Unique Handspring Puppetry Tour - next week only

The inspired minds at Coffeebeans Routes have developed what looks like an amazing tour experience that takes visitors behind the scenes (and in front of them) with the world-famous Handspring Puppet Company. Handspring is based in Cape Town, and won a Tony Award for their work on the Broadway theatre production, War Horse. Each of their puppets is a sculptural artwork, and the puppeteers bring exceptional empathy to their work. The tours are running during the Out of the Box Festival of puppetry, which in itself is well worth a visit or three. To book, contact Coffeebeans Routes.

Below, the blurb from Coffeebeans Routes:

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Unique Handspring Puppetry Tour - next week only

Cape Town and design - a video intro

Cape Town has been shortlisted for the designation of World Design Capital for 2014, competing with Dublin and Bilbao. WDC is designated every other year by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) to cities that are dedicated to using design for social, cultural and economic development.

The bid team just released a video overview that showcases Cape Town's design -- don't just think fashion, film, graphics, etc. This is a different approach to design entirely (but that includes some serious eye candy), and the video gives a fresh insight into the character of the city as well as introducing some of the characters who are among the creative vanguard here.

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Cape Town and design - a video intro

Indigenous People's Week 2011 8-12 August

Planeta.com, Nutti Sami Siida and friends are hosting Indigenous People's Week August 8-12, 2011. This is an online unconference focusing on Indigenous Peoples and tourism. Themes include biodiversity conservation, crafts, cultural heritage, food and literacy (traditional reading and writing and digital literacy -- the emerging read write culture).

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Indigenous People's Week 2011 8-12 August

The Darling Stagger: Early review of new Cape West Coast Trail

The new Cape West Coast Trails are going through their early trial runs ('exploratory trails' they're called). These 2 night/2.5 day trails are great getaway breaks for weekends, and being fully catered and portered, they're about as effortless as a walking trail can be.

Here's an early review of the Darling Stagger trail, which I think could become an iconic culinary experience of the Cape Town region -- wine, olives, local produce, freshly caught seafood cooked on the shore, rolling hills, white beaches, art, theatre, stunning views, fresh air...something special is coming to life here.

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The Darling Stagger: Early review of new Cape West Coast Trail