Travel – Mauritius
Planning an exotic baecation or famcation? Turn to the ever popular destination, Mauritius, to experience the ultimate R&R
American writer Mark Twain once said, “Mauritius was made first and then heaven, and heaven was copied after Mauritius.” We agree. A mere four-hour flight from South Africa brought us to Club Med La Plantation D’Albion, for a week-long taste of this tropical paradise.
Upon our arrival at the resort, which is hidden away between a mountain, forest and the sea, we were warmly welcomed with cold, scented cloths for our hands and delicious ice tea. We had a brief induction into the local culture, language and lingo, and couldn’t wait to experience everything first hand.
DAY 1: HISTORIC SITES
Our first stop was at the sacred lake of Grand Bassin. Nestled away in the mountains, large statues of the Hindu deities Lord Durga and Shiva welcome visitors to the colourful temple, where priests are constantly praying and sacrificing fruits and vegetables. Tourists are encouraged to participate in prayers, or simply pose for photos at the peaceful haven.
We then set off to the Rhumerie de Chamarel Distillery, for a tour and talk on how the plentiful sugar cane on the island makes its way there to be distilled into the famous bottles of rum. Even better, we got a taste of the powerful nectar, before sitting down for a superb lunch at the L’Alchimiste restaurant. The tour ended at the Chamarel Waterfall, where were saw the Seven Coloured Earths – a geological wonder of seven colours streaked across a small area of sand dunes.
DAY 2 & 3: THE CLUB MED RESORT
For the next two days, we “stayed in” to enjoy the full Club Med experience. The all-inclusive package means you don’t need to worry about carrying cash for meals and drinks. The resort’s two restaurants and tea-time snacks will ensure that you leave a few kilos heavier — not to mention the yummy beverages at the three bars. A dress code and theme colour applies for dinner, and there’s entertainment at the theatre or the beach — after drinks at the Le Banian Bar, of course. La Distillerie serves buffet-style dinners matched to the theme for the night, and a fusion of the island’s cuisine influenced by its diverse French, Indian, Chinese and Creole cultures. We enjoyed stews, mild curries, fabulous seafood and poultry, and sampled a variety of pickled condiments. Bookings can be made for private dinners.
For the more active, a gym and various land and water sports are available. Kids from the ages of two to 17 can run amok at two childcare facilities, under the watchful eye of trained caretakers, to give parents some downtime. Adults can enjoy the Zen pool, while the kiddies splash around in their own pool.
DAY 4: BLUE SAFARI MARINE
The island is surrounded by a coral reef, and for those who want more than snorkelling, there’s no better way to see the aquatic ecosystem than in the sub scooter or submarine at Blue Safari Marine. The submarine is hands down the winner for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to spot the most diverse ocean creatures.
DAY 5: PORT LOUIS
For a food fundie like me, the most amazing part of the trip was experiencing a day in the heart and soul of Mauritius, the capital, Port Louis. You can feel the buzz as soon as you enter the Central Market. It is here where locals do their shopping for super-sized fruit and vegetables, straight from the island’s fertile soil.
Vendors were excited to hear our South African accents, and even more eager to sell produce from their colourful stalls. Across the road, we popped into the Poultry and Seafood Market, and inspected the dried legumes, fish and spices on the outskirts of the main market. The souvenirs can be found on the top level.
Walking can make you thirsty, so we were happy to enjoy freshly made tamarind and lemon juice (a health drink) and some coconut water. All that shopping also built up an appetite for some street food, and we were not disappointed. We indulged in the dalpuri, a flat bread similar to roti, served with ground yellow split peas or bean curry topped with some chilli pickle and chutney. And there’s nothing better to wash it all down than the island’s signature drink, Alouda — a sweet milk-based shake with tapioca balls flavoured with vanilla syrup. For dessert, we walked away with some of the beautifully-carved pineapple sprinkled with chilli spice. Some in our group bought gajak (similar to potato samoosas) for an afternoon snack.
DAY 6: CHILLAXING
Our last day in paradise was an extremely lazy one. After breakfast, we headed to the beach and sampled some amazing cocktails. After lunch, I spent some time at the pool and then headed off for a much-needed back massage. The Cinq Mondes Spa has a range of treatments – you can book a room for an individual or couple’s massage. At the end of that pampering, you’re ushered into the Zen area with a magnificent view of the lagoon to have tea and relax. Over one last supper, we reflected and concluded that Mark Twain was right. Mauritius is a piece of heaven on earth.