Cederkloof
“Nature is the purest portal to inner-peace”
– Angie Weiland-Crosby
We just got back from the Cederberg.
After two months of being busy, catching up with people, places and errands, we wanted this time together.
We meandered along the Cape Town to Namibia route to Citrusdal, via two wine estates, Org Der Rac and Piekenierskloof Wines.
When we found the botanical retreat that afternoon, the reception was already closed. Written on a small chalk board were arriving guests names, along with their chalet numbers. We found our way to our accommodation and the key was in the door. An improvised fence of giant, sun bleached logs afforded total privacy.
As we quickly surveyed our cottage, we could see that we had everything that we needed to retreat from the world for four days; a fully equipped kitchen, a braai grill, fire pit, coffee beans and loose, local Rooibos tea.
We had brought plenty of supplies; food, wine and beer. And nature provided everything else. We were treated to a spectacular show, with the sun setting slowly over the kopjie, casting shadows over the ancient, multi coloured rocks. And there was abundant birdlife.
We were set.
We both welcomed this chance to disconnect. There was no WiFi at the cottage, or phone signal. And that was very O.K. We won’t Whats App. We don’t download data bundles.
Why is there this expectation to be constantly connected anyway?
Mornings were spent on the stoep, with fresh coffee. There was no music, just the sound of nature; Fynbos swaying in the breeze, birds chirping and the piercing shrills of cicadas.
We watched as cheeky sparrows foraged, feasting on our fallen croissant crumbs. Two tortoises made their way surprisingly speedily, around the log fence. Courtship. I asked PKP what type of tortoises they were. His answer “Cape mountain hare tortoises with leopard”.
A few ‘fruit kebabs’ had been cleverly placed on pole fencing. I’d find myself pausing from the pages of my book to watch, while birds contorted their tiny, feathered bodies, to balance like acrobats, and feed on the flesh of the sun baked fruit. Masked Weavers, Fiscal Shrikes, a Robin Chat, Weaver birds and White eyes. Chicks would flap their fluffy wings and wait in anticipation, with wide open beaks. A Hoopoe flew in with a fabulous crown, and strutted about in the fire pit.
One particular Cape Robin Chat, with striking deep orange and blackish markings, would join us throughout the day on the steep. He would hop jauntily from rock to rock. He sung beautifully. But unlike all the other bird in pairs, he was always alone. I guess he just hadn’t met the right bird yet.
On walks we looked for lizards and mongoose. The area has exceptional botanical diversity, part of the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa. The Fynbos has been beautifully restored all around the property’s ten cottages. We hoped for a sighting of a Cape Caracal and longed for a Cape Leopard to pass by. Both rare. Both elusive. They were most likely higher up, between the rocks on the kopjie. But we were treated to a visit by a stunning Rock Agama Lizard, who chose to sunbathe on our log wall for a while.
For four days we really relaxed and took in the stunning surroundings. We got no messages and couldn’t check e mails. We were out of reach. There was peace away from social media posts and politics. We cooked a little. We laughed a lot.
It was idyllic.
And it was an important reminder of how little we really need; Good food, great wine and time together.
How people travel has changed so much. When checking in, after collecting a key, the all important piece of information is usually the WiFi code. Long exchanges with fellow travellers rarely happen now. Most don’t swap their travellers tales as much. There is the assumption that you can google all that you need to know about a place.
How we use our phones and devices impacts on us and those around us. We can recall two recent examples of this. Sitting at a restaurant, our wine was opened and we awaited our delicious lunch. A single man was seated at the table next to ours. He went on to conduct a business meeting, via webcam, loudly. When did private business go so public?
This was worse. Simililarly, while waiting for a meal to arrive, an elderly couple sat at the table next to ours. They grabbed a FaceTime chat with their daughter. The phone rang loudly for a long time, before the daughter finally picked up, sounding flustered. “Sorry, I’m just getting in from work”. And her parents’ response…”Look, we’re in Buffelsdrift, darling. Look at it”. (At this point the dad stands up to scan the restaurant’s deck and nearby watering hole). I was immediately reminded of Dom Joly’s comedy sketch, using the giant cellphone in public places. As nearby diners we were in ear shot for all of this, our own lunchtime conversation drowned out by this inconsiderate pantomime. There were about fifty other free tables but they had to choose that one! We moved away.
Think back. Do you remember a time when you went away and just had a holiday? People used to travel and disconnect from people and places for a while, to just reconnect with the person in front of you. It was about time together. Thoughts of others would be fleeting; A small gift, “X would love this”, a few postcards, maybe a hand written letter.
When we worked as Teacher Trainers, for an NGO in Zambia, a regular ritual when travelling was aways to take tea at a big hotel and write long, detailed letters on embossed, hotel stationery to our parents. Then we would go on with our trip. We were not in constant contact.
We’ve been saying for some time that we don’t want to be constantly connected with others. It’s our choice. For us it doesn’t seem so smart to allow smart phone technology to mean being always available to others. We should only be always available to one person; the most important person in our life.
We’re not anti-social. We’re both big communicators. We’re not against technology at all. But we choose how to use it all. That’s our prerogative.
Ask yourself, how much do you want to stay connected? When do you want to be in touch? When do you want to retreat?
What do you do to manage technology, so that you are not always available to everyone?
© Maggie M /Mother City Time