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Shanti Maurice - A Nira Resort - Mauritius
Per night / Per room As From
€ 169
Shanti Maurice - A Nira Resort - Hotel Overview
Shanti Maurice is a boutique lifestyle resort with an award-winning spa located around a pristine horseshoe coral sand cove, on the largely untouched south coast of Mauritius near the small town of St Felix. Formerly known as Shanti Ananda and a sister property to Ananda in the Himalayas, the re-launch of the resort marks a departure from the Ananda brand, with its Destination Spa roots, and embraces a genuine Mauritian experience. Set between the turquoise of the Indian Ocean and the vivid greens of the sugarcane fields, Shanti Maurice provides its guests with access to the sights, sounds and flavours of the unique mix of Indian, African, French and Chinese influences that form the Mauritian culture.
From sourcing the majority of the restaurants' ingredients from the island's farmers and fishermen, to supporting village crafts by supplying hand-woven beach carriers, the new team at Shanti Maurice has taken enormous care to work with the community both to respect its environs and minimise the impact of the resort on it. The pride of the almost exclusively local staff at the resort is evident throughout the Shanti Maurice experience, manifesting itself in genuinely warm and caring service. The resort's philosophy is built on a desire for guests to use Shanti Maurice as a base from which to experience the very best that the real Mauritius has to offer. Shanti Maurice's genuine wish is that travelers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family.
Room types at Shanti Maurice - A Nira Resort
Luxury Villas
Room Occupancy 2Book Now
With dense private gardens shielding your villa from the beach and surrounding paths, you'll feel completely at ease as lunch is served in your shady dining pavilion.
Covering 208 sq. metres, the eight Luxury Villas have a temperature-controlled swimming pool, a garden and an enclosed courtyard with an outdoor rain shower and lounge beds. 'Sala' pavilions, for dining or relaxation, stand in the garden, while the interior accommodation includes a large bedroom, bathroom and a separate dressing room with a walk-in closet and dressing table.
Luxury Suite Villas
Room Occupancy 2+2Book Now
The large living room adds an elegant extra dimension to the Luxury Suite Villas. Bringing the total space up to 376 sq. metres, the living room gives the villas a sense of bright and airy spaciousness. The five Luxury Suite Villas have a 54 sq. metre temperature-controlled swimming pool, a private garden and an enclosed courtyard with an outdoor rain shower and lounge beds. 'Sala' pavilions, for dining or relaxation, stand in the garden, while the interior accommodation includes a living room, bedroom, bathroom and a separate dressing room with a walk-in closet and dressing table.
Junior Suite
Room Occupancy 2+1Book Now
Covering 81 sq. metres, the 44 Junior Suites are among the most generously proportioned in Mauritius.Designed to blend modernity with practicality, they're housed in attractive villa buildings with four suites per villa. Like all guest accommodation at Shanti Maurice, the suites are equipped with plasma TVs, DVD players and broadband Internet access. The ground floor suites ( Junior Suite Beachfront) have direct access to the beach, as well as an outdoor rain shower, while the suites on the first floor (Junior Suite Ocean View) have large balconies overlooking the Indian Ocean. As well as large bedrooms and bathrooms, each Junior Suite has a separate dressing room with an open closet and dressing table.
Shanti Maurice - A Nira Resort - Hotel Restaurants
Executive Chef Willibald Reinbacher believes that ingredients should be fresh and local, and that the best way to understand a destination and its culture is through its cuisine. This philosophy is reflected throughout Shanti Maurice, from the resort's extensive herb garden and relationships with local farmers and fishermen, to the island's boutique distillery offering its oldest and finest casks for the resort's rum.
At Stars, the signature restaurant at Shanti Maurice, Chef Reinbacher uses the freshest ingredients to create a vibrant 'local fusion' cuisine heavily influenced by both the culinary heritage of Mauritius and the Cape Province of South Africa.
Dishes are accompanied by carefully-selected South African wines, exemplifying Chef Reinbacher's belief that wine from the same hemisphere complements local ingredients, whilst also minimising 'food miles'.
Pebbles offers an international, all-day dining menu, with cuisine reflecting the rich diversity of Mauritius' cultural roots of Europe, Africa, China, the Middle East and India. The restaurant also offers spa cuisine, for guests preferring lighter, healthier dining options.
Fish and Rhum Shack
The resort's rustic beach-side Fish and Rhum Shack celebrates the bounty of the surrounding seas, serving the freshly grilled and barbequed ingredients. Rhum cocktails feature rum from the local distillery while the beer selection comes from the village brewery. In keeping with the rustic cuisine, Fish and Rhum Shack also regularly features Sega dancers from the local village.
Red Ginger Lounge
The Red Ginger lounge bar is the perfect place to rendezvous for a pre-dinner aperitif or latenight cocktail. By day, the bar offers views across the infinity pool and beyond to the Indian Ocean; at night, discrete lighting picks out the sculptures and foliage in the exotic poolside gardens.
Experienced bar tenders are on hand to conjure up a full range of cocktails from the most traditional highballs and white ladies to rum punches and exotic juices.
Shanti Maurice - A Nira Resort - Wedding Packages
About the Wedding Packages offered by Shanti Maurice
Shanti Maurice wedding packages are crafted with the principle that every wedding ceremony should be a unique and personalized experience for every couple. Thus, the 5-star hotel and luxury resort offers a selection of options that have been designed for your contemplation, so as to ensure truly magical memories.
At Shanti Maurice boutique lifestyle resort you and your better half will be heartily welcomed in a luxurious environment of exotic gardens, pristine white sands and spacious accommodation.
Regardless of the type of package you choose, the hotel will give you the chance to do one of the most romantic and mellow deeds as a newly married couple - to plant a tree together in Shanti Maurice's garden. And if you wish to add a traditional Hindu touch on your wedding ceremony, you can ask for the blessing of Shanti Maurice's matriarch.
Also, a professional photographer will stay by your side in order to capture the most precious moments of your special day.
The hotel has crafted three wonderful packages, all equally enticing and majestic. The Flutter of Romance Package offers key elements for an elegant wedding that will stay in your rosy memories forever. From the small details of the bridal bouquet and the groom's buttonhole to the additional atmosphere creators, such as the background music, the Flutter of Romance Package has already thought of your most inner desires and made them reality especially for you on your big day.
The Seaside Serenade Package is the ardent evolution of the Flutter of Romance Package with several extra advancements that will make your big day to stand out from anything else you have come across before. The ceremony will accompany a violinist, guitarist or harpist depending on the mood you wish to set and the melodies you want to hear.
Say "I do" among the still green mountains, the crystal-clear sea and the curved beach. Shanti Maurice's gardens are ideal for the couple who dreams of leisurely strolls at sunset or moonlight walks after dinner, accompanied by the melodic sounds of tropical birds. Mango and lychee trees grow in the orchard, and bread fruit trees, coconut palms, bougainvillea and frangipani can be seen across the public and private villa gardens.
Shanti Maurice takes special pride in its award-winning Nira Spa, which comprises 75,000 square feet of unsurpassed, restorative, soothing, invigorating and rejuvenating perfection.
From personal well-being to enhanced spirituality and from positive dietary changes to re-energizing exercises, Nira Spa will introduce you and you partner to a whole new self through a signature treatment, as part of the deluxe Island Paradise Package.
The peaceful haven presents a unique world of relaxation, serenity and wellness through 4 distinct stations: The Holistic Bio Experience, The Indian Experience, The Oriental Experience and The Fitness & Wellness Experience.
If there are ideas and desires that don't fit in any of the above recommendations, Shanti Maurice is taking it a step further with a series of eclectic optional services. Whether it is a dazzling bonfire on the beach, a helicopter tour, a catamaran cruise, or a romantic tailor-made dinner on the jetty, nothing is too much to ask from the gracious family of Shanti Maurice.
Included in the Shanti Maurice Wedding Packages
Included in the Flutter of Romance Package are:
- Bridal bouquet and groom's buttonhole
- Wedding cake
- A celebratory bottle of champagne
- Blessing in true Mauritian style by the matriarch of Shanti Maurice's family: "Grandma"
- A collection of 25 exceptional photos
- Sound system for background music accompaniment during the ceremony
- Dedicated wedding coordinator
- Only one wedding is organized per day to give each couple exclusive attention
- Exclusive wedding location
- Pressing of the wedding gown and suit
- Butler service
- Plant a tree in Shanti Maurice's garden
- Day use room of preparations of the bride and the groom on wedding day (subject to availability)
- Two witnesses
- Wedding gift from Shanti Maurice
Included in the Seaside Serenade Package are:
- Bridal bouquet and groom's buttonhole
- Wedding cake
- A celebratory bottle of champagne
- Blessing in true Mauritian style by the matriarch of Shanti Maurice's family: "Grandma"
- Sound system for background music accompaniment during the ceremony
- Centre piece with tropical flowers
- Violinist, guitarist or harpist accompanying the ceremony
- Bridal hair and makeup with floral accessories
- A collection of 50 exceptional photos
- Dedicated wedding coordinator
- Only one wedding is organized per day to give each couple exclusive attention
- Exclusive wedding location
- Pressing of the wedding gown and suit
- Butler service
- Plant a tree in Shanti Maurice's garden
- Day use room of preparations of the bride and the groom on wedding day (subject to availability)
- Two witnesses
- Wedding gift from Shanti Maurice
Included in the Island Paradise Package are:
- Bridal bouquet and groom's buttonhole
- Wedding cake
- A celebratory bottle of champagne
- Blessing in true Mauritian style by the matriarch of Shanti Maurice's family: "Grandma"
- Sound system for background music accompaniment during the ceremony
- Centerpiece with tropical flowers
- Violinist, guitarist or harpist accompanying the ceremony
- Bridal hair and makeup with floral accessories
- A collection of 50 exceptional photos
- Manicure and pedicure
- One Shanti Fusion signature treatment per person at Nira Spa in the couple suite (subject to availability)
- Romantic three-course dinner served on the beach
- Dedicated wedding coordinator
- Only one wedding is organized per day to give each couple exclusive attention
- Exclusive wedding location
- Pressing of the wedding gown and suit
- Butler service
- Plant a tree in Shanti Maurice's garden
- Day use room of preparations of the bride and the groom on wedding day (subject to availability)
- Two witnesses
- Wedding gift from Shanti Maurice
Optional services offered by Shanti Maurice
- Bonfire
- Release your very own "Love Wish Lantern" on the beach
- Private sega show
- Videographer
- 30-minute helicopter tour
- Private sunset catamaran cruise
- A romantic night on the jetty with a dinner and exclusive setup
About Shanti Maurice
Shanti Maurice is a 5-star hotel and luxury resort that perfectly combines elegance, privacy, warmth with sincere dedication to each and every guest.
Shanti Maurice comprises of 61 spacious suites and villas, spread across a 36 acre landscape of fragrant tropical gardens. The room interiors follow a unique tropical theme, utilizing a balanced palate of natural materials including local hardwoods, lava stone, granite, marble and slate.
The suites and villas at Shanti Maurice are all ocean-facing, and are among the most generously proportioned in Mauritius. All the villas have private pools and are surrounded by exotic private gardens, terraces and courtyards.
At this boutique lifestyle resort you and your better half will be heartily welcomed in a luxurious environment of exotic gardens, pristine white sands, a sublime spa, spacious accommodation and restaurants brimming with fresh ideas.
Between the still green mountains and the crystal-clear sea, the curved beach is the perfect place to curl up under a parasol with a good book and a classic cocktail. Shanti Maurice's gardens are ideal for the romantic couple who dreams of leisurely strolls at sunset or moonlight walks after dinner, accompanied by the melodic sounds of tropical birds. Mango and lychee trees grow in the orchard, and bread fruit trees, coconut palms, bougainvillea and frangipani can be seen across the public and private villa gardens.
Shanti Maurice takes special pride in its award-winning Nira Spa, which comprises 75,000 square feet of unsurpassed, restorative, soothing, invigorating and rejuvenating perfection. From personal well-being to enhanced spirituality and from positive dietary changes to re-energizing exercise, Nira Spa will help you lead a more holistic lifestyle. The peaceful haven presents a unique world of relaxation, serenity and wellness through 4 distinct deluxe spa stations: The Holistic Bio Experience, The Indian Experience, The Oriental Experience and The Fitness & Wellness Experience.
Shanti Maurice offers extensive dining options with an emphasis on locally-sourced fresh fare from the island's farmers and fishermen, or utilizing herbs (citronella, rosemary, basil, mint and coriander) and vegetables (beetroot, broccoli and onion) grown on the estate's herb garden.
The resort's signature restaurant, Stars, is defined by its contemporary Cape cuisine and wide selection of South African wines.
Pebbles restaurant offers an international menu, influenced by the flavors of India, whilst the resort's rustic beach-side Fish and Rhum Shack celebrates the bounty of the surrounding seas, complemented by cocktails using rum from the local distillery and a selection of beers from the village brewery.
For a bucolic and romantic lunch for two, you and your partner can enjoy a gourmet picnic on one of the endless spots that are at your disposal on the 36-acre exotic garden in Shanti Maurice. The staff is delighted to provide you with hampers and a chilled bottle of wine for you to enjoy.
Shanti Maurice Location
Set between the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and the vivid greens of the sugarcane fields, Shanti Maurice enjoys the natural beauty of the largely untouched south coast of Mauritius.
Shanti Maurice is close to the peaceful beach of St Felix called Chemin Grenier, which stretches for over 1.5 kilometers from Riviere des Galets to Riambel. There you will feel the serenity and you will indulge into a mood of complete relaxation.
If you wish to discover the contrast to the calm turquoise lagoons that Mauritius is so well known for, visit the island's most southern point - not very far away from Shanti Maurice - known as Gris Gris. In this area there aren't reefs to protect the coast, so the waves strongly crash on the shore creating a marvelous natural effect. Feel the power and vastness of the ocean at Roche qui Pleure (The Weeping Rock) where the waves break directly on the cliffs giving the impression that the cliff is crying.
The Rochester Falls attraction is also nearby Shanti Maurice, and it's definitely worth visiting. The falls tumble from the Savanne River from a height of about 10 m where constant erosion has sculptured the basalt rock into upright columns.
Shanti Maurice - A Nira Resort - Spa
Nira Spa is built around an enchanting tea pavilion,surrounded by lily ponds and indigenous flower gardens. Covering over 75,000 sq. feet and comprising 25 treatments rooms, Nira Spa is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the Indian Ocean. Trained masseurs and spa therapists work alongside nutritionists, personal trainers and Ayurvedic Doctors to encourage optimum health and mental wellbeing.
Shanti Maurice - A Nira Resort - Sport & Leisure Activities
Indulge an adventurous spirit
The resort plays host to a myriad of leisurely pursuits that range from the energetic to the contemplative; for the more youthful and those wishing to feel so; on dry land or otherwise.The hotel is happy to make available to you a wide variety of sports and recreational activities, including non-motorised watersports, tennis, golf, jogging, trekking, power walking, aquafit, pilates, finger painting, garden tours and cooking classes, to name but a few.
The resort offers two floodlit tennis courts, both of which are naturally sheltered by the landscaped gardens that surround them. The Concierge can provide a playing partner or for those wishing to improve their game, can arrange a private coaching session with a tennis professional. Additionally, complimentary group tennis initiation is offered daily.
Water Sports
From dolphin watching to kayaking, the activities arranged by the team at the boathouse include most aquatic pursuits. Fully qualified staff arrange regular group sailing and windsurfing initiation classes, along with snorkeling sessions and kayaking. Other available activities include deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, waterskiing and windsurfing.
Shanti Maurice - A Nira Resort - Kids Facilities & Kids Club
Les Petits Dodo
The specially designed Kids Club is set within its own grounds beside the Nira Spa and comes complete with its own toddler's pool, games room (including snooker, table football and tennis), children's DVD films, computers, Play Station and Wii games.
Free of charge, children 3 - 12 years
Infants below 3 years are welcomed and should be accompanied by a baysitter.
Opening hours: 8h00 - 20h30
A weekly activities programme, crammed with fun-filled pursuits, such as flower making, kids yoga, face painting and musical games ensure that the younger guests are entertained during their stay. In addition, field trips are arranged to the nearby Crocodile park and Casela bird sanctuary, where younger ones can make friends of the furry or scaled variety.
Additional activities include for instance:
- Walking and playing on the beach
- Drawing and painting for fun
- Musical games
- Aerobics fun
- Shell painting
- Creating paper animals and other shapes using you imagination
- Beach games
- Tennis
- Puzzles
- Face painting
Please note that children are not permitted in the Spa Pool or the Watsu Pool. They are welcomed to use the children's pool and the main pool. Access to the Nira Spa pools is restricted to 18 years old above.
Shanti Maurice - A Nira Resort - Hotel Facilities
- Spa
- Mini-bar
- Golf
- Canoe-kayak
- Tennis
- Free Wifi in Hotel
- Club teens 03-11 years
Shanti Maurice - A Nira Resort - Location
What to Do in the Hotel's RegionGolf - South
The Domaine de Bel Ombre in the South of Mauritius has what it takes to offer families, couples or friends holidays that are tailored to their wishes. A varied choice of accommodation with two top-notch resorts and private luxury villas, 11 restaurants each with its own charm and specialities, a championship golf course, world-class spa facilities, one of the most beautiful nature reserves on the island, a beach with a "hip & chic" atmosphere, a kilometre-long sandy beach as well as a whole range of land and sea activities... All of this in one place!
Horse Riding South
Horseback riding is definitely not new to Mauritians, nor Mauritius. The least one can say is that it is a sport deeply rooted in the traditions of the country. The fact that we find here the oldest racecourse in the southern hemisphere is proof enough of that. The passion of horse racing is shared by (almost) all Mauritians. And that, irrespective of their ethnicity or social class...
But horseback riding is not practiced only on the Champ de Mars racecourse. There are quite a few equestrian centers on the island. You can most definitely stroll down the wide (and white) sandy beaches of the island on horseback. With the lapping waves in the background, you can enjoy the sun and scenery as a bonus. During the day, the sportiest and most experienced can also take a dip in the sea with their horses! This is a unique experience that can only leave you with good memories. In the evening, enjoy the sunset as you stroll quietly, alone, with your partner or your family.
The beach is not your favorite playground ? Well, you can also enjoy horse riding in lush vegetation on beautiful domains at the heart of the island. Some even extend over 2,000 hectares. You can also find equestrian centers in various localities of the island.
In the south you can visit the Riambel equestrian center near Pomponette. In addition to rides on one of the most pristine beaches of the island, more than 2.5 kilometers long, you will also enjoy the quietness of the place due to the total lack of hotels there. This beach will be yours and only yours. Horses and ponies, beginners and more experienced riders, there is something for everyone's taste.
Grand Bassin
Experience the religious and cultural aspects of Mauritius by visiting the very renowned " Ganga Talao" commonly known as Grand Bassin in the Southern part of Mauritius. Grand Bassin is a crater lake which is about 600m feet above sea level with a depth of between 50 and 55 feet. This place is considered as the most sacred place for the Hindus in Mauritius, as it serves as a pilgrimage site in the name of Lord Shiva (a Hindu deity). Its sanctity is described as having a close connection to the sacred Ganga River in India.
The lake is surrounded by a vibrant lush vegetations and forests encompassed by the incredible temples dedicated for various Hindu pantheon such as Durga, Parvati, Buddha, Ganesh, Saraswati, Vishnu, and so on.
You will likely spot the huge Shiv statue which is of 33 meters, making it the highest statue in Mauritius.
It is recommended to visit the Crater Lake in the month of February or March during the Maha Shivaratree Festival where you will have the chance to experience the religious ambiance, along with vegetarian food, devotional music and songs.
Chamarel-the Seven Coloured Earth
One of the most fascinating spot to discover while visiting Mauritius is the Seven Coloured Earth located in Chamarel. This area has strikingly bare landscape showing well-developed rills and various shades of red, brown, grey, and purple. Engulfed by a large dense forest, the colours of the earth dunes are due to weathering of the basalt and the formation of secondary iron oxides and hydroxides in it, and the rilling is a result of deforestation and sheet erosion. This is due to the human modification of the landscape. Such features also occur in Papua New Guinea, and may be common in tropical, high-rainfall regions with volcanic bedrock. And one fun fact is that if you mix the colored earth together, they'll eventually settle into separate layers.
The dunes are protected by a wooden fence and visitors are not allowed to climb on them, although they can look at the scenery from observation outposts placed along the fence. Curio shops in the area sell small test-tubes filled up with the coloured earths. On the premises, you will also find a children's playground and some giant tortoises.
Vallée Des Couleurs
La Vallée des Couleurs reserve invites nature lovers to taste the world of the glorious flora and fauna of the Southern part of Mauritius. Amidst a lush green vegetation with green houses, deer park, verdant valleys, endemic trees, wonderful ponds and rivers, not to mention the Seven Coloured Earth-the Vallée des Couleurs is a blissful exploration to rejuvenate your spirit.
A visit of the Vallée des Couleurs brings pleasure to all your senses.
The songs of birds and the sound of water falling are music to the ears and the captivating and breathtaking panoramic views of the South Coast is a pure delight for the eyes.
The reserve is also a great place to enjoy selection of nature trips and fun activities.
Additionally, there is an Exhibition room which provides an outline of the different places of interest which you will discover through your visit.
You will also enjoy the visit the fern garden, which includes a plethora of flowers without which any visit in the park would be incomplete.
The unspoiled beauty of the land captures every heart and soul. The park is also home to tortoises, monkeys, stags, fish and also birds such as the Pink Pigeon, Paille en Queue, Cateau Vert with various endemic trees like the Ebony, Bois de Natte, Takamaka and other rare plants also contributing to the beauty of the park.
Enjoy the spellbinding four waterfalls such as the Cascade Vacoas, Cascade Bois de Natte, Cascade Cheveux d'Ange and Cascade Chamouzé where you can get to listen to the rustling water; relax in natural intimacy and feel inner peace. The park also offers a captivating and breathtaking panoramic view of the South Coast.
Rhumerie De Chamarel Distillery
Nestled in the heart of the fertile Chamarel Valley, the Rhumerie de Chamarel Distellery invites you for an all-encompassing tourism experience ranging from a guided visit of the distillery and rum tasting to a tasty meal at L'Alchimiste, its own stylish and creative "A la Carte" restaurant.
The site is surrounded by vast sugarcane plantations growing in harmony with the pineapples and other tropical fruits nearby. The distillery was designed in order to provide a holistic tourism experience to guests. As a visitor of the Rum Distillery you can marvel at its unique design which blends harmoniously with the spectacular surroundings where wood, natural stone and water provide a sense of communion with nature.
Discover the making process of the high quality and eco-friendly Mauritian rum where you will get to witness from growing, harvesting, to the fermentation and sophisticated distilling process. All is done so that the distillery can pride itself on the quality of its rum, achieved by distilling the fresh, fermented cane juice rather than that obtained from molasses.
There are guided tours with the experienced guides who will take you behind the scenes to provide a detailed explanation of the rum making process while you visit the distillery. For your maximum convenience the Rhumerie de Chamarel distillery tour is done in either English or French at the duration of the tour is of about 30 to 40 minutes.
Crocodile & Giant Tortoises Nature Park
While exploring the Southern part of Mauritius, a visit to the Crocodile and Giant Tortoises Nature Park is a must.
The nature park is home to the second largest crocodilian and one of the largest tortoises in the world. It is a picturesque and idyllic nature reserve located at Riviere des Anguilles in the south.
It extends across 3.5 hectares, full of luxuriant vegetation consisting of beautiful palm trees, banana plants, giant bamboo trees and other gorgeous shrubs-reflecting a tropical rainforest setting.
During your stay in the park you can also experience a firsthand unique encounter with the giant tortoises, and get a rare chance to feed, pet and play with them.
Also, there is also a "Jungle Adventure Playground", which is an area offering fun attractions and activities, especially designed for children. Additionally, there is an insectariums and a museum to learn more about different animal species.
Inside the park you will find the recommended Hungry Crocodile Restaurant. Built among the tree-tops the restaurant offers you a choice of local Mauritian food and international dishes, and also several dishes made with crocodile, which are definitely worth a try – you will be pleasantly surprised. Snacks and various drinks are also available.
Saint Aubin House
Get a taste of the colonial era of the 19th century Saint Aubin House located at Riviere des Anguilles in the Southern part of Mauritius. Saint Aubin was precisely built in 1819 which was home to several managers of the Saint Aubin sugar estate, and eventually it was renovated in the 90's to preserve the Mauritian heritage. The estate takes its name from one of its first owners, Pierre de Saint Aubin.
On Saint Aubin estate, a small manufacturing unit has been rebuilt around the ancient sugar mill chimney which stands as a testimony to the past.
The mill has been turned into a live eco museum where locals and tourists alike can observe all the manufacturing stages of the sugar milling process.
The estate has its own sugar cane plantations which lie along the undulating slopes of southern Mauritius. The fields of Saint Aubin have been under sugar cane cultivation since 1819.
Driven by an enduring quest for uncompromising quality, Saint Aubin plantation has brilliantly met the challenge of reconciling innovation, tradition, human dimension and environmental protection.
A visit to the Saint Aubin House consists of a guided tour around the estate where you will have the privilege to visit the Rum House where high quality rum is made; a visit to the Vanilla House where you will discover the interesting transformation process of the vanilla orchid from the flower to the aromatic pod; a visit to the Anthurium (flowers) greenhouses, and also a leisurely stroll in the tropical garden.
The estate is also composed of an elegant colonial residence, a restaurant offering local Creole cuisine, and the Inn which is a typical traditional Creole house with an iron sheeting roof resting on exposed timber beams, teak wood flooring and ancient furniture. To make it more enticing, the Tea Route which is a gastronomical and cultural tour bears testimony to the different facets of the once colonial Mauritius and its traditional lifestyle.
Bois Chéri
Discover the other side of Mauritius through a visit to one of the oldest tea plantation located in the highlands South of the island at about 500 meters in a cold region. The location serves as an ideal location for the plantation of tea, and offers scenic luxuriant green landscapes.
Dating back to the 1890s, this lush tea plantation is best discovered on foot and offers not only a visual richness but also a flavourful richness of the senses. Bois Chéri has enabled the development of a true culture and tradition of tea in Mauritius. Its factory now produces more than half of the island's tea.
Attached to the Saint-Aubin Group, Bois Chéri is now part of the famous Tea Route. It allows a guided tour of the tea factory as well as the tea museum. A guided tour to the plantation generally takes around 1 to 2 hours and includes a tour to the Bois Chéri tea factory, visit to the museum and tea plantation, also tea tasting at the chalet.
Le Morne Mountain
The symbolic Le Morne Brabant is a majestic mountain located in the South Western part of Mauritius, on the Le Morne peninsula.
The majestic mountain has been declared as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO since July 6, 2008 to commemorate the Maroonage (runaway slaves) legacy in Mauritius.
It is believed that the slaves were jumping off the cliff of the mountain to commit suicide due to the very inhumane treatment they suffered.
Le Morne Brabant is one of the most preserved and wildest mountains of the island.
It is habitat to a very large variety of endemic and narrow-endemic species, such as the rare Trochetia Boutonania, which is our floral emblem.
The summit of the mountain covers an area of over 12 hectares (30 acres),and is about 556m above the sea level. There are many caves and overhangs on the steep slopes. It is largely surrounded by a lagoon and is a well known tourist attraction.
Do not miss the breath-taking views of the west and south-western side by a hiking trail which approximately lasts for three to four hours.
Rochester Falls
Rochester Falls is one of the spectacular waterfalls of Mauritius situated in the Savanne district of Mauritius. The waterfall forms part of the Savanne River which is at an elevation of 152 meters above sea level, approximately 2.5 km from Souillac (the capital of the Savanne district), and it tumbles from a height of about 10 m (33 ft).
It is regarded as a popular tourist attraction due to its lava cliffs: years and years of erosion has led to the formation of a spectacular backdrop of rectangular blocks stuck together. The view of the waterfall is just spellbinding which makes it so enticing. The white water crashing down the rocky cliffs into a pool of crystal clear water, with the lush verdant vegetations in the form of ferns crawling up the smoother parts of the cliffs, and the trees around the river banks make it a perfect location to revitalize your spirit. The place is ideal to spend a picnic and to enjoy the serene atmosphere with the sounds of the falling water and happy chirping of birds.
Black River Gorge National Park
The Black River Gorge National Park is the largest protected area of Mauritius. It extends over 6,754 hectares that is 2 % of rolling hills and thick native forest of the South Western part of the island.
Famous for its waterfalls, vistas and hiking, the gorge is in the central highlands, making it cooler than much of the island. The nature park has over 50 km of trails where you can explore the exquisite natural beauty of this part of the island. Find the spellbinding waterfall, pristine river, picnic areas, wide canyon, and dramatic mountain ranges, which create panoramic views altogether.
There are approximately 311 of native flowering plants, and nine endemic species of bird, with a population of giant fruit bats. Some endangered bird species include the Mauritius kestrel, the echo parakeet, the pink pigeon, Mauritian flying fox, Mauritius bulbul, and Mauritius olive white-eye. You might also find the introduced wild boar, macaque monkeys, and deers wandering in the wild nature.


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Trekmovie.com has done a great job of illustrating the details and complexities of the uniforms in the new Discovery series. This info may help you build your own before the September premiere of the show.
Take a look at the info and let us know if you end up making one.

subset: commoncrawl


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The recent election debates showed just how much our federal political leaders buy the nonsensical claim that there is a "fiscal imbalance" between Ottawa and the provincial capitals. "They're starving for money," said NDP leader Jack Layton, referring to the provinces' health care needs and municipal governments' need for everything else. Following Layton's lead, the other party heads fell over themselves to prove how generous they could be to other governments.
Let's skip past Layton's inappropriate use of the word "starving," which, as most of our mothers used to tell us, should be reserved for actual, unfortunate children in Africa. It should not be applied to Canada's cities and towns. Most of them are solidly stuck in the 1970s and far behind U.S. and British cities when it comes to sensible, taxpayer-friendly approaches such as privatization, contracting out and competition in general.
Nor should it be applied to provincial governments unwilling to challenge the status quo on health care — that is, delivered via monopolistic government unions in government-run institutions.
But despite that reality, the provinces in particular are quite adept at pretending they are Tiny Tim fiscal cripples. Witness their regular claim that Ottawa once provided 50% of all health care funding and now provides only 16%.
Voters should be skeptical about provincial propaganda, and here's why: Before 1977, Ottawa shared costs 50-50 on a number of items, but excluded others, such as mental hospitals, home care and administration costs. The result was that the federal government never actually paid more than 41% of health care costs — and even that level hasn't been seen since the 1960s.
In addition, the premiers arrive at their 16% figure by contrasting the amount Ottawa transfers to the provinces with the amount they spend in total on health care and all other social programs. That's politically convenient, if one wants to make the federal government look cheap; it's also dishonest.
Besides, provincial leaders now have convenient amnesia about the fact that Ottawa handed over significant tax room to the provinces 27 years ago. It would be ancient history, except that the 1977 tax transfer is now worth $17-billion annually to the provinces and territories.
On top of that, Ottawa sends transfer payments to all jurisdictions, and equalization payments to everyone but Alberta and Ontario. (Note to Ontario and Alberta voters: stop asking your provincial leaders to demand more transfers from Ottawa; it's counter-productive as more of your federal tax dollars leave your provinces than ever come back because of the structure of equalization and transfer payments.)
So how much does Ottawa hand to the provinces and territories in total? Add up the value of the cash, tax transfer and equalization and this year the Department of Finance figures the tax points and cash are worth $51.6-billion.
How much of that goes to health? Finance bureaucrats — who are not running for political office — note that given the portion of provincial budgets spent on health care, it's reasonable to argue that the provinces spend the same portion of transfer payments and equalization on health. That means they use $28-billion transferred from Ottawa for health, or about 35% of their $78-billion health care spending.
But wait — add in the $6-billion spent by the federal government directly on health (natives, veterans and research) and arguably, 40% of total government spending on health care in Canada is financed by the federal government. That's a tad more than the 16% figure you'll hear from the premiers when they get together this summer to practise their tale-of-woe routine.
Provincial statistical spin-doctoring aside, in a perfect world, Ottawa would scrap transfer and equalization payments and — if provinces could actually prove their case on the supposed fiscal imbalance — just hand over more tax room and let provincial budgets sink or swim.
That was in fact the intent of our country's founding fathers; they only grudgingly transferred money to the provinces because they were concerned the provinces might otherwise impose tariffs on each other's goods. The Dominion government also didn't want the provinces to start taxing income.
So in lieu of provincial income taxes or tariffs, Ottawa agreed to transfer money to each province at a rate of 80 cents per person. This was to be the "full and final settlement," wrote one tax historian. Of course, transfer payments have been renegotiated ad nauseam, and upward, ever since; worse, our political leaders unwisely guaranteed some form of equalization in the 1982 constitution, though they mercifully left the structure undefined.
A significant problem with transfers of taxpayer cash between governments is that most voters are never sure which level of government is doing the taxing and spending, and for what purpose. That's a recipe for unaccountability because it allows politicians to blame others for their hospital lineups or their new health care taxes.
If anything, federal politicians in particular should ratchet back transfer payments, not send more to left-wing city councils or provincial governments of every partisan stripe who deliberately engage in the creation of false statistics while they delay actual health care reform.
One last thought about those supposedly malnourished provinces: After Confederation, the provinces were the third-place revenue collectors. That lasted until just after the Second World War, when they overtook the cities. Now, provinces and territories collect more own-source revenue than any other level of government — including the one in Ottawa.


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Russian president Vladimir Putin said a Syrian ceasefire agreement has been reached with Turkey.
Mr Putin said Russia and Turkey will guarantee the truce, which is set to begin at midnight.
He said it will be followed by peace talks between Syrian president Bashar Assad's government and the opposition, and that the Syrian parties will take part in talks to be held in Kazakhstan at a later date.
Syria's military has agreed to a nationwide ceasefire, starting at midnight.
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the truce will include 62,000 opposition fighters across Syria, and that the Russian military has established a hotline with its Turkish counterpart to monitor compliance.
Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said US president-elect Donald Trump's administration will be welcome to join the Syrian peace process once he takes office.
Russia is a key ally of Mr Assad, while Turkey is one of the main backers of the opposition.
Several previous attempts to halt the Syrian civil war have failed.


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Suburb Search
The suburb was named after Oliver Goldsmith\'s poem The Deserted Village, which describes \'Auburn\' in England as the loveliest village of the plain.[1]
Commercial area
Auburn has a mixture of residential, commercial and industrial areas. A commercial area is located close to Auburn railway station. There are many multicultural restaurants and cafes.
South of the railway station, the commercial area stretches for approximately 1 km and features many Middle Eastern & Asian shops, restaurants and supermarkets. This has made Auburn a focal point for various immigrant groups in Sydney, especially for significant events such as football matches or political developments in the Middle East.
North of the railway station, commercial and industrial developments are also located along the length of Parramatta Road and surrounding streets. Major developments here include:
- Harvey Norman\'s biggest store in Australia.
- Reading Cinemas is on Parramatta Road.[2]
- Tooheys Brewery.
- Revolution Racegear - Australasia\'s largest race equipment stockist
- Nick Scali Furniture[3]
Railway storage and maintenance facilities at Auburn
Auburn railway station is on the Southern line and Western line of the CityRail network.
- Auburn Hospital with basic 24-hour emergency facilities is on Norval and Hargrave Streets.
- Auburn Botanical Gardens[4]
- Al-Faisal College
- Auburn Girls High School
- Auburn North Public School
- Auburn West Public School
- Auburn Public School
- Sule College (Auburn Campus)
- St John of God Primary school
- St Joseph The Worker Primary School
- Trinity Catholic College
- Sydney Adventist College, Auburn Campus
Religious structures
Auburn Gallipoli Mosque
The Sri Mandir in Auburn is Australia\'s oldest Hindu temple, having opened in 1977. The temple has been the target of attacks in more recent years.[5]
The Auburn Gallipoli Mosque took thirteen years to construct and was largely funded by the Turkish community in the area.[6] The name of the mosque reflects the legacy of Gallipoli in Turkey and the shared bond between Australian society and the Australian Turkish Muslim Community who constructed the mosque.
Architect Omer Kirazoglu designed it in the Classical Ottoman Style of Architecture characterised by a central dome and minarets. The builder was Ahmet Asim who donated much of his time. It is a source of pride for the local community and whilst considered a Turkish mosque it is frequented by all sections of the Islamic community and is one of Sydney\'s busiest mosques.
Auburn prides itself as one of the most multicultural communities in Australia. The traditionally Anglo-celtic European population has slowly been replaced by a high percentage of immigrants from Turkish, Lebanese and Vietnamese backgrounds. Auburn also has fast growing Somali, Bosnian, Iraqi, Iranian, Afghan, Pakistani, Sudanese and Chinese communities. The five most prominent religions in Auburn are Islam (40.9%), Catholicism (15.3%), No religion (10.3%), Buddhism (6.8%) and Anglican (3.6%).
Notable people
- Brad Fittler, former rugby league footballer born in Auburn
- Jack Lang, former Premier of NSW (1925-1927, 1930-1932), had a long and close association with Auburn, setting up a successful real estate business there. He went on to serve on the local council, eventually becoming Mayor. He died in Auburn in 1975.
- Warren Mundine, the first Aboriginal president of the Australian Labor Party. Born in Grafton in 1956, Warren and his family lived in Auburn in the mid-1960s.
- Chris Bath, Channel Seven newsreader born in Auburn.
- Feleti Mateo, Parramatta Eels player born in Auburn.
- Zeb Taia, Newcastle Knights player born in Auburn.
- Scott Jamieson, football (soccer) player born in Auburn.
- Ahmad Elrich, football (soccer) player from Auburn
- Tarek Elrich, football (soccer) player from Auburn
Pop culture
- SBS television drama East West 101 was filmed in Auburn.
Have a Auburn Property Manager contact you about managing your Investment Property in Auburn.
Have a Auburn Real Estate Agent contact you about selling your Auburn property.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn,_New_South_Wales
- Suburb:Auburn
- Postcode:2144
- Municipality:Auburn Council


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Before he embarked on a week of transatlantic diplomacy, President Donald Trump sat down with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who previewed for the boss an explosive development: The Justice Department would soon indict 12 Russian intelligence officers for hacking Democratic emails to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
For the first time, the United States would be charging Russian government agents with planning and executing a sustained cyber attack to disrupt America's democratic process. Yet Trump gave no sign in his commentary in Europe this week that he appreciated the magnitude of what he had been told was coming.
Instead, he repeated his frequent attacks on the integrity of the wide-ranging Russia probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller — while offering kind words for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he is slated to meet here in Helsinki on Monday.
Trump said Putin should not be considered his enemy, but rather his competitor — and after spending some time together here in this vibrant seaside Nordic capital, Trump said he hoped they might fast become friends.
Trump pledged to ask Putin in their tête-à-tête whether Russia interfered in the election — "your favorite question about meddling," he said mockingly to a Washington Post reporter. But he said he expected Putin, again, to deny it, and that they then would move on to other subjects.
"There won't be a Perry Mason moment here, I don't think," Trump joked, referring to a witness dramatically reversing his or her testimony to confess a crime.
And on Friday, just hours before Rosenstein announced the indictments from Justice Department headquarters in Washington, Trump stood on foreign soil — at a news conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May at her Chequers estate in the English countryside — and denounced the investigation that produced them.
"I would call it the rigged witch hunt," Trump said of the Mueller probe, which so far has yielded charges or guilty pleas against 32 Russians and Americans, including former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who is currently in jail.
In the hours after the Justice Department's indictments were filed, lawmakers from both parties urgently called on Trump to confront Putin and to force Russia to change course and to guard against another intrusion in future elections.
"These revelations add to a body of evidence confirming an extensive plot by Vladimir Putin's government to attack the 2016 election, sow chaos and dissension among the American electorate, and undermine faith in our democracy," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said in a statement. "If President Trump is not prepared to hold Putin accountable, the summit in Helsinki should not move forward."
Some Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), said Trump should immediately cancel his Helsinki summit with Putin.
"Glad-handing with Vladimir Putin on the heels of these indictments would be an insult to our democracy," Schumer said in a statement.
Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee signed a letter to Trump that said, "Unfortunately, due to your constant expressions of sympathy for Vladimir Putin, your conflicts of interest, and your attacks on our closest allies, we do not have confidence that you can faithfully negotiate with the Russian leader, and we urge you to cancel the meeting."
But as night fell Friday in the United Kingdom, where Trump is staying through the weekend, neither the president nor his White House spokesmen condemned Russia for the allegations detailed in the indictments. And the meeting in Helsinki was still on.
When he was asked Thursday by a reporter what he would do if Putin denies Russia's involvement, Trump said, "He may deny it. I mean, it's one of those things. So all I can do is say, 'Did you?' and 'Don't do it again.' "
There was no indication late Friday that Trump was preparing to say anything else in their meeting to hold Putin accountable.
Joyce Vance, who served as a U.S. attorney in Alabama during the Obama administration, said Trump's apparent indifference to the election attack is "shocking."
"Cyberspace is the new front of warfare and our country was attacked, but instead of treating this like the real Pearl Harbor moment that it is, the president just wants to have business as usual," Vance said.
Announcing the indictments, Rosenstein bemoaned the extent to which the Russia probe has divided Americans along partisan lines.
"When we confront foreign interference in American elections, it is important for us to avoid thinking politically as Republicans or Democrats and instead to think patriotically as Americans," Rosenstein said. "The blame for election interference belongs to the criminals who committed election interference. We need to work together to hold the perpetrators accountable."
U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in October 2016 that Russia orchestrated the hacking of Democratic emails — as well as other tactics, including a campaign to infiltrate social media with fake news — and that the Russian operation was designed explicitly to help Trump defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
The emails, some of them salacious and damaging to Clinton, were illegally released through WikiLeaks. Trump often discussed the contents of them in his campaign rally speeches. "I love WikiLeaks," he told one crowd in Pennsylvania. A couple days later in Florida, he said, "It tells you the inner heart. You gotta read it."
For many months, Trump refused to believe that Russia was behind the hacked emails.
"The new joke in town is that Russia leaked the disastrous DNC e-mails, which should never have been written (stupid), because Putin likes me," Trump tweeted in July 2016.
At one of his fall debates with Clinton, Trump sought to sow doubt that the Russians were behind the hacking by suggesting that it could have been done by the Chinese or by "somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds."
Latest Nation & World
It was only after he won the election, at a news conference shortly before his inauguration, that Trump stated publicly that Russia committed the hacking, though he has waffled in his public statements since then.
Trump's advisers have said he resists acknowledging the election interference because he does not want to attribute his election win to any force other than his skills as a candidate.
Trump and his legal team, led by former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani, have aggressively attacked the Mueller investigation in recent months, part of a more combative approach designed in part to turn Trump's loyal supporters against it and sow doubt in its eventual findings.
Trump regularly tweets the phrase "witch hunt" — sometimes spelled in all-captal letters — to vent about the Mueller operation or to stir up his partisans against it. But Democrats say he is not taking the investigation seriously enough.
John D. Podesta, the former Clinton campaign chairman whose personal email account was among those hacked, told ABC News, "Donald Trump likes to describe this as a 'witch hunt.' Well, we just found some witches and they were indicted."


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