Wednesday, 23 April 2014

T for Table Mountain

I need some energy. This traveling is getting exhausting. So forgive me dear reader, for taking you on a small detour to secure provisions before take off. Please come with me to the busy market streets of Santa Cruz here in Mumbai. I can sense a new scent in the air now...  A sweet tempting perfume that makes me smile: Mangoes! Ah, those Indian mangoes... Gotta be the best in the world. So juice and tasty - perfect nutrition for that extra mile on our world tour. It is Mango season now, so I am stockpiling. After all, we are flying off to a distant destination....



So, with the taste of mango still on my lips, we left Sydney and Mumbai behind and our journey has now taken us to far away. And I did promise you a high up destination, so prepare to be Queen or King on the top of the world (again) as we land at Table Mountain, Cape Town, South-Africa.

Ya ya, I do like that Queen of the world feeling, - remember Lofoten, Olympus and the lost city of the Incas? And this mountain is no exception.

Table Mountain is overlooking Cape Town city. It is an important tourist attraction, and you can go up with the cableway or by hiking (- or fly in on a magic carpet like we did). As we are on the level plateau (which is about 3 km from side to side), we see the peaks Devil's Peak to the east and Lion's Head to the west. We see Cape Town down below us and we see the ocean, and far out there we can spot Robben Island.

Ok, let us get down from that mountain now, dear reader. Let us explore Cape Town city. Let us visit some beaches and stroll at some vineyards. Let us take in the cosmopolitan culture and then dine at a local restaurant. And let us visit Robben Island. As an admirer of Nelson Mandela, that is an integrated part of my Table Mountain dream. Robben Island where Mandela spent so many years imprisoned. Mandela who uttered one of my favorite quotes:

Tread softly. Breathe peacefully. Laugh hysterically. 


Well, I sure hope to visit Cape Town one day... I hope you enjoyed today's destination, dear reader? But even if you did, do not believe for a minute that I am going to let you stay here. No, no. We are moving on, and I think you will enjoy the fairy- tale - like U.... that awaits us tomorrow... :-)

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs here. My theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow. 

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63 comments:

  1. Silvia Writes23 April 2014 at 00:22

    Hi Eli. Wow, great pictures. Thank you for taking us on this tour. I too, needed energy, and looking at all those beautiful pictures (the amazing sunset, the market) sure provided some.
    Great blog post.
    Silvia @
    SilviaWrites

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 07:41

      Thank you so much Silvia, so happy you liked it. And thanks for visiting here - I will pop over to you blog now:-)

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  2. Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder23 April 2014 at 00:33

    Dearest Eli,
    We loved Cape Town very much on our trip to South Africa. Not as a tourist but for my husband's lecture at a Conference. Nevertheless we got to see Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and of course Stellenbosch. LOVELY country and especially when the jacarandas are blooming. While living and working in Indonesia we got to follow the trial of Winnie Mandela. There are lots of Malay people in South Africa, brought there to do the work. But from their standpoint the Mandelas were not those icons what the liberal media brainwashed people into. Look at this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffv4TcpfyAs
    Nevertheless we LOVED the Table Mountain and the entire country.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 07:42

      Thanks for sharing dear Mariette! That is so interesting:-) So happy you loved Cape Town. Always so happy to see you here. Big hugs

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  3. Swathi Shenoy23 April 2014 at 06:29

    u really describe it well Eli :-) n i luv hw u speak about India :-) forgive me for askin this coz i havnt been regular here.. Hav u actually travelled all these places? if yes, then i envy u! wish i cud go lyk dis sumday

    http://swathishenoy.blogspot.in/2014/04/t-for-thankful.html?m=1
    a-z participant

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 08:22

      Thank you so much Swathi:-) Happy to see you here. Some are places i have been too. Some are places I am simply dreaming of going to - ..like Table Mountain:-)

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  4. Suzy23 April 2014 at 07:53

    I've heard that Capetown is very beautiful. But back to Mumbai - my cousins live in Santacruz so I am very familiar with it and the mangoes - oh yes they are definitely best in the world.

    Suzy at Someday Somewhere

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 21:54

      So true:-) Happy to see you here Suzy:-)

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  5. Unknown23 April 2014 at 08:15

    Wow ! the pictures are marvelous. I can also smell the mangoes. Mumbai mangoes are really delicious.

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  6. Beloo Mehra23 April 2014 at 08:18

    Hi Eli, today yours is the first T post I read. And I am so happy for that :) Because you take us from Mangoes on the Table to Table Mountain! What a leap we have made today! Ok, I am not much of a mango fan, only like a couple of varieties out of hundreds (or is it thousands?) available in India. But those gorgeous views from Table Mountain are such a treat for the eyes! Recently saw two movies on Mandela, so am still in that mood of admiration for this great man and the beauty of his country. Thanks for this great tour, Eli :)

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:08

      Yay! Your kind words make me so happy Beloo:-) Always such a delight to read your comment, thank you so much:-) Big hugs

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  7. Anonymous23 April 2014 at 08:41

    wow! Such a beautiful place!! Lovely pictures Eli!

    And mangoes!! Sigh! That's what I miss so much about this season!!

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  8. Aditi23 April 2014 at 09:49

    I loved this magical ride Eli!! My dream destination list is ever increasing...:) :)
    Lovely photos of the fruit king!! I love mangoes :)

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:10

      So happy you have loved it Aditi! Thank you. A pure pleasure to have you on board:-)

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  9. Obsessivemom23 April 2014 at 10:07

    Oh I love mangoes.. But probably northern ones you're talking about. I like the ones from North India.. Not the Mumbai ones. Those pictures a breathtaking, what a ride this has been.

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:11

      Thank you Tulika:-) So happy you have enjoyed the ride:-)

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  10. Jayanta23 April 2014 at 12:55

    Mangoes are called king of all fruits and really they are. Thanks for taking us to table mountain and Cape Town while savoring juicy mangoes on the journey. Awesome picture of the mountain overlooking the city.

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:11

      Thank you so much Jayanta. I so appreciate your kind words:-)

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  11. Vishal Bheeroo23 April 2014 at 12:57

    Saw Table Mountain on TV and it took my breath away. The place is divine. Glad you mentioned Santacruz coz been traveling there for 2 years from Churchgate coz University was there. A nice place and like the station.

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:12

      Thanks a lot Vishal! Soo happy you enjoyed:-)

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  12. Prasanna Rao23 April 2014 at 14:08

    Wow that pictures speak so much about the beauty of the place. And yes, I love mangoes too this season :)

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:13

      Thanks Prasanna:-) So happy to see you here:-)

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  13. Nabanita23 April 2014 at 14:32

    beautiful !!
    loving being able to travel the world with your posts

    T for Tired-Random Thoughts Naba

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:13

      Thanks dear! So happy you came along:-)

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  14. Vinodini23 April 2014 at 15:13

    Loved the carpet ride to Capetown with you! And yes the Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes available in Mumbai are truly exotic!

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:14

      Thank you:-) So happy you loved the ride:-)

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  15. Shilpa Garg23 April 2014 at 15:38

    Wow! That was a beautiful tour to the Table Mountain. The last pic is so picturesque. And LOVE the mangoes! :) ♥

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:15

      Thank you dear Shilpa - so happy you came along - and yes, those mangoes are awesome!

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  16. Mina Menon23 April 2014 at 15:56

    Am yet to taste mangoes this season :(

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  17. Preethi Venugopala23 April 2014 at 17:57

    Loved this dream post... All the best to fulfilling your dreams..:)

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:16

      Thank you so much Preethi. Happy to see you here:-)

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  18. Anabel Marsh23 April 2014 at 18:56

    South Africa is still on my list...love mangoes too!

    Anabel at Anabel's Travel Blog

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:16

      Thats great Anabel:-) Thanks for following

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  19. Michelle Liew23 April 2014 at 20:09

    And on mine too. The flat plateau is so amazing!

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  20. Unknown23 April 2014 at 20:30

    Your pictures are extraordinary! Love seeing and hearing about this beautiful place!

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:17

      So happy you enjoyed it dear Kathy, thank you:-)

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  21. Anonymous23 April 2014 at 20:54

    Your post has variety of elements...the sweet mangoes...the royal feeling on the top of the world....and an inspiring quote of Nelson Mandela...all fabricated well in one....lovely

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:18

      Thank you so much for you kind words -. I so appreciate it, dear:-) Hugs your way

      Delete
  22. Sunila23 April 2014 at 21:00

    Yummmm mangoes the best fruit in the world :D and tks for the tour to Cape town :)

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:19

      Yup, they so are:-) Happy to have you come along Sunila. Thanks:-)

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  23. Unknown23 April 2014 at 21:02

    I hope you make it there soon Liv, it's beautiful, one of my favorite spots in South Africa. (http://www.reflectionsenroute.com)

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  24. Debbie D. 23 April 2014 at 22:43

    This looks like a fabulous place. Must add it to the list.
    Debbie @The Doglady's Den

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:20

      Yes, do:-) Happy to see you here Debbie:-)

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  25. Unknown23 April 2014 at 22:46

    Absolutely stunning - you are taking us on some kind of crazy adventure with this challenge :)

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  26. Shailaja V23 April 2014 at 23:20

    Ah mangoes :) How yummy! That shot of the island is breathtaking, Eli. You have magic in your words. I can almost reach out and touch the place :)

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    1. Unknown24 April 2014 at 23:21

      Awwe- thank you so much Shailaja - you are so sweet:-)

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  27. Afshan Shaik24 April 2014 at 10:40

    Indian mangoes are the best and the last pic of table mountain is just out of the world. I like the way u write a travelogue

    http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.in/

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    1. Unknown25 April 2014 at 06:26

      Thank you so much for your kind words:-)

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  28. Sachin Prabhu24 April 2014 at 11:07

    wow :) d pics speak so much :) well written too ;) hope u r enjoyin stay in india :)

    http://jrnywithprabhu.blogspot.in/

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    1. Unknown25 April 2014 at 06:26

      Thank you so much. I do:-) Happy to see you here:-)

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  29. Unknown24 April 2014 at 12:27

    Those images were beautiful...would love to do South Africa.
    Maggie@expatbrazil

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    1. Unknown25 April 2014 at 06:27

      So, we share that dream:-) Thank you Maggie:-)

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  30. Unknown24 April 2014 at 17:22

    Eli... I am coming over to stay as your neighbor.. take me while you trip to these places!

    ~S(t)ri
    Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
    Smile, it makes (y)our day!

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    1. Unknown25 April 2014 at 06:27

      That would be awesome, Sri:-) Welcome dear !!:-)

      Delete
  31. Battered Hope26 April 2014 at 10:19

    My brother lived in Cape Town and Johannesburg for over 50 years. I only was able to visit him one time - what a magnificent place. For a smile, read my post about the vacation that turned into a nightmare.

    http://batteredhope.blogspot.ca/2014/01/how-can-dream-turn-into-nightmare.html#.U1s6qSiPNW8

    P S -- I have a mango smoothie EVERY morning for breakfast.....mmmm

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  32. Dr Genevive Angela27 April 2014 at 18:13

    loved the mangoes... and ofcourse the beautiful pictures...

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  33. Anonymous1 May 2014 at 04:48

    Eli, you must. It's an awesome place. Cape Town holds some special memories of a month we spent traveling in South Africa from Jo'burg to Cape Town, Kruger National Park, the Garden Route...I digress, sorry. Thanks for bringing back those lovely memories.

    PS: I love the Santa Cruz market. Have you tried the Friendship sandwich yet? :)

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