Saxon – The Ultimate Escape For Your Senses

Saxon Boutique Hotel & Villas is the true definition of luxury and a peaceful retreat from all the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg.  Every detail is mindfully thought out and every amenity specifically chosen to invigorate all 5 of your senses.

SMELL: Dried lavender in your bath and throughout your suite to keep you relaxed

TASTE: All the restaurants are designed to delight the palate with only organic and seasonal ingredients

TOUCH: For that personalized attention to detail, all the pools are slightly heated for the exact perfect temperature for a dip

SIGHT: The extensive African art collection throughout the hotel will have you exploring for hours

SOUND: At the spa, Tibetan sound therapy, unique only to the Saxon, will have you feeling rejuvenated 

If you can believe it, the hotel was originally a residence, built by owner, insurance mogul & billionaire Douw Steyn who actually came up with the concept of telemarketing (Yeah, thanks Douw Steyn).  The Saxon was also famously home to Nelson Mandela while finishing his book “A long walk to freedom” in the 1990’s.  Now this exceptional hotel sleeps everyone from couples making a pit stop in JOBURG before jetting off to safari, to Oprah, Bill Clinton, and while I was there Sir Richard Branson.

My first stop was the spa, of course!  I opted for the Tibetan sound therapy, as it is the only spa in Africa that offers this one of a kind service. I decided I needed a cleanse from the inside out, as I was having a changeling week with a sore, but bine, cyst on my ovary and was also bitten by a spider earlier in the week, and still recovering from the toxins in my body.

I arrived early (2 hours) and took full advantage of what the spa had to offer. I soaked in the hot tub, steam room, out door pool & finally the salt bath that was in the shape of a hammam and had tiny stars adorned on the ceiling. I was properly relaxed and ready for my treatment by the time therapist came to fetch me.

To be honest I was slightly skeptical of this charka aligning treatment. But after experiencing it for myself and talking to the therapist afterwards, I am now a believer!  I swear the next day; I was and still am, full of energy and my cyst was GONE and without the usual excruciating pain.

The special room used only for the sound therapy is covered in singing bowls, cymbals & gongs, and in the center of the room a heated waterbed with colored lights for an added light therapy bonus, to rebalance your energy (She choose blue for me, which means health). 

What you do is lay on the waterbed, then the therapist places a few bowls on top of your body, she then starts playing the bowls on top of you and around the room, while the vibrations of sound, balances and restores the body’s natural energy. The treatment only lasts about 45 minutes, but you wake up so refreshed and relaxed, it seems like hours have passed.  There is a reason treatments like these (yoga included) have been around for thousands of years, they really work. We discussed the Japanese Scientist Dr. Masaru Emoto, who is now proving this theory using water, that sound vibration can be healing and he is finding amazing results.

After my relaxing afternoon I was starving and ready to eat!  I had actually dined in the hotel’s private wine cellar earlier that week with the South African Tourism tour, which is reserved exclusively for private parties, so knew I was in for a real treat! Along with the wine cellar, there is Qunu Grill, their “casual” restaurant, which is still fine dining, and Five Hundred, which is a tasting menu with one seating per evening. Since I hadn’t made a reservation for the tasting menu earlier in the month (make your reservation in advance), I went to Qunu.

In Qunu, named after the village Mandela grew up in, you have the choice to sit inside with live music or outside overlooking the pool & gardens.  As it was a beautiful evening I decided to eat by the pool, less formal, as I was traveling alone.  Qunu has an innovative menu, which takes your taste buds on the ultimate African experience, only using the finest South African ingredients, some of them grown on site on their 10 acre gardens. I started with a rich mussel soup and as my main; I indulged with smoked kudu with an avocado mousse. Both incredibly delicious!

All the rooms at Saxon are actually suites unless you choose the presidential or Mandela suites or private villas accompanied with your own private pool. The décor is an eclectic fusion of colonial style pieces peppered in with traditional African accents & art. As mentioned before, every detail is carefully premeditated, from loofas in the shower, mood lighting next to the bed, a laptop to carry around including complementary wifi, dried lavender sprinkled around for a tranquil aroma & hand crafted chocolates left of your pillow to name a few.

After a peaceful nights sleep I wondered around the property to check the largest private collection of African art in Africa. What seems like every inch, floor to ceiling, is covered is intricate African artifacts, and it’s all for sale!  When you walk into the main entrance, the foyer is decorated with ancient fertility dolls, so be careful, but the perfect vibe for any honeymoon or baby making trip!  The celebrated collection houses everything from handmade baskets, masks, statues, line drawing, to portraits of famous clientele! I swear you think you are in the Brooklyn Museum ( BK Museum has a large African collection)!

After getting lost for about an hour, I decided it was time for breakfast and a swim! I knew the Saxon was famous for their Sunday Brunch, which you do not have to be a guest of the hotel to make a reservation, but since breakfast was included I headed to the buffet.  Wow! Most amazing, freshest, breakfast buffet E-V-E-R, and you can go up as many times as you want!  I must have had, no joke, ½ a dozen oysters! It was so enjoyable I had to take a picture with it!

There are 3 main swimming pools. 2 next to the terrace of Qunu and one in the back of the hotel near the Koi pond.  The pools are heated ever so slightly, so it is the exact perfect temperature for a swim.  It isn’t to warm like bath water nor to cold where you have to inch your way in, just right!

If you are traveling to South Africa, I really urge you to splurge and experience the award-winning hotel for yourself! If you really can’t swing the cost ($500 - $3,400 per night), do yourself a favor and make a reservation for Sunday Brunch and the spa, which has repeatedly been voted best spa in the world. The Saxon is undeniably in a class of its own with all their intimate touches that arouse all of your senses.

If you want any more information about the Saxon or would like to book a trip to South Africa, email: JetawayGuru@gmail.com or visit www.JetawayGuru.com

SOWETO (South Western Townships) Bike Tour

Do you all know what a township is?  Because, I had of course heard the terminology, but didn't know the exact definition, until I actually stepped foot into Soweto, the largest township in Johannesburg.  Back during the apartheid (Late 1800's - 1990's)  townships were created to house black workers, mostly working in the gold mines, away from the CBD ( City Center), which was reserved for white residents only.

Today Soweto has almost 1 million residents, home to the 2nd largest hospital in the world and has a very positive and energetic vibe, exuding change, but not forgetting their fight and struggle during the apartheid years. The perfect example of this, and now symbol of Soweto, are the Orlando towers. Once an ugly power plant generating power to the city center (whites), while residents of Soweto ( blacks) had no power and had to breath in polluted air, are now beautiful painted murals and an adventure center! At the  adventure center you can bungee jump, base jump and power swing the 33 stories, or if heights aren't your thing, rock climb or paint ball.

We unfortunately didn't have time to bungee, but I did however concur another fear in Soweto, bike riding! Ahh! Most of you know, but in case you don't, I had a traumatic biking experience in Berlin a few years back and have not hopped on a bike since.  Aly + Bike = Disaster. But with a quick lesson from Lebo's Bike Tour and the support of my new friends, I got the hang of it and joined the tour without an accident or being left behind! Yay! I will have to say, I am amazing at riding a bike and look great riding one. Watch out NYC, Citibikes and I are coming for you!

Despite what you might think or hear the township is very safe. We had our knowledgeable guide with us at all times, who seemed to know everyone, and another "security" rider at the end of the group to make sure no one was left behind. Tip: wear long pants & sneakers as it gets very dusty and in some of the areas have to ride over open sewer systems.

First stop the shebeen (bar), which really just looks like a tin shack, to taste some local brew and dress up in traditional Zulu adornments. The purpose of dressing in Zulu accessories was because back in the day it was illegal to drink alcohol, so if they dressed up in traditional attire the men (who drank the beer) and woman (who made the beer) could pretend they were have a traditional ceremony and not get in trouble with the law. The beer was not your familiar craft beer, warm, thick and sour, ick!

Next we went to a typical township restaurant. As we walked in we washed our hands in plastic basin, as most places don't have running water, then dined on grilled beef cheek dipped in salt & paprika accompanied by mealie pap, a staple of Southern African cuisine, a traditional polenta made from ground corn. You roll the pap in the palm of your hands and pop into your mouth, actually pretty delicious and loved the spicy paprika!

Afterwards we went to the Hector Pieterson Memorial. June 16, 1976 high school students took to the streets in a peaceful protest against the mandatory use of Afrikaans as a language in black schools, which ended up becoming a deadly altercation with the police. Hector Pieterson was the first student (12 years old) to be shot by police.

Lastly we visited Nelson Mandela's former home where he briefly lived at for 11 days after his release from Robben Island in 1990, before finally moving to his present house in Houghton, a very high end neighborhood. It was very interesting to see some of Mandela's personal artifacts and a glimpse of  how most of Southern Africans live, as the house is identical to hundreds of others built on postage-stamp-size plots. Vilakazi Street, is also the only street in the world where 2 Nobel Peace Prize winners lived, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

I would recommend this bike tour to any traveler going to Johannesburg!  I left with a clear understanding about the violent history that was a reality just a few years ago. The bike tour also gives locals the chance to sell handmade products and food to tourists to generate an income going straight to the community.

If you would like any more information about traveling to Johannesburg or South Africa, please email Jetawayguru@gmail.com or visit www.JetawayGuru.com

JOBURG

Yes, I am fully aware that I have been totally slacking on my blog.
1- internet is a complete crap shoot
2- I some how forgot my password/username to my blog/website and cannot seem to get any help from the support center, hence this new blog! Finally....

OK, so let's talk about Johannesburg. I will have to say that the majority of EVERYONE I know has got it all wrong! I'm not saying JOBURG is the safest place in the world, but if you just use your head and think like a savvy traveller, you will have a very interesting and enjoyable experience!

Johannesburg is a big, sprawling city, yes. Actually the 2nd biggest city in Africa, after Cairo- but full of trees from all over the world, many parks, some even with beautiful lagoons in them, and when you look out from a hilltop the first thing you notice is all the green!

Johannesburg is also NOT a walking city, which is a very strange concept coming from New York City.  You can't just walk down the street, you have to drive! I was lucky to be asked on a FAM trip by the tourist board of South Africa, so most of my transfers and accommodations were already arranged and paid for, so I did not have to worry about how to get from point A to point B. But, if I was traveling on my own, it would still be very easy for me to get around, as all hotels have transportation desks, I can rent a car with GPS or can be pre-arranged upon arrival ( www.Jetawayguru.com can help).

If I had to choose where to stay on my next trip to JOBURG, for budget, style and convenience, I would definitely choose Hotel Fire & Ice (around $130-$200 per night ), located in Melrose Arch. If I wanted complete luxury and class, that would be The Saxon, but that's  a whole other blog post, so keep posted!

Here are a few reasons why I love Hotel Fire & Ice.  With the whole not walking around thing I mentioned earlier, there is one exception. JOBURG has massive outdoor malls! City blocks in fact, 2 or 3 stories high, and within these monster malls you can walk around, shop till you drop and restaurant hop your heart out!

Fire and Ice is the"trendy" hotel, kinda looks like the Cosmopolitan in Vegas, but a much smaller scale.  The theme and decor for this hotel is old glamorous hollywood! We were even greeted by none other then African Marilyn Monroe, of course! Fire and Ice is also known for their milkshake bar.  They have an extensive boozy and non-boozy, menu with flavors from your standard strawberry to the unique, winner of the best milkshake in South Africa, pumpkin marshmallow.

While staying at Hotel Fire & Ice, you have to dress to impress, so do not show up in your safari wear, MOM! But don't worry if you forgot your heels or skinny jeans, because you can find the biggest local and international brands at Melrose Arch. Once you picked out the perfect outfit, walk over to African Pride, Fire and Ice's sister hotel, for an unforgettable dinner IN the pool, yes, you sit in the the pool!

The Dine in water restaurant, only open in the summer months and is situated along side an avenue of over sized trees in buckets to give you an "Alice in Wonderland" ambiance. I dined on Bengali Duck Foie Gras and Shank of Springbok, a type of antelope, both cooked to perfection and plated like any 5 star establishment!

So now we know where to relax and feast - next post - what are the sights of Johannesburg. What to do durning the day! And yes, involves riding a bike! And also find out what me, Oprah, Mandela and Will Smith all have in common....

Keep posted and if you want any more information on JOBURG travel or want help booking, email JetawayGuru@gmail.com.