Khuluma January 2018

SENSIBLE SOUVENIRS TRAVEL

Pictures: Ugu South Coast Tourism, Supplied. O n my fridge is a magnetised
miniature bottle filled with red
liquid. Sangria from Spain, says the
label. A friend brought it as a gift, purchased
no doubt in a lifeless shop filled with scarves
and hats, funny sunglasses and little blow-
up bulls.

I’ve been to Spain, but this particular item
held no association with it for me. It got me
thinking about souvenirs in general and their
significance. And about my mother-in-law’s
large collection of travel mementos from
friends that were tossed into a box for the
junk sale when she passed away.

I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed shopping
for souvenirs. To me, it means a hopeless
search in a cramped space, making sure your
backpack doesn’t dislodge fragile, overpriced
ornaments. Hopeless because after decades
of travel I’ve come to realise that souvenir
shops are soulless, poisonous places.

George Monbiot calls it an epidemic of
‘pathological consumption’ – our thoughtless
propensity for buying useless trinkets
for brief amusement. ‘We are screwing
the planet to make solar-powered bath
thermometers and desktop crazy golfers,’
he wrote in a column in The Guardian, which
I keep in my desk drawer.

The same could be said of the keepsakes
churned out in their billions by factories far,
far away from where they’re being sold. In
some places, entire shopping centres are
dedicated to the stuff even though it takes
kickbacks to tour guides and taxi drivers to
channel customers to the morbid aisles of
rootless knickknacks.

How did it get like this?
I wish I could say it was an act of protest
that drove me to pursue another strategy on
my travels. Rather, it was the discovery of
greater pleasure, insight and

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 99

TRAVEL SENSIBLE SOUVENIRS

Graphic novels, like films, give a I remember the drama and humour in a
sense of a place at a particular time - friend’s escape from a flock of large,
and they make great keepsakes angry geese. We’d been browsing at
the studio of the late Pieter van der
connection through literature, film and art. does the same for Bosnia. No place is Westhuizen, on a daytrip to the hamlet
I started seeking out films of a place. And merely a moment in time – it is the sum of which sits amidst the wheat fields that so
I bought graphic novels that showed me the history and the culture of its people. often feature in his work. Roger was less
a story of a time. In The Bloody Streets of interested and wandered off. Later, we were
Paris, Jacques Tardi gave me a sense of I’ve kept other books as mementos waiting for him at the car when a racket
the French capital during WWII, and the too. There’s the copy of Bruce Chatwin’s erupted and Roger came tearing around the
artist Troubs introduced me to the French In Patagonia, bought in Argentina and corner of the house, hand on his Blue Bulls
tradition of the travelling farm distiller in Miljenko Jergovic’s Sarajevo Marlboro – cap and flapping geese at his heels.
La Bouille. Quartier Western by Thierry both filled with ticket stubs and sweet
Maunier keeps Réunion fresh in my mind. wrappers that served as bookmarks on The etching takes me back every time.
JP Stassen’s Deogratias continues to my journeys there. Is there a connection between the
explain Rwanda every time I page through memento and the quality of the memory?
it, while Joe Sacco’s Safe Area Goražde Even just to smell their pages puts The view highlighted by Monbiot is
me back in distant streets and faraway haunting. We’re already aware of the
forests. Pictures on the wall of my house environmental and cultural damage that
are reminders of the tiny studios where I is inherent to travel and tourism – the
bought them – pen-and-ink café scenes in havoc that masses of people wreak in their
Istanbul; etchings from Rome and Havana; various migrations, the carbon footprint
a hand-painted mask of bark from the of transport and the effect of millions of
Tierra del Fuego. hands and feet slowly wearing away the
stone of ancient sites. Tourists feeding
It’s not all overseas stuff of course.
A small painting of dappled brambles animals that they’re expressly told
reminds me of a dreamy not to. Heaps and heaps of plastic
weekend in Greyton. And, water bottles and other
from an etching bought pollution that makes its way
in Philadelphia into the wilderness.
near Cape Town,

100 JANUARY 2018 kulula.com





SENSIBLE SOUVENIRS TRAVEL

We needn't pillage
the world in order
to have memories
of our holidays

Pictures: Vassamon Anansukkasem/shutterstock.com, Peter Wollinga/shutterstock.com, Mihai Speteanu/shutterstock.com, Ditty_about_summer/shutterstock.com, As far as mementos A sourdough baker Back at the tourism office I learnt of
Nicole Gordine/shutterstock.com, Maglara/shutterstock.com, Rostislav Glinsky/shutterstock.com, supplied go, there is a magnificent might collect wild, airborne this artist’s hand-to-mouth existence; how
and disturbing building in yeast from foreign vineyards he walks the long road to town to deliver
Chicago. The elaborate, Gothic as a way of remembering a country every piece he creates.
Revival-style Tribune Tower was built in visited, while a beer-lover will assemble a
the 1920s and is home to the eponymous portfolio of bottle labels and bar mats as Among those hand-delivered artworks
newspaper. At some point, it became a reminders of brews and occasions too. is one of his wire-work baboons that now
tradition for globetrotting reporters to At the tourism office in Willowmore in sits in the shade of my old oak tree, a
bring back artefacts to be cemented into the Eastern Cape, I encountered unusual memento for every day – not only of my
the Tower’s walls. Today, there are some wire-work – rusty scraps twisted and own life, but of someone else’s too.
150 items. Included with chips from the bound as baboons and tortoises. The
World Trade Centre are original pieces of artist lives in the nearby township – I was
the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, so moved by his work that I wanted to
Angkor Wat and Notre-Dame. meet him, so I drove to his home. He was
working when I arrived, squatting in the
While this constitutes an impressive sunlit front yard beside a fire. Scattered
and rich collection, it also sounds like a lot around the sandy garden were bits of
of pillaging took place to make it happen. scavenged wire, the remains of an old
There are, of course, plenty of sensible mattress and fencing. A picture of artistic
ways to memorialise a trip so that the devotion that I will never forget.
story it evokes travels home with you.

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 103

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GOOD OLD-FASHIONED CHARITY LOCAL HERO

GivinBACK g The silly season is finally
over and your guilt is burning

a hole in your soul. You’ve
just spent thousands on

holidays, meals and gifts, and
every street urchin you drive
past makes your stomach
twist into knots. Though the
holidays are a time of giving,
we tend to give only to those
we love. Sure, showing your
appreciation to the people
in your life is necessary, but
giving your child another
iPad isn’t going to make
the world a better place.
Here’s how a few big
businesses are making
a difference in the
lives of South African
school children.

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 107

LOCAL HERO GOOD OLD-FASHIONED CHARITY

HTHE CAMPAIGN
Dis-Chem
Million Comforts
campaign
HTHE CAMPAIGN THE NEED
Bata Mandela for many kids for 60 years – those who The average South African girl misses
Day school shoe walk a few metres and those who walk 54 school days a year because she can’t
campaign many kilometres just to get to school to afford sanitary products.
have an education.’
THE NEED THE NUMBERS
Millions of children don’t have a single Bata plans to run the campaign annually Over 15 million pads have been collected
pair of shoes, even though they walk and hopes more people and corporates by Dis-Chem.
kilometres to school and back every day. will get involved. ‘A CSI campaign on this
scale requires extensive planning and THE STORY
THE NUMBERS commitment, and a genuine desire to help. After starting Caring4Girls, a campaign
Bata has donated 4 489 Toughees shoes We are proud and thankful for what we’ve that collects and donates sanitary
this past year. accomplished,’ says Juggernath. products to school-going girls, Richard
Mabaso found himself facing constant
THE STORY Asha Govender, a teacher at Brookdale obstacles. ‘I just couldn’t crack it, because
This past Mandela Day, Bata launched Primary School in Phoenix, says watching mobilising resources is near-impossible on
a campaign to donate 67 pairs of school the kids clutch their new shoes to their your own as an initiative grows. I realised
shoes to 67 schools in honour of the 67 chests is touching. ‘Something like this that any large community project is
Minutes for Madiba initiative. ‘We called makes a huge difference to a little one’s doomed to fail without corporate backing.’
on the South African public to identify 67 academic year. Many come to school in
schools around the country that are in worn-out shoes and the new pairs will Then, three years ago, the Dis-Chem
desperate need of school shoes. The public make the journey to school that much Foundation heard about his work and met
recommended their respective schools easier for them.’ with him. In the first year after partnering
via the Toughees Facebook page,’ explains up, they collected and distributed 1.6
Swastika Juggernath, marketing manager GET INVOLVED million products to girls in need. The
at Bata South Africa. Keep an eye on the Toughees Facebook following year, it jumped to nearly six
page to nominate a school. Bata also million and, last year, around eight million
Khutjo Madisha, Toughees Brand offers a discount sanitary products were handed out. ‘When
Manager, says that, with this in mind, the on bulk purchases to hearing about the project and how great
campaign was a perfect fit for the brand. organisations that the need is, we unquestionably wanted
‘Toughees has been the choice of shoe want to donate to get involved,’ says Penny Stein, project
school shoes. manager at the Dis-Chem Foundation. ‘But
we’re in awe of how it’s grown. I think this
resonates so well with every woman, and

surprisingly many men, too. Friends
challenge each other to collect
donations, corporates run their
own campaigns, even book
clubs make it their annual

108 JANUARY 2018 kulula.com

GOOD OLD-FASHIONED CHARITY LOCAL HERO

project – buying or collecting and then JANUARY 2018 109
donating products by placing them in our
in-store bins.'

When the products are distributed,
there’s also a talk on personal hygiene
and the importance of education to inspire
the girls. ‘The girls have to sign forms to
receive the products and it’s monitored by
teachers – that way, they have no excuse
to stay away from school,’ says Stein.

‘The project’s success has been
overwhelming, and we’re super proud
to be able to make a difference,’ says
Mabaso. ‘It’s one thing to have a great
idea, but to see others get involved on
this scale, it touches my heart.’

GET INVOLVED
The campaign runs from June to July
each year. Simply buy any sanitary product
and place it in the in-store bins. The
products collected in each province are
distributed in that province.

HTHE CAMPAIGN
MySchool
Tutudesk
campaign

THE NEED
Over 95 million children in schools across
sub-Saharan Africa have no access to a
classroom desk.

THE NUMBERS
MySchool has donated over 9 000 desks
through Tutudesk since 2014.

THE STORY
Though every little bit helps, making a
real difference in the lives of others comes
from long-term commitment.

kulula.com



GOOD OLD-FASHIONED CHARITY LOCAL HERO

Words: Delia du Toit, Vanessa Rogers, That’s precisely ONE STEP AT A TIME
Pictures: Rawpixel.com/shuttersstock.com, supplied why Tutudesk,
a company that Braam Malherbe is a name familiar to many. e global adventurer, conservationist
makes and distributes and philanthropist is renowned for undertaking massive, physically-daunting feats,
foldable lapdesks for learners, values the usually in pursuit of epic goals. But even an over-achiever like Malherbe is occasionally
involvement of the MySchool programme delivered devastating curveballs and setbacks.
in its work, says founder Shane Immelman.
‘MySchool is a long-standing supporter Last year, for example, he tackled an epic world rst by rowing 8 100 km on a small
of our work and has helped thousands vessel from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro. e goal of the expedition was to reach two
of children. We get monthly million people via the Do One ing (DOT) app which highlights the importance
financial support from of doing one signi cant thing for the planet every day. Malherbe founded the DOT
the programme’s growing
number of MySchool Foundation in hopes of using the app to support water, waste,
cardholders, which helps with energy and conservation projects – and so the ‘DOT Challenge’
those niggly admin costs.’ was dreamed up and Malherbe set o across the ocean with rowing
Helene Brand, marketing partner Wayne Robertson.
and CSR manager for
MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet, says, for Unfortunately, midway through their ‘big row’, the app’s
them, Tutudesk was a perfect fit. ‘We were developers decided that their ROI was too low and they stopped
eager for them to join our programme, work on the project. Not the sort to give up on a challenge, the duo
since we wanted to extend our reach into soldiered on and reached their destination a er 92 days at sea. Rather than accept
more under-resourced areas and make a DOT’s collapse, Malherbe returned from South America all red up and ready to push
greater impact where it is needed most.’ his conservation agenda harder than ever.
The MySchool fundraising Consequently, Malherbe will soon re-launch the app during a road show that’ll
programme allows any reach hundreds of schools and numerous corporate enterprises. ere’s no doubt in
South African to raise Malherbe’s mind that the targeted audience of two million will be reached.
funds for a cause every What’s the source of Malherbe’s relentless determination, though? He says it’s nature.
time they shop. ‘Simply get ‘I get out there and walk or run, barefoot, on the mountain, which allows me to connect
a free MySchool card and with the earth.’ Ultimately, he claims that by simply reconnecting with nature, he’s able
select up to three organisations to access the profound wisdom that’s spoken in its silence.
that you want to help. Every time you ‘Try it,’ says Malherbe, ‘and you’ll nd your time outdoors increasingly steering you
swipe your card at partner stores, they away from the trappings of greed and what can become a self-
give back a percentage of your spend involved “victim complex”, to more universal concerns. You
to the organisations of your choice,’ may, for example, come up with ways to help save more
explains Brand. water in the current Western Cape drought, or how to o er
MySchool also runs various a more community-orientated approach to your business
other initiatives that benefit schools, endeavours.’ In the process, adds Malherbe, you’ll likely
including leadership development and become more self-aware.
volunteer programmes and a teacher
scholarship.
GET INVOLVED
Get a free MySchool card and select
the Tutudesk Campaign as a beneficiary
online at myschool.co.za or by
downloading the app.

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 111

Ghosts
IN THE MACHINE

Gaynor Lawson gets to grips with the
brain hiccups we lavishly call ‘déjà vu’.

S ome claim that these Around 70 per cent of the world’s
familiar-seeming ‘memories’ population has reported experiencing
which we commonly refer this phenomenon, first referred to as
to as déjà vu are caused by ‘ghosts déjà vu in 1876. French for ‘already
wanting to mislead us’. But there’s seen,’ it was coined by the philosopher
plenty of scientific research – plus an Émile Boirac who used it in his book,
agglomeration of quackery and esoteric L’Avenir des sciences physiques (The
guesswork – offering a plethora of psychology of the future).
different theories on the matter.
In more recent times,
When I was younger, it was something psychotherapist and déjà vu expert
that happened often. I’d be doing Dr Arthur Funkhouser of Zurich’s CG
something quite ordinary and it would Jung Institute has been collecting
suddenly feel like I had done that exact information about the phenomenon for
thing or had precisely that experience years using an internet questionnaire.
before. It’s a sense of ‘been here, done The phenomenon is far more common
this’ – a familiarity that links the present than you might expect and Funkhouser
with some moment in the past – that’s divides déjà vu experiences into two
very hard to put your finger on. primary categories: déjà visite

112 JANUARY 2018 kulula.com

HERE WE GO AGAIN BEHIND THE SCENES

I've been here!

NO... I've
been here!

NO...NO... I've
been here!

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 113

BEHIND THE SCENES HERE WE GO AGAIN

(‘already visited’) for when you feel you’ve that déjà vu is linked to temporal
been somewhere before and déjà vecu lobe epilepsy, and a sense of
(‘already experienced’) for when you déjà vu can occur just prior to a
feel like you’re reliving a moment that’s temporal lobe seizure, during
happened to you before. the actual seizure, or even
between convulsions.
There are a variety of other specific
forms of déjà vu such as ‘already tasted’, At the other end of the
‘already heard’, and ‘already dreamt’ – scientific spectrum are
each of these is thought to have different parapsychologists and their
sets of causes. Among the more legitimate ilk who have a plethora of
theories around the phenomenon is that less medical-sounding theories,
déjà vu is a kind of ‘brain hiccup’ or a such as the belief that déjà vu is
moment in which the brain is running a related to past-life experiences.
scan in the memory sector of our grey Or, if you’re looking for even odder
matter, with some psychiatrists saying it’s theories, it’s worth dipping into those
caused by ‘a mismatching in
the brain’ which causes proffered by the Spiritual Science
you to mistake the Research Foundation, which
present for the past. has come up with the ‘tuning
Most of the more fork phenomenon’ according
cynical boffins to which the frequencies
attribute déjà of one person’s mind
vu to ‘simple temporarily match
fantasy or wish the frequencies of
fulfilment’. another who may be living
or in the afterlife. In other
Alarmingly, words, déjà vu is a kind
some medical of ‘mind match’ in which
experts believe someone experiences
someone else’s memory.
Which is either
very cool, or
rather creepy –
depending on
how you feel
about sharing
mind vibes

More cynical boffins attribute déjà vu
to simple fantasy or wish fulfilment

114 JANUARY 2018 kulula.com





HERE WE GO AGAIN BEHIND THE SCENES

with complete strangers. In any case, the International Conference on Memory Have I really
foundation also proffers a theory that in Budapest, Hungary, in July 2016. been here???
ghosts (often one’s own ancestors) are Dr Akira O’Connor and his team of
responsible for half of all déjà vu cases.
They don’t consider these intrusions from scientists from the University of St
the afterlife to be particularly benign,
however. Ghosts, they claim, interfere with Andrews in the UK disputed the theory
our memories in order to mislead us.
that déjà vu is caused by the brain creating
Meanwhile, back in the land of
legitimate science, Professor Todd ‘false memories’. gels with what we
Murphy, in his book Sacred Pathways:
The brain’s role in religious and mystic O’Connor believes that the frontal already know about
experiences, explains déjà vu in a way
that seems totally rational and straight- regions of the brain probably check the effects of age on
laced: ‘Ordinarily, there is a fairly seamless
integration of the past, present and the through our memories and send a signal memory – déjà vu is more
future. In simple terms, we experience
something in the present, compare it to when there’s some kind of memory common in younger people
similar experiences in the past, and decide
how we will respond. The time frame error – a conflict between what we’ve and dies off in old age as memory
can be very brief; even a few seconds.
Once in a while, though, there can be too actually experienced and what starts to deteriorate.
much communication between short-
term and long-term memories. When this we think we’ve experienced. Dr Christopher Moulin of Pierre
happens, then the present can feel like
the past. If perceptions from the present It’s a sort of interior mental Mendès-France University
are shunted through the parts of the brain
that process memories from the past, conflict resolution process. in Grenoble says the latest
those perceptions will feel like they are
memories, and the person will feel that If true, these findings research doesn’t bode well for
they are reliving a moment stored in long-
term memory.’ suggest that experiencing people who don’t experience

Some of the most up-to-date déjà vu indicates that the déjà vu at all. ‘Without being
research on déjà vu was revealed at the
brain’s memory checking unkind, they don’t reflect on

system is in tip their memory systems,’

top condition he says. O’Connor

and that you’re counters that if they’re

less likely to not making memory

misremember errors, there’s no

Pictures: Sven Kristian, Claire McAdams/shutterstock.com, Bruce Rolff/shutterstock.com, events. This trigger for déjà vu, so
Jakob/shutterstock.com, artpixelgraphy Studio/shutterstock.com, Afishka/shutterstock.com
they may just have

better memories.

Déjà vu may be a sort of Confused?
interior mental conflict Maybe it’s safer
resolution process to just blame it
on shared mind
waves or those
pesky ghosts.

THIS IS SOMETHING NEW from the present. When a person is in this them simply vanishes. A room in
state, nothing they experience seems to which they spend a lot of time suddenly
Professor Todd Murphy also has his have anything to do with the past. ey becomes totally novel; everything seems
own version of ‘brain hiccups’ – what he might be talking to a person they know new. Details they will have seen a thousand
calls jamais vu, the opposite of déjà vu. well and suddenly the person seems totally times suddenly become engaging. Jamais
‘Instead of feeling extra familiar, things unfamiliar. eir sense of knowing the vu is not as common as déjà vu, but it can
seem totally unfamiliar. In this case person and knowing how to relate to be just as compelling.’
there is too little connection between
long-term memory and perceptions

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 117



OPEN YOUR HEART HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY

Unstuck JANUARY 2018 119

wYoisgcdaaonminusastnreudycoetonurtreCbrrh2ea0an1t8htawtloiCthhoaahrnneenospdseeynsochureribaberotsd. hyo’swinytouuitive

W ith another new year comes another list of New Year’s
resolutions. Often we make resolutions that are
connected to what we think we ‘should be doing’. We
listen to the voices in our heads telling us what we ‘should do’ instead
of listening to our inner wisdom – we forget to listen to our hearts.

So, let’s start with the terminology. Instead of ‘resolutions’, this year,
let’s try ‘intentions’. Intentions are a tool for realising your heartfelt
desires without asking you to change who you are. This passage into
the next cycle of your life is the perfect time to create intentions that
come from your heart, rather than from a place of ‘should’ and ‘should
not’. Ultimately, this means using our intuition to guide us rather than
judging ourselves and then placing restrictions on our behaviour in
order to live up to some sort of societal norm.

kulula.com

HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY OPEN YOUR HEART

We are so conditioned Take a moment to reflect on these MANTRAS FOR AN
by society to constantly questions. Take a moment, and practice OPEN HEART
rely on our intellect and to a pause: a deep breath, or a series of
live in our heads that we are deep breaths. Incredibly, it’s become a big Mantras are words or sounds
often disconnected from our challenge to simply pause these days, in a repeated numerous times in
intuition. Our body’s inner wisdom is world that conditions us to constantly go order to aid concentration and
worth paying attention to. go go. But hey, you’ve got nowhere to go meditation. eir vibrations
Do you ever give your body an right now, strapped into your airplane seat contain energy which have
opportunity to be heard? What would like you are. a power of their own. e
it be like to switch off your intellect? following three mantras can
What would your body tell you it wants So, as you pause, why not allow the all be repeated between three
this New Year? wisdom of your body to rise up into and ten times (or as o en as
conscious awareness? you like), either inside your
head or so ly out loud:

‘So I close my eyes to old
ends and open my heart to
new beginnings.’

‘I deeply, and completely,
love and accept myself.’

‘I am open to love.’
As you repeat these to
yourself, focus on each word
as you say it. Follow each
repetition with a pause – let
your body speak to you
and tell you what
it wants in this
New Year.

GET UNSTUCK RIGHT NOW in, you first need to let go of the stuff that Now, exhale slowly, release your
doesn’t serve you. In other words, you tongue, draw the breath down from the
Assess your body, observe any kind of need to become unstuck. top of your head to the front of your chest,
discomfort; perhaps it’s tension, stickiness and hold yourself empty.
or tightness. Where does this tightness Here’s a simple exercise to encourage
come from? Are you struggling to let that. Bring your awareness to the area The holding of your breath gives you
go? Perhaps you’re irritated by someone, between your shoulder blades (the back the opportunity to relax the body parts in
frustrated by something, stressed or of your heart chakra) and place your which you’re holding tension, stickiness
overwhelmed by all you have to do. tongue at the roof of your mouth. Inhale and tightness.
This causes a resistance, a hardening or slowly and draw the breath upwards,
tightening. Everyone does it; we tend to from the back of your heart chakra Repeat five more times with long and
be in a constant state of ‘stuck’ around towards the crown of your head. Hold slow breaths. This exercise changes your
our hearts. This inner rigidity creates a your breath until you feel pressure build. mode from being one of struggle and
blockage. In order to let something else resistance, to one of love and gratitude.

120 JANUARY 2018 kulula.com





OPEN YOUR HEART HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY

Pictures: Yuganov Konstantin/shutterstock.com, Kristina Kokhanova/shutterstock.com, Quality Stock Arts/shutterstock.com, ViSnezh/shutterstock.com Takewaispdaoumses.pFeeaekl. tLoetyyouou. r body’s UNSTUCK MEDITATION

That might sound like something your hands, one on top of the other on An easy meditation you can do in your
ethereal or strange to you, but I’m talking your heart and take another long breath seat right now.
about something you can do right here, in and out through your nose. Not only Join your hands palm to palm,
right now. It’s simple: everything that should you feel the purifying effects of the connect the base of your thumbs to
is alive pulsates with energy, including air travelling deep into your lungs, but in your sternum. Breathe into your belly
your body, and all this energy contains your chest you should be able to feel any and lightly close your eyes. Turn your
information. So your body’s energetic tension that’s gathered in and around your focus to your breath.
system can help you realise your New heart melt away.
Year’s intentions – you just need to unclog, Next, rub your palms together
or unblock, the system. By practising this simple exercise every vigorously. Bring your right palm to
day, or whenever you have a moment to the centre of your chest and place your
This is where the heart chakra comes yourself, you can cultivate more mindful le hand on top of your right.
in. Also known as Anahata, which can be breathing and rid yourself of that ‘stuck’
translated to ‘unstuck’, the heart chakra feeling – that unnecessary tension – that Now, feel the warmth and radiance
is your energy centre of compassion and gathers in your chest. of your heart and chest. Visualise the
understanding. It is where forgiveness is green, radiant glowing light emanating
found and kindness rules. It is where the Keep in mind that the heart chakra is from your heart, in all directions.
physical and energetic unite. where forgiveness is found and kindness
rules – most importantly, this includes Release your palms to face up on
The heart chakra’s element is air, and forgiveness and kindness for yourself. your lap. Direct some of your lightness
the lungs are its organs. Your heart is As you breathe to clear blockages in and heart energy to someone in your
nourished by your breath. When you fill and around your heart, you should be life in need of healing. Finally, inhale,
your heart with breath your whole spirit able to let your whole spirit expand to bringing your arms overhead, and
expands. You attract the life, the love and feel the possibilities of your New exhale, bringing your palms back
the intentions that you want. Year’s intentions. In everyday together at your heart, completing
parlance, we call it your meditation.
It’s possible to experience the undoing of ‘opening the heart’.
blockages around your heart chakra quite to take a pause, to feel, and to let your
easily, right here, right now. Simply place Now’s a good time body’s wisdom speak to you.

Your mind will often wander and drift,
and you will get caught up in your intellect
– when this happens, practise a pause
and take a long conscious breath. And
come home, home to your body, home
to sensations, home to your heart. Open
yourself up to the idea that you can follow
your heart into this new year.

Let your body’s inner wisdom rise up.
Acknowledge and listen to the feeling
within your heart. Breathe and open your
heart up to receive whatever is in store for
you in 2018 and beyond.

May your year be filled with
love, brave love, love for
yourself and love for all
those around you.

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 123

124 JANUARY 2018 kulula.com

A TIMELESS CLASSIC FASHION & DESIGN

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 125





Mem oryAnthony Sharpe savours the sweet mingling of LANE
exhaust fumes and nostalgia as he ponders some

of SA’s most beloved old-school cars.

N ever have I been propositioned kulula.com
as much as I have while
driving my little, red 1994
Mazda 323 around town. Nobody
was interested in me, mind: they
all wanted to buy my car. Security
guards, cops, petrol attendants,
mechanics and random passersby
by the dozen asked if I was willing to
part ways with Red Doris. Their eyes
all nearly popped out when I showed
them the sub-100 000 km mileage,
and very nearly shed tears when
I announced she was not for sale.

Though I loved my car, I found
it a little surprising. I mean, it’s not
a frikkin’ Porsche. And it got me
thinking: what are the other cars of
yore that we hold in high esteem in
SA, and where might they take you?

128 JANUARY 2018

CHARMING OLD CHARIOTS ROAD TRIP

SURF’S UP: VOLKSIE BUS

Officially called the Volkswagen Type 2,
the Kombi has been the go-to wagon for
local surfers and adventurers for years.
Both the T2 and T3 achieved iconic status,
thanks in no small part to VW’s run of
fantastic advertising in the 80s and 90s.
All that room meant it was perfect for
piling in surfboards, tents, friends, pets
and the odd kitchen sink and high-tailing
it up the coast for a weekend of big waves
and small cares. Throw a mattress in
the back and you have the ultimate road-
trip vehicle, and likely the basis for a
lot of South Africans who are now in
their thirties.
Good for a trip along the East Coast,
hitting up every surf spot
from J-Bay to
Richards Bay.

GOING NOWHERE QUICKLY: JANUARY 2018 129
BMW E30 325 IS

From Zwartkops Raceway to the back streets
of Soweto, the E30 325 iS, or Gusheshe as it’s
affectionately known, is revered for its ability to
get you from one place to another in a bit of a
hurry. This is thanks to a sweetly specced 2.7-litre
version of the M20’s straight-six engine, built for
the SA-exclusive iS to challenge the dominance
of the Opel Kadett 16V in the Stannic Group N
Production Car Championship Series. However,
it’s possibly best known for being particularly
suited to the motorsport equivalent of chasing
your own tail: spinning, locking your car into
endless doughnuts while dancing around next to
it, on the bonnet, or on the roof.
Good for a trip to Soweto, the home of spinning,
although depending on how much rubber you
grind off your back tyres, you might have to get
someone to tow you home.

kulula.com

ROAD TRIP CHARMING OLD CHARIOTS

KANNIEDOOD KRUIWA: CITI SLICKER: VOLKSWAGEN CITI GOLF
NISSAN 1400
What list of beloved South African cars modest intentions. Those modest intentions
This legendary little workhorse was
introduced to the SA market in 1971 would be complete without the ubiquitous haven’t stopped Golf fanatics from tricking
as the Datsun 1200. The engine was
upgraded to a 1400cc in 1980, and Volkswagen Citi Golf 1? Beloved by those their cars out to the absolute max, though,
in 1990 the Nissan 1400 as we know
it came into being, with the much- who bought them and those who stole adding lowered suspension, preposterously
loved Champ derivative introduced
in 1993. In 2008 the car was finally them, the Citi was introduced in 1984 to fill big mags, under-car lighting and a heap
discontinued, to be succeeded by the
NP200. So what makes this little the gap in the local market for an affordable, of modifications that altogether are often
bakkie so special? Perhaps it’s the
easy-to-fix rear-wheel-drive setup, small, entry-level left by the introduction worth more than the car itself. It’s like
the efficient little engine or its half-
tonne load capacity. Just ask any of of the heftier, more expensive Golf 2. It was sprinkling caviar on a Spur burger, but
the 275 000-odd people who bought
one during its 37-year run (or any of
the thousands more who picked one
up second hand): these things last.
Good for a trip to Hartbeespoort
Dam for the weekend.

fitted with a locally modified 1.4-litre engine, that’s just part of what makes this car such

and a host of variants followed, including an especially South African one.

an extraordinarily nippy 1.8 GTI. Amazingly, Good for a trip up the N2 over

the Citi Golf was originally available only the festive season, in a queue of about

in red, yellow and blue, as befitting its eight million other Golfs.

DO THEY MAKE ’EM LIKE THEY USED TO? Fiat 500
e Fiat 500 was originally
Mini Cooper
Remember when the Mini was, well, mini? A masterpiece in launched in 1949 as an economy
car for the post-war market. Its
e cient space usage, the original was transformed by BMW tiny size and fuel e ciency proved
into a somewhat larger model, which, though targeted less immensely popular, and it was
at families than wealthy college students, was actually a famously durable. Fi y years later Fiat
pretty natty car. e real jump-the-shark moment was released the new 500, which got retro styling
the launch of the Mini Cooper Countryman, which, right, while retaining the value proposition of its predecessor.
measuring a touch over four metres in length, is
basically a small station wagon – mini in name only.

130 JANUARY 2018 kulula.com



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CHARMING OLD CHARIOTS ROAD TRIP

BUG-EYED BEAUTY: VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

Ah, yes. The familiar high-pitched boot in front, the engine in the

rattling engine noise once so ubiquitous back, and a car full of memories

on SA’s roads is now a novel rarity, in between, the original Beetle will

like hearing the strains of a Beatles remain forever iconic.

song on the radio. That sound is enough Good for trips to your favoured

UNBREAKABLE: to bring a smile to anyone’s face, meditation retreat – tie-dye
TOYOTA HILUX
let alone the unmistakable, almost mandatory, no drum circles
Jislaaikit boet, you didn’t think I’d leave out
the Hilux, did you? Okes gotta get stuff symmetrical shape of the friendliest- after 10 pm.
from one place to another, right? The Hilux
first appeared on the local market back in looking automobile ever to roll off a
late 1969, and promptly sold 386 units at
the princely sum of R1 525 each (cough). production line and into the hearts of
Since then it has dominated the market,
being the best-selling bakkie almost every millions of South Africans. With the
year. The introduction of a 4x4 variant for
Pictures: Malashkos/shutterstock.com, Victor Metelskiy/shutterstock.com, supplied the third generation broadened its appeal, WHO’S THE BOSS? OPEL KADETT SUPERBOSS
as did the addition of a double-cab option
in the fourth generation, which meant you The Opel Kadett Superboss was an SA-only adaptation of the already nippy Kadett
could lug sheep around all week and the Gsi 16V. With the creature comforts stripped away – no sound deadening, power
family around all weekend. Did we mention steering, air conditioning or electric windows (hell, the back windows didn’t even
it’s virtually indestructible? open!) – the car weighed in at 971 kg. All the better to take advantage of its specially
Good for a trip to hell and back. After tuned 20XE engine and a host of adjustments under the hood. Needless to say, those
putting a Hilux through crashing, torching 500 initial units sold like hotcakes, and more were made.
and crushing, Top Gear parked the same Good for a trip to anywhere you need to reach really, really quickly.
car on top of a 23-storey building set
for demolition. Using no spare parts, a
mechanic managed to get it running again.

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 133



NEW YEAR, NEW NETWORKS MONEY MATTERS

HAVEN’T I
SEEN YOU

before?SOMEWHERE
P icture it – you’re standing outside points’, and by then offering advice to solve With happy holiday
the event room, taking gulps of their problems, you’ll be adding value and memories ebbing away,
air and wiping your sweaty palms making a meaningful connection. now’s the time to focus on
on the back of your pants. It’s networking your business network and
time, time to work the room and hand out ‘Get out of your comfort zone when find ways to expand your
your business cards and meet new people, going to events and don’t only speak to circle of influence, writes
people who can help grow your business. people you know,’ says Jane Stevenson,
What were all those tips you were meant strategic director of events company Katherine Graham.
to remember again? Ah, yes... Magnetic Storm, who organises speed
networking events for the Nelson Mandela Jason Bernic, a financial planning coach
‘Put giving before receiving,’ says Bay Business Chamber. She recommends at Old Mutual Wealth. ‘Ask one person to
branding and marketing expert Donna knowing your elevator pitch so you can introduce you to another – the number
Rachelson. ‘Networking is a brilliant way make a memorable introduction: ‘We live of people you meet in one evening will
to start and build business relationships, in a busy world filled with clutter, so this is be exponential.’
but it’s not about making a sales pitch or your chance to stand out.’
collecting business cards.’ She believes Intelligent conversation is key, so
that by understanding the key issues Do your homework beforehand, too. brush up on the issues that concern your
bothering someone, their so-called ‘pain ‘Find out who might be attending the industry. ‘Read as much as you can,’
event and who you’d like to meet,’ says

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 135

MONEY MATTERS NEW YEAR, NEW NETWORKS

advises Phumeza Mgxashe of Partners for questions that show you are genuinely BUSINESS CARDS VS Pictures: Rawpixel.com/shutterstock.com, GaudiLab/shutterstock.com, Ivanko80/shutterstock.com
Possibility and formerly of the Business interested. ‘Also be sensitive to the SOCIAL MEDIA
Women’s Association. ‘This means you can fact that not everyone wants to chat,’
talk about a range of topics.’ adds Stevenson. ‘Some people say we don’t need
business cards any more because our
WHAT NOT TO DO Avoid poor body language, advises world is so digital, but I disagree,’ says
business coach Bruce Wade. ‘Business is leadership coach Jamaaludeen Khan,
‘The worst thing you can do at a similar to dating: the initial meeting, the who believes that the more business
networking function is to be talking to first date, the follow-up, the second date cards you garner, the better. You’ll
someone and looking over their shoulder and so on,’ he says. Good body language be able to follow up more easily on
the entire time, trying to see if someone is relaxed and confident, without being contacts made at the event. ‘Meeting
better is coming along,’ says Rachelson. pushy. ‘When greeting someone, shake people in the physical world and
She believes quality always trumps hands firmly and look them in the eye,’ he exchanging cards opens up further
quantity. ‘Networking is about making says. If you’re witty, tell a good story that engagement online.’
the best impression possible and being will make others laugh. As Wade explains, ‘Use social media because people follow
remembered by a few people who matter.’ ‘This triggers the feel-good hormone people,’ recommends Jason Bernic. ‘But,
oxytocin which generates a sense of as one social media guru once told me,
Any other networking no-nos? ‘Don’t empathy and trust.’ “Be interesting.” Your message needs
hang around with your own colleagues,’ to resonate with the people that you are
says Executive Search director Auguste ALWAYS FOLLOW UP trying to target.’
Coetzer. ‘If you go with someone else, split
up – this will force you to reach out to It doesn’t help to create a fabulous brief encounter and card swap, end the
other people.’ What about talking to your impression and then never speak to the discussion with a solid action that either
competitors? This isn’t taboo. According person again. ‘The best networkers always you or they will take to enable a second
to Coetzer, ‘You’ll be amazed at the follow up and they do this consistently,’ date and follow-up,’ he says. It could just
information you obtain.’ says Rachelson. ‘By following up, you build be an email with a link to an interesting
article that will enable the conversation to
In your effort to be sociable, relationships and deepen your network. continue, or it could be an invite to sit down
don’t commandeer the And the deep relationships are and talk more.
conversation. Introverts the ones you will treasure.’
have a natural Wade stresses the Whatever bold or scary steps you take
advantage here importance of finishing to expand your network, you’re sure to
over extroverts a conversation with an be rewarded. ‘Step outside your realm of
because they’re agreed call to action. familiarity and enjoy the excitement that
good listeners. Ask ‘Even if it is just a comes with challenge and growth,’ says
Bernic. ‘Risk is always directly correlated
with reward.’

136 JANUARY 2018 kulula.com





I’M THE KING OF THE AIR KEEPSAKE

WHAT

up?GOES
' S ure it’s scary,’ says 21-year-
Words: Keith Bain, Photograph: Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool old Oswald ‘Ozzie’ Smith. very much a fringe activity, Red Bull kiteboarder Nick Jacobsen, while
‘Jumping 40 metres noticed a small event held in Maui Ozzie’s Kung Fu handle-pass earned
into the air will definitely get your in 1998. It had been christened the him the prize for the competition’s
adrenaline going. But it feels so good. ‘Kitesurfing World Championship’ and ‘Most Extreme Move’. It was Ozzie’s
Being up there and just looking down at featured just 25 kiters, most of them fourth King of the Air. ‘There’s no other
everything. I don’t even know how freshly converted from windsurfing. The competition like it,’ he says. ‘It’s special
to describe that feeling. It’s definitely following year, the event became ‘Red because it’s a “go as high as you can
all about freedom. When you’re up Bull King of the Air’, propelling the sport event” – really extreme.’
there you don’t have to think about into global consciousness. Although
anything else.’ the competition went into hibernation This is a big year for kiteboarding.
in 2005, it was resuscitated in 2013, The IOC has included it as one of the
At it since he was 11, Ozzie is the with a new home in Cape Town, touted four sailing events at the Youth Olympic
most accomplished kiteboarder as one of the world’s best kiteboarding Games – it’s a milestone in the bid to
South Africa has ever produced. What locations. ‘King of the Air demands have the sport included in the 2020
initially attracted him to the sport extreme skill and a level of danger,’ Tokyo Olympics. In the meantime, it’s
was witnessing unbelievable air leaps points out competition director, Sergio worth getting to Big Bay to see the
combined with flights over incredibly Cantagalli. ‘More than technique and world’s finest in action. The event
long distances. ‘That’s what got me precision, it’s also about height and happens during a two-week window (27
into it. Seeing guys soaring into the sky. extremity, style and execution, variety January–11 February), with competition
Going really big. That’s still what I really and difficulty. We’re testing the limits of days only when conditions are perfect.
enjoy – just hanging up there, looking kiteboarding, showing where the sport’s The rider list comprises 2017’s top nine,
down on the world.’ future lies.’ four invited wildcards, and five selected
from an online video competition.
Back when kiteboarding was still Last year’s winner was Danish redbullkingoftheair.co.za

kulula.com JANUARY 2018 139



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