Page 18 - KZN Business Sense 7.1

DURBAN’S NEW TOPAZ RESTAURANT & SKYBAR

Renate Engelbrecht 1 September. The ONOMO Topaz Restaurant & Skybar lighting that links the outside brick and pure white linen are
Hotels group has partnered with Whether it’s during the day views with the inside. what stands out in the rooms, with
f you were looking for a good world leader in testing, inspection or at night, the 6th floor Topaz simplicity being key.
reason to visit Durban this and certification services, Bureau Skybar lends itself to a variety It’s a space for both corporate
Iholiday season, this is it. Veritas, to certify the COVID-19 of events. With views across the guests and leisure guests, uniquely My favourites at ONOMO Hotel
The ONOMO Hotel Durban‘s safety processes implemented Indian Ocean, Moses Mabhida located walking distance from the Durban
new Topaz Restaurant & in each of its 21 hotels and the and Kings Park stadia, it’s a beach and it is open to the public ■ The Wifi is brilliant.
Skybar has opened its doors just five South African hotels were skybar that will certainly draw from Thursdays to Saturdays from ■ There is a variety of quality
in time for the summer holidays part of the auditing process both locals and tourists to come 16:00 to 23:00 and on Sundays event venues, which allows you
and it is the very first of its kind to certify their existing World from 14:00 to 23:00. to match your event to the
in the city. Health Organisation-aligned and explore. At night, the venue Ingwe Terrace venue easily.
protocols. ONOMO Hotel is decorated with 360 degrees of ■ The staff are lovely! Have a look
The ONOMO Hotel Durban is Durban’s sparkly city lights as In addition to the Topaz
part of ONOMO Hotels, a leading Durban is therefore the only hotel backdrop. It’s ideal for friendly Restaurant & Skybar, the ONOMO at the story that Good Things
African hotel group that operates in KwaZulu-Natal with Bureau get-togethers or glamorous Hotel Durban also offers guests the Guy did on one of the waiters
(www.goodthingsguy.com/
Veritas status. It is also the first
21 hotels in 12 African countries. events, including delicious meals ground floor Ingwe Terrace, which
It has been operating for three ONOMO hotel to have been built and brilliant local live music. is adjacent to the swimming pool. people/onomo-durban-waiter-
from scratch.
tip)
years already, including the This gourmet restaurant specialises
COVID-19 lockdown. ONOMO Designed by a French company The Topaz Restaurant & in regional cuisine in a relaxed, ■ It’s super close to the beach.
There’s a lovely swimming pool
Hotel Durban and Signature Lux based in Morocco, they have Skybar‘s decor brings a tropical, ‘shebeen-chic’ environment. ■ with daybeds.
by ONOMO Sandton were the been bringing Africa into Africa yet African feel to the venue, with Accommodation
first South African hotels in the with their designs. The European giant leaves hanging from the ■ Their cappuccinos are
group to return to operation under influence is also very evident, ceiling, a vibrant photo corner, The rooms are well equipped and divine. 
lockdown Level 2 and have been though with an overall minimalist, seating with bright shweshwe- simple, yet elegant with a strong www.onomohotel.com/en/hotel/8/
ONOMO feel throughout. Wood,
scaling up operations since practical layout and design. style fabrics and large, triangular onomo-hotel-durban
SEEING WITH SOUND

he vOICe vision Africa Dutch engineer, Peter Meijer, identify and announce: objects’ Musa Makhunga said, “I am in a range of occupations and
(Pty) Ltd launched a a former staff member of the colours, barcodes, and is able to hoping that as South Africans we activities including sport through
Trevolutionary audio Philips Corporation research name common objects in front will be able to get our people to this device, that they were not
vision solution for the blind department. He developed of the camera. use this device. Through taking able to do before.” 
in Umhlanga, South Africa in an algorithm of the sensory According to the users’ advantage of the vOICe Vision
January 2020. substitution of vision through reports the sounds of the device technology, we will be able to For more information contact
sound. The device gives a empower blind people. I am Tel: +27 (0)31 566 1651
The device called vOICe vision, sound image with up to several do not interrupt listening to hoping that blind people will be Email: eyes@voicevision.co.za
which comprises goggles and thousand pixels resolution, sounds in the environment. able to participate more freely Website: voicevision.co.za
an installed camera and bone without dependence on the eye You can control the volume
conduction earphones is able to ailment’s condition and without of the device, and due to the
make a significant difference to any need for surgery. bone-conduction earphones as
a blind person’s way of life. With ear canals are not blocked and
the help of a vOICe vision device The blind person can perceive natural echolocation continues
any blind person can learn to space and objects through the taking place.
perceive space through sound, sound signal received by the
move around without assistance, device as a result of encoding Training
and be socially active and images from the camera. An vOICe vision Africa offers
independent. app transforms the image into training to blind people on the
sound, which is perceived by seeing with sound technique.
vOICe vision Africa, Through training of an hour,
Managing Director Musa the brain identically to the three times a week, and
monochrome picture. The
Makhunga, explains, “vOICe device can also vocalise text on practicing in between, it will take
vision is where blind people are signs and numbers of buildings, about three months for one to be
able to see with sound.”
automatically or by manual competent and proficient with
The device was developed by control. It has features to the technique. Gilbert Kowa and Candice Saunders

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