Vietnam - Cat Ba Island to Halong Bay | PART 1
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Mauritius Through Their Eyes
1:08:00 AMWhen you think about Mauritius you think of a stunning island with white sandy beaches, palm trees and resorts. A little ove...
1:08:00 AM
A little over a year ago, I started to follow 2 brothers, who live in Mauritius, on Instagram. @bastienhere (Sebastien To) and @fabouls (Fabrice To). I started to talk to them and actually became good friends over the course of the year.
Looking at their photos, I wanted to know what it's like to live on a beautiful island. So I decided to have a Q&A session with them.
1. Sebastien and Fabrice, what is it like to live on a tropical island, is it really fun on the beach all day, everyday?
Farbrice:
We feel very fortunate to live in Mauritius with it's tropical summery climate, white sandy beaches and multicultural people. I believe that all Mauritians really enjoy spending the weekends at the beach with the family, playing sports, dancing Sega, bbq lunch or simply relax under the filao trees. It's a very cozy and joyful atmosphere!
2. Sebastien, what languages are spoken in Mauritius?
In Mauritius, languages used and spoken go from French, English and Creole. Understanding our use of languages can be a bit tricky; our national language is English, however, our mother tongue is Creole (and sometimes French too). In my case, it has been Creole and French.
A photo posted by Sébastien To (@bastienhere) on
The languages used here, were brought long ago when the French colonised our island back in 1726, then by the British in 1810. Although the British were the last to colonise the island, French was widely known and spoken by the Indian immigrants and slaves. The original French stayed, but the slaves needed a much simpler language; this is where the Mauritian Creole was born. It is a rough mixture of mostly French and some English! As being part of the Commonwealth, English stayed as our official language; the parliament is in English, teaching is in English (except French classes of course), letters and e-mails too are written in English!
3. Fabrice, what is your favorite place on Mauritius and why?
The South West coast of Mauritius, from Case Noyale to La Prairie. It seems to me, that nature is still untouched there and we can watch the most beautiful sunsets on the mangrove plantations. My favourite place is Le Morne Peninsula.
Fabrice
Sebastien
A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on
4. Where can you find the best local food and drinks?
Fabrice
Almost everywhere? You will always find local dishes in small restaurants around the island. You just have to ask for the good ones, depending on where you are. If you are looking for typical Mauritian snacks and drinks you'll need to find merchants in the local markets. Follow the good smell!
Sebastien
The most authentic local food will of course be on the streets, or in the markets! Street food in Mauritius is very rich in variety and culture; you will mostly find food of Indian and Chinese origins. Some very popular food would be the dholl puri, the gateau piment (literally translated from French as chili cake), Chinese dumplings, and an awesome drink called alouda**.
Mauritius' Chinese cuisine resembles a lot to Cantonese food; it is not so spicy, but tastes amazing with lots of flavors from sweet to sour! It could be comparable to the cuisine in Hong-Kong. Popular dishes to mention would be the Magic Bowl, fried rice and fried noodles.
A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on
**Alouda is made of a cold sweet flavoured full cream milk, and in the latter is tukmaria seeds (also known as sweet basil or sabja seeds) with an ice cream ball floating on top. The tukmaria seeds are quite tiny and when boiled, have a soft slimy coating (slimmier than tapioca seeds). They are so slimy that it is nearly impossible to actually bite and munch them, so we just swallow them, haha! It is the best local cold drink you can have in Mauritius!
5. How has Instagram influenced the way you see Mauritius and the way you want to show it to the world?
Fabrice
My brother and I started using Instagram as a hobby three years ago. We have since been exploring the island, discovering new and remote places. We aim at capturing the natural compositions and raw beauty of such a small island.
Sebastien
Before I discovered Instagram, I wasn't much involved in photography honestly. I didn't notice the details that made Mauritius a really beautiful island. Instagram has really been the fuel for my passion in photography. The way I want to show Mauritius to the world is that, despite being tiny, it is rich in beautiful landscapes and beaches!
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Sebastien
Before I discovered Instagram, I wasn't much involved in photography honestly. I didn't notice the details that made Mauritius a really beautiful island. Instagram has really been the fuel for my passion in photography. The way I want to show Mauritius to the world is that, despite being tiny, it is rich in beautiful landscapes and beaches!
6. Do you always explore together? I see you are featured a lot in each others' feeds.
Fabrice
Yes, we usually explore and share ideas together. Sometimes I ask him to pose for my shots (since there's no one else haha) A human figure in photography is a plus.
A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on
Sebastien
Well, Fabrice provides the transport, so we always tag along, haha! I also like to put a human subject in my photos. Since he is the only one around, he's in many on my photos. I admit that another person other than him could be more fun. (haha).
7. What resort would you recommend to travelers and why?
Fabrice
I prefer Trou aux Biches Resort and Spa. It has a fantastic beach and pool, excellent service and great food. You can also do lot of free sea activities.
Sebastien
Resorts to recommend to travelers who want nice beaches and top-notch quality services, or for a lovely honeymoon would be the 5-stars hotels. Some of them where I have been and that I loved would be:
A photo posted by LUX* Resorts & Hotels (@luxresorts) on
- LUX* Resorts Hotels,
- Constance Belle Mare,
- Sofitel (not Sofitel So, which is... well meh),
- Shangri-La Le Touessrok (really AMAZING!),
- and most Beachcomber hotels.
Certain hotels providing great golf fields are Le Paradis Hotel and Four Seasons Anahita.
8. Where is the best beach?
Sebastien
It's hard to pick the best beach, but beaches in the North, West, South-West and South East are the best!
The North is probably the most popular place for beaching (Trou aux Biches). It's always sunny, with an all-year summer weather! Popular beaches are: Flic-En-Flac, Mont Choisy, Pereybere, Blue Bay, and Le Morne.
For snorkeling, Blue Bay and Trou Aux Biches are excellent, with rich sea-life!
9. Where can one see the best sunsets?
Sebastien
On the west coasts of course! Le Morne and Flic-En-Flac are incredible places for sunsets!
Fabrice
Other's include Case Noyale, La Prairie.
A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on
10. What other activities can you do on Mauritius?
Fabrice
Quad biking, hiking in the gorges or on the mountains, sky diving and water activities at Ile Aux Cerfs.
Sebastien
A photo posted by Fabrice To (@fabouls) on
Sebastien
Other popular activities could be Zip-lining, Snorkeling, Swimming With Dolphins (yes, REAL dolphins!), or simply just fishing, you will probably catch a fish on your first try haha.
11. Is it expensive to travel on the Island?
Fabrice
No it isn't, bus fares are cheap in Mauritius. Be careful of some taxi drivers, they can ask you more than they should.
Sebastien
Sebastien
Since Mauritius is called Paradise Island, it will inevitably be quite costly to come here! But inland transport is relatively cheap. Public transport is a free service (for students and the elderlies). A bus trip may cost you around 1 US dollar.
12. What is the best way to get around?
Sebastien
The best way to get around would be by car. Road traffic can sometimes be bad, but mostly only during peak hours. There is no railway system in Mauritius (yet...). But since the island
is small, you could travel from north to south in less than 2 hours! Many student or even employees travel by bike.
So there you have it. Fun in the sun all year round. If this didn't give you some serious feelings of envy, then I don't know what will. Give these guys a shout-out when you visit Mauritius. They'll be more than happy to show you around the island. Thank you for the interview Sebastien and Fabrice.
Until next time!
Until next time!
Travel Tips for a Long Layover in Seychelles.
2:58:00 PMWhen you Google, "Seychelles", you'll see that it's a beautiful little island/range of islands in the middle of the ...
2:58:00 PM
When you Google, "Seychelles", you'll see that it's a beautiful little island/range of islands in the middle of the Indian ocean. It actually consists of 115 islands with Mahe and Praslin, as the bigger and more famous islands.
Recently Air Seychelles, in partnership with Ethiad Airways, had a special to fly from South Korea to South Africa for only $300.
Of course I immediately bought the ticket without even thinking twice about it. Paying $300 instead of the normal $900+ and staying a night on a beautiful island was like a dream come true. Here is my experience and some tips from my 19 hour layover.
As soon as I started to search for accommodation, I quickly realized that this island wouldn't be a cheap place and knew I had to play my cards right. I looked at a few options, because I didn't want to feel stranded in one area.
Option 1 - Stay at a nice beach on either side of the island. Either Anse Royale or Beau Vallon Beach, both of which are well known. If you have big baggage, you'd have to make use of an "airport transfer" from your hotel for an extra charge of $15-50 or a taxi of $30-50. If you don't have much luggage, then a cheap $0.5 bus ride would get you there. Although not very quickly. The positive - awesome beaches all day long. The negative - the transfers are expensive, and it's not you're only expense for the day.
Option 2 - Stay close to the airport, walk there as soon as you arrive. Drop your bags off and catch a bus to the best beaches, Anse Royale or Beau Vallon. The positive - you don't have expensive taxi's or transfers to worry about and it's close to the airport for the next morning. The negative - if you plan to go to the beaches, then you would have to return early, because the last buses are around 7-9pm, depending on the direction. This cuts your great day a bit shorter than you'd like.
I opted for option 1, but with the idea that I would only have my carry-on luggage and take a cheap bus to Anse Royale, where my hotel was. Unfortunately. I had to pick my bags up at Seychelles because of the long layover. This forced me to take a $40 taxi to my hotel. Le Relax Hotel and Restaurant.
Upon arrival, I was quickly blown away by the beautiful room with beautiful views. The room was $100 per night, which is a good price for this island.
I quickly changed into my swimwear and immediately headed towards the beach. I spent the afternoon swimming and getting a little tan, which I desperately needed. After a few hundred pics and being in the water a few times, I went to a restaurant to have a beer and to find some free wifi, to contact some friends on the island.
Although a stunningly beautiful island, it had a few unexpected expenses.
Here is a breakdown of all the expenses.
Flight - $300
Hotel - $100
Pizza, snacks and 3 beers - $60
Taxi - $40
Hotel- airport transfer - $25
Total = $525
With $525, the price was still much less than a normal flight ticket and you got the chance to have glimpse of a beautiful island. So you have to ask yourself? Go home faster, with a more expensive ticket? Or enjoy an afternoon relaxing in the sun? In the end, what's the rush?
Here are a few tips for doing a layover in Seychelles.
- Save offline maps on google maps so that you at least know where you are, since there is little to no free wifi around.
- If you've met a bunch of friends along the way, don't be stupid like us, rent a car for the day and split the costs. That way you could explore more of the island on your own time and you're not restricted to one area, the use of taxi's or crowed limited time buses.
- Be smart and find a travel buddy on a group when you know that you're heading to Seychelles. Then you could also share the room price.
- Organize your hotel-airport transfer prior to arrival. That way you cut out any unexpected taxi fairs.
- Make sure all your admin is in order before you arrive. First off you'll be relaxing on a beach all day and secondly, you might not get any wifi or internet to do anything else.
In the end, if I look at where I went from one day to the next, I would say this was a good experience. I should just learn to do more research, not expect too much and be MUCH more flexible. Let the little stuff go and just enjoy yourself for one day.
Do you think it's worth traveling a total of 42 hours and enjoy the beach for 19 hours? Let me know in the comments below.
Do you think it's worth traveling a total of 42 hours and enjoy the beach for 19 hours? Let me know in the comments below.
DeokJeokDo (덕적도) - The Island That Surprised Me - Day 2 & 3
7:00:00 AMDay 2 Day 2 we woke up, some a bit early and others like me, slept in for a bit. It is our vacation after all. We made delicious b...
7:00:00 AM
Day 2
Day 2 we woke up, some a bit early and others like me, slept in for a bit. It is our vacation after all. We made delicious bacon and eggs for breakfast and got ready to head out. Four of us decided to go hiking on the nearby mountain behind our minbak. The rest stayed behind, looking after the dog, preparing lunch and going to the beach.
I was up for the hiking trip, because I really wanted to see the island from the top. The hike was a lot of fun. Everyone was taking a lot of pictures of the forest and later the ocean with islands around. There was an abandoned house in the woods, a little bamboo tunnel and a pagoda at the top.
Although it was a nice cool day, it felt quite humid in the forest. The breeze and the view at the top was definitely a well deserved reward for the little hike. It took about 50 mins to get to the top, including all the stops we made to take pictures. The trip down was about 40 mins. The total time for us, up and down, was about 2 hours and 30 mins.
After the climb, we had some hamburger buns, stuffed with a tuna filling as well as some cherry tomatoes and some grapes for dessert for our lunch on the beach.
We stayed on the beach for a few hours, before heading back home for an afternoon nap. After I woke up, I went for a walk around with my camera to catch the sunset and the area around me. I walked back to the beach and was breathless when I saw the fog rolling in on the water. I captured a few moments on the beach and walked further to the pier.I was really amazed by the beautiful beach and the fog on the water. I played around a little with my camera, taking pictures of myself sitting on edge of the pier, looking out on the water.
It got dark and I walked back home. The others had already started with the dinner. Chicken Slovaki, pasta and cabbage salad as well as mushrooms cooked in wine and lemon juice with some rosemary were on the menu. For dessert we had a fried pineapple, which was marinated for a day in rum and cinnamon.Then wrapped in foil and put on the warm fire coals for a while until all sides had a chance to fry or boil inside the foil. All the while we listened to music, drank wine and beer and laughed at the stories told around a fire. And that's how we ended a great day at Deokjeokdo.
The island had a certain untold magic to it. Like it's waiting for someone to discover it. I guess the island exceeded all my expectations. I guess timing and weather plays a pretty important role.
I hope that you liked my post and that you are a little more curious about South Korean islands now, like I am.
Check out the video that one of the girls made for us, about the food that we ate during our trip. Make sure that you follow her on Instagram #wiwe . She has a unique way of styling her photos and posting them. I really enjoy it.
After the climb, we had some hamburger buns, stuffed with a tuna filling as well as some cherry tomatoes and some grapes for dessert for our lunch on the beach.
We stayed on the beach for a few hours, before heading back home for an afternoon nap. After I woke up, I went for a walk around with my camera to catch the sunset and the area around me. I walked back to the beach and was breathless when I saw the fog rolling in on the water. I captured a few moments on the beach and walked further to the pier.I was really amazed by the beautiful beach and the fog on the water. I played around a little with my camera, taking pictures of myself sitting on edge of the pier, looking out on the water.
It got dark and I walked back home. The others had already started with the dinner. Chicken Slovaki, pasta and cabbage salad as well as mushrooms cooked in wine and lemon juice with some rosemary were on the menu. For dessert we had a fried pineapple, which was marinated for a day in rum and cinnamon.Then wrapped in foil and put on the warm fire coals for a while until all sides had a chance to fry or boil inside the foil. All the while we listened to music, drank wine and beer and laughed at the stories told around a fire. And that's how we ended a great day at Deokjeokdo.
Day 3
The next morning we got ready and some breakfast. We had some cup ramen noodles and added some beansprouts, chives and cheese. Along with that, we had all the leftover food and snacks. We packed up and got ready to go, but we had an hour to quickly go to beach and say our farewell to the ocean. Then we headed back to the pier and waited for our ferry back home.
The island had a certain untold magic to it. Like it's waiting for someone to discover it. I guess the island exceeded all my expectations. I guess timing and weather plays a pretty important role.
I hope that you liked my post and that you are a little more curious about South Korean islands now, like I am.
Check out the video that one of the girls made for us, about the food that we ate during our trip. Make sure that you follow her on Instagram #wiwe . She has a unique way of styling her photos and posting them. I really enjoy it.
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