Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
South African in New York
Actor Bongile Mantsai says his travel highlight was without doubt the Big Apple
ACTOR Bongile Mantsai is currently in Yael Farber’s Mies Julie. He won a Fleur du Cap award for best supporting actor in the play Woyzeck. Where have you travelled? I have been to Edinburgh, London, New York, Mozambique, Vienna, Australia and Reunion. And now with Mies Julie’s world tour I will be travelling to some more exciting places in the world.
Where was your favourite holiday or time spent abroad?
Without a doubt, it has to be New York. Strangely, it felt like home. The city is so cosmopolitan with such a vibrant and dynamic mix of cultures. The vibe and energy is palpable and people on the street are so hospitable.
What do you avoid during a holiday?
Anything illegal – you do not want to get into trouble with the law in any foreign country. I always make sure that everything is in order before I leave – my passport and documents should all be in order. It is easy to be swallowed up by a big or new city, so I make sure that I am well oriented. Best meal abroad? While I was in London, a friend took me to my first Japanese restaurant called Benihana. It was superb – they have a great variety of food to choose from and everything is fresh. Everything is prepared and cooked in front of you. Diners share long tables with others and in this way you end up talking to interesting people, including locals.
Another one of my favourite places is the Madiba Restaurant in New York. Boy, did I miss home when I went there. What was really fantastic was that the menu listed authentic South African dishes exactly as we would have them here. They did not change the menu to suit New Yorkers. They have “boerewors en pap”, “pap en vleis” and fish and chips, exactly as we know them. They also stock Iwisa, chutney and Stoney.
Your favourite place to have sundowners on your travels?
I don’t drink alcohol so I would go for a fresh juice or a smoothie. I tend to opt for any place that offers a bird’s-eye view of the city and quiet surrounds.
What have you learnt from your travels?
You must familiarise yourself with the place that you are visiting. Plan the visits and tours carefully. If the language is really different, learn a few words by way of introduction – it can help you get around and it shows respect. Your attitude is important, so avoid preconceived notions of the place and the people. I am always very positive about the city I am going to and look forward to every different place I visit. Ideal travelling companion? I like to travel with somebody who shares my positive and excited outlook. They should be willing to take risks and try new places with a keenness to experience all that place or culture has to offer.
Culture vulture or adrenalin junkie? Culture vulture. Greatest travel luxury? Well, let’s see, my iPad, a wellfunctioning gym with a great Jacuzzi and great hotels. Holiday reading? I take it easy when I travel so I prefer lifestyle magazines, musical stories and theatre books. Favourite drive? The Garden Route is one of the most beautiful drives in the world for me, as is the drive towards the Eastern Cape. Dream trip? Paris. It is a beautiful city and I love the lifestyle of the French – it’s so elegant and sophisticated. Where next? After our season in Cape Town we will continue our world tour of Mies Julie so I will be going to the Galway Arts Festival, Ireland (July), Tampere Festival, Finland (August), Oxford Playhouse, UK (August), Washington, US (November) and Boston (November and December).
And then in 2014 we travel to Australia, Hong Kong and Canada. I’m looking forward to it!