Thursday, April 15, 2010

LUNCH AT EXPO WP


EXPO WP is the newest business hub in the Western Cape, destined to become a "One Stop Shop" for tourists. Tourists looking to buy some curios, will find no bigger or better venue anywhere else but curios isn't the only product on offer at EXPO. We have food!

The first thing that comes to mind when the word Foreign Tourist is mentioned is FOOD.  Considering that virtually every nationality prides itself on its food.  As in "Green Thai Curry" or Chinese "Chow Mein" or  "Stirfry " or "German Swine und Kartoffeln und Sour Kraut"  or kettle fried "English Fish and Chips"  or "Scottish Haggis" or "Spanish Seafood Paella" even "Japanese Sushi" only  time will tell whether or not all these Foods will become available on the EXPO WP menu, but what we have on offer, is probably as delectable if not more so. Who can resist a plate of Crayfish Curry, Cape Malay style.  Here is just a sampling of what is available for under R50-00 at EXPO WP. It is not "a la carte" but you could always buy a take-away and do the "a la carte" in the privacy of your own home. Enjoy! Should you prefer to make your own tasty foods  Cape Malay Foods  recipes can be viewed  here at Foods of the Cape.

Crayfish tails in a thick curry sauce served with fragrant basmati rice.
Photographs courtesy of PhotoJani Photographic Studios Ph 084 7458258

Fish an Chips many sound so ordinary but "Masala Snoek" available at EXPO WP is extraordinary, with a  taste that you will certainly come back for. The spices are a family secret much like that of the Colonel of KFC but better. The Chips are ... just wow, once again the sprinkle is a trade secret. So, I am more than certain Tourists coming to Cape Town for the Soccer World Cup will flock to EXPO WP in order to sample Cape Town cusine on the go. Snoek is a fish not commonly found else where in the World and has become a token of the Cape. Hassan's Fisheries and Take Aways makes the tastiest "Masala Snoek" this side of the Limpopo.

Fried snoek in a hot Masala sauce and potato chips with a spicy sprinle. 
 Photographs courtesy of Photo Jani Photographic Studios at the EXPO stall C49

But wait Fish and Chips are not the only foods available, there is a full menu from Burger World with Tikka Chicken Indian Style. Burger World supplies humongous portions for those fast food lovers, and for those who like "to size it up." There is no need to say much about their food because the menu and the taste says it all.


Other vendors like Fancy Nancy Restaurant have Traditional African Meals and so much more on offer. Here is just a sampling of what is available. She has a full time "French Chef" who takes pride in his presentation and speed of preparation.

Photographs courtesy of Photo Jani Photographic Studios at the EXPO stall C49
Ming's supplies the finest breakfast with coffee for under R50-00. Their current setting looks much like a "Japanese Garden" with a wooden foot bridge spanning a pond filled with Koi and Gold fish with plush greenery growing all-over casting shade on the tables whilst you eat. The setting is  tranquil but the best part of Ming's is the Cake. Ming's has coffee and Cake to die for. Here a sample of their breakfast... go on have a a taste!


EXPO WP has so much more on offer, but if you really curious enough, you are invited to come experience it for yourselves. Art & Craft, good food, playpen and face painting and water slide for the kids flanked by coin operated kiddies rides. Music and stage performances and indoor soccer.

An alternative to food is a "Cup of Corn". Corn on the cob has always been a delicious after-meal snack and a must have whenever you smell them being cooked.  But Miller's Corn, sells corn off the cob called "Corn in a Cup" and it is just as delicious, very healthy and totally filling. Served with melted butter and sprinkled with salt to your taste is a really healthy treat.


For the coffee lovers, Craving coffee sells a "mean coffee" but personally I simply love their hot "White Chocolate", but everyone else raves about the cafe Latte. I tried the cafe Latte and its simply divine, have a look not only did I love it, I had two cups, something like chain smoking, perhaps we can call it, "chain coffee bingeing".


Not only did I love the coffee but the Waffles from Waffle Mania was incredible, a freshly baked waffle while you wait, topped with Ice-cream with maple syrup, honey, and raspberry is to die for. Its futile describing something that you definitely have to come sample for yourself. So do your taste buds a favour and visit EXPO WP if just to sample all these delectable treats. Click here for Foods of the Cape.


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TOURISM & TRADERS EXPO | Tourism & Traders Expo


Tourism and Traders Expo is situated in Bofors Circle in Epping and is the Largest Art and Craft market in the Western Province called EXPO WP.  EXPO WP is a brand name but when I set up this blog, I registered it as WP EXPO, which from my point of view was contextually as well as grammatically correct. However after chatting the WP EXPO management I was informed that it should have been EXPO WP and not WP EXPO. Funny thing is, many of the WP EXPO vendors logged-on and search for WP EXPO, expecting to see their profiles but complained that there was no such site as WP EXPO. It seemed that everybody was under the same impression that I was -that it is WP EXPO rather than EXPO WP or at least aught to be. In order to appease management it became obligatory on me to rectify this situation hence this short piece of confusion about WP EXPO, sorry I meant EXPO WP. So there!


 As far as I'm concerned whether it is said WP EXPO or EXPO WP or written as WPEXPO or EXPO WP or even EXPO WP it shouldn't really matter because ingenious software tools can rectify the situation by sending the seeker to the correct website. So, if you interested in Art and Craft and possibly even the Soccer World Cup, go-on, Google WP EXPO and see if software is as intelligent as us humans. Talking about World Cup Soccer, Blush Media at EXPO WP  is the official supplier of Soccer World Cup parapanalia - S.A. Flags, S.A.Vuveselas, Funky helmets, T shirts, Ceramic mugs and hoards of other South African momentos.

Western Provice Expo (wpexpo) or Expo Western Province (expowp) which do you prefer?
Photojani Photographic Studios opened a studio in Expo WP and may be contacted on 0847458258.
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

TALENTED EXPO CRAFTER


If you live abroad, essentially outside of South Africa and have just stumbled onto my blog and intend to visit Cape Town during the Soccer World Cup, please do read further. When you reach South Africa, turn immediately left, continue for a hundred meters and you will find EXPO WP on your right hand side. EXPO WP is a tourist and traders market and has more than 300 Art and Craft stalls to tickle your fancy, with curios you have never ever seen before and neither dreamt about. This is my friend Blessing from Nematombo Stone Gallery who fashions soap stone into craft.


He can make anything from a bust to a animal and specializes in the "BIG FIVE". Why not commission him to make your bust? Here's a sample of his work.

Photographs courtesy of PhotoJani Photographic Studios Ph 0847458258

Blessing is talented beyond compare and really deserves your admiration but even more so, your patronage, I stand in awe of him since he does all his carvings from memory which I'm almost certain you cant do. As for me I wont even try because I will certainly fail miserably. My big question is ... "Why does a man so talented have to struggle to make a living and live on the bread line?"  Certainly there are curio shops owners world wide who would give their back teeth to even meet Blessing, so if you want me to hook you up, do your thing. Right now, I dont want to get into a controversy about exploitation and black empowerment, for that you can go here.


Photographs courtesy of PhotoJani Photographic Studios Ph 0847458258

Blessing is just one of many talented sculptors, I have another friends Micheal who does exactly what Blessing can do and Neville but in exotic woods. He has dozens of finished Giraffes just waiting to be snapped up by you for a few measly dollars, pounds or euros. So, when you go South, pop in at 131 Bofors Circle Epping for a Art & Craft experience of your life. Earmark which one you going to take home with you amongst  this selection.

Photographs courtesy of PhotoJani Photographic Studios Ph 0847458258
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EXPO PHOTO SHOOT


EXPO WP situated in Bofors Circle Epping in Cape Town South Africa has geared up to provide foreign tourists an amaizing treat. The Arts and Craft Market is huge, and indoor soccer is on the cards and various vendors has some really unique offerings, just one of which is photography. Photojani Photographic Studio is "The Photography Studio" at the EXPO WP, some people even call it  the Photojenic Studio, which I'm sure is also OK by Jani. Photojani will have life-size cutouts of soccer star, next to whom you can stand and have a photo taken of yourself embrassing your favotite soccer star. This will certainly be a hit during the Soccer World Cup and Jani will be the Photographer in attendance.

Altus of  the soapie "Sevende Laan" standing with the satff of EXPO WP.


She provides Professional service using both Professional Digital Photographic equipmment and Film based equipmment along with softboxes, umbrella flashes and Photoshop for masks and composites. She specialized in Wedding Photography and is  also the Official Photographer to the Greek Embasy in Cape Town with Greeks coming from as far as Outdshoorn and Knysna to have their pics take by her for their passports.

Jani is one of the few female wedding photographer in a male dominated profession and  has more than 25 years of photographic experience. This experience is protrayed by the fact that she is the official photographer at EXPO WP, having taken 100's of photos of shoppers pozeing with celibrities who have recently visited the EXPO WP. She was also commissioned to photograph all three SA presidents since the demise of apartheid, several  portraits of "Madiba" Nelson Kolithlathla Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Khalema Motlantle and Jacob Zuma along with various other politicians far too numerous to mention.

For these new borns, bring them along and capture the moment for prosterity or have enlargments made and framed by her Proffessional Framing Service. Mom's you owe it to yourself to visit Jani's Photographic Studio if just to browes through the albums of other babies in the lime light. On display to view are numerous Wedding Albums for those who intend to get married along with a video mmonitor playing  highlights of some weddings. For those wanting to get into Movies and or Television commercials, Jani does portfolios and supplies you with the contact details of casting agencies who require your services.

Photojani stocks a full range of official paraphanalia amongst which are, Drivers Licence Application forms, Identity Documents applications forms and Passport application forms, for those persons  too busy to get to the official offices to get them. Essentially she provides a "One Stop Photographic Shop." She also shoots 21st parties, kids birthday parties, company events and even private lingere cover girl shoots  for the sexy ladies by appointment,  so don't forget to bring bring your sexy Lingere - Thongs, Camisoles, Bras and Basques.
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Monday, April 12, 2010

THE LADIES OF EXPO WP


Starting your own business is not easy, or rather it certainly isn't as easy as most people think it is. So, herewith, I pay homage and I salute as well as  take my hat off to a few women whom I've recently met at EXPO WP who each run their own businesses. A short collectively description of them would be,  go-getters, entrepeneurs, sole providers, mothers, wives, girlfriends and business women all of whom are doing it for themselves. They are extremely creative, very determined, highly motivated, filed with commitment, all wanting to make a difference in their lives and those of their loved ones.

Amongst them are Sumaya  and  Elizabeth both talented fashion  clothing designers each sporting their own label with highly fashionable clothing for that exclusive lady shopper wanting to look different or unique. Sumaya isn't just a fashion designer but also a maths genius who provide maths classes to school kids in the boardroom of EXPO WP by appointment

Then there is Najma, Siyaam, Nancy and Shima all four of them excellent cooks, each having their own food store, each with delectable menus appealing to different tastes, and together they feed the EXPO WP's rainbow nation.  Fatima, Antionette, and Mrs Langevelt each have their own stalls as well, a hairdresser, a bookshop and a biltong stand respectively, each one of them a vibrant business woman on the move, each with an attitude that will make a difference. Micarla, Claudia, Rhazia, Kay, Sadia, Belinda and Ruwadi  are all therapists, some in beauty, some practicing alternative healing therapies and holistic healing, each with their own parlor providing a service to those who are ailed and in want of beauty, relaxation and calm. They provide services from head to toe -Indian head massage to Reflexology and other treatments far too numerous to mention. Treatments are not exclusively for women.

Ghalema and Jani are relatively unique, Ghalema is an artist and Jani is a photographer, she is one of the few female wedding photographer in a male dominated profession. She has more than 25 years of photographic experience and has her own studio at EXPO WP. Essentially she is the official photographer at EXPO WP, having taken 100's of photos of shoppers poseing with celebrities who have recently visited the EXPO WP. She was commissioned to photograph all three SA presidents since the demise of apartheid and on show in her studio, there are several  portraits of "Madiba" Nelson Golithlathla Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Kalima Motlantle and Jacob Zuma. She has also photographed numerous other politicians whose names I can't even remember neither pronounce. I have also watched Ghalema work, all original creations within record time using both water based or oil paints. You can commissions your own original painting from her, alternatively take art classes with her right at the EXPO WP.

Then there is Carla, Venice, Joy, Edwina, Farida, Sara, Armiena, Ina, Nadia, Viola, Cynthia, Sarah, Gawa, Nadia, Zubeida, Tsitsi, Dudu, Shaheeda, Muneeba, Nandiepah, Mariam, Wisaal, Sharon, Ruwayda, Luccille, Lyne, Shagoofa, Cine, Desre, Laeekah and Grace all of them business women. Their names may not mean much to you but they are amongst the "Ladies that makes EXPO WP tick". They are all set to provide each tourists with a pleasant shopping experience during the Soccer World Cup, from curios to souvenirs to food, shoes and clothing, artifacts, paintings and craft and many many items far too numerous to mention.  They are responsible for the buzz, the atmosphere, the deals, they ply their trade especially for you, so it's within your interest to come meet with them, commission them, trade with them, do business with them, buy their wares,  interact with them, eat from them, get to know them and perhaps you will develop the mindset to start your own business. Your first step to starting your own business is to come to the  EXPO, the ladies are awaiting! After all, starting your own business may just be as easy as you thought it is.
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EXPO WP OFFICIAL OPENING


The buildup to the Official Opening of EXPO WP was so cool and the hosted events  attracted hoards of people like no other. There were celebrities  the likes of Altus and Mandla -actors in a popular SA soap opera. The celebs were  there on different days resulting in two separate photo shoots with loads of loyal fans  lining up to have their photo taken by the official EXPO WP photographer Jani, owner of PhotoJani Photographic Studios whilst some came  just to grab an autograph. Hundreds of people now have an official EXPO WP logo on their photographs as a momento and a reminder of the great time they had at EXPO WP.


 Photographs courtesy of PhotoJani Photographic Studios at the EXPO stall C49

The Easter Weekend has come and has gone but  the events and the fun we had at EXPO WP will last forever.  Easter is all about Easter eggs and there was a Easter egg hunt inside the main hall for kids, it was awesome, with prizes for the best at solving the riddle to find the hidden Easter Eggs.  There was also a kids colouring competition and face painting with an opportunity to have their painted faces imaged onto a ceramic mug or a sweater by Blush Media.

On stage, there were a number of music groups and the one that grabbed my fancy  was a  group playing Flamenco Music whilst the MC was giving away prizes galore.  It is absolutely certain that all the  kids where blown away by  their prizes which ranged from a bicycle to a weekend getaway for 2,  as well as  dozens  of meal  vouchers from Burger World, Ming's Halal Foods, Moparks, Miller's Corn, Waffle Mania, Food Palace, Hassan's Fisheries and Fancy Nancy Restaurant.

The opening specials on meals, were very appropriate and  really  inexpensive. I treated myself to a platter of Crayfish Curry from Food Palace and 2 Lattes  from Craving Coffee, all for under R50.00. Talking about coffee, Shaun from Craving Coffee  makes a really mean cup of coffee and his white chocolate is to die for. On Monday Radio 796 was in attendance and the crowd that they pulled was huge, all the vendors were really busy attending  to them, but at the food court  they could hardly cope with the masses.

Photographs courtesy of PhotoJani Photographic Studios at the EXPO stall C49


This is really the ultimate Tourist stop and no tourist should leave  Cape Town without at least visiting the craft stalls.   At Kreations I witnessed  some amaizing beadwork -a VOLVO logo made of beads. Shaheeda of  Kreations can replicated a photo of yourself with beads and frame it. But the best to me was an elderly gentleman who owns Nematombo Stone Gallery who carved a giraffe from soapstone along with all  its patches completely freehand. All I could say was WOW! to his shear raw talent. seriously, don't take my word for it, come view their creativity for yourself.

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Friday, March 26, 2010

EXPO WP COUNT DOWN


DONT GET LOST, GET TO EXPO WP

As I have mentioned before, EXPO WP is currently the largest indoor/undercover market with more than 300 stalls, located in the entire Western Cape and there are just 4 days to go before its official opening. The planning thus far has been major and the advertising substancial, with some really large live entertainment events on the cards, staggered across the entire Easter Weekend. Thus far, every event hosted at EXPO WP was a hit, really attracting large crowds who invariable spent there entire day there, engrossed in the happenings of the day.

However, others seems to have had no idea where EXPO WP is, so if you were among them, I am here to help you get there. Some how, certain people were under the miss information that the EXPO WP is behind Grand West Casino, but that's not exactly true. Admittedly its not too far from GW but certainly not near enough to qualify as an exclusive landmark. Speaking about landmarks most men or rather males will identify with a motor spares yard when mentioned, so if you guys have any idea where Bonerts Motor spares in Bofors Circle Epping is, EXPO WP is just 300 meters further away in the same road. The ladies I'm certain would more readily indentify with Epping Fire station situated on the opposite side of the road away from Bonerts, hence away from the EXPO... so ladies please drive in the other direction, with the old Epping Fresh Produce Market behind you. Essentially away from Pinelands.

Perhaps I'm adding to the confusion, so lets make this really easy. Just get out your latest technological toy -the GPS, punch in 33°55'38.0964" South, 18°33'1.7382" East an viola, you'll drive straight into the parking-lot of the EXPO WP. For those technological challenged people and those who don't have a GPS, you can find EXPO WP on a map, just locate Lat:33.927249 and Long:18.550483 and you'll also be there in double quick time. For everyone ells that's not as smart, myself included, please consult this road map, meaning the first map which is immediately below. Locate  Showground Avenue, its the "service road" behind Grand West Casino.  I painted that road RED for your benefit, observe that  it points towards a RED rectangle, and that's exactly where EXPO WP is located. So technically EXPO WP is on the right side of GW when you facing it and not behind as some people were led to believe.

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 Below is another Map with an aerial view, soley for those arriving by plane, so have a good look at where EXPO WP is, yes its exactly on the spot where the RED A is, so now you have no excuse not to be at EXPO WP this Easter.

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