My Weblog

Restaurants that will not serve tap water

I was shocked to go to a restaurant the other day and order a glass of water to go with the food for 2 of us. I just like to drink tap water with ice. I prefer it to bottled water.

To my surprise the waiter said they weren't allowed to serve tap water. Only bottled water for which we had to pay.

Well it's a good restaurant so we ordered the bottled water but it just doesn't feel right. Every other restaurant I have ever been to in South Africa or Europe or the US will serve you tap water if you feel it is drinkable, which it is in South Africa.

I can only think of nightclubs in Europe where you have to order drinks as part of your entry cover charge and if you choose to order water then very expensive water it is indeed. But in restaurants: no, not that I can think of.

When I tackled the owner he was absolutely outspoken on the issue. He said he would fire any member of staff who served a patron tap water. He paid huge rent and tap water was not going to help him cover it.

Otjiwarongo versus Buckingham Palace

A few years ago we were living in London. We booked months in advance to go round the open section of Buckingham Palace. I was working in travel and a guest house owner in Otjiwarongo in Namibia asked me if I could promote the town in the UK. I had to see the place first and so it was arranged that during the July holidays we would travel to Otjiwarongo.

I will never forget the day we went sightseeing. Starting with a short drive to a farm where the farmer had a canyon which was a mini Grand Canyon. We arrived at around 8.30 and the farmers wife offered us breakfast. 'Oh no of course not,' we said, 'that would be too much trouble'. So she offered us lighter food and when she said 'muffins' I had this vision of a Marks and Spencer packet in the fridge and a few muffins being placed in the microwave. So I said yes please.

I was busy chatting to the host and the farmer and didn't notice what was happening in the kitchen until the most delicious smell of muffins baking in the wood fired stove (there was no electricity at that time) came wafting through. There were no ready bought muffins ready to be whisked from freezer to microwave, in fact it was a freshly mixed home made recipe.  Needless to say when they were ready they were absolutely delicious.

The morning was fascinating: a goats cheese factory, a factory where linen and towels were being made and embroidered by the local ladies, a walk through the canyon and finally, the most thrilling, terrifying experience. The farmer had on his property a rock which is a mini Ayers Rock. He drove us up to the top of the rock in his bakkie (pick-up) and then down again. It was absolutely sheer. Going down was more scary than going up. But it was an experience we will never forget.

So what does this have to do with Buckingham Palace? Well, the tickets we had booked were for the week after we returned to London. August was summer but for an hour we shuffled our way through the queue in freezing rain to get in. Eventually we were in and handed in our coats and umbrellas. Then we shuffled our way through the various apartments which were open to the public. The rooms are grand and impressive but we didn't exactly see the private apartments where the family lives. It was only the public areas. Within an hour it was over. Then we were in the shop.

It was a very expensive day and all we had done was shuffled through and looked at things. I think that as more and more people have been there and done that, more and more people want soft adventure and real experiences. You want to feel you are a traveller doing something fresh, not just one of a crowd being herded through a sausage machine.

Of course there are some experiences which you don't mind sharing with 10 000 people in a day but if you can find peace and tranquility and be one of a very few participating how much more amazing is it? This is one of the most alluring aspects of Africa. You see the real thing not just the showroom.

Holidays from Hell

How to avoid a holiday from hell next time? Is it better to book direct or to use a tour operator? What makes for a worse holiday - travelling with one or more people who complains a lot or a holiday that doesn't match expectations or both? Which is worse? How does one plan a holiday which works?

David Rattray

It is tragic when anyone is murdered. The whole country and the travel industry in particular is reeling fromt he murder of David Rattray. He was an historian who was also a raconteur, able to make the story he was telling come alive for all who were fortunate enough to have an opportunity to hear him. He was murdered in his home at Fugitives Drift, close to the lodge he founded.

We hear about crime affecting farmers and city dwellers. Tourism brings so many economic benefits to an area - why should he have been the victim. Why can the government in South Africa not take the action required to stamp out Crime. South Afirca is a wealthy country and can allocate huge amounts of money to bring in in the right people and to equip them with the right tools to take back our country from the criminals.

No one wants to put their lives in danger. How can we expect tourism to grow if people feel unsafe about coming here.