DESTINYCONNECT - Hotspots

The Southern Sun Hyde Park hotel is well worth a visit

Perched side by side with the Hyde Park shopping mall is a R180 million beauty. Yes, that’s a colossal amount of money and the GM didn’t even need a million rand car, a blue light or even a personal bodyguard to match his job title. With the panoramic view enveloping the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, it’s hard to feel cheated of a bird’s eye view. Since this is a business hotel, I must ...read more

Posted by Moabi Malebye on 29/01/2010 @ 03:35 PM

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Why business travel is indispensable

Travel investments are a necessary part of generating sales and overall profits. Yes, save where you can, but shaving excessively hurts your business, long-term The Great Depression of the 1930s, the internet bust of the 1990s and the current recession share a common effect: they humble all facets of society. There’s no discrimination between classes. It’s a sort of in-built disaster management ...read more

Posted by Moabi Malebye on 24/11/2009 @ 08:49 AM

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Trails Of Berlin 20 Years On

When my need for a quick city break kicked in, my friend Katherin invited me to visit her in Berlin, Germany I had never been to Germany and what I knew about the country and the people revolved around its divided history, which in some ways resembles my own country, South Africa. My tour de Berlin was a time for friends to rekindle lost moments, in a city trying to define itself, over hist ...read more

Posted by Thabang Motsei on 24/11/2009 @ 08:04 AM

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The city of tango, art and late-night steaks

Buenos Aires is the home of a famous women’s rights activist, a wizard with a football and a democratically elected female president. Evita Perón, Diego Maradona and Cristina Kirchner, the current president of Argentina, have all etched their legacies in the hearts and minds of the porteños (Buenosaireans) Buenos Aires hugs the La Plata river and beams inland. The city has grown significantly s ...read more

Posted by Moabi Malebye on 24/11/2009 @ 07:46 AM

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The jewel in the crown

A year into its makeover, The Crowne Plaza has not only shed its past, it has catapulted the current location into a hotspot Located in central Rosebank, lined by jacaranda trees and a shopping mall in close proximity, the hotel is aimed at the business end of the market; the traveller with superior taste. One who understands that confidence precedes the Ferrari. First impression Imagine ...read more

Posted by Moabi Malebye on 09/11/2009 @ 11:56 AM

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The French are gastronomic geniuses!

I love entertaining and, even more, I love eating. With our busy lives, we don’t always get time to cook for ourselves – but when fate and time allow it, I invite friends over for a dinner party My blog for this week is on one of the best dinner parties I’ve been to in a while. Two of my girlfriends and I were invited to a dinner party in the city. Armed with a variety of red wines (Merlot, Cab ...read more

Posted by Thabang Motsei on 04/11/2009 @ 09:44 PM

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Soweto Festival

On Heritage Day, we celebrate our unique cultural diversity and heritage, and I celebrated by attending the 5th annual Soweto Festival The 24th of September, 4th of July and Bastille Day all have something in common – it ignites the patriotic fires. On Heritage Day, we celebrate our unique cultural diversity and heritage, and I celebrated by attending the 5th annual Soweto Festival at the Unive ...read more

Posted by Moabi Malebye on 22/10/2009 @ 08:59 AM

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We Can All Fly!

Recently, I decided that I wanted to fly – so I tried indoor skydiving I’m a thrill seeker. I’m rarely fazed by most things, particularly those that make me come out of my shell or allow me to experience something different, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I love to see how far I can push myself and my mind. Recently, I decided that I wanted to fly. (I can hear R Kelly as ...read more

Posted by Thabang Motsei on 22/10/2009 @ 08:49 AM

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A birthday party guide

Throw a killer birthday party with limos and champagne A dear friend of mine celebrated her birthday recently and SMSed me for some ideas. It got me thinking that perhaps many people encounter this dilemma (how to entertain friends at your birthday party) as we are all tired of the same old, same old and so in the spirit of sharing: Here is the transcript of the SMS instruction. GIRLFRIEND: ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 24/08/2009 @ 03:05 PM

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Head to Zuma's restaurant in London

You are assured a great time at ZUMA – just look past the name! I returned from London last weekend in high spirits having had a great time in this exciting global city. Heathrow’s super chic Terminal 5 now boasts Gordon Ramsay Plane Food in their stable. Fine dining at the airport? I’m not sure who has time for fine dining after your have gone through all those security checks and a near st ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 14/08/2009 @ 02:44 PM

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Melrose Arch piazza is so HOT right now!

Get to Melrose Arch for delicious food, gorgeous shopping and a funky vibe The new section of Melrose Arch is the place to be and be seen right now. A weekly Mediterranean market, cobblestone pathways and a piazza with street cafes with cute Vespas parked in front of them, make Melrose Arch the new Europe – right on your doorstep! I have already tried a few restaurants, so I will comment and rec ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 14/08/2009 @ 02:40 PM

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The best Valentine's day ever

You have six months till Valentine’s Day – you better start planning if you want to make it spectacular! A few years ago, I experienced the most romantic Valentine’s weekend of my life! My very handsome partner arranged a flawless weekend surprise sans my input that left me – Miss Know-it-all-control-freak) speechless! An email invitation arrived on the preceding Wednesday with the following in ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 14/08/2009 @ 02:38 PM

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Toasting Tbilisi!

Where on earth is “that” my travel agent said? The Republic of Georgia by the Black Sea, I replied. Tbilisi known as Tiflis in Europe is the largest city in Georgia on the Mtkvari River. Yes, I am back from my travels, albeit a short while, and so had to share an amazing experience I had in this tiny country formerly inhabited by the Soviets. There are hardly any tourists and black people are t ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 28/07/2009 @ 08:10 AM

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All dressed up in love….

This Jennifer Hudson song has been pumping in my car to shake the winter chills away. I’m “warm in the winter, cool in the summer”. I promised some great cosy places to snuggle up and shake the blues away, but blaring at your Vuvuzela under your blanket while watching the Confed Cup with your better half ain’t going to do it. I say: “Go to Europe for the summer!” It is warm, the Europeans are a ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 24/06/2009 @ 08:03 AM

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Country retreats…

It was only till I took up residence in Gauteng that I realised the value of country retreats. being a small-town girl; the need to break away from the hustle and bustle of city life just seemed odd. We are moving into the middle of the year at an alarming speed. Not sure if you feel like me; I am bushed. So this blog is about my favourite spots to break away from it all. My sons are at boarding ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 17/05/2009 @ 04:33 PM

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Credit Crunch….is it a new cereal?

I walked into a shoe store in Hyde Park which was having a so-called sale. With the global economic meltdown, I was sure that I would pick up some bargains. Well, I almost gagged; the sale price was beyond unaffordable. So I cornered the sales assistant and demanded to know what was up with these prices. Had they not heard of the global financial crisis? People can hardly afford their homes and th ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 29/04/2009 @ 08:11 AM

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Best cup of coffee on earth… Promise!

I love coffee shops. The more discreet, quaint and unique, the better. Breakfast in particular is by far my best meal to have while eating out. As a trained chef, I admire the creativity at some breakfast places as that’s the one meal that your ingredients are limited and conventional, so a great cup of coffee or cappuccino is a satisfying way to end a meal. Park Café in Johannesburg is one such ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 03/04/2009 @ 08:34 AM

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Credit crunch…..brunch

My mother’s advice while growing up was “never let the bad times get the better of you”. So adorn yourself with the fine clothes and jewellery that you acquired during the heydays. An occasional treat to remind you that, “this too shall pass”. So I will update you on fantastic places to enjoy friends and toast the worries away. There is a fabulous place in Douglasdale, Johannesburg – at the Buzz ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 25/03/2009 @ 09:11 AM

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Are you all shopped out?

Welcome 2009; the year of everything divine! After all the buzz and excitement of the festive season, I must confess that I am glad to return (6kg heavier) to some normalcy. The festive season is the only time in the year that shopping rather than gym can be classified as an extra-curricular activity. Needless to say, the only thing this activity shrunk was my bank balance. Oh well, just make more ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 26/01/2009 @ 10:16 AM

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Get the holiday feeling back

It seems a shame to waste the rather glorious weather we’ve been having of late, and the good news is that you really can recreate that festive season buzz – it just depends where you go. This time around, my hotspots are outdoors – nature simply demands it. The Cradle of Humankind offers some real treasures; making the long drive really worthwhile. A friend commented that it feels like you ha ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 26/01/2009 @ 09:50 AM

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Where Everybody Knows Your Name…

A colleague was telling me that she and a group of friends had made a rather bold New Year’s resolution for 2008. They would be famous in their own world by cultivating a network of places where they are known, greeted at the door by the owner as favourite regulars. Special arrangements like, favourite waiter and a special table arranged in seconds just because they have arrived. They toyed with v ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 25/11/2008 @ 10:59 AM

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My week’s three favourite spots…

I am rather excited about my debut as a blogger! My dearest and closest friends have always taken pleasure in benefiting from my innate skill of knowing where to find the hotspot for whatever occasion: be it a first date, a cosy getaway with a secret liaison or a place to impress your colleagues, locally or internationally. Trust me, I have lived long enough, feeding my desires, to have experience ...read more

Posted by Penny Ndlela on 18/11/2008 @ 02:14 PM

Comments : 7 | Views : 279