My weekends are spend here.......

Marakele Bush Camp


Here's a link to visuals from The Camp:
The Beauty Of Marakele

Waterberg Biosphere, Limpopo

Situated in the magnificent Waterberg Mountain Range of Limpopo, the Waterberg District is the ideal getaway where the weary traveller can relax and revel in the great natural beauty of the bushveld savannah and its rich wildlife heritage. The Waterberg Mountains stretch along more than 5 000 km² of spectacular vistas and scenic valleys - the ideal destination off the beaten tourism track. 

The Waterberg is steeped in a history and some artifacts found here date back to Stone Age times. The area is a mosaic of culture and tradition as is reflected by the different rural tribes such as the Bapedi, Tswana and Basotho, while the Voortrekkers also left their distinctive mark on the area. 

Commercial agriculture is an integral part of Limpopo, and cattle ranching and maize farming are regional institutions - the water-rich valleys of the Limpopo River on the Botswana border provide sweet bushveld grazing, while the plains of the Springbok Flats near the towns of Bela-Bela and Mokopane are covered with a colourful quilt of carefully cultivated fields of maize and sunflowers. Otherwise, the bushveld landscape, interspersed with sandstone buttresses and baobab, Marula and fever trees, supports a number of towns that make up one of the country's fastest-growing industrial and agricultural districts. The Waterberg is one of the most mineralised regions in the world and numerous towns form part of the Bushveld Igneous Complex - 50,000km² treasure trove yielding massive amounts of minerals such as vanadium, platinum, nickel and chromium. 

The Waterberg District offers the tourist a bit of both worlds - an infrastructure of excellent facilities and modern conveniences found in the many game reserves and conservation areas, coupled with the opportunity to experience the African wilderness in its pristine state.

THE WATERBERG

Game & Nature Reserves within the Waterberg Biosphere

Welgevonden Game Reserve

The Malaria free Welgevonden Game Reserve is situated just 2.5 hours north of Pretoria. Welgevonden Game Reserve is a declared Heritage Site of 33000 hectares and borders the Marekele National Park, situated in the breathtaking Waterberg Biosphere. A true bushveld environment is home to some of ...more information

Marakele National Park

The Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains has become a 'place of sanctuary' for a vast variety of wildlife mainly due to its location in the transitional zone between the dry western and moist eastern regions of South Africa. The Marakele National Park is characterised by ...more information

AND

• MARAKELE BUSH LODGE 

Big sky, big game...

Cupped in a giant curve of mountains at the highest point in the Waterberg, lies Marakele Mountain Lodge. Here the views are forever, and the local residents have made the most of the views too, with the largest Cape Griffon colony in the world gracing the cliffs.

The Bush Camp, Griffons at Marakele Lodge, is set in a fig and acacia forest on the slopes of the mountain, on over 1 000 hectares of Waterberg bushveld. Here visitors can enjoy many nature trails, from steep and demanding to leisurely and relaxing

Marakele Lodge is within Marakele National Park, which hosts the Africa’s Big Five game species. Marakele Lodge offers game walks and trails, and from the Griffons Bush Camp as a base, visitors have a choice of self-drive or guided game drives into Marakele National Park.

Marakele Bush Lodge

Pictures can tell a thousand words....

Some of my other favorite photos from the last 5 years:

Grabbed my soul – The story behind “Time into Stone”

Monday November 8, 2010

Have you ever met someone that grabbed your soul, (so to say). Without this person looking at you, without even saying a word and your complete strangers to each other. I have and will never forget this. It’s an undesirable feeling that can’t be explained in words.

It’s been over a year and it feels like it just happened. Walking into the store I never planned for this to happen. I was in a strange country, strange town, feeling out of place and not too well (developed a fever on the plane) so not looking to hot either.

I strolled into the section of the store, where he was going about, doing his work, doing what I think would be a normal day for him. As I looked up from the display area of sound gear, my eye caught this gorgeous man standing behind the counter.

For what felt like a lifetime, I stared at him; if anyone saw me they might have thought I was undressing him with my eyes. But I wasn’t, well not at this particular point….. I was just in awe of this gorgeous creature (for a lack of a better description). Amazingly build, he had style and class, and …… something I couldn’t put my finger on, something like a top secret special ingredient from a master chefs, world class, award winning dish.

Yes, I know, that sounds like I over exaggerating but that’s what I felt. I couldn’t take my eyes off him and investigated every part of him that was above the counter… His arms, lips, every inch, like a perfect sculpture.

I badly wanted him to look up, but the little voice in head shouted out: “NO, don’t look up!” Knowing myself, and how I get around gorgeous creatures like this, it would be better, for everyone, even the other costumers, if our eyes didn’t meet. I usually turn into a babbling buffoon and a complete klutz.

That thought haven’t even turned the corner in some part of my brain, when he looked up. I thought I was going to faint, hurl or something embarrassing or silly like that…. Well that didn’t happen – luckily.

“Okay, stay calm, glance now and again, but never ever say anything, don’t open your mouth. Rather pretend you don’t understand English, speak your mother tongue, throw in some African languages, you can’t make a complete idiot out of yourself if he doesn’t understand you…” Bad idea, I couldn’t even remember my name let alone other languages.

His voice, intriguing, sensitive yet strong, so amazing. It conjured up thoughts and feelings I get when I hear the voice of a certain Muso, I have a mammoth crush on. I think my heart skipped a couple of beats; I might have even turned blue, forgetting to breath. Then I had to go and open my mouth,,,, oh so painful.

I didn’t sound like myself, my Afrikaans-English accent sounded like a fake British one, and my pronunciation of basic English words were like those of individuals learning to speak the global language. I must have gone from blue (forgetting to breath) to bright red…..

For a couple of days I felt like an idiot (benêt), and I didn’t even get his name. The questions now were: Should I try and find him, wait for him to find me, would he try to find me, did I leave an impression worth finding? The answer to the last question was a definite NO, not after my fumbling and embarrassing word act or lack thereof.

So I took a change, I humongous change, doing something I would never have done or even contemplated to do. I tried to find him again. Easy you say, not really. With very little info, no receipt with reference numbers, I could call the store. What would I have asked for? “Hi, I’m looking for a hot,,, uhm no gorgeous,, not attractive guy that works there, well his tall dark and extremely handsome…”?  Not going to work, I’ve seen the guys from that particular city and most of them match that description.

So I turned to the social networks, asking around, giving that exact description and sounding like a smitten teenage girl, embarrassing,,,, YIP. But I didn’t manage to get hold of a guy willing to go around the store, asking around,,,, a couple of weeks later he informed me that he might know who I looking for.  Success at last. And it was the correct gorgeous angel.

This angel turned out to be a true angel, talented, really astonishing, incredible and fantastic.  We still communicate via email but I would give anything to go back and see him face to face. This is the story behind the poem I wrote “Time Into Stone”.

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Time into Stone By Thelma Roos

I can’t believe it’s been this long

Since the day, the day you turned time into stone

A second felt like an eternity

I knew it couldn’t last forever

But the look in your eyes had me hypnotized

And the feelings it evoked had me mesmerized

I wonder if I ever cross your mind as often

As you’ve been on mine

Or are living the same way

The same way as before that day

I still imagine how it could have been

If I didn’t turn around to leave

That day, the day you turned time into stone

And I didn’t feel so alone

It’s been too long since I last heard from you

I guess you have your own life to live too

And there’s nothing I can do

Time can never mend the words that weren’t spoken

The moment that passed

I try to go back and make it last

Like that day, the day you turned time into stone

He's just not that into you ..... the ugly truth!

by Thelma Roos on Monday, October 11, 2010 at 2:23pm

Some memorable quotes from both the movies and from the book (He's Just Not That Into You (quotes from the book))

I'm not a fan of romance and comedy movies BUT I can truly relate to both these movies:

I've recently watched both these movies again.... (NO BLOODY idea why *still kicking myself*) but I did and I thought YIP both these movies are spot on!

Cut your losses and don't waste your time . Why stay in some weird dating limbo when you can move on to what will surely be better territory? Don't want to hear it? Fine. Here's the answer you're looking for, "Hang in there, baby. He's not the loser everybody's telling you he is. If you wait and keep your mouth shut and call at exactly the right time and anticipate his moods and have no expectations about communication or your own sexual needs, you can have him!" But please don't be surprised if he dumps you or continues to drag you through a completely unsatisfying relationship.

He is a man made up entirely of your excuses. And the minute you stop making excuses for him, he will completely disappear from your life.

"'Men, for the most part, like to pursue women.

We (men) like not knowing if we can catch you.

We feel rewarded when we do.""

Don't let the "honeys" and the "babys" fool you.

His sweet nothings are exactly that.

They are much easier to say than "I'm just not that into you."

Remember, actions speak louder than,

"There's no cell reception where I am right now."  (THE MOST FAMOUS ONE!!)

Calling when you say you're going to call is the very first brick in the house you are building of love and trust.

If he can't lay this one stupid brick down, you ain't never gonna have a house, baby. And it's cold outside.

(Oh did that French dude love to pull this one,,,,, said he'd call to make arrangements for a romantic night out.... YEAH right he'll call a week later apologizing for showing up ~ always some excuse ~ HEY DUDE the NOT showing up was REALLY bad but the NOT-CALLING ~ that's F@&*ing weak!)

He will always be able to play the "friend" card on you. He only has to be responsible for the expectations of a friend, rather than the the far greater expectations of a boyfriend. He's got the ultimate situation: a great friend with all the benefits of a girlfriend, whom he can see or not see whenever he wants to. He may be one of your closest friends, but I'm sorry to say ... as a boyfriend, he's just not that into you.

(Like the freaking IRISH guy .... what an ass!! with his "I can only make Thursdays all us buddies can hangout like the friends we are" blah blah "SPLUT!" in your face a@ssH0lE)

I don't want to be "sort of dating" someone. I don't want to be "kinda hanging out" with someone. I don't want to spend a lot of energy suppressing my feelings so I appear uninvolved. I want to be involved. I want to be sleeping with someone I know I'll see again because they've already demonstrated to me that they're trustworthy and honorable -- and into me.

Don't be flattered that he misses you.

He should miss you.

You're deeply missable.

However, he's still the same person who just broke up with you.

Remember, the only reason he can miss you is because he's choosing, every day, not to be with you.

(in this case the man that chose another women to be with "....till death do us part..." and now keeps missing me... BS man you had your chance!!)

It's very tempting when you really want to be with someone to settle for much, much less -- even a vague pathetic facsimile of less -- than you would have ever imagined.

Remember always what you set out to get and please don't settle for less.

These guys exist because there are a lot of women out there who allow them to.

Hey girl. Put down the _____, put your clothes back on, and go directly to your best friend's house.

Do not find an excuse to stay.

Do not think that because of all the crazy hotness of it all, it now means that you're meant to be together.

Yes, break up sex does seem like a good idea, because hey, it's nice to have sex with someone you have these dramatic feelings about. It makes it all, well, dramatic.

But now you know.

It confuses everything and makes you separate sex and emotions.

So now you don't ever have to make that mistake again.

Got it?

He's into the very-bad-idea-that-masquerades-as-a-good-idea, breakup sex.

Over and out.

He's sniffing for something better, and when he doesn't find it, he gets lonely and comes "home."

It's not that he's so into you.

It's that he's so not into being alone.

Don't give him the chance to break up with you for the fourth time.

(Even the idea of it sounds beneath you, doesn't it?)

Reset your breakup maximum to one and move on.

Cut him off. Let him miss you.

He doesn't need to be reminded that your great.

There's a guy out there who's going to be really happy that you didn't get back together with your crappy ex-boyfriend.

No matter how powerful and real your feelings may be for someone, if that person cannot fully and honestly return them and therefore actively love you back, these feelings mean nothing.

Being lonely ... being alone ... for many people ... sucks.

I get it, I get it, I get it.

But still I have to say that yes, my belief is that being with somebody who makes you feel shitty or doesn't honor the person you are is worse.

Life is hard enough as it is without choosing someone difficult to share it with. ~ Source SLP Girl

Since the release of the comedy 'The Ugly Truth' the male-female intimate relationship structures are again under observation. Even though it is a comedy revisiting the old and well-known cliche of male and female differences it still leaves couples and singles going home and re-thinking the gender differences.

Here are the film's quotes: The Ugly Truth about Men:

1. Stop trying to win a man's heart. Aim lower.

2. Men are visual creatures.

3. If you want a relationship, here is how you get one: It's called a Stair-master.

4. Laugh at whatever a man says.

5. No man is saying 'I love you' without expecting something in return. And by something, it's not a home-cooked meal.

6. Women, you have to be two people in order to lure your man: the saint and the sinner, the librarian and the stripper.

Let's have a look at the truth behind some of the points mentioned above:

It is known that 'men feel love when they are being intimate and women are ready to be intimate when they feel loved'. In a study of more than 100 couples this statement was agreed upon in 100% of the cases. One of the main points of challenges in the relationship between the genders is that both sides expect the other to play on their turf (point no 1 and 4) and speak their language.

It is proven that men are stimulated by visual input (point no 2). How else would the 'magazines for men' industry make millions of dollars every year? This leads us into the area of exercise (point no 3). It is a fact that men and women put more effort into exercise and being fit when summer is on our door step. So really, who are they shaping up for, themselves or the opposite sex? And yes, women also prefer a six pack to a beer belly...

Men and women are equally looking for affirmation. Laughing at whatever the man says has more to do with being in rapport with each other than anything else (point 4). Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group, in this case the couple - it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. Isn't that what we want with our mate?

And what about point no 6? Well I guess you have to find out for yourself...

Source: Ezine @rticle ~ Nathalie Himmelrich

Top 10 of the most popular ‘Ugly Truths’ (as voted by the public on Sony Pictures website to the film)

1. You can’t make someone fall in love with you.

2. Sometimes you can’t tell the difference between Mr. Right and Mr. Right-Now until it is too late.

3. Both men and women can act like children.

4. Men should not wear spandex. Anywhere. Ever.

5. Changing your relationship status more than once a week is not a good sign.

6. No matter how much we talk, you’ll just never get what its like to be a women.

7. She does look at other men.

8. No matter how hot she looks now, her “assets” will eventually fall victim to gravity.

9. Your parents had sex at least once, or you wouldn’t be reading this.

10. She’s faking it to make you feel better.

Well, that's some part of this topic.... I know this can go on and on and on ~ but I actually have some work to do!

And I bet there are millions if not billions of girls, ladies and women out there that knows this or parts of this by heart...... so this will continue just remember:~ The ugly truth is you can’t make someone fall in love with you.

""But "Emotion" could just be a word that people made up for us to seem more civilized than animals and instincts... Its all how you look at it... Just like you can attach the word emotion to what could probably just be an animal instinct..""

Some USELESS emotions: (my opinion) 

HATE

ANGER

JEALOUSY

FEAR

LONELINESS

EMBARRASSMENT 

LOVE