The village of Bray is at a border post between South Africa and Botswana. The adjacent villages on each side of the border bear the same name.
Bray seems an appropriate enough name for a place where donkey carts are in regular use, and in the photo above, taken on the main road on the South African side of the border, two donkeys can be seen ambling down the road.
Posted by Carol
letting nature back in 
December 15, 2018 at 7:01 am
What a delightful image… both, actually. The thing that struck me in the first one (or header) was how very flat everything looks. It’s rather striking to someone surrounded by hills and mountains and the ocean. Then again the donkey cart is definitely a more ecologically suitable form of transportation. Perhaps it’s too easy to idealize, but look where rushing around in autos has got us.
I’ll second the recommendation to read the ‘Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency’ series. It’s definitely not your normal detective genre. The characters are delightful and there’s a good dose of humor involved. The books also introduced me to Roobios tea, which I enjoy very much. That’s an impression from memory since it’s been quite a number of years since I read the series. I’d say it’s probably worth a try at the very least.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 17, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Yes the terrain in that sandy region is pretty much flat and in previous epochs much of the region was the bottom of inland seas, as far as I recall. There are some highish ridges and outcrops, possibly former shorelines.
I will definitely be following up on all the recommendations to read Alexander McCall Smith. What an interesting way to come across Rooibos tea!
LikeLike
December 18, 2018 at 2:59 am
Re: Rooibos tea. The main character who is quite down to earth prefers (I believe she called it ‘Red tea’). Her assistant, attempting to be more sophisticated, prefers black tea. They have some mild squabbles over it. Since the mellow woman liked the Rooibos, I was tempted to try it and luckily found some at the local co-op health food store. For a mystery book I remember very little murder or mayhem. Mostly it seemed to be about interactions between the interesting characters. Sadly I read some of the author’s books and didn’t find them nearly as charming.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 18, 2018 at 9:14 pm
Rooibos, literally means “red bush” the common name for the indigenous plant the tea derives from. I used to drink it without milk or sugar, but these days prefer caffeine containing beverages, but despite that I like to think I too can be somewhat mellow 🙂
LikeLike
December 19, 2018 at 4:23 am
Sadly, as I aged, my system didn’t tolerate caffeine. It gave me significant jitters. I like my Rooibos plain (without milk or sugar). It seems to have a calming effect on me, so I’ll often have a cup at bedtime. I’m very happy I discovered it. I suspect you are quite mellow! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 19, 2018 at 8:13 pm
🙂
LikeLike
December 14, 2018 at 6:08 am
That donkey and cart photograph would make a stunning painting! I have to agree with Margaret – I love Alexander McCalls Botswana no 1 detective agency series! Not because they are ‘detective’ stories, it is his portrayal of the characters and the place that is so delightful, definitely worth giving them a try. Now I have learnt about a new little ‘dorp’ thanks for that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 14, 2018 at 6:21 am
Thanks so much. I hesitated to use the main image as technically it is not that clear but I like the scene it portrays.
OK! I will give the Botswana Ladies Detective Agency series a try ☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 14, 2018 at 1:03 am
Got to love a place where large animals wander freely in the road. One definition of ‘rural’ I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 14, 2018 at 5:39 am
A good definition, although we do have cattle wandering around our suburb fairly regularly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 21, 2018 at 5:10 am
That happens here too. There’s a gated community near here where the cattle wander through. If anyone hits one with their car it will cost them a thousand dollars. Don’t know whether they get to keep the beef!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 13, 2018 at 5:01 pm
This looks just like the scenes I imagine in Alexander McCall Smith’s ‘Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency’ series. He seems to paint a sympathetic and probably realistic picture of the land and village scapes. Doesn’t he?
LikeLiked by 2 people
December 13, 2018 at 5:08 pm
Much of Botswana where his books are set has similar terrain to in the photo. Dare I confess that I am a bit detective-stories averse and I have not read the books? Oh well, that’s done it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 13, 2018 at 9:05 pm
Well, there are detective stories and detective stories. These are light, humorous, and not a body in sight. They’re quite suitable for an aged granny. And I do like a detective story with a sense of place. Donna Leon is worth reading simply to transport you to Venice, Graham Hurley to take you to Portsmouth and grittier parts of South West England. Blood and gore for its own sake doesn’t do it for me. Goodness. You never asked for all that, did you?
LikeLike
December 14, 2018 at 5:29 am
Thanks Margaret. I also don’t like blood and gore for its own sake but I also get put off by the genre formula, but realise that is an unreasonable prejudice! I understand what you say about a sense of place. I did watch the first Inspector Morse series on TV and thought the place and characters made it enjoyable rather than the plots. I will definitely look out for the writers you mention and try to be more open minded ☺
LikeLike
December 14, 2018 at 5:29 am
Thanks Margaret. I also don’t like blood and gore for its own sake but I also get put off by the genre formula, but realise that is an unreasonable prejudice! I understand what you say about a sense of place. I did watch the first Inspector Morse series on TV and thought the place and characters made it enjoyable rather than the plots. I will definitely look out for the writers you mention and try to be more open minded ☺
LikeLike
December 14, 2018 at 1:27 pm
You’re not even slightly narrow minded. I don’t do sci-fi, and that’s entirely reasonable!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 17, 2018 at 2:22 pm
Good of you to say Margaret, but I do own to being a tad curmudgeonly now and again 🙂 I also have a bit of a deficit re sci-fi …
LikeLiked by 1 person