Since coming to live on the South Coast, land of sunshine and endless beaches, we have enjoyed the early morning reveal that the rising sun presents.
We are fortunate in that although we do not have an unobstructed view of the sea, because we have a view over the tree canopy, we see the sun after it has risen some distance above the horizon.
Unfortunately, by then the morning clouds have developed and therefore they are tinted in the most subtle tints of red, yellow and scarlet.
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To me, this morning display (disregarding the adage of red sky in the morning, etc) stimulates the mind to welcome the ushering in of a clean slate and a chance to do it all again and better than yesterday.
The South Coast is truly a special place, the abundant rainfall and lush vegetation gives the area a Garden of Eden feeling, where all is good and the new sun reinforces this concept.
I have not travelled as much as I would have liked, but I have seen places of natural wonder and splendour, where the usual holidaymaker may not have travelled and I par it with the Hibiscus Coast for beauty.
In Luderitz I watched the sun drown itself at a point in the far distant horizon on a cloudless late afternoon.
I stood in awe on the top of Bogenfels, admiring the weathered geology and marvelling at the strength and regular arrival of the Atlantic Ocean swells that hurl themselves relentlessly at the rocky coast line.
At Port Nolloth, I viewed the bleakness of the sandy, featureless, flat coast which was swallowed up in the thick blanket of white mist that invaded ,at a slow pace, the land.
Another wonderful visual experience that I enjoyed for five years, was when driving the Botha’s Pass which traverses the Drakensberg escarpment.
Truly, God’s Window may be spectacular, but the vista from the top of the pass cannot be well enough described with suitable adjectives.
I always felt God had wanted to rest somewhere on this earth of His which He entrusted to us, He would rest there.
The road follows the edge of the escarpment and descends a total of 800 metres to the valley floor.
Some days the cloud bank is below you and it feels like you are flying as you descend into the cotton wool, which looks solid enough to walk on.
No vista on one day was the same as another because of the moving shadows and intensity of light.
This was also the place where I saw my first and only double rainbow, That was special indeed. Readers, the sheer beauty of our country is everywhere, even in the elegant allure of the hibiscus flower.
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