My Perfect Sunday

Didintle Khunou, Actor

My perfect Sunday would begin in the early hours of the morning with my partner in a hot-air balloon flight across either two of these gobsmacking South African landscapes that I want to visit before I die (just because they're incredibly beautiful): The Amphitheatre Valley in the Drakensberg Mountains or The Valley of Desolation in the Eastern Cape adorned with the backdrop of the spectacular sunrise.

We would land in a beautiful

lush field and there we will indulge in a vegetarian breakfast that includes a sun-dried tomato, spinach and feta quiche, with beans, lentils and spinach mixed with a chilli tomato paste, a small bowl of blueberries with honey and cream, and a cup of rooibos tea with honey mixed with burdock root.

Afterwards, I’d spend an hour

and a half alone in long peaceful moments of reflection, writing and meditating in nature, accompanied by the sounds of a flowing river and the instinctive calming earthy smell of the forest.

Then, joined by my siblings and

partner, we’d hike up a mountain only to jump off the cliff via a freefall swing. I’m an adventurous fun-loving person, I’ve ziplined before so a free-fall swing is the obvious next activity to tick off.

As the clock strikes noon I’d have a healthy smoked salmon salad with an apricot and mango smoothie, then, if I am close to a beach, I will always try to visit the warm tropical waters of the ocean, scuba dive and walk on the ocean bed.

Once we’re done, I’d retreat, alone, to relax on a quiet corner of the beach, reading a play (or a novel by Ben Okri), munching on fruits and sipping coconut water. Just as the sun sets I'll go horse riding on the beach and will try to find an Ethiopian restaurant to have some of their divine vegetarian offerings.

I would then head to a local

avante garde theatre to watch an original, experimental and fresh play with my sister who, like me, is an artist and art lover. Afterwards we’d chat with the artists over a few drinks. Then it would be time to head to bed to rest and relax after a day filled with fun, family and adventure. ●

Didintle Khunou stars as Celie in The Color Purple: The Musical. The show, which had a sold-out season at the Joburg Theatre, will be on stage again in August.