Tuesday 7 September 2010

Gibela Backpackers Lodge - Guest Comments - August 2010


Thank you so much for having me stay at Gibela. I love South Africa. Coming from Miami, this place is so different and interesting. I love it !! - Alexander USA

Thank-you for your hospitality in this wonderful place!! We loved to be at Gibela! Durban is a great city with a beautiful stadium and beaches. - Anne-Gerda, Paul, Paul jr and Lauriene NETHERLANDS

Had a great time! Just Lovely! ***** Norwegian Girls, Cecilie, Grethe & Hanne NORWAY.

We had a wonderful stay at Gibela's - thank you so much!! It was the nicest hostelwe saw ever since we arrived to South Africa - neat, tidy, pretty and welcoming. We will definately recommend it !!! Lena & Felix GERMANY.

Bellissimo Poste! Beautiful Place ! Chiorci & Rocco ITALY

Thanx for the hospitallity, compliments for the decoration. Very clean and nice situated ! It's in your blood. Good luck and I really recommend Gibela to everyone. Michel NETHERLANDS

I neede a place to soak up peace and quiet. Gibela is exceptional. Love the privacy provided. It feels like an oasis. Anita GEORGIA

Thursday 2 September 2010

Durban - Moyo

The new Moyo is a glass restaurant at the end of the pier that stretches out from its parent at uShaka Marine World. This innovative bar and restaurant was stuck in the planning stages for more than a year, and when it was finally given the green light, there was a huge rush to get it ready for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

In fact, it is almost impossible to find a venue that offers a better “Durban experience” than this one. At night, standing with your back to the pier, you have one of the best views along the city’s golden mile, stretching all the way to the Moses Mabhida stadium to your left. To the right, there’s the harbour mouth and along the beach, fishermen’s fires add a somewhat romantic touch - there’s a completely different night and day experience. From sunset until late, you can enjoy exotic cocktails served at both the bottom and upstairs bars. By day, you can have breakfast or stretch lunch well into the afternoon with a beautiful view along the beachfront and a chance to watch ships entering the harbour.

The vibe at night is hip and young - a spot where the upwardly mobile young set hangs out before heading for the clubs. It’s about chatting and laughing together over a drink before having a bite to eat.

The menu is tappas African-style – a set menu that is designed to suit a very small kitchen. There is no written menu, the selection is carried to the table on a platter and explained to you by your waiter.

The starters are served cold and include a range of snacky bowls containing biltong, dry wors, peppadews, olives, feta and spiced nuts. You can also choose from a sweet-and-sour beetroot salad, an egg briyani, a bean chakalaka and Moyo’s beef carpaccio.

Mains include deboned chicken wings, Moyo’s famous cheese samoosas (as well as the shrimp and meat variety), a selection of cigar-like appetisers with fillings (wrapped in a similar way to samoosas, but shaped like their tobacco counterparts). Each is crisp, freshly prepared and complemented with dips.

Flavourful lamb and chicken tajines provide ideal single meals for the not-so-hungry – or why not do something entirely different and order a selection of dishes to share around your table. As is traditional with Moyo, presentation is strikingly different and in this case each dish is creatively presented with flowers on plates.

And you don’t have to worry about your budget as dishes are priced between R19 and R30 each! Booking isn’t necessary as the staff complement are only too happy to accommodate walk-ins!