Leliefontein, Namakwaland, Suid-Afrika

The present moment is all you ever have. – Eckhart Tolie

(English and photographs below)

Verlede week het ek van Emil Bosch, fotograaf uit die Wes-Kaap, ‘n epos gekry. “Oorweeg dit om na Leliefontein te gaan kyk”, het hy geskryf.

Ek het nog nooit van die plekkie gehoor nie. Dit lê so 29 km van Kamieskroon hoog in die berge. Daar is die eerste Metodiste Sendingstasie /-kerkie in Suid-Afrika gebou.

En hoe meer ek oplees, hoe meer vind ek toe uit hoe gerieflik min ek / ons van ons eie geskiedenis weet.

Ek lees dat daar op 31 Januarie 1902 ‘n menseslagting (‘massacre’) plaasgevind het.

Ek lees dat daar 35 inwoners van die dorpie deur genl. Manie Maritz tereggestel is omdat hulle die Engelse in die Anglo Boereoorlog ondersteun het.

Gister, daar hoog in die berge met ‘n yskoue wind wat deur alles en almal gesny het, besef ek net weereens hoeveel daar nog in hierdie wonderlike land van ons te ontdek is.

Hier in Garies het ‘n nuwe droom ontstaan. Ek wens ek kon met die KLR vir ‘n jaar lank deur Suid-Afrika op reis gaan en by al hierdie onbekende mooi plekkies gaan stop om hul storie te vertel.

Ek sien in my toekomsdroom ‘n nuwe vorm van toerisme in Suid-Afrika ontstaan. Al hoe meer bruin en swart Suid-Afrikaners het B&B’s. Kom ons gaan stop en oornag by hulle en begin die mooi van die diversiteit van Suid-Afrika ontdek.

En al hierdie drome het op die KLR begin …

Leliefontein Misson Station

Leliefontein Sendingkerkie

The Dutch bible was printed 1786.

My dream for Africa and South Africa.

English

Lasy week I received an email from Emil Bosch, a photographer from the Western Cape. “Consider to go and visit Leliefontein”‘ he wrote.

I’ve never heard of Leliefontein before. It lies about 29 km from Kamieskroon high up in the mountains. In Lelieskroon the first Methodist Mission Station / Church in South Africa was built.

And the more I read about Leliefontein the more I discovered how conveniently little we all know about our own country.

I read that on 31 January 1902 a massacre occured in Leliefontein.

I read that 35 inhabitants of the village was executed by Genl. Manie Maritz because they were supporters of the English during the Anglo Boer War.

Yesterday, while an icy wind cut through us I realised how much is still to be discovered about our beautiful sad country.

Here in Garies a new dream has been born. I wish I could go on a year long trip through South Africa on the KLR to visit these small villages and towns to tell their beautiful and sad stories to the world.

I dream about a new form of tourism in South Africa. So many black and brown South Africans start with their own B&B’s. I see us going to those compatriots to go and stay there for a night to discover the beauty of the diversity of our country.

And all my dreams started on the KLR …