5 Top Attractions for an Exciting Durban Holiday

If you are after an enchanting and memorable respite in South Africa, then a Durban holiday definitely offers the sights and sounds that go with your mood. This multicultural Kwa Zulu Natal city combines its mix of cultures with awesome attractions that leaves many travelers looking for more. Some of the best attractions include various water slides, botanical gardens, open air markets and some of the best places to dine and wine in KZN. If you are looking for the perfect Durban holiday experience, the following five attractions will definitely give you the fun and exotic side to the city.

Ushaka Marine World

Built in a shipwreck theme and kitted with such amenities as a giant aquarium, an expansive dining complex and a water park, the Ushaka Marine World is a definite must see on a Durban holiday and frequently tops every visitor’s list of priorities. The park has dark alleyways where visitors can walk through and see the massive sharks. The park also has contains lots of cute dolphins. The dolphin shows are a definite must see.

Durban Botanical Gardens

The Durban Botanical Gardens are considered the oldest in Africa and offer a relaxing atmosphere rich in fauna. They are perfect for educational tours, giving you an opportunity to explore and learn about the various plants and herbs from Africa and the rest of the world during your Durban holiday. If you are looking for pure relaxation, the tea garden inside these botanical gardens provides an impressive atmosphere to unwind and marvel, while surrounded by a rich biodiversity.

Umhlanga Rocks

Located on the Kwa Zulu Natal coast, Umhlanga Rocks is a fully kitted and quiet coastal village where you can have a quiet Durban holiday away from the hustle bustle of the city. This upmarket village has several amenities for the holiday makers including holiday flats, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, a skate park and other amenities that will make your holiday just worth it. Apart from the peaceful and quiet atmosphere, you might also enjoy attractions like watching the sea from the pier or the Umhlanga Lighthouse, an impressive monument built to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS. The village is located just 15km from Durban and is thus quite accessible.

Natal Shark Board

If you thought that only Cape Town offers a great shark spectacle with its famous sharks and seals, then think again. The Natal Shark Board was created to protect the public from shark attacks while also teaching them the value of conservation of the marine ecosystem. Guided educational tours and shows are available during your Durban holiday where you can learn more about the “sea monster”, the Great White Shark amongst other shark species. If you are lucky, you can witness the impressive spectacle of a shark being dissected. Lots of smaller sharks can also be seen here during educational tours.

The Victoria Street Market

The Victoria Street Market is one of the historic landmarks of Durban and an important part of the city’s cultural history. Established in 1910 by indentured laborers from India, the century old market gives you a glimpse into the city’s Indian flavor with assorted merchandise ranging from Indian spices to jewelry. This is the perfect place to interact with the local population or pick a souvenir during your Durban holiday.

To check out and book your preferred Durban holiday, visit www.where2stay-southafrica.com

Tags :

Sacramento Seed Library

Sacramento Seed Library, located within the Colonial Heights Library
4799 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95820
Sac Seed Library

Looking to start a garden? Want to grow your own fresh herbs and veggies? Check out the new seed library at the Colonial Heights Library. It's just one more reason on a long list of reasons why I love Sacramento.

For those who are unfamiliar with what a seed library entails, it's pretty much what it sounds like. You go in and check out seeds, plant them and then at harvest time you bring some of the seeds from your plants back in so that others can grow them the next season. The library is self-sustaining in that way. The best part is that the service is totally and completely free! Can't beat that.

I stopped in this week and picked up seeds for two tomato varieties, I thought it might be a fun project to do with the kidlets. The librarians on duty were kind enough to give me a quick run down on how the seed library works.

First, take a look at the binder. It has a chart that tells you the best months for growing various plants, vegetables and fruits.

Then go over to the catalog. The seeds are organized by skill level: easy herbs, easy ornamentals, easy edibles, difficult herbs, difficult ornamentals and difficult edibles.

Pick a drawer. Inside the category, you'll see seed packets organized by alphabetical dividers.

Choose which ones you like. Fill out one of the envelopes with the seed name and variety, then transfer your seeds into the envelope. You can then either complete the Checkout form on one of the library's computers or do it from home on their webpage.

To return seeds (after harvest), place your seeds in an envelope, complete the Check-in process online and place the seeds in the Return Seeds drawer at the library. Easy-peasy, right?

I ended up choosing some Chadwick Cherry and Japanese Trifele tomatoes to grow with the kidlets. Hopefully one of us has a green thumb. What do you plan on growing in your garden?

Blackbird Kitchen

1015 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. (916) 498-9224.
http://blackbird-kitchen.com/

Yesterday I met up with some friends at Blackbird Kitchen for a casual Happy Hour. Being a fan of Chef Kevin O'Connor's cooking after dining at one of his amazing Treehouse dinners last year, I was really looking forward to seeing what his newest project with owner, Carina Lampkin had to offer. I loved the food but some other aspects of Blackbird left me pondering whether it'd be a place I'd return to.

First of all, the restaurant is in an awkward part of town (9th and K) for accessibility and parking. I live in Midtown but usually tend to avoid that area because of the mess of cars, construction zones and abundance of panhandlers. I ended up having to make several laps around the area before I was able to find a parking spot that was open and not in a tow-away zone. The restaurant was a little easier to locate since the front wall showcases a big mural of blackbirds in flight. The interior is separated into two-stories with the bar/lounge area occupying the lower half and a small dining room in the upper loft space. The decor is quite eyecatching- hip shades of greys accented by a wrought iron staircase and interesting bits of artwork...very urban. Some time and thought were definitely put into creating an aesthetically pleasing oasis for their patrons.

My friends and I were looking forward to nibbling on some small dishes since we had heard rave reviews regarding Blackbird's fresh seafood Happy Hour which consisted of oysters ($1), fish tacos ($5), and mini lobster rolls ($5); however, when I inquired about the HH menu we were advised by our server that they were no longer offering the lobster rolls. Strange since, just that morning I had received an email from Downtown Grid touting Blackbird's HH lobster rolls and it's still listed on their online HH menu. A bit disappointed but not dissuaded, we decided to order some fish tacos and the lobster and beet salad ($15). The fish tacos were delicious- they consisted of two perfectly executed mini tacos made of fried cod topped with cabbage and some sort of relish. The fish had a subtle, spicy curryish aftertaste that was very appealing. The Maine Lobster and Roasted Beet salad was gorgeous in presentation- large chunks of lobster intermingled with fresh burrata and delicious candy colored beets cut into bite-sized wedges. You definitely didn't feel shortchanged with this salad. The highlight of our visit though were the cocktails. I started off with some sort of specialty cocktail made from bourbon and huckleberries that they called Patsy's Punch (I think?)...it was so-so and didn't make much of an impression on me. For my second round, I quickly switched to the Moscow Mule after tasting a friend's. Blackbird's Moscow Mules are served in a cold copper mug with crushed ice, they're not overwhelmingly ginger tasting...the perfect refreshing summer cocktail. Loved it! Too bad they don't have a patio, I could definitely see knocking back a few mugs of these while engaging in some summertime patio drinking.

My only real issue with Blackbird was the service. The two servers who came by our table were polite but service was so extremely slow. The restaurant and the bar were pretty quiet when we were there so I'm not quite sure what the issue was. Everything from ordering a drink, getting our food to even getting our check seemed to involve a very long wait. In fact, we wanted to have a few more more drinks but we got so tired of waiting that we closed out our check and decided to go get a few more cocktails elsewhere in the Grid. One of my friends pointed out that Blackbird would probably do more business if they expanded their Happy Hour food menu and time frame (currently it's only 4-6pm) and try and attract the after work crowd. I think she has a point. If they had a bigger Happy Hour menu (more than just 2 items) and faster service, I could see visiting more often but I don't see driving out there specifically to have dinner. For dinner, there's just a lot more places in Midtown that are easier to get to, in the same price range and offer more refined service. I guess I'll wait awhile and see how Blackbird settles into it's nest before going back.

Tags : restaurant sacramento seafood

Just a Quick Note...

Hi Readers,

Just wanted to let you know that starting May 26th, I will no longer be using NetworkedBlogs. So if you get updates to my blog posts via NetworkedBlogs you may want to switch over to liking my Facebook page at A Girl and Her Fork.

Thanks!

Ally @ A Girl and Her Fork

Tags : misc

Pickled Grapes

Oh cheese, glorious cheese...yum! Did you guys see that ALL CHEESE wedding cake on Cup of Jo this week? My gawd! My jaw dropped ---does it get any better than that? Well it can. Even cheese needs a sidekick. Batman had Robin, Cousin Larry had Balki and Ren had Stimpy...so what should your cheese's wingman be? I vote for pickled grapes. Seriously, pickled grapes. They're delish. I ran across the recipe in Molly Wizenberg's book, "A Homemade Life," a few years back and these little orbs pickled with cinnamon and black pepper will rock your tastebuds. This last batch, I used some leftover muscat grapes and paired the finished product with some creamy Cypress Grove Purple Haze chevre---total foodgasm!

Molly Wizenberg also writes the food blog, "Orangette" which I love.

Pickled Grapes (adapted from "A Homemade Life" by Molly Wizenberg)

Ingredients

1 lb. seedless red or black grapes (I used muscat grapes and it came out fine.)

1 cup white wine vinegar (Make sure you're using the right kind of vinegar, please. It makes a big difference.)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons brown mustard seeds

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

1 (2 1/2 inch) cinnamon stick

1/4 teaspoon salt

Ingredients

1. Wash and dry the grapes. Take a sharp knife and poke a slit where the grape's "bellybutton" is. This will help the pickling juices get in there. Place the cut grapes in a large bowl.

2. In a medium pot, mix the white wine vinegar, sugar, brown mustard seeds, peppercorns, cinnamon stick and salt together. Stir the ingredients up to make sure they're combined. Bring it to a nice boil. Give it one last stir, remove from heat and pour over the grapes.

3. Allow the mixture to cool to room temp and then ladle into clean jars with lids. Place the jars in the fridge and allow them to sit overnight.

4. Serve the grapes cold with your favorite cheese.

* The pickled grapes will keep for a week to a week and a half; however, the flavor will become more pronounced the longer it sits.

Tags : appetizer fruit pickling recipe Vegetarian

Online Booking for Flights in Africa

Is online travel booking the next big thing in Africa? Africa is fast becoming a major global travel destination as the continent offers lots of holiday and business prospects. While African airlines accounted for a mere 2% of global air traffic due to a market that is still regarded as underdeveloped, the continent is now on a good trajectory due to multiple factors. There is for example a fast growing African middle class together with the need to travel more within the continent as more African nations trade with each other. The last three years have also seen some tremendous investments in broadband infrastructure. This mean Africans are traveling more while at the same time they are logged on to their devices. This has as a result created a huge demand for online travel service on the continent.

Online Booking in Africa

Currently, online booking is still dominated by many airlines through their websites. Almost all of the major Africa carriers now offer travelers online booking service through the corporate website. These normally offer discounted flights to get customers off the queues and away from the travel agents in order to embrace the convenience of internet booking. Additionally, there is an emerging trend of online travel agents that are now establishing operations in Africa. The most successful online travel agency so far in establishing Pan African operations is Travelstart that currently offers African travelers localized online travel booking platforms in the key markets of Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

Which markets dominate online booking?

Currently, South Africa offers the most vibrant online travel market in Africa with several players jostling for the millions of travelers who visit from abroad or travel within the country. Other major online travel market are Kenya, Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria. However, these countries do not have serious competition in the online travel niche.

Local versus global online travel agencies

As more local online travel solutions emerge, Africans will be faced with the choice on whether to book flights with local online travel agencies like Travelstart or opt for the old players like Expedia and Priceline. Local definitely has significant advantages in terms of excellent local customer support, flexible modes of payment and good and firsthand knowledge of the local market. It will be interesting watching how the competition unfolds as more Africans log on to the internet to catch the next flights or book hotel rooms.

Tags :

Tourist Finance for Hassle Free Holidays

Travel is fun but it also costs money. Many families have seen their best laid holiday plans being shelved aside due to lack of adequate funding. But there are savvy travelers with average income who can afford to travel and see the world. How do they afford it? The secret is in tourist finance. Many financial institutions continue to design financial products to meet ever changing needs.

One of those needs that was in the past largely ignored was tourist finance. Many holidays are often funded from savings. Families with inadequate savings are forced to shelve aside holiday plans or look for cheaper travel destinations. If you are planning to visit Table Mountains in Cape Town or Victoria Falls, inadequate funding might force you to reconsider that option and settle for more affordable tourist spots. Tourist finance however enables you to apply for a loan for touring the world and at very attractive rates.

Getting Tourist Finance Is Easy
It is often fairly easy to qualify for tourist finance loans. Borrowers have to meet some minimum eligibility requirements and that’s just about it. Once these are met, you can get your loan application approved quite fast and you will be off to your idyllic sunny holidays.

As with every product and service offered online, shopping around for the best tourist finance service providers is crucial. Many of them provide additional frills and advice to differentiate themselves from competition, including offering travelers tips on cheap flights, affordable holiday destinations and accommodation, best times to traveler and more. A tourist financier is simply a lender that has specialized in offering travelers financing and one advantage that you will have is the first hand knowledge you get from them regarding your travel and money management during your holidays. It is also important to evaluate interest rates across multiple lenders when looking for tourist finance as these tend to vary based on the service provider that you are dealing with.

A good travel financing partner will allow you to enjoy your holiday without worrying about your dwindling finances or whether your interest rate will shoot over the roof!

Tags :

Life's Just Beachy

I'm a bit late getting this post up...but we went to the beach this weekend!

Mr.S. didn't have the kidlets so we thought we'd take a daytrip out to Half Moon Bay and relax on the beach. We ended up having lunch at this great little casual eatery called Barbara's Fish Trap in Princeton-By-The-Sea. The Fish Trap is located in a teeny red building on stilts right on the pier. There's a covered patio area in the front and regular seating in the back.

We were starving by the time we stopped for lunch and everything sounded wonderful on the menu, so we decided to get a little of everything. We split the calamari, which Mr.S. loved. He thought it was the absolute bees knees until he got his fish and chips which he said was the best he'd ever tasted. I took a nibble and I had to agree. The batter was light and crispy and the fish was nice and moist. There wasn't any of that heavy greasiness that I typically detest in fish and chips. He also got a cup of their clam chowder which he wasn't jazzed about but I thought was okay- it was nice and hearty, chock-full of clams and dairy-free (which was great for me. I think they use potato as their base instead of milk or cream). I ended up ordering the Dungeness crab sandwich...and it was divine. A good-sized serving of crab on a soft bun. The crab was nice and fresh and the bun was delicious; however, I did think the sandwich was kind of pricey. The place itself was kitschy and cute though - lots of windows to see the harbor and a big fisherman's net adorning the ceiling. The service was friendly but so sloooow. They were pretty busy though so we tried to cut our waitress some slack but they really needed an additional server on duty.

After lunch we headed over to San Gregorio State Beach, just off the Cabrillo Highway. I think this is my favorite beach we've gone to so far. The first park of the beach opens up to tons of driftwood, a small lagoon and lots of people but if you go down just a bit further to the right, you'll come upon a secluded, sandy beach with nary a soul. We felt like we had the beach to ourselves...and the best part was---there's two sea caves that are accessible when the tide's low. The first cave doesn't go back very far but the second one does...it's fun in there but a bit spooky. Also according to the park ranger if we had gone further down, we would have stumbled upon a nudist beach. We didn't get down that far, instead we decided to take a trail that goes up one of the ridges. If you go, check it out! The view up there of the ocean is absolutely breathtaking (and the climb is super easy).

San Gregorio State Beach:
Beach access fee $8 (but the pass they give you is good at all state beaches for the entire day)
No dogs on beach
No fires on the beach
There are BBQ pits, restrooms and picnic tables in the first part of the beach
Beach closes at sundown

Barbara's Fish Trap- is cash only
281 Capistrano Road (650) 728-7049

Tags : barbara's fish trap daytrips half moon bay san gregorio seafood

Blueberry and Cherry Clafoutis

"Dessert is probably the most important stage of the meal, since it will be the last thing your guests remember before they pass out all over the table." ~William Powell

I know it's BBQ season when I look out my living room window and I see the squirrels in my yard throwing around the bark I laid down like it's New Year's Eve confetti. They get feistier the hotter the weather gets. Those bratty squirrels...they drive me crazy! As does BBQ season at times. I love BBQ season but with the invites comes the age-old question of, "What should I bring with me- an appetizer, some sort of summery drink or dessert?" After a winter filled with pies, tarts and cobblers I'm always ready for a change of pace. The nice thing about the warmer weather is that the farmers' market starts becoming flooded with luscious stone fruits and sweet, ripe berries...the perfect ingredients for making a clafoutis. A what? A clafoutis. It's a French dessert that consists of a firm egg custard (think like the texture of flan) and traditionally is made from cherries, but you could do it with any fruit really. Last night, I made mine from cherries and blueberries. Right now Brooks cherries are in season and quite cheap- they work perfectly for this recipe. Now, the "traditional" recipe says you should use unpitted cherries but I'm always worried about someone cracking a tooth so I play it safe and opt for pitted. As for the blueberries, they're still early in the season and kind of pricey at the farmers' market (4 dollars!) so I got mine at the store ($2.50) but later in the season I hope to go blueberry picking. Mmm, fresh berries! Did you know there's a ton of places to go blueberry picking near here? My friend Katy sent me a list and the blueberry farms should be opening up around early to mid June. I can't wait to go!

Here's a list in case you're interested in going too (just click on the name to get more info):

American River Cherry Company (they have cherries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries)
Patrick's Farm
Berry Heaven
Bolster's Hilltop Ranch
Sun Mountain Farm

Blueberry and Cherry Clafoutis (adapted from Food Blogga's Cherry & Blackberry Clafoutis recipe)

Ingredients

1 cup fresh sweet cherries, pitted

3/4 cup fresh blueberries

2 tablespoons of slivered, toasted almonds

3 large eggs

2/3 cup granulated or baker's sugar

1/2 cup AP flour, sifted

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup cream

3/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

butter (for greasing the pan)

confectioner's sugar or whipped cream (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Grease a 9-inch round baking pan with butter.

3. Place the cherries, blueberries and almonds in the pan and spread evenly.

4. In a bowl, mix your eggs, sugar, flour and salt until the batter's smooth.

5. Add your almond extract, vanilla extract and cream. Again, mix until smooth and then pour it into your pan over the fruit and almonds.

6. Bake for about 45 minutes. Slip a knife into the middle of clafoutis, if it comes out clean it's done. When you take the clafoutis out of the oven, you'll notice it still has some jiggle and will slightly deflate- that's ok, it's totally normal.

7. Allow clafoutis to cool.

8. If you wish you can dust the clafoutis with confectioner's sugar or top it with whipped cream.

9. Serve.

Tags : dessert fruit recipe

Travelstart Launched in Nigeria

Online travel agency Travelstart has expanded its African footprint further by launching Travelstart Nigeria. Travelstart was founded in Sweden in 1999 but has since expanded its global operations to include the key travel and internet markets of Africa. Today, the Travel portal includes a South African outfit, Travelstart South Africa and a Kenyan outfit Travelstart Kenya that was launched early this year. Travelstart has launched its Nigerian operations in partnership with GHI Assets Limited, a Nigeria local player and one of the most successful travel agents in that country.

The launch of Travelstart Nigeria not only marks its entry into one of Africa’s key internet markets but also Africa’s largest travelling population. With the African travel market growing at very high rate due to a high economic growth, intra-African business and trade and a growing a middle class, there has also been a significant growth in Africa’s internet population with over 120 million Africans now logged in. The growth of the internet population has coincided with the continent’s massive investments in its data infrastructure.

The growth of travel and the internet can only mean one thing-the growth of online travel market in Africa. In this Travelstart has been trailblazer, pioneering the concept in some of the African markets. Other emerging markets like Brazil, India, China and Russia do have giant local online travel players and Travelstart will be well poised to be Africa’s “local” player like India’s MakeMyTrip, China’s CTrip, Brazil’s Despegar, and Russia’s Ostrovok.

Email us at contact@flight-africa.com if you want your travel website reviewed on this blog.

Tags :

Booking Cheap Flights to Nigeria: Options Available

Nigeria is a major African business and trade hub with billions of dollars invested in the nation’s oil, banking and telecommunications sector. Most travelers fly to Nigeria mainly for business although other sectors have seen some growth in the recent years. However the aviation sector has seen some problems and the country’s national airline Nigeria Airways collapsed a few years back. While some private carriers like Arik have emerged and are quickly building route networks, your flight to Nigeria is most likely to involve flying international carriers like Ethiopian Airlines, Delta, British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa , Kenya Airways, South African Airways amongst other international airlines. Cheap flights within Nigeria can be booked with local travel agencies but it is important to make multiple calls in order to arrive at the best deals. When looking for cheap flights to Nigeria, the following factors ought to be considered to ensure you get the best deals on your flights.

Look for direct flights to your destination city
Whether you are flying to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcout or Kano, it is possible to find direct flights to some of these cities which allow for ease of travel instead of connecting domestic flights to your destination. Nigeria is not particularly a huge country in terms of size but travelling by road might not necessarily fit your schedule.

Bargain hunting
It is important to evaluate fares offers from the various airlines. It is likely that many of your flights might involve stopovers in third countries. For intra African travel, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines will offer you the best option though they might not necessarily be cheap. Travel to Asia is great with Emirates and Qatar Airways which normally have stopovers in Dubai and Doha respectively. There also exist lots of options for your travel in Europe including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Arik Air amongst other carriers.

Book Early
Plan your itinerary and book your flight early on to enjoy the best fare offers. Booking your flight 21, 14 or even 7 days in advance will allow you to make some healthy savings when booking cheap flights to Nigeria.

Looking for a review on your travel website? Drop us an email at contact@flight-africa.com

Tags :

Finding the Cheapest Flights to South Africa

Cheap flights always add value to your destination allowing you to lock in the savings and spend the extra savings on a richer travel experience. The first thing that we are likely to put into consideration after deciding on our travel destination is whether we can afford flights to those destinations. South Africa is one of the most popular travel destinations in Africa thanks to its varied attractions and securing cheap travel to this African paradise can be difficult if you are not familiar with the intricacies of online travel.

The era of travel agencies is definitely coming to an end although a good number still offer a time tested quality service with a deep understanding of the travel markets and the details of airline travel. The majority flights are now booked online with online travel agencies(OTAs). But like the travel agencies of the years gone by, online travel booking may not necessarily offer you certainty of fares due to many factors that regulate the airline fares. If you are looking for cheapest flights to South Africa, this can be a problem with many airlines now serving the major cities in the country. The fare offer on Emirates, Qatar Airways, South African Airways or Air France may not necessarily be the cheapest. What we hate most is leaving a deal on the table. For example paying $1000 for your flight if you could have paid $750 for the same flight in the same cabin on the same date is definitely not funny! So how do you ensure that you score the cheapest flights to South Africa and make adequate savings to enjoy the rest of the attractions of the Rainbow Nation?

Book Early
Unknown to many, this is the easiest way to secure the cheapest flights to virtually anywhere. Airlines usually update their fares after every few weeks but booking your flight one month, two months or three months before your flight will score you dirt cheap fares. As the travel date approaches, the fares normally rise very fast and the last minute fare offers are usually the most expensive. Booking early for the low fares however come with price and you might not have a few privileges.

Book very late just before your departure date
This might sound contradictory but the fares are normally most expensive in between: between early and late. Very late is a game of chance but allows you to score last minute cheap flight deals and pay low fares. The disadvantage with last minute flights is that a lot of factors are not in your control for example you must travel at the scheduled time and date, you may not be lucky enough to secure multiple tickets if you are travelling with a companion or family amongst other inconveniences.

Contact your travel agency
Instead of going it alone to secure the lowest air fares to South Africa, you can get in touch with your travel agent to help you secure the best deals. The business of a travel agent is travel and they will offer you not just the lowest fares but a couple of fare recommendations and travel times from various airlines to suit your schedule. Visit Fly.co.za for inquiries on the cheapest flights to South Africa.

Tags :

Book Cheap Flights to South Africa with fly.co.za

Book Cheap Flights to South Africa

South Africa is a land of many possibilities with lots to see and experience. From the wineries of the Stellenbosch to the seal Island in Cape Town, South Africa offers the perfect holiday for the traveler. Whether you are planning to travel within South Africa itself, to South Africa or from South Africa to the rest of the world, finding cheap flights can be a tough affair.

With so many options for travel in South Africa, consumers might not be sure which airlines offer the best travel deals. There are numerous airlines servicing domestic, regional and international routes that travelers can choose from including FlyMango, Kulula , South Africa Airways amongst others. The dynamics of air fare variations mean that you cannot be sure what to expect from an airline and at what time. The cheapest flights today might not necessarily be the cheapest ones in the following week. Hunting for travel bargains is always a time consuming affair requiring a traveler to search through multiple websites. But the smartest travelers always pay the cheapest fares. One website that can help you make some sense out of all these chaos is fly.co.za which will allow you to determine and book the lowest fares in a relatively short time.

Fly.co.za is a South African online portal that aggregates fares from various airlines and presents to travelers on a single page, allowing you to find the cheapest fares in a matter of seconds and book in a matter of minutes. Travelers looking for cheap flights can simple enter their departure and destination airports and they will be able to make quick comparison on the options that offer them the best value.

Fly.co.za: Local Knowledge Combined with Cheap Flights!
Travel is very much integrated into the internet age. It has been for the last decade or so with the launch of the giants like Expedia and Opodo. But if you are looking for cheap flights to South Africa, it might make sense to book with an online agency with a local knowledge of the market that will offer you cheap flights with best local customer care service to enable you get the best option each time you fly.

Book your cheap flights to South Africa today with fly.co.za and enjoy the best in air fares to South Africa!

Tags :

Soba with Ginger Scallion Sauce

Ok, I lied to you. I know I said I was going to give the David Chang recipes a rest- buuuuuuut I ended up with a ton of scallions this week and needed to do something with them so I threw together some of his ginger scallion sauce. I ended up pairing it with some soba (Japanese buckwheat noodles) I had laying around in the cupboard and it was absolutely delish. I definitely recommend it unless you hate scallions or hate ginger because this tastes like a whole lotta both. It's also a great sauce to make because it keeps for a few days in the fridge and you can integrate it into all kinds of dishes- chicken, rice, seafood.... Just remember to have an Altoid on hand afterwards because this sauce will definitely leave you with some pungent breath.

Ginger Scallion Sauce (adapted from "Momofuku" by David Chang and Peter Meehan)

Ingredients

2 bundles of dried soba

2 bunches of fresh scallions

1/2 cup finely minced peeled fresh ginger

1/4 cup grapeseed oil

1 1/4 teaspoon usukuchi (or a reduced sodium light soy sauce)

3/4 teaspoon mirin*

3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon sugar (optional)

toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions

1. Thinly slice the scallions (whites and greens).

2. In a bowl, mix together the sliced scallions, ginger, oil, usukuchi, mirin and salt. Allow it to sit about 20 minutes so the flavors can meld. (Note: Don't skip the waiting period, it does make a difference in the taste.)

3. After 20 minutes, taste. Add more salt if necessary or if it's too salty for you, you can add 3/4 teaspoon of sugar.

4. Boil some buckwheat noodles (about 4-5 minutes). Drain noodles and rinse with cold running water.

5. Mix buckwheat noodles with ginger scallion sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

6. Store the leftover sauce in an airtight container and place in fridge.

* The original recipe calls for sherry vinegar, I didn't have any on hand and mirin worked fine as a substitute.

Tags : Japanese Pasta recipe sauce Vegetarian

Kinpira Gobo (Sauteed Burdock Root with Soy Glaze)

Lately I've been a bit stressed out and haven't really felt like cooking. At lunchtime I've been mostly nibbling on salads, raw veggies and fresh fruit but today I felt like eating something a bit more substantial so I decided to make a double batch of kinpira gobo. Kinpira gobo is one of my favorite Japanese side dishes and one of my "comfort" foods. It's traditionally served with rice and oftentimes you find it tucked into cute little bentos.

Gobo is the Japanese word for burdock root. Burdock root is high in fiber and potassium and when cooked has a nice earthy taste and crisp texture. Kinpira refers to the cooking style- sauteing then simmering. Everyone has their own way of making kinpira gobo but when I make it I like to add some carrot (but I've seen it made with lotus root as the accompanying ingredient on numerous occasions). The salty-sweet glaze and shichimi togarashi gives it a nice little kick. It's a pretty quick dish to make once the julienning is done and can keep in the fridge for several days.

Gobo (burdock roots)

Fresh carrots

Kinpira Gobo

Ingredients

One burdock root (~ 3 feet long)
1 carrot
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of mirin
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of canola oil
a few drops of toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
shichimi togarashi (optional)

Instructions

1. Rinse the burdock root and remove threadlike roots. Peel skin off with a vegetable peeler.
2. Julienne into thin matchsticks and immediately submerge in a bowl of cold water.
3. Keep the julienned burdock root in the bowl of water for about 10 minutes. The water will turn a brownish color. (Don't worry, it's normal.) Drain the bowl and refill with fresh water. Repeat the process until the water is clear. Leave the burdock root in the water until you’re ready to cook.
*Covering the burdock root in water keeps it from oxidizing and turning black.
4. While you're waiting, julienne your carrots.

5. In a bowl, mix your sugar, mirin and soy sauce. Set aside.

6. Heat your canola oil in a wok or large pan. Add the burdock root and stirfry for about 4-5 minutes on high heat, until it softens slightly.
7. Add your carrots and cook for a another 2-3 minutes

8. Add your sauce, lower heat to medium and allow to simmer until the liquid is reduced and gone.
9. Add a few quick drops of toasted sesame oil. Give the dish a good toss and then remove from heat.

10. Season with a bit of shichimi togarashi (optional). Allow the kinpira gobo to cool to room temperature.

11. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve with rice.

Tags : Japanese recipe Side Dish snack Vegetables Vegetarian

Grilled Fish

Ingredients:
2 slices fish
6 red chillies
3 dried chillies
4 shallots
1 lemon grass
1 tsp tamarind juice
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp oil
a pinch of salt
1 tsp sugar

Method:
1. Grind together all the chillies and shallots.

2. Heat up a wok with some oil. When it is hot, fry the blended ingredients with lemon grass .

3. Add in tamarind juice, water, salt and sugar. Stir-fry for a few minutes.

4. Season the fish with some pepper. Place some banana leaves on the aluminium foil. Put the fish on the aluminium foil. Pour the fried chillies on top. Cover the aluminium foil and grill on top of a stove.

5. The fish is cooked when the foil expand. It will take about 10 - 15 minutes.

Tags : aluminium foil Fish grilling

Steamed Herbal Chicken

This herbal chicken is simple to prepare and very aromatic when cooked. Wolf berry is good for the eye-sight and angelica root is good for stomach disorders. It is a dish for everyone to enjoy.

Ingredients:

2 pieces chicken thigh

1 tbsp wolf berries
a few pieces angelica root (dong quai)

1 small piece ginger

3 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp white pepper

2 tbsp light soy sauce

1/2 cup water

Garnishing:

1 stalk spring onions

Method:

1. Wash and cut chicken into bite-sized pieces

2. Wash and slice ginger and into thin strips

3. Slice garlic into thin slices.

4. Put all the ingredients into an aluminium tin foil.

4. Wrap the tin foil and steam for 30 minutes.

5.Garnish the steamed chicken with spring onions. Serve hot with rice.

Note:

Put the ingredients on the shiny side of the aluminium. The shiny side is not toxic.

Tags : aluminium foil Chicken dong quai herbal wolf berry

Book Cheap Flights and accommodation in Kenya with Fly.co.ke

Cheapest Flights from Kenya

As a major commercial, services and tourist hub in East Africa, Kenya has been a traveler’s favorite, attracting both leisure travelers and business travelers. The country has some diverse tourist destinations where travelers can visit and have a great time. But the hard part in travel often involves planning your travel in order to ensure everything will go smoothly as possible. From the cheapest flights to the best hotels and reliable car hire. The last things you want are some sad memories of your trip.

One online travel agency that is offering you both the option to book cheap flights to Nairobi and other Kenyan cities and towns including Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Malindi and Lamu and tips on Kenyan travel is Fly.co.ke. The Kenyan online travel agency also offers support services for travelers looking for cheap travel options and information regarding travel to Kenya, and from Kenya to other global destinations.

Travelling to a new country is exciting but at times fraught with difficulties especially for a first time traveler. There are things that travel journals won’t just tell you. Things like which Taxi to take from the airport, the reasonable rates to pay for your taxi, how to get broadband connection with ease and many other nitty gritty when it comes to travel. This is where Fly.co.ke comes in to fill the gaps in your travel. By relying on local knowledge of the Kenya travel market, Fly.co.ke offers travelers not just the opportunity to book the cheapest flights to any destination within Kenya and from Kenya to other global destinations but also timely travel tips such as the best honeymoon locations in Nairobi.

Cheap Air Fares in Nairobi in a Flash
Whether you are looking for the cheapest flights from Nairobi to Dubai or the cheapest air fares from Nairobi to Entebbe, you can rely on Fly.co.ke’s ultra fast metasearch to deliver the lowest fares and fare recommendations in a matter of seconds or in fewer than 2 minutes even in places where there is poor bandwidth. One thing that you will like about this online travel website for Kenya is that all the cheapest fares to/from Nairobi on any particular day are displayed for you on a single page allowing you to save much time in booking your flights without leaving the page or browsing through layers and layers of links. The average online travel typically goes through four websites or more hunting for cheapest flights. When you are booking your Kenyan flights, you just need to visit a single page on the Fly.co.ke online travel agency to access all your flights, hotel and car hire bookings.

Flexibility in the booking of your flights
This online travel agency affords you the privilege of booking your cheap flights to Kenya with ease from the comfort of your laptop or iPad and choosing varied payment methods that include credit card, debit card, cash deposit and even MPESA mobile payments.

Excellent Customer service
Need help with your online booking for cheapest flights to Kenya or out of Kenya? Fly.co.ke provides you with prompt information on the various airlines and the fare options available for your travel. If you are travelling to Kenya for the first time, you can rely on the online portal’s extensive knowledge of the industry to deliver the best information to you and point you to the best resources for your travel needs.
Travelling is unpredictable and fraught with many risks but with a travel partner that caters to your individual travel needs and with great care and consideration, your travel can be more enjoyable. Visit Fly.co.ke website and make your travel inquiries or book the cheapest flights from Nairobi to just about anywhere!

Tags :