Bookworm - Amitav Ghosh

I've always been a bookworm... Ever since my early childhood... I love my late parents for introducing me to the world of books. I remember my every first book was Little Red Riding Hood... and that scary wolf!!! :) I grew up on a farm and the farm was surrounded by fields and forest. Of course I 'saw' wolves everywhere! :) I read the book into pieces, over and over again!

Later on it was Enid Blyton's  The Famous Five, Edward Stratemeyer's The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew etc. I also remember I had a Zane Grey book, but that one was stolen by a class fellow and I never got it back! :( 

I worked almost 20 years in a bookstore (int'l accounting), where I loved spending time in the bookstore itself - before opening hours. I was introduced to new authors - I was lost! :) You will always find me with at least one book at my bedside table - I'm not able to sleep unless I read some pages.

After I settled here, I have discovered new authors (to me). One author who has made a big impression on me, is the Indian author Amitav Ghosh. The first of his books I read, is  The Glass Palace - winner of the International e-Book Award at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2001.
The story takes us to Burma, India and Malaya, across three generations of love, war and family.
It is definitely a book I'd love to read again - and recommend.

One of my favorite bookshops here, is BookCourt, which has quite a good selection of novels etc. Some days ago I had to have my dose of the bookstore and books and ended up with these;

Amitav Ghosh -

Sea of Poppies  - Shortlisted the 2008 Man Booker Price, awarded the Crossword Book Prize and the India Plaza Golden Quill Award.

Sea of Poppies is the first book in the 'IBIS Triology' - the opium war.

River of Smoke (second book in the IBIS trilogy - the opium war).
The story starts at Le Morne Brabant in Southwestern Mauritius and ends in Canton (now Guangzhou).

I can't wait reading these books, but first of all I have to finish reading Hari Kunzru's 'The Impressionist' - a good book too.

  

  

Beau Bassin / Rose Hill - Balfour Garden (part 2)

As the headline refers to, this is part 2 of my previous post, our walk to Balfour Garden.

Since we forgot to buy take-away food from Rose Hill, we felt rather hungry. We knew there is a KFC, Debonairs Pizza as well as SPAR supermarked down the road so we just continued walking. We reached KFC, but it was closed due to renovation, then we decided we didn't want to wait at Debonairs so we ended up buying freshly roasted chicken at SPAR - yummy!

We had a rest at the little park where the Beau Bassin Post Office is located. Once upon a time this building was the railway station...

 On the opposite side of the Royal Road (to Port Louis), is the church of Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart), built 1880(?)

Detail of one of the church windows

Behind the church - on the way to Balfour Garden - you'll find this beautiful, old house

Further up the road - yes, now it is slightly uphill - we found this very old shop, made of stones. This is important history of the island, but I'm quite sure it soon will be pulled down... sadly!

After strolling this very beautiful area, we finally reached the garden

As expected, the park was almost empty. It is a hidden treasure so I believe not many tourists come here. (at least one place on the island one is free from tourists!)

Soreze waterfalls into Plaine Wilhem's Gorge.

At the opposite side of the gorge is Ebene Cyber City

View towards Montagne Ory - part of the Moka Range

On our way back home... This is the old railway track - between Rose Hill and Beau Bassin.

We started out in such beautiful, sunny weather. It got cloudy in the early afternoon and just after hitting home, it started raining.

A wonderful day out!

Estimated distance walked; 12-15 km/8-9 miles.

Beau Bassin/Rose Hill - Balfour Garden - part 1

We had such beautiful and warm weather last Monday that we just had to get out for a walk. Where to go?! I didn't feel for any bus trip, so we decided to walk it down (it's downhill all the way!) to Balfour Garden in Beau Bassin.

Some of you who reads my blog, know that we are walkers. I thought it is time to show you what is on our way to Rose Hill.

You may also know that Mauritius is a multi-cultural society, where it is common to see churches, mosques and temples next to each other.

This is a newly built mosque just outside the town center of QB.
I love the architecture of this one... and the color green in contrast to the blue sky...

A few meters down the road you'll find a temple...

...and another temple...

This sign is  hilarious!

I didn't know Mauritian dogs and 'other animals' can READ!!! I would like to know the specification of 'other animals'! :)) 

Once upon a time; the old railway station in Rose Hill is now the Post Office

You can still see very old shops here, which Sino-Mauritians are running

...another one further down the street...

Contrast to the old shops; new shopping center built a few years ago

Catholic church Notre Dame de Lourdes, erected in 1890

A few meters apart only, but opposite the road you'll find this church; Montmarte, dating back to 1940 

Maison de Carne - The Cardinal Jean Margeot Institute - an imposing colonial house. Research of the history of the house is going on...

(The link given is in French, but if interested you can always translate...)

Opposite the church, a bus stand...

Le Plaza - Theatre/Opera-  and Municipality of Beau Bassin/Rose Hill

Next up; Beau Bassin and Balfour Garden