Syrupy gulab jamun, snow-laden mountains in Gulmarg and houseboating in the backwaters of Kerala are experiences that attract South African cricket icon Jonty Rhodes to India.
In Mumbai to launch NDTV Good Times’ South Africa With Jonty Rhodes, a travel-based mini TV series, the world’s best acrobatic fielder recounted some of his favourite Indian escapades... and sweets. As a player, Rhodes said he loved travelling to New Zealand, which has “beautiful landscapes and many adventure sports to take part in”. But as a coach, he loves traversing locales offering varied flavours in India. “[There are] such extremes — from snowboarding in Gulmarg to houseboating in Kerala,” the cricket ace, who was active from 1992 to 2003, told IANS in an email interview.
“The passion for cricket — it reminds me why I started playing this great game,” said the advisor and fielding coach of the Mumbai Indians Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.
Cricket and gulab jamuns
While discussing what he loves about India, he revealed how he loves gorging on gulab jamun, a traditional Indian dessert, thanks to his “very sweet tooth”.
When asked about what strengthens the relations that the two nations have shared through the years, he spoke of “the entrepreneurial spirit of the people”.
Driving this exchange further, the 44-year-old brand ambassador of South African Tourism in India took four Indians on a 15-day sojourn in the Rainbow Nation as part of the South Africa With Jonty Rhodes show.
“I’m an outdoor person who loves a bit of adrenaline so it was great to show, and participate in, some of the extreme adventures we have in South Africa. Ours is a very diverse and picturesque country, which words never do justice while trying to describe — the show will give visual evidence of this beauty,” Rhodes said.
In the show, he guides the travellers across Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and the picturesque Garden Route, giving them a taste of his native country’s rich heritage and diverse culture.
Having a ball
He took them on the wildest safaris, crazy experiences and adrenaline-pumping adventures as part of an extensive itinerary conceptualised by South African Tourism.
The show, a three-part mini-series that first aired on Monday, is packed with information on the myriad variety of experiences that a traveller can explore and savour while visiting the Rainbow Nation.
If Rhodes had to suggest some must-visit places, they would be: “The Kruger Park area for some amazing wildlife destinations and Cape Town and the Garden Route for vibrant sights and hair-raising adventures.”
As for the food, he maintained that “every taste is catered for”.
“Eleven official languages and 50 million people mean that there is great diversity on the cuisines, so every taste is catered for! Although, I must confess we are predominantly non-vegetarian and my personal favourite is enjoying an outdoor barbecue braai with family and friends,” Rhodes added.
He said visiting myriad destinations across the world gave him the chance to learn more about other people.
The more he does that, “the more I learn about myself”, he said, adding that it is important that people travel safe and wise by following some do’s and don’ts.
“Do: travel with an open mind; leave time in your itinerary to be flexible — so many things to do that your travel agent might not have booked!
What about the don’ts?
“Don’t just take pictures — experience the local culture; don’t wander into areas that your hotel concierge warn you about — sadly there is crime in some parts of South Africa,” he said.
Jonty Rhodes staked his claim to be the world’s best fielder following a spectacular diving run-out of Pakistan’s Imzamam-ul-Haq at the 1992 World Cup, South Africa’s first. His title was cemented in November 1993, when he took five catches in a single game against the West Indies in Mumbai: a world record for a non-wicket-keeping fielder.
— IANS
