Mauritian Ti' Punch (page 2 of 7)

Yeah, that makes sense! But Madagascar is easier to spot on the globe than Réunion.😉

Hi Christelle,

We went counterclockwise.

No idea why, actually? 🤪😄

After a mask and snorkel in Istanbul, it won’t be much use...

And where’d you fit the raki and Turkish delight on the way back???

And the raki and the Turkish delight on the way back—where’d you stash them???

There’s everything you need in Béziers

The beach doesn't seem to have changed much 😉 ... but at the end of April, it was glorious sunshine 😛

I've adopted a technique that lets me get by for a few days: a few clothes in my carry-on backpack (including the essentials, like my swimsuit here...) + things I won’t be able to find easily on the spot (prescription meds + contact lenses).

Same here! Ever since American Airlines lost our two checked bags during a layover in Miami (we had nothing left, so our first stop in Cancun was a hypermarket to buy the basics... makes for some memories 😏), we’ve been packing enough for 2-3 days in our carry-on luggage.

I'm off... to a destination I don't know yet! 😊

On the other hand, masks and snorkels...

Oh wow, you're bringing masks and snorkels too Now that’s next level...

For me, that’s pure science fiction Recently, I did even better—a week in Istanbul with just the small bag that fits under the seat in front on the plane. It was amazing!

The same person who has a 74kg photo bag

Didn’t you know it was me who invented Tetris?

The sound of waves crashing against the coral reef set the rhythm for our night.

The chirping of birds in the garden trees sets the rhythm for our breakfast.

Yellow, red, punk—they flutter around our table, on the lookout for the tiniest crumb.

With the last bite swallowed, it’s time to think about what’s next.

Île aux Cerfs?

Oh no! There’s too much wind, and the water’s way too chilly for a beach day!

A hike in Ferney Valley?

Great idea! Perfect weather for walking, and it gets us closer to the airport to pick up our suitcase!

We pack a few supplies for a picnic and drive to the entrance of the Ferney estate.

This valley holds the last patches of primary forest on the island—areas that nearly disappeared a few years ago to make way for a highway...

Entry is paid, and the funds go toward maintaining this natural sanctuary: endemic trees and plants are replanted, while a relentless battle is waged against invasive species.

Three trails wind through the estate: a 5-kilometer walk accessible to all (75 meters of elevation gain), a more challenging 13-kilometer route (530 meters of elevation gain), and a demanding 18-kilometer hike (970 meters of elevation gain).

The lazy ones can opt for a guided 4x4 excursion, a choice we skip, preferring to take on the 13-kilometer challenge—a great warm-up for the trip ahead!

The start of the hike is shared by all options until the Aldabra tortoise enclosure.



This species isn’t native to Mauritius but to the Seychelles.

The island’s native tortoises, in fact, disappeared in the 18th century, victims of the appetites of various colonizers.

The Aldabra tortoise has exceptional longevity: supercentenarians are common, and the oldest member of this family is the venerable Jonathan, born around 1832!

The other impressive trait of this animal is its weight: up to 300 kilos for the males!

It’s best not to let one step on your foot when you get close for a photo.



A few steps later, we enter the estate’s nursery. Mauritius seems like paradise for green thumbs, a little less so for fans of lunar landscapes...



Then we tackle the steep part of the walk!



We disturb a family of wild boars and catch a fleeting glimpse of a deer herd at the top of a distant hill.



I’ll let you spot a few pairs of ears...

Nature surrounds us; there’s not a soul in sight.

I’ll let you enjoy the landscapes in silence, just like we did.







Silence, sometimes broken by my grunts—it goes up, it goes down, it’s rarely flat!

A light rain makes us furrow our brows, but the sun quickly reclaims its rights.

They say Iceland is the land of four seasons in one day—I get the feeling Mauritius is too, just in a slightly more tropical version...



Ten kilometers later, my legs start begging for mercy. Phew, flat ground again!

The trail eventually follows the Nyon River, and we find our car again.



Any news about the suitcase?

No, nothing! I’ll call them!

What do you mean, a driver is on the way to deliver it to us???

We told you we’d come pick it up!

Oops... Here’s the delivery guy’s number... Call him...

One attempt, nothing.

Ah, a call! Must be him!

Hello, it’s your landlady... Yes, I got a call from Air Mauritius about your suitcase... Would you mind if it’s dropped off at the caretaker’s lodge?

The homeowner will sort it out with the delivery guy, and we’ll finally get our luggage back when we return to Palmar.

Phew!

The sun is shining in the late afternoon, so we put on our swimsuits.



I dip my toe in the water. Feels like I’m in Brittany...

The wind is still strong, I shiver, and I give up.

My partner will be braver!

---/---

6:00 PM, the sun sets.

6:30 PM, it’s dark!

That’s kind of the issue with these tropical destinations—days are short.

But let’s not get discouraged—cheers!



Life isn’t just about Ti’ punch... You’ll also find plenty of South African specialties in the country’s supermarket aisles.

I'm dipping my toe in the water. Feels like I'm in Brittany...

I would’ve picked (or maybe I will pick) this destination largely to enjoy swimming in the Indian Ocean + white sand beach + sun lounger + cocktail and chilling out. When did you go on this trip? I quickly skimmed your posts and didn’t find it 😕

In September!

On paper, it was the right time (dry season and rising temperatures).

After that, the start of the trip was on the east coast, which is windy. It’s nicer on the west side, even if the weather isn’t quite like Thailand’s.

You also have to keep in mind that I get cold easily...

I went there at the end of April/beginning of May and went swimming (which means the water temperature was at least 26°C 😇)

The weather still isn’t tropical today, so we’re definitely giving up on the idea of lounging on the tempting beaches of Île aux Cerfs.

Instead, we decide to take a little loop north.

Our first stop is the Hindu temple of Sagar Shiv Mandir.

It looks like an English cake...





The second stop, much more understated, won’t feel too unfamiliar to someone from Auvergne.

The Catholic church in Poudre d’Or is, in fact, built from basalt, just like many Mauritian buildings.





Makes sense, since this land—just like its neighbor Réunion—is the result of volcanic eruptions!

There are no longer any active craters on Mauritius; you’d have to swim and then hike to Piton de la Fournaise if you want to see molten lava.

A few kilometers later, we reach Goodlands, the most Indian town in the country.

If you want to buy a sari, this is the place to go!

From temples to churches, we finally reach Cap Malheureux, which owes its popularity with tourists to its highly photogenic chapel perched above the waves.









A stall on the beach offers grilled food but takes advantage of its location by inflating prices.



We skip it and go to eat a little further away under the protection of the god Muruga.



To digest the flambéed banana, we decide to go for a swim.

But where?

The crowded beach of Grand Baie doesn’t tempt us, so we head to Mont Choisy instead.

No wind, blue skies—I dive in!

Well, more like I inch in centimeter by centimeter until I’m up to my neck...

The ice cream truck regularly drives along the beach, and food trucks offer stir-fried noodles and other quick specialties.







Nice spot, but too bad the water isn’t at 28 degrees!

A little relaxation, a walk with our feet in the sand, and it’s time to head back.

Tonight, we’re having Chinese food.

Not the best option of the trip, yet it’s here we’ll spend the most on a meal.

Well, only around fifty euros for two—can’t say the destination is particularly expensive...

You always find the same crowd around the happy-hour journals! 🙂

Save me a spot, I'm joining in...

Team Ti' punch or team Savannah Dry? 😉

Don’t be narrow-minded in life—I refuse to pick sides ;)

I don’t know about that kind of cider, but for Mauritian ti’ punch—if it’s the same as the West Indian one—there’s no comparison. Damn, it’s good! !

Team Ti' punch or team Savannah Dry?😉

Darn! I missed the Savannah Dry in Mauritius (but at the time, I hadn’t been to South Africa yet—I didn’t know about it!) Like Pascale, both! 😎 Otherwise, I’ve got almost the same photo of the famous church... they must repaint it every year! 😏