December 12, 2019
A freak thunderstorm ensures boots replace my bikini
You won’t find hordes of Europeans worshipping the sun gods whilst packed
together on a strip of sand. A strong emphasis of conservation at the park
thanks to the Mauritian brand of passionate, community-driven tourism has
resulted in re-introduction of tortoises on Rodrigues Island. Situated in the
North part of Mauritius, in the heart of a fertile orchard and splendid garden,
lies The Château de Labourdonnais, where endemic plants and large varieties of
exotic trees grow in harmony around a stunning neoclassical Italian style
mansion that spans two levels and is breathtakingly beautiful.
Essentially built
in teak, the house is surrounded by a double colonnaded gallery that protects it
from the sun and allows for improved ventilation. A perfect end to an exciting
adrenaline-filled morning.Defined by azure skies and waters, Mauritius is much
more than a picturesque postcard island (Photo: Wikimedia) Defined by azure
skies and waters, Mauritius is much more than a picturesque postcard islandI’m
standing on a powdery white beach, sipping a rum-laced cocktail, garnished with
a paper parasol. Inside the home has a Victorian feel with magnificent antiques,
bone china and furniture that remind us of how the early colonists lived in pomp
and style.
A freak thunderstorm ensures boots replace my bikini as I reluctantly
trek to ‘The Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes’, a unique park in the South,
filled with lush vegetation, an insectarium and 2,000 Nile crocodiles and the
largest captive group of Aldabra tortoises in the world! Unlike a zoo or
aquarium, the best part of this park is its interactive feel — whether its
feeding the giant tortoises as they amble along or clutching a tiny croc. Four
hundred years of colonial experimentation has created a montage of Hindu
temples, mosques and Chinese pagodas, set amid waterfalls and volcanic
peaks.Rain, rain go awaySometimes the best-laid plans go awry and all hopes of
me spending a lazy week on the beach come to a halt as the weather gods have
other plans. Even the resorts are evenly spread across this 28-mile wide
paradise.
Travelling across the length and breadth of the island (it only takes
about China
aluminum scaffold manufacturers two hours) one cannot escape its
multi-cultural past; several hundred years as a Dutch, French, and then English
colony and its 60 per cent plus Indian population adds another unique cultural
dimension giving it a Caribbean-Creole meets Arabian nights feel. Even Mark
Twain was moved to admit that "Heaven was copied after Mauritius,†so who are we
to argue If dare devilry is not your cup of Vanilla tea (the national drink
after rum) then a visit to Chateau Labourdonnais is a must.Street markets that
lurk away from the glitzy resorts are the best places to sample these savoury
treats. But wait, I’ve saved the best for last — the croc fixation doesn’t just
end there.Mouth-watering MauritiusFinally my favourite part — I also judge a
country by its cuisine because truly great nations produce truly great cooks.
Beyond me the ocean roars as a palette of blues and cobalts merge in perfect
unison.
Another must-do is a visit to the 60-acre Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
Botanical Gardens where the giant Victoria water lilies and 80 different types
of palm (many planted by Indian PMs) are worth a dekko. Sustainable
sunshineLuckily, the independent government (since 196
chooses to flaunt and
promote its multi-cultural heritage and is determined that tourism in Mauritius
does not suffer the same fate as the dodo, its national symbol! Tourism
flourishes alongside a sensible and enlightened policy of ecotourism and
preservation (a policy that has won the government many international awards)
ensuring the island’s pristine beauty remains untouched.
On my last day I head
to Port Louis, the Capital to dine on the national snack of Dhollpuri — a
flour-based chapatti stuffed with dal (like a savoury version of the
Maharashtrian puran poli) and topped with a mild curry, pickles and vegetables
all rolled up like a desi Frankie — tangy, spicy yet delicious much like the
soul of Mauritius itself!Fareeda is a travel writer and enthusiast. The resorts
in Mauritius are spread across this 28-mile wide paradise and designed keeping
in mind the island’s colonial past and heritage with turn-of-the-century
plantation houses decked out in teak furniture, evocative shutters and a pastel
colour scheme. Adrift in the Indian Ocean, 1,250 miles off the South-East of
Africa, the island of Mauritius has a truly multicultural soul. Back at the uber
chic Heritage Le Telfair Golf and Spa Resort, I’m pleased to see the sun peaking
out of the clouds so I race to soak on the beach for a while as originally
planned.After my close encounter of the scary kind, the assorted iguanas,
monkeys and bats seem tame as I bravely venture across the Ebony-tree infested
park. Women in sarees and men in lungis float magically past us, as do thatched
cottages straight out of a Goan palm-fringed village.
Indian curries and pickles
are served alongside European favourites like Bouillon de Crabe, which is a
clear but flavourful crab soup and stir-fried noodles from China, all using
locally available ingredients,†she informs. I’m fortunate to have a local
friend Rubeena Vayid Ismail, an expert on Mauritian food who guides me through
the culinary landscape of the country. I’ve finally found a destination to
escape to when the ‘world gets too much’ and solitude and pampering are the
order of the day. "Mauritian food is a mix of native African, French, Chinese
and Indian, with many endemic dishes available only here. At the Park’s
restaurant, I find myself ordering crocodile fritters (yes, you read it
correctly) for lunch
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