A lovely wander at the mercy of the wind in this amazing Rajasthan (page 8 of 11)

I don’t know the Seychelles, but Mauritius? Meh. Réunion is way better! (even if we’re not into hiking)

Oh come on! Réunion really isn’t my thing! Black sand, sharks, and hiking—no thanks. I know people will say I’m wrong, but when it comes to travel, I’ve always trusted 1) my gut and 2) the feedback I get. Christelle will settle this for us 😛

Black sand? On the east coast under the volcano, yes, but not on the west coast... There are a few beaches—some (like Saint-Pierre) are really nice. Sure, there aren’t as many as in Mauritius, but the marine life in the water is way richer! And besides, once you’ve seen 2 or 3 beaches... In Réunion, there are no private beaches either—a real scourge in Mauritius, where almost all the beaches belong to hotels! For me, that’s a dealbreaker. The interior of Mauritius, apart from the sugarcane fields... For me, there’s no comparison, as they say 😏 But if you’re *absolutely* all about beaches, beaches, beaches, I think the Seychelles have a lot more to offer than Mauritius...

And here I was, all set for São Tomé, and you come along to throw me off, Kate! 😄

If you rent a car in Mauritius, you’ll find tons of gorgeous public beaches, Djalma—typical markets, enchanting gardens, and locals who are super welcoming and open to others (since most tourists stay holed up in their hotels and barely meet any locals 😢). Plus, there’s Rodrigues right next door, and that’s a whole other world—super preserved.

But I’ll admit, I found the Seychelles even more beautiful because of its *too* cute architecture. Little Creole houses, all colorful, everywhere. Meanwhile, Mauritius has zero architectural consistency.

As for Réunion, I won’t even try to settle the debate since I’ve never set foot there! 😆

By renting a car in Mauritius, you’ll find plenty of beautiful public beaches, Djalma, typical markets, enchanting gardens, and locals who are very welcoming and open to others

Of course, all that exists—I was just comparing these two islands... My goal wasn’t to paint an apocalyptic picture! Yes, there are things to see in Mauritius, but far fewer than in Réunion! Just a little side note: .. If I’m not in the water, the beach holds little appeal for me.. and in the water, I’ve experienced better than Mauritius! The coral is either destroyed or mediocre. So when I’m not in the water, I keep moving.. and unlike Réunion, where the coastline is public, in Mauritius, you often hit barriers when trying to move from one beach to the next... PS: The only truly public beach where locals come to picnic is in the northwest.. I’ve forgotten the name. Yes, there you’ll mingle with local life. Elsewhere, it’s mostly tourists.. On top of that, many hotels have their own private beaches... You either love it or you don’t. For those "postcard-perfect" photos, yes, Mauritius delivers... Otherwise, between the two options you’ve given us, no hesitation—I’d choose Benin! For a thousand reasons! For animal lovers, there’s even a reserve... It’s not Kenya, nor is it as well-organized, that’s for sure. For beaches, its neighbor Togo or, even better, Ghana.

If you're absolutely beach-beach-beach obsessed, I think the Seychelles have a lot more to offer than Mauritius..

I’m not all about beaches, and all my trips and travel journals prove it. I just want to experience that postcard scene above once in my life. It’d only be for a few days—I know myself, after 24 hours I’d be itching to see what’s happening elsewhere!

There’s no accounting for taste... I find that culturally, Réunion is much richer than Mauritius. It’s an ethnic melting pot. When it comes to the sea, if you’re not into surfing or diving behind the coral reef, there are sheltered "pools" where sharks don’t venture. You can swim there safely. If you’re not into hiking, there are hundreds of spots with stunning landscapes and panoramas accessible by car. The road with 400 bends up to the Cirque de Cilaos, the Plaine des Sables toward the volcano, etc. Short walks to waterfalls and ponds where you can swim, and so much to see—Hindu and Creole festivals... I’ve been to Réunion three times and I’m going back this year. My daughter, who’s married to a Réunionese man, has settled there. PS: I’m not criticizing beach lovers—far from it! But personally, I expected more from Mauritius. In Madagascar: Île Sainte-Marie, Pointe Ful, Nosy Be, Diego Suarez—now *that’s* where the sea is beautiful!

After having visited these three destinations:

The Seychelles for their beaches, especially those on La Digue, which are extraordinary and unique in their layouts.

Réunion Island for its diverse and lush nature, which is generally very accessible.

Mauritius, a beautiful tropical island that’s ultimately quite classic.

I don’t know the Seychelles, but I imagine they have more to offer than Mauritius. Madagascar is a bit tricky to get around, but for me, there’s nothing better in the Indian Ocean. A guaranteed change of scenery and the kindness of its people...

Hi Christelle, What a treat to dive back into this India that leaves no one indifferent. The same smiles, memories, and feelings as you. A wonderful adventure for you and the "forum members" in general. But be careful—comparing Udaipur (which we loved) to Venice, I swear as an Italian😛 You mention the couples, all smiles, having beautiful portraits taken. In 2018, we were invited to a wedding when we were just peeking in to get an idea of the celebration. And oh, what a surprise—the bride and groom had such sad faces, especially the bride. But we were touched to be invited so spontaneously. The bride’s uncle took a plate for me and another for my wife, filling them with meat, rice, vegetables, and more. And when we were about to leave, as we thanked them, we couldn’t believe our ears: "Welcome... and thank you for being reasonable with the food. It’s not like that German couple who invited themselves without asking." A bit skeptical that such rude people would do that, we casually approached the German couple, and they actually told us they wanted to avoid going to a restaurant.🏴‍☠️ It takes all kinds to make a world... After talking with other family members, we learned it was an arranged marriage, so the bride and groom didn’t know each other before the wedding. Do you know if these practices are still common today? I’ll keep reading your fascinating travel journal. Bravissimo. Roberto

Welcome Roberto 😁

"They dare tell us they wanted to avoid going to the restaurant" That’s exactly the kind of encounter that makes me ashamed to be a tourist 😅

"Do you know if these practices are still common?" Unfortunately, I think they are, especially in rural and less educated parts of India. It seems less of an issue among the "privileged classes," but the India experts here can give you a better answer than I can 😁.

I’m not an India expert, but before my last trip, I had no idea that future spouses undergo an astrological study. If the charts aren’t compatible, it could put the whole marriage in question! It’s not just about family pressure... 😕

"Do you know if these practices are still current?"

Yes, it’s still a very common practice and even widely spread. But unlike a few decades ago, families now give future spouses more or less opportunities to get to know each other. A friend from Rajasthan once told me that between the complex caste rules around marriages, family expectations, and astrological factors, there were probably no more than two or three girls he could marry...

Yes, it still exists. A friend from Tamil Nadu told me about his nephew whose parents were looking for a future wife for him. This young man has a good education and a good job, but he's approaching thirty and starting to lose his hair—and in India, hair is very important. They consulted agencies to find a good family and an astrologer. Since birth, this young man has had an issue in his astrological chart, and the families of the girls selected keep refusing the marriage because of it. Will he find a wife? To this day, he's still single, even though he's quite charming... Not easy, even in 2025.

This young man has had an issue in his astrological chart since birth, and the families of the girls he’s considered refuse marriage because of it. Will he ever find a wife? As of today, he’s still single, even though he’s quite charming... not easy, even in 2025.

In Indian astrology, some people born under particular Mars influences are called "manglik." The belief is that they’ll inevitably cause their spouse’s death at some point—unless they marry another manglik. Needless to say, finding a marriage partner is a living nightmare for them... Even without being manglik, there are often complications in astrological charts that the Brahmin astrologer can fix—for a hefty fee, of course. 😏

Yes, it still exists. A friend from TN told me about his nephew whose parents were looking for a future bride for him.

There’s a fascinating docuseries on Netflix that follows the journey of a strong and endearing Indian matchmaker. A matchmaker who works in the 21st century between India and the United States, at the request of families or young single Indians. Some have been living in the US for decades, working there... but when it comes to marriage, the Western veneer fades in favor of tradition.

Admittedly, the individuals she tries to match are from an affluent background... but the series, which is informative, touching, and addictive, is certainly representative. Skillfully made, it highlights—without judgment—the contrasts and paradoxes of those who live torn between two cultures.

Indian Matchmaking – 3 seasons on Netflix

my Indian husband is Manglik and according to my astrological chart, I am too. So all is well!

It's great—two Mangliks together cancel out the mangal dosha 😎

Thanks everyone. All this is really interesting but a bit sad. Otherwise, Marie Jo, I have a few friends who are desperately looking for the soulmate for your friend’s nephew and who couldn’t care less about the astrological theme 😂

I’ll suggest it to them 😊😆

Hi Christelle, I’d fallen a bit behind on reading this travel journal, but I’ve just caught up on everything. Bravo on your writing! It’s such a pleasure to read you. For voting on the next travel journal(s), I’m picking 3: Benin / Seychelles / São Tomé