The Beautiful Island of Mauritius

Chris Boothman
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The Beautiful Island of Mauritius

If you are looking to really push the boat out and find a global location that has ‘ultimate relaxation’ written all over it, you won’t find many better spots that Mauritius. You may first ask – where in the world is Mauritius located? Set in the heart of the Indian Ocean off the East coast of Africa, Mauritius is a remote island of pure beauty and tranquility. Unfortunately this beauty comes with a cost and flights to even get there will likely set you back several thousand dollars (e.g. from USA or UK) dependent upon where you are traveling from. On the flip side, we do only live once so if you are given the opportunity to embark on a trip of a lifetime here I would say go for it.

Where to stay in Mauritius?

If you are looking for a recommendation on where to stay, our research suggests that a relaxing vacation spent at the infamous 20 Degree Sud is a great option. The beautifully manicured gardens provide a relaxing ambiance in this boutique hotel and for anyone who loves to either stay up late or enjoy a long lie in, breakfast is served here until 7:00PM! After an enjoyable breakfast on the terraces just feet from the ocean, your might be ready for a snooze by the pool followed by a soothing massage, Turkish bath or a gentle swim in the ocean located by the confines of a private hotel beach.

If relaxing and lazing around is not the only thing you want to do whilst in Mauritius, why not hop on one of the hotel bicycles and wander around the lanes into the buzzing village of Grand Baie. Alternatively, you can always take a shuttle offered by the hotel if biking is not your thing – oh by the way, the shuttle is via canoe which is not your stereotypical method of transport but certainly a cool experience in itself! The hotel is home to 34 rooms and 2 suites which all have spectacular views over the ocean and either a terrace or balcony.

Horseback Riding

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Centre Equestre De Riambel (CER) to embark on a lifelong memory of horseback riding along the golden sands of the beach. Riding along almost deserted stretches of beautiful beach, this is definitely a worthwhile experience. There are not many places in the world that offer such luxury and freedom so make the most of it if you can do this!

Visited CER on 10 Oct and went on the one hour beach ride which was excellent. I am an experienced horse women of 20 yrs + and thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to ride ex race horses. Arumina was a great host and the grooms and other customers made us feel very welcome. CER can accommodate different levels of rider – Linda, England

Read more testimonials here: CER Testimonials

Watch Dolphins on Tamarin Bay

The Bay of Tamarin is located on the southwest coast of Mauritius. It is also renowned as the surfing center of Mauritius. Beyond the palm trees are some lush green forests and mountains. There is also an old volcano located in the distance and this is an ideal location to take trekking trips down through these forests and experience the ecology of the surrounding areas.

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However, the main highlight of Tamarin Bay is the ability to see wild dolphins in the ocean and in particular a catamaran trip that you can take to see these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. I am sure we have all seen these at a location like Sea World but to actually see them in their true habitat would be a breathtaking experience! They can often be seen in the morning and in the late afternoons.

Nature Trails in Mauritius

If you are looking for adventure and exploring the heart of Mauritius, off the beaten path so to speak, head off on one of the Nature Trails expeditions to see some hidden gems such as Tamarin Waterfalls.What about going off the beaten tracks to the tranquility of the island’s natural beauty? Well, these tours offer this perfect opportunity and you will certainly not be left disappointed. Tours last around 7 to 8 hours which is ample time to explore a myriad of hidden locations around the island. Depending on where your hotel is located will determine the route your tour guide will take you on but wherever you go, you will be shown a variety of beautiful attractions. Taking photos while venturing around the countryside is a must and will provide memories on your return.

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Mauritius is all about natural beauty and relaxation. There is so much more to do than I have covered including some quality golf courses if hitting the links is your thing (sorry, I had to get my golf pitch in there as I know I would want to take my clubs along for a round or two on the beautiful courses!). This location is probably not everyone’s cup of tea especially given the price you have to pay but I think if anyone goes here they won’t return home disappointed!

The Willis Tower Skydeck – On Top of the World?

Chris Boothman
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6
The Willis Tower Skydeck – On Top of the World?

Standing at over 1400 ft, Willis Tower is one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. We had previously visited the summit of the Empire State Building in New York City, NY but at 200 ft taller, the Willis Tower was going to prove to be another landmark.

The Willis Tower is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and is a must for anyone wanting to traverse a variety of skyscrapers across the world.

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The picture above is the view from the bottom of the Willis Tower and gives little in terms of scale as to the enormity of this building. I was particularly excited heading into the building especially knowing we would have the opportunity to step out on the glass Skydeck ledges that were a particular attraction though for many with a distinct fear of heights, these could be classified as a terrifying experience.

We waited in line after getting through security for about 60 minutes which is about par for an attraction of this scope and with everything that has happened in recent year, I could certainly understand and appreciate the vast amount of security in place trying to get to the summit of the Skydeck.

willis tower

One of the most amazing features of this building was the vast amount of office space, given that this was initially designed as the home of Sears (hence the original name, ‘Sears Tower’) and I think we sometimes forget the reasoning behind these vast structures as they are not simply for tourist attractions.

After entering the elevator, we began rising to the summit of the 103 floors and the speed at which the elevator rose was particularly astounding. As the elevator rose from one floor to the next, tourists are presented with a video displaying details of other global landmarks and their heights as you pass above and beyond these.

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After reaching the 103rd floor, we were immediately presented with an incredible view of downtown Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. One of the amazing views was over Lake Michigan and thinking about the setting of Chicago’s vibrant city life on this beautiful lake.

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As we walked around the Skydeck we finally arrived at the glass ledges which was we were most excited about. Heather’s fear of heights led to a sense of trepidation at the thought of venturing out over the ledge but I think the excitement overcame her fears.

The Skydeck website publicizes the ledges perfectly as, “Step outside the tallest building in the western hemisphere and the third tallest in the world. At 1,353 feet in the air, the Ledge’s glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from Skydeck.” The views from within the glass ledges were amazing, looking down directly by your feet almost 1400 feet was particularly enthralling. The picture to the left shows the view of our experience from within the perspex glass ledge.

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The gift shops located throughout the descent from the summit of the Willis Tower provided ample opportunities to purchase a memento Willis Tower or a variety of glasses, key rings and magnets were also reasonably priced.

Positives

  • Awesome views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan
  • Skydeck glass ledge is a must for anyone (including those with a fear of heights as this gives an opportunity to conquer those fears)
  • Great location downtown with weekend parking reasonably priced ($14 for all day within a secure parking garage at the Prudential Plaza was a great choice)

Negatives

  • Price at $17.50 was a little on the expensive side especially with a 60+ minute wait before even ascending to the summit

The Willis Tower is a definite key landmark for anyone visiting the Windy City. This is a must especially on a nice day when views of up to 50 miles into surrounding suburbs and states is available.

Top 5 Random Road Trips

Chris Boothman
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Top 5 Random Road Trips

If there is one thing about traveling frequently that never gets old, it has to be taking random road trips to different places. To be fair, our road trips are generally not that random in terms of not knowing where we are heading though I am not ruling out such ventures in the future.

If you have a planned destination in mind, there are a variety of routes that you can take to arrive there. Of course, if it is a necessity that you arrive there at a certain time, you are likely going to take the quickest and shortest route which is usually via the interstate but if time is not of the essence, why not venture down the back roads in the country and marvel at the wonderful sights along the way. Here are some of our favorite and common road trips we have taken in the last few years:

Jonesboro, AR to Memphis, TN

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Let’s start with the road trip we frequently take to get anywhere that resembles city like civilization. Jonesboro is located in the NE corner of the state of Arkansas (for anyone not from around these parts of the world) and is about 80-90 miles from Memphis, Tennessee. There really is only one main road you can take to get to Memphis and in all truth it is fairly boring. Heading south on US-63 out of Jonesboro takes you to the intersection of I-55 where you head across the Mississippi River and into downtown Memphis. So is there anything along the way?

I could spend some time telling you about those gloriously names towns in Arkansas such as Trumann, Marked Tree, Tyronza or Lepanto but to be perfectly frank, there is nothing that is particularly appealing along the way until you hit Marion, AR and you know you are about to cross the bridge which equals civilization!

Road Trip Rating – 4/10 (Boring but at least you know at the end of the hour long trip you are reaching a city that has plenty to offer in terms of attractions and things to do)

Jonesboro, AR to Nashville, TN

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Another of our more common road trips takes us past Memphis and along Music Highway (I-40) to Nashville, Tennessee. As you head along the interstate from Memphis via Jackson, TN you begin to move away from the flat lands to more picturesque, scenic landscapes and surroundings. There is much more to see along the way both when you are driving and also if you want to swing off the main highway and take in some of the natural environments.

Road Trip Rating – 7/10 (A pretty drive for the most part and several stops along the way offer opportunities to break up the drive which lasts around 4 to 4 ½ hours)

Jonesboro, AR to Chicago, IL

This is probably one of our more random road trips that we took in September 2012 for the Ryder Cup held at Medinah Country Club near Chicago, IL. Leaving from work on Friday after 5:00PM, we knew that this was going to be a long haul trip. We had planned the trip to head north via St. Louis and get to Springfield, IL which was about 6 hours away and that would leave 2 to 3 hours on Saturday morning. The road trip itself is again unimaginably boring as you are driving through the states of Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois, none of which are particularly attractive (at least until you reach Chicago that is).

Of course there are spots along the way where you can take a break such as Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Springfield and then Chicago. It takes about 9 hours to get from Jonesboro to Chicago and we wouldn’t recommend anyone doing this for just a weekend trip like we did – leaving out on Friday after work and then returning Sunday evening (we didn’t leave Medinah until almost 8:00PM on Sunday so it was 4:00AM before we arrived back in Jonesboro on Monday morning and with work at 8:00AM, that was not a particularly inviting thought).

Road Trip Rating – 8/10 (For pure spontaneity, this is up there with one of our favorites. The length of the drive is not too appealing and there is not much to see along the way especially if you are driving through the night but the final destination is great so it’s worth a trip!)

Manchester, England to Everywhere in England

In 2010, Heather and I traveled to England for the first time together and she met my parents and we spent a month traveling around England visiting all the infamous sights and camping around. We had the time of our lives and I think it is safe to say that this trip will reside in our memories forever. If you take a look at the map of England, we pretty much traveled around every part of the west coast and into SW England (Cornwall, Devon) before heading over to the Isle of Wight and over to London before almost retracing our tracks and heading back to Torquay, Devon and back to Manchester.

This was a 3 week long road trip and we put over 1200 miles on my parents vehicle. There is key advantage of taking a road trip in England over USA and that is the scenery is much more aesthetically appealing to the eye. Of course, the disadvantage is the price of petrol/gas which is much higher than the States.

Road Trip Rating – 10/10 (Utter bliss! Hopefully we will get the opportunity to relive a similar road trip in the future because this is a great opportunity for anyone to see England)

Brisbane, Australia to Gold Coast, Australia

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During our trip to Australia in December 2012, we rented a car from Brisbane Airport for a few days and took a road trip down the Queensland coast to Gold Coast to spend some time at the beach. For the most part this was a great experience until we later found out that I had picked up a speeding ticket ($150 fine) which put a little dampener on our whole trip. Nevertheless, it was great to experience driving in another country and also one our favorite day trips was on our last day when we drove into the mountains to Mount Tamborine. This is a scenic drive and a beautiful part of the world.

Road Trip Rating – 7/10 (Would have been higher had it not been for the speeding ticket. In addition, we really didn’t get to do a ‘true’ Australian road trip into the Outback which would have been nice but overall it was nice to see a different part of the world with the freedom of having a vehicle where you can go wherever you want to)

Where are your favorite road trips around the world?

Interview – Burcu Basar

Chris Boothman
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0
Interview – Burcu Basar

It’s been a few weeks since we last introduced a fellow travel blogger, but here we go again with another great installment of ‘Travel Blogger Interviews’. We would like to welcome Burcu Basar as we continue our SUNDAY SOCIAL theme!

Please feel free to comment, ask questions and connect with Burcu using her various social media fronts listed below.

We would like to give a special THANK YOU to Burcu for taking time to interview with us!

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Name: Burcu Basar

Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey

Website: Burcu Basar

Social Media: 

I just finished a sabbatical of nine months during which I traveled intensely. I am now back to my lawyering job that I have been doing for over 8 years now and still use any travel opportunity I get.

What is your favorite aspect of traveling and if you are a travel blogger, why did you decide to create your website? 

I think traveling makes one to get more familiar with herself and also better understand and/or asses her own country as it allows you to have many other reference points. I also love the independence you get when you travel alone. I decided to display my travel photos through a personal website where I could also after ten years finally share how I feel when traveling and my thoughts on those places that I visit. I used to be more reserved about my travel experiences but I came to a point where I also acquired the taste of sharing and exchanging travel memories and I realized that such interaction does not necessarily have an adverse effect on the uniqueness of everyone’s own experience.

How many continents have you visited? 

Four

How many countries have you visited? 

28

What is your favorite destination in the world and why? 

Scandinavia – for the immense respect that the Scandinavian people have for the nature. Any Scandinavian destination pushes me to re-consider some of my priorities and the place I hold in this World.

If money/time was no object and you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you travel to and why? 

New Zealand would be my next destination and I hope it will be.

Which of the following gadgets do you take on your travels? 

Camera (with bunch of lenses), Phone, iPad and Laptop

What is your preferred method of transport? 

Air but within the city – just walking regardless of the distance.

Complete the following, “Everywhere I go, I visit….” 

Everywhere I go, I visit anywhere which is green and any photography museum the town may have.

Here is your chance to sell yourself and your website! Tell us some more information about yourself, what your travel philosophies & future plans are and anything else that people may find interesting to read about… 

I wrote down a quite detailed about page on my webpage where I tell about my travel philosophy and my travel preferences: www.burcubasar.com/about

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