Tag Archives: Temple

Travel & Tourism

Cape Town’s Top Retreats For Rest And Rejuvenation

Maravi Post Reporter

Cape Town is at the forefront of wellness, with a handful of exceptional retreats a short drive from the city, where mindfulness and wellbeing take centre stage.

From yoga workshops and nourishing menus to spa treatments and nature walks, Cape Town’s retreats invite you to slow down and reconnect with yourself and nature.

Here are some of our favourite retreats:

Phakalane Retreat

Tucked away in Hout Bay, this wabi-sabi styled sanctuary is set within a magical forest. Phakalane promises a safe environment for self-exploration, healing, contemplation, and recreation. The gardens brim with towering trees and medicinal plants, creating an immersive, grounding experience from the moment you arrive.

At the heart of the space lies the Temple, a circular chamber with an open roof, tall walls and a built-in fireplace. Here, ceremonies, talk circles, yoga, breathwork, and alternative movement come to life. The entire property can be booked exclusively for retreat groups of up to 16 guests in shared rooms. There are four unique rooms connected to the main house, along with three cottage-style cabins designed to draw you into the natural world outside.

Location: 12 Hunters Way, Hout Bay
Website: phakalaneretreat.com

Honest Yoga

Honest Yoga understands modern life: the packed schedules, endless notifications, and the feeling that a proper break requires complicated logistics. The tailored retreats are crafted for those who need a quick reset without travelling too far from Cape Town.

Each retreat is your own personal journey, with yoga, soothing massages, creative workshops, nourishing meals, and time to soak up nature. Your host tailors the experience to suit you, and it’s best to book in advance.

Location: Hout Bay
Website: honestyoga.co.za

Santé Wellness Retreat and Spa

Recognised as Africa’s Best Wellness Retreat 2025 and South Africa’s Best Wellness Retreat 2025 at the World Spa Awards, Santé Wellness Retreat & Spa sets the benchmark for holistic luxury and transformative wellbeing.

Blending luxury accommodation with a world-class day spa, an advanced Health Optimising Clinic, a Bio Energy Centre, and a fully equipped Fitness Centre, Santé believes in an integrated approach to total wellness in one serene destination. Guided by its philosophy of the three R’s: Re-energise, Rejuvenate, and Revitalise, every experience is tailored to each guest’s individual goals.

Location: La Bella Vita Wine Estate, Simonsvlei Rd, Paarl
Website: www.santeretreat.co.za

Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat

Just under two hours from Cape Town, Stanford, Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat. Surrounded by mountains and forest trails, this peaceful haven invites you to reconnect with nature, yourself and others. Here, both facilitated and self-guided retreats nourish body and mind. Meditation and beginner-friendly yoga sessions frame the day, while swimming, hiking trails and Qi Gong, a flowing series of mindful movements, encourage gentle exploration of both landscape and self.

Personal retreats enable guests to set their own pace, with two- and three-night stays currently available. Two self-catering, two-bedroom cottages can also be hired when not in use for exclusive retreats.

Location: R43 Grootbos Rd, Stanford
Website: www.bodhikhaya.com

Vida Nova Retreat

For travellers big on sustainability, Vida Nova Retreat is a calm, green escape where comfort and conscious living go hand in hand. Surrounded by indigenous gardens and mountain views, the space feels removed from the fast pace of the city.

Guests can spend their days lounging by the pool, walking through the gardens, or journaling. The rooms are designed with natural materials and soft, neutral tones that encourage rest and ease. Vida Nova is well-suited for both private stays and small retreat groups.

Location: 4073 Valley Rd, Hout Bay
Website: vidanovaretreat.com

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The post Cape Town’s Top Retreats For Rest And Rejuvenation appeared first on Cape Town Tourism.

Entertainment

Celebrities Who’ve Run for Office: Spencer Pratt, Jerry Springer and More

Maravi Post Reporter

Spencer Pratt is running for mayor of Los Angeles — but he’s not the only celebrity to try their hand at politics.

Pratt announced the news on January 7, 2026. “The system in Los Angeles isn’t struggling, it’s fundamentally broken,” Pratt, 42, said at the “They Let Us Burn” public demonstration, via the New York Post. “It is a machine designed to protect the people at the top and the friends they exchange favors with while the rest of us drown in toxic smoke and ash. Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles, and I’m done waiting for someone to take real action.”

Pratt continued, “That’s why I am running for mayor. And let me be clear, this just isn’t a campaign, this is a mission, and we’re gonna expose the system.”

The event was held on the first anniversary of the Palisades Fire. Pratt was also spotted signing official candidacy paperwork at the event.

Dwayne Johnson Is Still Saying ‘We’ll See’ About Future Presidential Run

The reality star joins a long line of celebrities who have sought public office of their own — keep scrolling to read more.

Jerry Springer

Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

Jerry Springer was best known for his career as an actor and talk show host, but he also served on the city council in Cincinnati, Ohio, was a political aide to the late Robert Kennedy and served as mayor of Cincinnati.

Kanye West

Kanye West was a successful rapper and performer before he launched a failed presidential run under the American Independence Party in 2020.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan had a long career in Hollywood before he was elected as the 40th president of the United States in 1984. He also served as governor of California from 1967-1975.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump was best known as a reality star and businessman before he won the U.S. presidential election in 2016. He was elected again in 2024.

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr launched her own presidential run in 2012 under the banner of the Green Party, but was beaten out by Jill Stein.

Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon
Cynthia Nixon Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Cynthia Nixon attempted a run for governor of New York and had a debate with then-incumbent Andrew Cuomo. She lost the Democratic primary by a margin of 500,000 votes.

Shirley Temple

Child star Shirley Temple ran for the California State Senate in 1967 and lost, but was later named U.S. ambassador to Ghana and ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

Sonny Bono

Sonny Bono might be best known for his singing career with ex-wife Cher, but he also served as a U.S. House Representative for California from 1995 until he died in 1998. Bono was also mayor of Palm Springs from 1988-1992.

Al Franken

Al Franken hosted The Al Franken Show and appeared on Saturday Night Live before transitioning to politics. He served as Minnesota’s senator from 2009 to 2018 and stepped down after several allegations of sexual assault were raised against him.

Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker launched a Georgia Senate race in 2022, and was defeated by Democrat Raphael Warnock.

Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Caitlyn Jenner, who was best known for her Olympic career as well as her family’s foray in reality TV, joined the California gubernatorial race in 2021 to run against Gavin Newsom.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected as California’s 38th governor in 2003 and held the role until 2011.

Howard Stern

Howard Stern, a radio and TV host, was the Libertarian nominee during the 1994 New York governor race, but backed out after he was required to share his financial information.

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert, who is most known for his late night talk show and comedy career, attempted to run for president by adding his name to the ballot in South Carolina but was denied.

Entertainment

Josh Peck and Robby Hoffman Debate Where to Keep a Menorah During Hanukkah

Maravi Post Reporter

Josh Peck and Robby Hoffman have vastly different ideas about a few core aspects of celebrating Hanukkah.

“You taught me something that is a little bit of a Jewish superstition. It’s not a superstition, but it’s inappropriate to blow out the candles on a menorah,” Peck, 39, told guest Hoffman, 36, during a recent episode of his “Good Guys” podcast. “You were not pleased with me.”

Hoffman stated that “it’s not OK” to ever blow out the candles on a menorah.

“It’s like a Yahrzeit candle,” she said, referring to the traditional 24-hour candle to honor deceased relatives in the Jewish religion. “Just let it go. It’s, like, one person had a candle that burned everything down. You never heard of it again.”

Time in Tinseltown: See How Celebs Celebrate With Décor, Traditions and Style Tips

Peck speculated that candles catching on fire probably “happens a lot” because many menorahs are placed in a windowsill next to fabric curtains.

“We always had the menorah, my mother did on the stove with a lot of tin foil,” Hoffman said. “Just grab some in foil, there’s nothing tin foil can’t do. It’s a to-go box, it’s a tray [or] it’s a cover. There’s nothing it can’t do.”

Peck, for his part, revealed that he’s “a menorah-in-the-sink guy.”

Josh-Peck-IG-79944376_782563302212625_1280739651156941319_n
Josh Peck and his son in 2019. Courtesy of Josh Peck/ Instagram

“Is that nuts?” the Drake & Josh alum said. “It just kind of looks like I’m hiding it ‘cause you’re supposed to put it in the window.”

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, takes place every winter and celebrates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem by the Maccabees. The holiday — it starts at sundown on Sunday, December 14, this year — is often marked by individuals who practice Judaism lighting candles on a menorah for eight consecutive nights.

While Peck’s sink storage may help prevent a fire from breaking out, Hoffman had qualms about the symbolism.

“I think it’s not a great look,” the Hacks actress said. “It feels like you’re washing it down.”

Interfaith Celebrity Couples Who Celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah

Hoffman was raised in a Hasidic Jewish family but has since strayed from the conservative rules. She still identifies with the religion, though, and has even taught wife Gabby Windey about her traditions.

“She’s desperate to [convert],” Hoffman said on a 2023 episode of Bethenny Frankel’s “Just B” podcast, referring to her now-wife. “I’ve said nothing. We don’t need. At this point, when people go, ‘Important to you Jewish?’ I say, ‘It’s over, what are we talking about?’ She’s so into it.”

Windey, 34, further revealed that she had been getting a crash-course in Judaism since she and Hoffman started dating earlier that year.

“I get a Jewish history lesson almost every day, which I love and I die for now,” the former Bachelorette said. “There’s so much culture, I mean truly.”

Windey also noted that she had been learning a few Yiddish phrases from Hoffman, too.

“I like the number things [with] the 18. I was at the spa the other day, and I looked for a multiple of 18 to put my stuff in ‘cause this is probably good luck,” Windey said. “I’m buying it just for the fun of it.”

Lifestyle

DeSantis Drops Out, Hindu Temple Consecration, Abortion Rights Campaign

Maravi Post Reporter

Ron DeSantis endorses Donald Trump ahead of New Hampshire primary. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates a Hindu temple on the site of a historic mosque. And Democrats launch an abortion rights campaign tour.

Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Roberta Rampton, Miguel Macias and Olivia Hampton.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.

Clarification: In this episode, we say that abortion used to be a constitutional right. To be precise, abortion used to be a fundamental right protected under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled in 2022 in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case that abortion was as not a constitutional right nor a fundamental right protected by the Constitution.

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Regional, Travel & Tourism

Egypt: Temple and coffins unearthed at archaeological site

Maravi Post Reporter

– –

Egypt has announced a major archaeological discovery at the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo.

Archaeologists have unveiled 54 wooden coffins, many of which can be traced back 3000 years to the New Kingdom period.

Another major discovery is the funerary temple of Queen Neit near the pyramid of her husband, King Teti of Egypt’s 6th dynasty which dates back 4200 years.

The famed archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who headed the archaeological mission said the coffins include the first dating back to the New Kingdom to be found at Saqqara, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The tourism and antiquities ministry said in a statement that the site is home to the Step Pyramid.

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The coffins have been carved in human form and painted in bright colours.

Coffins and Temples in Egypt
Photo: EPA

Many of them are still intact with experts also discovering ancient games, statues, and masks.

“All these discoveries will rewrite the history of Saqqara and the New Kingdom,” said Hawass.

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Officials hope to show off the newly discovered artefacts to revive the tourism sector which has been badly hit amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The number of tourists visiting the country dropped to 3.5 million last year from 13.1 million in 2019.

Egypt unveils coffins buried 2,500 years ago

Source: Africafeeds.com

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