Set The Freeway Free

I spoke about being tolled about a year ago when the project started steamrolling into my life and the life of most Gauteng road users. It's safe to say that the issue has since taken a life of its own with government on one side, adamant that it's the only way to go, and opposition on the other side, insisting that alternatives must be found.

Being an average road user, I actually did not mind paying a fee to use a cleaner, safer, well-maintained highway. However, the fees originally introduced were slightly expensive and met with a lot of resistance. The project did not start as planned last year. A few months later, the public was encouraged to get e-tags so as to avail themselves to discounted toll rates. Admittedly, the fees came down a lot. However, the high-hand way that road users were demanded into getting e-tags drew more resentment rather than inspiration. Most road users felt contempt and left getting e-tags to the last minute. Some not even interested in getting one at all.

The opposition side to the tolling saga, named Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA), united and applied for the High Court to stop the tolling from going ahead, reasoning that the public would suffer financially. It was a tense few days and the High Court ended up putting the tolling on temporary hold.

However, the government has now gone ahead and appealed the High Court decision. So it will be another tense few months with all road users eagerly waiting for the outcome and ultimately, the effect on our pockets.

I have jumped on the bandwagon and gotten a free “NO TOLL GP” label via the local newspaper, courtesy of OUTA and the Automobile Association (AA). GP stands for Gauteng Province where Johannesburg is located. It might not mean much in the greater scheme of things, but the label makes me feel like I've got some small say about the whole issue.

To support the alliance against the Gauteng e-tolling, check the OUTA website. To find out the effects of the e-tolling and how it affects you as a road user, check the AA's FAQ on it.

Watch this space for more gripes and moans. This is as political as I'm probably gonna get.

VTT Postcard - Bela Bela Accommodation - Villa Palmeira

Our trip to Bela-Bela was another product of Groupon discounts.

A few months back a deal offering 65% off accommodations at Villa Palmeira, situated in Bela-Bela, came up on Groupon. The deal was a 2 nights weekend stay in their honeymoon suite plus breakfast for four people at the price of R1050 (US$130 estimate). It was perfectly reasonable for us.

Bela-Bela is a town in the Limpopo province in South Africa. The name means "the pot that boils" in Tswana, which pertains to the hot springs that the town is famous for. It is widely known as Warmbaths before until the name change in 2002 to Bela-Bela.

Villa Palmeira honeymoon suite

It is around 2 hours away from Johannesburg so it is a quick hotspot destination if you are wanting to go out of town but do not really want to travel very far.

We left Johannesburg around 10am and arrived at Bela-Bela around lunch. We did a quick tour of the town, which was not really very big and around 2pm checked in at our accommodations.

To say that the honeymoon suite at Villa Palmeira was huge is an understatement. It was massive! The suite had a very African theme, with its thatched ceiling and darkwood interiors. It even had a balcony although the view was not very enticing.

The balcony

My only criticisms to point out were that:

1. The suite appeared dark at times. I suppose the lighting was not enough to light up the whole room.

2. The television set was small for the room size, I reckon it was slightly smaller than a 51cm.

3. Wifi connection was not available at the place which was a bummer since I had my laptop with.



Villa Palmeira honeymoon suite bathroom

On the plus side, Villa Palmeira offered a full breakfast, which was excellent. It was cooked as and when you ordered, so you know that you are eating fresh. It offered a cable TV channel for added entertainment. And they also offer to arrange sightseeing trips for you.

All in all, it was a nice enough family getaway spot.