What to pack and what to wear on a Safari Holiday!

Hello Journeyers,
Now take a deep breath, I know you must be going into shock after seeing my blog pop onto your latest post tab. I'm back!
Still struggling but working on it.

Cedric and I love going to the bush, if we could we would probably be living there. With that we go on quite a few game drives. One of my pet peeves are what people wear on a Safari. You are in the bush, try at least to blend in a bit. Yes, that means leave that lime green and cerise pink scarf and jacket at HOME, or at least in your suitcase till you get to your next destination where it is appropriate to wear, like a island. And ladies - LEAVE YOUR HIGH HEELS AT HOME! Trust me, the animals don't care if you are 9inches taller or if you have perfectly painted faces. I spend my safari trips make-up free and in the most comfortable clothes! The bush is natural and so should you be!

I have compiled a list of items that I think are best suited for those holidays in the bush.

Source for woman outfits

Source for men outfits

 

What to pack: (These are based on SA Safari Trips & Weather)

Summer:

Lightweight clothing,
Long trousers and long sleeve tops,
Shorts,
t-shirts,
vests,
warm sweater for cooler mornings/evenings,
swimwear,
sunblock,
sunglasses,
sunhat,
walking shoes and socks,
sandals,
cap and raincoat.

Winter:

Long safari trousers and long sleeve tops,
shorts and t-shirts for during the day,
fleece,
warm coat,
gloves,
hat/beanie,
scarf,
thermals for particularly cold mornings,
sunhat,
sunblock,
sunglasses,
swimwear,
walking shoes,
socks,
closed comfortable warm shoes and sandals.

There you have it, pack these essentials and I'm sure you will bump into the Big 5 more often on those drives. Kidding. But you never know.

They might just be hiding from those brightly colored clothes.

Remember - less color and natural looks is MORE!

Have you seen some interesting outfits on a game drive? Share your story with me down below!

Disclaimer: As always all comments and opinions are my own. All of the content and images posted are my own unless otherwise specified / linked to the original source.

Brainy Fashionista....Siyaam Ally

Hello Journeyers!
We have reached the halfway mark of the week and I can say with all honesty I am happy! When your week starts with a blue Monday you just want it to end. :)
But at least for this months Interview I have the beautiful Siyaam from Simply Siyaam on the blog with me! I love reading her blog, she's a lady that juggles a full time job (this pretty lady is a lawyer), fashion blog, boyfriend and family! I'm struggling just to juggle my work and boyfriend, never mind blog too! haha
I love her sense of style and when I look at her I get this feeling of a Greek Goddess dying to break out! Her beauty radiates in her photos! And she's super friendly and sweet! I am very excited to meet her when she comes up to Joburg in October! But lets get this show on the road!

JS: So Siyaam, tell us a bit more about the woman behind the face of Simply Siyaam?
SS: I am first and foremost a family person. I love spending time with my parents, my sisters and my nephew and have made this a priority as I've gotten older. Away from the blog, I’m actually a bit of an introvert. I enjoy spending time on my own, watching series and reading.

JS: I would have never guessed an introvert! You have a successful career and you are a full time fashion blogger, where do you get all the time for this?
SS: I've always been a bit obsessive compulsive when it comes to time management and diarising and I suppose my profession also requires it so it’s become quite second nature to me. I also love blogging so it never feels like a chore when I’m doing it! At this point in my life, I’m not married and I don’t have any children so my time is all my own.

JS: I need to come to you for some lessons! How would you describe your fashion sense/style?
SS: Despite indulging in trends now and again, I’d say my style is always ladylike and feminine. Whether I’m wearing casual jeans or an evening dress, I always try to keep it elegant and classy.

JS: I love your style, but you always look like a million bucks, what's your top beauty secret?
SS: Thank you! A lot of my skincare tips come from my Dad who is 75 years old and doesn’t look
it at all!
a) Whatever you apply to your face, apply it to your neck and chest as well! You don’t want
your skin to look different in those areas.
b) Eat a quarter piece of cucumber without the peel daily or every second day. It is excellent
at ‘cooling’ down the body and the difference will show in your skin.
c) I personally don’t find that big a difference in results between expensively priced skincare
products and those that are more reasonable. Just use what works for you. I’ve been
using Ponds for years which is affordable and works well with my skin.

JS: WOW, I must try that cucumber trick. :) You also just added "Personal Shopper" to your resume. WOW! How pleased was your first client and what made you decided to start this?
SS: I had been approached by quite a few women about assisting them with shopping when I first started my Blog last year. At that stage, I didn't feel I had the experience or confidence to take  that on. After blogging for a year and a half, I feel I now have a much better of what personal style is about as my own style has personally developed as well. I've now started a service of assisting clients with shopping, organising wardrobes or just general style consultations as well. My first experience as a personal shopper went very well and I think it’s definitely something I’m interested in continuing to do.

JS: Well whenever I go to Cape Town again I must just hire you for a day. Where do you see yourself, career and blogging wise, in 5 years time?
SS: Everything about this last year has just been completely unexpected and unplanned. I never anticipated that the Blog would become as successful as it has and this has forced me to review of a lot my plans for the future. I can’t really say at this point what the future holds but I am hoping to do a lot less law and a lot more fashion ;)

JS: I know the answer, but to everyone else who will be reading this, (especially the guys). Tell us, is Siyaam off the market or do the men out there still have a chance? Hehe
SS: Completely off the market ;)

JS: Sorry boys! What is the best advice that you have ever received in your life so far?
SS: The best advise I've ever received is not to give up what you want the most for what you want now. It’s difficult and requires inner discipline (something I’m still cultivating!) but if you have put the bigger picture before your immediate wants, you are more likely to succeed in life.

JS: What has been your best holiday memory to date?
SS: So many! But snorkelling in the beautiful clear waters of Similan Islands in Thailand certainly
stands out for 2013.

JS: That's still on my bucket list! Please share your 5 happiest moments in pictures with us.

WOW how great is she? So if you want to see more of her please go visit her blog, follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! 

I hope you guys enjoyed this months Journey Interview! Please leave your comments and suggestions below and I will reply to each and every one of them! Promise!

Be safe!

The best FASHION photographer in SA...Kevin Mark Pass!

Hello Journeyers,

Today I have a biggie in store for you all! As all of you know I've started this monthly interview thing where I try and get into the minds of people who's busy making a name for themselves in the world.
And this person has done it over and over. You constantly see his work on SA celebs Facebook pages, Tweets or Insta-pics.
I honestly love his work. The way he manages to capture and bring out the beauty in already beautiful people  is mind blowing.
South African born, Kevin Mark Pass, who spent most of his young adult life travelling is one to watch. He traveled 6 continents before the age of 21. Halfway through his travels he realised that he couldn't remember any of the places he's been too and then bought a camera. And the rest you can say is history....

"Self portrait of Kevin. Documenting the passing of time."

JS: Thank you very much for giving me a moment out of you busy schedule.
KMP: No problem, you're welcome.

JS: Your passion for photography started at a rather young age, if you think back, did you ever think you will be where you are today?
KMP: It didn't start at a too young age, especially the Fashion part of Photography happened unplanned. I never planned to be a Photographer, never planned to be a Fashion Photographer, never planned to be a professional Full time Photographer, it all just sort of happened. So by the time I got to where I am now, it's been such a whirlwind thing that I didn't really have time to think about or plan it. It all just happened. It's taken about 10 years to get to here but as I said, it wasn't planned and I was more like "WOW! HOW DID IT HAPPEN?" apposed to I've finally achieved my dream.
JS: In fact it was more like you "fell" into Photography then?
KMP: That's right, I've never studied Photography, read books on Photography, gone for courses or worked with other photographers. It's very much a natural, organic thing that happened. I used to take pictures at friends weddings and would then give them the black and white roll of film in the little plastic container as a wedding gift, because I didn't really have money for wedding presents. And then people started paying me to do weddings and a decade later I'm a Fashion Photographer.

JS: Would you say your independence and travelling played a big part in your passion and the way you appreciate and see life?
KMP: Absolutely. I don't believe I saw anybody until I started travelling, and I mean that in a philosophical sense. I don't believe until I traveled and went through some really dark periods of time by myself. It took a lot of soul searching and many years of pining to come back to South Africa, many years of being alone and I think about 30-40 International flights within a 3-4 year period all by myself. And that's when I started to appreciate how beautiful people are, how incredible people are. My love is not for
Photography, it can never be documented that way. My love is for people. Photography is just the way I
appreciate and document people.

JS: Your love for people comes through in your photos. Do you believe in the expression “A picture is worth a 1000 words?”
KMP: Yes, but I've never thought about this question. It’s a different 1000 words for every person that
looks at the picture. People don’t realize that so much of what we perceive in a photographer is what we see
on the photo. Each person that looks at a  photo will have a different reaction to it. People don’t always
understand how subjective photos are. Its really about who's looking at the photo. Like there's another
saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Like some people will say I'm a great photographer and others will say I'm a horrible photographer, and they are both equally correct. It’s a personal feeling.

JS: What goals are you working towards within photography and when will you know when you have achieved it?
KMP: Ahhh I will never reach my goals in photography. (you hear the small excited and happy voice in the background, his son came running to him as he saw him stop at the house) I have massive goals in photography and things I want to shoot for and images I want to take, celebrities I want to get in my book. But its never ending, its not really something I can achieve. Maybe one day when I'm 70 I will realize I did achieve it but nothing I can set down on black and white for you now.

JS: What would you say is your most prized possession?
KMP: My family. Possessions mean nothing. Physical things mean nothing. People mean something.

JS: That’s great, you can see your love for your son (now sons) and wife is amazing. What in your eyes makes a good photographer?
KMP: Someone who understands and loves life and someone who loves and understands whatever they
photograph. If you photograph babies you need to love and understand life and babies, same for wildlife
photography and ect ect. The technical ability of a camera is a distant third compared to those 2 things.

JS: What is your proudest achievement to date as a Photographer and in life?
KMP: I don’t know about photography as I look forward and not backwards, I don’t really pat myself on
the back too often. And in life. Being married and being a farther.

JS: You have worked with some impressive names in South Africa. How does that make you feel? (And this was my favorite answer)
KMP: It makes me feel honored that they trusted me but they are just people so I'm honored that they
trusted me in taking their photos. For celebrities what are captured of them can make or break their
careers. The fact that they have trusted me makes me feel very grateful but they are just people. So the
amount of pressure on them to choose a photographer is far higher when they are well known so I take that as a big compliment.

JS: That is enough business questions I think. I want to know your most memorable holiday memory?
KMP: First thing that pops into my brain is Spain with my then fiance now wife. We actually got engaged on
that holiday in Spain. And I can mention a bunch of other holidays but that’s the one that stands out the
most.

And that sums up the talented Mr. Kevin Mark Pass.
My prayers go out to you and your family for the loss of your baby boy.
xxx

Thank you again Kevin for giving me your time. You are a kind hearted, humble person and it was great getting to know you a bit better!
Till next time!

Want to know more about Kevin and his amazing work? 

Please go visit his WEBSITE!
Follow him on TWITTER.
Follow him on FACEBOOK.
Follow him on INSTAGRAM.