TOTILIFE

EASY LIVI NG ON THE SOUTH COAST

CROCWORLD
BALI GRAND

THIRSTY WHALE
PENBOX PUBICATIONS

AUGUST 2010 | EDITION 3

TOTI LIFE 1
Happy Women’s Month and welcome to Edition
Three of Toti Life Magazine!
I am in the process of reading George Eliot’s Middlemarch,
and I realise how much things have changed for women in the
CONTENTS
past century. Many times in the novel (published 1871), women
are described in less than complimentary terms – their roles in
life are restricted to that of pretty ornaments, secretaries and
adorers of men.

The suggestion that a woman might want to educate herself 4 Ain't Life Bali Grand
or contribute meaningfully to society is scorned in the novel.
“Such deep studies, classics, mathematics, that kind of thing,
are too taxing for a woman – too taxing, you know,” says a
character in the novel (Chapter 7, p. 65). 6 Thirsty Whale
Another male character states plainly that a woman’s sole
purpose in life is to make the lives of men easier. “The great
charm of (a female’s) sex is its capability of an ardent self- 8 New Starts
sacrificing affection, and herein we see its fitness to round and
complete the existence of our own” (Chapter 5, p.50).

I am thankful that things have improved and women are now

able to live their lives as men do – pursuing careers in medicine,
12 Croc World
law, classics, music, engineering and more. We are finally able
to focus on accomplishing all our dreams – whatever they may
be.
20 Social Scene
So, with this in mind, I would like to congratulate the all-woman
team of Toti Life Magazine for putting together a fabulous
edition.
26 Cappuccino Hunt
I would like to welcome Kristen (our graphic designer) and
Michelle (our photographer), who have both added their unique
style of creativity to this edition.
28 Book Reviews
Thanks must also go to our two sales representatives; Jodi
and Elvia. Without these fearless women facing up to possible
rejection every day (it’s really hard to sell advertising you know),
this edition would not have been possible. 31 Recipes
I view my team as a superhero unit; all mothers and successful
entrepreneurs who are doing it their way! And, of course, let us
not forget the sole male representative on the team who helps
with the all-important and very tiring task of distribution.
32 Design and Style
Have a great month

Editor Lisa-Marie Els 078 458 2799

Advertising Jodi Swart 083 654 4790

Photography Fresh Image Photography 072 450 1236

Design Invision Advertising 083 777 1699

Publishers Penbox Publications 031 916 3446

editor@penboxpublications.co.za Accounts Elvia Schroeder 082 453 3595

www.penboxpublications.co.za Contributors Lisa-Marie Els, Kerry-Leigh Snel

and Nadia Coertze

AIN'T LIFE

One extraordinary business owner in Amanzimtoti refuses to lament any aspect of his life.
Although some might think Fate has thrown at him more obstacles than it does to most,
he has managed to surmount them all and is now the owner of a stunning guest-house in
Amanzimtoti.
It is easy to fall into the habit of complaining about the small (perceived)
defects in our individual lives. Grumbles about professions, passions,
wealth (or lack thereof), family and life partners can sometimes overwhelm
the feelings of appreciation we should have for those things we often
take for granted; things like our health, or even the gift of life itself. One
extraordinary business owner in Amanzimtoti refuses to lament any aspect
of his life. Although some might think Fate has thrown at him more obstacles
than it does to most, he has managed to surmount them all and is now the
owner of a stunning guest-house in Amanzimtoti.
Garth Bogle (the owner of Bali Grand) has always loved the ocean. He views
himself as the typical “Warner Beach bum”; a man who used to spend
hours and hours in the sea, either surfing or swimming. However, it was the
sea he knew so well which caused the injury that changed his life forever.
“I had just moved into a new house and that day went to the beach to rinse
off. The shore break was huge and I decided to body-surf. While doing so, I
hit my head on a sand bank and immediately felt an explosion in my neck.
“I was instantly paralysed – but that was the last of my
concerns. My biggest fear then was that I would drown.
The strong shore break was throwing me around and I
had lost my voice from the shock so I couldn’t call out
to anyone.
Eventually I managed to dig my elbow into the sand and make eye contact
with a holiday maker who helped pull me to shore. In those seconds, my
life was turned upside down,” said Garth. The accident caused Garth to
become a paraplegic, and he spent eight weeks in hospital before returning
to the house in which he had spent only one day. “When I returned, we had
to erect scaffolding to make the place wheelchair friendly. I never got to
enjoy that house like I was supposed to,” he said matter-of-factly.
Before the accident, Garth enjoyed his job as a sales representative. Owning
and running a guesthouse had never crossed his mind. However, his physical
impediments propelled him into his current role. After the accident, Garth
and his wife moved in with her father; to provide him with company and to
help him run his house. It was this house that Garth transformed into the
gorgeous Bali Grand we know today. And Garth certainly had experience
in running a guesthouse. After breaking his neck, Garth helped his mother
run a successful guesthouse - which they eventually sold. “I felt quite lost
after letting go of that establishment, so I started another guesthouse for
my sister, which my mother used to manage. Unfortunately, we had to close
down after my mom died from cancer,” said Garth.
It seemed natural then for Garth to turn his attention and experience to
the property he acquired from his father-in-law. Renovations on the house
took two years, and from the first day of business the Bali Grand was busy.
“It got to a stage where I had to turn people away ... so instead of doing
that I bought the property next-door and completely renovated that as
well,” he said. The new property allowed Garth to add an extra eleven
rooms onto the existing seven, as well as a day spa (open to the public), a
conference room and a gift shop.
Spending time with Garth in the gorgeous surrounds of the Bali Grand
is indeed an inspirational experience. Determined to achieve his dreams,
Garth has figuratively taken life’s lemons and turned them into lemonade.
“I am very proud of this establishment. People who visit are usually blown
away by the luxury of the guesthouse and the beauty of the sea views. And
people from other areas are pleasantly surprised by what Amanzimtoti has
to offer. They assume the north coast has all the luxury and beauty, but
their minds certainly change when they see us,” said Garth.
The Bali Grand is almost a physical manifestation of Garth’s mental
strength. It is the result of positive thinking, ambition and action. Although
Garth says he has his moments of irritability, he has never allowed himself
to fall into depression. “People ask me that all the time. I used to be very
active – something which has obviously changed. I think my support group
helped me a lot ... and I never really had time to dwell on it. Plus, I still think
I can do anything; I can drive myself and even completed a diving course
after my accident. So there are lots of things I can still do. People who dwell
on the negativity only make things worse for themselves ... so I am grateful
for what I have,” said Garth.
A sentiment most of us would do well to live by.
TOTI LIFE 5
THIRSTY
Toti Life interviewed owner Tim
Theunissen to find out how the pub

WHALE
and water park developed into the
Toti staple it is today.

Splash WaterWorld has an impressive history. Is it true that it

was the very first water park to open in South Africa?
Yes, Splash WaterWorld was the first water park to open in South
Africa over 20 years ago. The "washing machine" (a nickname given
by locals) is still the original slide. We have expanded the water
park since then to include three new speed slides: the Kamikaze,
Stuka and "Camel" which is also a first in South Africa.

Thirsty Whale is the second half of the family-run business.

How did the idea of a conjoining pub come about?
Thirsty Whale first opened its doors in December 2005. It
developed from the original Splash Kiosk which sold ice creams,
hotdogs and hamburgers from a caravan. There was a growing
need to keep both beach-goers and water park customers happy,
so we started construction of a proper pub in 2003 and it grew
from there. We felt that the multi-level decks offer our water park
customers the perfect platform to enjoy the sea views or to watch
their kids having fun on the slides, while enjoying the pub fare and
friendly atmosphere.

Thirsty Whale seems to have been constructed with a particular

objective in mind. What type of pub did you want to create?
We wanted to create a comfortable atmosphere; a pub where
people could come straight off the beach with surfboards and
fishing rods, or dripping wet from the water park. The wooden
decks and tables make for a rustic look, which adds to the laid
back atmosphere. We've tried to make the most of the views on
both sides by keeping the decks open. Obviously this means we
are subject to the weather, but we find that once you've had a few
cocktails you don't feel the rain on the upper deck anyway.

Thirsty Whale and Splash is a family-run business. How has this

impacted on the success of the pub and water park?
Splash Water World is owned by Richard and Ann Clayton, and
Thirsty Whale is owned by my wife Cindy and me. I think we all have
very different strengths and ideas on how things should be done.
We see this as a positive as we take the best from each one of us
- it is a great synergy. Although it is not always easy to maintain a
sense of humour when it's busy and everyone is stressed, I think we
generally work and get on well together.

Why do you think Thirsty Whale is so popular among Toti

locals?
We strive to make both the water park and our menu as affordable
as possible, while maintaining a high standard. The locals also give
us excellent support and we must be grateful for that. Toti is made
up of some wonderful people. We are also the only two businesses
on the beachfront open every day of the year, including New Years
day.

“We wanted to create a
comfortable atmosphere; a pub where
people could come straight off the beach
TOTI LIFE 1
with surfboards and fishing rods, or dripping
wet from the water park.”
TOTI LIFE 6
You have been running a business in Toti for a good few years
now. How have you found this experience?
We have come to meet many people through our business and
the experience of getting to know the locals has been awesome.
Toti also has a lot to offer as a tourist destination and I believe it
can achieve a lot more if the community worked harder towards
promoting what we have ... namely the beaches, the Galleria,
B&B's, Restaurants, Pubs, Fun Parks and all local businesses.
Toti is also a town filled with down-to-earth and genuine people.
We are grateful for all the support we've received over the years
and we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you!
NEW STARTS

SPICE WOK
TOTI LIFE 1

TOTI LIFE 8
TOTI LIFE 9
 blue security

TOTI LIFE 1
 ADVERTISE HERE
078 458 2799
sales@penboxpublications.co.za
sales1@penboxpublications.co.za

www.penboxpublications.co.za

trellidor
 CROCWORLD
How doth the little crocodile improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile on every golden scale!
How cheerfully he seems to grin, how neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in, with gently smiling jaws!
- Lewis Carroll

TOTI LIFE 1
Steadfast and supine, hundreds of handsome and ponderous
prehistoric reptiles soak in the afternoon sun, oblivious to the plans
that, if successful, will make them the most popular tourist attraction
in the province.

Scottburgh’s CrocWorld is already well-liked among South

Coast locals - spanning acres of gently rolling hillocks, and
overlooking an estuary and ocean, it is one of the few places
where you can get within spitting distance of some very
large Nile crocodiles.

Now, the wildlife-crazy General Manager of CrocWorld,

Ian du Plessis, is planning to make the Park even more
popular than it already is, by turning it into KwaZulu-
Natal’s leading zoo. “We already have our zoo license and
CrocWorld is registered with the Threatened or Protected
Species Regulations (ToPS),” said du Plessis. Du Plessis
explained the reasoning behind the decision to apply for
a Zoo Licence. “The South Coast has always been seen as
the poorer cousin of the North Coast. We wanted to create
something special – something that will increase tourism to
the South Coast dramatically,” he said.

CrocWorld’s size and beauty, and the environ-mentally-

sound vision of Du Plessis will make it one of the best zoos
in the country. And du Plessis’s vision is perfectly aligned
with the new legislature that governs zoos. According to Du
Plessis, the new legislation requires that zoos build bigger,
more natural enclosures, using as little concrete or steel as
possible.

TOTI LIFE 13
Each enclosure must also contain a ‘night room’; a little house within the
enclosure that animals can hide in when they tire of humans. CrocWorld has
already built new enclosures of this type for their existing animals; the jackals
and meerkats.

“The jackals are much happier since moving into their new
enclosures,” said Du Plessis.”Their old enclosure was 100
square meters in size, while their new one is a much larger 1500
square meters. We have also filled their enclosure with natural
plants and soils. They are far more relaxed and now have ample
space to run, dig holes and be wild animals,” said Du Plessis
proudly.
Besides plans to expand the zoo part of the Park, CrocWorld
is also expanding to include an Animal Farm for children; an
open air wedding venue; a Wetlands Project, providing refuge
to a host of duck, geese and flamingo species; and the largest
walk-through aviary on the South Coast.
CrocWorld has also secured the services of a French chef,
who will be running the restaurant and providing day visitors
with a selection of picnic lunches. “Visitors can sit anywhere in
the park with their picnic treats,” said du Plessis. “It’s a lovely
touch,” he said.
Although the Park is in the stages of transformation, there is
still plenty to see; including the very special Henry, Colgate
and Blondie. Henry, the 110 year-old crocodile, arrived at the
Park 25 years ago. Weighing in at a hefty 840 kilograms Henry
has a rather violent and murderous past. According to Manie
Botha, CrocWorld’s Tour Guide, Henry had to be removed
from the wild after developing a taste for children. Apparently
even today, the only thing that excites Henry’s interest is the
voices of little children near his fence. Blondie, a rare albino
crocodile, is far friendlier (by crocodile standards) and seems to
have formed a bond with Botha. “She’s a typical blonde. She
gets what she wants and is high-maintenance,” he laughed.
Colgate is another interesting specimen. Much darker than
any other Nile crocodile, Colgate’s jaw is positioned in such a
manner that it looks like he is continually smiling. According to
Botha, Colgate formed a special bond with a previous manager
of the Park. “Colgate allowed this manager to feed him by
hand,” said Botha.

Weighing in at a hefty 840 kilograms Henry has a rather violent and murderous past.
According to Manie Botha, CrocWorld’s Tour Guide, Henry had to be removed from
the wild after developing a taste for children. Apparently even today, the only thing
that excites Henry’s interest is the voices of little children near his fence.

TOTI LIFE 1
TOTI LIFE 15
The history of CrocWorld is equally fascinating. It was set up by the late Tony
Pooley (his wife is Dr Elsa Pooley, a botanical artist, botanist and author),
a South African naturalist, award-winning conservationist and one of the
world's leading authorities on Nile crocodiles.

Having travelled to Italy, Australia, America, Papua New Guinea, Zambia

and Zimbabwe to advise on crocodile conservation and farming, Pooley’s
interest in crocodiles began almost accidentally. Born in Amanzimtoti,
Pooley was an ardent ornithologist in his youth. He began his training as
a game ranger for the (then) Natal Parks Board in northern KwaZulu-Natal
in 1957, receiving much of his training as a naturalist from Zulu and Thonga
game guards.

One fateful day, the game guards showed Pooley

a crocodile egg and asked him to identify which
bird had laid it. Despite the subsequent hilarity,
this innocent query sparked Pooley’s interest in
crocodiles – and the rest, as they say, is history.
Pooley’s passion for conservation and education is still evident at CrocWorld
today. Du Plessis, previously the chief herpetologist at Johannesburg Zoo,
is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about all things reptilian and
amphibian. Visiting CrocWorld is certainly a pleasant way to spend your
day!

TOTI LIFE 1
TOTI LIFE 17
TOTI LIFE 1
SOCIAL SCENE:

Top right: Linda Harris

Above: Pam Jaaste and Ashleigh Lewis
Right: Greg and Joanna Burger

Above: Tyrone and Unity Lamb

Right: Bernadene Beugger and
Barbara Lombard

TOTI LIFE 1
 Left: Estelle Thorpe and Vera Craigen
Below: Rose Taylor and Sabrina Ward

Above: Heila Youens

Right: Margie McClean
and Elizabeth MacGregor

Left: Cara, Jade and Julie Giraudeau

TOTI LIFE 21
SOCIAL SCENE:

TOTI LIFE 1

TOTI LIFE 22
TOTI LIFE 23
TOTI LIFE 1
The Great Toti Cappuccino Hunt

I would like to begin this instalment of the Great Cappuccino Hunt
by reiterating that these reviews are entirely subjective; they are
nothing more and nothing less than opinion. We received two
complaints about our reviews in the previous edition – and the
main cause for concern was that both reviews were not entirely
objective.
Firstly – a review itself is defined as “a critical article or report
... on a book, play, recital, or the like; critique; evaluation”. All
the previous reviews on coffee have been simply our humble
evaluation – to expect objectivity is incongruous.
Secondly – I like to think it is better for restaurants to know of
their customer’s complaints. They can then work on improving
those things which might prevent patrons from returning in the
future or (even worse) advising their friends and family against
trying the restaurant.
Thirdly – we at Toti Life pride ourselves on our editorial integrity
and veracity; it is, as Sophocles said, “the strongest argument”.
We want our readers to trust in our content, to know that we will
always tell things as we see them.
Lastly – we have visited some coffee shops where the service,
food and atmosphere were so awful that we decided against
publishing our equally awful reviews. All the reviews published
are on places we would return to and would recommend to
friends and family.
Moving on to something infinitely more interesting
– coffee lovers will be delighted to learn that Halls
Garden Centre is hosting a coffee evening on the
25th August.
Similar to a wine-tasting evening, the erudite and experienced
speaker will cover the A – Z of coffee; from the growing
to bean stage, to the history of our favourite black liquid.
Especially interesting will be the section on “Discernment”,
that is, how to tell a good cup of coffee from a bad one,
and how to make the “perfect” cup of coffee. Halls Garden
Centre will also supply snacks and a light meal, so email
margie@hallsgroup.co.za to book your place. The cost per
person is R50 and the evening begins at 6:00pm for 6:30pm.
We will see you there!
Now on to the reviews!

PRESENTATION:
As already explained, cappuccino should be served in a traditional porcelain cup – and I am happy to report that the coffee we were
served arrived in such a cup. Although not required, I also like to see that the barista has made an effort to make the coffee look as
aesthetically appealing as possible, usually by making pretty patterns on the foam with cinnamon. Although the coffee at Table Talk
had no such patterns, we felt it fit into the rustic theme of the coffee – the cups were country-chunky and the foam thick and uneven.
To have a leaf or heart-shaped pattern on such a cup of coffee would have looked silly. So although not as sophisticated as other
coffees we have tried, we still thought it looked good. We decided to award the presentation a half point – purely because of the lack
of accompanying biscuit (biscotti).

FLAVOUR:
We found the cappuccino to be hot, strong and flavourful. Full point!

FOAM:
Thick, chunky, uneven ... we thought it was quaintly rustic. And it passed the all-important sugar test! Full point.

SERVICE: We are going to award the service a half point – the coffee came quickly as did the menus, but it wasn’t as friendly as
previous experiences.

ATMOSPHERE:
Table Talk is different from any other place we have reviewed. Situated in Seadoone Mall, it is tucked away enough to afford its patrons
privacy, but is still positioned well enough to indulge in a spot of people watching. We found the restaurant to be inviting, warm and
quaint. Our table was bathed in sunlight when we arrived, and we noticed a seperate outside area for smokers. All-in-all, it is a lovely
little place. Full point.

SIDES: We tried a cheesecake (R18) with the coffee and found it to be pleasant.

PRICE: R14.00.

ADDRESS: Situated inside Seadoone Mall, adjacent the Clicks store.

TOTI SCORE:
FINAL LIFE 1
3 ½ out of 5.
PRESENTATION:
The presentation of this coffee was sublime. The cups were perfect; the patterns on the foam were as creative and beautiful as we have
seen. Gorgeous! Full point.

FLAVOUR:
Strong and satisfying, lovely and lip-smacking. Full point.

FOAM: The foam was thick, dense and attractive. Full point.

SERVICE:
The service was adequate. Our waiter asked my coffee compatriot what she wanted to drink, but for some reason, forgot to ask me. In
fairness to other coffee shops, whose service was slicker, we will award a half point.

ATMOSPHERE:
I love Woolworths cafés and was delighted to hear that one was opening in the Galleria. The decor and atmosphere is as upmarket
and continental as other cafés around Durban – but it would be nice if they offered the Harvest Table that has proved so popular in
the other shops. For some reason, the café was empty, which detracted a bit from the atmosphere. I have been to the cafés in La Lucia
Mall and Gateway, and there are usually people queuing for tables around lunch-time. So it was strange to see the Woolworths Café in
the Galleria so empty. Amanzimtotians must start supporting the shop ... it will be an unhappy day indeed if it were to close down! We
award them half a point – without many people, the café seemed a bit desolate.

SIDES: We had a delicious lemon meringue with the coffee. It was lovely. (R24)

PRICE: R15.00.

ADDRESS: Situated inside Woolworths clothing store, the Galleria.

FINAL SCORE: 4 out of 5.

TOTI LIFE 29
TOTI LIFE 31
TOTI LIFE 33