Pamper yourself with treatments

I'd heard about Wax in the City from friends long before I paid them a visit to receive my free pedicure worth R150 in December. Now don't be fooled Wax, as I fondly call it, is not like other beauty salons that you'll find in South Africa.

The salon which is based in the banking mall of Sandton City is an international company that has franchises in most European and Asian countries, which includes, Rome, Singapore, New York and even coming soon is their Cape Town salon.

The decor of the salon has a slight Baroque style about it with middle-sized chandeliers draping their retro ceilings where one can see the construct of the building's air conditioners, etc. You're treated to a warm welcome upon entry where upon you are placed in the cozy waiting area before your treatment commences.

Wax in the City is a members-only salon where you are treated like royalty from the get go. VIP member get their own exclusive lounging area and do not have to call in to book treatments as the company's motto is that they will VIPs without a doubt and within the 10 min waiting period that is used a grace period as a VIP steps into the salon.

All the lovely ladies that work at the pedicure, manicure and waxing stations are all trained to carry out whatever treatments are needed by the members. I absolutely love the concept and signed up after my delightful manicure experience. Their full body massages are heavenly, and they even offer threading and tanning options too.

For those of you who like the idea of the tan can, Wax in the City is the perfect option, as they have three tanning rooms with huge tans and are all elegantly named according to some of the best island settings in the world i.e. Copacabana, Miami, etc.

So go on treat yourself and indulge in some treatments at you local Wax in the City. It's sure to be the perfect gift to start the New Year off with ;-)

Sandton City: A shopping haven

Living in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg almost guarantees you a regular pass into Sandton City, one of SA's most popular shopping malls. Now I've been visiting the center ever since I could walk, and that's due to the fact that one is never spoilt for choice with all the stores that entice you to come in and shop.

You'll find an array of shops that will offer you anything from shoes, food to toys for your pets. Sandton City has also changed quite a bit over the years and is now recognised as an international shopping and entertainment destination for tourists visiting South Africa.

With stores like Mango, Cartier and Louis Vuitton popping up in the line-up, visitors will be made to feel right at home, but I'm sure you've heard of the phrase, 'local is lekker', which means guests must be sure to try out the excellent range of local design talent that is on offer as well.

If you're looking for a good dining experience, Sandton City will not disappoint with its interesting array of restaurants and take-out food outlets. If you're looking for an affordable seafood dinner, be sure to try out the Cape Town Fish Market, which has the most divine sushi and seafood menu. I'd personally put my stamp on their prawn dishes, as they have some of the best meals I've tasted outside of my own Mom's cooking ;-)

Montecasino comes to Life

As I explained in my last post, I played tour guide to my cousins who visited me from sunny Durban and Pietermaritzburg during December. I wanted to truly show them some good entertainment spots in Jozi so we took a drive to Montecasino, one of Johannesburg's top entertainment spots.

'Monte' as I fondly call it, is a R1.4 million premier gaming, retail and leisure complex located near Fourways which is in the north of Johannesburg. It is run by the Tsogo Sun, a well-known international gaming company in South Africa.

Montecasino's design is aimed at replicating an old world Tuscan hilltop village, and the architecture does bring the spirit of Tuscany to life with its artistically rendered decor. Montecasino has a casino area with more than 1,700 slot machines and 70 gaming tables, as well as the 5-star InterContinental Palazzo Hotel, which boasts a first class conferencing venue.

The Pieter Toerien's Theatre and unique shopping and dining experiences make Montecasino a must-see and it has become a famous hang spot for many a celebrity. A local radio station, Jacaranda 94.2 fm even broadcasts its live radio shows from within Montecasino, which keeps the complex well within the trendy scene in Johannesburg.

There is something for the whole family at Montecasino, with the Magic Company family entertainment centre, the 15-screen Nu Metro cinema complex, Boogaloos skate park and the star attraction, the Montecasino Bird Gardens.

I've been to a show at the Bird Gardens and it was awesome, considering the great things the nature conservancies nearby are trying to do for the wild bird life in and around the area. "Nunsensations" is also an entertaining musical revue that you can catch at the theatre in Montecasino if you're looking for light-hearted entertainment.

The newly constructed Teatro was commissioned by Tsogo Sun at close to R100 million and is one of the 10 largest lyric theaters in the world. With this new construction came a host of famous eateries and the rugby field sized Piazza Hotel, and magical fountains, which is a real treat to watch in the evenings.

Montecasino is ideally located for everyone in Gauteng, situated only a few hundred metres from the off-ramps of major highways from Pretoria, the East Rand, the West Rand and O.R. Tambo International Airport.

Montecasino Teatro presents The Lion King

I hope you are well into the spirit of a new year upon us and are ready for some exciting new experiences in 2008! I spent part of my time over the holidays entertaining my cousins who were visiting from Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

Apart from the usual movie-going activities, we decided to make the holidays a little more memorable so I managed to land us tickets to one of the hottest musicals in South Africa, The Lion King.

The show is currently on at the Montecasino Teatro in Fourways, JHB. Due to its ever-increasing popularity, it has been extended for a second time and will go on till 17 February 2008.

The Teatro was packed to capacity in a well- air conditioned theatre that very likely looked like it could seat close to 1,962 people. The newly constructed Teatro was commissioned by Tsogo Sun at close to R100 million and is one of the 10 largest lyric theaters in the world.

The performance of The Lion King is a feast for the eyes and ears and should you be visiting Johannesburg in the next month, you should definitely book your tickets to the show as soon as possible, as they are hot property and go pretty fast.