bitou Tourism pulls out all the stops

THE theme of this year’s International Tourism Month provides a unique opportunity to raise public awareness of the importance of biodiversity to tourism, and the role of sustainable tourism in the conservation of life on Earth. These are some of the September highlights scheduled by Plett Tourism:
‎21.9 - Tshisa Talent Finals at the White House Theatre
The best of the best artists from Bitou will be jamming on stage to modern tunes. This is what Plett has been waiting for and everyone is invited to attend this exciting evening of top class local entertainment. For bookings contact Stuart on 044 533 0942 (see full story on page 16).
24.9 - Charity Wine Auction, Plett Market on Main
Live music by Bitou’s famous Field Band, including marimba and steel drum performances, will vibe up Plett Main Street, accompanied by great food offerings, from cheese and wine to olives and delicious traditional meals. Entry costs R10 and the fun starts at 4pm. Conta...

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Adventurous Sedgefield gran celebrates 70 years young!

JEAN Anema of Sedgefield sent these pics and wrote: ‘Our family believes that turning 70 is a milestone in one’s life, so they wanted to make my 70th birthday an occasion to remember.
‘My dream has always been to sky-dive… and this dream came true on Saturday July 31. The family pooled resources and I was received this experience as a gift. Yes, I actually jumped out of an aeroplane at 10 000 feet! Three of my grandchildren – Andrew, 16, Shaun, 14, and Lauren, 13 - and son-in-law Simon joined me for the jump.
‘The adventure comprised a 20-minute flight over Mossel Bay, during which we saw a pod of about 10 whales from the sky. After exiting the plane we were in a freefall at 220km per hour! At 5 000ft the parachute was opened and we floated back to the ground for a gentle landing.
‘What an amazing experience! I can recommend it fully and would like to do it again sometime - maybe when I’m 80. To make my birthday even ...

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Enjoy free access to our National Parks

SANPARKS has announced that the official opening of the 2010 SA National Parks Week will take place on Monday September 13 at Addo Elephant National Park. The week-long campaign giving free access to the national parks will take place from September 13-17 and applies to all the national parks managed by SANParks, with the exception of Boulders in Table Mountain National Park.
In 2006, Dr David Mabunda, Chief Executive of SANParks, recognised that a vast majority of South Africans were not accessing the national parks. He embarked upon this campaign to encourage especially those from communities around the parks, to share in what SANParks envisions to be “the pride and joy of all South Africans and the world”.
The objective of SA National Parks Week, now in its fifth year, is to cultivate a sense of understanding and pride in of our natural, cultural and historical heritage which is the basis for this year’s theme ‘Know Your National Parks’. <...

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Eles give reprieve

Nestled in the Zuurberg Mountains, Addo Elephant Back Safaris and Lodges, located just a short distance from Port Elizabeth, borders the Greater Addo Elephant National Park. This exclusive conservancy offers the ultimate getaway opportunity to both local and international travellers from families, groups and corporates to nature lovers, honeymooners and local residents wanting a quick reprieve from home.