Expatriate Forums in Botswana

Martell - Man of the Year @ Shantou - winner- event

cedricm123 — Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:52 pm

Author: cedricm123

Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:52 pm

Martell - Man of the Year @ Shantou - winner- event
Founded by <Esquire> magazine, the ‘Esquire man of the year’ selection has already stepped into its fifth year. Martell Noblige will provide full support in this year’s upcoming selection events, and give out the special award Martell Noblige ‘Man of the year’ with ‘Esquire’ magazine. Starting this May, in the trendy bars over 19 cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, etc, there will be 50 Martell Noblige ‘Man of the year’ selection parties awaiting trendy males’ presence in glamorous fashion. Don't forget to check regularly on the latest city stops on w w w.martellnoblige.c o m.
w w w.tudou.c o m/programs/view/IV65L6CJQho/
w w w.tudou.c o m/programs/view/3xIgswjPubk/

Martell - Man of the Year @ Tianjin - winner- event

cedricm123 — Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:50 pm

Author: cedricm123

Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:50 pm

Martell - Man of the Year @ Tianjin - winner- event
Founded by <Esquire> magazine, the ‘Esquire man of the year’ selection has already stepped into its fifth year. Martell Noblige will provide full support in this year’s upcoming selection events, and give out the special award Martell Noblige ‘Man of the year’ with ‘Esquire’ magazine. Starting this May, in the trendy bars over 19 cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, etc, there will be 50 Martell Noblige ‘Man of the year’ selection parties awaiting trendy males’ presence in glamorous fashion. Don't forget to check regularly on the latest city stops on w w w.martellnoblige.c o m.
w w w.tudou.co m/programs/view/CLAdGqJ8W38/
w w w.tudou.co m/programs/view/5i2a-zqns_A/

NIGHTLIFE IN BOTSWANA / BOTSWANA NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

Botswana Info — Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:46 am

Author: Botswana Info

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:46 am

NIGHTLIFE IN BOTSWANA

Bars can be found in main towns, often within hotels. Most lodges and safari camps also have licensed bars. There is local beer and no real restrictions on alcohol. Traditional drinks include palm wine (which is extremely strong) and Kgadi (made from distilled sugar or fungus).

Most people get up early in the morning, and nightlife is not very extensive. However, there are some bars and restaurants in Gaborone. The city also has a cinema. Maun has a handful of restaurants and a small cinema.

Generally, visitors go to Botswana for the wildllife and not, the nightlife!

SHOPPING IN BOTSWANA / BOTSWANA SHOPPING GUIDE

Botswana Info — Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:05 am

Author: Botswana Info

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:05 am

SHOPPING IN BOTSWANA

Curios

Botswana's best bargains are handicrafts, and you'll find a variety. Look especially for hand-woven baskets made from the fronds of the real fan palm, Hyphaene petersiana, and the many different handicrafts of the San, like jewellery made from ostrich eggshells.

There's usually a divide between the simpler outlets, perhaps direct from the producers, and the more stylish, well-located shops which often have the best pieces, but invariably charge the highest prices.

If you're starting or ending your trip in Livingstone, then don't miss the curio stalls near the border post to Victoria Falls. This is one of the region's best places for carvings (though expect to bargain hard here). Other places to include would be the Babomoso Basketry Co-op in Shorobe, for excellent baskets direct from the makers, and the smaller shop in Gumare. Ghanzi has a superb shop, Ghanzi Craft, for bushman crafts – although it was closed for some time, it is highly likely that it will reopen.

There are plenty of shops at the more stylish end of the spectrum, especially in Maun, and many lodges have small shops selling curios. (Ask them if the staff or a local village makes these – and if they do, then buy some to support the initiative!)

Supplies

In the main towns, notably Maun, Kasane and Francistown, there are large supermarkets with extensive ranges of high-quality, mostly imported foods. Of these, the Shoprite store in Maun (part of a large southern African chain) is probably the best example in the area. Here you'll find most everyday foodstuffs that you'd want, and a lot more besides. If they have weaknesses compared to the supermarket back home, it's probably in the fresh food and vegetable section, where the logistics of transport can often make for a smaller selection than you might expect.

It's usually best to stock up with food at these main centres, as away from them the range will become sparser. Expect villages to have just a bottle stall, selling the most popular cool drinks (often this excludes 'diet' drinks), and a small shop selling bread, staples like rice, and perhaps a few tinned and packet foods. Don't expect anything refrigerated.

Shopping hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1800; Sat 0830-1300.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1530; Sat 0815-1045. Most banks work these core hours with occasional regional differences.

Currency

Pula (P) = 100 thebe. Notes are in denominations of P100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of P5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 thebe.

Various gold and silver coins were issued to mark the country’s 10th anniversary of independence, and are still legal tender.

Currency exchange

Money should be exchanged in banks at market rates. There are four main commercial banks in the country (Barclays Bank of Botswana, First National Bank, Stanbic Bank Botswana and Standard Charted Bank) with branches in major towns and villages. Owing to limited facilities in small villages, it is advisable to change money at the airport or in major towns, where credit card cash advances may also be available. There are also Exchange Bureaus at major border posts.

Credit & debit cards

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Traveller's cheques

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Traveller's cheques are accepted in large cities but with a high surcharge.

Currency restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import of local or foreign currencies, provided declared on arrival. Export of local currency is limited to P50 and foreign currencies up to amount declared on arrival.

FOOD & DINING IN BOTSWANA / BOTSWANA DINING GUIDE

Botswana Info — Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:59 am

Author: Botswana Info

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:59 am

FOOD & DINING IN BOTSWANA

Restaurants and bars can be found in main towns, often within hotels. Millet and sorghum porridge constitutes much of the cuisine. Beef and goat are very popular meats. Most lodges and safari camps also have restaurants and licensed bars, although food is generally basic outside major hotels and restaurants. The standard of food in lodges and camps is generally very good. There is local beer and no real restrictions on alcohol.

National specialties

• Morama (an underground tuber).

• The Kalahari truffle.

• The Mopane worm (boiled, cooked
or deep-fried).

• Beans such as cow peas, ditloo and letlhodi, dried bean leaves, plus nuts like peanuts and groundnuts.

• Wild spinach, morogo is very tasty.

• Plenty of watermelons, plus other varieties of melon.

• Seswaa or Chotlho is a popular traditional meat dish cooked with only salt and water and served with pap, a soft maize meal.

• Variations upon bread meals, such as dumplings (matemekwane), flat cakes (diphaphatha) and fat cakes (magwinya).

National drinks

• Palm wine (which is extremely strong) and Kgadi (made from distilled sugar or fungus).

• Traditional beer such as khadi or bojalwa, which tastes a bit like apple cider.

• Homemade ginger beer is popular.

• Bush tea - or Rooibos - is a reddish caffeine-free tea that is soothing and delicious, although something of an acquired taste.

PLACES TO DINE

Audi Camp Restaurant and Bar
Road to Moremi,
Maun
Tel: +267 686-0599

Dimond Creek Spur
Shop 21,
Gaborone
Tel: +267 30-1266

Granny's Kitchen
Letlhakane
Tel: +267 297-8246

Hilary's Coffe Shop
Airport Road,
Maun
Tel: +267 686-1610

Silver Spur Steakhouse
Plot 6143, Francistown
Tel: +267 21-2099

Swiss Chalet
Plot 4, Gaborone
Tel: +267 32-5172