NEW DIMENSIONS

I have put on the thinking cap and have come up with another way of trying to get business in the poor economic climate. As the world slowly starts to recover we need to be thinking in new dimensions rather than with the old style of selling "bums in beds". I have always worked differently from the norm and design the tours to suit the guests "wish list".

My thinking was let us go out there and ask the prospective guests exactly what are they looking for in a holiday and what must the trip entail and see the result, analyse this and then come up with a new angle on what the customer wants and work with that foremost in mind.

Give options in a list that they tick off the relevant boxes, then lets see if that helps us get the visitors we want, going where they want, how they want and make it happen.

PROUD TO BE SOUTH AFRICAN

Last night the world watched the showcase of the final World Cup Soccer as it came to an end, with much applause and ceremony, fire works blazing and the Spanish in seventh heaven, the Netherlands (my team) devastated, it was still, no matter the emotions, an incredible 31 days.

The "gees", meaning enthusiasm, spirit of the game and everything South African, was a uniting factor. All our "woes" were put aside for these past 31 days. We smiled, laughed and sang, also shouted with glee and upset as the 64 games passed at such lightening speed. The world who thought we could not never pull this off are sitting back is disbelief with a little embarrassment of how could AFRICA do this and do it so well.

Well we did, with encouragement, dignity and pride, we showed the world this is AFRICA, we waved our flags, sang the songs and truly a tremendous time was had by all. This is AFRICA" S time just like the opening song said.

Some fools tried their luck and did stupid things, like set up a guy to go into the English teams locker room. Well Simon, your press pass and all your future media work should be barred from publishing and you should be disbarred from any work as a journalist ever again. Shame on you! I think your Mother would be ashamed of your antics.

Despite these "short-sighted" people pulling stunts, generally South Africa, every citizen did us proud and our President Jacob Zuma even thanked us all for our hospitality, for which this country is famous, now given a new name - swop hospitality for - GEES. Pronounced with a guttural G in the back of the throat!!!

So come see what all these supporters felt and saw in this diverse beautiful rainbow nation - as the song says - WHAKA WHAKA eh eh!!

JOHN'S LAST DRIVE

MEET THE PEOPLE STAR - AN ANGEL NOW

It is with great sadness that the STAR of the tour we do in Mossel Bay - "Meet the People" - Pride versus Poverty style township tour - Janneman passed away last month. I was so shocked to hear this as I think he was not much older than me. Janneman was a wheelchair user that was such a success story of achievement through gaining self worth and understanding his ability rather than his disability. Janneman made hand stitched leather handbags. It all started about 5 years ago, when Jauckie Viljoen met this sad, shy man who did not understand he had talent to make his future more comfortable and find his self asteem and his pride. With a lot of encouragement he found all of this and I became very fond of this gentle-man - emphasis on gentle. From first meeting him where he would not look in the eye, because his disability literally got in the way. He thought that because he was in a wheelchair he was useless, no one in a wheelchair is useless, but it takes time to find that wealth within that strong essense of life that when found spring out and brings joy to all who meet the person. Janneman came out of this shell so much I could not wait to see how he had "grown" each time we visited with overseas guests. Most said he was the highlight of the tour. So now what?? His passing has left this huge chasm that will never be filled in the way Janneman made eveyone feel so humbled. He will be sorely missed by all knew him. Our condolenses to his family and friends. Pam Taylor - Flamingo Tours.