But have you seen the 3D View? Yup, how insane is that?

Click for bigger image

How do you activate it?
- Well, firstly you go to maps.google.com
- Search for the street in Cape Town you’re looking for.
- Then Drag the orange “Pegman” onto your street.
- Voila! Streetview (Or click here for an example )
- Then for the 3D, it’s as easy as right clicking on the image in Google Maps and selecting “3D on”. Easy Peasy!
But you’ll need a pair of these:

Will be weird walking in on someone scanning Google Maps wearing a pair of those..
-A-

Below are some images that I took on the day:

The Hot Water Band providing pre-match festivities

CTT Team, Living it LOUDER!

Cape Town flags flying at Cape Town Stadium

Helen Zille enters Cape Town Stadium

The Stormers warming up

The Ball Boy looking on, aspiration in his eyes...

40 000 Fans!

Go Stormers!!!

On the 25th of January the doors will open to this stunning Hotel.
I was Part of the Cape Town Tourism team that went on a Preview Tour today. The variety of Restaurants, conference venues and exquisite suites are highlighted by the fact that our tour lasted 2 Hours. Leanne, our guide for the day was extremely courteous and proffesional while being approachable and humorous. All of the staff had a similar demeanor and made it an awesome experience.
This five-star hotel is ideally located in the centre of historic Cape Town at the entrance to the famous pedestrian precinct, St George’s Mall. The Main entrance however is on Wale Street just before the bend into Adderly.

Taj Cape Town Lobby

Some information from the Official Taj Cape Town website:

Restaurants:

The Taj Cape Town offers an eclectic variety of cuisine and culinary experiences including an Indian specialty restaurant, a relaxed all-day dining restaurant, a champagne and oyster bar and a cigar lounge.

Some Pictures of the Taj Cape Town:

5 Star bathroom

Taj Bombay Brasserie Restaurant

Taj Presidential Suite View of Table Mountain

I’m sure to visit again, once the Hotel is officially opened. Perhaps a Proper review is in order?
-A-

The FIFA World Cup 2010 Final Draw will happen at the CTICC at 7pm on December 4th and stream video from the Long Street party at the Final draw. The Long Street Party will be pumping all day long.
For more info on the Free Party in long street that will have huge screens streaming the draw live from CTICC, check the Facebook page here.

Below are a few snaps I took with my Camera phone. The image quality is not the best but it gives a sense of the magnitude of the event.

Powerpoint slide at the Media Briefing

The Main Stage where the draw will take place

The Stage has a Baobab Tree Theme

The SABC Outside Broadcasting Unit worth Approx. $10 million

The Sony HD Production Suite

Note the HD television Feeds

Some More info on Final Draw:
- 135 Million people will watch the broadcast
- It will be live in 200 Countries and territories
- Brazil have been in every FIFA World Cup Draw

See YOU there,
-A-

See the article here: http://www.travelwires.com/wp/2009/11/interview-with-aslam-levy-emarketing-co-ordinator-at-cape-town-tourism/

Snippet from the about Travelwires page:

“My name is Muzi Mohale, your host on this blog through the love of travelling and the internet. Through Travelwires.com I aim to highlight the latest trends available to effectively running a profitable small tourism business.

Though only started blogging full-time in March 2009, this blog has been in operation since 11 October 2006.

I aim to grow Travelwires.com and be able to delegate most of the work that comes with managing a growing blog to also venture into other sectors of tourism.”

Please Diarise the Cape Town Tourism 200 Days to Kickoff details:

Venue:                                 V&A Waterfront, Ampitheatre

Date:                                     Sunday, 22 November 2009

Time:                                    14h00 – 16h00pm

In celebration of 200 days to kick-off, Cape Town Tourism will be teaching the famous diski dance at the Ampitheatre, V&A Waterfront. Enjoy an afternoon of great Cape Town entertainment and stand a chance to win some CTT memorabilia in the diski dance contest. We are on the look-out for the best diski-dancer on the day! No entrance fee required.

Program:

14h00 – 14h30pm:            Diski dance – teaching the diski dance and great CTT memorabilia to be won!

14h30 – 15h15pm:            CODA performance

15h15 – 16h00pm:            Chad Saaiman performance

I think people where afraid to classify themselves as gay friendly and then be swamped by bus loads of gay travellers. Isn’t any business good business? As with my Sex Tourism post a while back, I would like to highlight that Gay Tourism is a valuable market segment too. Gay Couples tend to have more disposable income; this can be attributed to a number of reasons, though a primary factor being that they tend not to have children.

I think all accommodations should be classified as Gay friendly, and those with gay themed tours be filed as “Gay oriented”. Cape Town is known as the gay capital of South Arica, isn’t it time to embrace that? Perhaps the more conservative amongst us are afraid of the exaggerated gay sterotypes such as Hardo Gay. See Below

Hardo Gay CD Cover

For a 100% straight guy, I laughed my socks off at Hardo Gay. You like it too?
-A-

1. Bart in Africa Statue
2. Waterkant Street
3. St. Andrews Square
4. Corner of Chiappini & Somerset Rd
5. Somerset Rd
6. Gallows Hill
7. Greenpoint Stadium

For a larger version of this map click here.

The day was actually an historic one as the walk was done as a partnership between Cape Town Tourism and CTRU as the Provincial Marketing Organisation.

1.  The start of the Fan walk at the Bart in Africa statue. This is a great start point as it will tie in well with Cape Town Station which is currently undergoing a major facelift.

Bulelwa from Cape Town Partnership with Calvyn, CEO of CTRU

2. Waterkant Street is a great example of why Cape Town is a walk-able City, the lively stalls along this section of route make for some unique capetonian snacks . For those looking for affordable lunches, you can’t beat the stalls on Waterkant street.

Waterkant Street Food Stalls

3. St. Andrews Square is a forgotten piece of land. It has deep roots in the history of slave trading in Cape Town. The Church on the square was the first church that allowed slaves to freely enter and pray. During the 2010 World cup it will be the staging area for post match chill out lounges.

CTRU and CTT Teams stop for a break

4. The Corner of Chiapinni & Somerset Road is where the fun begins, Someset Rd is lined with many bustling Night Clubs and Bars. Bronx, perhaps the more notorious amongst them.

Chiapinni Street starts just after St. Andrews Square

5. Further developments on Somerset Rd will ensure that the Fan walk will be an engaging experience from start to finish. During the 2010 World Cup it is proposed that some of the roads feeding into Someset Rd have restricted vehicular access.

Somerset Rd developments in preparation for 2010

6. Gallows Hill is currently a non-descript Parking situated next to the Cape Town Traffic Dept. In 2010 however it will be developed into public space along the Fan walk

Gallows Hill with Somerset Rd along the right

Upgrading of the Fanwalk in progress

7. Greenpoint Stadium  the focal point of soccer in Cape Town during the Fifa soccer world cup.

From Left - Leanne Pohlman, Simon Obholzer, Aslam Levy, Shelton Hlongwane

Have you been to the Greenpoint Stadium Visitor Information Centre? It’s awesome, I’ll cover it in more detail in the later post but enjoy the pics below of Cape Town Routes Unlimited  and Cape Town Tourism learning the diski dance.

Livin it! Loving it! LOUDER!

Greenpoint VIC outside seating with stadium in background

Greenpoint VIC Entrance

Lianne Burton (Middle) doing the Diski Dance

Cape Town Tourism and Cape Town Routes Unlimited Teams in front of our banners

I would encourage every capetonian to walk the fanwalk, visit the Greenpoint VIC and learn the Diski Dance.
2010, we are ready to welcome the world!
-A-

What if I suggest Robots for the sex industry. Yes, Robots. And not necessarily the battery operated type. REAL Robots. Okay okay maybe not in the near future but check this from Dr Yeoman’s talk:

“Robotics will become important, because you’re going to have labour shortages in the future,” he said…Even robot “prostitutes” that would not pass on diseases such as HIV could make an appearance.”

Dr Yeoman’s talk centered on what the world might be like in 2050. He explained that indoor tourism could be the next big thing due to global warming, an older population, plus food, water and jet fuel problems.

So until the robots arrive, selling Cape Town as a Sex Tourism Destination? Yay or nay?
-A-

Here’s the chance Capetonians to share the fun, the tears and the fears when SA’s Got Talent comes to the Mother City.
SA’s Got Talent is coming to Cape Town 10-11 August 2009 and the producers and SABC 2 are inviting the public to come to the Cape Town International Convention Centre to not only be part of the show, but also to support their own and witness the tears, laughter, fun and excitement, close up. The show will premiere on October 1 at 7.30pm on SABC 2.

Filming is from 8am to 6pm and there are two shows recorded each day, with an hour lunch break in between recordings. Supporters will have a chance to meet the three judges – Ian Von Memerty, Randall Abrahams and Shado Twala – and react to their comments first hand. Cadbury Lunch Bar will also be giving out hampers and loads of chocolate throughout the day. Simply send an email to Michael@hammerlive.com to secure a seat.

So if you think you got what it takes and you into that kinda vibe, jump on in and Good luck!
-A-