The warm days are dwindling to an end and we are grabbing every opportunity to get into the sun. So last weekend, we decided to check out the Bird Gardens at the Montecasino. I had shared earlier on how much I like the Montecasino. It’s a huge casino-hotel-entertainment centre that is so grand in its structure and set up that it hovers on being pretentious and lame.

I know people who think it’s an extravagant monstrosity, but I love the cheesy fake Parisian streets of restaurants and that discotheque of a bowling centre. And now we discover that they have a BIRD GARDEN too!

What kind of a entertainment centre would have an aviary that boasts to have more than 60 species of birds. Plus reptiles and small mammals? This, I definitely had to see.

Like everything else in Montecasino, it was an impressive set up of sanctuaries for some of the prettiest birds in the world. The birds were kept in well organised spaces and there was plenty of information for visitors to learn about them.

It was no Singapore Jurong Bird Park, which remains at the top of the pedestal for me as the best bird park in the world. But it was a fun place to spend an afternoon. Especially when you can talk to the birds, feed and play with them.

The hubby has a chat with a hornbill

We tried to feed some birds but I was a scaredy cat. As soon as one of them landed on my shoulder to reach for the food in my hands, I shrieked, jumped and spilled all the food on the floor. =(

Yes, I had neon yellow nails. I’m having a mid life crisis. Notice my nails in past photos. Last week was orange, the week before was lime green. I’m thinking neon pink next week.

Back to the birds, the hubby was much more successful in getting them to sit quietly on him. He’s got this calming disposition that I love.

The gardens was a lovely place to have a stroll in. When it’s bright and sunny, but the air is cool and crisp, it really is wonderful being outdoors in Johannesburg.

There was a small amphitheatre where birdshows were held two or three times a day and it was a weak effort to show what some of the birds can do. I say weak, because most of the birds didn’t cooperate very well with the trainer. The hubby teased that that’s why there’s the term “bird brain”. All except for the crow, who was trained to pick up trash to teach the kids about protection of the environment and it did that superbly.

The bird gardens had a small but very interesting section of reptiles and small mammals. I didn’t really bother with those since I was really there to see the birds. But we did see a sloth for the first time in our lives. It looked like the cuddliest thing ever. I couldn’t get a picture of it because it was hiding in a corner but it had the cutest face. I would go back to the bird gardens just to see the sloth again. =)

We love the sun!

The Montecasino Bird Gardens is located at Cnr William Nicol Drive & Montecasino Boulevard, Fourways, Johannesburg. It operates daily 8.30am to 5pm and tickets are R48 (adult) and R27 (child).

I wish I was a more arty person. I like fashion, music and dance, but I have no real appreciation for arts and crafts stuff. The closest form of art that I enjoy is probably photography. Even with that, it’s all about documenting memories with photography for me, rather than creating art with it.

So when my friend Stella asked if I would go to the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) with her, I agreed to go only because I have never seen the JAG building and have always been curious about it. I wasn’t jumping up and down at the prospect of meeting a famous artist or viewing some great African art. Stella was the real appreciator of the arts. I was the fraud that just tagged along for some photography practice.

The JAG was located in Downtown Joburg. Most foreigners hesitate to go into that part of the city because it’s a fiercer and rougher area. It’s one of those places where two Asian girls walking around would definitely get heaps of attention. Even if I walk around purposefully, the stares that I would get still makes me nervous. In spite of that, I find myself venturing into this part of Joburg time and time again. Because some of the gems of this city are located here. And the JAG was certainly one of them.

It was a gorgeous building.

The spaces were pretty large and the curators had done an excellent job with the display of pieces. It was simple, striking and thought provoking.

I liked that there was alot of local African work in the collection. From local sketch and print impressions and sculptures, to children’s handicraft, woodcraft and beadwork, it was a stunning exhibition of the African talents.

The highlight of the day was having the opportunity to meet and listen to a famous local artist – William Kentridge.

I did not know who he was.. yes, I really am not arty like that.. but his works were apparently of international standard and can be found in the big places like The Louvre in Paris and the Met Museum in New York City. And it was obvious that he was famous. The audience held on to his every word.

I have to be honest and admit that my brain could not follow most of the stuff he was saying. #hopeless

Sitting among the audience, my mind drifted and I suddenly remembered that I used to go to the National Museum Art Gallery in Singapore by myself when I was younger. Every time I had a hard day in school, I would take a bus to the Art Gallery and take a slow quiet walk alone in the various chambers that held some really precious art. There was probably some Monet or Van Gogh on the walls. But I never noticed and definitely cannot remember. What I do remember was that walking in an art gallery always brought me a sense of peace and calm, and made me feel better. Perhaps that’s what art does for the people who really appreciate it.

Here’s a selection of shots from the museum. Click on the thumbnails to view.

         

         

         

         

         

         

The Johannesburg Art Gallery is located at King George Street, Joubert Park, Johannesburg. Opening hours are Tue-Sun, 10am-5pm (Closed on 25 & 26 Dec). Entrance is free.

This post is long overdue. It’s been some time since we made this trip.

But I’ve been feeling really lethargic about blogging. I know people get writer’s block or blogger’s block, but it wasn’t a state of brain stall for me. I just didn’t have the mood to blog. In fact, I didn’t have the mood to spend time in front of my computer in the past few days. I haven’t blogged, haven’t processed photos and haven’t replied to a ton of emails. Horrors! What’s happening to me?

Perhaps it’s because the hubby had gone away for a week and I had played real hard (while the cat was away). Heh heh. So I’m both exhausted and grateful that he’s back and we’ve been spending time catching up.

This was shot in March when we took a road trip to Heidelberg, a small town about an hour’s drive from Johannesburg. I love going places with the hubby, and his companionship is one of my greatest blessings in my life. I love being able to share so much together.

Heidelberg’s a small cultural and historical gem. The first thing I noticed about it was how the houses and buildings were gorgeous, and did not have the usual electric fencing and barb wires like the properties in Johannesburg. I guess once you are out of the city, it’s more laid back and crime is not as rampant.

It was a rather old-fashioned quaint town. Much of the street signs, notices and building names and information were in the Afrikaan language. And many of the buildings have kept their original charm.

I’m not a big fan of old towns and heritage centres. But we saw lots of interesting things in the morning in Heidelberg. The place was full of fascinating attractions like an old jail, churches, monuments, military shell holes and a concentration camp cemetery.

I took Tomo with us this time and left Thando at home. It turned out that he was very comfortable, looking all pale and scary in a cemetery. Haha..

Day trips are really fun because we see a side of South Africa that is not often written about in the usual media channels. It’s a calm, quiet and thoughtful side of South Africa that I had liked seeing.

Here’s a selection of shots taken that day. Click on the thumbnails to view them.