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On the Eastern slope of the mountain which rises behind Port Louis in Isle de France, one can see the ruins of two small huts on a land which formerly used to be cultivated…

The entry line of a beautiful novel staged in Mauritius in the mid 18th century.

Everyone knows Romeo and Juliet. Well, Mauritius also has it’s own impossible love story; written by the french author Bernardin de St Pierre (1737-1814) in 1788, in the form of a short novel Paul et Virginie (Paul and Virginia) is our local version. The book, probably the best he wrote, recounts the story of 2 children, Paul and Virginia who are raised as brother and sister on Isle de France (the name of Mauritius at the time). Everything becomes more complicated as they reach their teenage years and fall in love. Virginia is then send to France by her mother to keep them separated and preserve her good name. She comes back to the island in 1744, but the St Géran wrecks on the sharp reef of Isle de France. She refuses to take off her clothes in front of the sailors and tragically dies on the ship. Paul, who is waiting for her on the shore, sees the ship go down and the love of his life dies while he is watching. He too dies of despair not long after.

The book was a huge success at the time. A predecessor to romanticism and exoticism. In the 19th and early 20th century it was encouraged for young people to read the novel because it praises modesty and virginity to the point of the main character dying. It is today considered a classic and a novel many young people would read in France as part of their studies (or just for fun, of course). It has been translated to several languages.

Paul and Virginia, as well as the St Géran are widely remembered on the island today. There are many places where we are reminded of the fate of these two young lovers. The statue on the cover of my english copy can be seen in the Pamplemousse gardens, for example.

The St Géran was built in France in 1737 and was part of the naval fleet of the French East India Company.

Logo of the French East India Company

The St Géran wrecked on the Northern Coast of the island, as it crashed outside the small village of Poudre d’Or. 149 sailors, 13 passengers and 30 slaves died (notice how slaves are not really passengers…) but let’s keep it historically correct (even if not politically correct). In the book the author wrecks the ship on 25th December, but the event actually took place on 18th August 1744.

Monument St Geran – La Poudre d’Or

The monument to commemorate the Saint Géran can be found in that little village, Poudre d’Or. It was erected in August 1944. The site is not very big, but it is an important part of the history of Mauritius. The ship was bringing machinery for the first sugar cane refinery on the island. Only 9 persons survived – 8 crew members and 1 passenger. Nothing was said about the slaves.

Kiddos discussing shipwreck of Saint Géran – Poudre d’Or, Mauritius

Kiddos 2 walking at site monument St Géran

View from Monument St Géran, Poudre d’Or, Mauritius

  There is a little walking path behind the Anglican church that will take you to the hospital of the village. It is a nice little stretch for the legs and gives you some other views of the area with small prayer places, as usual.

Hindu temple by the ocean at Poudre d’Or, Mauritius

The Shipwreck – Le Saint Géran

There was a diving expedition in 1966 that brought up many things found on the wreck. These things are on display at the Naval Museum in Mahébourg. 28 of the cannons can also be found there and others at the Blue Penny Museum in Port Louis. As with many wrecks around the island it is possible to dive on the St Géran. Related post: The Blue Penny Museum

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Paul et Virginie, the Mauritian love story: Discover the memorial to the Saint Géran in Poudre d'Or village and the impossible love story Made in Mauritius! #mauritius #traveltips #holidays @seemauritius On the Eastern slope of the mountain which rises behind Port Louis in Isle de France…

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Mauritius Travel Tips: Visit Mauritius in Winter

Mauritius Travel Tips: Visit Mauritius in Winter #traveltips #mauritius #holidays @seemauritius

I often get asked the question when is the best time to travel to Mauritius or what winter is like? Well, the best time one is a tricky answer, I guess it all depends what kind of holidays you are after. It’s like when I get asked how much if it will rain a lot in March?

The winter is amazing if you don’t really enjoy heat, but still like the sun and definitely want to enjoy nature! I have to be…

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Reunion Island

We are big fans of Reunion Island for so many reasons! Nature, Food, so much to see and do! Just 200km from Mauritius, it is our perfect gateway destination!

When we travel to Reunion Island, we generally go to the South of the island and stay at Palm Hotel and Spa, a beautiful 5* hotel in Grand Anse, a 20min drive from Pierrefonds airport.

Chez Ti Fred is just one of the best restaurants in the area – we still talk about our lunch there! Don’t forget to book, it’s tiny – the chef is a character, but wow, is the food good?

The Waterfall of Grand…

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Something a bit different to do while visiting Mauritius! Discover the Chinese heritage in Port Louis by visiting the Pagodas

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One of the reasons we went to Singapore last April, was a promised trip, and very awaited for stay over, at Legoland Malaysia!

Hotel Review: Legoland Hotel Malaysia

Last year in July I took the kids to Legoland Billund (the original Legoland park in Denmark) and the kids absolutely loved it. I went alone with the kiddos and they insisted on the father also having a go at the famous amusement park: Denmark being a bit far away from Mauritius, Malaysia it was instead. We have been to Legoland in Johor Bahru before, as day trip from Singapore. It is very feasible, but this time we decided to try out the Legoland Hotel, located just next to the park. To be honest, I don’t know what was most popular with the kiddos: the hotel or the park!

Transfers to Legoland Malaysia from Singapore

There are different ways to go from Singapore to Legoland in Johor Bahru. The easiest (and probably the most costly) is to organise a driver from the Legoland Hotel to pick you up! We have tried all the other ways and this is what we did! The driver picked us up at the Sheraton Towers, where we were staying, and off we went: a 50 minutes drive. The drive was easy, no traffic at that time of the day (we left at 11am) and being in a car is definitely the easiest way to cross the Malaysia/Singapore boarder: no need to get down from the car (unlike the bus where you have to exit and cross the boarder by foot). We arrived to the hotel around noon, yay! with very excited kids.

Related article: The Sheraton Towers, Singapore

Lobby of Legoland Hotel Malaysia

The Legoland Hotel Malaysia

The first surprise was absolutely the lobby – huge pits filled with lego blocks, a pirate ship and a castle to play in, kids running around everywhere, parents sitting and building legos – not far from heaven, at least for Lego fans.

a little information about Lego

So you might (or not) know, that Lego is Danish! ouiiii another reason to be proud haha. It all started in a small carpenter workshop, with one man Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891–1958), in 1932. Back then he built wooden toys. It is today one of the most well known toys in the world. The name Lego comes from the two first letters of 2 words: Leg Godt, that means ‘play well’. The brick as we know it today dates from 1958. And yes – we are all fans in the family: adults and kids alike. When I was pregnant with Kiddos 1, we used build Starwars Lego with my husband – a collection that is still growing today.

Anyways I regress… back to our hotel!

The kiddos disappeared in a Lego-brick pit and we went to check in. We had booked online and prepaid already – you can arrange for what type of room you want, transport, tickets for the parks (waterpark and Legoland) on the Legoland Hotel website and it was nice and easy.

Entrance to Pirate Premium Room at Legoland Malaysia

Kids bedroom in Pirate Premium Room at Legoland Hotel Malaysia

Bedroom in Pirate Premium Room at Legoland Hotel Malaysia

The rooms at Legoland Hotel Malaysia

The kiddos really wanted a Ninjago room, but unfortunately none were available at the time of booking. I discovered, during our stay, that they only have 8 rooms of that type so probably not easy to come by. We had a Pirate premium room and the kiddos still loved it! Before we get to the rooms a little note has to go to the elevator entertainment: they have disco balls and music (think ‘everything is awesome‘ and that type) – so we always got a little boogie in the lift – the kiddos of course thought more hotels should have this…

The rooms were very pirat-ey and the kids thought it was so much fun! The rooms are not as big as they look on the website, but still a comfortable size. The bunk-beds were a huge hit. The bathroom is ok, not huge though, with a shower only but with 2 sinks, 1 for adults and a lower one for the smaller in the family. The main bedroom was also a good size. The rooms come with small welcome cookies as amenities, coffee and tea making facilities, free bottles of water everyday and a lot of bathroom amenities if needed.

View from Room at Legoland Hotel Malaysia #Hotel in Malaysia – #Hotel in Johor Bahru #LegolandMalaysia #LegolandHotel – #Hotelreview

Amenities at Legoland Hotel Malaysia

Room Features in Pirate Premium Room at Legoland Hotel Malaysia

Safety Box and Treasure Hunt at Legoland Hotel Malaysia

Room Features in Pirate Premium Room at Legoland Hotel Malaysia

Safety Box and Treasure Hunt at Legoland Hotel Malaysia

For the kids the hotel prepares a small treasure hunt: they have to find different things around the room, the final number gives them a code for a special safe and inside was a couple of small lego packs to build! Great idea to keep the kiddos busy while the parents settle in. The kids used the safe during the whole stay to store all their toys.

We decided to stay 2 nights and it was actually a good thing: we got to do the water park and Legoland on 2 separate days without needing to rush or arriving too late back in Singapore on the 3rd day.

Restaurants at the Legoland Hotel Malaysia

Maybe because we spend most of our current lives in hotels, we are not the big hotel restaurant fans when we travel – and that was true also here so we only had breakfast preferring to go out for lunch and dinner. However we still had breakfast here and they also have a few other dining options available.

Main Restaurant at Legoland Hotel Malaysia

For breakfast you get time slots (doesn’t mean you can’t come at other times, but you’ll have to wait if full I guess). The Brick Family restaurant is huge and looks a bit like a canteen, to be honest. The food is ok – they have a lot of options: from Malay curries to full English Breakfast – a lot of fresh cut fruits and fresh fruit juices as well. We took 9:30am slots and I think at that time the big of the crowd was already out of the way! It is very kid oriented of course, with colourful plates, lego features everywhere. They also serve a buffet dinner here.

They have 2 other restaurants: an Italian restaurant, Di Mattoni open for dinner only and a Sushi Bar, Kai’s Sushi Bar, this is open for lunch and dinner. There is also a little snack/cake counter in front of the main restaurant. All the restaurants are located on the lobby floor.

Entertainment at the Legoland Hotel Malaysia

The lego-brick pits were the biggest entertainment of all. Open 24/7 (that has its advantages and disadvantages – that all parents can just imagine), the kiddos managed to spend so much time there! Every month the hotel organises a ‘build a lego model’ competition. While we were there it was dinosaur month! Every day kids can build their dinosaur and make an entry for a price. The price is given out daily at 7 pm. The kiddos managed to build a few a 1 was a winner. Kiddos 2 was so proud and happy! It was really a great activity, getting kids and parents together to do something. A few others I remember coming up: build your shield or build your flag…

‘Build a lego’ Competion – Legoland Hotel Malaysia

A part from that they had character apparitions or magic tricks performances, for example. Information on all of these activities are displayed in the main lobby. There are also a couple of shops: a small Lego Store (they are selling more at the park though) and also a gift shop – mostly with lego items of course but also swimming costumes, sun creams and such, should you need. Little note on Lego pack prices: I checked a few and most of them seemed on par with UK prices – except for Lego Friends that were much more expensive.

They also have a pool located on the 5th floor – nice if the kids are not tired enough after a day at Legoland… mine were more interested in the lobby though.

Why stay at the Legoland Hotel Malaysia

The obvious reason is that it is very convenient when you visit Legoland itself. The park opens at 10am and closes at 6pm. Some of the tickets are multiple entries, which I think is super nice, specially if you a visiting with smaller ones – you can go in and out of the park; also if it suddenly starts pouring down – like it can very well do in that part of the world!

The other reason is that, even though yes it can be a bit a lot with all this lego, colours and features everywhere, well the odds are that you are there for the kids sake and I found it really added value to our trip extending all the fun.

The kids were super sad when time was coming to leave. They absolutely had the best of time while we were on holidays. The best hotel money ever spend on my children!

I’d suggest to book you check out their website directly to have a look at their deals.

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Legoland Hotel Review - A great place to stay when visiting Legoland in Johor Bahru #malaysia #legoland #travel tips @TourismMalaysia One of the reasons we went to Singapore last April, was a promised trip, and very awaited for stay over, at…

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Denmark

Copenhagen

Walking in Copenhagen is just the best! Here is one of my favourite walks from the little mermaid to Nyhavn. There are many small stops to be enjoyed on the way!

Transportation and entries to visit places can be (very) expensive in Copenhagen… The best deal I found while I was there was definitely the Copenhagen Card!

My favourite place, as a child, but also as an adult is Tivoli,…

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Singapore

This is how I planned our last trip to Singapore. I cover some of the most visits part of the city, but also a few restaurant tips, hikes and fun things to do with (or without!) kids.

The Sheraton Towers is where we usually stay in Singapore. This is my review and the reasons why we choose to stay in this 5* property!

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Cultural visits in Mauritius

Cultural visits in Mauritius

Visit, tasting and lunch at the Bois Cheri tea plantation. The plantations are the second stop on the tea route in Mauritius and well worth a stop if you are discovering the southern part of the island.

The Château de Labourdonnais is a beautiful estate located in the North of the Island and the visit is well worth it to discover the colonial past of Mauritius, beautiful gardens and tasty rum.

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Religious Sites in Mauritius

Religious Sites in Mauritius

Ganga Talao – The largest Hindu Pilgrimage site in Mauritius. History, religion and culture all in one place. Grand Bassin is located in the southern part of Mauritius and one of these stops you have to make!

Discover the beautiful red roofed church, Notre Dame l’Auxiliatrice. Located in the small fishermen village Cap Malheureux – you will see the most enchanting chapel and some of the best…

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Tips and Guides for Mauritius

Tips and Guides for Mauritius

12 March is Independence Day in Mauritius! This year, 2018, the Island celebrated its 50th anniversary as well as it’s 26th year of being a Republic. Read all about our beautiful island!

The National Airline for Mauritius, is Air Mauritius (fancy!) – here is all you need to know about their Business Class Lounge in Plaisance (aka Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport).

All…

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Things to do in Mauritius with kids

Things to do in Mauritius with kids

A review of the Mauritius Aquarium. If you plan going, have a read – just so you know what to expect at this little attraction in Pointe aux Piments.

Discover La Vanille Nature Park, or the Crocodile park – we spend half a day here and the kiddos had so much fun. A must do with children when you visit Mauritius! Learn all about the activities and how to plan your day.

Domaine de l’Etoile– a…

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I often take the kids to the beach to spend an afternoon – now that autumn is setting in and the days are not so hot and humid anymore, I think it is the perfect time to go! No need to worry too much about sunburns, the kiddos actually enjoy it more as it’s not that hot. Most of the time we go to public beaches, as the one in Mont Choisy or Trou aux Biches – the other option is to spend the afternoon at a hotel.

Last Friday I decided to treat the kids to a little luxury afternoon – Kiddos 1, despite being very nervous, did super well in her swimming gala and I thought that must celebrated. Big celebrations are great, but I think that smaller things are as important.

Sugar Beach Mauritius – gardens and pool

The Sugar Beach Mauritius

Part of the Sun Group, the Sugar Beach is one of these hotels that has been around forever. The first time my parents came to Mauritius they actually stayed there, that was 20 years ago.

The hotel is a big favourite for tourists and locals alike, and there are good reasons for that. It is truly a beautiful property: huge gardens, fabulous beach, gorgeous sunsets – many food and beverage options and well appointed rooms.

Garden rooms entrance and terrace – Sugar Beach Mauritius – Hotel in Mauritius

Room at the Sugar Beach Mauritius with welcome amenities! Sugar Beach Mauritius – Hotel in Mauritius

I have never stayed at the hotel but we did take a day room – I find it easier when with the children (also because we were coming directly from school) and we were lucky to get all these lovely amenities you can see on the bed! The kiddos loved all their pouches and other goodies. I have to say I didn’t find the rooms particularly big though they do have a nice bathroom and the terrace had beach view, which is lovely. Other of their rooms have garden views but they are all in the direction of the ocean, some are located on ground floor, others on the first floor.

Related article: Our stay at La Pirogue Mauritius

Lunch at the Sugar Beach Mauritius

Palm heart salad – Tides Restaurant – Sugar Beach Mauritius – Hotel in Mauritius

View from Tides Restaurant – Sugar Beach Mauritius – Hotel in Mauritius

A glass of rose on the beach – Tides Restaurant – Sugar Beach Mauritius – Hotel in Mauritius

View of Tides Restaurant – Sugar Beach Mauritius –

It was such a beautiful day and we had lunch in Tides, the beachfront restaurant. They offer an international cuisine – salads, pizzas, tapas or sushi for example. They are very children oriented and have a large children menu. My salad was very nice – palm heart is a speciality both in Mauritius and Reunion Island. It is fresh here, nothing to do with the ones you get prepacked in brine in supermarkets in Europe: this one is crunshy – palm heart is high in fiber and potassium, low in calories. It is not at all served in the same way on the 2 islands – I actually prefer the Reunion Island style, but this is also nice! It was served with smoked marlin (Mauritius’ answer to smoked salmon) which is actually very good. Specially when enjoyed with gorgeous views, happy kiddos and a crisp glass of rosé! The kids were quickly finished with their food and off runing on the beach, to the pool or to the kids club. The great thing about being in a hotel is that the kids can roam freely around.

Beach at Sugar Beach Mauritius

Activities for Children at the Sugar Beach

Sun Kids, the kids club for all the hotels of the Sun Group, is reknown for being very good across their hotels (La Pirogue, Long Beach and Sugar Beach of course) – my favorite goes to the Long Beach – but the kids had a very good time here as well. They asked to go, only stayed for an hour – but managed to get a good play as well as the traditional ‘gouter de 4 heures’ – that’s the name of the snacks kids get when back from school in France (why it’s called “4 heures” I am not entirely sure!). They have a large garden and a swimming area for the small ones. The actual indoor space is a bit dark and the other thing it is located in a far corner of the resort, so it’s quite a walk. As long as the kids like it, that’s the most important though! There was painted T-shirts hanging outside to dry, if I should guess from an activity earlier in the day – Sun Kids are usually very good with daily activities.

Sun Kids Club – Sugar Beach Mauritius

Pool at the Sun Kids Club – Sugar Beach Mauritius

Gardens at the Sun Kids Club – Sugar Beach Mauritius

The pool is located in the centre of the resort – there is a ‘kids side’ that is shallow and also a deeper end. The kids thought the water was starting to be a bit cold (but now they are completely spoiled and say it’s cold when it’s 25!) – I wonder where they get that from, or maybe not! If you know me, you also know that I don’t have much viking blood when it comes to coldish weather (or water, for that matter). The pool is very nice though and the kids had tons of fun!

Main Pool at Sugar Beach Mauritius – Hotels in Mauritius

Main Pool at Sugar Beach Mauritius

The beach of course is always full of wonders and the one at the Sugar Beach does not disappoint: hermit crabs, shells, shallow waters with small fishes swimming around and of course crab hunting – they love to run after the tiny crabs and see who can catch the most.

Beach of Sugar Beach Mauritius at Sunset

Other Activities at the resort 

Well mammies also deserve some R&R – not that I really took advantage but for adults there are obviously also some things to do! Just as Long Beach, Sugar Beach’s spa is also Cinq Mondes – now I haven’t tried this one, but I would assume that their rituals are the same and well it is a nice treat! They have numerous water-sports to enjoy (some are free, others for a fee) and they have a lot of diving options just outside the lagoon. The also have a very nice adults-only pool (located not far from the kids club) – I think that is needed for those who need a little break from the very kid friendly hotel. The hotel is very big, it is not like you have screaming children everywhere at all, but some adults do like it quiet (even parents!).

Related article: A spa review – The Spa Cinq Mondes at Long Beach Mauritius

Adults only pool at Sugar Beach Mauritius

Other than this, I was lucky that they were organising a small event on the beach for sunset the day we went. People of the Sun is a musical event organised at the Sugar Beach during some week-ends. Last week-end they had EvaD playing for sunset. I thought it went very well with the location and the sunset. You can check out next week-ends program here; if you are coming from the outside, make sure to call ahead for a reservation.

EvaD playing at Sugar Beach Mauritius

They are serving snacks and drinks on the beach during the event and there was a nice atmosphere – shame we couldn’t stay a bit later, but we have along drive home from the west coast!

Drinks at Sugar Beach Mauritius

Snacks at Sugar Beach Mauritius

Beach set up for the event – Sun of the People at the Sugar Beach Mauritius

Just before we left, we enjoyed a magnificent sunset! I just love this time of the day. We really had a lovely time and if I listen to the kids we should go every week-end!

Fishermen boat at Sunset at the Sugar Beach Mauritius

I have just received a notification on my Facebook account, that the Long Beach Mauritius, our neighbour and one of my favourite in Mauritius, is organising a People of the Sun event this week end! So even though it happens without sunset (being on the east coast) am sure the set up is going to be awesome! I know what I am doing Friday for sunset – here is the event: People of the Sun at Long Beach. I like these kind of event that showcase local musicians and as for the Sugar Beach, make sure you make a reservation!

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A day at Sugar Beach Hotel, Mauritius - from lunch to sunset I often take the kids to the beach to spend an afternoon - now that autumn is setting in and the days are not so hot and humid anymore, I think it is the perfect time to go!

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When we are not staying with family in Singapore, we choose The Sheraton Towers on Scotts Road. We have been staying there since our honeymoon in 2008 and we always enjoy coming back. It is an older property in town and has lots of competition but the hotel is very well kept, the beds are comfy, the service is spot on and very efficient.

Arrival at the hotel

We landed early at Changi Airport and arrived at the hotel around 8:30am – we were lucky to have our rooms available. I always let the hotels know if I have a specially early or late arrival. Early check-in is available upon request and in my experience in this type of property they will give it to you if they can. Sheraton Towers in a business hotel and check-in was seamless and very fast we were on the way to our rooms.

Sheraton Towers, Scotts Road, Singapore – Source: Wikimedia

Location

The Sheraton Towers is located at the top on Scotts Road, just before Newton Circus. The access to the hotel is super easy as the MRT station is just a 5 min walk. Newton is on the Downtown and the North/South line so very convenient: these 2 lines bring you mostly to any tourist location in Singapore!

MRT/LRT Map Singapore – Source: LTA.gov.sg

With 420 rooms in several categories the hotel offers a lot of possibilities: deluxe, business, pool view, cabana rooms, club rooms or suites – you will sure find something that suits! We have tried quite a few over the years – this time we were on the 18th floor with amazing views over the pool, gardens and the west of the city.

In room amenities at Sheraton Towers, Singapore – where to stay in Singapore – Hotel review of Sheraton Towers Singapore

In room amenities at Sheraton Towers, Singapore – where to stay in Singapore – Hotel review of Sheraton Towers Singapore

Deluxe room at Sheraton Towers, Singapore

The rooms are very well appointed and functional. Large and comfy king size bed with a small sitting area by the window, as well as a desk with all the usual business hotel link ups. Wifi in the rooms come with a fee (and an expensive one – Free for SPG members), it is free in the lobby though. Lovely amenities with fruits, chocolates and wine to enjoy!

Deluxe room at Sheraton Towers, Singapore – Source: Sheraton Towers Singapore

Restaurants at Sheraton Towers Singapore

There are several drinks and dinning option at the hotel. We had breakfast included in our room rate, and it catered very well for our needs. It is served in The Dinning Room : though we did miss a few morning because of the infamous jet-lag! The breakfast buffet has an egg station, fresh fruit juices, dim sum or baked beans – I don’t think there was anything missing and all the family was happy. Special mention to the chocolate cupcakes that the kiddos had quite a few of every morning. They also serve lunch and dinner.

The lobby bar is perfect for meetings, refreshing drink when coming back from town or a late night cap when needed. They also serve afternoon tea, daily. There is also a small refreshment area at the pool, that offers an al fresco option, for the air con shy (like me) – I find it’s freezing everywhere in Singapore!

Besides the Dinning Room, the hotel has two fine dinning restaurants: DOMVS by Gabriel Fratini is an Italian restaurant – we have never tried it (we usually eat Asian food in Singapore) – but it has a great reputation and has been around since 1985! Li Bai is the Chinese Cantonese Restaurant – it is also a great restaurant, their business lunches and Sunday Yum Cha are famous around town, while their dinner is a true gourmet experience – we didn’t eat this time, but I remember the food being excellent. My sister in law has been for dim sum and says it is very good indeed.

The Dinning Room at Sheraton Towers Singapore – Source: Sheraton Singapore

I seem to have gone very shy on my picture taking this time! I guess it’s because I have been so many times I didn’t really realise. So I have borrowed most of my shots from the hotel’s website – any way their pictures are a 1000 times better than mine.

Other features

Recreation

On the 5th floor you can find the pool area, as well as the fitness center open 24/7 and a small spa. We (ok let’s be honest the hubby), always, use the gym – it is big and very well appointed. The pool is a favourite with the kids – the great thing about a place like Singapore is that the water temperature never changes and the kids can play for hours! I like that it is on the 5th floor, it is away from the hustle of the city. I have never had the opportunity to try the spa.

24hours fitness at Sheraton Towers, Singapore – Where to stay in Singapore – Sheraton Towers Singapore Hotel Review

Pool area Sheraton Towers, Singapore – Where to stay in Singapore – Sheraton Towers Singapore Hotel Review

The Executive Lounge

One of the only ones I know of that is adult access only (no kids under 12 here!), we didn’t have access this time – but have had in the past. It is a very exclusive lounge, maybe a bit dark, but it really is a great access to have! They serve continental breakfast and cocktails in the evening – as well as refreshments the rest of the day.

The hotel is a business hotel: so a 24hours business center is available and a big conference area as well. The Sheraton Towers is also a very popular hotel for weddings.

We are big W hotel fans and I have also stayed at the W Sentosa while visiting Singapore – it is a hip & fun property and very handy if you want to spend time in that part of the city! We usually do quite a lot of shopping and I like the more historical parts of Singapore, that is why we prefer to stay at the Sheraton Towers. We have also tried out the St Regis Singapore, and that was well, very nice!  – obviously another type of luxury there and probably one of the best city hotels I have stayed in. Yes, we do tend to like Marriott (Starwood!) properties.

Related article: Planning a trip to Singapore – A guide to help you see and do more

  Hotel review: our stay @ The Sheraton Towers Singapore, a 5* luxury hotel. #sheraton #hotel #singapore @VisitSingapore ‏ When we are not staying with family in Singapore, we choose The Sheraton Towers on Scotts Road.

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After the Domaine des Aubineaux, the tea plantations are the second stop of the tea route in Mauritius.

Discover the Tea Plantations in Mauritius – Things to do in Mauritius – Visits in Mauritius

Bois Chéri is located in the southern part of Mauritius, just a few kilometers from Ganga Talao, the large hindu temple. It is a cooler area of the island, as it is on a plateau at xxx m above sea level.

The Savannah district is probably one of the most scenic and unspoilt areas of the island.

Tea Plantations at Bois Cheri in Mauritius

Related article: Ganga Talao

Visit of the Museum and Factory of Bois Chéri

The first part of the visit is a small museum where you can find information on the history of tea in Mauritius, the production of tea itself as well as an exposition of the older machinery used for the production.

Among the machinery that is shown, you can see an old train locomotive. Before the independence of Mauritius, the British were using rails to transport goods around the island (sugar cane, for exemple) but also passengers. When Mauritius became independent in 1968, the new governement decided to get rid of those – the locomotive F4268 was bought by the owners of the tea plantations of Bois Chéri. Before its second life as boiler at the tea plantation it was used to transport passengers between Curepipe and Port Louis. It is funny to think (or a bit ironic maybe) that the tracks they once took up are being put down again at more or less the same spot today for the new metro system.

Locomotive in the Tea Museum at the Bois Chéri

The story of tea in Mauritius is told by small illustrations on the wall that the kids really enjoyed. Lots of information on 14 small posters that tell the story from 1768 when tea arrived from China, with explanations on how tea is planted and harvested to the actual production of the tea. At other places you can read about how sugar and milk were introduced to tea or benefits of drinking tea. There is also a small movie to watch.

Story of Tea in Mauritius – Bois Chéri Tea Plantation, Mauritius

I know it looks like it, but I promise you the kids are not grounded!! Kiddos 1 was reading for her little brother.

After this you can join a visit of the factory. If you are lucky the tea production will be in full swing and you can see the machines at work. Unfortunately we are a bit out of season at the moment and the harvests are small at this time of the year. The production starts in the morning and runs till they are finished with the daily work load. The factory is not that big, but it is interesting to see how things are done.

We did see however tea leaves just harvested coming to the factory and being led to dry  (wilting) and all the different machines used. Our guide explained to use the whole process the tea leaves go through.

Machinery at the factory at Bois Chéri Tea Plantations Mauritius – Visits in Mauritius – Things to do in Mauritius

Packing of the tea bags at Bois Chéri Tea Plantations Mauritius

Leaves put out to dry at Bois Chéri Tea Plantations Mauritius – Visits in Mauritius – Things to do in Mauritius

Tea leaves arriving from the fields – Bois Chéri Tea Plantations Mauritius

They produce both black and green tea – I don’t know why I imagined otherwise, but it is the same leaves used for the black and green tea. They also add flavour, the most drank one in Mauritius is probably vanilla tea, but they also have exotic fruits, cardamom, bergamote, coconut and many others. The only tea they sell not from Mauritius – and actually a herb not a tea – is Roiboos, the South African bush plant. They import it from SA and do their own packaging at the factory.

Different types of tea from Bois Chéri

You also visit the packaging area.

Tea tasting

After the visit you are invited to a tea tasting, it is included in the price of the visit. You jump in the car or (you can walk if you prefer – 1.7km one way) and drive through the estate to a lovely cafe. It is also where there panoramique restaurant is.

Cafe and Panoramique Restaurant at Bois Cheri

You get to taste all the teas that you want and can purchase a few things to eat with, like pancakes or waffles. The kids, who are not big tea drinkers, thought it was funny to make their own tea, and with enough sugar and milk, kiddos 1 even managed to finish her cup! She actually really liked the exotic fruit one. I tasted coconut, that had a very subtile taste and I actually enjoyed it, I am usually not to flavoured teas. It is a lovely area to sit and enjoy life. You can also drive up without needing to visit the museum and pay directly at the cafe and/or restaurant. There is a small shop where you can buy teas and other products from the Saint Aubin estates – rum from Saint Aubin Rum estate and candles from the Domaine des Aubineaux.

Related article: The Domaine des Aubineaux in Curepipe

View from the cafe at the tea plantations of Bois Cheri

Lunch at the restaurant of Bois Chéri

I had booked a table for lunch in their restaurant. It is indoor seating only, with a picturesque view over the entire south coast. We were shown to a table by the window so we could really enjoy the panorama. I was alone with the kids, so we chose two dishes to share: a very traditional Mauritian style prawn and chicken curry – kiddos 1 says it is one of the best she has had… I have to agree, it was particularly good. I wanted to try something with tea – so ordered the chicken in vanilla tea sauce, the chicken was very tender, I found the sauce a bit heavy – but it is the way they prepare it in Mauritius, not their recipe as such and the taste was excellent. In Mauritius they add cream to the sauce, I prefer it in Reunion island where it is more of a creole style (with turmeric and onion/tomato base). Both dishes came with rice, dall and usual condiments. To drink we tasted their locally manufactured melon ice tea, that was actually very nice. It is sold in supermarkets around the island, I had never tasted it – it comes in many different tastes: pear, peach, mint… So nice surprise.

Unfortunately my phone has died on a recent (and very wet) hike at la Vallée de Ferney – and I have lost the pictures of the dishes and inside of the restaurant.

I think it is a very good option for lunch if you are touring the south coast and want to try some local dishes.

View from the Panoramic restaurant

Useful information about a visit to the tea plantations of Bois Chéri

Best time to visit the Tea Factory of Bois Chéri

It is open every day from 9am to 5pm, but the last visit of the factory is at around 2:45pm. To see the factory in production the earlier you get there the better. As mentioned the harvest season is from October to March and at that time the production times are longer. We visited in April and arrived just after 11, the prodution had just stopped.

The weather changes very fast: we had sunshine, rain, clouds all in the time of 2-3 hours we were there. It is humid and colder than the coast.

Entry price

The price is Rs525 for adult and half price for children. The price is for a visit of the museum, factory and tea tasting. The y also offer a price including a set lunch at Rs 1400. They also have packages without tasting, only for tasting – you should ask.

For residents and Mauritian citizens the price is Rs250 and half price for children.

The tour of the factory runs every 30min both in French and in English – the staff are very knowledgeable and you can ask as many questions as you want.

Phone number for more information on the visits is + 230 617 9109

To book the restaurant: +230 471 1216 – it is advisable during holidays and week-ends.

If you wish to bring home tea from Mauritius – I recommend you make a little stop at the local supermarkets – the price is a bit more affordable. That advise is true for all things you might wish to bring back (rum, sugar, tea…)

Discover the Tea Plantations in Mauritius – Things to do in Mauritius – Visits in Mauritius

  Things to do in Mauritius: the second stop on the tea route in Mauritius - Visit and lunch at the tea plantations of Bois Chéri #mauritius #travel #holidays After the Domaine des Aubineaux, the tea plantations are the second stop of the tea route…

[julzwandering-blog]

Singapore is a place we have been many times, but often we don’t really do that much, except shopping and eating, and eating and shopping some more (and meeting up with friends and family of course)! When we lived in Bali and Maldives we used to go a lot to the city-state – the city is very easy to access and very convenient to travel to. This is my guide for our next trip to Singapore – because I have decided this time to make the most of it!

View of Singapore

Arriving in Singapore

Most international travellers arrive to Singapore via the air – through Changi Airport. There are now 4 terminals – transfers between the terminals can be done by foot, skytrain or shuttle bus depending on the terminals. I have not been to T4 – but the airport is fairly easy to find your way around in and there are always things to do – like nature trails, food halls, amazing shopping or fabulous instagram spots for the avid photographers out there! It is also clean and well kept.

Access to the city is as easy as it gets: taxi and limos, bus (for Singapore and Johor Bahru in Malaysia), MRT. Taxis can be on the expensive side in Singapore especially during peak hours and week-ends (6am-9:30am and after 6pm to midnight). The best thing is, that whatever option you choose it does not take long – that is one of the reasons we always chose to go to Singapore – the proximity of the city to the airport makes it the perfect short trip destination.

What to do in Singapore?

Many first time travellers do not really know what to expect of Singapore – I guess many just see shopping and buildings when they think about the small peninsula – well there is a bit more to it. I have compiled a list of the things, I think that is worth doing when in Singapore: it really comes down to the amount of time you get to stay – because there is quite a lot to look at! I have done most of these things at different times over the years! The plan is to do a refresher this time! I needed to get organised and can as well share it with you.

Cultural visits in Singapore

Singapore has been influenced by many cultures over the last centuries. Most of the same colonist that started arriving in Mauritius in the 16th century, funny enough had a go in this region as well: the Portuguese, the Dutch followed by the British in 1819. Sir Stamford Raffles (the same one who gave his name to probably one of the most iconic colonial hotels in the world, The Raffles) arrived in Singapore in 1819. He saw in Singapore a new port and at that time just a few hundred people were living in Singapore: Malays and Chinese. As soon as Singapore became British, a continual flow of immigrants arrived in the city and in the 1870’s there were more than 100’000 inhabitants (mostly Chinese, but also Malay, Indian). These are the ancestors of today’s Singaporeans.

Chinatown in Singapore is probably the largest historic district and there is much to see. Just to name a few:

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple – a beautiful 4 storey Buddhist temple.

Sri Mariamman Temple – the oldest place of worhsip for Tamil Hindus in Singapore.

Street Market – take a walk in the very typical street markets in Chinatown.

Thian Hock Keng – or the Temple of Heavenly Happiness – is the oldest Chinese Temple in Singapore.

Chinatown Heritage Centre

Jamae Mosque: one of the oldest in Singapore

Baba House – a heritage house showing Peranakan heritage. In Malay Peranakan means those locally born, but in Singapore it means the locally born Chinese (as opposed to Chinese from mainland China). You need to pre-book your visit. (I have never been and it is unfortunately closed while I will be in town).

Lau Pa Sat – I haven’t been since they have reopened after renovations, but this is an iconic Hawker’s market, it became a national monument in 1973!

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown, Singapore

Little India is one of Singapore’s most vibrant districts – with a mix of temples, churches and mosques.

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple – is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the city.

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

The Temple of a Thousand Lights – one of the largest and most visited Buddhist Temple in Singapore

House of Tan Teng Niah – a real landmark and quite surprising building in Little India. The last remaining Chinese residence in the area.

Walking around the small streets is an awesome and colourful experience – even more so at times of Hindu festivals.

Great food: Indian Veg dishes or Tandooris, Fish head curries, roti prata (farata) or pulled tea (teh tarik).

Shop til you drop: visit the indoor wet market Tekka Center or the Mustafa Center, open 24hours.

Mordern Singapore started really in the Civic District – and a stop here is necessary to get a real feeling of how Singapore became what it is today! It is packed with great museums and historical buildings.

I have already mentioned it, but the Civic District is where you find The Raffles! Now it has gone so popular, because of the Singapore Sling and also just because well it is The Raffles – that the access to the hotel is very controlled. You can still head to Long Bar for the famous cocktail and of course their shopping arcade. The colonial style is just beautiful.

The Supreme Court and City Hall – the Supreme Court is open to the public if you are interested and the imposing steps of City Hall is where the Japanese officially surrendered in 1945, at the end of World War 2.

Some of the museums you will find in the area include: The National Museum, the largest and oldest museum in Singapore. The Asian Civilisation Museum is the place to learn about the multi-ethnical society Singapore is today. The Singapore Art Museum is also in the neighbourhood – it is where you will find the largest display of Southeast Asian art. Finally don’t miss the Central Fire Station a beautiful building over 100 years old – there is also a gallery dedicated to the history of firefighting in Singapore.

Other things to visit in the area are the beautiful St Andrews Cathedral and its lovely park; Fort Canning Park is a large park with lush vegetation and historical interest since in the 14th century it was home to Malay rulers and was a military base during WW2. The new National Library (with great programs for kids) and Chijmes (a convent turned huge restaurant and cafe area) are also worthy in the area.

Raffles Hotel, Singapore

Sentosa, of course. Sentosa is one place that has changed a lot in Singapore over the years. Some time ago it was really far away, today new roads and public transport has made it much more accessible. It is a bit the play area of Singapore.

Universal Studios is one of the big attractions there and makes a fabulous day out for children and adults a like.

The Singapore Cable Car – Two different lines: the Mount Faber line (offers fabulous views of the city) and the Sentosa line.

Have fun on the ziplines at the Mega Adventure Park – the super fast zipline takes you at 60km through Sentosa’s jungle, try their climbing wall or their megaclimb, a high rope adventure course.

Singapore’s Aquarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark, Skyline Luge, Palawan beach or a visit to Madame Tussaud Museum are just some of the other ways of having fun in Sentosa.

Other places to visit in Singapore

A visit to Singapore is not complete with a visit to Clarke Quay. Singapore river is at the middle of this area. It is known for it picturesque promenade and great restaurants and cafés. However there is a little more to it. A river cruise is the perfect way to see it all: monuments mentioned above, the Merlion, Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore Flyer.

Singapore Zoo – along with the night safari, the river safari and Jurong Bird park cover all your needs if you enjoy these kind of visits! I have done them all and if I should choose a zoo to visit it would probably be in Singapore – their efforts on conservation are great – for me that is the only use of a zoo. This is located quite far away from the city.

Singapore Botanical gardens make for a lovely stroll if you have had enough for the city! It is 150 years old and really beautifully maintained – bonus is that they are free. They also have the National Orchid Garden (this is payable) and the very interesting kids area: Jacob Ballas Children Garden. There are many many other parks to visit in Singapore you have the full list here. The great thing about the botanical gardens is that it is not far from the centre and public transport access is easy. For our next trip I hope I’ll have time to take the kids to do the TreeTop Walk, looks awesome – but it is a 4-5hour walk so we will have to see. Marina Barrage is a favourite family destination for picnics and kite flying in the afternoons.

View of Orchard Road, Singapore

There are many more things that can be added, many more areas to explore – Tiong Bahru, probably the hippest neighbourhood in Singapore with its many cafes, independent bookstores, interesting architecture. Joo Chiat and Katong are the 2 areas where you can also take a trip back in time and learn more about the Peranakan culture.  Dempsey Hill is a great foodie place & a lifestyle destination. Kampong Glam is where you will find the Sultan Mosque, this is the old Malay quarter.

Coming to an end with my list of some of the places you can visit in Singapore.  I need to mention 2 more things though: Food and Shopping, of course.

Food in Singapore

Food in Singapore is an institution and really you can get everything you want (as long as you are ready to pay for it). I could write pages and pages about restaurants in Singapore, so I’ll just mention a few.

Hawker centres are all over the place: there are some really known ones and some more local ones I suppose. Lau Pa Sat, Maxwell hawker centre or Newton hawker centre (more seafood oriented) are good places to go if you want to try street food. You go from stall to stall buy what you fancy, sit and eat. It’s the cheapest options for eating out in Singapore. They are very clean and you will see lots of stuff you don’t know! Go where there is a queue, talk to people and ask them what they like to eat! People will buy one dish at a particular hawker because it is well known and tasty! The Hawker centre in ION (Food Opera) is pretty good to – albeit a bit less traditional (Basement 4).

There are 2 or 3 ‘chinese food’ restaurants we always go to – they are chain restaurants so you will find them all over the city in the big malls. Our favourite is the Taiwanese Din Tai Fung (no bookings and always queues) – their signature dumplings are Xiao Long Bao. Crystal Jade are known for their lamian (noodles) and dumplings to – they have different dinning experiences (from street food like to finer dining, so check the menu). Finally Imperial Treasure is more fine dining than the 2 others – each restaurant have their speciality – one is ‘Super Pecking Duck’, the other Cantonese or Shanghai Cuisine for exemple.

Then there are dishes you should really try in Singapore: Chili Crab (at Clark Quay), Laksa (spicy coconut mild based noodle soup), Dim Sum of course, Curry fish head, bubble tea and pandan cake!

And all the others – I don’t think there is a cuisine not available in Singapore, so whatever you fancy, you will find!

Food in Singapore: Char kway teow

Satay skewers – Hawker market Singapore

Shopping in Singapore

Shopping in Singapore is also a big thing. Numerous malls are scattered around the city. Orchard has, I don’t know how many: ION Orchard Mall, Paragon, Takashimaya, 313 @ Sommerset – just to name a few. Vivocity not far from Sentosa, Raffles City at City Hall and The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. These are some of the larger ones in the centre of Singapore  – but really the list is endless. You will find some are more posh than others but they all also offer high street brands somewhere in inside.

On my map beneath you can play around and see where everything is. There are different layers on the map so you can just remove and add. I usually download the map offline on my phone and use it to navigate in the city. I don’t know how the Wifi situation is in Singapore now, you can sign up in malls to get free WIFI, but restaurants and such were not particularly well connected a couple of years ago – I used to think that in Bali it was easier to get Free Wifi than in Singapore. Chinatown though apparently has free wifi all over the area.

Featured image is by Sasint (on Pixabay)

  Planning a trip to Singapore – A guide to help you see and do more Singapore is a place we have been many times, but often we don't really do that much, except shopping and eating, and eating and shopping some more (and meeting up with friends and family of course)!

[julzwandering-blog]

All you need to know about Mauritius: Facts, information and best travel tips

All you need to know about Mauritius: Facts, information and best travel tips

General Information about Mauritius

Mauritius is the ultime holiday destination! Tropical weather, beautiful beaches and a nature asking to be discovered. In this post I share useful information about Mauritius, key facts about the island and a few helpful travel tips. Everything to help you plan a great time!

Location and Climate

Mauritius is made up of several islands: the main island…

[julzwandering-blog]

Curepipe is, to be honest, not the place I come the most. That is why I was so happy when I completely by chance found this beautiful place in Curepipe: le Domaine des Aubineaux. It is completely a trip back in time as you enter this gorgeous colonial house. The house was built in 1872; it has been renovated, but the owners have kept the house as it was – with the furniture, decorations and personal items. The domaine is also know as Maison Gimbeau, name of the owners of the house.

Front of the house – Domaine des Aubinaux

The first room you enter is the room that used to be used to play cards and other board games in. However when Mme Myriam Guimbeau, the last person to have lived in the house, became a widow, she decided to move her bedroom there. The house has a total of 27 rooms, so maybe she felt a bit alone and decided to close some rooms off. She passed away in 1999. The room shows different pieces of furniture in the finest wood: teak, rose wood, ebony or cinnamon.

Family pictures at Domaine des Aubineaux

The room transformed into bedroom at Domaine des Aubineaux

The next room is the entrée, the curiosity here is the walls. Painted by an Italian artist, they had been covered by wallpaper and only rediscovered during the renovations.

Wooden panels

Then you enter the music room: The Philharmonic society of Curepipe used to come to the house and do concerts. There are many family pictures showing this glorious past.

Music room at Domaine des Aubineaux

You continue the tour and enter the winter garden. A beautiful room, that is now used as part of the restaurant. This was the room where Madame Gimbeau would receive her guests. The next room is the smoking room where Major Gimbeau would smoke his cigars and read books. There are many items displayed here that would remind him of all his travels.

The Major’s smoking room

Winter garden

You go through the pantry and the living room. The kitchen was separate from the main house to minimise the risks of fire and the cave was used as storage room for fresh products to keep them fresher for a longer time, this was before the arrival of the fridge. This house was the first to get electricity on the island in 1881. They got their first television set in 1965.

Domaine des Aubineaux

Domaine des Aubineaux

Domaine des Aubineaux

Domaine des Aubineaux

Domaine des Aubineaux

If you are enjoying this post – or just like old mansions – you should check out my post about the Domaine de Labourdonnais – another beautiful house that you can visit in Mauritius and learn about the colonial past of the island.

Many houses got badly damaged when cyclone Carole hit Mauritius in February 1968. It is the worst cyclone people remember, the eye of the cyclone went directly over the island with estimated gushes of wind up to 280km/h. 70’000 houses were destroyed. Even big ones like this one had problems, so just imagine the small houses in metal sheets and small wooden pieces!

During the renovations they incorporated the hallway, very unusual in this type of houses – in away they separated the public and private space in the house. The bell on the picture is the original bell used by the owners to call the servants.

Domaine des Aubineaux

Domaine des Aubineaux

The last rooms of the house are the bedrooms and the bathroom. His room and hers as well as one of the children’s. A little anecdote regarding the size of the beds, which were rather small: they used to sit up sleeping, because they believed that the complete flat position was for the dead only. The bathroom has the original bathtub in marble of Italian design and the stove used to heat the water. I wonder if they ever got to know what soaking in a hot bath meant… or maybe that is an anachronism.

Mme’s bedroom and wedding dress

Domaine des Aubineaux #Mauritius

Domaine des Aubineaux #Mauritius

Domaine des Aubineaux #Mauritius

Marble Bathtub, imported from Italy

Last but not least, a few more pictures of the house, the servants quarters and views from the house. It is just so lovely. You can also read my post about my lunch at Les Aubineaux, their restaurant and check out pictures from their beautiful garden.

Domaine des Aubineaux #Mauritius

Domaine des Aubineaux #Mauritius

Domaine des Aubineaux #Mauritius

Domaine des Aubineaux #Mauritius

Domaine des Aubineaux #Mauritius

Domaine des Aubineaux #Mauritius

Domaine des Aubineaux #Mauritius

Did you notice the tiles? They are on the terrace, in the winter garden and in the bathroom. They are just gorgeous! I was looking for something similar for our small bungalow in the north but you have to order this from Europe, it takes months for them to arrive, and of course they cost a fortune…

Useful Information about Domaine des Aubineaux

The visit is payable. I forgot to check on the tourist price, but for this type of attraction it is usually around Rs350 (with a guide). The visit might be free if you have lunch (it is for locals) but then you cannot join the guided tour. Rate for locals is Rs175 (or was it Rs170?). The tour is in French or English.

The Domaine is open everyday from 9am to 5pm. Lunch and refreshments are served in their restaurant.

The visit of the house is the first part of the tea route in Mauritius, ‘La Route du Thé’. As part of a package you can visit this house, then the tea plantations of Bois Chéri and St Aubin, one of the local rum distilleries. These other 2 ones are located in the south of the island. You can see the locations on the map below.

All my posts about the history of Mauritius, museums or other cultural visits can be found under the tag Cultural Visits and Museums in Mauritius.

This post was first written in March 2017 – Updated in April 2018.

Domaine des Aubineaux, Curepipe Mauritius – 1 stop of the Tea Route in Mauritius #Mauritius

Domaine des Aubineaux, First Stop of the Tea Route in Mauritius

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Things to do in Mauritius: Visit of the Domaine des Aubineaux – First stop of the tea route. Curepipe is, to be honest, not the place I come the most. That is why I was so happy when I completely by chance found this beautiful place in Curepipe: …