..................................the setting was surreal.................
.......................................................glass , blue sea , bright sunshine ..........fading ............
pink , then mink .................. twilight ..................
..........................................dusk!..................
unusual circumstances , unusual events , made for the family being in Durban for a few days during the Auspicious month of Ramadaan...............keedos , though fasting , had reserves of energy , and as now thorough bred Vaalies , that they are , do , when they get down to the seaside , do! .......... got into the unusually icy waters of the Indian Ocean................
......................................and , it is the midst of winter ........... and no , they didn't feel cold!..............i sat huddled on the beach ............. shivering!..................
as we walked back to our apartment on the Durban Point Waterfront ... a spectacular sight loomed ahead........
...............being a native Durbanite ............... much to my chagrin , i couldn't for the life of me fathom out what in the world this imposing , yet absolutely magnificent architectural wonder was , perched right at the end of the pier................
......................oh right ! MOYO!.............................................."moyo" is the Swahili word for soul.........and a dining experience at any MOYO restaurant is an African soulful experience.......... ours that night truly was!..........
..............this brand new baby of the famous South African MOYO clan ........... is because of its venue .....unparalleled to its bigger siblings ............... it is situated right at the very end of the UShaka pier..........it is a double or i would say , maybe , a triple volume glass house............that offers 360 degree panoramic ocean views as well as views of the Moses Mabhida Stadium in the distance .......... the ever beautiful Golden Mile of the Durban coastline ........... i could go on forever and ever............. this was my hometown after all!!..............
.....................keedos were famished , and it was about that time of day that we found ourselves deciding to break the days fast ............. at this fascinating funky African experience of a venue
the menu , like the decor , at MOYO is eclectic...........inspired by the diversity of Africa............it is sophisticated in an unpretentious African style..........
..............................we decided to go simplistic ............ and savour the tastes of the sea................tagines of Moroccan prawns ............... succulent , fleshy , tender ............... morsels ..........with the unmistakable taste of cumin , paprika , saffron , ginger ,coriander.................warm earthy Mediterranean flavours............pan fried in what seemed to be chermoula sauce............... a sauce made of cilantro , parsley , chili , olive oil , tomato , lemon .............
....................the tagines of prawns arrived with a Moroccan style flat bread ..........with fennel , sesame and the famous nigella seeds grained in .............
......................................keedos , A and myself tucked into this heavenly feast ................ the flat breads mopping up the chermoula ................... heavenly food in a heavenly setting .......................
...................... it was an iftaar ................. that will forever be a precious memory......................
........................... a reminder as we sat outside ................. satiating hunger and thirst of the day................looking out at the deep blue ocean ............... the beauty of the surrounding ................ some of it man made .................. all of it , not............., a creation of our Creator ...............
.a stirring of the soul again !..................................................................
