Blue Light District

In 2005 I embarked on a year long internship for the Commonwealth of Learning based in Windhoek, Namibia. Six and half years later I departed Cape Town having spent a total of three years in Namibia and three and half in Cape Town, South Africa.  Leaving the continent was a tough decision as I had fallen in love with the beauty and spirit I found in the Southern African region. I also had grown very comfortable working with the Centre for Educational Technology at the University of Cape Town.  Ultimately, I chose to leave and pursue a new professional challenge in British Columbia, Canada in order to take on a new trajectory and get just a little closer to my family and friends in Canada.

I will carry fond memories of Africa in my heart. I have seen a diverse range of environments in my six years, having travelled in Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It’s hard to sum up the range of experiences as even within each country one can find a wide array of environments, people and lifestyles being lived. Southern Africa is exquisitely beautiful and special in so many ways which I can not put into words, I only hope this website has helped to share some of that beauty with you.  I have great hope for the continued growth and well being of the people and nature in Southern Africa.

I do not believe that it has fully sunk in that I have left Southern Africa. I will be curious to see what sort of impression it has left on my soul.  Perhaps I will wake up in a cold sweat longing for the great plains of the Namib Naukluft desert, serenity I found on Signal Hill or the beautiful beaches of Beira, Mozambique?

I know I shall return, either to visit or for another adventure. I wish to thank all of the lovely people I had the honour of interacting with during my six and half years on the continent. I will speak fondly of Africa and wave the flags of the countries I explored!

Lots of love,

Michael Paskevicius

I have left Cape Town after three beautiful years!  I did not travel extensively in South Africa, as I did in Namibia, this is mostly because Cape Town has so much to offer!  There is so much to see in Cape Town within an hours drive: from the diverse multicultural city; the fabulous beaches; up the mountain to rugged nature and beautiful views; the rolling hills of the Cape winelands; the spirit and energy of the Cape flats – all within your reach in what I like to call the “city with many angles”.  I highly, highly recommend Cape Town to all travellers!

Took the opportunity to go for a last trip to the Cape winelands today.  I went with a tour group as many friends were still working and I didn’t want to self-drive.  The tours are really well done and you get to visit four wineries and do numerous tastings  as well as lunch during the day.  We visited Villiera, Tokara, Thelema (quick side trip on special request), Solms-Delta and finally Fairview.  Villiera featured a full cellar tour and a champagne breakfast.  At Tokara we had a tasting plus olive and olive oil sampling.  Thelema, just down the road from Tokara, which I was taken on request featured AMAZING wines (walked out with two bottles)!  We  had a delicious lunch at Solms-Delta as well as a museum tour and tasting.  Finally we wrapped up at Fairview where we had a cheese buffet and tasting of their delicious assortment of wines.

Lovely day!  Although I have now done the winelands tour like three times, its always a pleasure and I always learn something new.  Looking forward to exploring new wine regions!

On the last day at Kwa Madwala I had a chance to interact with two tamed elephants.  Due to the overcast weather the female elephant was not interested in interacting, which we could understand – it was cold and wet!  The male elephant ‘Tswale’ was still in good spirits however and we had a chance to get up close and personal with this magnificent animal.  The elephant interaction tour promises an:

Introduction to the elephants which includes a brief talk on their history as well as an explanation on the training concepts that are used and some games that are played to demonstrate smell and memory. The elephants are asked to lie down and guests can then have the opportunity to touch and feel them from head to toe.

I have never had an opportunity to get this close to an elephant.  It was a really special experience, which I will not soon forget.  More information on the elephants and the experience here.