INTEREST - USURY

INTEREST - USURY

We are currently living in an age of rage. Racism, robbery, murder, genocide, wars and ethnic cleansing are becoming common place and people as a whole are being desensitized to its heinousness. All of this is done in the name of, or because of money. Money related to exorbitant Interest / usury rates on different scales, ranging from the United Nations system / IMF sanctioned "host country's" loans of $1.0 billion or more, to small student loans, to micro business loans.  The banks are lending everyone money, the chain stores are lending everybody money, the loan sharks are lending everybody money, pawn brokers are lending everybody money, purely  so that these lenders can buy things they don't really need, let alone afford, with money they don't really have, to impress people they don't really know just so they could be seen as  a "somebody".

The world has gone completely mad — literally! Or shall I rather say, those "one percenters" who place their own egos over and above that of humanity — is be blame for the chaos. Among them the bankers, the lawyers and the propaganda machines. The masses of impressionable people out there are easily swayed by their offerings of living large, constantly suggesting that they hanker after big and expensive homes and flashy cars, and brand name products, etc — achieved through their "in your  face" television, radio and news paper advertising.

Fake branded handbags on display in a shop in Korea

Meanwhile homes are being repossessed, cars are being repossessed, furniture are being repossessed yet high end clothing chain stores are making more credit available to their entire database to further enslave them and thereafter harass them for late or non-payment of their accounts. Their clothes are highly overpriced because of the "branding", since nobody wan't not to be seen not wearing "branded products" like surf and skate board clothing from Oakley, Billabong, Quiksilver, Nike and  Levi, etc, not to mention the extreme range of other branded apparel. Then there is also apparel ranging from Brioni Vanquish II / to Desmond Merrion Supreme Bespoke / Ermenegildo Zegna Bespoke suits, to Salvatore Ferragamo / Stefano Bemer Shoes, to Armani / Versace shirts to Turnbull & Asser / Roberto Cavalli ties, to Zimmerli / Bresciani socks, to Icebreaker / Frigo underware and even Rolex / Patek Philippe watches.  Buts that's just what the men aspire to wear. 

Fake branded Ladies heels

Whereas the women go for dresses from Emporio Armani / Christian Dior / Marc Jacobs / Prada / Dolce and Gabbana, and shoes by Louis Vuitton / Christian Louboutin / Jimmy Choo / Alexander McQueen / Gucci / Stuart Weitzman / Gucci / Brian Atwood / Stuart Weitzman, under garments by Victoria’s Secret / Fox and Rose, with watches from Cartier / Rolex / Richard Mille, etc. Young and teenage girls hanker after the Kardashian Kollection, while young teenage boys hanker after rappers and their Puff Daddy /  Jay-Z: dress code  —   Sean John label / Rocawear label respectively. 

Fake penile erectile medication, fakes placeabos on the left, ethicals on the right.

So what really makes these branded products or even the people they are named after "better" than any other person or  a tailor made shirt, suit or tie or a pair of hand made shoes from your local tailor, cobbler? Nothing really, except price. Everybody wants to be seen having money or give the impression that they are wealthy yet most people don't really have money and are in fact poor. They are perhaps credit worthy because they have jobs but that's also the only reason why they leap out of bed in the morning at an unruly hour and brave the traffic and public transport to get to work because of their dire  need to service their enormous debt  — recurring debts like, house payments, car payments, clothing payments, furniture payments,  groceries payments, amenities payments. Hardly have they made a payment when the next payment is due and that's only because they want to look good and live large — or rather live way above their means. All of this is fictitious, make-believe, imaginary, trickery, false, fake, counterfeit. 

Fake Rolex and fake Patek Phillippe watches

Speaking about counterfeit. Virtually everything out there is counterfeit. Ladies Louis Vuitton / Hilde Palladino / Mouawad / Lana Marks / etc, counterfeit handbags are rampant, totally pervasive. Like wise, virtually every Rolex watch  model has been cloned and are called replicas. Even money, banknotes in virtually every currency have been counterfeited. Fake iPhone charger are also widespread and has a tendency to go faulty and could cause your house to burn down. There are fake car parts abound. pharmaceutical drugs were even found to be counterfeit —  mere expensive placeabos.  One can even find fake firearms, counterfeit ammunition and fake handguns almost indistinguishable from  the replicas.

Fake firearms indistinguishable from real firearms

Fake Bullets

Cubic Zirconia is fake diamond but mind you, diamond is the only item mentioned in this blog that is in fact real. Originally created by God Almighty, though man has never been able to clone it exactly other than make lab diamond simulants.  Though today's big challenge is to be  honest with yourselves. It certainly better to be 100% percent yourself —  a true diamond — rather than be  a 50% fake of somebody else.

Having said that, it is the originators and the counterfeiters who are the "one percenters". Some of them unscrupulously encourage child labour in sweat shops, deal in conflict diamonds and counterfeit pharmaceuticals  with activities  extending to modern slavery in Europe. Seriously, the world is going mad, or  has it gone fake?

POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE

PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP

The  political earthquake that just occurred took many by surprise, as Donald Trump won the 45th USA presidency. Not so surprisingly, the first foreign president to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory was no other than President Vladimir Putin from Russia. By the looks of things, America certainly wasn't ready for a female president especially not those living in Wisconsin and certainly not willing to accept a "corrupt" female candidate as president. By default Trump won the election which was centered on votes from the anger of the non-secular educated white working class, nationally. The events of 9/11 will stay in the minds of Americans for a very long time. But the political earthquake that took place on 11/9 of this year, will certainly stay with them for the rest of their lives. This catastrophe doesn't only affect Americans but people globally, whose emigrant families now live in America. Donald's idiotic policy of ousting emigrants especially Syrians and Mexicans and Muslims is making the International audience very nervous.  Creating an uncertainty amongst the populous triggering Islomophobic violence against Muslims.

Be that as it may, Donald just  delivered his victory speech and sounded quite gracious, yet  still harping on the rhetoric made during his campaign speeches. During the next 100 days "Mr No experience Donald Trump" will have to climb a very  steep learning curve, steeper than that of any previous presidential candidate. Come 20 January when Donald Trump will be sworn-in, he will also be given access to the "box of tricks" -the keys to the nuclear weapons and Airforce 1. Based on his past behaviours Donald Trump is a man without self restraint, without an ideology or conscience who seeks unlimited power. Donald's political stand and his pro Israeli stance doesn't do much for the plight of the Palestinians, much like that of all the previous US Presidents. It doesn't appear that Donald would curtail Israel from continuing with their wall considering that he wants to erect a wall of his own along the Southern US/Mexican border to keep the Mexicans out. Can you well imagine whats's going to happen with the construction sector and American access to hired help and artisans. The American debt will certainly rise and affect the livelihood of the average American quite substantially.

Could this hydrogen bomb mushroom cloud be what lurks in the mind of
President elect Donald Trump.

The million dollar question is, will Donald live up to the standards 
of his predecessors or rather can he perform to their standards. Trump doesn't take criticism likely and judging him on his past behavious, he  tends to sue everyone and anyone who that cause him sleepless light through their critisism. He also makes no bones about by tweeting about them in the wee hours of the morning. This outspoken television personality is also not a fan of the United Nations (NATO) and considering that  they instituted sanctions against Russia, Donald could come to their rescue and lift American sanctions against them. Trump isn't a fan of global climate change either, saying that climate change is a hoax thus the EPA could be in danger of not get government funding in the future. What Trump is, in favour of, is that both Japan and China should have their own nuclear armouments. In fact he's in favour of global nuclear proliferation. Now that republicans will run for America as a single party for at least the next two years, its almost nerve racking to contemplate the new absurd policies that Trump would want to introduce, especially when he has his finger on the nuclear button. 

THE END IS NEAR

THE "NEXT" PRESIDENT OF AMERICA

The big problem with the USA elections is that there are only two Presidential Candidates from which to choose. It would have really been great if there were three or perhaps four but the reality of the situation is based on "either". Either Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump, the independent Gary Johnson didn't matter  nor feature. Americans in general are keen on change and are still waiting for the changed promised by the Obama presidential campaign. Regardless, president Obama has been the most destructive president in the political history of America who only change things for the worse. Essentially the masses wants change from corruption, change from lies, change from empty promises, etc. their health care is in a mess, war veterans are neglected and the economy is at an all time low.

As a consequence, the masses consider Hilary Clinton corrupt and the recent leaked emails released involving the FBI has made it worse. The fact that she used campaign funds to fund her daughter Chelsea Clinton Wedding is corrupt. Donald Trump even alleged that “Crooked Hillary” “may be the most corrupt person ever to seek the Presidency.” In fact there is a list of above 40  Clinton associates who have been killed over the years.  

Disillusioned masses despondent with the Clinton legacy of corruption automatically voted for her opposition. That means Donald Trump, a man who has never been a U.S. representative, neither served as a senator nor a governor. The Americans have  
never elected a president who has never before won an election nor someone without government experience. But out of sheer desperation for change, Donald Trump is winning votes by default. He is a man without political experience, who needs supervision, and should he win the presidency will have to  learn the on the job. This is so different from policy when three branches of government will be run by the Republicans.

Donald trump has repeated actions and comments disrespectful toward women. Not only has Trump offended women, he offended African Americans, Muslims, latinos, immigrants and the handicapped. In fact he takes pride in offending and alienate entire groups of people except other rich white men. Rich white men  respect for Trump for fathering children by multiple women and that’s purely because he’s a rich, white man himself. He has a “nontraditional” family, with five children from three marriages, even though his behavious is viewed by Republicans as shameful. 

The First Family, Not a pretty picture

Donald Trump is a confirmed a hatter, a nativist and a racist, He's statements were awarded PolitiFact's 2015 Lie of the Year. Donald is also callous, rude, arrogant, and lacks empathy. He is also bigot and chauvinist. Trump has been accused of raping or attempted to rape a 13-year-old child, raping his ex-wife, and attempting to rape a former business associate, considering he has a friendship with "billionaire pedophile"  Jeffrey Epstein. He is also believe to colluding with Russia. Non of these characteristics is befitting a President. However if the poles are "sufficiently rigged" for Donald Trump to be elected as president, he proposed

1. Build a wall along the Southern border one foot taller than the Great Wall of China to keep the beaners out and make Mexico pay for it. And call it "The Trump Wall."
2. Ban Muslims from entering the United States until country’s representatives get their act together about "radical Islamic terrorism." Also plans to heavily surveil mosques in the United States and is open to the idea of closing some mosques. Bar Syrian refugees from entering America and kick out all those already living here. 
3. Dissolve the Environmental Protection Agency who is responsible for protecting our eco-system.
4. Allow Russia to deal with the Islamic State in Syria and get Russian President Vladimir Putin to wipe out shared enemies.
5. Impose import tariffs on all goods made in China and Mexico.
6. Repeal of Obamacare’ and replace it with a market-based alternative.
7. Renegotiate the Iran deal and negotiate the release of all U.S. prisoners held in Iran before taking office.
8. Target and kill the relatives of terrorists living in America.
9. Make medical marijuana widely available to patients, and allow states that wish to fully legalize pot to do so.
10. Protect Israel and increase U.S. military presence in the East and South China Seas
11. Cut taxes
12. Bomb ISIS and‘take the oil’ from them.

It will be a sad day in the history of America if Donald Trump is elected the 45th president of the United States of America. It will also be a global historical event that may change the course of global geography. Donald Trump is going to be a disaster for the planet, a disaster waiting to happen and the American people will only be saved if the rest of the government remains level headed. 

DONALD TRUMP WILL MAKE THE WORLDS WORSE PRESIDENT

DONALD TRUMP

Presidential candidate Donald Trump really isn't fit to be the President of a Golf Club let alone a country, and that no maybe, because he lacks the tact, the caution and careful judgment as well as political savvy that is required to fill the shoes of the president of the United States.

As an "American" Donald Trump has displayed great admiration for the Russian president Vladimir Putin and praised him in abundance, and publicly contrasting Putin's supposed strength over President Barack Obama's weakness. Trump even publicly proclaimed that President Obama is "the founder of ISIS".  

TRUMP QUOTE:

"The man has very strong control over a country," Trump said of Russian President Vladimir Putin, pointing out he has an 82 percent approval rating. "It's a very different system and I don't happen to like the system, but certainly, in that system, he's been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader."

Meanwhile, Russia has become a huge threat to Western Europe with its invasion of the Ukraine, with the bombing of Syria, and his threats to the Baltic States and NATO regional military forces, yet Donald Trump hails Vladimir Putin to the point that he is Russian now has its puppet in America with the means of influencing elections. 

This bromance between Putin and Trump  is certainly no coincidence since there is already a bromance mural of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump outside a bar in Vilnius, Lithuania, passionately kissing. 

Donald's love for Putin and Russian extends to all things Eastern Europe. His current wife, the Slovenian ex-model Melanija Knavs, now Melania Trump who not to long ago delivered a speech at Republican national convention which was totally plagiarized from a speech Michelle Obama delivered eight years ago. Trust DT to pull off a stunt like that thinking nobody would notice. However Meredith McIver an in-house staff-writer working in Trump Tower in Manhattan, conveniently took responsible for accidentally / inadvertently plagiarizing his wife's speech but Donald Trump refused to accept her resignation.

Be that as it may, Donald Trump is a  ‘willfull abusive braggart’,  a 'sexual deviant' with an odd and obnoxious demeanor, he's a 'control freak', a 'narcissist with a superiority complex', he hates "beaners", is a confirmed 'Islamophobe' and even has a total disregard for the armed forces. He was born into a wealthy family, inherited his father real estate company and contacts, and made some money and several mistakes. Like the mistakes he made in the casino business as in filing for  bankruptcy protection at least four times. Then there is suing Deutsche Bank when he could pay them back. Then there's lying about his real value, yet spreading poverty when uncle Sam pitched up.

TRUMP QUOTE: ABOUT MUSLIMS
"I think Islam hates us," "There's a tremendous hatred. We have to get to the bottom of it. There is an unbelievable hatred of us."

TRUMP QUOTE  ABOUT BEANERS
"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

"Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on. According to Pew Research, among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population."

Donald's insulting criticism takes pride in belittling Arizona Senator John McCain saying "

QUOTE:

"He's not a war hero," Trump said of Arizona Sen. John McCain, a Republican. "He is a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."

Quite recently Donald Trump totally disrespected the grieving parents  of  fallen U.S. Army Captain Humayun S.M. Khan, who were   totally   outraged at the degrading statement that America should implement a religious screening, legally denying immigration status to all Muslims. DT started this firestorm to undermine military veterans and create greater controversy.

Barry McCaffrey a  retired  a four-star general who served in the U.S. Army for 32 years, to become the most highly decorated serving general, having been awarded three Purple Heart medals and twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest award for valor is disgusted at Donald Trump saying "He is remarkably ignorant and uneducated ...

Controversy without any doubt brings about fame, and Donald Trump is certainly no stranger to controversy. Over the past few years his been shooting off his mouth, offending both men and women from all walks of life, religions and race, with his snide controversial remarks. The length and breadth of the liberties that DT’s has taken and the controversies he created are really widespread.  These controversies range from allegations of mafia ties to unscrupulous business dealings, to racism, to alleged rape of a 13 yr old. But when confronted, DT simply denies all of the allegations. Now he wants the Presidency, just so that he can sit with his finger on the nuclear button all the time.  Trump is an International hazard waiting to happen and anyone who votes for him would be guilty of collaboration.

Kinda reminds me of the  President of South Africa, the honorable Jacob Zuma with all the allegations of criminal charges, of state capture, of rape and of 783 corruption charges against him.

CONTROVERSY MAKES MONEY

CONTROVERSY MAKES MONEY

If ever there was a controversial businessman, it is Billionaire, real estate mogul Donald  Trump who is currently the presumptive nominee for president of the US of America. As a businessman, he made his fortune in the  television, investment and real estate realm. Undoubtedly he is good at what he does and none can fault his commitment to making money, especially since he is in his office at 6 o' cock in the morning when he clearly doesn't have to be there, if at all. So the way I see it, he is a  control freak of epic proportion, with an "irreplaceable complex" unable to delegate his post to anyone, or he is just driven by pure greed. Always wanting more and willing to step on other's constitutional rights with his snide remarks and narcissist attitude of superiority. 

For a conservative presidential candidate he really has an abrasive nature and always seems to stir  up controversy, justifying that he is a strong defender of American values that embodies the principles of Ronald Reagan. But is't just his excuse for being rude, opportunistic  and unprincipled. However, he is willing to relinquish his position at Trump International for the position of global world leader because he has already spent $18 million in campaign funds to help him secure it.

Controversy makes money. There are hundreds if not thousands of people doing controversial things, saying controversial things in order to get attention. Sufficient attention creates potential fame, and fame potential money. Money equates to power for some. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

In a 2011 interview with  David Brody of the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN), Trump  stated his Islamophobic position, saying that there is a serious problem with Muslims. Adding that he has serious reservations about the teachings in  the holy book of Islam - the Qur'an. Ever since, Trumps negative view of Muslims globally has never abated even though a very small minority of a very small minority of  "Radical Muslims / Islamist extremists"  are responsible for "acts of terrorism". In 2016  Trump called  for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."  Causing outrage among Muslim leaders across the globe, by the  anti-Islam prejudice demonstrated by Trump and the  75 % US Republicans  who think that  Islam  is un-American.

Based on his perception of the attack on the world trade center in 9/11, he paints all Muslims with the same brush even though  there is overwhelming evidence of a controlled demolition in all three World Trade Center buildings.  It is common knowledge that the twin tower bombing was an American inside job involving the CIA, Dick Cheney, George  Bush and his father in a 30 year conspiracy with the white house playing cover up to fool the masses. Thereafter Rumsfeld reported a whopping $2.3 trillion missing from the Pentagon. Essentially the twin tower attack was the impetus for George Bush's "war on terror".

Having said that, about a third of all Americans don't  believe the official story put forward by the "White House" and as much as 90% of the global population don't  believe the "official story " either. Unfortunately Trump isn't one of them or his just in denial.

INSIDE JOB

CNN/FOX/MSNBC and BBC reported the collapse of WTC 7 a good 20 minutes before it even happened. (how would they know if they didn't get the brief?) 

Large amounts of Nano Thermite was found in the dust at Ground Zero which melted the steel and cause it to stay in a molten form 21 days later. (Did the "terrorists" bring the thermite?)

George Bush delayed starting the 911 Commission for 441 days whereas as under JFK, the Pearl Harbor commissions were started within 7 days. (seems like it wasn't important!)

The 911 commission was limited $15 Million to investigate the 9/11 disaster yet more than $60 Million was spent investigating Clinton's affairs with Monica Lewinsky. (Was 911 a side show?) But there are also a thousand other reasons that screams cover up. 

Anyway, in June of 2015 Donald Trump voiced his dislike for Mexican immigrants by calling for a wall to be erected between Mexico and the U.S. and force the Mexico government to pay for it. Soon after he proposed to deport more than 11 million illegal immigrants from the United States. Honduran born Comedian Carlos Mencia makes jest of Donald Trump's aspirations in his comedy show, drawing attention to who is actually going to to the home repair work if all the Mexicans are deported. In a nutshell Trump hates "beaners"  and is Islamophobic and certainly doesn't know that Islam is a peaceful religion.

Not to long ago Trump Trump blasted Apple for refusing to assist the FBI to gain access to the phone that belonged to one of the San Bernadino shooters by saying  “Who do they think they are?” and called for  a boycott of the iPhone manufacturer. Trump has also criticized other big companies for outsourcing their manufacturing and avoiding paying taxes. He said   “We’re going to get Apple to start building their damn computers and things in this country, instead of in other countries." Trump even accused Amazon of not paying taxes.   Yet he owns large stock portfolios in both companies.

He even had a go at President Barack Obama, saying he's done a terrible job running the country, calling him incompetent and accusing him of divided the country on a matter he refers to as  "radical Islamist terrorism".

Trump even alienated some women voters with cynical remarks about Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina's personal appearance. Trump  also insulted Sen. John McCain,  a decorated Vietnam War veteran, by sarcastically  saying  “He’s not a war hero,”  “He’s a war hero because he was captured.” In effect this is an indictment against every American soldier who defended his American interests. Ever since these unkind remarks, Trump's financial portfolio has grown  by almost 50%. He claims that his net worth is 10 Billion whereas Forbes estimates it at 4.5 Billion. 

Donald Trump discloses his financial holdings in a  104-page financial document which he recently filed with the  Federal Election Commission (FEC).  But this may not be full declaration because he vehemently refused to release any of his tax returns for scrutiny, claiming that he is undergoing an IRS audit, beside doing so is purely a voluntary act and not mandatory. He says this in the face of each and every presidential nominee who complied to this request since 1976. So what does Trump really have to hide?  There is also a huge disparity  between what Donald Trump says his golf courses are worth, and what he actually reported to uncle Sam. 
His claims  that he has the most expensive golf courses in the world - (just ask him) yet declared them at 97% less his claimed  value on his  nomination filings.

Ever since the prejudicial comments about Mexican immigrants during his campaign launch speech he has won favour with the democrats and his 4.5 Billion has miraculously grown into more than 10 Billion. (according to Trump). Based on this, Trump should be audited. 

Jeff Bezos the CEO of Amazon very correctly said  "This is not an appropriate way for a Presidential Candidate to behave." But that's just putting it extremely mildly. In my opinion Donald Trump is an opportunist, a ego-maniac and a threat to world peace and security and the epitome of a hater and a racist.  In a nutshell, he is an “insane bigot” comparable to the likes of  of  Adolf Hitler. Allowing such a person to occupy the US presidency is an extremely bad refection on the US voters as a whole.  Donald Trump is certainly not your best choice but rather the absolute worst. 

Voting for a bigot xenophobic racist like Donald Trump shouts very loudly that you're  a bigot xenophobic racist as well. It doesn't matter how much you may like what he says now, you will regret it big time later. Trump says Hilary Clinton has bad judgement, adding that she's "worse than Obama". However, Hillary, would certainly be the  better option because if American presidents could go from  all white presidents to a  black president - Obama, then it can also go from all male to female - Hillary Clinton.

GOUDINI SPA CONTINUED

GOUDINI SPA LOOMING ACCIDENTS

On the afternoon of my first day at Goudini Spa, I accompanied my wife to the pools. I accidentally cut my foot on a broken or raised edge of a tile. Looking around I saw several other broken and missing tiles, so I decided to capture it in order to alert other potential day visitors to the looming accidents at Goudini Spa.

The hot mineral water gets pumped into the shallow kiddies pool that is joined to the centre pool by means of 110 mm plastic pipes. Here the water cools  by several degrees and the now tepid water enters the final pool via sluces. This may be a good principal for cooling but we all know that little children will not tell you that they need to pee and relieve themselves into the water source that supplies the other two larger pools. I have even seen the expression on adults faces when they wee in the water. They just try too hard to make the poker face which inevitable gives their game away. This is kinda disgusting, yet adults with the need to pacify themselves that the mineral water helps with their arthritis are willing to wallow in others peoples urine.

I remember the movie adults when someone pee in the water it turns blue. Compared to Caledon Spa it sucks and compared to Club Michanos, it doesn't come close. They don't even have client feedback forms to determine whether or not you enjoyed your holday and if you would recommend it to friends and family. I know of spa that received a bad review room a customer and for the sake of pleasing the customer, gave them a free weekend to any of their resorts as compensation for their poor/ bad service.

This is the metal grating against which I stomped my toe and crack my toenail. Yes it was Eina!

GOUDINI SPA

GOUDINI SPA

The name Goudini Spa plastered against the mountain-side along the N1 enroute Worcester intrigued me, ever since I was a child. As a family, we've traveled past this huge sign on countless  occasions when we were on our way to the Big Hole Kimberley, the Sani Pass Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho, or to Lost City resort in Sun City  Johannesburg, or the Cradle of Mankind Sterkfontein Caves Pretoria, or the  BMW Motorrad Buffalo Rally via Beaufort West, etc. At least 2 decades later when my son turned 5 during August of 1989 we decided to visit Goudini Spa as a family, but were chased away as if dogs and told never to return. We discovered the hard way, that Goudini Spa was reserved exclusively for whites. Goudini Spa management enforced South Africa's apartheid policies to the hilt and as a "non-white,  though Afrikaans speaking family" we couldn't  even make it past the gate. 

Goudini Vakansie Oord by ETKV 

The Goudini Plaque against the Mountain visible for several kilometers.

Goudini Spa is an initiative of the Afrikaanse Taal  en Kultuurvereniging (RSA), abbreviated ATKA, hence named ATKV Goudini Spa. It was a resort by white Afrikaaners  for white Afrikaaners who subsequently acquired 6 more resorts situated at ATKV Buffelspoort North West, ATKV Drakensville, ATKV 

Eiland Spa Limpopo, ATKV Hartenbos Western Cape (George), ATKV Klein-Kariba Limpopo, and ATKV Natalia on Kwa-Zula Natal beach, all operated on the premise and aims to promote the Afrikaans language and culture. Membership was exclusive to members of the Afrikaner Christian community.  

After the "demise of apartheid"  many non-white families flocked to Goudini Spa to see what the hype was about, but we still avoided it as if a penal colony because of their newly found religious prejudice. As recent as the year  2000, ATKV Goudini Spa management denied a Muslim couple membership because they weren't Christians, a case that ended up at the  SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). By implication Muslims cannot or not allowed to benefit from the 30 percent discount that Christian members are entitled to and enjoy at Goudini Spa. 

In my book, this amounts to open  discrimination and  prejudice and is a violation of the right to religious freedom. If this was done to a Jew, he would very loudly shout "anti-semitism" but ATKV management banks on Muslim complacency. A complacency that virtually guarantees Goudini Spa 100% pax off season. To further this paradox and add insult to injury Goudini Spa has a fast-food restaurant advertised as  "Strictly Halaal" in red writing on a yellow board, seeking Muslim patronage yet they cannot become members. Its a blatant case of, we cannot stand you and nor your religion but we really want your money. 

However, as non-members paying the non-christian rate, my wife and her siblings have frequented Goudini Spa and always raved about what a great time they had. One day whilst surfing the net I stumbled on some beautiful photos of Goudini Spa which looked really enticing. The photos of the mountainous region, the vinyard valleys, the fynbos, and above all my wife's incessant nagging to go to Goudini Spa served as the deciding factor to go spend a few days of well deserved rest at the resort, right before their annual price increase which kicks-in on the 1 March.

What follows is a pictorial expose of the three days I spent there. But before I continue, I need to say I was disappointed by the overall Goudini Spa experience, especially by the main attraction which are the Spa pools. Perhaps my disappointment doesn't stem from the resort and its amenities itself  but rather from my expectations of Goudini Spa, considering we paid real money to be there, 30 percent more than any Christian guest.  This blog is not a placard to boycott Goudini Spa nor an attempt at reverse racism but rather an insight into its shortcomings and perhaps what needs to be done to improve relations among  all South Africans.  

The following few pics are really cool and depict the weather during various times of the day over a three day period when I looked out of the front door of our rondawel in which we stayed.

Late afternoon the mist came up and it was quite cold.

Midday  and the clouds were standing still

When the wind came up he clouds blew north

When the sun was overhead but overcast

Hazy weather

The Rondawel in which we stayed

My understanding of the hotel/ resort star rating is that a 1 star is usually a small to medium-sized room /apartment with facilities  and furnishings that  are clean but basic which typically includes a telephone and TV and a bath tub.  The Rondavel in which we stayed, is rated as 2 stars with most of the TV channels TV snowy, the remote control didn't work and the manual buttons to operate were situated on the top edge of the  TV which was perched on a shelf above the fridge. To change the channel of even decrease the intensity of the sound level, one needed to climb on a chair with the hope of pressing the correct button to do the necessary. When we vacated the Rondawel after our stay, we discovered that reception gave us the wrong TV remote - a Hisense remote for an LG TV.  LoL. And all we got was a sooorrrry.

A HiSense remote control for the LG TV below.

TV reception sucked, and the annoyance of a non-working remote control made things worse.

This must have bee a storeroom and not accommodation.

The door scraped every time it was opened or closed while
 the mosquito net had a massive hole in it.

The TV aerial cable just hanging like a cloths line

Cracked window panes... are they serious!

I wasn't prepaired to put my clothing in this damp, musty smelling cupboard

Incomplete tiling in the bathroom is definitely not worth 2 stars.

The outside of the Rondawels looks more appealing than the inside.

My garden tools shed floor looks better than this.

When I touch the curtain it just came off the rail 

So within the first hour we were there, I had to get the plumbers
out to unblock the drain that overflowed with human feces.  

Look at this... This must be the 1 star and the picture below the 2nd star

Certainly not fit to be called a 2 star resort.

The TV aerial was mounted on the rafters of the thatch roof
with the cable hanging like a cloths line 

This is for newly weds. When you close the bathroom door, white confetti falls on your head. 

This is probably the air vent where the steam vapours need to escape.
However when the wind blows the dust comes pouring out immediately after you showered.

This must be the  "Chip" and dale bathroom suit. Lots of chips but no dale.

This is where the Goudini Spa king cockroach lives.
You know the one that walks over your toothbrush when you not looking.

Continued .....