SOAKING in the sheer natural beauty of Cape Town brings to mind Salman Rushdie's reminder about the salutary lesson of human smallness.
The truly majestic Table Mountain range overlooks the entire city, making for tremendous tableaus. You can take a 360-degree rotating cable car up from the lower cable station to the plateau at the top. If you're more adventurous, you can avoid the throngs of tourists and hike up tracks.
On a clear day, the top of the entire range is visible.
And when the Table Cloth - the phenomena of clouds forming over the mountain range - drapes itself over the range, that is an equally beautiful sight to behold.
Once you get up there, several lookout points enable you to see, on a perfectly clear day, the Devil's Peak, Lion's Head, Signal Hill and all the way to the Cape of Good Hope. Tread with caution, as barriers have not been installed all around.
MUST SEE: Take a cruise from the Historic Clock Tower to Robben Island, which was once used as a political prison.
The Cape Peninsula is so jaw-droppingly beautiful, the impressionist in me yearned to pick up a brush and paint the scenery.
It is a glittering necklace studded with the multifarious gems of turquoise and sapphire waters and emerald greenery under the brilliant topaz sun.
The Cape Point (the southern-most point of the African continent) and Cape Peninsula are best explored by a road trip. The Chapman's Peak Drive has to be one of the world's most scenic drives and, in my mind, even surpasses the Great Ocean Road in Australia.
Naturally, there are plenty of possibilities for tourists along the vast peninsula.
You can spend hours watching the African penguins cavorting on the beaches and frolicking in the waters of Boulders Bay.
The beaches of Clifton are a must-stop for sunbathers and to hob-nob with the young, jet-setter crowd. Weather permitting, you can get a bird's eye view of Cape Town by paragliding, especially from the Lion's Head, over the city. The Cape of Good
Hope is a site littered with the wrecks of ships and sailors' dreams due to the treacherous waters found there.
Back on terra firma, check out the Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront which is abuzz with tourists and locals. Restored Colonial-era buildings house numerous restaurants, pubs and bars with a smorgasbord of cuisines.
There are also souvenir shops selling African curios and artworks, running the gamut from those employing ancient techniques and materials such as tribal beadwork and embroidery to those with a contemporary touch such as brightly and innovatively painted ostrich eggs. You can also soak in the music of street musicians and troubadours alike performing African jazz, guitar, marimba, drums, a cappella and everything in between along the boulevards of the V&A Waterfront.
Cape Town residents would be apt as models in a United Colors of Benetton advertisement, the ethnicity of residents being very diverse and often indistinguishable.
MUST SEE: Watch the African penguins at Boulders Bay.
Little wonder then that 12 major languages are spoken here. While rooiboos (Afrikaans for red bush) tea and pap (a traditional porridge) are of local origin, Malva pudding and boerewors (barbecued sausage) are of Dutch origin. Samoosa and achar are of Indian origin while bobotie (a meat pie) is of Malay origin.
South African cuisine consists of various indigenous African as well as Afrikaans, Indian and Cape Malay dishes introduced by early migrants. The sub-cuisines influenced one another and also evolved from the original cuisine according to the availability of ingredients and the local palate.
An integral part of South Africa's long walk to freedom from the apartheid regime can be observed at the Robben Island Museum, located behind the Historic Clock Tower. A cruise from here takes one to Robben Island, a World Heritage Site given its historical significance.
The scenic ferry ride from the Clock Tower belies the grim and tumultuous history of Robben Island, which was used as a leper colony, a military base and finally a political prison.
The first part of the tour involves taking a bus ride around the island, learning about its three stages of history and witnessing the unique animals found there, such as the black African oystercatcher. Our tour guide regaled us with interesting anecdotes and displayed a sharp sense of humour, sarcastically thanking the British and Dutch for their past contributions repeatedly.
You also learn that the mines here served as the Republic's first unofficial parliament and that the crux of the constitution was unofficially drafted here.
The second part of the tour involves the more moving prison segment, conducted by an ex-political prisoner, and includes the cell in which Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. So many years on, the demons of the past have not been fully exorcised yet and as the guide vividly recounts details of daily prison life, one can feel the immediacy of pain.
TOP OF THE WORLD: Get up close and personal with Table Mountain by scaling its sandstone face with the city at your feet.
Another World Heritage Site not to be missed in Cape Town is the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Indigenous Fynbos flora (many species are unique to this part of the world) and cultivated areas make up the gardens which are nestled at the foot of the Table Mountain, making it a lovely picnic spot straight out of a story book.
The Mediterranean weather of Cape Town and abundant European architecture make it easy to forget one is in the traditionally hot continent of Africa. When you're done with all the thrill-seeking and sightseeing, drive out to African restaurant Moyo, located in the Spier Wine Estate. An authentic African village setting, the energetic traditional song and dance performances and a vast buffet spread make for a perfect traditional evening.
Pick a wine from the delectable selection of South African wines to accompany your meal.
South African wines have a long history and are said to have touched the lips of Emperor Napoleon of France.
Then sit back, savour the flavours and enjoy the magic of Cape Town.
5 things to do
1 Do rent a car and drive out of Cape Town along the picturesque Garden Route, making stops at Stellenbosch for wine tasting, Oudtshoorn, the unofficial ostrich capital of the world, and the Cango Caves.
2 Do try shark-cage diving in Cape Town if you're an adrenaline junkie. The less intrepid can content themselves with viewing the sharks from the boats.
3 Do try the Amarula Cream liqueur, made from an indigenous fruit called marula, which has a smooth and creamy finish reminiscent of Irish cream liqueur.
4 Do use budget airlines such as Kulula, Mango and 1time to fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg, Durban or Nelspruit (for trips to the Kruger National Park). South Africa is a huge country and distances are significant.
5 Do visit the Iziko museums to learn more about the African heritage of Cape Town.
2 don'ts
1 Don't take a taxi from an unlicensed operator or walk around alone, as crime, albeit exaggerated, is a concern
once it gets dark.
2 Don't use dubious tour operators, especially for adventure activities. Check the official accreditation for safety reasons.
This article was first published in Life!, The Straits Times on April 22, 2008.
