Mark Sham

If you are a new follower to my account, I'd like to introduce myself, explain what I post about and WHY! Please take a few seconds to read (and like the post) if you've been enjoying my content so far. I really appreciate your support so far and I'm here to create a net positive impact on Twitter / X ❤️ ✅ My goal is to create travel content that inspires people to travel more. Specifically, I'm trying to get people to act like tourists in this beautiful country of ours. Despite our problems, I love South Africa and I want to be a force for good. ✅ I've been documenting my travels informally for a few years but I recently started @likeatouristza to showcase amazing places to visit and cool things to do. Just look through my recent timeline and you will get an idea of what I'm talking about. ✅ We have a YouTube channel where we upload high quality content. I would love for you to search for us and see the quality for yourself. I also use all my social media platforms to share pictures that I take myself. If it doesn't have our logo on then I didn't take it. ✅ Almost always, my posts aren't sponsored and the places I visit don't know I'm coming. I pay my own way which gives me the ability to give an honest plug. If money exchanges hands, I will always tell you. ✅ I also don't review places. If I don't have a great experience, I don't post about them. This is why my content sometimes comes across as "positive" when actually I just don't mention the negative experiences to begin with. ✅ Some travel experiences I post about are for everyone and some are high end. I rarely post prices and I ask you to do your own research. ✅ Every now and then, I post about other topics that interest me that aren't travel related. I am a professional speaker so I have a broad range of interests. Sometimes I speak about politics too, but I try limit this topic because it can be divisive. ✅ Lastly, I am a fun loving guy and I love engaging with my community but I also clap back if someone gives me a hard time. I'm ok with debating things elegantly and I am comfortable to agree to disagree. PS. Reply to this post if you have any questions or comments, and I will always try to reply ASAP. Love hearing from you and chatting with you!

Last week we discovered an outrageously beautiful glass cabin in Swellendam hiding in the trees with the Langeberg mountains as the most insane backdrop. These pictures will show you what I mean ❤ Whenever you feel the need to slow down, it's best to spend time in places that wrap you in nature. The Greenhouse at Fazenda is a unique 2-sleeper glass cabin tucked into the forest but its real magic is the way it makes you feel hidden and exposed at the same time. There are some curtains and blinds by the bed, but when the sun comes up, the whole cabin lights up with it in the most beautiful way. At night you hear the wind breathe through the trees as you lie in bed. Your wake up alarm is all the birds chirping in unison the next morning ❤ That’s what makes this tiny hideaway so special. You get the privacy of the forest but also the feeling that nature has pulled up a chair right next to you. It gives you the opportunity to disappear and reconnect at the same time. For the two nights we spent there, it was exactly the kind of pause we had both been hoping for. The Greenhouse, Fazenda, and Swellendam feel like they were made for each other. Together they remind me exactly why I’ve always believed the soul of South Africa lives in its small towns. Ever since the pandemic pushed more South Africans to explore locally, Swellendam has really come into its own and you can feel creativity and energy flowing into this small town, alongside that classic South African friendliness that makes you feel right at home. As always, the goal of @likeatouristza is to inspire more South Africans to act like tourists in their own country. Swellendam is a must visit and I’ll share another post soon about what we got up to in the town. Until then, I'd love to hear if you’ve ever stayed at Fazenda and what your experience was like. Don't be shy 🤣 PS. For the one person who’ll screenshot this post to a friend saying “they probably got paid for this.” No Susan. These two nights came straight out of our kid's college fund 🧐

It’s really important for all entities to feel the consequences of their actions.

She gets my vote despite her representing the DA. Joburg needs an actual leader and you can say what you want about Helen, but she is most likely to fix our beautiful city.

Hey @dineshgovender! Refurb isn’t too shabby in Cape Town. Well done to you and the team. Lounge looks amazing. The space has been rearranged so that everyone gets that beautiful view. It’s just the internet speed is a “thing” but I assume, that’s not only in your control?

We are in such an abusive relationship with our government that most South Africans can't imagine what life feels like when things just work. It's actually crazy what we have learned to accept as "normal". There is no other way to say it. This is abuse.

How is sports betting not regulated like alcohol or cigarettes? The impact in South Africa is just as destructive. It’s sold as harmless entertainment but it preys on vulnerable people, especially those already under financial pressure 🤯 At least alcohol and cigarettes come with warnings, age restrictions, and public health messaging.

@Boertjie1111 @Storygatherer Ducking autocorrect 😉

@MarkSham @Storygatherer And the raffle part? What is the cost of a ticket?

South Africa is leaderless. Not just in government, but also in corporate South Africa and across the various religions. All of these people are complicit alongside the ANC as they’ve destroyed this country. They’re all sucking at the hind tit of the ANC and don’t want to raffle any feathers so that they can continue to live a good life.

@Storygatherer Many churches, mosques, and synagogues were part of placing pressure on the National Party and making people aware of the bigger issues. Post 1994, they're all quiet.

@MarkSham Regions and ruffle…what’s religion got to go with it.

@EugeneBurger3 It was an autocorrect. I originally wrote ruffle. But thank you for mentioning it.

@MarkSham Ruffle, it’s ruffle…

@CrozierMark There are MANY people who live a phenomenal life precisely because they benefit from their corrupt relationship with the ANC. That's why the rest of the country suffers.

@MarkSham Good life? I'm not sure how many are still living a good life in SA.

Every time someone calls me racist when they’ve never met me, they completely ignore the irony of how racist they are! I know it must be hard for you Lee, almost impossible to admit just how much the ANC hates black people. It’s near impossible to look at everything they’ve done and still defend them. I feel complete sympathy for you more than anything.

I raise you racist white South Africans.

@NdlelaZithulele Awuhlakaniphile, uyaqaphela nje.

@MarkSham Okay Mlungu, uhlakaniphile yaz

No one hates black people more than the ANC!

What would make me racist? Isn't it ironic that the first thing you do is accuse me of racism just because I'm pointing to a hard truth? I hate to tell you this, Langa... You might be quite racist 🤣 PS. Do yourself a favour and be radically honest with yourself. Just look at what the ANC does vs. what it says. Soon you will have to accept that no one hates black people more than the ANC 🧐

@MarkSham It's a sad contradiction that racists are attempting to speak on behalf of the black people.

My dearest Digital Warrior... I don't need to be black to point to what's going on. I know this is hard for you, especially because you're obsessed with skin colour, but just watch what the ANC does vs. what it says. A small example is how much money the ANC has stolen from black people. Statistically, white people fare much better in our economy so when the ANC steals trillions, they're stealing from black people who live off of nothing every day. But again, I know it's hard to agree with this, especially because of your own racist tendencies but it's plain to see if you're just willing to be honest with yourself 😘

@MarkSham Since when did you become black people spokesperson? We know who hates us more.

Any person with any skin colour and a brain can see how much the ANC hates black people. All you have to do is watch what the ANC does and it's clear 🙃 I know it's hard for you to get your head around, especially because all you see is skin colour, but if you're honest and you open your eyes for even a split second, you will see 🤣

@MarkSham So says a white man??

We get the government we deserve. We experience the consequences because we’re not willing to say enough is enough.

Here's the one mega lesson to learn from @nasiphim: She uses her social media channels to speak about the work her and the team are doing. Unless I've missed it, you almost never see her speaking about other parties. Take note @ME_Beaumont 🙃

@SonOfScrat @ME_Beaumont I don't know why you think this is a worthy reply. It's just rude and unnecessary. Attack the action, not the character. You are no better than the politicians.

In the Sunday Times today I write that nobody fears a Zille mayoral campaign in Joburg: "Residents who believe Joburg’s best days are still ahead, would be better served by not investing their hopes in someone whose best days are behind them." actionsa.org.za/if-joburgs-bes…