the new petro power paradigm - Diplomat Magazine

DELIGHTS|DESTINATIONS
horse-riding and fishing. The Middleveld
region has an area inhabited by the Ndebele
people, notable for their traditional
costumes and the precise geometric patterns
that decorate their homes.
Northern Cape
Apart from being the Diamond Capital,
the Northern Cape is famous for Kimberley,
its stunning scenery, pristine air and
history-changing diamond mine.
Digging commenced at Kimberley mine
site in 1871 and continued until August
14, 1914. The mine has yielded 2,722 kilograms
of diamonds, extracted from 22.5
million tons of excavated earth. Today,
what remains is a massive crater, 214 meters
deep, with a surface area of 17 hectares
and a perimeter of 1.6 kilometres. It is
surrounded by original buildings from the
heyday of the mine, relocated from earlier
sites to form an unforgettable open-air
visitor experience. Recently upgraded, the
Big Hole offers three experiences.
In the Underground Mine Experience,
visitors enter a re-creation of a historic
mine shaft to experience the perilous 19th-
Century mining conditions. A fascinating
15-minute film introduces visitors to the
story of diamonds at Kimberley. The Real
The Hole-in-the-Wall at Coffee Bay is an
intriguing landmark formed by millennia
of constant erosion.
Diamond Display, which is housed in a
vault, features the famous “616,” the largest
uncut diamond in the world, and the
“Eureka,” the first diamond discovered in
South Africa.
A Zulu love letter from South Africa
Just as different kinds of flowers and
colours symbolize and express different
emotions, beads in South Africa, particularly
among the Zulu-speaking people,
hold a sophisticated code about the giver’s
Rodger Bosch/MediaClubSouthAfrica.com
feeling toward the recipient.
The Zulu Love Letter — incwadi yothando
ucu or ubhala abuyise — means
“one writes in order that the other should
reply.” Its symbolic message is associated
with certain types of beaded necklaces.
Love among the Zulu people was a very
private matter. A traditional woman
would never say “Yes, I love you” because
love must always be kept secret. Love
messages are transmitted in a discreet
manner, through beads.
Traditional Zulu women may write a
letter made from beads to pass the message.
For example, by using white beads,
a woman might say “Whenever I see you,
my heart goes white as the milk of cattle
when they are milked in the morning,” or
“My heart goes white as the goat’s milk.”
My Zulu Love Letter to you is written
with ruby beads. It says: Travel to South
Africa is more than visiting places of interest;
it is a profound, life-changing experience
that is deep and enduring.
South Africa: Where you leave ordinary
behind.
Mohau Pheko is South Africa’s high commissioner
to Canada. Reach her at (613)
744-0330 or rsafrica@southafrica-canada.ca.
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FALL 2011 | OCT-NOV-DEC