Special travel issue * Spring 2014
GREAT 6 WEEKEND
TRAVEL
GETAWAYS
TRAVEL
See the best of Cape Town
FOOD
Lekker ideas for braai time DIY
TRAVEL
EUROPE
Take awesome photos with your smartphone
ON A BUDGET WELLNESS How to beat insomnia
MONEY Clever ways to stretch your forex
WHEELS Drive SA’s most scenic passes
win
JUSTIN BONELLO’S BRAND-NEW COOKBOOK!
editor’s letter
Part of the joy of going on holiday is planning the trip beforehand – from reading magazines (like Reality) to Internet research and travel guide perusal. The building of anticipation for any holiday makes the trip even that more special. We hope our annual Spring Travel edition will inspire you to plan your next holiday – whether it be somewhere in South Africa or a venture abroad. If you can’t wait for your printed edition to arrive in the post, here’s a sneak peek of the travel articles we’ve planned – turn to page 4 for great local short breaks, to page 6 for five affordable European destinations and page 10 for a beautiful look at South Africa’s best passes. We also investigate the more practical parts of travelling – such as avoiding travel insomnia (p8) and the dos and don’ts of taking money overseas (p9). Enjoy!
inside 3 WIN
A brand-new recipe book from Justin Bonello! 4 TRAVEL
Six great weekend breaks 6 TRAVEL
More Europe for your euro 8 WELLNESS
Insomnia: from A to Zzzz 9 MONEY
Make your rands travel further 10 WHEELS
Driving SA’s best passes 12 DIY
Smart-photography 14 TASTE
Braai-licious recipes 15 FOOD
Lunch-break! 16 SPECIAL OFFERS 18 ON THE WEB 20 CONTACT US
Look out for these icons throughout the magazine: SHARE YOUR VIEWS
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YOUR REALITY BENEFITS
win
competition
exclusive to Reality members
1 of 5 Justin Bonello cookbooks valued at R340 each!
Justin Bonello’s latest offering Cooked in the Karoo sees South Africa’s favourite TV chef back with more tasty culinary treats. Exploring South Africa’s heartland of traditional cooking in the Karoo, readers can recreate meals once locked into the family treasure chest of Karoo kitchens and firesides, as scrumptious secrets decorate the pages of Bonello’s eighth Penguin book. To win one of Justin Bonello’s recipe books, share you own favourite family recipe with us. Your recipe will need to include a list of ingredients, measurements and cooking instructions.
HOW TO ENTER: Email your competition entry to: realitycompetition@narrativemedia.co.za. Include ‘Justin Bonello’ and your Reality member number in the subject line. In the email, include your name, cellphone number and your recipe. • Competition closes 31 October 2014. • This competition is exclusive to Reality members. • Competition terms and conditions apply. • See www.reality.co.za.
6 GREAT
WEEKEND BREAKS You don’t need a whole holiday to shrug off that winter lethargy. Catherine Hofmeyr found six special spots for a short break from city living.
USE YOUR REALITY BENEFIT Hire a car and explore South Africa from as little as R199 per day from Tempest. Click here for more information. Or fly to the nearest city with Mango and enjoy a weekend break with a difference. Reality members can save between 15% and 25% on Mango flights. Click here for more details.
Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal
travel
1 Drakensburg, KwaZulu-Natal
3½ hours from Durban
2 Magaliesburg, Gauteng 1 hour from Johannesburg
Magaliesburg, Gauteng
3 Langebaan, Western Cape
2 hours from Cape Town
4 Mossel Bay, Western Cape
40 minutes from George (fly here from Johannesburg)
5 Parys, Free State 1½ hours from Johannesburg
6 South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal
Less than 1 hour from Durban
South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal
MORE EUROPE
for your euros It’s been a long time since the rand held its own in the foreign currency ring, but that doesn’t mean Europe is out of reach for local travellers. Richard Holmes puts the spotlight on five destinations that won’t break the bank.
GET MORE ONLINE Reality Travel has a host of great international holiday deals – see the Special Offers pages in your new Spring edition of Reality, or visit www.reality.co.za/special-offers.
travel
MAKE THE MOST OF IT
Here are five cool tips to remember when you’re travelling to Greece, Croatia, Spain, Turkey and the Czech Republic:
Croatia
It costs about R190 to walk the ancient city walls of Dubrovnik, but this is one time you shouldn’t skimp. Even if you’re not a Game of Thrones fan (the fictional capital of King’s Landing is set here) it’s worth every cent to enjoy the views of this postcard-pretty Adriatic city.
Greece
Staying a while? Airbnb (www.airbnb.com/s/Greece) is a source for money-saving apartments and holiday rentals across Greece and its islands.
Turkey
If you want to escape the tourist trail, head for the Istanbul neighbourhoods of Tünel, Galata and Karaköy, where you’ll find plenty of cheaper cafés and shops catering to locals.
Czech Republic
Eat at U Medvídků – a 600-year-old traditional beer hall in the heart of Nové Mesto, famous for its roast boar and dumplings.
Spain
To save money, eat your main meal at lunchtime when almost all restaurants offer a good-value three-course Menu del Dia. Remember there may be a supplement for sitting outside on the terrace, though.
Croatia
wellness
INSOMNIA
FROM A TO ZZZZZ‌ Insomnia when you’re travelling can ruin the whole experience. Tracy Melass explains how best to tackle it.
10 TIPS FOR SLEEPING WELL ON THE ROAD 1. A void large meals, alcohol and caffeine. 2. M inimise potential noise sources. 3. D ownload a white noise app to mask disturbing sounds. 4. D rink plenty of water to remain hydrated. 5. W hen flying, move around on the plane to stay mentally and physically fresh, as well as to protect against deepvein thrombosis. 6. E xercise as much as possible before and after arriving at your destination. 7. S leep during long flights or train journeys. 8. W ear comfortable shoes and clothing. 9. P ack an eye mask and ear plugs. 10. Drink some warm milk or herbal tea such as chamomile before you sleep.
money
Make your rands TRAVEL FURTHER Paul Kerton looks at ways to exchange money conveniently, and how to secure the best rate for your rand. GET MORE ONLINE
Contact Reality PA here and send through your request – the PA can assist with visa applications, quotes on travel insurance and more.
First we need to understand how currency trading works. You’ll hear on the news that the rand is now R18 to £1 – but at the exchange booth, there are two prices. The sell price is slightly less (eg R17.50, meaning they take an extra 50 cents per pound in the exchange), and the buy price is slightly more (eg R18.50). The spread (ie the difference between the sell price and the buy price) is where exchange companies make their money. Of course, often they also charge a flat fee on top as well.
Driving
South Africa’s
best passes
There’s no better place for a drive than twisty, up-and-down mountain passes, with sublime views to boot. Justin Fox chooses four of his favourites.
wheels
Sani Pass
Sani sits at the top of any list of South African passes.
Swartberg Pass
This spectacular Western Cape pass cuts through the Swartberg Mountains, which run along the northern edge of the Little Karoo.
Long Tom Pass
This 56km pass branching off the Panorama Route of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg is one of SA’s most scenic.
Baviaanskloof Passes
This route through the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve in the Eastern Cape has three superb mountain passes.
Long Tom Pass 22km 4x4, sedan
Sani Pass 27km 4x4
Swartberg Pass 30km 4x4, sedan
Baviaanskloof Passes 200km 4x4
USE YOUR REALITY BENEFIT Want to upgrade to a 4x4?
Reality Wheels has great deals on all vehicle types – call them on 0860 732 5489 or click here for deals.
Smartphotography HOW TO TAKE GREAT IMAGES WITH YOUR PHONE Let’s face it – the camera is dead. For happy snappers with smartphones, a built-in camera with video capabilities takes care of capturing the moment. Robyn Daly points us in the right direction. Principles of a good photograph
1. Look at the screen 2. Check horizons 3. Look for good light 4. Be careful of backlighting 5. Keep an eye on the sun 6. The rule of thirds
diy
Reality poll We asked you what gadgets you take with you when travelling – this is what you said: Everything I own – tablet, smartphone, notebook 56% Smartphone only 30% Camera only 8% Nothing, I like to get a break from technology 6% Take our latest poll on www.reality.co.za.
USE YOUR REALITY BENEFIT Want to upgrade your smartphone? Reality Connect
has special offers on the latest phones – see your Spring edition of Reality for great deals on a Samsung Galaxy S4 or an Apple iPhone 5c, or click here for more.
taste
Braai-licious! A braai doesn’t have to be just chops, boerewors and potato salad. Katelyn Williams has put a delicious twist on some braai favourites, which will have you lighting that fire in a ‘blitz’.
BUTTER-BASED SNOEK WITH SMOKED SALT AND APRICOT CHUTNEY
food
Lunch break!
Road trip food stops don’t have to mean undercooked chips and flabby pies. Nick Dall unearths eight roadside eateries worth stopping for.
Houw Hoek Farm Stall
1. Red Star, Wellington 2. Houw Hoek Farm Stall, Elgin 3. Ronnie’s Sex Shop, Barrydale 4. Kuilfontein, Springfontein 5. Nanaga, near Port Elizabeth 6. Mac Banana, South Coast 7. Piggly Wiggly, Midlands Meander 8. Irene Dairy Farm, Irene
Ronnie’s Sex Shop
Special offers
For these offers and more, call Reality on 0860 732 5489 or visit www.reality.co.za/special-offers.
Travel
GARDEN ROUTE ESCAPE RETREAT TO SHEARWATER ON SEA IN POPULAR SEDGEFIELD FOR A SHORT THREE-NIGHT STAY
R2 000 per unit (3 nights)
INCLUDES: Three nights in a two-
bedroom, self-catering, six-sleeper unit. Shearwater on Sea is situated in the Garden Route town of Sedgefield, a mere 50 metres from beautiful Myoli Beach. Sedgefield is a top kite-surfing area, but there are also plentiful other water-sport options, from boating, canoeing and windsurfing, to waterskiing and sailing. VALID: Throughout the year
e sa2v 155 R
EUROPEAN COMBO TRIP HEAD OVERSEAS TO TURKEY AND CROATIA FOR A SEVEN-NIGHT STAY
R15 000 pp
INCLUDES: Three nights at the three-star
ve0 sa R50
Hotel Asur in Istanbul (Turkey) and four nights at the four-star Hotel Laguna in Zagreb (Croatia). Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, and has a rich cultural history going back to Roman times. Popular Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city, and is a melting pot of cultures and experiences, thanks to its location, straddling the continents of Asia and Europe. This combination package includes return flights (ex Jhb), airline levies, return transfers and breakfast daily. Plus you can enjoy a halfday guided sightseeing tour of Istanbul. VALID: Until 10 December 2014
special offers
Wheels
For more great special offers online click here.
TOYOTA COROLLA QUEST 1.6 NORMAL PRICE: R180 088
OUR PRICE: R175 088 SAVING: R5 000
The new, affordable 1.6 Corolla Quest has all the heart, space, safety and value you’ve come to know and love about the Corolla over the years. Safety features include an immobiliser and alarm, wireless door lock, driver and passenger airbags, as well as ABS, BAS and EBD. It also features a multi-information display, electronically adjustable rearview mirrors, and a centre console box with lid.
Connect
APPLE IPHONE 5C 16GB
• 4-inch Retina display with A6 chip • 8MP iSight camera • Ultra-fast 4G LTE Wireless • Available in green, blue, yellow, pink and white PRICE: R299 On a Straight Up 100 for 24 months * 100 Anytime minutes + 100MB + 100 SMSs
DO MORE ON www.reality.co.za
Did you know? You can complete the entire booking process for these key Reality benefits online. And it’s super-easy!
FLY WITH MANGO
Save money on your upcoming holiday – get up to 25% discount on flights! Step 1: Activate your Mango benefit at www.reality.co.za/mango. You will register with your Reality member number or ID number, and receive a password via SMS. Step 2: Once you’ve logged in with your new password and confirmed your details, you will be able to register your dependants. You can register up to 27 dependants. Step 3: From there, you will click a link that takes you directly to the Mango website to make your flight booking as per normal. Step 4: With your booking, Reality Standard members get 15% discount and Reality+ members get 25% discount.
on the web
HIRE A TEMPEST CAR
More travel savings – pay as little as R199 per day for car hire! Step 1: Go to www.reality.co.za/tempest and log in with
your Reality membership number and your ID number. Step 2: Choose your pick-up and drop-off points, and select your car hire dates. Step 3: Now select the car you’d like to hire. The Reality membership deal starts from as little as R199 per day! Step 4: Then add any extras you require, such as additional drivers, baby seats and more. Step 5: You will be given a rental cost estimate, with all the details – which you can accept or amend. Step 6: Booking complete.
SEE A NU METRO MOVIE
See the latest movie releases for less – just R30 for two tickets! Step 1: Go to www.reality.co.za/movies and click on
the buy movie mobi codes tab. Step 2: Select 2D or 3D movies, then log in with your ID number or Reality membership number. Step 3: Choose the number of movie mobi codes you’d like to buy. For every code you buy, you will get another free. For 2D shows, you pay R30 for two codes; for 3D shows, you pay R60 for two codes. Step 4: Your movie mobi codes will then be sent to you by SMS. They are valid for two years. Step 5: Then, buy your Nu Metro tickets at the cinema counter, or go online at www.numetro.co.za to book your seats. When you get to the payment page on Nu Metro’s online booking system, insert your mobi codes into the ‘Mobi Tickets’ box. Step 6: Seats booked! Collect your tickets when you go to the cinema.
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