Dede Sophie

Ever since I learnt that South Africa is a whole country (at an embarrassing late age because geography in the UK school system misses out a lot) and additionally learnt it’s full of big cats, elephants, rhinos and more I’ve been dying to go. Johannesburg, once home to Nelson Mandela, is South Africa’s biggest city and boasts 8 completely vegan restaurants. 1. Vegan Travel in Johannesburg In this blog post we’re going to look at some of those, we’ll talk about traditional South African foods and recipes that are vegan, we’ll touch on vegan activities to do whilst travelling in Johannesburg and hopefully dispense some useful vegan travel tips! As always, please enjoy, if you have any questions or comments let me know on Instagram and if you feel like it, please share 🙂 2. What to Eat in Johannesburg As a Vegan Unluckily, many of the top foods in Johannesburg are meat centric – like biltong, droewors and boerewors. Luckily, by avoiding these you...

Below are the progressive results for top five candidates for the Jiwaka Provincial and Opens Seats Updated : 5 /8/2022 JIWAKA REGIONAL Top five candidates Dr. William Tongamp PP : 29 422 Simon. T.Kaiwi IND : 28 908 Horim Piamia IND : 16 506 ————————————- JIMI OPEN Top five candidates MAI DOP PNC 5,037 FRANCIS KUNAI KINDE IND 4,128 WAKE GOI PP 3,672 KEVIN YEKERE KUMUNG APNG 2,492 FRED KANGE ALU IND 2,398 —————————- NORTH WAGHI OPEN Top five candidates (declared )   Benjamin Mul   IND  21, 561  (Declared winner )  Dr. Fabian Pok  URP  15, 614MOND PALME NA 5,812MALTS WAI PANGU 3,973PAUL HARE HANTS IND 3,239 ———————- ANGALIMP-SOUTH WAGHI OPEN Top five candidates (Declared) RUMAN JOE K KULI URP 45,352 (Declared ) JOHN KEROWA IND 6,577 MOLKA GIBSON KUM PNC 6,118 PAUL ANDAKU IND 5,325 PAUL KES KARAP IN...

 Below are the seats declared so far for the PNG National Elections.   The ruling party PANGU leads with five (5) declared  MPs, followed by Peoples National Congress PNC with two and the United Resource Party with a single MP.  PANGU PATI  1. Tari-Pori – James Marape, current caretaker Prime Minister 2. Lae Open – John Rosso, current caretaker Deputy Prime Minister 3. Magarima Open (new electorate) – Manaseh Makiba 4. Hela Regional – Philip Undialu 5. Rabaul Open – Graham Rumet PNC Party  1. Pomio Open – Elias Kapavore 2. Ialiub-Pangia Open – Peter O’Neill United Resources Party 1. Koroba-Lake Kopiago Open – William Bando Next :  Election Results for Oro Province 2022

People’s Party Founder and Chief Sir Peter Ipatas has retained his seat as the Enga Governor this afternoon after reaching the absolute majority on first count. Sir Peter Ipatas who ran under the party he founded managed to poll 172, 652 votes to surpass the absolute majority of 140, 220 votes to be declared. The runner up Laken Lepatu from the Liberal Party only managed to polled 30, 352 votes, while Independent Candidate Sandy Talita finished on the third place with 24, 277 votes. This will be the 6th term for Sir Peter Ipatas as the Governor of Enga Province.  Formal declaration and signing of writ was done today at 5pm. Sir Peter Ipatas’s declaration now brings the total number of People’s Party members to three. The two earlier declarations are for Dr. Lino Tom, Wabag Open and Freddy Reu Kumai, Talasea Open. Next :  PNG Election : Tketchenko retains Moresby South Open Seat

The Head of State Sir Bob Dadae this morning invited the ruling PANGU Pati to form Government in the 11th Parliament. PANGU Pati won the highest number of seats in the 2022 National Election with 36 declared so far. Sir Bob presented the Section 63 Letter to PANGU Pati General-Sectary Morris Tovebae at Government House in Port Moresby. The Vice Regal said according to Section 63 of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates, PANGU won the highest number of seats in this national election. The event was witnessed by Leader of PANGU Pati James Marape, his Deputy John Rosso and other members of the coalition. In his speech, Mr. Marape said every political party that took part in this election contested for this 63 Letter and its was a fair playing field. Meantime, the PANGU-led coalition at Loloata Island Resort has over 82 members with more expected to be declared. This morning’s event comes a day, before all members-elect for the 11th Parliament prepare to...

It is among some of the finest weaves of India. It was loved by the ladies from the royal houses of Baroda, Indore, Gwalior and Nagpur. It is as famous and as big a traditional handloom icon as the Patola sarees of Gujarat , the Benarsi Saree of Uttar Pradesh, the Kanjeevaram Pattu of Tamil Nadu, the Muga silk sarees of Assam, the Mysore Silks of Karnataka or the Kasavu sarees from Kerala. I am talking about the famous Chanderi sarees of Madhya Pradesh that have more than 700 years of weaving history and that are one of top heritage destinations to visit in Madhya Pradesh . The Chanderi saris, which are among the finest in the country are produced from a mix of cotton and silk, which gives it its unique texture and feel. Embellished with beautiful motifs of coins, buds, peacocks, geometric designs and gold zari border, these sarees originated sometime in the 13th century even though the weaving culture dates back to the 2nd century CE. The birth of the Chanderi saree might have taken p...

It is a 13th century Hoysala temple gem that is extremely well preserved and that takes the intricacies of Hoysala temple architecture to another level. The longer you stay at this temple, the more its beauty will unravel on you. Such is its wondrous architecture. And the best part about this temple is that it is located less than three hours from Bangalore city. I am talking about the Chenna Keshava temple located in a quiet little village called Aralaguppe in the Tiptur taluk of Tumkur district. Aralaguppe wasn’t always a quiet village. It flourished under the Ganga dynasty in the 9th century and then under the Kalyana Chalukyas and then the Hoysalas in the 13th century. It’s important place in these kingdoms can be seen through its spectacular temples. The older one, built by the Gangas is called Kalleshwara temple and the other is the Chenna Keshava temple that was built under the rule of the Hoysalas. Today, Aralaguppe is a peaceful village surrounded by lush farms and connected b...

Cancun is one of the three constituents of Mayan Riviera, one of the most popular beach destinations that fall across the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. From December to April, millions of tourists visit this spot to relish its white sandy beaches and the clear waters every year. Cancun is known for its diverse culture and rich traditions. It offers a variety of adventurous water sports and other activities and the historical relics and architecture of the Mayan civilization. The best thing about the place is that you have so much to do, and it’s moderately cheaper than it should be. Here are a few places to wander around and activities that you should check out if you visit Cancun. Underwater world The hidden underwater world is, by every means, a must-visit. The rivers that flow in the Yucatan peninsula are home to the longest underground linkage of rivers and caves in the whole world. The underwater swimming can keep your adrenaline thrusting, and guess what, it can be done ...

Travel allows us to see the world, experience new cultures, and make incredible memories along the way. However, one of the drawbacks is the notorious jet lag you may encounter when you reach your destination. Jet lag is a temporary sleep problem that affects those quickly traveling across multiple time zones, typically by plane. Jet lag results from a disruption to the body’s circadian rhythm , an internal clock that regulates our 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. So, if you leave Los Angeles at 5:00 in the evening and arrive in New York City at 10:00 pm, your body still thinks that it’s on LA time. Jet lag typically worsens the more time zones you go through and when you’re traveling East since you’re losing time rather than gaining it. Jet Lag Symptoms Regardless of whether you’re traveling for vacation or work, the effects of jet lag can hinder your experience. 1) Insomnia or excessive tiredness – Sleeping more than usual or trouble falling asleep is a common symptom of jet lag. ...

It is a 13th century Hoysala era temple gem that is located just a few hours away from Bangalore. It is located in a small village that is associated with one of Indian cricket’s fast bowlers. I am talking about the offbeat Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple that is located in the pretty little laidback village called Javagal, the ancestral village of Indian cricketer Javagal Srinath. This trikuta temple is one of many such lesser known gorgeous temples built during the reign of the Hoysala kingdom. Like most Hoysala era temples, the Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Javagal stands on a jagati (raised platform), beautiful moulding friezes and sculptures on the outer walls and lathe turned pillars, sukanasi and garbha griha on the inside. Where it differs from the other temples is that even though it is home to three shrines, it has only one shikhara. And its outer wall panel sculptures, reliefs and friezes are folkish in character and much different from the other Hoysala temples where the work ...

All of us are looking forward to saying goodbye to 2021! The tumultuous year is finally coming to an end and there is excitement and the air is charged with energy. The world is ready to travel again and if you are on board some beautiful sights await. One of the places famous for bringing in the New Year in style is the United States. Pick your spot and enjoy the lights, music, celebrations, and the company of your loved ones. Also read: 11 Top Things to do in Off Beat Bikaner Best Places in the US to celebrate New Year 2022 1. Honolulu, Hawaii: Are you tired of going to a black-tie event and want to sit back and enjoy the fun things in life? This is your chance! Welcome the New Year in a tee and shorts and join the crowd at Waikiki Beach and Aloha Tower Marketplace. The waterfront boasts a carnival, a beer garden, food trucks, and lots of options of entertainment for kids to enjoy. This is one vacation that is family-friendly and the kids are sure to remember these vacations for yea...

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This old world monkey endemic to the Western Ghats of South India was once on the world’s 25 most endangered primates list. Today, it is no more on this list and its numbers are slowly increasing to healthy numbers. And all thanks to simple, yet effective wildlife conservation efforts by the government, forest department, local authorities, wildlife enthusiasts, plantation owners, locals and others.   I am talking about the lion tailed macaque, an arboreal rainforest dweller who prefers the upper canopy of moist evergreen forests. There was a time when their numbers thrived along with the rest of the forest species. Then their forest habitat started fragmenting as humans started timber harvesting and building exotic plantations like tea, coffee, rubber, etc and villages on the edges of the forests started burgeoning into large towns, cities and hill stations. This led to a drop in their numbers. Lion tailed macaques were killed while crossing the highways and humans were either killi...

Over three decades-plus of automotive journalism, there have been occasions when having a particular car outside my door made me nervous, writes Brian Byrne. Mainly due to its price, and my responsibility for having the vehicle in my care. Most recently, such a car was the Mercedes-Benz S580 e. Thankfully, I returned it at the end of my time in the same pristine shape as I had received it. Provided you don’t aspire to the even more rarified Maybach-Mercedes, the S-Class in any form is not just the top Mercedes-Benz model, it is also arguably the benchmark for its rivals to attempt to match or surpass. Whether they succeed in that is very much a personal subjective matter, as cars at any level tend to be. But there’s no doubt about the exclusive cachet to the S-Class. When I first reviewed the current S-Class back in late 2021, I mentioned what I saw as an unexpected positive in that the styles of Mercedes saloons have all become alike — it’s not always easy to identify...

If all these Volkswagen ID numbers are somewhat confusing to you, you’re probably not alone, writes Brian Byrne. Quick primer: all IDs are electric; ID.3 is a compact family hatchback; ID.4 an SUV in the same C-segment; ID.5 a coupe version of that last; and ID.Buzz is the van-based passenger MPV and commercial vehicle. There’s an ID.6 in China, a 7-seater in the D-segment; and planned for this year are a city car ID.1, a small ID.2 crossover, and large saloon and estate ID.7s. So what you see is Volkswagen’s roadmap to offering a range of EVs to match most of its current internal combustion models. Nothing in the pickup to match the upcoming new generation Amorak yet, but given the cooperation agreement with Ford on LCVs and future blue oval passenger EVs, doubtless there will be a VW variant of Ford’s US F-150 Lightning at some stage. All of which brings me to the ID.5 which is the subject for my review this week. The style is slick, recognisably an ID, but wit...

Range Rover have revised their Velar model, a mid-size in the luxury brand’s range, writes Brian Byrne. Externally there’s a new grille, and newly-styled LED headlights, and there have been detail changes to the rear including a new bumper. Inside the car gets a new single centre console-located touchscreen in curved glass. Powertrains continue to be options from petrol and diesel, with mild hybrid technology and a plug-in hybrid that is rated to have a greater EV range of up to 64km. That version has a combined power output of 404hp. The revised car is now available to order in Ireland priced from €91,680.

This is a concept from Suzuki which shows the direction the company is looking to produce its first battery electric model, writes Brian Byrne. The eVX was unveiled at the Auto Expo in Delhi, and a production version is mooted for 2025. The car will have a 60kWh battery which the company suggests will have a range in excess of 500km. The production car is expected to be in the same size bracket as the S-Cross small SUV. The powertrain is likely to be influenced by Suzuki’s technological cooperation deal with Toyota. 

Renault Group Ireland has appointed Aherns Motor Group in Castleisland as the new Dealer for Renault, Dacia and Renault LCV sales and aftersales in North Kerry, writes Trish Whelan.  Established in 1927 by Jack Ahern, the Ahern name is synonymous within the motor industry and Aherns Motor Group is today run by Paul and Pat Ahern.  The Renault and Dacia car and van brands will feature prominently within the current five-acre Motor Store in Castleisland which is located just 10 minutes from the town of Tralee.  Pictured at the signing were Brian Quinlan, Renault Ireland; Paddy Magee, County Operations Director Renault Ireland (seated); Lynne Boucher, Sales and Network manager Renault Ireland; Pat Ahern, Director Aherns Motor Group (seated); Paul Ahern, Director Aherns Motor Group; and Barry Ryan, Sales Manager Aherns Motor Group.  

Volvo has updated its C40 and XC40 Recharge electric vehicles to provide longer ranges and faster charging rates, writes Brian Byrne. The company now rates the two cars’ ranges at up to 578km and 570km respectively, while the maximum charging rate has been increased from 150kW to 200kW where available. This cuts nine minutes of previous charging times. The changes were achieved by changing the FWD single-motor cars to RWD, and on the AWD versions providing larger batteries. Both cars are available to order now from €61,715, with deliveries expected from July. 

Readers, please join me welcoming Jennie Shortridge , author of When She Flew , who’s guest blogging here today! “Mesmerized” by the true story of a war veteran and his twelve-year-old daughter who, after going undetected for years, were discovered living in a densely wooded Portland park, Shortridge—ever the novelist—empathized strongly with those involved, from the father and child to those who found and then became involved in their lives. Soon a character emerged, one that captured the conflicting emotions and responsibilities of those obligated to carry out specific actions, even when it goes against their instincts. One of my favorite parts the writing process is doing research. My latest novel, When She Flew , is based on a true story, which required extensive research. I first heard about the Vietnam vet raising his daughter outdoors in the Oregon woods when I was living in Portland in 2004. The story captivated me as it unfolded in the media. The thoughts and emotions i...