Nora-Lee Bouwer

Home-maker, originally from the Philippines Nora-Lee worked in the export business in Manila before moving to Bogota, Colombia, where she worked as a mathematics and English teacher. It was in a Christian chatroom that she met South African Mike Bouwer, who worked for iSimangaliso. Before long they started emailing each other and by 2009 Nora-Lee had been to visit and they’d become engaged.

“I knew nothing about the country – yes, I did know about Mandela, of course, but the picture painted of South Africa in the Philippines is of a dry, desolate place. So

“You can hear bushbabies, hyenas and birds like spotted eagle-owls and barn owls…”

I was very surprised to see how big and organised everything is, the natural beauty, the good roads.” And St Lucia is such a lovely town, she says: “Everything you need is just an hour away. We have one doctor, we have supermarkets, and no traffic. You can hear bushbabies, hyenas and birds like spotted eagle-owls and barn owls… We even have a pet chameleon in the garden.”

And the kettie on the table? “That’s for the monkeys…”

Nora-Lee makes the most delicious pickled green mango and pawpaw (see page 30), samoosas and spring rolls, does quilting and crochet, and has a beautiful orchid garden. South’s Kitchen info.skitchen@gmail.com

073 696 1792