Gadling

Travel Regrets: One Lost Conversation

Alex Robertson Textor — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, United Kingdom

It's impossible to know what a lost conversation might have yielded. A lost conversation occupies a place in memory, a reservoir of sadness or relief. It's the shape of the reservoir that remains forever unknown. This uncertainty often renders the very recognition of a lost conversational opportunity difficult.

The decision to welcome a stranger into conversation while on the road isn't always easy. Nobody wants to be an easy mark. In places with pervasive tourism infrastructures, it's often the better part of wisdom to ignore touts and attempts at conversation altogether. There are, after all, many scams to avoid, many tourist traps to escape.

But often a self-imposed barrier to conversation on the part of a tourist or traveler precludes what would have been interesting, useful, personally significant, or simply an opportunity to share a laugh or two.

A year and a half ago I was in Mauritius, having a conversation with my partner on a beach. What was it about? No idea. A very tall man with dreadlocks came up to us and hovered maybe 15 feet away. Very quietly he asked us if we might be interested in buying some jewelry made out of sea urchins.

I couldn't hear him. "Sorry?" I asked. He repeated his pitch. "No thank you," I responded, somewhat curtly. We were not interested in his jewelry. He also wasn't really bothering us. Had our completely forgettable conversation not felt urgent, I would no doubt have been more polite. Hawkers are few and far between in this part of Mauritius, at least off-season, and his entreaty had been tame and gentle. But we weren't interested, and we were in the middle of a conversation in any case.

"Where are you from?" he persisted. Every time we got this question in Mauritius we had to make a decision. Either we enjoyed the unfolding game and entertained a dozen or so guesses before we revealed our nationality, or we nipped it in the bud by responding "American." This time, eager to get back to our conversation, we chose the latter option.

"I know America," he said with sudden clarity. He pointed at his chest with a single finger. "I am from Chagos." Suddenly, everything changed. He was no longer an unobtrusive if vaguely annoying hawker. "You are from Chagos?" I asked, suddenly alert. "Yes," he answered. And then he turned away abruptly. The lines of communication were closed. He was done.

Continue reading Travel Regrets: One Lost Conversation

Travel Regrets: One Lost Conversation originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The world's most ethical tourism destinations

Jessica Marati — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Mauritius, Latvia, Serbia, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Dominica, Palau, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

Each year, non-profit organization Ethical Traveler conducts a survey of the world's developing nations, analyzing their progress toward promoting human rights, preserving their environment, and developing a sustainable tourism industry. The study, run by Ethical Traveler's all-volunteer staff, factors in country scores from databases like Freedom House, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the World Bank, then dives into actions that governments have taken to improve circumstances within their countries in the previous year.

The top countries are celebrated in Ethical Traveler's annual list of the Developing World's Best Ethical Tourism Destinations, with the hope that increased tourism will help those countries continue to improve. "Travel and tourism are among the planet's driving economic forces, and every journey we take makes a statement about our priorities and commitment to change," they say. "Ethical Traveler believes that mindful travel is a net positive for the planet. By choosing our destinations well and remembering our role as citizen diplomats, we can create international goodwill and help change the world for the better."

This year's list includes Argentina, the Bahamas, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Latvia, Mauritius, Palau, Serbia, and Uruguay. Explore these countries more in the slideshow below.

Gallery: The world's most ethical tourism destinations

[Flickr image via Lisandro M. Enrique]

The world's most ethical tourism destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Roz Savage finishes Indian Ocean row

Kraig Becker — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Paddling, Mauritius, Australia, News

Long distance rower Roz Savage has added yet another ocean to her already impressive resume. The woman who has already rowed solo across the Atlantic and Pacific, has now completed the Indian Ocean as well, arriving in Mauritius today after 154 days at sea.

Savage began her journey way back in April, when she set out from Fremantle, Australia. After a few early set backs with her boat, she eventually hit the open water, where she spent more than five months alone, battling high winds, big waves, and ocean storms. Some days she made good progress, racking up plenty of miles, and others she struggled all day just to end up back where she started.

Of course, with four major long distance rows under her belt - Roz did the Pacific in three stages - it wasn't anything she hadn't seen before. The Indian Ocean did present its own unique challenges however and for the first time, she had to deal with the real possibility of encountering pirates on one of her journeys. Because of that threat, Savage chose to keep her GPS tracking system off until she was nearly to the finish line, just in case someone else was following her progress.

With the completion of her Indian Ocean crossing, Roz has now become the first woman to row solo across the Indian, Pacific, and the Atlantic. With all of that time spent out on the water, she's gained quite an appreciation for our planet and the importance of taking care of our oceans. That's a message she has carried with her across the globe and continues to spread where ever she goes.

Now that she's conquered the last of the "Big Three" of ocean rowing, Roz has announced she's hanging up her oars to pursue other endeavors. I'm not sure how you top rowing three oceans, but I'm sure she'll find a way.

Roz Savage finishes Indian Ocean row originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Reflections on a round-the-world journey

Alex Robertson Textor — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania, Mauritius, South Africa, France, United Kingdom, United States, Australia

Several nights into our journey, as we were speeding along dark roads en route to our guest house on the island of Lifou in New Caledonia, I felt a bolt of irrepressible excitement of the sort familiar, no doubt, to most travel enthusiasts. We'd just spent several nights in big, bold Sydney, a bona fide world city, well-organized and self-evident. Sydney was exciting, but, truth be told, not unlike many places I knew well. The quiet island of Lifou, with its hybrid French-Melanesian culture, provided a novel contrast. There were few people around, and few streetlights. The air smelled sweet. Occasionally a car overtook us during our 40-minute journey, and headlights once or twice revealed women in bright clothing walking along the side of the road.

We had made it to an unknown place. I felt myself caught up with that familiar emotion known to all who love travel: teeming excitement, tied to a lack of knowledge of what was to come.

Taking stock of a five-week trip after the fact is perhaps unavoidable, but it's also fraught. You don't want to put too much energy into second-guessing what you did on your journey, perhaps in particular because a specific round-the-world itinerary is unlikely to be repeated. Simultaneously, you also want to learn from the experience.

Here's what we planned well and what we might have executed differently if we had the trip to do over.

Continue reading Reflections on a round-the-world journey

Reflections on a round-the-world journey originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Round-the-world: Capricorn Route trip top ten

Alex Robertson Textor — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Europe, Oceania, Mauritius, South Africa, France, United Kingdom, Australia

Later this week I'll reflect on the ups and downs of our round-the-world trip. I'll look at what we might have done differently as well as those elements that turned out to be particularly well conceived. In the meantime, here's a playful top ten list of some of the best things we encountered along the way: best beach; best ice cream; best tourist trap; best breakfast; best market stall; best new subway line; best hotel arrival punch; best rough neighborhood; best flight; and best place to sharpen cupcake decoration skills.

1. Best beach: Châteaubriand Bay Beach, Lifou. The Loyalty Island of Lifou in New Caledonia certainly several incredible beaches. Châteaubriand Bay Beach is the most magnificent of these. The sand is delicate and white, the water is a mesmerizing hue, and there's plenty of shade for those who burn easily. Locals share the beach with tourists, though in the very pleasant off-season there are few of either around.

2. Best ice cream: violet ice cream at Cutler & Co in Melbourne. The extraordinary tasting menu served at Cutler & Co was devoid of missteps. The parting shot of violet ice cream left a bold final impression. It was also the tastiest serving of ice cream of the trip.

3. Best (that is, worst) tourist trap: Île aux Cerfs, Mauritius. Everyone raves about Île aux Cerfs, an island off the east coast of Mauritius. Visitors pay 1000 rupees ($34) upfront at a tour agency in the coastal town of Trou d'Eau Douce for access to the island plus a barbecue lunch. A boat picks up tourists and deposits them at a jetty on the island, then later ferries them over to another island for a barbecue lunch. The island is packed with tourists and touts selling boat rides and parasailing adventures. Prior to development, this island was no doubt terribly beautiful--and, it must be said, it has no landscape-scarring developments even now--but it's quite crowded for a destination where it is pretty easy to avoid masses of tourists.

4. Best breakfast: Forbes & Burton, Sydney. A potato cake under poached eggs with smoked salmon and onion jam (AUD$18) was the best breakfast of the trip, hearty and refined at once. Runner-up in the great breakfast stakes: several items on the menu at Il Fornaio in Melbourne's St. Kilda neighborhood.

Continue reading Round-the-world: Capricorn Route trip top ten

Round-the-world: Capricorn Route trip top ten originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Round-the-world: Mauritius top five

Alex Robertson Textor — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Mauritius

Mauritius has all sorts of charm by the bucketload. It's got beaches, beautiful resorts, rough-and-tumble districts, colonial architecture, and a tropically lush physical environment. Following are five stand-out places and pastimes that showcase the island's distinctive beauty.

1. Local grub. In addition to the fresh seafood on offer, there are hunting reserves on Mauritius that generate incredibly delicious venison and boar. Eat these things. Plenty of other food items have to be transported over huge distances and are not particularly fresh. Two restaurants in the south of the island (La Bougainville in Blue-Bay and Les Copains d'Abord in Mahébourg) are particularly good; the latter has a direct relationship with a hunting preserve and puts especially tasty and fresh things on its menu. Its hearty sausage stew, which admittedly has to be flown over 300 miles from Rodrigues Island, is outstanding.

2. Botanical Gardens. The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens (above and below) are referred to by locals as Pamplemousses. They are a wonderfully peaceful place to relax, despite poor signposting. Guides can be arranged, though it's perfectly pleasant to simply wander around in blissful semi-ignorance, enjoying the beautiful foliage. The gardens contain a monument to Sir Ramgoolam, the first president of Mauritius following independence, trees planted by visiting heads of state, and a gorgeous colonial mansion (see below.)

Continue reading Round-the-world: Mauritius top five

Round-the-world: Mauritius top five originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Round-the-world: Chantemer, a Mauritius guest house

Alex Robertson Textor — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Mauritius

"This is not a hotel. This is a private home." With these words, Indra Tinkler, widely referred to simply as "Madame" by taxi drivers and other tourism providers across the south of Mauritius, introduces us to Chantemer, her small guest house. There is a flourish of the hand in the delivery. I assume--it turns out correctly--that we are in for an entertaining stay.

Located at Pointe d'Esny near Mahébourg, Chantemer's neighborhood is a prosperous one, occupying an idyllic stretch of coastline between a resort called Preskil and the town of Blue-Bay. The surrounding area is full of lovely villas, none garish or McMansion-like. Most of these villas boast a stretch of white-beige beach of their own.

Chantemer is the sort of quiet, good value guest house that cost-conscious travelers yearn for, treasure, and then recommend to the like-minded. The house's downstairs, where Madame lives, is stylishly appointed. Guest rooms are tasteful and simple, with many of Madame's own paintings hanging throughout. The basics for budget-minded and midrange leisure travelers are all there. The water heater works. The breakfasts (fruit, bread, and coffee) are fresh if small, though a boiled or fried egg can be ordered for an additional 25 rupees, which is less than $1. Rooms also have refrigerators, and two of the three rooms have balconies with sea views. Rooms do not have televisions. If anything, this amenity absence adds to the bolthole atmosphere.

Continue reading Round-the-world: Chantemer, a Mauritius guest house

Round-the-world: Chantemer, a Mauritius guest house originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Round-the-world: Port Louis Central Market, Mauritius

Alex Robertson Textor — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Mauritius

Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, buzzes with energy and dilapidated charm. Imposing office buildings, government ministries, and well-maintained colonial architecture bequeath some parts of the central city a prosperous, modern feel. Yet even with its hurried industry, its traffic and businesspeople, there is a sedateness. This is especially the case around palm-lined Place Sookdeo Bissoondoyal, the nerve-center of Port Louis, with its statues and colonial atmosphere. Across the highway from this central business area is Le Caudan Waterfront, a slick shopping center disconnected from the rest of downtown.

The rickety balconies and rough-and-tumble magic of the blocks around the Central Market are the real draw. The feel here is quite French, though more along the lines of New Orleans than Nice. There's a Bourbon Street, a Chinatown, countless shops, old buildings, and a pleasingly grubby tumult. It's impossible to stroll through and fail to be impressed by country's ethos of coexistence across a range of ethnicities and religions. In Port Louis, a Buddhist nun, women in headscarves, churches, and Hindu social organizations all share space on the same block. This dizzyingly plural cultural setting is exciting.

Continue reading Round-the-world: Port Louis Central Market, Mauritius

Round-the-world: Port Louis Central Market, Mauritius originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Round-the-world: Mauritius & a trip status report

Alex Robertson Textor — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Mauritius

Originally, we'd scheduled five nights in Mauritius and four nights in Réunion. Mauritius would be devoted to the beach and the ramshackle capital of Port Louis, while our time on Réunion would prioritize hiking and the quaint villages of the interior. This, at any rate, was the plan.

Réunion was the one pesky piece of the itinerary that stubbornly resisted advance planning. Every attempt to nail down a gîte or hotel in one of Réunion's inland calderas failed. My email requests for room availability were either returned with regrets or ignored outright. Our sources (Lonely Planet; the French civil servant and his wife, previously resident on Réunion, who we met in New Caledonia; the French women we met on Mauritius) suggested that we should rely on a tourist office on the ground to make reservations. This prospect seemed fine with me but didn't exactly thrill Matt.

Our informants also told us that, in light of infrequent bus connections between the airport and the inland calderas and the extortionate taxi fares, we'd probably need a car. (Ordinarily, we would have inquired with our hotel regarding a transfer, though this was not an option in light of our inability to snag a reservation.) The hardy French women we met in Mauritius detailed their exquisite week-long itinerary over breakfast one morning. It involved hiking from gîte to gîte through the mountains. "You see nobody for half the day. It is like you are alone on the earth," one of them said. That sort of isolation, with a simple bed and a home-cooked meal at the end of every hiking day sounded like a perfect holiday.

We weighed all this information against our existing itinerary. We had a limited amount of time (nine nights) set aside for these Indian Ocean islands, after all, and the thought of more fully exploring Mauritius struck us as more appealing than the alternative. In addition, the idea of returning to Réunion on a later occasion and doing it properly, hiking across the island's trails and staying in countryside gîtes, seemed preferable to a more rushed visit.

Continue reading Round-the-world: Mauritius & a trip status report

Round-the-world: Mauritius & a trip status report originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The top ten most affordable private island retreats in the world

Scott Carmichael — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, North America, Oceania, Mauritius, Honduras, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Caribbean, Luxury Travel

Dutch newspaper "De Telegraaf" put together a collection of the ten most affordable private island resorts in the world. The lineup has something for everyone - from a one bedroom shack on the Falkland Islands, to a six bedroom mansion on the side of a cliff - with private diving facilities.

Buying your own private island may be out of reach, but with rates starting at just $100 a night, you can relax on your own island and enjoy a week of luxury without anyone around you. In most cases, the only inhabitants of these islands are the animals - and a once-a-day delivery of meals to your private villa.

Gallery: The top ten most affordable private island retreats

The top ten most affordable private island retreats in the world originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 11 May 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

British woman completes solo row across Indian Ocean

Kraig Becker — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Paddling, Africa, Oceania, Mauritius, Australia, Ecotourism

Way back in March we wrote about Sarah Outen, the 24-year old British woman who set out from Fremantle, Australia in an attempt to row solo across the Indian Ocean. Shortly after that start, she ran into equipment trouble and had to be towed back to shore, but within days, she was back out on the water, and now, more than four months later, she has finished her quest, reaching Mauritius, off the coast of Africa, late yesterday.

Over the course of the past few months at sea, Sarah has endured all kinds of hardships, including nasty storms, winds that actually pushed her backwards, 30 foot waves, and days of solitude at the oars. In fact, after setting out from Australia, she literally went weeks before seeing another ship.

Sarah had hoped to set a new speed record in her solo crossing by reaching Mauritius in less than 107 days, but the inclement weather worked against her, preventing that achievement. She did become the youngest person to row solo across the Indian Ocean however, and the first woman to do so as well.

Sarah's Blog has a link to photos of her arrival and promises more updates soon. But for now, she's enjoying a much deserved rest and some time back on dry land.

British woman completes solo row across Indian Ocean originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

British Woman Attempts to Row Across the Indian Ocean

Kraig Becker — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Paddling, Oceania, Mauritius, Australia

This past weekend British adventurer Sarah Outen dipped her oars into the water just off the shore of Fremantle, located in Western Australia, and set off to become the first woman to cross the Indian Ocean under her own power. All that stands between her, and her eventual destination in Mauritius, is 3100 miles of open water, including 30 foot waves, high winds, and treacherous currents. She'll be passing through shark infested waters and dodging commercial shipping traffic along the way as well, in the hopes of setting a new speed record and claiming the crown as the youngest person to ever row across the Indiana Ocean.

On her official website, you'll find more information about this intrepid traveler, and you'll be able to track her progress all the way to Maurititus. Daily blog posts will give us insights into what she is dealing with out on the water, and her page on the route itself offers up handy training tips should you decide to make a long distance row of your own.

Continue reading British Woman Attempts to Row Across the Indian Ocean

British Woman Attempts to Row Across the Indian Ocean originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

From London to Timbuktu in a Flying Car

Kraig Becker — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Europe, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, France, Spain, Transportation

British adventurer Neil Laughton will begin a unique odyssey tomorrow. The former special forces officer will depart from London on his way to Timbuktu, located in the African country of Mali, and while a journey like this one is interesting in and of itself, it is Laughton's mode of transportation that really sets it apart.

Laughton will be traveling in a specially designed dune buggy dubbed the Skycar, which is a cross between an off-road vehicle and a paraglider. Utalizing a giant parachute and a large fan mounted on the back of the car, the driver is able to take flight, transitioning from the ground to the air in just three minutes. While in flight mode, it typically cruises between 2000 and 3000 feet, but can reach altitudes as high as 15,000 feet. All the while running on biofuel, making this an environmentally friendly endevour.

Continue reading From London to Timbuktu in a Flying Car

From London to Timbuktu in a Flying Car originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Round The World in 100 Days: Fantastic Voyage

Dia Draper — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Gear, Stories, Africa, Asia, North America, South America, Mauritius, South Africa, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bahamas, Brazil

"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success. " -attributed to a 1901 Times of London newspaper ad allegedly placed by Ernest Shackleton, famous explorer and sailor.

In the "You Lucky Dog" category, I'll be heading out shortly for more than 100 days of round the world (RTW) travel by sea. I'm thick in the throes of prepping for almost 4 months aboard the ship MV Explorer and praying that this voyage will be less susceptible than Shackleton's to things like pirates, mutiny, and beri-beri.

After 9 years, 3 applications, and some good juju, I was selected for a post with Semester at Sea (SAS). Now I'm going to attempt to circumnavigate the globe without leaving the earth's surface-which means I'll have to endure the scary prospect of traveling overland from San Diego back home to the east coast. I'm looking forward to an amazing , once-in-a-lifetime voyage as we sail east around the globe from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to:

Continue reading Round The World in 100 Days: Fantastic Voyage

Round The World in 100 Days: Fantastic Voyage originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 26 Feb 2007 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tropical Sunsets

Iva Skoch — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Mauritius

As the days keep getting shorter and colder here in Prague, I find myself thinking more and more about travel to the tropics. And, of course, one of the best reasons to visit the tropics is to watch the sunset, lying in a hammock next to a loved one, with drink in hand. Now, sunsets in Prague are nothing to sneeze at, with the rosy light settling on the beautiful buildings, but it's hard to beat the tropics. My worldwide favorite sunsets? The island of Mauritius, off the coast of Madagascar.

As we at Gadling have reported, there are a million great attributes of this country: democratic, safe, remote, with a good economy, beautiful, friendly people, unbelievable food, perfect weather, mountains, beaches--should I go on? While most fly in through South Africa, we endured the 11.5 hour flight direct from Paris on Air France. But what treats await! I have never seen sunsets so consistently magnificent anywhere in the world.

The island country is an interesting mix of Africans and Indians and their cultures, with history as both a French and, later, a British colony. You can see the French architectural influence, and most people speak a kind of Creole French in everyday conversation. The official language and legal customs, however, are English. While not on most people's radar screen, everyone has heard about the island, at least through the existence of the dodo bird, a former inhabitant. Mark Twain was a big fan, saying "heaven was copied after Mauritius."

Dear readers: where are your favorite sunsets?

Tropical Sunsets originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Good Karma in Mauritius

Karen Walrond — Tue, 16 May 2006 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Scuba Diving, Surfing, Asia, Mauritius

Back in 2002 when my then-husband-to-be and I were planning our wedding, we pondered, as fiancés often do, about where we would have our honeymoon. After doing extensive research on the best places to surf (him) and scuba dive (me), we landed on Mauritius.

Unfortunately, once we arrived, we learned that because of the time of year, the sea was flat and cold -- perfect for neither sport.

Nonetheless, Mauritius is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful islands I've ever been -- and remember, I'm from the Caribbean. So it was with more than a little bit of nostalgia that I read this fantastic article in the Times on the oft-forgotten island. Assuming the author was writing from recent memory, Mauritius hasn't changed a bit -- and I would strongly recommend that everyone run, not walk, to their travel agent (or Expedia) to book a holiday soon. You'll be glad you did.

Good Karma in Mauritius originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 16 May 2006 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Africa Travel: Mauritius

Adrienne Wilson — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 22:44:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, Africa, Mauritius

Although this island located in southern Africa in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar is said to be heavily influenced by its British, French and Indian ties there is still an abundance of culture to soak in of pure African origin. Take this traditional dance called sega which was invented by the Mauritians of African origin and based on African music originating with slaves. Defined by the rubbing of feet, the swaying of hips and Creole lyrics a show of such should be tops on the lists to any visitor in Mautitius. In the past the dance was used by slaves to forget their worries, heart-ache and pains of their lives while today it is used to entertain visitors. Those especially interested in the arts should check out this page devoted to cultural finds in Mauritius. I admit, I learned a lot about this little tropical island and wouldn't mind making a voyage there one day.

As a side note: Anyone thinking Africa and the term "roughing it" should give Mauritius a second glance. This is probably one of the most tourist friendly and comfortable countries in all the continent. Don't take my word for it though. Like I mentioned earlier - I've never been, but it looks like a sure winner.

Africa Travel: Mauritius originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 11 Mar 2006 22:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments