Like anywhere, though, Mauritius is much much more. It can be difficult for visitors to get a real sense of all that this small island destination has to offer, but we try to help as best we can.

What is one tactic? Why not start with the gastronomy!?

Food is like art – a reflection of a country’s culture. Every place on the planet, even a small remote island like Mauritius, stands forever proud of its culinary traditions. And today, food is much more to travel than a simple means of survival. It has become a sophisticated and pleasurable integral part of it.

On Mauritius, Chinese and French cuisines are two gastronomic pillars: they have been not only instrumental in the evolution of our dishes, but are testimony to the interesting multiethnic qualities of our culture.

A visit to Mauritius is like time travel through three centuries of cross-cultural cohabitation, during which the give and take between local tastes and foreign influences resulted in something truly distinct. Like the many faces of our island – a crossroads for three continents – Mauritian cuisine is rustic in its simplicity and dazzling in its refinement.

A Kitchen Journey in Eureka House

When visitors to Mauritius travel with us, we like to take visitors on random journeys through our kitchens, paying special attention to indigenous practices and ingredients. We always begin by explaining the cornerstones of our cuisine – simple dishes such as curries and rougails. These are served with the basic elements of rice, brèdes and chutneys. They dishes never fail to charm our guests. To fully grasp their appealing simplicity, see below for a typical tomato chutney recipe that you can easily make at home.

One of our favourite stops – one we highly recommend – is Euréka House in Moka, a window onto Mauritian colonial history and Creole culture. This preserved period mansion was built in the early 1850s by an English notable, who sold it soon after to a wealthy Franco-Mauritian family. Today it is owned by Jacques de Maroussem, who has restored the property and opened it to the public, primarily as a museum, although a traditional Creole lunch can be enjoyed on the shaded veranda that encircles the main building. In keeping with the Creole style, the house has a large number of doors that ensure adequate ventilation during the hot summers.

Today, visitors choosing to take a meal on the property can also visit the traditional external stone kitchen (pictured above), in which the staff presents the various traditional items used in preparing the food. The kitchen is still very much in use.

After the lunch another Euréka highlight is a walk down the slope of the ravine to the Moka River that passes through the property. Here, three small waterfalls and exotic plants and flowers make for a rich display. Visitors can choose a guide or stroll around on their own for a couple of hours, splash in the river and enjoy the majestic views of the Moka Mountains.

Tomato Chutney – 6 to 8 servings

• 1/4 kg ripe tomatoes (or pommes d’amour)
• 1 small onion
• 1 teaspoon crushed fresh ginger
• ¼ teaspoon crushed garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• pinch of chilli powder
• small chillies, crushed or sliced (optional)
• salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• chopped coriander leaves (optional)

Plunge the tomatoes in boiling water for about 10 seconds or grill them over a charcoal fire. Peel off the skins and chop the pulp using a food mill or a food processor. Cut the onion into thin slices and add to the crushed tomatoes. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with parsley and coriander.

Note: The tomatoes may also be used raw and placed directly in the food mill or food processor.

Caution: Use chillies and coriander in moderation, as chillies in excess will cause more pain than pleasure. The strong taste of coriander is not a favourite of many diners.

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Visit the whl.travel Flickr photostream for a set of more pictures of Mauritius.

The 27th of September is significant for a couple of reasons. First, it is the anniversary of the establishment of the UNWTO. It also falls between the end of the northern hemisphere high season and start of the same in the southern hemisphere, a time when a large part of the entire planet is engaged in activities related to tourism.

As described by the UNWTO, “The main purpose of World Tourism Day is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.”

World Tourism Day 2009

The World Tourism Day theme for 2009 is Tourism – Celebrating Diversity, hosted by the country of Ghana.

“This year’s theme focuses on the world’s cultural wealth and the important role sustainable tourism plays in revitalizing local traditions and making them flourish as they cross other cultures,” says the UNWTO website.

“Every region of the world is distinct and thus has something both to offer and gain through travel and tourism, particularly less developed nations. It is the responsibility of industry stakeholders to harness these opportunities whilst facing the long term challenges engendered by travel and tourism.”

whl.travel in Action

The following is a cursory review of just four of the activities being undertaken by whl.travel partners across the globe in conjunction with World Tourism Day 2009.

whl.travel local partner in Mauritius:
“We have decided to go paperless. We are asking all our suppliers not to send invoices by postal service thus saving paper, envelopes and stamps – saving trees and nature. We are also asking them to please consider donating the savings to a project in their vicinity. We ourselves are working on ways to save on paper and looking for a project to support.”

whl.travel local partner in Morro de São Paulo, Brazil:
“In Morro de São Paulo, there will be an event at Hotel Village Paraíso Tropical at 6pm. At this event, each unit of the local College of Tourism will present views on the development of tourism to government representatives. The meeting will also see a presentation of the local culture (maculelê) and be followed by a debate among the participants.”

whl.travel local partner in Cambodia:
“We’ll meet up with some of the hoteliers in Siem Reap and discuss the upcoming high season and tourism in Cambodia in general. It isn’t really just because of World Tourism Day, but we’ll talk about role of tourism and how tourism affects the local community, so I suppose it’s on the same lines.”

whl.travel local partner in Antananarivo, Madagascar:
“Our company plans to attend an ‘open doors’ day organised by the Regional Office of Tourism of Antananarivo (ORTANA), the capital of Madagascar. This organisation has been created to promote tourism around the capital and they organise such visits for the local tour operators to update the information. It will be a sort of ‘rediscovery’ of the history of the capital with arts and crafts show rooms.”

The island nation of Mauritius (aka Ile Maurice) sits in the waves of the southwest Indian Ocean. Its white sandy beaches and immaculately groomed hotel grounds draw in thousands of travellers every year. Many are also eager to find the ‘real Mauritius’, so here is a special inside look at how a Mauritian might take in the island: a visit to its green heart at Chamarel.

Chamarel's famous coloured earth

Chamarel is already well known as the site of a magnificent waterfall and curiously coloured earth (see responses below), but there’s much more to see and savour in the rustic surroundings, best reached by car, as buses are infrequent and only come via the West coast.

Start at Le Chamarel restaurant, but pause at the nearby forestry office, where friendly wardens (present until noon) are happy to share their knowledge of endemic plants like Bois de Ronde, Bois Colophane Batard and Ebony. Ask them to say what’s in bloom.

An unbeatable view from Chamarel

Walk for 10 minutes along the trail to the right of the car tracks behind the forestry office. This leads up to a bench from which to marvel at indisputably the best view of the West coast and Benitier islet.

Head back down to the parking area and take the left branch of the road leading to the village. Turn right at the church of Saint Anne (peek inside) and follow signs to Barbizon Restaurant. The owners, Ricot L’Intelligent and his wife Marie Ange, prepare sumptuous traditional meals using local meat and produce (including veggies from their own garden). Ask for recipes of dishes like cooked cincely banana flowers, gratin of pawpaw or curried jackfruit (known locally as kari sak). Try a dessert like fried banana Chamarel style or crème brulée. Be sure to say maribon (very good) when you’re done.

Ricot and Marie Ange preside over the Barbizon

Although English and French are widely spoken, don’t be shy about using Creole, especially with the blue-uniformed children coming home from school. Ki maniere? means ‘How are you?’, the answer to which is korek (alright). Creole is a colourful language, very close to French, but spiced with English, Hindi and Mandarin!

Follow signs to the coloured earth, but stop by the Roots Craft Shop, alongside Ruben’s Restaurant on the road to Baie du Cap. Local artist Nella Besegue offers her own quality handmade souvenirs, as well as those contributed by other local artists. Nella’s shop is also a training centre that helps local girls earn a living by teaching them a craft. Her atelier is open in the back of the shop. For more information and an appointment, she can be reached at 937 4193.

Nella surrounded by the crafts in her shop

A short distance later, at the coloured earth site, look for the giant Aldabra tortoises in the walled-in area on the right. If they have no drinking water, tell the man at the gate. The British reintroduced these great creatures after their total extinction in the 16th century. The few in Chamarel are between 45 and 70 years old.

Time permitting, indulge in Creole overnight hospitality at Lakaz Chamarel. Each of this guesthouse’s boutique hotel–style cottages is uniquely furnished and has an open-air bathroom; meals are prepared by the former chef of a five-star hotel; and your host, Frederick Desjardins –- a passionate kite surfer, hiker and nature lover -– can help organise tours into the national park and surrounding forest.

For more information about Mauritius, including accommodations, tours of Chamarel and elsewhere, activities and lots of insider tips, contact your local whl.travel connection: Gilbert and the Maurisun Adventure & Tours team (including Birgitta and her knowledge of Chamarel’s indigenous plants and their uses) at www.holidays-mauritius.travel.