Vivienne Mackie, born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), trained as a clinical psychologist in South Africa, but switched to counselling foreign students and their families and teaching ESL, when she moved to the USA.
She has been roaming the world since her first trip overseas at age eight with her grandmother, when they went from Rhodesia to England. Even then, she and her grandmother kept a travel journal. She still travels as often as possible, always with a travel journal and camera. These travels have generated many interesting experiences, and therefore writing opportunities.
Besides learning about different cultures and cuisines (and wines), her other interests are music (ethnic, folk and classical), conservation, and her kids. She and her husband, who is involved with many international research projects, pack their bags in Illinois, USA
Vivienne has had articles (mostly travel-related) published in a number of local newspapers, magazines, and online web sites. She also has chapters in 3 anthologies and a 4th is due out sometime this year (2008).
She is also the Fiesta Editor for JustSayGo.com
Email: vivienne.mackie@gmail.com

My passion is ...

travel, both near and far: a way to gather new experiences, and to gain greater understanding about this world we all live in.

I know too much about ...

myself

My parents always told me ...

that the sky's the limit, if we work hard enough to get there

My childhood ambition ...

to travel to those intriguing "other' places in my blue Kids Encyclopedia

My favorite memory ...

getting married

Why I write ...

I don't seem to have much control over the need to do so

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Portraits of France, by Robert Daley; Palladian Days, by Sally Gable; National Geographic magazines; s

My first job ...

helping in our local women's clothing store when I was 13, in a very small town in Rhodesia, so it was a big deal.

My best moment ...

can't really answer this, as life has so many good moments

My inspiration ...

my family, nature and the changing seasons

Travel > Africa & Middle East Places of interest to visit in South Africa

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MANDELA MONUMENT AND THE MIDLANDS MEANDER

Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Only an hour's drive north from Durban, the world's only monument to a criminal arrest-that of Nelson Mandela-can be found near the village of Howick. The village is also famous for its waterfall, one of the highest in Africa. Both are free.

While en route to the Southern Drakensberg Mountains for a family getaway, you can visit both, as they are along the Midlands Meander, a special driving route in this part of South Africa.

The Monument, erected by the Howick Town Council, commemorates the place where Ne...

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