I started my day off by hopping on the City Sightseeing bus and taking the Blue Mini Peninsula Tour which takes you all around Kirstenbosch, Imizamo Yethu Township, Hout Bay, Camps Bay, Sea Point and some of the most beautiful destinations in Cape Town, South Africa. After all, Cape Town is called the Mother City. Is it not exciting to go on a tour that you haven’t planned yourself? Just hopping on a bus and going wherever the wind may blow you….or the bus may take you.

This is definitely the excitement I experienced on my mini getaway. As we drove around the city I listened to “Weekend Special” by the late Brenda Fassi and when we moved further out the city central, I could see Table Mountain, which is what Cape Town is most famous for.

So when I hopped off in Hout Bay I discovered the shop Original T-Bag Designs. I know you wondering what it is – well, let me fill you in.

It’s a designer company – yes, I said designer, whose trademark is the Tea-bag.  They create wonderful arts and crafts from the humble tea-bag. They have quite a wide variety, from cushions, necklaces and gift cards to fridge magnets, candle holders and handbags!

The thing that makes them so unique is that they use individual designers, this means that everything doesn’t look the same. So if you are asking if I just went there to shop, you’re wrong. The actual owner takes you on a personal tour. It started with a 20 minute DVD, which basically  gives the customers a vision of how and why this business was started. Jill Heyes, who is the owner, (but the staff also own shares in the business), got the idea of  “the T-bag” while literally sitting with a friend drinking tea, and when she immigrated to South Africa, she wanted to help the people living in the shacks not far from the original store.

Not long ago T-Bag Designs won an award for sustainable development. Want to know something else? Last week they had a custom-made handbag made for one of the Top Billing presenters.

The angel in one of the pictures below is being made for Christmas and 3000 angels are to be transported to Hamburg, Germany before Christmas. Of course they also make beautiful gifts for special days such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and all other special occasions. T-Bag Designs are in Hout Bay Main Road, Mainstream Shopping Centre in Hout Bay and inside the Blue Shed at the V&A Waterfront.

So I leave the Original T-Bag designs store fully enlightened with the atmosphere inside the store of how everything comes together.

So its time for me to hop back onto the red bus and Jill leaves me with these lovely words. “A woman is like a tea-bag, you only know how strong she is when she is put in hot water.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

I really felt inspired and strong as an independent South African woman when I left the store, so I was extremely excited to visit the store at the Blue Shed V&A Waterfront. The bus drives around the beautiful coast of Camps Bay, Clifton and Sea Point and of course, stops are made at each beach. Camps Bay has lovely restaurants and could make for a wonderful holiday destination – those lucky fish who live there are well, lucky!

I finally get back to the V&A Waterfront and head straight to get something to eat at the food court. I then make my way to the Blue Shed, V&A Waterfront and browse around the little store – the  crafts are more or less the same as the original store. I purchase a few things, as I cannot let the opportunity pass me by, I mean, these unique designs are one of a kind and it’s a must-have for those who appreciate great arts, crafts and designs.

As my day reaches the end, I remember the words  “ When you are cold, tea will warm you, if you are heated, it will cool you, if you are depressed, it will cheer you up and of you are excited, it will calm you.” So allow T-Bag Designs to capture you, as one cup of tea has already provided a previously disadvantaged group of people in South Africa with love, excitement and peace. You may visit their website at www.tbagdesigns.co.za and until the next time I go on tour, cheerio.

You should be out on the Red bus doing your thing! Cheers, InsaafO!

Hi my name is Insaaf Orrie but better known as InsaafO.
I am a 20 year old female with a lot of ambitions and goals in life, one of them is to become a teacher and the other is to become a writer. So I say why not do both. I live in Cape Town and have always wanted a day on the Red City Sightseeing bus.

Experience Cape Town and Imizamo Yethu. City Sightseeing Cape Town’s blog tells you the stories behind the best attractions and events in Cape Town, South Africa.
Get your tickets at www.citysightseeing.co.za/imizamo-yethu-township