Thoughts on Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town

This came a little too late but I was reminded of my trip to Cape Town in March 2011 once again. It was all thanks to a school tutor, Ms S Goh’s e-mail invitation that was sent from Singapore to Seychelles (virtually) that made us all itching to go then.

Ever since we stepped foot into Seychelles, we were all hyped up about travelling to the different parts of the world. And there came the chance by Spotlight Singapore which after months of efforts, they were more than happy to announce the arrival of Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town.

Just a few months ago, I did a presentation to the new bunch of freshies at Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Business, to share with them of the student learning opportunities that they have been offering me. At the School of Business, I have had the opportunity to visit educational institutions and diploma specific sites of interest. In addition, I did not hesitate to apply for the Overseas Internship Programme that thankfully gave me the best times of my polytechnic life in Seychelles. It was where I was nurtured into a more independent and global individual. And in the recent years, they have been introducing overseas educational trips for students to embark on to interact with the locals and exactly feature how learning outside of classrooms mean!

I remember I was still sharing with the freshies about Spotlight Singapore being an international exchange programme, and how it has gone a reasonably long way from Hong Kong, Tokyo, Moscow and to Cape Town this year. In 2012, they are even intending to go to… (inserts destinations in) destinations that are so so so exotic and totally making me drool. Though Spotlight Singapore initially started out as a cultural and economic gateway to new and emerging markets overseas, this time round for the one I’ve been involved in, the learning component was included.

Never have I imagined myself stepping foot into Cape Town yet because like I’ve always said, how I’ve not even finished venturing my own region – Asia. But it was really nice, first for OSIP in Seychelles made me even more interested in the African culture. Now Cape Town, that chance was right in front of me then!

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The Vibrant & Colourful Cape Town

I love how the colours turned out so intense, so vibrant, totally showcasing Cape Town in its best and most genuine. Looking at the photos… I want to be back in Cape Town so badly. And also Johannesburg and many other parts in South Africa. Okay… I need to take it slow take it slow take it slow, it’s time for the Europe region first!

Anyway, seems like I’ve yet to include the pixels and grains of Cape Town:

Castle of Good Hope

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CPT #7 – Table Mountain, Robben Island, Pepper Club

Table Mountain, we’re finally standing on top of you instead of looking at you from afar!

That’s the rotating cable car that we had to take in order to go all the way up to Table Mountain. Not “had to take”, it’s actually “could take” because there are some other tourists who decided to be more adventurous, test their stamina and skills by climbing/hiking up! Kudos to them for having the determination, and of course because they had sufficient time to do so!

Like I said, it’s rotating which means it doesn’t exactly matter where you stand because eventually you’d get to see that beautiful view your friend could see on the other side of the cable car! Just a pity that the windows were a little too dirty and scratched, not quite for the camera to take photos through them.

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CPT #6 – Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, Boulders Beach, The Alphen

Today’s the day I took the most number of photos in a day, almost near to a 660 photos. I barely had the time to really take what I presume are the good photographs, because most of the time what I did was to quickly snap a few photos, sometimes of the same scenery at different angles (more of the sky, less of the sea, more of the mountains, less of the land) just in case I return to Singapore regretting “Why didn’t I take that angle? Might be nicer!”.

On the 16th, it’s also the day where we really ventured to slightly further, out of the City of Cape Town to the following attractions (let’s hope I get them right!):

As I was wondering where we’d be going…

They suddenly reminded me and I was all hyped up and happy!

A group shot of us at the lobby before we head out for more fun in Cape Town!!!

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CPT #5 – Cape Town Civic Center, WESGRO, Artscape

A day of business networking sessions and cocktails, prepared for our Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town Business Tourism Plan Competition and in awe at “Selamat” theatre piece at Artscape…

The morning began with stepping foot into the Cape Town Civic Center for the opening ceremony of Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town.

To be greeted with a networking cocktail going on, it was a little awkward for us students to begin with because apparently we’re here with not a major aim or purpose unlike the business delegates whom see the need in networking, possibly meeting new people to embark together on their common goals and objectives to make things happen. It was nice to share with some others at the networking cocktail about what we’re here for also.

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CPT #4 – Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

On the fourth day, we had the chance to visit the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront which is Cape Town’s working harbour, also South Africa’s most visited destination with the highest rate of foreign tourists of any attraction in the country. It’s actually located between Robben Island and Table Mountain, so you’ve got both the mountan and the sea view. A place offering a variety of shopping, entertainment and f&b options – at the same time with accommodation such as hotels and apartments in this residential marina.

This is the blue bridge that allows us to cross to the other side. At the same time, the bridge will be up when boats/ships need to cross over, down for pedestrians to go over the other side safely.

Here’s the view of the V&A Waterfront.

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CPT #3 – Guguletu, Hilton Schilder, Red Bus City Tour, Trinity

These are the instaxes I took on Day 1 of the trip! They look quite awesome, but the challenge was to avoid that glaring sun which seemed to follow me wherever I go in Cape Town, I could barely take any instaxes (but I did) despite knowing the risk of it being overexposed. I just couldn’t imagine myself returning to Singapore without any instaxes from the last few days of this wonderful trip in Cape Town!

Where were we off to that made me so excited the night before?! It’s Guguletu!

Organised by Coffee Beans Routes, whom create contemporary, urban, African experiences that provide travellers deep insights into the places they choose to visit.

Gugulethu is a township 15 kilometres away from the city of Cape Town. Maybe a little history with the help of Wikipedia, Guguletu was established in 1960s and it was the only black residential area which was also why we were introduced to Guguletu as the black township. Black South Africans were not permitted to live in the city of Cape Town, so suburbs like Guguletu and many others were where they were removed to unfortunately.

We were then welcomed by a group of musicians upon entering the house. We were then invited to take a seat and appreciate the music they kindly performed for us. More of the Marimba genre, a group of very passionate musicians who took up this as a community project – sharing their passion for music with kids and fellow neighbours.

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CPT #2 – University of Cape Town, Cape Town Stadium, Century City

It was my first time bringing more than 2 pairs of footwear overseas and here we have our shoes all lined up neatly near the entrance of the apartment suite.

We started laying out our toiletries in the bathroom, opened up our luggage and placed our clothes in the wardrobe, ready to live in this comfortable hole for the next 7 days to come!

And yes, this is my room mate for the 8 days in Cape Town – Trishy whom I shared the queen bed with, sometimes we take a little more than 1/2 of the quilt that is supposed to be fairly ‘divided’, we can’t be quite bothered about who snored louder because we were too zonked out by the end of the day.

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CPT #1 – Castle of Good Hope, South African Museum, Art Museum

The group of us going to Cape Town under the learning component of Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town as students, now that has kept us hyped up for it since months ago! Finally we have…

SQ478 to Cape Town via Johannesburg at 02:30 Hrs on 13 March 2011 (Sunday)

A 13 hour flight, we’re still on our way to Cape Town via Johannesburg….

I never requested for a seat next to the wing, I never did but I always get it anyway. Next time I take the plane, please remind myself to request for window seat and not next to the wing!