My experience in Durban during Durban July Event - circa 2013!

Day 13 of Lockdown:

While sifting through various photos, from my avatar at South Africa, this one struck me right in my heart and made me realise what patriotism is all about.

Date: Sunday, July 7, 2013.

Event: Post Durban July, a prestigious, annual horse racing event at Durban, South Africa.

Location: Mt. Edgecombe Golf Resort, Durban.

Chronicle:

Compliments from one of our major suppliers, I had the opportunity to visit Durban July, a prestigious annual horseracing event normally held on the first Saturday of July. Hence it is aptly named and famous as ‘Durban July’ event.

This is one event where “All Roads Lead to Durban”!

Who-is-who of the country’s elite, celebrities, newsmakers and kingmakers alike, top businessmen and business executives, bankers and the like, can’t resist this event for all the money in the world.

Glitz and Glamour abound,

Dresses that cause traffic jam around,

Unique marquees of hosts that surround,

Makes one who is not used to these events, spellbound! 

That said about the event, my colleagues and I flew to Durban on 5^th July afternoon. We were joined by some more client representatives of our supplier and were driven down to this lovely Golf Estate at Mt. Edgecombe, where the Manager, Karl (a German gentleman, perhaps in early sixties), welcomed us with a drink and ushered us to our rooms.

After a quick snooze, I went down to see if I can get any company to while away my time. Luckily, our host Michael and his lovely family (wife – Kate, son - Paul and daughter - Stephanie) were there along with others as well and we hit off like old family friends. That they jelled with us very well is an understatement.

What started off with tea and coffee with some cookies soon graduated to beer and spirits as we moved outdoors into the open area, bordering the golf course and had a campfire lit to get the evening mood right and then, the guzzling went on till late in the night. Cautious with my drinks that I always am, I spaced my drinks well enough to let my liver do its job of metabolising the liquid and thereby remain sober, despite couple of multiple drinks.

Michael’s children, being under-aged for drinks, remained satisfied with fruit punches and mock-tails and nibbled on the short-eats.

Couple of hours after sundown followed by sumptuous dinner, couples started leaving the place wishing each other good night as they were afraid to oversleep or wake up with a bad hangover and mess enjoying the big event, next day. Couple of us stags, stayed well into the late night and Michael and Paul played impeccable hosts in giving us company till we called it a night!

Just as we went inside and got into a mood for a night-cap of Liqueur, one of the guests, whose wife had already retired for the night, came walking zigzag and we realised that he had not just one, but two too many. He was insisting us to take him to some nightlife spots in Durban, where he can indulge himself.

With just Michael and Paul besides me and this gentleman, we did some quick thinking and I nodded at Michael and said ‘let’s go’! Michael got the clue and told Paul to drive us around as I didn’t want to risk driving under influence.

So off we went, Paul, this gentleman and I in search of elusive nightlife in that part of Durban! Since I had already hinted Paul, he drove us in circles as the gentleman sitting in the rear seat, a bit drowsy by now, started to tell us where to go. He kept blabbering that we are hoodwinking him and not taking him to the right spots and insisted that we drive according to his directions.

We went round and round from Mt. Edgecombe to Umhlanga and back many times. By this time our friend in the back seat was close to dozing off and had kept quiet.

All the while, I was talking to Michael and Stephanie (she was a very worried little girl about her big brother and naturally so) and kept assuring them of our safety.

Couple of kilometres on the clock and a few liters of fuel burnt, we returned to the resort, at last, much to the relief of Stephanie, Kate and Michael. We helped the gentleman to his room and Michael, Kate and Stephanie thanked me for safe return. Paul narrated the story in brief and we all had such a hearty laugh at the gentleman’s expense before retiring for the night.

Next morning, post exchanging pleasantries, the gentleman and his wife avoided us like poison ivy as they just finished their breakfast in a jiffy and off they went to change over to their fancy dresses. The rest of us had a leisurely breakfast before we went to change our outfits and boarded shuttle to reach the Greyville race course, well in time before the first race started, to savour the hospitality in the host’s marquee.

What went on at the event was just about extraordinary stuff with a plethora of food that satisfied every palate, drinks of every kind flowed copiously, entertainment – out of the world, excellent races (I never bet though and have never done so), the hospitality was impeccable and I am sure we all enjoyed thoroughly.

Since it was winter time in South Africa and the sun had set early in the afternoon (Durban is in the east coast of South Africa), post noon races were under floodlights. This gave a different dimension to the event and;

We had joy, We had fun; and

We frolicked even after Sun

Even after the last race was flagged down, we still weren’t ready to call it a day. However, all good things must end and hence we returned by shuttle, dragging our feet, around 9 in the night, relishing every second of the time we spent at the event. I couldn’t even guess as to how many drinks I polished off over a period of 8-9 hours and so did many others.

On the whole, it was a memorable event as we stayed put in the Golf Resort for one more night before we packed to return to our bases. Spent out our last bit of energy, we just had enough strength to say goodnight and dashed to our rooms to go flat out on our beds.

Next morning was a different story. As we gathered around for breakfast, the hosts thanked each of us for our presence and bid farewell appropriately. The gentleman and his wife were, naturally, ill at ease and were squirming on their chairs.

To me, Michael and his family hold a special place in my heart as they took great care of me right from the time we landed till bidding farewell. Not for just making me feel comfortable by conversing in English only, as I was the only alien amongst their fellow countrymen but also for the simple reason that I being a vegetarian, they had gone out of the way in selecting choicest vegetarian food and snacks.

Thanks a ton Michaels! May God bless you all!

The hosts came to see us off as we were told our transportation to shuttle us to the airport, was waiting for us. Karl had arranged a surprise of mammoth proportions, for me, as we came out to board the shuttle.

Crux of the Story:

Since most of the guests and the hosts as well, were South Africans and I was the only foreigner in the pack, Karl had hoisted our Indian flag in my honour!

Man, what a feeling it was to be the star of the morning and with my beloved Indian Flag flying high above the ground!

With moist eyes, as I couldn’t resist the overwhelming feeling, I just held Karl’s hands and thanked him profusely for making my day happen, even before it began! The feeling what I experienced on that day is etched permanently in my mind and even to this day, just the thought of Mt. Edgecombe and Karl, gives me goose bumps and misty eyes.

No words, similes or metaphors can describe those moments aptly.

My sincere thanks to all those who made me experience that feeling.

Obviously, I have used pseudonyms of my friends to honour their privacy.