The Sun-Herald
AUGUST 2, 2015
Traveller ON SUNDAY 39
Last Word
Love is in the air, everywhere I look around Tatyana Leonov discovers Mauritius is paradise for honeymooners.
T
he two young women frocked up in wispy white wedding dresses giggle as they skip across the volcanic rock, jumping puddles where necessary while looking for that postcard picture. Both have resorted to heels off and thongs on for the seaside photo shoot. The two men also laugh, enjoying watching their new wives parade about in the same dresses they wore at their weddings a few weeks ago in Beijing. Donning casual attire and taking the photos, they know that today it’s about getting the perfect post-wedding shots . . . and that these same photographs will be plastered all over Weibo within a few hours. Mauritius is considered one of the top destinations in the world for weddings and honeymoons (Mauritius won ‘‘World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’’ in 2014 and ‘‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’’ in 2015 at the World Travel Awards). The idyllic island-country ranks
high in the romance stakes for a number of reasons: year-round balmy weather, the hospitable nature of the Mauritian people, the plethora of hotels and resorts that specialise in romance packages, and plenty of picturesque sites, such as Cap Malheureux. The sleepy fishing village is most famous for its red-roofed Roman Catholic Church. The charming building is surrounded by lush green grass and is situated just a
It’s as if I’m invisible. Everyone is in his or her little bubble. few steps from the outrageously turquoise sea. Any tourist undertaking a tour of the north will stop at the church – I’m one of many here today. In recent years China’s overseas honeymoon holiday sector has grown immensely. Mauritius is a popular destination not only because of the setting; it also offers Chinese visitors a free visa on arrival. Between 2012 and 2013, the
Going to the chapel: Cap Malheureux’s church is a must. Photo: Alamy
influx of Chinese tourists doubled, and there was just over 50 per cent growth the following year – a substantial number of these honeymooners.
The loved-up foursome are not the only ones snapping away. By the church, groups of friends are jumping in unison with a photographer who is endeavouring
Great Value CONDUCTED OVERSEAS TOURS VIETNAM EXPLORER $2,625
15 Day Tour
INDIA Dep. Oct 21 & Mar 9 $4,975
Flying Singapore Airlines into Saigon and out of Hanoi plus 2 flights within Vietnam. 4 nights Saigon, 4 nights Hanoi, 4 nights Hoi An,1 night Halong Bay with cruise.
INSIDE VIETNAM
20 Day Tour
Flying Singapore Airlines into Istanbul plus a flight within Turkey. 15 day tour of Turkey & the Black Sea coast. Luxury accommodation. One day Singapore stopover. Tipping included.
coach & air tour of Vietnam. For this tour there is no extra charge for travellers requiring a single room.
AROUND THAILAND $ 2,835
2 Week Tour
Dep. Sep 16 AROUND TASMANIA $2,955 10 Day Tour
Flying Thai into Bangkok. 10 day coach tour into north Thailand & south to the River Kwai. Tips included. Twin share accommodation guaranteed for everyone requiring it.
Turkey including Gallipoli and the amazing restoration of Ephesus. 1 day Singapore stopover. Tipping included.
EAST AFRICA TOUR TO KENYA & TANZANIA
CHINA HIGHLIGHTS
Dep. Oct 13 VIETNAM LUXURY 20 Day Tour Flying into Beijing & out of Shanghai with China Eastern, plus 2 $ 4,590 $3,290
2 Week Tour
16 Day Tour
flights within Vietnam. 19 day Vietnam tour. Mainly 5 star accommodation. Small group tour. Tipping included.
Dep. Nov 16 & Mar 14
Flying Singapore Airlines into Chiang Mai and out of Phnom Penh, 2 nights in Singapore, four days in northern Thailand, seven days in Laos including Mekong River, five days in Cambodia including Angkor Wat, tipping included.
THAILAND SHOPPING TOUR $2,495
10 Day Tour
Dep. Dec 2
Flying Thai into Bangkok, 6 nights Bangkok, 2 nights Pattaya. Wonderful bargain-price shopping and a full program of day tours.
Dep. Mar 1 EUROPEAN WINTER WONDERLAND $10,675 26 Day Tour Dep. Dec 1
Flying Singapore Airlines into Colombo. 14 day coach and rail tour of Sri Lanka visiting most places of interest in this scenically beautiful country.
Dep. Nov 2 NEW ZEALAND $4,340 16 Day Tour Flying Singapore Airlines into Saigon and out of Hanoi, plus 2
flights within China. 13 day China tour. Tips included. Single travellers can have a single room without paying a single supplement.
Dep. Oct 7
Flying Emirates into Nairobi. 12 day Safari tour of Kenya & Tanzania visiting 6 game reserves. Touring in custom designed 4 wheel drive safari vehicles. Wonderful lodge accommodation. 2 day Dubai stopover.
Dep. Oct 9 SRI LANKA (CEYLON) $4,195 16 Day Tour
Tour right around Tasmania during the colourful mid spring period. Visits to 6 wonderful gardens. Air fares to Hobart not included.
LAOS, CAMBODIA GOLDEN TRIANGLE
18 Day Tour
Dep. Sept 8 & Feb 15 EASTERN TURKEY & BLACK SEA $8,495 $5,695 18 Day Tour Dep. Oct 7 Flying Singapore Airlines into Saigon and out of Hanoi. 18 day $3,985
The writer was a guest of Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority and Air Mauritius.
Dep. Oct 21 ADVENTURE 19 Day Tour Flying Singapore Airlines into Istanbul. 15 day tour of historical $4,295
Dep. Mar 24 $5,085
Flying Singapore Airlines into Delhi and out of Bombay plus 3 flights within India. 16 day coach, air & boat tour of India including wonderful Taj Mahal. 2 day Singapore stopover. Tipping included.
t
All Prices now include Airport Taxes and Levies
WEST TURKEY
19 Day Tour
to snap them mid-flight. A young father attempts to photograph his family using the self-timer, but trips as he runs into the shot. His wife and toddler daughter collapse beside him in a laughing heap. A large group of tourists in a hotel minivan pull into the car park and join in, posing cheerfully in front of the church. I mooch about, slyly snapping shots of the photo-takers. It’s as if I’m invisible. Everyone is in his or her little bubble and I’m the voyeur, gliding through, observing and chronicling the spectacle that is holiday life. As I turn back to the water the newlyweds have changed locations and the women are again wearing their glittery high heels. They’ve changed positions, too, and are now concentrating on couple shots. The husbands look a little underdressed in their casual attire compared to the women in their now-wet wedding dresses, but it doesn’t matter. A holiday here is about slowing down and enjoying the moment – and clearly everyone at Cap Malheureux is doing just that.
Dep. Nov 5.
Flying Air N.Z. into Christchurch & out of Auckland. 16 day tour of both islands.
Flying business class with Vietnam Airlines inti Paris & out of London. 17 day first class tour of France, Switzerland, Italy,Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium & Holland. 3 day Saigon stopover outbound and 6 day stopover in Hanoi, Halong Bay & Saigon inbound, with Christmas in Saigon. 4-5 star accommodation. Tipping included.
The prices Iisted mainly include retum airfares from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, good twin share accom, many meals, all transfer, Australian tour leader & local tour guides
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