The Loire… the first place we ever visited in France, ten years ago. With Prune, as a young one with endless energy to explore with us. And now, almost exactly ten years later, we were back, only an hour or so from where we first stayed. Suzi’s turn to experience this part of France.
We were staying in a Gite in a hamlet just outside the little village of Giroux. An old farmhouse, we instantly loved the location, with a meadow and fields of wheat and sunflowers just behind, where Suzi could be off lead and we spotted deer in the mornings.
This area was as we remembered it… wide open, empty stretches of tarmac under a washed out blue sky. Wheat fields, hay bales… you could see a car approaching you far in the distance. The villages too, were the frontier type we had seen back then, where hardy but friendly folk live and work the farms, and seemingly not much has changed in a very long time.
We ambled through these villages, admiring cute houses and flowers, chancing on a classic car convention, clambering over hay bales in the middle of empty fields. Those carefree summer memories, that almost seemed to belong to another simpler time. It was easy to forget the year, leave along the day.
And also, hard to leave. Something unappealing about rejoining the year 2023, reality. All three of us leaving a little piece of us there, amongst the empty skies and fields.
Just one day in Monaco? Luckily, since it’s the second smallest country in the world, it is possible to see most of this tiny place in a few hours, and mostly on foot! And even though this is one of the more expensive destinations, most things I did were completely free.
Look at the mega yachts in the Marina. Each one is bigger than the next, and it’s fun to stroll along looking at them all, and sit on a bench or at a waterfront cafe here.
Stroll through the gardens. There are many different gardens in Monaco, my favourite was the Jardin Exotique, with lots of cactus, colourful flowers and little birds, with beautiful views of the sea.
Ride the escalators into the rocks. Since Monaco is so small and is surrounded by mountains, you often need to ascend through them to get to the different levels of the city. It’s a fun experience to head ‘into’ the rocks!
People watch. You never know who you might spot! There’s lots of nice spots to sit and watch and enjoy the sun.
Take a helicopter ride. My favourite activity, and the only thing I spent money on. But it was worth it, the views of the coastline, the water, the mountains… amazing! And you get treated like a star, too! They offer a service between Monaco and Nice, or even special flights. There’s a few companies, I used Monacair.
Take a trip to Nice, or other towns on the French Riviera. It’s easy to go between the towns on the French Riviera, by train, car or bus, so you can combine these with a trip to Monaco.
That’s Monaco in a day, without spending like a rockstar…
Practical information
Getting there- you have to fly into Nice’s airport. It’s well served by most European airlines. From there, it’s half an hour by train from Nice’s central station.
Accommodation- it’s much more affordable to stay in Nice. There are a variety of hotels and apartments. The one I stayed at, Hotel Byakko was nice, I loved the roof terrace, but the area was very noisy at night.
When to visit- definitely try to avoid the peak summer months when it is packed. Off season is best since the weather will most likely be nice anyway. When the Grand Prix is in town it will also be a lot more expensive (May this year).
I didn’t really know what to expect when we arrived in Finland. I mean, there are those Scandi stereotypes, some of which were definitely true. It is clean, spare, the people keep to themselves. Everything runs on time, there is blonde wood and white everywhere. And yes, it is COLD and in fact was snowing for most of our visit! But it just added to the atmosphere and made our stay even more magical.
We quickly discovered that Finnish words are unpronounceable. I’d love to tell you where we stayed but honestly I don’t really know… just that our apartment was warm, large, and a sanctuary to come back to after time out in the cold. Also, it was out of the city Center, so it was nice to watch local residents going around, instead of just tourists. (And it was only a twenty minute metro ride into the city anyway).
On our first day, we explored Helsinki. There was a lot to see; the pretty cathedral, the ice chocked harbour, the cute colourful buildings, as well as hidden surprises- a mosaic on a roof, a botanical garden. We of course had to visit the moomin shop- these adorable white lumpy creatures were created by Finnish author Tove Janssen and are as important to the Fins as Paddington is to the British. So we inevitably had to buy a ton from their stores!
On our second day, I organised for us to visit Nuuksio reindeer park. I’d been wanting to visit this place for ages and was excited to finally be able to go. To get there involved an hour car ride- which passed quickly with views of snow covered pine forest. We first stopped at the Finnish natural Center where we went for a walk in the woods. It was really breathtaking, and felt so unspoilt, like we’d made it to Lapland.
Then we headed on to the reindeers. They’ve all been rescued, and now live out their days in comfort and with a lot of fuss and food from visitors! We met our guide, who introduced us to the reindeer, and we got to feed them buckets of lichen, their favourite food! They were so adorable and greedy, and had warm, soft noses! My favourite was little Pearl, who was an orphan and white in colour. Afterwards we got to warm up in a traditional Finnish tent and enjoy coffee and hot juice warmed by the campfire, and chat with our guide. We had a great time, it’s such a magical place and it was hard to leave the little wonderland of Nuuksio.
And just like that our time was up! Our whirlwind stay in Finland was over. We’d seen so much and got a taste of Lapland. Another one ticked off the bucket list…
Practical information
Getting here- Helsinki airport is served by most major airlines. From there, using the metro is an easy way to get into the city Center and the suburbs.
Accommodation- We used Booking.com for our apartment. Airbnb is also an option. Ours was part of the local chain Westay.
Getting around- make use of the excellent metro and train network, but taxis or a rental car would be easier to reach Nuuksio. We found Uber to be very reliable.
What to do- devote at least a day to exploring Helsinki. The city is very walkable, and there’s lots to see. Also spend a day exploring further a field. For a taste of Lapland, head to Nuuksio. You can do a walk like we did and visit the reindeer. They are open to the public on weekend afternoons, other days, you need to book a private visit (which is what we did).
When to visit- it depends! We visited in January, the depth of winter, so there was a lot of snow which made it very magical, especially with the reindeer! Christmas can be very busy for that reason. Summer would be a totally different atmosphere- and could be very interesting! Maybe for a repeat visit, one day…
It’s funny that Turkey was never a country I had any plans to visit. Sitting almost in the middle of the world, I’ve flown over it many times but never thought to actually stop by. Finally, I had the chance to, with a short trip to its largest city, Istanbul. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I was amazed by what a beautiful city it is, and just how much there is to do there.
Sitting in the middle of two continents, Istanbul is the only city in the world like that. Our hotel, Limak Eurasia, was on the Asian side, in a business district full of normal people heading to work in glossy offices. There were cute local cafes and shops, and just ten minuets away, the hills closed in on villages, full of pine trees and shady paths. One of these places, Goztepe Park, became a firm favourite of ours. It felt so far from the city; butterflies fluttering through meadow, tall trees, and a very friendly dog we called Micki who hung out with us (and an overly nosy cat).
Another surprise was how boats seemed to be a preferred mode of transport. I guess this makes sense since Istanbul is split by the Bosphorus, and to the south lies the Sea of Marmara. I’d heard that the latter was dotted with islands that were the perfect place for a day trip. So we joined throngs of Istanbulites- whole extended families with picnics, starry eyed couples and groups of young friends, and made the one hour crossing to the islands. The sky and sea were an electric blue, and you could watch the city skyline slowly disappear as the islands crept into view: covered with pine trees and pebbly beaches, almost like those you’d see in Greece.
We disembarked, and it really was like arriving in Greece. Every house was festooned with bougainvillea, there were old ladies hanging their washing out of windows, and spying on proceedings below, there were secret beaches down steep paths, local kids splashing in the water, small shops selling trinkets. And you could only get around by bike, or electric buggy. It was a truly idyllic place to pass the day, the hot afternoon disappearing and before we knew it it was time to take the boat back to the city. Seagulls flew behind us, hoping for snacks, and back in the city, we joined the evening traffic, sunburnt and tired, back to the ACd hotel.
Another day we decided to explore the European side, where some of the most famous sights are. We got a taxi to the port town of Uskudur, and from there, another ferry, this time crossing the Bosphorus to the European side. The ferry was large and spacious, with beautiful views of the city skyline. Again, it was popular with regular people, even commuters, not many tourists.
There was a lot to see when we arrived. We wandered through the spice market and the Egyptian bazaar, narrow streets crammed with lantern and carpet shops. There were beautiful mosques and vendors selling breads, and pigeons swooping around stealing what they could. Then we headed to the nearby neighbourhood of Balat. This colourful area is full of cute shops and apartments literally in every colour of the rainbow. And there was also a lovely area nearby with benches overlooking the Bosphorus for a quick rest before taking the ferry back to the other side.
There is so much more to see, we barely scratched the surface and definitely need to return! And the people were friendly and helpful, and seemed to care for the numerous stray dogs and cats, like Micki at the park, and even our hotel had a resident hound with her own little kennel! Just be warned that English was not widely spoken at all so be prepared to have a translation app or screen shots of where you want to go on your phone.
Practical information
Getting to Istanbul- Istanbul has three main airport, the main two are Istanbul International, served by Turkish airlines and others, and Sabinha Gocken, served by budget airlines mainly. Both are around 30 minutes from the Asian side where we stayed.
Where to stay- we stayed at Limak Eurasia hotel, a very pleasant one on the Asian side, they have a pool, restaurant with outdoor dining and helpful staff. Rooms are clean and the AC is great! There’s a taxi stand right outside.
What to do- as I said there’s a lot to do in and around Istanbul. Ferry timings can be confusing, it’s best to show up at the harbour in good time and enquire there what the sailing times are since these can vary. Ferry crossings are very cheap, and so are taxi rides so I would put bother renting a car unless you plan to travel further outside of Istanbul.
When to go- Istanbul is popular all year round, but be prepared for freezing temperatures in the winter and boiling ones in the summer. I did though like the vibe in the summer and it wasn’t as crowded as I thought.
Thanks to Maya for the lovely photos and for organising this trip!
It’s been ages since we had a summer holiday to France, so it was time to head back for sure. We arrived in Normandy early on a bright Sunday morning, and straight away remembered why we love France so much. The countryside seemed to pop with colour and life.
We had rented a house in the hamlet of St Simeon. It was an adorable thatched cottage, with traditional Norman wood panelling, and a giant garden all around. After unpacking, we were straight out into the garden to unwind and enjoy the morning sunshine. Suzi seemed right at home too. That first morning, we decided to get our bearings and do a small drive around the area. We used the smallest roads, winding through tiny hamlets in between farmland and miles of countryside- golden wheat, cows and horses grazing, forested hills.
The rest of the day we spent in the beautiful garden, the birdsong all around was amazing, and we enjoyed just relaxing in the sun (this was how we would come to spend all afternoons)! Suzi loved the garden too and would spend happy hours sleeping on the soft grass, or hunting the robot lawnmower (whom we called Jeff). And we would enjoy walks and jogs around the area- it was just all so picturesque and unspoilt.
The second day, we headed out after breakfast. Again, we chose the smallest roads, often only wide enough for one car. We stopped at St Georges du Vievre, a really cute village with traditional architecture and flowers. Then we stopped at Noards, a true farming hamlet, since cows seemed to outnumber people there. We took Suzi for a walk there, and every cow in the place came jogging over to see her! It was incredible, she literally was some kind of attraction to them. Some of the cows even gave us licks!
The next day, we started at the village of St Etienne sur Ailer, since we had seen it the day before and it looked very pretty. Here, there was an abandoned chateau in the middle of a wheat field, surrounded by forest. It was one of the most magical things I’ve seen, especially since we had the whole place to ourselves. We wandered in that field, under an impossibly blue sky, Suzi offlead sniffing everywhere. There were haybales dotted around, and I just had to climb one. After a few failed and hilarious attempts, I managed to scramble up (with a boost from Maya). It was a lot higher than I had expected! But you’ve got to do that once!
From there, we drove on, and stopped at the town of Morsan where a Norman fort looked down on the place. You could walk all around the ramparts, and enjoy views of the whole town and surrounding countryside. Another special find. We tortured Suzi that afternoon with photos, walking deep into the fields of wheat and corn… the epitome of European summertime.
Our last day. We found another circular route to do, passing through Martianville, whose name cracked us up. And then stopping at Fort Moville, which looked almost Alpine, with the timbered houses and rolling valleys backed by thick forest. There was an interesting nature walk to do there, and Suzi enjoyed that and we enjoyed the views. A short while later we stopped near the hamlet of Triqueville where a herd of semi wild cows was grazing. They had such a magical spot, in the dip of a valley. We spent a few minutes there before heading back home.
All too soon, our trip was over. We had another lovely time in France, soaking up the summer sun and the peace of the countryside. Suzi loved her stay too, she smiled everyday and had loads of energy! We are already planning our next trip back…
Practical information
Where to stay- We booked our place through Gites de France, a great website with lots of choice and very reasonably priced, even in the summer months. Our house, La Chaumerie was a great find, well equipped, clean and spacious with an amazing garden.
What to do- explore by car, and you’ll find all kinds of beautiful places to walk and picturesque villages, like we did. If you want to visit the famous landing beaches of World War Two, these are about an hour away.
When to visit- any time of year! But for a similar experience to us, it has to be summer! We were lucky with the weather, not too hot, lots of sun, but come prepared with rain gear anyway, as this is Europe after all!
Thanks to Maya for the beautiful photos and the fun xxx and to Suzi for being adorable xxxx
My dream since I was little, I’m lucky to have had the chance to swim with dolphins in the wild TWICE. Once in The Bahamas, and once in Mauritius, but it was the second one, in Mauritius that was truly special, since I was almost alone. I’ve spent hours researching swimming with dolphins, and I’ve read about places in every corner of the world. In case any one has been living under a rock, it’s not okay to swim with them in captivity, ever. But in the wild, that’s a different story. Dolphins are by nature playful, curious and enjoy interacting with humans. The important thing is to find a company that respects them, and allows you to swim with them but on their terms. Companies that don’t ever chase the dolphins, that stick to strict rules, and above all, love them as much as you do, are what you want.
My first time I ever saw dolphins in the wild was off the coast of Zanzibar. We had planned an excursion to swim with them, but when we saw all the boats chasing them and tourists plunging into the water in a chaotic mess we decided to just enjoy watching from the boat. Then a few years later, I came across a place in The Bahamas where you spend a week at a retreat and went out on their boat each day for a chance to swim with the dolphins. This was a lot better, since they were very respectful of the dolphins, but the problem was that there were LOTS of us in the water at the same time so it got chaotic, again. Fast forward another few years, and I was still looking for that experience as I had dreamed it; just me, the big blue sea, and a pod of wild dolphins. And finally, last October, I experienced just that, in Mauritius. I found that there are a lot of dolphins to be found along the coast there, and that it was possible to swim with them. And after a lot more research, I chanced upon Vitamin Sea, a local company who seemed to do this respectfully.
Mauritius is a truly beautiful and magical island, and I wrote about our adventures there in detail, if you missed it. Maya and I had to drive to the other end of the island to get there on time for the 6am departure. So we were off at 4:30, figuring out the roads in the dark, but luckily in Mauritius they are all pretty well maintained. We got to Rivière Noire in good time and then met the crew of Vitamin Sea. It’s a family business, and the co-owner, Cedric, and his skipper were waiting. The boat was modern and comfortable, and soon we were setting off. We had barely been out on the water a few minutes when we had already spotted fins! There is a resident pod of spinner dolphins who come into the bays to feed every morning, and seem to enjoy hanging out with people along the way. They’ve apparently been doing this for generations and are unperturbed by us. Cedric told us all this, and more, whilst checking on the dolphins, and determining when was right to get in the water. Eventually, he said we could get in, so I got my snorkel gear on, and slipped in as quietly as I could.
The water was freezing, (Indian Ocean, what?) but I didn’t have to wait long. We had entered in front of the pod, and soon we were surrounded by spinner dolphins! It was absolutely incredible; I was literally surrounded by the pod and they were very curious, they’d come up close to me and roll over, and dive deep down, almost as if inviting me to join them. Then eventually they’d all swim on their way, way too fast for slow fish like me. Cedric was great, he obviously loved being there, and really let me enjoy my time with the dolphins. It was incredible being the only two in the water with them. We repeated the swims a few more times, and each time I was completely amazed by their playful nature and grace underwater. It’s truly something incredible, to connect with such intelligent creatures in their home.
Afterwards we got to go to an amazing shallow lagoon nicknamed the Aquarium to swim with thousands of tropical fish in a kaleidoscope of colors. And then a fast ride back to shore, the wind drying my hair. I guess after all these years, my dream really did come true! And if you’re ever considering a wild dolphin swim, I’ve already done all the hard work for you!
The details- Vitamin Sea offers half day swims with the dolphins, from their base on the west of the island. Reserve well in advance- they book up fast (they’ll also take photos of you)! There’s a range of accommodation on Mauritius, but for a lovely little hotel on a beautiful beach I recommend Astroea beach hotel. Try to visit between September and November for the best weather and least crowds.
My first trip abroad in almost two years! And boy, it was worth the wait! The beaches are more beautiful than any screen saver, the water bluer. There are dolphins to swim with, hills to climb, waterfalls to chase, and a whole unexplored interior of banana plantations and rolling hills. The people are also great; friendly and helpful wherever you go.
Mauritius is a big island, and the best way to see it is by car. We rented a car which was a great decision, it afforded us the freedom to stop wherever we wanted, and the roads are in good condition. The views around every bend mean you’re never bored! To make this guide clearer, I’ve broken it down into the different parts of the island, and what you can expect to see and do in each.
The South East
This is the area we stayed in. It’s only ten minutes or so from the airport, which I found to be great after a long flight, and you get a longer vacation at the end too! This is also a peaceful part of the island, with fields of sugar cane, cute villages and beautiful beaches. In fact, our favourite beach on the whole island (and trust us, we saw most of them), was right here.
If you want the typical Indian Ocean dream, Point D’Esny is the beach you’ve been dreaming of. Think bone white sand, water in every shade of blue, dotted with boats bobbing, palm trees… you’ll find it here. Every beach in Mauritius is public, and it’s easy to access via a pathway from the road. We used to come here every afternoon, have a stroll on the sand and then sit and watch kite surfers and pet friendly stray dogs. We discovered this beach on our first day at Astroea hotel , but just kept coming back!
Our villa was in Blue Bay, the next town after Pointe D’Esny. We lucked out with this cute area, full of charming houses, friendly stray dogs, villa rentals, and it just felt so real. You could go swimming in the sea first thing, walk through the town by evening, and just be surrounded by locals. You really get a flavour of real life, far from the tourist trail, whilst still being in a lovely, safe neighbourhood close to all the sights. Just avoid Blue Bay beach in the weekends or late afternoon, and come first thing instead for a peaceful swim.
The South
This is an area few tourists see, unless you’re staying in one of the massive hotels, but even these are few. Most of the beaches in Mauritius are protected by a reef, which makes the waves small and bathing friendly. But not in the South, there is no reef, and so the waves come in hard and fast. These are not beaches for swimming, but for exploring, climbing on rocks, and sunbathing, since the constant breeze keeps things cooler and more pleasant.
In particular, La Cambeuse beach is a beauty. And for something really epic, check out Gris Gris. The road here also makes for a stunning drive, with constant views of the sea, threading through small villages and sugar cane plantations.
The West
Home to the famous Le Morne Brabant, the foreboding mountain often seen in pictures of Mauritius, the west is a real mix of wild and tame, between empty beaches and busy resorts. This is also not a bad area to base yourself in, but it is well over an hour from the airport, so keep that in mind.
Our first morning, we joined local company Vitamin Sea for a private boat trip. Honestly, if you do one excursion on the island, make it this one. It’s a three hour trip, and the guides are brilliant. Ten minutes out and we had already found a giant pod of spinner dolphins, and I had the chance to swim with them! It was surreal, spinners are super friendly and curious, so they’d come up so close, I could have touched them if I wanted to. And the guides are great, they keep an eye on you and help you if you are struggling in the water ( as well as take photos, which you absolutely should buy at the end). Afterwards, they take you to a stretch of water near Le Morne nicknamed the Aquarium, where you can snorkel to your heart’s content with thousands of fish, and enjoy unspoilt reef. The water is so clear and glassy it’s unreal. In between, they provide refreshments and funky music, so it really is an excellent morning.
When driving in this area, you’ll encounter some really stunning beaches. Some of them don’t even have names, so I can’t share them with you, which I’m not so sorry about since I hope they stay secret! I’ve never seen more surreal scenes, more Maldives than Mauritius. Just give Tamarin a miss. This town is trying for the surfer thing, so if that’s your vibe, by all means go. But we wouldn’t go back, there’s plenty of way more beautiful beaches to explore instead.
The East
Home to some of the most famous hotels, the East is only accessible by smaller roads, making for some stunning driving. You wind through banana plantations and sleepy villages, with the ocean never far away. There are not many must dos here, the big draw are the long stretches of sand. In particular, Belle Mare is probably one of the most famous. It’s easy to park and walk along, ogle the big hotels (and feel smug that we are paying a fraction to be on the same beach as them), and enjoy the views.
We did chance upon a unique side trip in the area. From the small village of GRSE, you can get a boatman to take you to a hidden waterfall. It’s about a 40 minute round trip, and you get to see some unique back waters and the falls. Well worth it, if you’re in the area.
Port Louis and The North
Port Louis is the capital city and well worth a visit. We were surprised by the modern architecture and very Miami-like water front, complete with cute shops and restaurants. It’s easy to also find the old part of the city with its market and hole in the wall shops. There’s a park and ride close by, but us being us, we just walked, it’s only ten minutes. From Port Louis, it’s just another twenty minutes to Pamplemousse botanical gardens. You can easily lose an afternoon here, strolling amongst the palms. Bring a picnic, and enjoy the shade.
The resorts of the North are about half an hour from Port Louis. This area is much more built up than the South, and had a more Thailandy vibe, with souvenir shops and places to eat on every corner. If you do want to do some shopping, this is your best bet. In particular, Grand Baie and the bazaar there. Likewise if you want to eat out. It was a nice outing, but we were glad to have chosen the south as our base as it felt much more authentic and Mauritian. The beach we visited up here, Trou aux Biches, was surprisingly lovely, with very soft sand.
TheCenter and Black river gorges national park
Most of the central west of the island is taken over by national park, in particular, the Black River Gorges. There are numerous hiking routes throughout, but if like us you just want to drive, you will still get a very good feel for the place. Lots of people seemed to hire taxis, which was understandable considering the hairpin bends and sheer drops. But we managed on our own and got some amazing views, as well as the freedom to stop wherever we wanted.
For example, Sophie’s walk, a real hidden gem. A cute well maintained woodland, with short, well marked trails so you could get a feel for the dense forest without straying too far. In general, the shades of greens and beiges, the awesome views of the tree clad valley, and the tangled vines make for an epic drive, and a must do away from the beach.
The islands
Mauritius has many small island neighbours, and they are a popular day trip. I only visited one, Ile aux Aigrettes as we thought the others would be too busy, and were probably right, considering the packed catamarans leaving for some of them. Ile aux aigrettes on the other hand, is a nature reserve and you can only visit with a guide.
Famous for the dodo, Mauritius is trying hard to preserve its endemic species to prevent something similar ever happening again. Ile aux aigrettes is totally protected, and as you wander through the ancient forest, you realise how fragile all these ecosystems are. I was lucky to spot the critically endangered pink pigeon, only found here, as well as skinks, other tropical birds and a few giant tortoise. At over a 100 years old, these guys really are living relics. If you chose only one island to visit, make it this one. You can find the ticket office and jetty in Mahebourg, in the south.
Mauritius truly was a dream, still an unspoilt paradise alive with nature. The variety is incredible, from dolphin spotting to trekking through thick forest, to lying on perfect beaches. Some of our favourite moments were the small ones, befriending the local stray dogs, myna birds stealing crumbs from our breakfast, finding an unexplored stretch of road though the sugar cane fields, a laugh with a banana vendor on the side of the motor way. You can squeeze a lot out of your trip, if you want to. And you should! I already can’t wait to return.
Practical stuff
Where to stay – as I mentioned, the South would be my recommendation. Astroea beach is a lovely little hotel right on the beach. And if you want to self cater, which is easy since the shops stock most of what you’d get back home, I can’t recommend the Beach house, in Blue bay highly enough. You can find it on Air bnb.
How to get here – flights can be expensive, so worth booking in advance, most are from the UK, France or Germany, but you can also connect through hubs in the Middle East, like Dubai.
What to do- as I said, there’s so much to do! It really depends on your tastes and interests. You can of course just enjoy the beach all day, but there’s a lot more to the island than that. Definitely try Vitamin Sea for a private boat trip ( book in advance) and a visit to Ile aux Aigrettes is very worthwhile too.
Getting around – we hired a car from Pingouin they were good and responded quickly. It’s easy to drive here, you can use your own license and fuel is cheap. alternatively, there are taxis everywhere and you can also hire a driver for the day.
Other stuff– they use two and three pin plugs widely. You can withdraw money with a foreign card at most supermarket ATMs and can exchange money at the airport, Port Louis, Grand Baie, and most hotels. When we visited, October, the weather was very pleasant. Avoid the cyclone season, from November to April, if you can.
As you can see, i had an amazing time in Mauritius, just what I needed as a first trip abroad after so long. Also, I hope Prune you’re reading this and enjoying the photos, after all, I’m quite sure you had come along with us xxx and thank you to Maya for all the laughs and the lovely photos 🙂
It was 11:10pm. The train was supposed to have left thirty minutes ago, and yet, it had not even arrived. Meanwhile, the already over-crowded platform got even busier. Women in saris of turmeric yellow and parakeet green, old men wearing dhotis and warm coats, girls in sparkly party dresses, running here and there, IT guys with their ubiquitous backpacks, jeans and checkered-shirts. We had already walked through the main station, where extended families were camped out on the floor, vendors were doing brisk business selling spicy snacks, and porters were collecting luggage. It was chaotic, noisy and dusty, and I was getting slightly tired of waiting.
Pale grey misty clouds lay over the sleeping city. They formed layers interspersed with rosy-pink sky, like the tiers of an elaborate wedding cake. The sun emerged from this canvas, rising slowly, enjoying its moment in the spotlight as cameras clicked all around. The sky was soon filled with bright blue; the temperature already rising, the sunrise show over, for today at least. Continue Reading
Pink juice splashed everywhere. I took another swing, the sharp knife piercing the tough skin and sinking into the flesh beneath. No, I wasn’t committing some horrific crime, just trying to cut a watermelon. Not exactly what I’d had in mind for my holiday in Thailand. Continue Reading
