I’m participating in the #AtoZBloggingChallenge 2016 with the theme – Pins on the Map of my Memory – which is about places that bear a special connection with me for reasons mostly personal!
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F for Flic en Flac
A tropical paradise in the heart of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius revels the eye in more ways than one. The country is a vibrant mix of African, Indian, French and Chinese cultures and all around one finds endless sugarcane plantations, dramatic mountains that spring up from nowhere and pristine white beaches that overlook the turquoise blue waters of the Indian Ocean.
Two days after we landed in the beautiful island, we decided to drive down to explore the nearest beach from our home in Rose Hill. The road downhill took us past rows of houses and bungalows and then further beyond, through sugarcane fields along a 3 km straight road at the bottom of which was Flic en Flac, a busy holiday village with a gorgeous stretch of white sun-kissed beach .
From Flic en Flac, the coastline runs right down to the Morne Brabant peninsula on the south-west. The public beach wíth its’ white sweep of coral sand happens to be one of the longest and loveliest on the island. Not just that, it also has a lagoon, protected by coral reefs, that is also warm and safe for swimming. One is literally spoilt for choice between choosing to put one’s feet up to relax on the white sun-kissed sands or having a picnic beneath the shade of the tall casuarina trees.
During weekdays, the head count is usually far less. Since we visited on a Saturday, we found the beach teeming with people. They were mostly locals, who seemed to have let their hair down in true Mauritian spirit, enjoying a leisurely stroll, or dancing to the drumbeats of the Creole Sega. The beach was packed with a number of large families with children who played with a beach ball by the shore. It seemed more like a picnic venue with food and drinks being served as we lapped up the music from a distance – the foot tapping numbers of the Sega, so reminiscent of the Caribbean calypso carried along by the gentle breeze.
When you see people having so much fun and enjoying themselves, it can get contagious. After grabbing a quick bite at the nearby restaurant, we left the beach as it started to get hotter. On the way back, we reminisced about the strange turn of events over the past couple of weeks that had brought us to the island. The trip itself was a dream come true enamoured as we were, by the sheer beauty of the island, that was to be our home for the next two years.
So much to explore…this was just the beginning!
Hey!!! I stay there and been to the beach a couple of times but nothing beats Goa. I find the place quite boring, though with not so happening life, post 6 there is no life. Love your post, though!!
Oh really? I love every beach in Mauritius but Flic en Flac is very close to my heart because of the lovely memories associated with the place…plus it was closest to our home In Rose Hill 🙂
Oh!! Cool u were staying in Rose Hill..nice nice:)
That was such a lovely time we had…so many memories of travelling up and down Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes, Moka, Port Louis…the regular haunts!
I meant to type Mauritius! :'(
I know 🙂
I’m tempted to drop everything and make a run for Maldives now. It’s super fun to read your posts.
[@samantha_rjsdr] from
Whimsical Compass
Thanks you so much Samantha! Sounds incredibly tempting doesn’t it? You’ll love the people even more than the gorgeous country, can vouch for that…the Mauritian warmth is an added plus :))
Ahh…. I’m thinking drinks with little umbrellas and a dip in the pool. :p
Yes, sounds very tempting…we did that too…nothing as tempting as that during this simmering summer in Bangalore!
Sounds like a beautiful place! I love how you describe it. Good luck on the challenge! We’re doing “I’ve Got The Music In Me” this year on The Road We’ve Shared. – looking at how important music is in the Down syndrome community. I hope you’ll stop by and see/hear! http://theroadweveshared.com/category/a-to-z-blogging-challenge-2016
Thank you so much for the appreciation, Stephanie! Your theme sounds great…so relevant to understanding them a little more and a little better! Will hop onto your blog rightaway 🙂
Gosh, it looks gorgeous – I’ve never been anywhere like that! ~Liz http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com
Thanks Liz…it is gorgeous…a great place any time you visit! Thanks for dropping by 🙂
A beautiful place. I have never been there but maybe one day I will visit.
Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
Thanks Pat…You surely must, Pat…it is a paradise you’ll love to visit anytime…and come back for another soon after 🙂
So beautiful, thank you. I can see how fun in the sun there can be contagious. It looks peaceful, probably more personal during the week, but great any time.
Great post.
Happy A to Z.
Silvia @ https://silviatomasvillalobos.wordpress.com/
Thank you so much Silvia! Mauritius is heavenly…and a must-visit for everyone who loves a great beach! So glad to see you at Soul Talk. Will hop onto yours too! Thanks and wishing you happy A to Z 🙂
Finally, something in your list where I have been to and I am loving it coz now I know people want to go there and for a change I’ve been there.. *Happy Happy*
Cheers
Geets
haha…Geets, you bet! Mauritius is just great for a relaxing holiday any time of the year…haven’t come across anyone yet who could think of saying no to such a gorgeous place 🙂
Such a picturesque place! Flic en Flac is an unusual name for a place!
It is, Shilpa! Was named so by the French from the old Dutch name ‘Fried Landt Flaak’ meaning ‘Free and Flat Land’. Interesting, no? Thanks btw 🙂
Wow! This is such a beautiful place!
Great post 🙂
Cheers,
Srivi – AtoZChallenge
The Piscean Me | Twitter
Thanks Srivi…/it is nothing short of a paradise, you’ll love it 🙂
Lovely account. It reminds how I lag behind in travelling the world. Maybe one day, real soon, hopefully.
Lovely place. Though its the first time I am hearing the name! Another Goa like place I think with its infectious enthusiasm and holiday spirit. Maybe I’ll visit it someday…
@KalaRavi16 from
Relax-N-Rave
Its a very beautiful country in the Indian Ocean to the East of Madagascar, part of Africa actually! You must visit Kala!
Your descriptions are quite similar to where I live in Hawaii, with the open beaches and sugarcane plantations (although, these are mostly a thing of the past here.) Your home for two years is a piece of heaven on earth. Enjoy!
Gail’s 2016 April A to Z Challenge
Theme: The Fun in Writing
Thank you so much, Gail! How very kind of you!!! Hawaii is on my bucket list for a long time now, isn’t it just gorgeous. You are very lucky to be living in a place that is a dream destination for many of us 🙂