Uncategorized Archives - Nicola Ann Art

Jan 07

by Nicola in Hiking, Nature, The United Kingdom, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Country, countryside, England, Hiking, Wiltshire

Escape to the Wiltshire countryside

I felt grateful being in a position to return to live and breathe Wiltshire's special countryside over December 2020 and beginning of January 2021.

Dec 15

by Nicola in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: 4x4, BeanOn Photography, bushlore, Free State, Highest Pub in Africa, Land Cruiser, Lesotho, Off-road, Oranje Guest Farm, Sani Pass, South Africa

Another Daring Off-road Adventure through Southern Africa

SOUTH AFRICA, LESOTHO, MOZAMBIQUE AND SWAZILAND INDESTRUCTIBLE TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 79 FOR HIRE This time around we added a fourth country to our Southern African feat. Lesotho. Instead of using my 4×4 as we did last year, we hired a Toyota Land Cruiser 79 from https://bushlore.com. A robust and exceptional fully equipped self-contained 4×4 camper that exceeded our expectations. Except for one minor incident that occurred while on tar cruising through Lesotho. DURBAN THE BEST PLACE TO START Our adventure started in sweltering hot Durban, and what should have taken just over 3 hours took us almost 5 hours while driving off-road via Richmond. Through townships and lush KwaZulu-Natal hills and valleys that most people would advise against facing. I know… “Never throw caution to the wind. It could whip back into your eyes and blind you.” SANI PASS NOT YET TARRED We thought this may be the last time we get to experience Sani Pass as its authentic self, with a series of hairpins, twists, dongas, drops and picture-perfect scenery. Sadly, it’s soon going to be all tar from the ruins of the Good Hope trading store to the Lesotho border post. I’ve driven it a few times so had to […]

Jul 15

by Nicola in Sailing, Travel, Uncategorized 5 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Greek Islands, Ionian Sea, Navagio beach, Shipwreck beach, Siracusa to Zakynthos

PART 2: SICILY TO THE GREEK ISLANDS|BELLA ROSE, OYSTER 545, UP FOR SAIL | SUMMER 2019

Bella Rose, Oyster 545, Up For Sail, an indelibly sensational sailing adventure from Malta to Sicily to the Greek Islands to Albania to Montenegro to Croatia to Venice. Summer 2019. Shiver me timbers! PART 2: SAILING FROM SICILY TO THE GREEK ISLANDS First stop, Zakynthos. A Greek Island in the Ionian Sea. Navagio beach, aka Shipwreck beach, brings in more tourists, accessed by boat only, than any other tourist attraction in Greece, including Athens. Second, third, etc., stops included: Kefalonia, Poros, Sami, Kisaka, Kioni, Lefkados, Antipaxos, Paxos, Corfu and Erikoussa. However, they are going to have to wait until magazine publication… I know! A killer! The rest of the words in images… Feel the sounds, smells, throbbing heat and rejuvenating tranquillity…

May 13

by Nicola in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Oyster 565 Launch, Oyster Yachts, Pocket Superyacht, Richard Hadida, Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge opens up for the new “Pocket Superyacht” Oyster 565

A thrilling experience to behold, from the top of Tower Bridge on Thursday evening when Oyster launched their new “pocket superyacht”, the evolutionary Oyster 565. Through the dramatic glass floor across the high-level walkways, 42 metres above the River Thames, the bridge below the glass opened and the new Oyster 565 smoothly sailed beneath our feet, after tacking up the river into the wind. Everyone oohing and ahhing with delight; champagne glasses clinking. Chief Executive and Owner Richard Hadida passionately added: “Words cannot describe the excitement I feel to see Oyster enter such an exhilarating phase in its evolution. The 565, fondly known as our “pocket superyacht” is everything an adventurous couple or young family could want.” The Boat International Article here.

Jan 14

by Nicola in Nature, Uncategorized, Wildlife 0 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Big 5, Early morning, Kirkman's Kamp, Leopards, nature, Off-road, Private Game Reserve, South Africa, Sunrise, Wildlife

Kirkman’s Kamp Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve

From the meandering mountain passes of Swaziland, we drove almost six hours through Nelspruit to Kirkman’s Kamp in the heart of the emblematic Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. This time we stuck more on-road than off-road so as not to miss the afternoon game drive at the lodge. Due to my car’s dead battery and having to replace it soon after reaching White River, we came extremely close to missing out. Of course, they would have waited for us, or taken us in another vehicle to join the safari. No doubt about it! Fortunately, with thirty minutes to spare we had time for high tea spread out on the patio before the show began… The Cats Known for its prolific leopard sightings, Sabi Sands had always been on the top of my list for wanderlust. Finally, I made it! After the fearless honey badgers, which are more elusive than leopards, the leopard is my next favourite animal to observe in the wild. The three leopard sightings with the game ranger, Jonty, unsurpassed any other sighting I’ve before experienced. We got to behold a female tearing a fresh impala kill to shreds; another smaller female strolling along the main track […]

Apr 02

by Nicola in Beach, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, People, Sunrise, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Durban, Durban beach front, Early morning, Indian Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Happy Easter, Durban, South Africa

Happy Easter, Durban! Durban, vibrant and bursting with soul, is always a happy place to be but appears to be even happier during holidays. So many from around the country visit for the warm ocean and still hot sun. Even when the waves aren’t spectacular it’s crowded with surfers. Once again, even in Autumn, Durban is the warmest place to be, thanks to the locals. Most of these snaps were taken with my iPhone.

Dec 24

by Nicola in Cities, People, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Israel, Jerusalem, Machane Yehuda Market

Israel, Jerusalem, Machane Yehuda Market

Desire experiencing people whom love life and particularly Jerusalem? Well then, a visit to Machane Yehuda Market is a must. Known as one of Jerusalem’s word-famous icons, the market epitomises the contemporary and the future of Jerusalem. Two hours spent absorbing the frenetic atmosphere, watching the traders interacting with the crowds, providing tasters of their wares. The colours and aromas of the variety of foods pleasantly assaulted the senses. Resistance was futile when it came to the buffet of halva (pronounced with that same guttural ‘g’ as in hummus) and I had to have a slice of the chilli halva that delightfully burned while releasing its rich sweetness. At one of the entrances to Machane Yehuda Market we enjoyed respite at a coffee shop while I photographed the energy. An hour or so before sunset on the Friday (the start of the Sabbath) every thing came to a halt and people scattered in all directions, to reach their final destinations before the sun sets. The Sabbath (Shabbat) Observed from just before sunset on Friday to just after dark on Saturday, the Sabbath is extremely holy. Both the religious and non-religious observe the Sabbath by adhering to the […]

Oct 05

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Cities, London, The United Kingdom, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, England, Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel, Great Britain, Millennium Wheel, South Bank, Sunset, The London Eye, The United Kingdom, world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel

Coco-Cola London Eye – Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel

United Kingdom’s most popular paid for visitor attraction happens to be the Coco-Cola London Eye. Offering an unrivalled experience while absorbing the stunning vistas of the city, what’s there to beat it? Actually… Recently the 244m The Shard with its The View from The Shard has surpassed the 135m London Eye, but The Shard, is after all, not Europe’s tallest building as the London Eye is Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel. One can definitely boast with “Guess what I’ve just done? Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel!” Exactly! Without having to queue, being afforded a dedicated entrance with ninety percent fewer people, a Fast Track ticket was definitely worth its weight in gold. Especially during a balmy autumn afternoon below an unblemished sky an hour before sunset, how could it be resisted? Having experienced “the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel”, sometimes known as the Millennium Wheel, many years ago – twelve to be exact – I didn’t expect to feel as in awe of the trip this time round. Alas, with my expectations exceeded, I relished in appreciating every second of the rotating Coco-Cola London Eye, taking thirty minutes, while displaying the surrounding beauty that creates London. I feel […]

Jan 22

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Cities, London, The United Kingdom, Uncategorized 2 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Canary Wharf, London, Piccadilly Circus, The Shard, The United Kingdom, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Trafalgar Square

London Calling

The entire day spent photographing around London (two days before I left for South Africa) and I didn’t manage to shoot all on my list. I’d run out of time. Perhaps it’s a sign for me to return, use that return ticket of mine and enjoy the UK’s summer. But only the summer… At Canary Wharf my friend asked a security guard, one of many security guards spotted strolling around the wharf, about photographing the shopping centre. Apparently, all in the name of terrorism, we needed a permit to take photos inside and outside of the mall. Obtained from the management of the shopping centre, we had to apply online – advised in order to avoid a hefty fine up to £100k, depending if they could prove we were using the shots for promotional purposes. “You have pro equipment and look like pros,” he said. Out in the open, I spotted a security guard standing outside a building I wanted to photograph, and so I asked him if it was okay; as long as I wasn’t going to be filming, and we were not hanging around taking millions of photos. Just as I’d finished setting up and leaned forward […]

Jul 12

by Nicola in Nature, Off-Road, Sugarcane, Sunset, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Indian Ocean, Jimny, KwaZulu-Natal, Off-road, Sugarcane fields, Sunset, Suzuki Jimny

Panoramic Umdloti

A stunning way to end the working week with an off-road spin through the sugarcane fields to the top, to the panoramic top. Top of Umdloti; 360 degrees of beauty – beauty truly is in the heart of the beholder. Is not beauty magnanimous for those who desire it? When nature calls, I must go; allow the beauty of nature to transform…

Apr 10

4×4 training – let’s get stuck!

Thank you to both Suzuki Pinetown and Travis Duggan from Shift Group for the well organised 4×4 training, or rather adventure, that took place at the Killarney track in Shongweni, a week after I purchased my first ever 4×4 vehicle. Impeccable timing! Never-ending thrills beneath a sky as blue as the Indian Ocean streaked with wisps of cloud, a sun throbbing hotter by the hour and a breath or two of air in a valley surrounded by red earth and green lush shrubbery! What more could anyone want? A bevy of Jimnys and Grand Vitaras were all eager to get their tyres caked in thick dirt and washed off at the river crossing both at the start and end of the semi-challenging route. Did you say a river crossing? Driving my spanking new car through water with rocks and slime and… “Cars do not like water,” Travis informed the group, all glaring at him with expressions like a kinetic strap pulled tight. Was that supposed to make me feel better? “But the Jimnys can safely absorb water up to the Suzuki badge.” As the river appeared that it would only reach mid-rim I started breathing again and felt […]

Jun 19

Sacrilege, but I don’t care!

Just over 4 years ago a dear friend bought me my first DSLR camera for a birthday. Talk about being bowled over by the receipt of an unexpected gift. Of course he’d chosen the brand he’d always used, the camera I’d always wanted that came with a 18 – 55 mm lens. Later the same friend spoiled me with a telephoto 28 – 300mm and then a stunning macro. Anyway, I loved this camera despite feeling it never lived up to what I’d researched its potential to be. I thought that perhaps I needed to practice more, learn the camera to its depths and that’s what I did for the next 4 or so years, but still the quality of my picture taking didn’t live up to my expectations. I wanted to buy a new camera; however, since getting the property ladder rolling I thought I’d better disperse the desire, the desire as violent as a hurricane ripping up buildings, as far away from my heart as possible. Whilst doing my best, my camera stopped working; the shutter did not release yet everything else appeared to be working fine or rather displaying correctly on the screen. […]

Mar 15

by Nicola in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Camera, DSLR, For Sale, Gum Tree

DSLR for sale

The other evening I put my old DSLR on Gumtree to sell. The following morning I received a phone call asking if he could buy it from me as soon as possible. I agreed. Next thing my phone went wild with text messages and phone calls with people wanting to know more about my camera. I received the following WhatsApp message – the same person had tried to call me two seconds earlier, but I was in a meeting and couldn’t take the call – and found it bizarrely humorous. (Please note: I have not amended Unknown’s grammar deliberately.) Unknown number: Howsit, is your camera still available? Nicola: Hi, I have a potential buyer looking at it tomorrow. Unknown number: Oh ok….what’s wrong with the lens? Nicola: Fungus. Unknown number: Can you send a pic? Also how bad are they? Nicola: I will send pics tomorrow, depending on sale – otherwise, I’m giving them away to buyer. They are rather bad… Unknown number: Ok cool, well let me know. I would be interested in swapping. Nicola: Swapping what? I have upgraded my camera and that is why I am […]