BS: Hull girl goes to Durban

Subject: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 01:12 PM

My wife has been offered all found trip to Durban, I've been trying to find a large suitcase with airholes but have failed miserably. So to make up for my mis fortune she has promised to bring back loads of CDs
So question one is what should be on the shopping list?
and
anyone know of must do music things in Durban

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: Amos
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 01:48 PM

If you like jazz, over the last twenty years Darius Brubeck has founded a Jazz Institute at the university in Durban, and his students perform regularly. He/they have at least one CD I know of.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 01:29 PM

Surely someone must have been to Durban

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 02:47 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 03:24 AM

Where the f##k is Durban?

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: GUEST,Cod Fiddler
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 10:42 AM

I went in 1997. Its on the east coast of South Africa Ted. I can't remember much about Durban as the country side has so much more to offer than the cities. I spent christmas eve in Johannesburg bus station and arrived in Durban at 6am on Christmas day where I was picked up by relatives and taken surfing. It felt very wrong. Give me rain and cold any day.

I visited the Natal Sharks Board in Durban who do public shark disections - interseting if you're interested in fish biology. The beaches are nice, particularly out of town but they don't have shark nets.

I recommend visiting the Drakensburg mountains. They are only two or three hours drive from Durban in the heart of Natal. There is a magnificent escarpment with 3000m+ peaks and wonderful wildlife. There are is lovely national park accomodation (Giant's Castle Reserve is fab). We saw mountain baboons, Eland and Bearded Vultures (massive 8-9ft wingspan). It is one of the best places in the world to photograph these rare vultures. Also there are lots of caves with bushman paintings in. Book a mountain hut and trek up to it for a night or two. For an easy high peak, climb the Amphitheatre (the wonderful backdrop in the film 'Zulu'). You have to negotiate a vertical 30m chain ladder but it is one of the few peaks with good road access making it doable in a day.

While you're in the area, it's also worth checking out the battlefields of the Boer and Zulu wars. In particular, Rourke's Drift and Isandlwana, maybe Ulundi and Spion Kop too. You need a good guide or a good book if you want these to come to life. Try 'The Scramble for Africa' by Thomas Pakenham and 'The Washing of the Spears' by Donald R Morris - both excellent and readable histories.

Also look out for Umfolosi/Hluhluwe National park - it rivals Kruger any day and has all ranges of accomodation. We saw loads including lion, leopard, elephant, rhino (white), buffalo and cheetah and lots more.

South Africa is a huge country and it is definitely worth getting out of the cities and travelling.

Have fun.

Richard.

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: Amos
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 10:45 AM

I haven't been there myself, sorry. Ted, for your undeserved edification ,
it's around the tip of South Africa up the rtight-hand or Eastern side, as you can see in this map

A

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 11:13 AM

Thanks Anus.

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: GUEST,Penelope Rutledge
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 11:19 AM

Indeed, Cod Fiddler has summed it up rather well. There is so much history and such splendid vistas of scenery around Durban. I have actually stood on the once blood-soaked ground at Isandlwana, and felt a shiver go through my whole body, imagining those hordes of plumed Zulu warriors pouring down upon the thin red line! Every citizen of the British Isles should visit these historic sites at least once in a lifetime.

* PRW-J

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: GUEST,Cod Fiddler
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 12:22 PM

Why thank you Penelope. There is even a little stone in the middle of nowhere between Estcourt and Ladysmith which commemorates the spot at which war correspondent Winston Churchill was captured by Boers when the armoured train he was travelling on was attacked. Marvellous! There are lots of other interesting stones there too.

Do hordes of plumed Zulus always cause your whole body to shiver Penelope?

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: GUEST,Penelope Rutledge
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 12:30 PM

You are a saucy rascal, aren't you, Cod Fiddler? Well, keep your ardour in check, my good man, I am happily married since just before Christmas this past year.

* PRW-J

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 12:44 PM

My ardour is uncheckable. If you know anyone who can tame it get them to send me a PM. On second thoughts, don't! I can think of countless names just the thought of which, quenches any desire. Margaret Thatcher, Mo Mowlem, Ann Widdecombe...



I am now tame.

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: GUEST,different one
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 01:52 PM

I always considered Mo Mowlam quite cute....

Amen to the other two though....*shudders*

....& thats WITHOUT the rather distasteful political aspects

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 04:37 PM

Condoleeza Rice does it for me. I'm talkin' total paralysis below the waist for at least five minutes after thinking of her, accompanied by a strange, nagging feeling of emptiness. More deadly than a cold shower!

- Chongo

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 03:31 AM

Thanks for that insightful piece dear Fiddling with Cods you are the only person I know who has been to Durban not as part of a WW2 Naval Fleet
Anyway how about back to the thread?

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 12:23 PM

Come on dont be shy someone must have been to Durban

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 03:20 PM

Well, I haven't. At least not in this life, anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 03:19 PM

Well all I can say is Mudcatters are a stay at home lot!!

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: burntstump
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 01:53 PM

I think the cat is sleeping

me ow

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: burntstump
Date: 16 Jan 05 - 01:19 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 05:20 AM

rfrsh

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 09:27 AM

How long is Sharon going for Andy? Do you think we will be able to slot in a few shed parties whilst she is galavanting in foreign parts?

Subject: RE: BS: Hull girl goes to Durban
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 01:15 PM

Ted
1 Longer than expected if she gets chased up a tree by a leopard
2 Do hope so ( I suspect Shed Heir has thoughts about half finished attic parties)
Garden True Path