Holiday Express - Experience

A few weeks back I was invited along with a group of other media personnel to experience the Holiday Express train. As stated in my initial blog post, there is a certain stigma that is associated with using Public Transport in South Africa, there is a general fear of using it and the number one factor is safety. I guess this is one of the reasons we were invited to experience the Holiday Express, to help alleviate this fear from many by telling you about our journey. There were two options available for the weekend, Saturday's trip was a journey to Shongweni where you would visit the farmers market or on the Sunday was a trip to Scottburgh to enjoy the sea side. I opted for the Shongweni Journey as I always wanted to go to the Farmers Market after hearing rave reviews about it. 

I took my mom along with me, as she would love the Farmers Market in Shongweni but also as a child she used to travel by train quite a lot going from Durban back home to her family in the Northern Cape. We both were equally excited for the journey that lay ahead. Upon arrival at Durban Station, we were greeted by our friendly host, the Business Class lounge at the Station serves as a waiting area till you depart on the train. There were beverages and snacks available for purchase as well as tokens that you could use on board the train. Just before 8am we made our way down to the platform to board the KZN Business Express coaches. The coaches are very different from the normal ones, with large cushion seats which can recline, have arm rests and have fold up tray tables in front of you. It was my first trip in Durban on a train so I was looking forward to viewing the city from the rail way tracks. 

The route is slightly different from the main line as it meanders it's way through the city, going through the Jacobs area before turning up towards Queensburgh and Shallcross. Making its way through Marian Hill before reaching Shongweni. During the ride, I took time to explore the other coaches, and I was surprised to find one coach having a bar with light refreshments and snacks, and further back another coach with a full size board room table and kitchen where hot refreshments were served. Along the route there were many tunnels which the train went through, which we all loved going from daylight to darkness and daylight again. The train also makes a stop just before Shongweni to view a waterfall which is only accessible via rail. Even though the total time of the journey took one and half hours, one doesn't really feel it that long with so much to see along the way. 

Once we reached Shongweni Station, it was time to disembark and board the buses that were waiting for us. A short 5 minute drive and we were at our destination, the Shongweni Farmers Market. The market was a buzz of activity, with stalls selling everything and anything, from plants, to fresh produce, crafts and not forgetting, plenty of food! Most of us had built up and appetite by now but were spoilt for choice at the selection on offer. Everything is fresh, tasty and smelt delicious, it's a pity our stomachs could handle only a certain amount of food as I'm sure I speak for all when I say we would have loved to try everything on sale! With the market closing at 12 o clock, we had to be back on the bus by 11.30am, which was ample time for us to enjoy the markets sights and scenes. Once back at the station it was time to make our way back home. 

The journey back, even though using the same route proved to be equally exciting, as you were heading in the opposite direction and gave you saw things that you didn't see on the way there. Once safely back at the station, I asked some of the other travelers what they had though about the experience. Many said that they had booked it mainly for their kids but didn't anticipate themselves having so much of fun as well. It really is a wonderful way to explore and experience this magnificent province and no matter which destination or trip you chose, it's bound to be an out of the ordinary experience for the entire family. The next trips are planned for the 30th of September to the Shogweni Farmers Market and the 1st of the October to Socttburgh. For more information, visit the website www.theholidayexpress.co.za or to book, email info@theholidayexpress.co.za

Peacanwood Oktoberfest 2016

Beer fest's come and beer fest's go but majority of them are generally the same apart from one. What makes the Peacanwood Oktoberfest so great that about from a vast variety of beers for guest to enjoy the festival offers so much more that it's better known as a sport and lifestyle festival. Boasting visitors from around the country, Peaconwood Oktoberfest had over 6000 visitors at last years event and expect the crowds to be even larger this year. It has been voted SA's number one Sport and Lifestyle festival and KZN's biggest beer fest by far. 

Set in the tranquil KZN Midlands, just an hour outside Durban and 15 minutes outside Pietermaritzberg, Peacanwood offers it's visitors a unique getaway.  Taking place between 29-30 October, this years  theme being #chooseyouradventure the festival offers a wide array of outdoor activities featuring some extreme and popular sports of which include a 7/14KM trail run, 4x4 technical challenge, Enduro X, and the extremely popular MTB trails. 

Organizers have went out of their way to ensure that the mountain bike race is more of an experience to the participant. With carefully designed courses for all skill sets, the race can be done by race snakes as well as the weekend warrior. The variety of courses include single tracks, valleys, forests and escarpments set int he breath taking surroundings of the KZN Midlands each with their own unique challenges for both the novice and experienced rider.

For those runners who are tired of the same old trails, they need not worry as organisers have spent the last year designing and setting trail run courses that wil be that one course that sticks out heads above the rest for its originality, diversity and un spoilt routes as some of its trails have never been run before. 

Moving onto the main attraction of the festival, the beer! Holding the title as KZN's biggest beer fest, the festival has a lot to live up to and this year the Peaconwood Oktoberfest boast a vast selection of beers from around the country, along with Wine and Coffee Tasting Tent which features coffees from around the world. And to add to the excitement, the Oktoberfest girls will be on duty to make sure your glass never stays empty for too long.  

The #chooseyouradventure them continues with fans choosing which of SA's top bands they would like to see perform at the festival. This years acts as voted by the the public include, Francois Van Coke, Short Straw, Crash Car Burn, Gus Brown, Chico Muyo, Ryan Stylz, Rowan Stuart and many more. This will be Short Straws and Francois van Cokes last performance in KZN for 2016. 

Thinking of making the Peaconwood Oktoberfest a weekend away? Why not? You can bring your own tent and camp for free or book a place in the tended camps on offer from Tent Nation. Past visitors to the festival know why it's one of the most attended festivals in the country and which see's people from every province making their way to KZN for it. For the first timers, you will soon find out what makes this one so special. Early bird tickets are available for sale now from their website: www.peaconwoodoktoberfest.com

We will be running a competition in the coming weeks for you to win tickets to the Peaconwood Oktoberfest Sports and Lifestyle Festival so be sure to stay tuned to win!