Hey 2019

Hi reader(s). It's 2019. Living Coral is Pantone Colo(u)r of the year and 5^th of Feb it's the year of the Pig.

Last year was a super fail year for my blog. I tried and posts just didn't work out. But here we are and it's a new year, new existential crisis.

There are a few things I have read up on, researched or just flat out decided immediately. With these changes and notes I'll be making, I don't want you to feel forced to do what I say or feel like I'm judging others (or you). I feel like low key educating you to make your own decisions and challenging myself to make better options is good. I want to be better. (All YouTubers 2018)

WhaT aRe ThEsE cHaNgEs AlReAdY?

With favourites and products I want to indicate Cruelty Free, Vegan and South African made product.

Cruelty Free will be 🐰

Vegan 🌱

South African Made ZA

Am I a vegan now? Nope. Does that mean that I with completely stop featuring non Cruelty free not Vegan products. We'll see. Some brands I completely stopped buying from especially like cosmetics and personal care items. All my personal care and hygiene items are cruelty free and mostly vegan. Before anyone climbs on their Kat Von Soapbox, eliminating items does not mean I'm 100% perfect, I am trying and that is better than doing just nothing. (If you want to do nothing, you do you boo. You are your own boss.)

Note that if I still have non cruelty free items, I will be using it up and not repurchasing. Not finishing and not using stuff is wasteful.

I also think there needs to be a bigger focus on South African made products. Companies who manufactures and employs in ZA. I want my money to stay in South Africa to enrich and employ more of our own people.

That is all,

Michellé

That time I went to: The Soap Barn

I love Yankee Candles. The votive ones, jarred and even the Car Smart Scent Vent Clips. That got me thinking of some small scale candle making. So as we do, I Googled for raw products and Soap Barn popped up.

At first I was confused because I felt like this was some secret place that was kept from the world then I got angry when I found that this place was right under my nose! You literally pass it on the N3 Highway at Linksfield. I browsed the heck out of that website to make sure I'll get all the items. Since I found them I go in at least every six months.

The store looks basic but it is truly the Aladdin’s Cave for DIYers and hobbyists. You can buy single portions to bulk of raw items like fragrance, bicarb, Epsom Salt, clays, waxes to finished products like shampoo, bath bombs, lotion and soap. Even packaging and storage for finished items. This “basic” store can be genuinely overwhelming as the product possibilities are endless so I do suggest going on the website and browsing the recipes if you are not sure.

I have had multiple hauls from the store but here are a few repeat buys:

African Black Soap Pet shampoo:

What disturbed me about mainstream dog shampoo is that I had to wash my pets with soap that I have to wear gloves for. How is that safe? This bubbles up nice and rinses out with ease.

The African Black Soap range also has hand wash, shower 'gel' and shampoo, as wel as a solid soap for our not-so-millenials. I have bought a normal pet shampoo in between the black soap, but it dried out my pets' skin. I love this stuff. Add to cart 4 eva!

Pro Hack: I also add Tea Tree oil and in Mosquito time, Lemon Balm or Citronella, then re-poured it into their reusable pump bottle for easy use. (Also wastes less because it dispenses measured amounts rather than an endless stream) I wash two Amstaffs (mid sized dogs) weekly for 3 to 4 months with 500ml.

Shea Butter:

Now I know Black Girl Magic is about the mystic, beauty and strength of black women. But I bet if we reverse engineered Black Girl Magic, that a segment of it would be Shea Butter. It absorbs well and leaves skin with a glow. This winter is rough on my skin because I've been outside in the dry air more often. Also my feet become so dry i can litterally peel skin off my heels. TMI. I started dipping straight into my tub of Shea. It's expensive for the bigger 500ml tub but it will last longer than you think. It's heavy so you don't need a lot. NOW teach me more of your magic beautiful Black girls!

Pro Hack: I bought wind up lip balm tubes, melted some Shea and poured it. I'd like to think it work like those hip new type balm make up removers. It melts the make up off. I needed to remove a heavy liquid lip and it worked like a bawse.

Zinc Oxide:

The struggle with sunscreens for me was real. A few years ago, like, 5, I got a few red dots on my hand when I was on vacation. I chalked it up to stress. You know the type when you go away to relax and come back to triple the work because “It's-not-my-job”. That next year (exactly), after two days at the coast MY WHOLE BODY was covered in this rash. I was allergic to sunscreen.💀💀💀

For the next few years I had the worst time finding sunscreen. Then I decided to check out natural/ organic sunscreens and the prices shot up. It is double the money for an already expensive product.

When I saw this it just went straight into my basket and look at that price though. . . 👍👍

Pro Hack: Instead of mixing up a weird batch of a mixture of Shea and Coconut oil, mix it in with their Gel, Lotion or Aqueous cream Bases.

Bicarbonate of Soda:

I use this for a few applications. Here is my carpet powder. I also use it as a exfoliater, to remove build up of products in my hair, to stretch out washing powder. I use at least 1 kg a month so it's super economical for me to buy bulk.

Pro Hack: For stinging burns make a paste of bicarb and water and apply it on the burn. A few years ago I had a bad burn (I think it was close 3^rd degree) and today I can't even tell that I was burned. (images too graphic to post)

Candle Supplies:

This was my first haul here. AAW! That is why the clay is here as well as the balm tubes.

I wanted to make candles to use/ give as presents. The upfront starting price was a large amount but I still got more candles out of that than if I had to use that money to buy candles. I also made a healthier candle because I used soy wax.

The thing that really caught me out was the large fragrance range. From Almond, marshmallow to Watermelon and ylang-ylang. I wanted it all.

Pro Hack: Here is a website that works out fragrance loads. You're welcome.

Facial Mask Items:

If I had to have a 'True Life: Addicted to . . .', it would be face masks. I try and apply a mask at least once a week. I definitly can see the improvement in my skin, Break outs are more controlled and my skin looks more even. For the same price of a month's worth of clay masks, you could buy a bag of clay (Bentonite/ Kaolin/ English China) and few Essential oils (Lavender/Tea Tree/ Rosemary) and have masks for days.

Pro Hack: You can trend it up with some activated charcoal and because you are mixing it up yourself, it's fully customize-able to your skin's needs.

Containers:

I love the variety of containers available for finished products. From 500ml spray bottle to 2ml atomizer (I bought a few so I could decant some perfume for on the go in my handbag)

Pro Hack: Their packaging is super reusable. I like whipping up things and storing them in the tubs I bought them in.

Final Thought:

I feel like this shop is selling items anyone could make a business out of. A bath and body range.(I'm imagining with the Spa fragrance of Avo and cucumber or Bamboo) Candles. (Marshmallows or something weird like banana) Skincare. (Just add water mud masks or SLS & Paraben free face wash) House hold products. (Thinning out the Black Soap, add essential oils and use as a natural dish soap) Even cosmetics and fragrances. There are a million creative possiblities.

É's tips:

• WARNING!!! As with any new hobby, start up is a bit expensive but after that, you just buy as you use
  
• If you are looking into making candles, body butters and potions that require you to melt products. I suggest to buy a small pot and stirrers for your hobby. I lost a good pot to candle wax. 😢
• If you decide to use fragrances, be sure to work in a well ventilated area or else you will need to stop because headaches get real.
• International company, Yankee Candle, started with a guy who made a candle for this mom and people saw it and wanted one too.
• Hoelson Sisters Facial oils started with experimentation of basic oils.
• Lush started as a small business that made everything in-house.
• The Body Shop was started by Anita Roddick as income for her and her children

The Soap Barn Website and Facebook

That place is my jam. Go there.

é

Fry's Family Meatless Monday

 

So hey, I'm not Vegan or Vegetarian. Not even close. I don't have a private chef that sorts it out and can't really afford those Beyoncé-like food delivery services. (Interested tho'? Fitchef has options) I don't have time to go to the store/ market to buy fresh daily. So basically my vegetarian options are salad and Mac'nCheese.

A while ago I was wondering around the frozen food section and saw a fridge top to bottom filled with green. Nuggets, pies, Burger patties, sausages and schnitzel. I bought the Golden Crumbed Schnitzel and I was amazed.

Now, I don't have a problem switching up food. I like cooking and eating unusual things. But I'm not going to be the only one eating it. I have a meat lover husband. I don't know if you know Portuguese cuisine but it's nothing for them to have pork, beef and poultry in the same casserole. Add rice, potatoes and bread and you have a meal.

My meat stash for the month

So I scouted Fry's Website for a month planning delicious things and thinking of how to get bae to participate. Should I sit him down, send an e-mail, Whatsapp an e-card, idk? Eventually end of the month grocery shopping comes up and we are standing in front of the fridge. I asked him “What do you think of meatless Monday?” We picked up a whole lot of Fry's.

Please Note: I have not been paid to say these things. I also bought the products with my own money. Here is how it went:

Monday 1:

First meal was Chicken Stylestrips. In a wrap. I was sick with the flu cough thing everyone seemed to be sick with. I thought it was going to be an issue. New food, I feel like a walker. I was already making backup plans for KFC. I followed the cooking instruction (I just used a damn hot frying pan instead of a wok). Chopped tomatoes and lettuce and served with sweet chilli sauce in a wrap.

[NO PHOTO BECAUSE I WAS A WALKER]

My Feelings: I would try this again but make it with pasta. I don't like that it's suggested to be served with sweet chilli sauce but it help us omnivores eat it the first time.

What did he say: “It was good.” But I could see it wasn't excellent. I like wraps like this, he likes KFC's crispy type chicken wraps.

I give it 6 leaves out of a 10 salad. I'll try it again before I judge it harsher. Cough flu had too much in-flu-ence. (Ba-dum-dum-tish)

Ad-doc Meal – Saturday Fauxlony Breakfast wrap:

I was intrigued by the Polony. I think anyone who grew up in South Africa, your life got touched by polony. (Baloney for other places) Either a friend's school lunch or after school sandwiches, picnics or fried up with breakfast.

I like Breakfast wraps. Mine is usually Mexicorn's Whole-wheat wrap, turkey or chicken loaf slices, scrambled egg and spinach or finely chopped Swiss chard. Delicious, full of protein and fibre. Instead of my normal sliced chicken/ turkey loaf, I sliced some faux-lony.

My feelings: I dunno, for me it was not that great. On the packed it said 'or lightly fried' so I put some coconut oil in the pan and it was still weird for me. It's not so much the taste than the texture. It's kind of like a paste texture.

Monday 2:

A lot of my food choices is that of a child. As an adult it's frowned upon but I wish I had the option of eating of the kiddies menu at some restaurants. I think it's because it's uncomplicated. Cue Chicken style Nuggets. 

My baby gas oven doesn't have a grill so I lowered my oven rack and set my oven to its highest temperature. (295°C) then let it heat up for 15 minutes. Poured a film of oil on the bottom of a baking tray, arranged the nuggets and pushed them into the hot oven for 4-5 minutes. Flipped them and cooked for another 5-6 minutes.

Served with Oven baked wedges and a Salad. (Here it the dipping sauce recipe. I added a few drops of Tabasco).

My feelings: This is all I can think about. Delicious, fast and easy cooking, crispy. You know how some idiots say it, but this is everything. With or without sauce, it is just that good.

What did he say: He just enjoyed chicken nuggets. Until it was Wednesday we were talking and I said something about Meatless Monday, he was all “Meatless Monday?? But we had chicken nuggets?” BOOM! SUCCESS Fry's! You just became a BOSS in my books!

I give chicken style nuggets a 'I bought two boxes of these and I don't know if I should keep it for a dinner or eat it all myself' out of 10.

Monday 3:

I choose you battered prawn style pieces. It's going to be hard to follow the success of the nuggets but my hopes were high. The suggestion on the box was to deep fry. I didn't really feel like filling a pot with oil and waiting forever for it to come up to temp. I cooked it the same way as the nuggets.

I saw up scale ramen on my Pinterest suggestions. So that is the application I would use these for. I sautéed garlic, ginger and the white part of a few spring onions in coconut oil, just until they were soft. Then I added water (just enough to cook noodles) and flavouring packets of two minute noodles (I used Fatti's and Moni's Prawn flavoured ones) then cooked the noodles. I also boiled some eggs for 7 minutes.

To finish I just added the green of the spring onions, peeled the egg and dropped some soy sauce in and added the cooked prawn pieces on top.

My Feelings: I know it's maybe not full vegetarian as I do not know about how the noodles are made. So super delicious. I think any person these days (even if you didn't go to college/ university) between the age of 18 and 25 had gone through a time where 2 minute/ instant noodles was a staple meal. Dinner and/or lunch. So by the time you touch 30, the enchantment is gone. It's my emergency meal. This was next level of next level. It was a filling flavourful meal.

What he said: He thought it was good. He said he would have liked another egg. I'm sure I could make it again.

This gets a 'I want to eat this everyday' out of 10

Ad-dock Meal: Tuesday Lunch:

Country Mushroom Pie is something I wanted to try since I put it in the trolley. In South Africa we have a strong pie culture. It doesn't matter what language you speak or area you live in, there is a 100% chance that you've had a pie from a garage (petrol station). This product falls right into that line.

My feelings: Like any pie, even though it was baked in a civilian, everyday oven, the inside it like molten lava. So a check to that. The pastry is crisp and flaky. The sauce has the taste of traditional Chicken mushroom but the mushrooms themselves taste like freshly cooked mushrooms and they actually look like mushrooms. (sometimes, bits in a garage pies are suspect)

What he said (after making it that Saturday): Also a big garage pie lover this pie ruined other pies for him. After having this he had a garage pie and was very disapointed. All he could think of was that it wasn't a Country Mushroom pie.

I give it 'I'm disappoint that I didn't bake the other pie in the packet as well' out of 10.

Monday 4:

Golden crumbed Schnitzel was the first product I ever tried. Usually after I run errands it feels like a big deal to get home and make lunch. I didn't really feel like eating a sandwich or instant soup or deal with prep to cook something and there are days a smoothie won't cut it. I served this with an easy side salad and mash.

My feelings: It's a bit tricky to cook with a baby oven with no grill. The first time I was more successfully in cooking them. Second time was a bit not so great. It was still good though.

What he said: It was a just okay reaction. I thing next time I'll serve it with a onion or mushroom gravy.

In Conclusion:

The next Monday I made some meat dish and got scolded because it was Meatless-Monday. Since then, Fry's has always been on my shopping list. I've also bought the burgers but don't burger them. I buy bigger wraps or rotis and they are delicious with fresh lettuce tomatoes and a dollop of spiced up Mayo. Also bough the mince and made some Old El Paso Tacos. (Skipped out on the cheese but used cottage cheese instead of sour cream) 

Do you Meatless-Monday?

é

7 Ways to Drink (more) Water

The first tip in weight loss and being healthy is always drinking water. I have mentioned it a lot of times in my posts. A lot of people just don't drink water. I know people who just don't. The only liquid they would consume is coffee and the odd time they would eat soup. Funny that the easiest way to start getting healthy is drinking water.

Now I could go on about how your brain needs water and how much water your body is made up of. How water is an appetite suppressant and helps with detoxifying your whole body But I'm sure there are plenty of other blogs that can tell you about that in detail with numbers. You can read it like your interested, pin it and forget about it. I want to give you physical tools to drink more of the good stuff.

Here are some awesome ways to start drinking:

1. Get a filter. A potable bottle one is better.
   
   
   

That means you can fill it up any where and have fresh clean water. You could buy a whole pallet of bottle water but I think it's super waste full because let's be honest, you aren't going to recycle that sh!t. That way you can also monitor how much you drink easier. Here at Takealot is a Brita filter water bottle or here at Dischem is an Addis Bobble.

2. Spice your water
   
   
   

That is the most annoying thing that people say: I don't like the taste of water. WTF kind of water are you drinking? Water by nature doesn't taste of anything. Literally spice up your water. Add a pinch of ginger or cinnamon. Some or other time you probably got a post on FB or scrolled across a pin about the heath properties of both spices

3. Add some lemon or lime
   
   
   

Again a Facebook and Pinterest favourite. Those weird listy blogs (the ones that you can see are just for Google Adsense money with stock photos.) There are huge testimonials about drinking hot lemon water in the morning. It was claimed to be the next kale. Beyonce probably does it as well. I'm not going to announce that I'm vegan but I like the way it tastes. It's also super cheap. Cheaper that berries and stuff

4. Get appy
   
   
   

Punny. Get an easy app to measure your intake. I've been using Aqualert. You put in your info like height, weight and activity level and it works out the amount you have to drink. I like to set the notification to remind me to drink. I also like that there are badges that you get for reaching targets.

5. Buy a water bottle
   
   
   

Have a cool container to drink out of is more motivation. It also means you don't have to get up as often to get water. When it's with you on your desk or work area you would drink more often. Make sure it is BPA free. Don't use an old juice bottle or soda bottle. It tends to have a gross taste after a while and is probably NOT BPA free.

6. Bubble water
   
   
   

Chia seeds are one of the new very old things (Other new old thing: Oats, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cocoa powder) It's been used by ancients and now its cool again. I read about it a lot and bought a (Very expensive. Like R40 for 100g) pack the other day. I love bubble tea so this was awesome. Here's the recipeI started with. I didn't want is to drink that much because then it would finish sooner so I take 2 teaspoons of seeds mix it with one small glass of water. Mix it up with a chop stick. Leave it for 10 minutes. Mix it up again with a squeeze of lemon juice and a small drizzle of honey. Leave for 5 minutes, mix it up again (the seeds get a little clumpy) and BOOM, Chia water bugs.

7. Drinking certain times will make drinking more water easier.

Drink when you wake up, before eating, before and after a bath/ shower and before bed. That is already 2 litres of water

That is my ways to drink water. I know some people like their water frozen and surrounded by alcohol or like drinking water to surprise their liver. Be kind to your body.

é

Chooseday: Redmylips.org

I wanted to write about people who get annoyed by viral content and how they should avoid the internet #loosellamas #thedress #grumpycat 

But something much more important grabbed my attention that is something that should be viral and I'm willing to put my voice to. Everyone should. Men and women.

Sexual assault is not really something to make fun of tho' there are memes and comedians who thing rape is funny. For some reason it's easier for women to get discriminated against and be abused and apparently in some cultures it's okay. Recently I had to get on my feminist soap box to a Zulu friend. (Another Zulu male friend showed that he understood my stance.) Just because you have boobs doesn't mean you can't do shit.

I will be wearing red lipstick in various degrees this April. The campaign is “It's not about vanity, it's about visibility”. Girls who rape has happened to don't tend to want to talk about it. They feel embarrassed & humiliated. Ironic since that is the want their attacker should feel. The times we live in there is always “But you could have done this” You know what, the $#@@>€$ who raped shouldn't have done that. Think about that when you feel embarrassed to wear simple red lipstick. These women were physically and mentally hurt and you don't want to wear just a bright gloss to say “girls we feel you. Here is some awareness”

 

This is something we need to talk about. It's difficult to be strong in your sexuality if there are people out there who think it's a sign for them to mistreat you.

She didn't stand at a party/ walked home/ laid in her bed & asked I want to be raped. Okay then people are all why was she drunk? So being drunk is an invitation to be molested. Or why did she wear that dress? There are women who wear burqa who get raped. Sometimes it's even someone the victims know who raped them. Not even an uncle but a father or brother. Disgusting but true. These abominations are criminals.

Read up. . .

Now here is your chance to show support and solidarity with victims and raise awareness. Here are some things I'm doing for #redmylips April:

1. First I moisturising my lips. I like Zam-Buk. For more truer pigmentation, sponge some concealer over your lips. If you have not tried LA Girl cosmetics' Pro.conceal, You are truly missing out. I feels like such a high end product. On top most concealers are in stick form. This is one of the few liquid concealers that will fit in you budget.
2. Line and fill your lips with a red lip liner. This is what is going to make your lipstick last. Again I'm going to GUSH over LA Girl. Endless Auto Lip liner in True Red is awesome. (Get it here at Dis-Chem)
3. This lip liner is super vibrant on it's own
4. Put on the lipstick . . .
5. . . . and blot it. I usually do 3 layers.
6. Do that finger trick for lipstick free teeth.
7. BOOM. Finished product. This method last 'til after lunch. I just reapply lipstick then and blot it.
8. If you don't feel this super bright red, go for a softer red.
9. Ombre it. This is a cool South Korean lip trend you can follow.

Cleaning of this lipstick is also super easy. Just apply some Vaseline and wipe it off. It cleans a moisturises your lips.

Before next month, make sure to get a lipstick and liner to suit you skin tone. I'm relatively neutral but have more of a blue undertone. Everyone can pull off a red lip. I once hear someone said “Not all people can do it.” Yes, all people of ALL SKIN TONES can pull off a red lip. It is all bout getting the right colour.

For April I will post my lips in support everyday on Instagram. Join and follow me @ewithacuteaccent

Follow RedMyLips.Org on Insta, FB and the Twitter. Join the convo with #redmylips

What is your fave red lipstick?

é

Haulling like a trucker

My hauling has become slower because of my wedding issues. I don’t twit as much either but when I did this is what I tweeted :

Full on Queen bedding from Mr Price Home.
 

I’ll be for reals with you. I don’t what I’m doing but I have inspiration and a Pinterest Board with a name : For the Home. I don’t have a house nor an idea what it looks like inside but I had to have 5 star hotel white bedding. It’s neutral and I can add any pop of colour. I also see it’s Aloe “infused” (there were anti bacterial ones too)


 Silk pillow case:

Everywhere I read about growing hair they recommend silk pillow cases. I bought this one also at Mr Price home for R39.95. (That awkward moment it’s the same material as your My Little Pony’s princess dress . . .)

Dischem add buys:

Dquip Facial cleaner: I enjoy YouTubing BubzBeauty and she raved about Clarisonic. I can’t throw my money at them because I enjoy eating and mascara. I picked up this at Dischem with my gran’s Christmas voucher (Last year’s was a NYX pallet). What a cool machine. My skin texture already feels different. I actually buffed out my one zit. It started getting red and ‘hatching’ but that thing just washed it out before it became an issue. Buy two AA batteries.

Basics heated eyelash curler: 15 years ago there were annoying infomercials with a heated eye lash curler. I bought this one. When it’s heats up, the rubber pads turn white. Don’t worry, it won’t fry your eye balls. I’m still out if I like this concept. I’m use to seeing through the curler so it feels awkward.

Compact mirror: Because Leopard print.

Gingerbon

Something about this sweet makes me feel super healthy. Maybe it’s the ginger, maybe it because I can actually understand what the ingredients are.

Have you tried any of the above products?

é

Migraine Haul – Dischem makes me feel better

Yesterday I really started feeling bad. I took my trusty extra strong Disperine. It relieved some of the pain but in the late after noon I developed an even stronger head ache. I just thought “Aaw I'll just sleep it off”. No such luck. I went to work and after consulting with my mom and one of my close work colleagues I went to the doctor.

I explained my situation and earned myself a shot, two muscle relaxants and the rest of the day off. I went to my Dischem. Mine because I know the people who owns the store. (like a boss)

I don't go to the doctor or the chemist often. The doctor thought I went to a different practice because the last time I saw them was 2012! So it's a bit of a trauma for me. Half way to the doctor I try to miraculously be cured. So I usually buy myself something awesome to cheer me up. (Especially since my latest buys were 6 pairs of socks and bras . . . Grown up stuff) Here is my min haul:

Essence Matt Fix and Finish Powder

When you buy a product the first time it's just a tester. I can say this product is my staple product. It makes my makeup stay and stay. Go read reviews on it. For real. EXCELLENT product.

Black Onyx Lipstick in 124

I bought a tube previously but it got swallowed by the same monster who ate my promise ring and new tube of liquid eye liner. I love this colour on blond me. It's like my lip colour in nude. Very Shakira-ish.

Essence Nail Polished:

Also an old staple polish “Sweet as candy” with a new Glow in the dark top coat.

Sweet as candy is one of my first Essence polishes. A cute sheer pink.

My problem with glow in the dark polishes:

So brittle. I painted this with a Primer, Base and top coat and it's awful,

this can surely solve that problem(Will post pics and a review)

Do you have any staple products you rely on? Are cosmetics a healthier alternative than the chocolates I wanted to binge on?

é

That time I went to . . . Chinese new Year

Every year for the last few years I’ve been going to the Chinese new year festival in Cyrildene and this year it’s the year of the Horse! 

Here is a quick guide to my way of doing Chinese New Year:

 

Do

• Go for the cultural experience. It feels like I’m transported to another country
• Check out the shops. There are things imported that you probably never thought we got in South Africa
• Be respectful. There are going to be food stuffs you’re not use to in our Westernized country
• Enjoy more Pak choy
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Take photos. It’s all super Instagramable
  
  
  
  
  

Don’t

• Go if you’re against fireworks
• Go if you’re planning to make trouble (They have extra security and Police for that evening
• If you are a picky eater. That evening most restaurants have set menus of the most delicious foods. MMM Pak Choy
• Take your small children or animals sensitive to loud noises

É’s top tips:

• Most shops trade with cash. I usually have a few R100 to pick up a few things
• Follow the dragons or wait by the shops with the most fireworks. (The dragons eat the fruit offering walk through the shop then they fire off the fireworks.)
• Take earplugs
• During the night book a table
• There are no real bathroom facilities so keep drinking to a minimum (I won’t usually say that)
• Go back during another time and walk through the shops
• Eat a mooncake at the Bakery
• Eat five of those pork sticks they braai next to the road.
• Buy a bubble tea
• Keep yourself and your bag safe. I have seen 3rd degree burn stories of people who got in the way where they clearly shouldn’t have been. And you for sure don’t want to replace all your stolen stuff
  
  
  
  
  Which Lunar new year festivals do you go to?
  
  
  é