Alluring Mauritius

My trip to Mauritius was really a jaw dropping experience. This is a truly lovely country, and island, when it comes to the nature, the sun, the sea and the beach. I shall say it is equivalent to Maldives but everything is far more affordable for every type of traveler here. A big thank you to AirAsia X for this brilliant launch of KL - Mauritius route. This is my first visit to the African country so I consider it as a significant experience for me. 

On the arrival day in Mauritius, it was raining cats and dogs, so basically I couldn't see much of this beautiful island. Despite the rain, I spent some time at the mall, which according to a Mauritian friend, the largest shopping mall in Mauritius, called Bagatelle. It is my kind of shopping mall, less crowds, more quite (compared to most Malaysian malls) and cozy.

I chose to stay at Flic en-Flac, at a friend's place, and the beach is just near by. Since the weather is not so inviting and after spending 7 long hours in the flight, I decided to do some catching up with my friend, instead of hanging out at the beach. And my friend cooked a lovely dinner for me, which was cool for a friend to do that for a friend.

The next day, we started the day early and since it was weekend, my friend and I went to the south western part of Mauritius. We covered Ganga Talao, Black River Gorges National Park and Le Morne. 

Traveling southward from Flic en-Flac, we passed through several mountains and sugar cane fields. There are several mountains around Mauritius with the highest peak around 2,700 meter. That makes hiking is one of the recreational activities doable in Mauritius. With the fact that sugar canes are cultivated on 73 000 hectares of land in Mauritius, it produces 600 000 tonnes of sugar annually, contributing to the country's economy. 

One of the peaks nearby Flic -en-Flac

My friend drove to the inner highland where Ganga Talao is located. Ganga Talao, or Grand Bassin as often called by the locals. It is a crater lake located 550 meter above sea level and a sacred site for the Hindus in Mauritius. It is also a pilgrimage site and there is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and other gods. Ohh..there are many monkeys too and visitors are allowed to feed them too. Before reaching the lakeside area, there is a bronze statue of Mangal Mahadev, which is the statue of the Lord Shiva. Since it is located at the elevated plain, it has cool air and pretty much refreshing. 

Next, we traveled southwestward to the Black River Gorges National Park. There is a lookout point area where visitors can witness the beautiful valley of this national park. I shall say the weather is pretty much changeable here but it is worth to wait for the sunshine to brighten the area. It is possible to hike on the 60 km trail in this park.

View of the valley of Black River Gorges National Park from the lookout point

From the lookout point, we made our way downhill towards Chamarel to see another stunning nature's exhibits. It is located at the Riviere Noire District of the south-western region. Unlike the national park, Chamarel is warmer especially in the afternoon sun so it's a good idea to apply some sunscreen. Approaching the entrance to 7 Coloured Earth, an entrance fee of Rps 225 per person is imposed to each visitor, and Rps 50 for a car. Passing the entrance gate, visitors will reach the Chamarel Fall. There is no track to the main pool of the waterfall so visitors can only view the waterfall from the viewing platform. 

Chamarel Fall

The highlight of our visit to Chamarel is the 7 Coloured Earths, which is several kilometers away from the waterfall. Mind that the road to this area is winding so driving too fast is not a good idea. Visitors may park their vehicle at the designated parking space and walk towards the other gate heading to the 7 Coloured Earths viewing area. Ohh..and the tickets purchased at the entrance must be retained, otherwise one will not be allowed to enter the viewing area. There are restrooms, cafe and a small shop in this area. 

The formation of seven coloured earths is truly natural and the sand dune formed comprises of 7 colours such as purple, red, brown, green, yellow, blue and violet, hence the name. Amazingly, this sand dune is not affected at all from the erosion due to rain. Since I don't speak the language od geologist, it is pretty tough to get the overall view on the formation of the sands. But based on my Chemistry knowledge, the colours formed are based on the elements that make up the soil. 

The famous 7 Coloured Earths of Chamarel

For those who want to have something additional, there is a place where several giant turtles are kept. Turtles are know for their gentle and slow movements, but when it comes to feeding time, they can be quite energetic. 

Giant turtles next to the 7 Coloured Earths area.

We left Chamarel around 20 minutes later, and went further downhill to the southwestern tip of Mauritius, which is the Le Morne. As we went downhill, there is another lookout point where the view of the Indian Ocean is at its best under the sunny sky. It is the view of Le Morne which is close to the Le Morne Brabant, or Le Morne Peninsula. 

Indian Ocean viewed from the lookout point.

As we reach the flat road, we decided to have lunch at one of the restaurants by the beach. I had grilled tuna which was amazingly delicious. It was quite some times that I have not spent my time having lunch by the beach. Despite the stifling hot due to the mid-day sun, the trees reduced the heat and the sea breeze somehow helped a bit. After lunch, I took the time to stroll along the beach and took some photos.

Delicious grilled tuna with chips

Palm, sand and sea

I'm flying...I know that

I thought the beach was the last fun place to be for today. But apparently I was wrong because my friend brought me to another place further south, heading to a lagoon. It is called Le Morne Brabant, or Le Morne Peninsula. Little that I know that I would be visiting one one of the two UNESCO World Heritage sites of Mauritius, though we did now exactly visit the main site where the inscription signage is located. The inscribed name is Le Morne Cultural Landscape.

The peninsula which is highlighted by a 556 meters high summit holds a long history on the end of slavery in Africa. Several caves were found on the slopes and at the higher altitude (even on the summit!!) becoming the temporary shelter for the runaway slaves from various countries of Asia and Africa. 

The lagoon in Le Morne is famous for several water activities such as kite-surfing, water-skiing and several others. The kite-surfing looked fun but I was told one needs to attend lessons before going for the actual adventure. And it is not cheap either!! But I know one day I'll be able to do this activity as I keep on thinking about it quite often. And when that happens, it will be materialized.

After 'indulging' ourselves in the strong wind at Le Morne peninsula, we left this scenic place heading to the south-westernmost tip of Le Morne peninsula. My friend drove and explained couple of things around this area. I saw more Creole people here compared to other places in Mauritius. The beach here is not as scenic as the beaches we went earlier due to rough waves as it is facing the open Indian Ocean.

We started to make our way back to Flic en-Flac as my friend was already tired. And so did I!! We passed through Tamarind, which is famous for its beaches and waterfall. Shame we didn't have much time to explore this place. Otherwise I would have more photos of Mauritius in my collection. 

The next day, we explored the northern area of Mauritius. Grand Bay, Pereybere and Cap Malheureux. The northern area was more touristy but the crowds are still bearable compared to island destinations such as Phuket, Krabi or Bali.

We first stopped at a lighthouse on our way to the north. I'm not so sure what's the name of the lighthouse but I guess it is just an ordinary one and fenced. Couple of minutes later, we headed to north and we passed Port Louis but didn't feel like looking around. There are industrial areas around Port Louis and a harbor. Port Louis is the mid way between Grand Bay and Flic en-Flac. It took a little more than 1 hour to reach Grand Bay by driving.

The moment I saw the bay with turquoise blue water and luxurious yachts at Grand Bay, or Grand Baie in French, I couldn't wait to get out of the car. It was sunny with some clouds on the sky and everything looked really refreshing to my eyes. I wondered where did the people go as I couldn't see that many people at the beach. There was one family with the kids happily enjoying the beach and sand. Anyway, it was good there were not many people around as I didn't have to think about human interference in my photos. LOL!! We sat under a tree and view the stunning scenery in front of us, before heading to Pereybere for lunch

Black rocks and turquoise blue water, simply unique.

Pereybere also has nice beach for picnic and swimming but since we were here for lunch, so we skipped the beach. We had Chinese lunch at a local Chinese restaurant, which was my friend's favorite dining place. I couldn't remember how much we have spent here but who really cares about price if the food was great.

Next, we decided to sit and relax at Cap Malheureux beach, which is not far from Pereybere. Along the road, many hotels (I guess both luxurious and budget) with facilities could be found and it is no wonder the north area attracts more visitors than any other places in Mauritius. 

Cap Malheureux is a small stretch of beach which is quiet and lovely too. We've got a good spot under a shady tree and sat there, while watching people. Swimming, bathing, picnic and strolling are just the typical things to do when you are at the beach, for free. To add some spice, then I guess it is worth to take up the excursions to the near by island, i.e Flat Island, Round Island and Coin de Mire, for various activities. SCUBA diving, snorkeling, dolphin watching, bird watching, just name it. 

Just a few meters where we sat, there is a small church with red roof, called La Notre Dame Auxililatrice. I don't even know how to pronounce it because it's French. Shame!! This church is frequently featured on the postcards of Mauritius. Tried to get the postcard quality photo but unsuccessful. It was a lovely scenery though

It was another great day in Mauritius and we left the north area an hour later. Shame that the weekend was over. I couldn't get the chance to do the water activities this time round but it is always a reason to come back to Mauritius. Au revoir!!

The Andalucia : Appreciating the Islamic Heritage

Spending couple of days if the different regions of Spain was one of my most memorable experience that I would not forget. Spain was definitely one of my favorite countries, due to the culture and I'm loving the language it self (as a result from watching too many tele-novelas). From the flamenco, bull-fighting, Spanish tapas and the long history of Muslim conquest, these are mostly the things that I was looking for as part to garnish my general knowledge of everything. 

I will emphasize more on my visit to the Andalusia region, which has a long standing history on the Muslim conquest upon the arrival of Ummayad's from Damascus in year 711. The two Andalusian cities famous for the influence of Moors cultures are Cordoba and Granada. I made a day trip to Cordoba from Seville (by train). And the next day I departed to Granada by bus, and put up a night there.

Cordoba

I began the day early from Seville and headed to the train station to board the RENFE train to Cordoba. I managed to get a cheap ticket as I have booked it months earlier. I was so longing to see the Great Mosque of Cordoba, which is also known as the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba and The Mezquita. Based on the long history of the Great Mosque of Cordoba, this mosque has become a significant value to the Christians. The entry ticket costs 8 euro for an adult.

Outer design of The Great Mosque of Cordoba

The construction of Great Mosque of Cordoba began in 784 A.C and was supervised the Emir of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman I. It was also believed that the original copy of Al-Qur'an was placed in this mosque during the reigning of Abd ar-Rahman II. The next Emir of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman III built a tower at this mosque around the 9th century, whereas Al-Hakam II supervised the enlargement of this mosque and refined the design of the mihrabs.

The tower built by Abd ar-Rahman III but now used as bell tower

The Great Mosque of Cordoba is well-known by its impressive interior design. The architect of this mosque created the horseshoe arches, on top of the lower arched. The white and red stripes on the arches are actually an arrangement of blocks of sandstone and marble, making the main praying area even more amazing. There are more than 850 arches made in this area.

Internal view of the Great Mosque of Cordoba with the stunning arches (photo credit : Proyecto Espana)

Another beautiful structure in the Great Mosque of Cordoba is the mihrab. A ceiling resembling a sea shell was carved from a huge marble block. The spaces at the both sides of mihrab were embellished with golden tiles. It is even more amazing to see the neat and fine of Islamic caligraphy and patterns on the arch, the mihrab and on the wall.

The mihrab in Great Mosque of Cordoba (Photo credit : Arteazuer Blogspot)

The final modification stage of this mosque includes the construction of walkways at the exterior part of the mosque complex dan the setting up of a garden know as Patio de Los Naranjos. This area serves as a place to do the ablution before performing the prayers. There are many orange trees (that's where the word 'Naranjos' comes from, it means oranges) and also a lovely fountain. The construction of this mosque was fully completed in year 987 under the the supervision of Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Amir. This mosque was the most beautiful one compared to the thousands of existing mosque  in Cordoba during this period, and it is still the most beautiful until today.

The site of mosque construction was actually regarded as sacred place to the Romans and they have built the Roman temple long before the conquest of Islam. After the Christian reconquest of Cordoba in year 1236 by Ferdinand III, this mosque was converted to a cathedral with major renovations being done. Though major renovations were done, most of the Islamic architecture and design were preserved by the Christian rulers, hence the name Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba.

This mosque is part of historic center of Cordoba which has been gazetted as UNESCO World Heritage Site in year 1984. This is due to its outstanding artistic creation and religious architecture of Islam, as well as significant influences on Western Muslim art. Several structures were built after the fall of Moors empire such as the Calahorra Tower and the Alcazar,  which were connected by the Roman Bridge. There is also and archway as the entry point to this historical city, namely Puerta del Puente.

The Roman Bridge connecting the Puerta del Puente and Calahorra Tower

Puerta del Puente

Try to avoid the ladies holding some kind of herbs on their hands, in this historic city area. They don't speak English at all and they would try to get attention by approaching the visitors, grab the hands and try to look at them, as if like fortune telling. Even if one refused, they will keep talking in Spanish, and money from visitors. Euro 5 at least. Avoid eye contact by all means.

Another interesting Moorish city worth visiting and just outside Cordoba is the Madinat Al Zahra. However, getting to this place was not that easy. One will need to take a taxi, or alternatively, take the bus serviced by the tourist office at certain period of the day. This service is not unavailable on Monday though.

Granada

Granada is a city located at the foot of Sierra Nevada. It is such a peaceful city and less crowded compared to other cities on the Andalusia region. Despite the end of Moorish conquest, and the re-conquest of the Christianity in the 16th century, the elements of Islam are pretty prominent in Granada. Based on my observation, many Muslims reside in Granada today, based on the fact that many business outlets are run by the Muslims. They maybe come from the north African or the Middle Eastern countries.

The precious gem from the Moorish empire is of course the Alhambra, built in the 11th century. It was initially functioning as military base and on the 13th century the royal residential area, higher officers and the elite armies were built during the Nasrid dynasty. The entrance ticket costs 14 Euro.

Generalife garden, one of stunning attraction in Alhambra

View of Sierra Nevada from Alhambra

The most impressive thing I admire most about Alhambra is the evergreen Moorish architecture and design are well preserved at every corner of this lovely heritage site. The halls and the gardens are embellished with the Islamic calligraphy and they are simply stunning. However, there are several structures and buildings which are not based on Islamic concept, especially after the end of Nasrid empire. Among them are Palace of Charles V. Londaraza's Garden and Santa Maria de Alhambra church.

Court of Myrtles

Generalife, Alcazaba fortress, Nasrid Palace and several halls and open space such as the Royal Bath, Ambassadors Hall, Hall of the Two Sister, Hall of Mullioned Windows, Court of Lions, Hall of Justice and several others are the main attractions in this lovely Alhambra. Construction of each structure and space was done in stages and very much dependent on the incumbent ruler's desire. For example, the Court of Lions and the Alcazaba fortress were constructed during the ruling of Sultan Mohammed V. Other than this, the Comares Palace and Gates of Justice were constructed during the Sultan Yusuf I. However, the Generalife Garden underwent several reconstructions and modifications and the actual designer of this garden is unidentified to date. 

Besides Alhambra, Albayzin is another Islamic heritage in the Andalusia. It is located just opposite of Alhambra and it has strong Islamic influence until today. During the Moorish period, there were 30 mosques in this sector but these mosques were demolished and replaced by churches during the Christian reconquest. 

Andalusia has indeed displayed the grandeur and glorious Islamic ruling once upon a time. It is absolutely a good move to preserve these legacies which enables the travelers to learn more about the history and culture, especially to those who love to explore about Islamic history in the Europe.