Pro20 Cricket Season begins!

I'm not much of a long term cricket fan but I remember the days my granddad would steal front row seats in the lounge in order to watch the game unrivaled by us kids. It was actually a great experience as my grandfather was very much into his cricket and he became quite boisterous when things weren't going his team's way.

I used to be enthralled just watching him jump up and down rumbling at the TV screen, but nowadays I'm sometimes caught reenacting those same movements that I found so funny about my granddad:-)

I like fast paced action and that's the reason why Pro20 cricket appeals to me. It's all about the action and chasing big scores which are built up by the 4's and 6's that are pummeled out by the fearless batsmen.

This year promises to be a super series and the excitement starts on 25 march 2008 and carries through for a month until the finals on 25 April 2008. For those of you who are not familiar with Pro20 cricket, it's a new formula of cricket that was founded by Standard Bank South Africa and is all about the action and the concept of 'sportainment'. The Pro20 series is a limited–overs tournament which has added another dimension to domestic cricket in SA and it involves 20 overs per innings where each match lasts approximately three hours.

See the Standard Bank website for more info.

Inhaca Island Treasures

I haven't had much time to tell you about the great treasures we found on Inhaca island but nows the perfect opportunity because I was asked via comments on TravelStart blog for a little info on other aspects of Mozambique.

The biggest treasure you'll find is the beauty and kindness of the people on the island. I've told you about Fabio in a previous post so do check him out when you visit Inhaca.Then there was Albert, a crafts-maker on the island who has a charming stall in the middle of the village. He makes beautiful arts and crafts and can chat just about any buyer up so be aware of the sale and don't get ripped off because you don't know how to haggle down prices ;-)

If food is your favourite pastime then like me, you must check out Lucas Restaurant in Inhaca village. We met Joao, an intriguing and friendly waiter at the restaurant. If you're not sure of what to start out with, get Joao to suggest a few of the House favourites because that way you get to a little bit of everything when it comes to the seafood and just a hint, be sure to ask for the fish samoosas - they are absolutely divine!

Inhaca Lodge has incredible gastronomical offerings too so be sure to check out all their buffet-style breakfasts and dinners. The Lodge's activities are a real treat so be sure to don your cozzie, slap on some sunscreen and head for the Gone Fishing company office. There you can book any trips to nearby beaches or even a car ride around da island to explore all its nooks and crannies.

We did two trips, one to Portuguese island where we swam an endless amount of time in the warm Indian Ocean. And the second trip was to Santa Maria where we indulged in a close up of the beautiful coral gardens while we snorkeled for a good hour.

All in all it was a great experience and I'll definitely do it again.

A Visit to Praia do Farol

Okay so its time now to dip in and give you some idea of what the locals are like on Inhaca Island. Well to say the least, if hospitality is what you're into then you'll get more than you bargained for in Mozambique. The people are friendly and all so welcoming that you'll never feel displaced even if you're not at all familiar with Portuguese culture or the language.

On our second day on Inhaca we decided to seek out "Fabio", a guy made famous by his natural ability to be the best tour guide on the island. I heard of Fabio from my aunt who had visited Inhaca about two years ago and was really touched by Fabio's entrepreneurial skills that she promoted them back in South Africa.

Eugenio Fabio is only 16 years old and owns his own Yahama buggy vehicle which he uses to take tourists around the island to visit many a splendid destination. He has been taking people on tours since the age of 8 and he is well-known to all on the island. I admire young entrepreneurs that are making the most of what they've got and Fabio is considering the opportunity to expand his business so he needs all the tourist encounters he can get ;-)

A trip around to the Lighthouse Beach with Fabio will cost roughly R260 and its well worth every penny as you not only get through the mangrove bush area is the zippy buggy, but the scenery up at the lighthouse is just amazing. Only Simoa, the lighthouse keeper seemed to be around when we visited and he was gracious enough to allow us a tour of the actual lighthouse, which is not for those scared of the dark as the steep, spiraling staircase up to the top of the structure is pitch black so be sure to keep your torch or cellphone handy.

The view from the top of the lighthouse was great as you could see the peripheral beaches on the island, and Simoa says sometimes in the summer months, one can spot dolphins and whales. There are no rapid currents and the waves on Farol beach looked idyllic and calm, just the perfect atmosphere to take a dip in ;-)

Inhaca Island Heaven

During my weekend trip to Mozambique, it was my visit to the Inhaca Island, which is across the mainland of Maputo that really left an impression on me. We spent 2 and half days at Inhaca Lodge which is the only hotel type place on the island. It is well run by the Pestana Group and is the gateway for travelers visiting Inhaca from sea and sky. There are also other accommodation offerings on the island for budget travelers so you just have to inquire about camp sites or backpackers when you make a booking.

For those wanting to visit the island be sure to book your 15 min domestic flight at Mozambique International Airport with Transairways as they organize trips across the ocean to Inhaca island.

Now if an island getaway is just what you're after then you don't have to look further than your stay at Inhaca Lodge.

I'm not an extreme beach lover but this holiday definitely changed my mind about beach breaks.

The island is home to roughly a 2,500 population and in total, I must have only come across about 300 people on the island during my stay. The beach sand is so soft and the warmth of the Indian Ocean will definitely have one coming back for more ;-)

There are a few tourist attractions to visit during your trip to Inhaca. We checked out the Portuguese Island which is a divine destination if you're looking to just chill on the beach, suntan and swim in the sea as much as you want. Then there's the Lighthouse beach, which Mozambique Airlines' in-flight magazine, Indico, has named one of the 10 best beaches in Mozambique. If you Google, 'Praia do Farol', you'll get more info on this one.

In my next post, I'll let you in on the culture and the people of Inhaca.

Visiting Mozambique

Last weekend I got the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful yet war-torn country's in Africa. Mozambique, once a Portuguese colony, now a recovering victim of civil clashes is still as magnificent to eye as it is off a travel brochure.

Being from Johannesburg, South Africa, it isn't easy to let down one's guard when you're in foreign territory, but during my long weekend in Mozambique I thought best to let down my hair and just soak in the scenery.

I visited Mozambique as part of my 10th anniversary celebrations with my boyfriend, and we decided to treat ourselves to an tropical getaway. I've always wanted to visit Mozambique and the favorable exchange rate from South African currency to the new Mozambican meticais (MT) made it all the more irresistible.

Mozambique has kept its heavy Portuguese influence and really embraced it as their own. I got the feeling that colonization did not leave quite such a bad taste in one's mouth in this country as it has had in South Africa, for example. This was a refreshing and somewhat cathartic experience as being a South African visiting a country that is more Third World than ours, was a real eye opener as well as a good lesson learnt.

In South Africa, it is not so much that our youth want to take on and adopt every facet of Western culture as it is the fact that we,as a nation were conditioned to, and that is why there is a lot of resentment and hard feelings towards the changes that need to be made in order for our country to truly feel like "home" to all of us.

Most of the Mozambican population speak Portuguese or dialects of the language so European travelers will not have difficulty trying to communicate. Being an English speaker did mean that I had to listen carefully and carry along a translation book in order to correctly understand what people were saying, which also adds to the fun of traveling to a foreign destination.

Be sure to practice key phrases before your visit as it will help orient you better when you arrive. Just remember it is always nice to embrace some of the culture of the place you're visiting as it is a positive sign in the sharing that will happen on your trip. You're bound to pick up some new things just as the locals are bound to learn a lot of new habits from you too so enjoy it and embrace it ;-)

In my next posts, I'll go into more detail on the two places I visited on my trip, the Inhaca Island and the Polana Hotel in Maputo.