Relaxing in the Cape Sun a treat

Published Jun 30, 2009

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It was a scorching day in Franschhoek but the night was still young as we headed to Southern Sun's 25-year-old heavenly hideout for the business set, the Cape Sun.

Little Prashirwin, fresh from flitting about with Boomerang's Scooby-Doo and Johnny Bravo characters, was excited as Lynette Alexander, the boss of At Vogue communications, drove us from a somewhat cheesy-but-fun festival in Franschhoek to the city centre for a taste of the high life.

After a long day which began at 5am to catch a 7am flight from the nightmare that is OR Tambo Airport, this was no ordinary lodging for the night as we were treated like royalty in the 130m² Penthouse suite on the 32nd floor.

Taking the lift up those dizzying heights, one had breathtakingly awesome views of the city.

Wow! The views of the city, the mountain, harbour and Robben Island and the spectacular Green Point soccer stadium Helen Zille once moaned about look amazing. Grace has never been this good.

Nevermind it was about 7pm, and after a wonderfully hectic day, Prashirwin wanted to have a swim in the modestly sized gym.

Where do seven-year olds get such energy?

Fortunately, the pool was not big enough for two so I watched him having fun splashing around in the section where the water was 1m deep. The square-shaped pool was 1.5m deep but diving was out of the question.

After a quick swim, it was off to the room but the little king who never stayed in a hotel before said he wanted to go into the jacuzzi. He was having a blast.

Being the adult, I ought to have known not to fill the entire tub because, when you press the spray button, the bubbles hit the ceiling.

After a few pleas from my boy to join him, I could no longer decline. It was part of the Cape Sun king's experience.

I entered the jacuzzi, big enough for a house party, but terror gripped as he pressed the button for the spray. The water began to make like Noah's Ark. He could not stop laughing while I took evasive action to prevent the foamy water from spreading on to the carpet in the bathroom.

They had enough towels for an army. Carpets in a bathroom, along with gold taps and door handles did seem a bit kitsch but I had to mop up before thinking about that.

A quick shower afterwards and, by 9pm, Prashirwin was hungry but not for hotel food. A two-minute walk to Spur next door to the hotel did the trick.

On our return by 10.30pm, I thought he would have had enough so I could get some beauty sleep. No such luck.

Prashirwin wanted to watch the Scooby-Doo DVD on the big screen plasma in a lounge fit for a king.

First, I had to make tea and serve him with biscuit.

The room was equipped with a private kitchen kitted with a fridge, stove, microwave and kettle. Pretty cool. Throw in a small dining area, a bar fridge and a study area with internet access, and the large bedroom with the smaller television set, and what more does one need for the busy executive on the go?

If this is how the other half live, I am hoping President Jacob Zuma will not pay lip service to my blasé economic empowerment aspirations. I cannot promise any, er, inducements for a place in the sun.

Throughout the penthouse, one is almost overawed by the panoramic views of the city, the buildings nearby and the not-so-exciting part of the mountain. Prashirwin watched Scooby-Doo and followed it up with another favourite, Tom & Jerry, as if he does not get enough of it at home when hogging the remote.

One would have thought in a getaway such as this he'd give the cartoon characters, his favourites, a break on a plasma TV screen. Next time, I should remember to carry the popcorn. Eventually, at 12.30am he crawled into the bed and, within minutes, was in dreamland.

For me one of the fascinating things about high-rise hotels is staring at the views of the city from the window. In my mind I have views, among others, of Tokyo from the window-pane, as well as Seoul in South Korea, Chioggia outside Venice in Italy, Jumeirah hotel in Dubai, scenes of New York where I once counted the number of yellow taxis in five minutes one morning when insomnia reigned.

The next morning Prashirwin awoke at 9.30am, giving me time for a shower and a breakfast meeting with James Murdoch, the general manager of the Cape Sun.

It was Freedom Day but Murdoch was not getting any rest, along with Sheriin van Gent, the guest relations manager, who remembered Aldrin, my brother, and me from our school days in Grove End, Phoenix, north of Durban.

Murdoch is also a Durbanite who studied at ML Sultan Technikon (now Durban Institute of Technology).

He has been with Southern Sun since 1988, working in hotels within the group around the country.

Why?

"I dunno," he says, with a laugh, adding: "I've asked myself the same question often. Every day is a different day with new challenges.

"When you work with people it can be very rewarding, though," he says.

Murdoch says the Cape Sun, which was born 25 years ago, was the old stomping ground of hotel magnate Sol Kerzner and Anneline Kriel, his former wife.

"This was the hotel that brought the Strand and Adderley Street to a halt. When it started, it was famous for its dinner and dancing," he says.

Now it is more popular as a conference venue, offering almost 400 rooms, plenty of space for talkshops and other indabas. Just 25 minutes from the airport - or 35 minutes because of the roadworks - the Cape Sun is part of the heartbeat of the rejuvenation of the city with a positive vibrancy, even on a Sunday night. "Can we come back tomorrow?" asks Prashirwin.

"Give me a shout anytime," replies Murdoch.

Now whenever Prashirwin's watching Scooby-Doo and Tom & Jerry madness on Boomerang, he keeps asking about going back to the Cape Sun. "The owner of the hotel said we can call him anytime," he reminds me.

- Cape Sun: Tel: 021 4885100; fax: 021 4238875 or you can email: [email protected]

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