I’ve been meaning to do this post for over a month, but my real life got the better of me and I’ve been swamped! It’s been super crazy and I’ve had no time to myself and haven’t been able to do any original posts in ages – it’s driving me batty!
So I’m making up for it by spoiling you!
It was the Ask Ashe blog 3rd birthday in March and I arranged a series of great giveaways and this is the final one – a winner takes all giveaway!
Up for grabs is the following:
A R250 voucher from Livingston’s in Durban
A micro mist hair treatment & blow wave voucher from Carlton Hair, valid throughout SA
A R250 voucher from Mint (can be redeemed as an online purchase)
A R200 voucher from Daniela’s
A beautiful stationery pack put together by me
A pretty frame brooch from the lovely nadia at Cupcake Couture
A R500 voucher from Vamp (can be redeemed as an online purchase)
And a wooden scrabble letter of the winner’s initial from iKhaya
YES – ONE Winner will take all!
Terms & Conditions:
The giveaway is open to all residents in SA.
I will email the vouchers and courier the balance of the prize to the winner.
The use of the vouchers is at the discretion of each supplier and does not include delivery of any purchases.
Competition closes on Tuesday 29 May.
To enter:
Leave a comment below telling me where you last went on holiday – I need to live through you guys for my escape ;)
Good luck xox
57 Comments
Natalie
29th May 2012 at 10:25 AMWonderful Honeymoon in Thailand. Bangkok for some shopping, then an awesome time on the island of Koh Samui. wish we were still there but so grateful we got to go xxx
Adri Jeffers
28th May 2012 at 4:21 PMHolidays, bliss! The last one was to Cape Town, decided promptly on a Monday morning. Two hours later we were on a plane and parked ourselves off at the Pepper Club. What a treat to take time out of one’s hectic schedule to enjoy being waited on hand and foot for a week. The next day we flew the kids over and we behaved like tourists, taking in the beauty of the fairest Cape and recharging our batteries. Nothing like an impromptu getaway. Here’s to many more!
Giselle
28th May 2012 at 11:08 AMMy last mini holiday was a night away in the Natal Midlands at good old friend of ours. Roast lamb,home made breads, good laughs and first night away with our baby girl. Hot chocolate in the morning sun! Good times!
Tanya
28th May 2012 at 11:02 AMA 14 day cycle trip through Southern India with 10 good friends starting in Mysore and ending in Verkala travelling through Kerala and including a night on a houseboat in the backwaters. It was an amazing adventure and definitely the most adventurous trip I have ever done, especially when it comes to Indian traffic where the cow rules supreme! On route home, I stopped for 3 nights in Dubai for a more relaxing holiday – wow what a place – can’t wait to go back there. The Desert Safari was definitely the highlight of Dubai.
Shaan
25th May 2012 at 2:57 PMJoburg to visit my most favourite BFF: loads of wine, delicious dinners and much needed girl time!
Jane
25th May 2012 at 2:20 PMMy last getaway was with my boyfriend. We went away to our family holiday house on the beach in Langebaan on the West coast. We went for a little road trip visiting all the neighbouring fishing villages and enjoyed fresh seafood on the beach at Paternoster the one day. We love going to Langebaan any time of the year – just to get away from the city craziness.
Brett Webb
25th May 2012 at 12:53 PMI spent a week in Zanzibar. We spent the first night in Stonetown and visited the house that Freddy Mercury (yes…THE Freddy Mercury) grew up in. We got quite a bit of the culture in, drinking tea and eating falafels, and feeding giant tortoises bigger than some dogs. It was amazing. After some deep sea fishing and diving we headed to the East Coast which is where the resorts are situated. There we relaxed and ate and drank and attempted some archery lessons and karaoke with some random Italians. Great place to visit. very warm, but a beautifully scenic adventure with LOADS of diverse culture.
You should definitely go sometime. Cos it’s cheap too :)
samantha
25th May 2012 at 12:24 PMHappy belated birthday Ashe & my GOOOOODNESS ME! What an awesome compo!
My Last holiday (seemed forever ago) was over Christmas and New Year. We save our leave all year for this special get away to our beautiful family holiday home in St Francis Bay. Just adore that little sunny spot, especially over the festive season. Everyone is in holiday mode & there to have a good time. It is a special tine in that, our family, wherever in the world they may be make a special effort to meet at this very spot so that we can spend Christmas together. Already booked my flights for the end of the year so already counting the sleeps ;)
PS: I have been reading through all your previous posts, what divine adventures some of your followers have been on! All I can say is thank God its Friday! I need a break! ;)
Ranz
25th May 2012 at 11:23 AMMy last holiday was one for the ages. I started off in London for a week, then headed to Paris for five days. Paris was amazing, especially Montmarte. Then off to Madrid, followed by Barcelona, which is probably the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen, and I was lucky enough to be there for La Merce`, to which 2 million people attend, flooding La Rambla from all over Europe. Then it was off to Milan (my least favourite part of the trip, but girls would LOVE the shopping), before I headed to Amsterdam. That was definitely a highlight, as well as being picturesque beyond belief. The canals and beautiful buildings are absolutely romantic at night.
My first trip overseas, and definitely not my last.
Eileen
25th May 2012 at 10:43 AMSt Helena Bay, West Coast. 12 days of salvation for the soul. Like being in a different country where everything is clean and works. Would live there in a flash if I could. Makes you remember that being old school polite and friendly is to be cherished.
lauren
24th May 2012 at 9:06 PMWe went to the Buddhist Retreat centre in ixopo. Beautiful rolling hills, serene nature, icy cold winds and warm fire places. We were on a cooking retreat so we watched a chef cook, ate what the chef cooked and learnt amazing info on holistic cooking and raw eating. In between that we had free time to walk around the streams and hills, meditate if we wanted to and relax. No cellphones, internet or “rat race”. I didnt think I would make it but it was amazing and I learnt so much that weekend about myself and my passion for cooking.
rubyandtheswallow
24th May 2012 at 4:43 PMWhat a DIVINE giveaway! :) The last holiday trip I went on was a New Years getaway to Cape Town. We rented a gorgeous house in the sleepy village of Scarborough. The views were incredible and we ended up on some random farm party on New Years Eve. What a divine trip – Cape Town is beautiful! We’ve also just booked our getaway holiday for this coming New Years – a few lovely days in Ponto in Mozambique! The thought of beach sand and warm water is what’s getting me through this winter!
Mia
24th May 2012 at 1:52 PMI have just returned from an extended weekend break (5 days) In Kruger – and stayed at the most awesome Ngwenya Lodge. It did something for my soul…..seeing crocks, lions, zebras and even Rhino without even having to leave the patio made me feel like the queen of the jungle. RRRaaaaaaarrrrr
Susan de Jager
24th May 2012 at 1:01 PMMauritius for 18 months. Part work, part play. So happy to be back in sunny SA
Amy (@Sunshine_Amy)
24th May 2012 at 11:58 AMMy last holiday was at our beach house on the south coast, just outside Port Edward. We went there with a few friends and as the house is quite rustic (no TV) we spent the weekend playing scrabble, 30 seconds and reading books while relaxing in the sunshine. The beach is almost completely private to the house and there wasn’t a person in site the entire weekend, on the Saturday night we had a bonfire under the stars. Check out this album for proof – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.276370282437820.63885.276363645771817&type=3 It is available to rent, so get in there! Thanks for the lovely give away.
Verity King
24th May 2012 at 11:51 AMMy last holiday was to ‘Hole in the Wall’ on the Wild Coast! Amazingly beautiful rustic holiday. Cows on the beach, goats on the hiking trails and fish on the braai! South Africa really has some awesome getaway destinations.
mishaconradie
24th May 2012 at 10:32 AMMy last holiday was spent in Qatar; a miniature Dubai, a little-known gem. It has all the charm of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, just on a smaller scale. There I spent three weeks immersed in Arab culture, gaining about 5 kg from too much delicious fancy food, and spending far too much money on all kinds of things that you’d never find in South Africa, or anywhere else in the world, for that matter. I had the most unconventional Christmas by indulging in camel rides and 4 wheeling over sand dunes in the desert, and saw the most spectacular firework show of my life on Qatar National Day. A holiday that I will certainly never forget!
Tracy
24th May 2012 at 10:30 AMHi! I Can’t remember when last I went on holiday apart from too few weekends away – however, I’m planning a terribly exciting trip to … wait for it … Bloemfontein! Now, before you you laugh this off, I’ve decided to make it a bit of a road trip – stopping off at a lovely little place near Winterton for brekkies, called Thokosiza. Then it’s onto Golden Gate for a nights stop over and some hiking in the beautiful mountains (well, the pics on the internet look incredible). The next morning we’ll head to Clarens for brekkie and browsing. Once satiated and inspired we’ll move onto Bloemfontein where I’ll meet my boyfriends parents for the first time. So although my reaction to Bloem was pretty standard, “where’s that?” the trip up will be new and interesting as well as an observatory and cheetah sanctuary to visit once we get there. So wish me luck, as trek off to the Free State for an adventure.
It’s also a terribly affordable little break – and there’s nothing better than seeing new parts of your own country.
durbandiva
24th May 2012 at 7:51 AMMy last holiday was my first in a game reserve! We spent 3 nights in Hluhluwe, relaxing, reading, eating and searching for game. We saw rhino, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, all sorts of buck and beautiful birds. I was completely thrilled! Loved every minute of the solitude and traquility and can’t wait to go back.
Congratulations on 3 years of a fabulous blog! You so deserve the success it has achieved x
sam
23rd May 2012 at 9:20 PMso i have sat here for the past hour trying my hardest to think of my last holiday (i.e. at least one night away!) and i realised it has been so long I have forgotten!! it must have been one of my spectacular kruger park trips…beaut animals, coffee in the bush,one or 2 charming game rangers and gorgeous sunsets! i’m doing 6 weeks of housesitting for my folks so technically this is a holiday as it is at least one night away from home ;-)
Sandi
23rd May 2012 at 9:11 PMHermanus in the Overberg, that area you always hear about in the weather report. It’s a quick hour and a half drive from Cape Town and voila, there’s the sea, the mountains and fresh air.
emme
23rd May 2012 at 4:49 PMI haven’t been away for longer than a weekend for absolutely ages, but my boyfriend and I are about to spend 3 weeks in Italy. First overseas trip in years and years. Bring on the pizza! And the gellato, and the pasta, and … (PS hi ashe)
Minki Fourie
23rd May 2012 at 4:01 PMlast holiday was a roadtrip around country and beyond its borders in December… leaving the winelands of Stellenbosch where I live to travel to the dunes and sea of Swakopmund in Namibia, then through Botswana with its beautiful bushes and wild life to end up in Joburg and all the lights of the City. This was all done by car. I flew to the Eastern Cape for Christmas with family in a small town in the Eastern Cape and from there all the way back to my beloved Winelands. The BEST is that we have such a diverse country and so much to see… !!
cindy
23rd May 2012 at 3:37 PMLast holiday was our annual family sabbatical @ Umngazi River Bungalows – http://www.umngazi.co.za -what a little peace of heaven! – ok piece :) Eating, drinking, laughing, swimming in the pool or the sea – whatever takes your fancy! Happy 3rd b’day Ask Ashe
beth
23rd May 2012 at 3:09 PMcongrats on reaching 3 years….
i’ve just been to lesotho,was quite cool.
nixfranz
23rd May 2012 at 2:45 PMIreland – My grandfather was from Belfast so the boyfriend and I decided to do a little ‘family history’ trip. The Irish are so friendly, we were low on cash, so a woman running a hostel let us sleep on the floor (for free!) Cold but beautiful! Would love to go back again!.
Megan Kenney
23rd May 2012 at 2:20 PMOh my word, I can’t even remember the last time I went on holiday! It’s seriously been a long time. I think the last time was last year when I went up to Knysna with the boyfriend and we stayed at a lovely B&B on top of Brenton Hill which overlooked the entire Knysna and lake. The weather was nice and sunny and we had a gorgeous patio to sit out & have some drinks while watching the sun set! Was great, but way too short and definitely too long ago!
Gabriela Linhares
23rd May 2012 at 1:46 PMBrazil! For xmas and New Years! Got to see my family, soak up in their amazing beaches, drunk caipirinhas on the beach watching the sunset… couldn’t ask for anything else!
Nicole Cameron
23rd May 2012 at 1:28 PMMy husband and I drove thousands of km’s through Namibia and saw some incredible things – enormous Ethosha salt pans, eerie mirages on the isolated Skeleton coast Road and red and gold dunes reaching to heaven – running down Dune 45 is one of those “frozen in time” moments I’ll remember forever!
stef2014
23rd May 2012 at 1:14 PMSawadee Ka! (Hello in Thai :))
I just got back from 3 weeks in AMAZING Thailand. From beautiful beaches, warm weather, friendly folk, fabulous food to stunning sunsets and scootering your way around a tropical island, I couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing and wonderful first overseas trip. Oh and I got to experience it all with my man!
:)
Sonia
23rd May 2012 at 12:51 PMMy last getaway was a relaxing weekend in Britannia Bay up the West Coast. Fresh snoek, lemon juice and butter eaten straight off the fire. Sea food from a quaint little Portuguese restaurant right on the rocks with the sea in the back ground. Great friends, wine, walks on the beach, dolphin spotting, kids laughing, home made rusks and coffee to kick start the day and the list and memories go on……
Lisa
23rd May 2012 at 12:28 PMMy last holiday was in Robertson, Western Cape, over December 2011. I stayed in a cottage that is set in a nature reserve, nestled between 2 mountains. It is so beautiful and peaceful there. You have a view of the vineyards on the one side and on the other you can look out over the mountains. You can walk an easy route to a large dam or hike up the mountains if your feeling more enrgetic. In the mornings the very shy duiker bokkies come close to the cottages and I am always very excited to see them. Oh man, now I wish I was there…
Enigmeg
23rd May 2012 at 12:22 PMOoooh! Thanks for the awesome comp :)
Last break I had was a working holiday up to Grahamstown and surrounds, and it certainly had its highs and lows. Awesome discovering the history of the quaint South African town, and also got to experience a luxury safari, less awesome when my car intersected a wild bush pig on a gravel road in the dark. Piggie got up and ran off, but my car didn’t come out so lucky :( Winning this awesome hamper would be just the thing to cheer me up ;)
P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY and thanks for a great blog!
nikki
23rd May 2012 at 11:57 AMVietnam (Hoi An, Nah Trang, Ho Chi Minh) and Cambodia (Siem Riep) – got to see the ruins of Ankor. What an experience – I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an adventure!
nikkiandnicholas
23rd May 2012 at 11:52 AMOh, and happy birthday <3 yipeeee!
Lisa (JustLisa_Love)
23rd May 2012 at 11:40 AMSpent the last 17 days of April 2012 at an amazing hotel called Wavecrest Beach Hotel on the Wild coast. At the end of 35km of dirt road you can go no further and you are greeted with the most amazing view of a river flowing into the ocean, a 3km long deserted beach and pristine scenery. My husband’s family have been going there for the last 40 years and we have picked up the family tradition. Your room doesn’t have a key, decor is simple, food is homely, the setting is spectacular! Beautiful sunrises, horses grazing outside your door, beach walks, shell hunting, crowned cranes dancing..sheer bliss and a real holiday in the traditional sense.
nikkiandnicholas
23rd May 2012 at 11:40 AMOur last getaway was to the Eastern Cape for a beautiful family wedding. My first time :) we actually went all the way to the Transkei in a rent a car! We went to the Famous FREEZLAND milkshake joint, I had a double thick butterscotch one :) it was SO delish. We went over the river with the car on a ferry, the child in me really shone through at this point :p we stayed at a little hotel, called The Trennerys Hotel. It was right on the beach, what a dream! We had lamb on the spit the first night and we walked on the endless beach with the resident jack russel. The wedding was incredible. The backdrop was that of the river mouth meeting the ocean, there were cows on the beach, how pretty? We missed our flight back to Cape Town on the way home as we missed the turn off and got lost in the Transkei for over an hour. Haha. We got to the airport 10 minutes too late. We rewarded ourselves with a Wimpy lunch :) We caught a flight the next day, it was FAB!
Renee Venter
23rd May 2012 at 11:32 AMMy last holiday was to Frog Mountain in Swellendam! What a divine place! We were 4 families, each with our own rondavel bungalow. Close enough for communal braais and kids and private enough for us adults too. :) Really kiddy friendly with jungle gym, canoeing, fishing, swimming etc. You also get fresh milk and eggs! It was a lovely treat!
Next trip – booked for Madonna in Amsterdam on 8 July! Can’t wait! (Haven’t had an overseas or kid free holiday in 6 years!)
Rose McClement
23rd May 2012 at 11:12 AMTalking about my last holiday is such a cool idea on this chilly winter day here in CT. It will help me to get away in my head as well. This time last year I was able to entertain a little bit of excitement at the mere thought of Mauritius and our first time ever holiday there. In August, when everyone here in CT was cuddled up in their winter warmers, we headed out to have a budget break in Mauritius. In terms of the Seaside Resorts, the beaches, the people, the sun and the snorkeling, it was all I had imagined it to be. Although we did not enjoy one of those gorgeous hotel and spa resorts we are constantly exposed to, we did enjoy the place we were staying at – very tropical indeed. The eye opener though was to discover just how run down suburbia was…. one could call it third world I guess.
But before it gets real boring….. just to say that this was the first time in as many years, that I could actually call it a totally relaxing holiday. For the most, we spend our holidays with our children and grandchildren, which means that there is no peace or rest for the wicked, despite the joy that they bring.
May the best man win……
bianca
23rd May 2012 at 11:08 AMI just got back from a two week trip to holland. I had pretty awful weather but got to see the tulip fields in spring bloom and lots of amazing design and architecture. I ate cake nearly every day!
forgetmeknotcpt
23rd May 2012 at 9:43 AMAWW I see so many comments already so winning is slim. But anyway. My last holiday I went with a group of friends to Elands Bay up the West Coast, but that was back when it was warm and sunny and we had a trampoline. Fun times.
Nadia
23rd May 2012 at 9:35 AMHappy belated Ask Ashe! Ah holidays, something us advertising peeps just dream of. My last holiday was over a year ago, but a trip overseas usually means you come home needing another holiday! Phew. The only time I’ve truly holidayed was at Flamingo Bay in Mozam. Cocktails brought to you while lazing round the pool. Prawns for dinner anyway you like em and even quad biking for more cocktails on the beach. Best of all, you can dive into the ocean off your private balcony! Bliss.
Maja
23rd May 2012 at 9:32 AMHi Ashe, we have not been on holiday in years…. and we are busy planning an amazing 2 week family holiday to St Lucia!!! Everyone from Cape Town, P.E. and Joburg… everyone is bringing board games, puzzles, favorite things to bake, the pasta maker, etc. we have not all been together for a very long time and none of us have ever been there so it’s going to be an adventure for all. These prizes will be extreamly helpful and useful ~ thanks!
Debra
23rd May 2012 at 9:29 AMIn December my husband and I along with my sister and her little family joined my dad in his Spanish Finca for a long-awaited Christmas together. It was such a wonderful holiday and a much needed one at that! The Spanish are such happy beautiful people, especially in the quaint villages surrounding my dads farm. Olives, red wine and bread! Now THATS a holiday! ;) xxxx
ShansDBN
23rd May 2012 at 9:04 AMHey Lady!
Last holiday was to Knysna and Plett in July 2011,chilly but all the adrenaline through our veins Bungi jumping Bloukrans Bridge,Monkeying around at Monkeyland and the Birdpark and trying to look clever at the Maze adventures. It was awesome sitting at the Knysna Heads with drink in hand admiring the crashing waves of the ocean! Must make ur way to the brewery too,nice beer if ur’e a beer drinker! Definitely time to return! Have a fab day
Origins
23rd May 2012 at 9:01 AMLangebaan in the Western Cape- beautiful! Blue blue skies, white sand, seagulls, crayfish fresh from from the sea, salty smelling breezes, and that barren brush landscape which is so unique. Multicoloured kite surfers in the inevitable afternoon winds. Haven’t been to the West Coast for about 20 years – it was like a tonic for the soul.
joslyn walker
23rd May 2012 at 9:00 AMLast proper holiday was 10 days in Muscat, Oman with my nephews, my sister and I. We camped in the desert, slept under the stars next to a phosphorescent glowing sea and explored mosques and markets to our hearts content. Exquisite countryside and incredible people.
AMG133
23rd May 2012 at 8:55 AMIn the mountains, central Drakensberg to be specific. No matter how many times you visit the berg, it always leaves you breathless every time you visit. Clean crisp air, valleys of green and the wild life on offer just makes it that much more special, not to mention the 4 seasons experienced in one day. Beauty part is that its not that far from home, which is Durban. Hope you’ve been well Nicola. :)
Karen
23rd May 2012 at 8:18 AMOur last family holiday was in January when the whole fandamily went on a cruise, absolutely spectacular! But to me a REAL holiday will be one where it is just me and my hubby …. having the kids on holiday is never truly relaxing – haven’t had one of those holidays in 7 years!
Lise
23rd May 2012 at 8:11 AMMy last holiday was to the UK. A few days in London visiting friends, shopping, sightseeing, did I mention SHOPPING?! :) A friend of ours had a bad service experience at one of the (expensive) bistros, and they offered him a free lunch for him and two friends. He took us there and we dined like kings, and had a R2000 bill, which we didn’t have to pay for. Fab time in London! Then hired a car, drove through the English countryside – with the most stunning weather (shocking!) – all the way through Scotland to Edinburgh (for some more shopping!). It was gorgeous! Ended our holiday off back in England, visiting my boyfriend’s sister for some good, heartwarming family time…
Shirley Mitchell
23rd May 2012 at 8:09 AMCAPE TOWN, the Mother City, 5 days of bliss, travelling around taking in the beautiful sights, sipping on wonderful wines at all the different Wine Estates, our country South Africa is beautiful and the weather is AWESOME. Don’t venture out of South Africa before you have explored each and every corner of our beautiful country !!!!
Candice Mac Nicol
23rd May 2012 at 2:34 AMLos Angeles, Hawaii, Vegas, New York, San Franscico, Dubai….in fact, I’m still on holiday!!! :) Missing you Ms Ashe!
loveloughlive
22nd May 2012 at 10:16 PMMy last holiday was to my familys log cabin in the berg for the long weekend. … being going there since a child and it is still amazing every time
Simone H.
22nd May 2012 at 9:00 PMI now live at my last holiday destination – the Buddhist Retreat Centee in Ixopo – beautiful views, great teachers and it takes me less than a minute to get to ‘work’. Bliss in the mist :)
PS Happy belated birthday to the blog, thanks for keeping me in touch with the old home town x
angbrouard
22nd May 2012 at 8:22 PMRelaxing Richmond. Nothing to do and all day to do it in : )
LUCI
22nd May 2012 at 8:06 PMDubai – it was superb, my new favourite city, fantastic weather, amazing beaches and you can shop till you drop! Everyone wins!!
wendy douglas
22nd May 2012 at 6:44 PMQuick weekend escape to the midlands! Red wine and cosey fire, did the trick!