From Richmond Hill to New Brighton for a bright tourism month

WITH September being tourism month, I got the bug to move around and check out places I would not normally go to, and my first pit stop reminded me that Richmond Hill has become the cosmopolitan centre of the city.

The NMMU Student Collective filled the Granary in Stanley Street with fashion, and what a talented bunch of designers and design students. I always love to see what our socialites, future fashionistas and models are up to and, judging by these ladies and gents, I can say it's a bright future.

With all the social media about, one cannot be seen in the same outfit twice. So, after swapping my heels for a pair of running shoes, I joined the group heeding the call of Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism on Friday to "be a tourist in your own city".

Until you have done one of these tours you can't say you have experienced township vibe and hospitality. And what fabulous people on board the train to New Brighton, including DA politician Margaret de Andrade, who had me in stitches, a laugh a minute. However, I could not help but notice her cropped pants and short boots did not do her any justice – we do need an image consultant to sort this out.

During the trip, I overheard the ever fabulously turned out Theo Klaas-Scheepers saying there was a lady selling a traditional version of Viagra for a fraction of the price of the real thing. One wonders if anyone really buys these, but Theo was so curious.

Hosts Mandlakazi Skefile and Phrosne Phillips were as energetic as always. (I wonder if they take some of those tonics sold on the side of the street)?

I was glad Titus Chuene did not have to guide the tour otherwise we would have ended up in the wrong township considering earlier this week he referred to Sun International as Southern Sun.

Seriously brother – you need to brush up on the different Sun companies!

Melissa Allison has been flying the Port Elizabeth flag high in Idols and her home town was abuzz when she performed at the Boardwalk on Sunday.

With different opinions on her Facebook page and Twitter account, I had to see this dynamo in action myself.

What a touching moment when she and her mother – our big voiced Charmaine Allison – sang the duet When You Believe. It brought tears to my eyes, although they butchered the song. Mom's voice stood out for me more than Melissa's but, anyway, who am I to say.

Cramped in an overflowing room in News Café I could not help noticing the sparks between the Boardwalk's Caley Phillips who looked funky in a fedora hat and that hunky dude from Idols, who could not take his eyes off her. Way to go, sista!