S1 - Ep 361 - Nieu-Bethesda - The Owl House and Helen Martins!

Embarking on our long-awaited journey to Nieu-Bethesda, our anticipation was met with awe as we arrived at this picturesque destination. The allure of the famed Owl House beckoned us, and stepping into Helen Martins' enchanting space proved an unforgettable decision. Every moment spent there weaved an intricate and colourful tapestry of her world. Our exploration continued with a captivating pause at the old mill, where the secrets of bygone days were revealed. As we drove further, the solemnity of the cemetery and the nostalgia evoked by the old cricket field painted a vivid tableau of the lives once led in this quaint enclave. Our visit to Nieu-Bethesda left an indelible imprint, a harmonious blend of beauty, culture, and reflection that will forever resonate in our hearts. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #eaterncape #nieu-bethesda
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[@lizstapelberg1862]

So blessed to be able to see all these old world towns thank you Dust Bugs for the tours into Africa

[@DustBugsTravel]

We're always happy to take you along. It did feel like we were in a place that, thankfully, hadn't changed too much over the years. 🚙🤩

[@ronnykenny3965]

WOW WOW,WOW, Curtis i am totally GOBSMACKED, thank. Oh the nostalgia, cant beieve all that beauty still exists. I pray with all my heart & soul that nothing changes there & that it doesn't become another commercialed town. Truly enjoyed this trip , Sonja yoy had me in giggles with your blatant excitement 😂 . Hubby thinks I'm daft sitting here laughing 🚗🚗🚗🚗

[@DustBugsTravel]

Sonia's enthusiasm is one of the many qualities I love so much and it comes in very handy on our trips too! 🥰🚙 I can't even imagine travelling with someone else. I'm glad you enjoyed this visit, we had a wonderful time too. 👌

[@hannesvanniekerk499]

Nieu Bethesda was wonderful- accommodation warm and inviting. Thank you again for taking us with you.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Our accommodation was definitely both those things and we needed especially the warmth that evening. Thanks for coming along! 🚙🏡

[@InaBotha-zk8yo]

Hi you two! Thank you for this breathtaking trip starting with a rainbow and baboons on the approach to the real reality of Nieu Bethesda. There are no words to describe my experience of this town. Let's try peaceful, neat, bright even on a cold cloudy day. This town seems to have lost nothing of it's history even up to this day. The spectacular white painted houses, the very impressive church, all with their own history from religion to agriculture and irrigation and even fossils. It's there for everyone to see and enjoy, including me, thanks to you. The Owl House is overflowing with the inward feeling of Me. Martin. Thank you again! and Keep safe!

[@DustBugsTravel]

So your laptop is still out of action, but you made it back on the tablet! Thank you for that. 🚙😁 The story of Helen Martins and the Owl House was a touching one and I felt privileged to witness her life's work. She certainly brought colour into her home and this world for, as you rightfully say, us all to enjoy. The rest of Nieu-Bethesda was an absolute joy to experiende for the first time.

[@lindamurray5021]

Thank you for taking us on your journey thru our beautiful country ❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

Our pleasure! Thank you for coming along with us to explore Nieu-Bethesda! 🚙🤩

[@ingeborgvanderveer789]

Oh jaaaa we krijgen nu de nieuwe episode al op de maandag middag. Eerst nog even die van zondag kijken, en dan ga ik eens goed zitten voor deze aflevering met de record lengte van bijna 1 uur en een kwartier 🎉🎉🎉. Heb je toevallig onlangs een mega electriciteitsnet power station gekocht met usb oplaad optie😉😄? Zodat je nog meer van Zuid-Afrika aan ons kunt laten zien, joepie.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes, our new schedule started today. Fortunately we have no issues with our Internet connection at home, so uploading has never been an issue for me, despite loadshedding. I'm very grateful for that and look forward to showing you the rest of this trip. I hope you enjoy each and every episode! 🚙🤩

[@lindakukard1557]

Nieu Bethesda is such an awesome little place. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit there, and the Owl House is fascinating. Thank you for the video & bringing back memories.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Fascinating from beginning to end. Thanks for coming back with the two of us! 🚙😁

[@hendrienel2259]

Thank you Dustbugs for opening up SA for us. We love every moment of it. Hendrie and Jennie. Swest

[@DustBugsTravel]

You're so very welcome, we're happy to do it! 🚙🇿🇦

[@mariusroos]

Thank you for a stunning trip. Quite an interesting town and like you said bigger than expected. The old church so beautiful. The owl house and all the sculptures wow. And the old mill. True to say every town has his hit! Thanks Sonia for the history how a congregation started the town. Well done and looking forward to the next trip. My seat is obviously booked so i dont even ask any more!

[@DustBugsTravel]

You never have to ask, your seat will always be waiting for you! 🚙😁 It was a great first visit to this special place for us. The Owl House had to be the highlight, especially having heard the story of Helen Martins' life. I look forward to revealing where we were headed to in the next episode, I'll see you then!

[@simonemason5352]

So much character!! What a revelation. A real gem! Thanks so grateful to you both. The weather was perfect. Authentic. It is well protected and lovingly cared for.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I also thought the weather was just perfect. It literally went from a blue, partly cloudy sky to grey and rainy in minutes! Loved it! 🚙 🌧️ So glad you enjoyed!

[@sicko_the_ew]

I've stayed in the Tower Cafe accommodation! The main dining area is through that gate, served up into that courtyard from the bottom of the tower, where there's a kitchen. The built up concrete "stoep" in the front courtyard area you were in is actually a stage. The local kids were doing rehearsals for some show there when we visited there. It wasn't for the tourists; just the theatre company doing their thing for some future event there. There are fossils, literally in the stone of the river bed. Back then you could go with someone from the Kitching Centre to the river bed, and go and do a bit of "fossicking" (or whatever it's called), in which you got to see fossils _in situ_ in the area they were working. Anyway, I'm glad to see you guys finally got to Niew Bethesda, even if the weather maybe didn't play along nicely. (No street lights, and not too many lights from the houses to cause light pollution, so the sky looks like it looks in the middle of the veld, on a clear night - something I'd guess you've witnessed a few times in your life? - a sky so black it almost "shines black" - and thousands of stars. (It's always strange to me that there are only about 4000 visibly distinct stars in the the sky - visible to the naked eye. It always feels like there are "millions", but that's not so. Turns out 4000 is quite a big number if you "count it out across a sky". Anyway, there are so few places where you can get a good view of that full night sky, so a pity you had clouds overhead in Niew Bethesda, since it's one of those places.)

[@DustBugsTravel]

The guide at the fossil centre invited me on a tour to go and look for fossils, but time was, as always, tight and I'm never keen on leaving Sonia behind. I was totally cool with those I got to see. Your stay at the Tower Café sounds awesome, what a great idea to repurpose an old water tower, I love it! We've seen some pretty dark and starry skies on our travels, but I'm not good at filming them, so they never make it into our videos. 🤷🏻‍♂️🌌

[@sicko_the_ew]

@@DustBugsTravel Aaargh! I replied and then then a popup window got in the way, and next thing it's all gone. Glad to hear they still do the fossil tours. (I forget what else I had to say. Never mind.)

[@doraduplessis2727]

We were so impressed with this beautiful town! Every street had its own beauty, especially the blue houses (or houses with blue roofs). So glad you finally saw snow!

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's true, something new and special awaited us, no matter which road we decided to take. And the snow on the pass was just wonderful to see! 🚙☃️

[@deonzar]

Well now we are back again in my favourite part of the country... would love to see where we go next. "We know were gonna OO and AA"... 🙂 yes I was waiting for that. Such a lot to see here and all so well kept. Quite a few places to eat as well as some home breweries...last time I was there I spent 2 days and when I left I had not seen it all.

[@DustBugsTravel]

You will never in one million years guess where we were headed to. 🚙😁 But you'll find out soon enough. I can totally believe that you didn't get to see all the secret gems Nieu-Bethesda has to offer in two days. We met a couple later on in our trip and they were headed there for three days, in search of snow specifically. ☃️ It was really chilly that evening and we just wanted to get to our accommodation and chill, so takeaways it was! 😁🍕

[@deonzar]

@@DustBugsTravel Ok...wonder what happened to my reply...and I did not swear..lol...but seeing that you like the cold places I guess Molteno...

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm not sure why comments sometimes seem to vanish. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I take note of your guess. 😁

[@lindapage5046]

Wondering why the roads were never tarred. An amazing town... beautiful old buildings and church. Thank you for the visit 😊

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm so happy they weren't. 🚙😁 And I hope they will never be! It'll change the character of the place forever.

[@troymayers6547]

Another great show. Well done guys. Love your channel.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, I appreciate that so much! 🚙🤩 We love having you on board!

[@nicoliroos4865]

Lovely town! Thank you for another great video. Pity it was so cold.

[@DustBugsTravel]

The cold weather didn't bother us that much, it actually added to the charm of the place. 🚙🥶 Thank you for coming along!

[@daviddalgetty3715]

Thanks for another great video guys. Having visited South Africa several times every year this past year took a drive to Nieu Bethesda from Graaff last month. Lovely to see your vid. Back in Scotland just now but heading back to SA for the month of September always checking out your posts to find new corners of your wonderful country to see. Keep up the good work.

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's fantastic that you visit our beautiful country so often and I can't say I blame you! 😍🇿🇦 And great that you'll be returning again next month. Perhaps you find another hidden gem or two in our upcoming series, we saw some pretty incredible places along the way! 🚙😁

[@RyanDH]

Great video, reminds me of the great trip I had there last year...Graaff-Reinet and Nieu-Nethesda were wondrous moments of that trip...

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you enjoyed our video. 🚙😁 And happy we finally got to see Nieu-Bethesda for the first time. I can imagine how special your trip must've been with both it and Graaff-Reinet included. It's an incredible part of our country to visit.

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys amazing town could be a film set the owl route could be the baboons or rocks like houses route love it .Great to be back on gravel. What a intriguing town so much history amazing characters lovely old white buildings the church looked lovely a wedding cake with the beautiful details .Helen Martin house was so interesting with the black room called lions den and the sculptures the dinosaur museum and the story of James kitchen mind blowing. Sports club still going great to see the tower cafe looked like something from a French chateau. Too many great things to list but loved the kids on the horse. I hope the accommodation was warm it looks cosy so glad you found the snow absolutely stunning video thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one

[@DustBugsTravel]

It could indeed be a film set, I agree! Some of those baboons were enormous and there were so many of them! 😳🦍 The kids on horseback in town is exactly the kind of thing we love to see in small places. The fossils and especially the story of the man behind them, was absolutely fascinating too. No wonder they called him the man with X-ray eyes. Our accommodation was cosy and provided much-needed shelter from the chill that evening. So glad you made it to Nieu-Bethesda with us! 🚙😁

[@leswalter7555]

Thanx for a wonderful trip. The scenery is amazing.. It sure puts me in a holiday mood.

[@DustBugsTravel]

A cold holiday it'll be there at this time of year! 🚙🥶 The village is definitely well worth a visit, I'm so glad you enjoyed the trip.

[@daisai16]

One of your best ! So much to see in a wild place .

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! 🚙😁

[@sallygemmell7562]

Yes, I noticed the sleet falling when you were filming outside at the Owl House. Exciting.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes, it was chilly, yet super exciting! 😁❄️

[@susannaemmerich1166]

What a strange place, always wanted to go there, but my dearly beloved just didnt want to go.🤷‍♂️🤦‍♀️. Thank you!!!!!!🙃🙏❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

Nieu-Bethesda is an interesting place, that's for sure. But with such a variety for any visitor to do and see, it's well worth a visit. I hope you do get to see it for yourself one day, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. 🚙😁

[@lee-anneadams9222]

Hi Curtis, Sonia and Dusty, thanks so much for this episode, it's breathtakingly beautiful, I was getting Philadelphia and Goedverwacht vibes, all in one as you drove through the town. Thanks for all the heritage and cultural information Sonia and your infectious laugh, makes me laugh, all the time. I'm so glad that I watched the few episodes that was highlighted for me on my FB feed and I then found you here and worked my way, all the way back to episode 1 and now I am all caught up. Such an amazing ride, live your work, safe travels 🇿🇦🌻

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much! 🚙😁 I'm so glad you're enjoying the ride with the two of us. It's amazing that you caught up right back to Episode 1. It's been quite the journey and we've loved every bit of it so far. Nieu-Bethesda was on our list for a long time and it was a fantastic visit from start to finish. We look forward to sharing many more laughs with you.

[@amandacelliers5158]

Thank you so very much you two!! I haven't been here for about 20 years and just loved seeing everything with new eyes!!! Thank you also for the recorded sound over your visuals of the Owl House so that we could listen to the story! What a beautiful town and an amazing area!! Can't remember that huge "block" rock piece when you were going down to the town - it is stunning!! Safe travels and thank you for taking us with you!

[@lkn4jolly]

Wow! The rock, the meander of the river, the corkscrew tree, what a marvel of nature all in that valley! I could happily spend some time there with a big camera awaiting the perfect skies! The architecture is very established and super stylish. Another thing is the amount of big trees that haven't been cut, yes a favourite all round. I think they got a lot of the stone from the river, my building is that same sandstone type here in Scotland, like the walk way to the beautiful church with the clock tower.

[@DustBugsTravel]

You should pack that big camera of yours and go one day! You'll love, love, love it even more in person. That much I can assure you! 🚙😁 Your building must be a beautiful one too, we will always love stone! 😍

[@desh7120]

This was an absolutely marvellous visit - thank you 🙏🏻 💕

[@DustBugsTravel]

As always, I'm so happy to hear when you enjoyed a visit. This one was rather cool. 🚙😎

[@desh7120]

@@DustBugsTravel I meant to comment on your new logo! It’s lovely 😁👍🏻

[@user-rv2et1yk8l]

Beautiful loved the journey ❤❤❤❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, always happy to hear! 🚙🤩

[@sallygemmell7562]

I thought Niue Bethesda looked very clean with an active painter. The buildings all (for the most part) we’re in very good condition and obviously very recently painted. There was one building that was not a completed building, that I saw and no graffiti, plastic bags, tin cans or broken bottles or broken and vandalised buildings that I could see. What a treasured find. Very impressive. Thank you. I love your travels.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Your observations are totally correct! It's very clear that the houses and buildings in town are well-maintained and the painters certainly do a great job. I think the villagefolk can be proud of their efforts in preserving the character of this timeless place. We appreciate you coming along to Nieu-Bethesda! 🚙🤩

[@sallygemmell7562]

@@DustBugsTravel thank you, I do not need an invite ever - I am there with you both on nearly every journey. Can take a person out of Africa but never Africa out of a person. She runs through our blood. If you ever go back into the Free State again, and you are close and have the time, would you maak asseblief ‘n draai through Odendaalsrus? It’s where I was born and started school. I noticed you went through Theunnisen and got excited because you were close, but not quite. (On the list for a day marked perhaps and whenever, if or maybe never 😂😂). It would be fun if you are ever in that area. Safe travels to you both and thank you so much for sharing always.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Odendaalsrus has been added to our very long list of requests! 🚙😁 I'm not quite sure yet when we'll return to my beloved Free State though.

[@sallygemmell7562]

@@DustBugsTravel thank you Curtis. I am happy just to have it on the list. Thank you. 😊😊

[@LaurikaBretherton]

Oh wow Nieu-Bethesta looks so good. I used to go there a few times when I was living in Port Elizabeth. So glad it is looking so well. A lovely magical place full of creative people and Miss Helen's house.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Absolutely, creativity overload in this tiny village. I'm glad you were reminded of your own travels to Nieu-Bethesda, it is indeed a magical place. 🚙🤩 We were super happy to see some snow before we left the chilly Eastern Cape! ❄️🥶

[@thepenelopejones]

Meerkat - what a cozy and beautiful room (so appreciate the bathroom visuals 'cause *of course* we want to see that too😋👍) A long drive which has led to many interesting things so look at. Going back more than a few years, I had an English cousin who visited the Owl House. She was fascinated by it 💕

[@DustBugsTravel]

Meerkat was a cool place, bathroom included! 🚙🏡 The Owl House is still a fascinating place, I don't think it has changed much since your cousin visited a few years ago. 😉🦉

[@thepenelopejones]

@@DustBugsTravel

[@ingeborgvanderveer789]

Sonia je kennis van het Nederlands is prima hoor, alles wat je ons voorlas kon ik prima verstaan! 🇳🇱 Wat een wonderlijk dorp is dit, het lijkt wel een sprookje, inclusief het Toren café waar Rapunzel zou kunnen wonen en haar haren naar buiten hangen. Alsof de tijd hier stil staat, met de prachtige, goed onderhouden huizen en een mooi restaurant Zalig (zo zag het eten er ook uit). Grappig die verwijzing naar het posten van briewe en je kostbaarheden afgeven bij de postkantoortoonbank, mooi woord 📮💌. De beambte droeg destijds vast een fraai kostuum met blinkende knopen. De Shell die ooit de bewegwijzering deed, de ingenieuze waterweg bij de molen, de kunstenares met haar aparte beelden …. Deze eerste aflevering van de nieuwe reis was smullen geblazen, dat belooft wat voor het vervolg. Ben benieuwd of de sneeuw kettingen op enig moment nog onder de Kwid banden gelegd moeten worden 😊☃️

[@DustBugsTravel]

Sonia thanks you for the compliment on her Dutch! 🇱🇺 This long-awaited visit was a very happy one for us, we really enjoyed it! I'm very happy to hear you did too. The village kept every sense entertained and engaged the whole time and there was an abundance of interesting places to visit and see. We look forward to sharing where we were headed to next. I'll keep you guessing about the weather conditions at our destination until then! 🚙😁

[@benitastruwig]

Wow what a gorgeous village! I've always wanted to go there, it's definitely on our list of places to visit. I also thought it was smaller than it actually is 😅 Thank you for showing us around! 😁 So awesome that you guys were able to catch some snow on your way out ❄️ It looked so beautiful!

[@DustBugsTravel]

We were just as happy for the snowflakes that we got to see on the pass, that was wonderful! 🚙❄️ I'm sure you'll have an awesome time when you get to visit the village, it's a wonderful, charming place. 🤩

[@phillipleboa5167]

What an amazing video and town!!!!! I wish ALL YOUR VIDEOS WAS an HOUR long and more!!!! Thank you for your effort and wonderful interesting videos!!! GOD BLESS and travel safe!!!!

[@DustBugsTravel]

If all our videos were this long, I wouldn't get any sleep or any work done. 😨 There was just so much to see in Nieu-Bethesda and I didn't know what to exclude. I'm so glad you enjoyed the village with us! 🚙🤩

[@flodillon991]

Thank you very beautiful.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you enjoyed! 🚙😍

[@RyanDH]

Pleasant surprise to see a video on a Monday...lol

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yup, new schedule from today. 🚙😁 Check out our Community post of three days ago for more details.

[@hannahperlotto139]

I have said to my husband THIS is were I want to go for a weekend!!! It's so beautiful!!!! And that snow🥶 thank you. I know you just drive thru these places but don't you sometimes just want to stay just another day to explore more??? Gosh I am so surprised by this 'little" town. Definitely going for a visit.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We do so much more than 'just drive through' a place! This is the way we like to travel. There are just too many places to explore and discover, we simply don't have the time to linger in one. We'll leave that for folks who again prefer to travel that way. Classic example of different strokes for different folks! 🚙😁 You should definitely go, you'll love it!

[@rorysullivan4913]

Back in my country. Enjoyed it

[@susannaemmerich1166]

Now I can also say I've been to Nieu-Bethesda, though it was virtually.🙃😂

[@DustBugsTravel]

You can indeed! 🚙😁

[@lizstapelberg1862]

Looking forward 😊

[@DustBugsTravel]

I hope you enjoy. 🚙😁

[@lizstapelberg1862]

@@DustBugsTravel was amazing , thank you very much .. a glimpse into the 18th century really enjoyed ⚘️

[@user-vv9ic1we7g]

Thank you for ride round Gordon’s Bay.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Sure, I'm glad you enjoyed. 🚙🌊

[@rwbt3326]

Somewhere I have always wanted to go ..

[@DustBugsTravel]

And now you've been. 🚙😁

[@jacquesleroux5069]

We visited there 2 weeks ago, well worth the trip!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I agree, I'm sure you had a great time too! 🚙😁

[@samanthashepheard]

Really enjoyed visiting this place with you. I'm just not to sure about the owl house lol, the story of her life behind the owl house was interesting and sad. Just a little creepy for me with the dark rooms, photos and hundreds of statues with their black eyes like they watching you, and the ladys voice over really set the tone lol. On the positive side I love these farm villages you visit I love the farm houses and buildings, a relaxing life. Loved the restaurant with all the wooden furnishings. These farm villages the people try their best to leave it as authentic as possible. I loved your cosy farm house accommodation, beautiful. I'm so glad that you got to see and feel a bit of snow before you left, I started to feel disappointed for you both. Thank you Curtis and Sonia ❤

[@stefanopaione3502]

Tanks for the videos waiting for the new treep 🌈🌈🌈👍🙋

[@DustBugsTravel]

Not too long to wait! 🚙😁

[@stefanopaione3502]

👍👍🤗🌈🤗

[@stefanopaione3502]

11 years in odendaalsurust 🌈🌈🤗

[@annawitter5161]

AHA! I have been waiting a long time for this. And I am not alone! There are rainbows in the clouds in the opening shots. Helen always wanted to bring in the light, I feel her spirit with you right now. Baboons! And look at the size of that old Grysbaard! Yes, that phallic rock projection is amazing. We stayed on a nearby farm Weltevreden. This was back in october 2004, and we came from a relatively warm Cape Town and hadnt packed for the cold weather we encountered there. The town has grown bigger since then. How lovely that they still have the leiwatertjie coming through! The Owl House? What did you feel walking through? Roger and I picked up on a lot of intense emotion. Helen was sexually abused by her father as a young girl. She sought to purge thus darkness with light, in many forms. She sought to escape, but couldnt. Finally, going blind, she drank caustic soda and took three agonising days to die. The night we visited the Owl House, both Roger and I had terrible nightmares. With the time change, I am getting your vids middle of the night. So I am abit later in commenting.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I know you've been waiting for Nieu-Bethesda for a long time and so have we! 🚙😁 Your experience at The Owl House sounds much more emotional than mine. I mainly felt a profound sense of awe and gratitude for Helen Martins leaving her life's artwork and collections for us to enjoy. The fact that her mind could escape the darkness and, with the help of others, create so much colour and brightness, blew my mind. I felt privileged to walk where she once did. No worries if you comment a little later, I understand the schedule change has messed with your watching times. 😏

[@micheledonovan4225]

Even though she tried to bring light into the house I could not shake off the feeling of heaviness and despair

[@annawitter5161]

@@micheledonovan4225 yes. Very oppressive miasma

[@annawitter5161]

@@DustBugsTravel there was a book on Helen at the farmhouse where we stayed so we knew her terrible story. Look at the dolls on the bed in one of the last shots. Perhaps you can see the cloven hoof instead of a foot. Helen made that doll, she said if she had a child it would be born with a cloven hoof. What she must have been through as a child!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Terribly sad and tragic, wow! 😢 I'll go watch that clip again.

[@mzoxolomdiza2649]

This is amazing my wife and I drove on that pass exactly the same day you did and you took pictures on the same sport we did we were probably couple of hours apart as we were traveling from Queenstown to Cape Town

[@DustBugsTravel]

How cool! 😎 We never expected a monster cold front to hit the weekend we were leaving on our trip, but it was fantastic to see snow. Thank you for commenting, I so appreciate that! I hope you guys had a warm and safe journey the rest of the way. 🚙🥶

[@deonzar]

Thanks!

[@DustBugsTravel]

You're too kind! Thank you so much for always watching our videos and for your generous support. 🚙😊

[@malefanemacdonald5929]

The town has familiarity of Eastern European countries such as Villages in Romania, Ukraine and khazkastan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, etc

[@tuckingfwit]

Highest mountain in Eastern Cape is actually Kwa Duma on the Lesotho/Eastern Cape border which is part of the Drakensberg range and stands at 3,019 metres as opposed to Kompassberg which is 2,502 metres.

[@johannesweitz8497]

Your video about the Owl House bring back a lot of memories to me. I had a couple of conversations with Helen Martins. She was still alive and sitting in the kitchen when I walk in. There was a note on the table written by her that she had drink caustic soda. Due to the urgency of the matter i took her to Graaff Reinet. However i found the ambulance at Rubidge Kloof. She was then put in the ambulance and passed away in Graaff Reinet.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Oh, wow! 😱 Thank you for sharing those incredible memories with us. Your conversations with her, as well as your last encounter, clearly left an indelible imprint on your mind and memory. You were very fortunate to have known her personally and so was she to have you care so much about her wellbeing.

[@johannesweitz8497]

In my comment i left out a lot of detail. This is not a forum where i want to go in lenght on what had happened on that fateful day. What nobody knows is that she had white pigeons in her back yard. I gave that pigeons to one of Stirling Pienaars daughters to take care off.

[@johannesweitz8497]

So you are the first person to learned about the white pigeons.

[@hannahperlotto139]

Curtis did you see Miss Helen, the Owl House lady's grafe?? Or did they not bury her there because she took her own life?? I'm so sad for her.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I didn't, no. I believe her ashes were scattered in her backyard. I'm sure the staff would've mentioned a grave to me, but I also could've missed it. 🤷🏻‍♂️🏛️

[@yoliswambebe619]

Read the Road to Mecca book about the Owl House.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Noted. 👍

[@MrSoy007]

You’ve been all over the Eastern Cape, why didn’t you go to East London

[@DustBugsTravel]

Because we haven't gotten around to it yet. 😁

[@MrSoy007]

@@DustBugsTravel okay, cause you went to King Williams Town which is 60km from East London, but I understand

[@DustBugsTravel]

Never been to KWT, or Qonce, as it is now known. We have to turn around at some point to get back to work. 🚙😁

[@renierlabuschagne2141]

Why dont we ever see Sonja. Would like to putva face to the voice.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Sonia is not keen on being filmed, so I'll respect that until she hopefully changes her mind one day. 🥰 Until then, her voice will just have to do!

[@gregorydavids5304]

Mrs. Columbo..😜@@DustBugsTravel

[@theexperimentalcqdx4208]

That owl house has an evil feeling to it. You come back feeling depressed...suicide spirit in there

[@DustBugsTravel]

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. That wasn't my experience in the slightest. 🤷🏻‍♂️🦉

[@terrimeyer3815]

Now this was a stunning village. I will be going for a visit. I was quite shocked that there are no tar roads. So much to do and see. What does fascinate me is how you manage to find something to eat so late in these little towns.🥫🍟🥪🍕🍗🥓🧀🍿🥫

[@DustBugsTravel]

We were just too happy that there weren't any tar roads in the village, I hope it stays that way! 🚙😁 It wasn't that late, quite a few places were still open, but few people about because of the chilly weather. This village is clearly geared for tourists, so I think one will always find a bite to eat somewhere. You should definitely go, you'll love it!

[@terrimeyer3815]

@@DustBugsTravel love dust roads myself.heard alot about this town. I just assumed it was tarred