Ikigai is an ancient Japanese word meaning something like ‘your reason for living’. Finding your ikigai is understanding what makes you get out of bed every morning. To meet this purpose, you must follow a five-step roadmap that will require a good deal of self-awareness.

At 21-years-old, I became aware of myself as an actual force in the world, as something with the power to effect change, and as someone whose actions had lasting consequences beyond my immediate
situation.

The Plettenberg is magnificent – rising steeply on a rocky headland above the sea at Plettenberg Bay. It embraces breathtaking views of Formosa Bay that are unsurpassed along this stretch of the beautiful South African coast.

How do men become idols? And how can we get close to them? Mark Henderson catapults us into a dream world of opulent settings right out of a Hollywood props room, enticing and intoxicating the senses. Unattainable models in a home environment turn the kitchen, lounge, bedroom and garden into a setting for sensuality and male beauty. Digital colour enhancements heighten the visual artistry of the images.

Flying KLM’s World Business Class to Amsterdam was a memorable experience. The service is impeccable and even fussy gourmands would be satisfied with the food and the selection of award winning wines. Upon our arrival at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, we were pleasantly surprised at the efficiency and speed with which the arrival formalities were dealt with. Very impressive, considering this is Europe’s third busiest airport.

Winter in Europe is a time of year often associated with powdery white snow, twinkling festive lights and Christmas. We were happy to exchange the unbearable heat of Joburg’s summer for Europe’s winter chill, even though the winter weather was causing havoc at the time of our planned trip. The relatively short flight time and only an hour’s time difference meant that we could hit the ground running without feeling too tired.

Society has moved fairly seamlessly from the communication era to the celebrity era. But the very concept of stardom is eroding – every Tom, Dick and Harry is now a ‘C-list’ celebrity. Idols, X-Factor, Big Brother, Dragon’s Den and The Apprentice – children are growing up with ambitions of becoming the next runner-up on Big Brother series 43.

I like to call it gaything, but gay sun bathing also works if you care to not sound like a big ol’ queen! There are not many things most gay men love more than seeing other men in tiny bathing suits (or without them) working on their tans and lounging about like there is no care in the world except to look desirable. Here, in no particular order, are our updated picks for the top ten gay beach destinations in the world.

“Beauty is present in all creation, but the dangerous fact is that, because we human beings are often cut off from the Divine Energy, we allow ourselves to be influenced by what other people think. We deny our own beauty because others can’t or won’t recognise it. Instead of accepting ourselves as we are, we try to imitate what we see around us. We try to be what other people think of as ‘pretty’ and, little by little, our soul fades, our will weakens, and all the potential we had to make the world a more beautiful place withers away.” – Paulo Coelho, Manuscript Found in Accra.

Science has known that there is biological evidence for sexual orientation since the 1980s. The links have been emphasised by new scientific research.

The Sabi Sand Game Reserve adjacent to the Kruger National Park is possibly our favourite place. It’s a place we return to often, lured there by the natural beauty, the abundant birds and game and, of course, the people.

Singita Game Reserves have an unrivalled reputation for service excellence and exquisite accommodation. Seasoned travellers immediately recognise the exceptional levels of service at all Singita lodges. In the hospitality and game lodge industry the anticipatory service levels of Singita sets an international benchmark that is almost impossible to beat. We visited Boulders and Ebony Lodges, both of which are situated in breathtaking locations next to the Sand River in the Sabi Sand Reserve which is renowned for high concentrations of big game and rugged natural beauty.

One of the many highlights of New Mr. Gay SA Pageant is a 14-page glossy calendar for 2010, featuring the 16 finalists of the 2009 contest. With each turn of the page, a visual feast unfolds – a celebration of the male form, character and the enigma of personality – the essence of the New Mr. Gay South Africa Pageant.

A previous trip to Earth Lodge several years ago had imprinted the lodge on my mind as one of the best I’d ever visited. This second visit confirmed to me that this is indeed so. It was as beautiful as I’d remembered and everyone went out of their way to make our stay memorable.

Performance art has its origins in the 1960s and is a term used to describe ways in which artists use their bodies to portray ideas. These artists use their bodies, personalities, voice, facial expressions, gestures, movement through space as well as make-up and costume to communicate visually with those who witness their performance. Don’t we all do that? People carefully choose the clothes or costumes they will wear on any given day. We decide what we will or will not show society or the viewer about ourselves. We use selected movements and gestures to not only hide but also reveal selected information about ourselves.

Animals, in my opinion, have memories, emotions and deeper attachments to the human race than we realise. The most emotional stories for me are the ones involving animals who often endanger their own lives to save others – and some of these legends date back many years.

I like to be naked anywhere, anytime, who wouldn’t? Apparently most people, from my Grindr hunt for other nudists. Most guys contact me with, “I’d like to try that,” like I’m proposing bungee jumping off the Eiffel Tower. It’s not that complicated, really. Just take your clothes off. Or better yet, if it’s Sunday morning, don’t put any on. What’s to try?

A number of years ago we spent a memorable three days at Leadwood Lodge and have longed to return ever since. Five years later, our wish was granted and we returned to this, one of our favourite game lodges. It was even more special this time, as there were only four guests, including ourselves. We again had a magical breakaway.

It was that magical post-coming out time when all the world was my oyster and every man I looked at had some sort of potential. For the first time, in fact, it was actually okay to look. It was fine to fantasize, to flirt, to kiss, to do all those things that in the closeted world had remained locked up like dirty, festering secrets.

Have you ever wondered where the rainbow flag comes from, and how it came to symbolise gay pride and rights across the globe?

It will never work. This is the typical response to anyone who expresses the intention to “do long distance.“ The cliché “absence makes the heart grow fonder“ is countered with another, more disparaging, cliché, “absence makes the heart wander.“

From dressing Beyoncé to empowering people through the clothes they wear, African queer icon Rich Mnisi shares his thoughts

Birds do it, bees do it – even educated fleas do it. That’s what Cole Porter wrote way back in 1928 and we still do it now. We fall in love and out of it, rediscover it, and often say to hell with it – but love and the conjugal act are foremost on our minds, no matter what.

Oscar Wilde had an incredible talent for portraying the human condition. He was a keen observer of the society he was part of and delighted in pointing out the foibles and idiosyncrasies of his time. It was this ability that made him one of the most successful writers of poetry, plays and books of his day. He was celebrated and ridiculed – often for his manner of dress and affected speech. When the fall came, it was swift and catastrophic. Oscar Wilde’s light was snuffed out prematurely and the world of literature and taste lost one of its most influential denizens.

Is gay culture really going mainstream?

Science has known that there is biological evidence for sexual orientation since the 1980s. The links have been emphasised by new scientific research.

We travel in style with Lexus to the idyllic Whispering Waters manor house in Dullstroom to find a dreamy country retreat

Winston Churchill suffered from depression. He called it his Black Dog. The gay community is plagued by this same hound.

This first-time screen actor still continues receiving rave reviews and
turned out far friendlier and more relaxed than the character
Nicholas van der Swart that he acted so well.

Should we be paying for Only Fans subscriptions? Is there a difference between selling your body and selling images of it?

THE 11TH MR GAY WORLD DELEGATES WOW CAPE TOWN WITH THEIR PROJECTS IN ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE, THEIR KIND HEARTS, AND YES, THEIR SMOKING HOT LOOKS!

“We live diversity!” Daimler participated in 13 Pride parades and events
all over the world in 2019, with 1800 employees riding along globally.

My “Coming of Age” story in the Summer edition had an incredibly good response, but almost everybody wanted to know more…

Coming of age, nobody suspected me of being gay…
I was all about lifesaving, judo, the smell of two-stroke oil
and racing with the boys.