A little bit of culture, a sprinkling of activities, some sightseeing and a whole lot of kicking back make for a great holiday at La Plantation D’Albion in the Mauritius.

NIRVANA greeted me with a soft hello as I got onto the bus that was sent to pick us up from the airport to bring us to Club Med’s five-Trident – Club Med’s equivalent of a five-star ranking – luxury resort La Plantation D’Albion, on the Island of Mauritius.

Jet-lagged after the seven-hour flight from KLIA to Plaisance International Airport, which was still about 45 minute away from the resort, and struggling with my mother’s oversized suitcase, I was relieved when my Mauritian host came to my aid.

I was struck by her charm and sweet smile. I would meet Nirvana again several times that week with other Club Med staff called GOs or Gentils Organisateurs (Gracious Organisers) and GEs or Gentils Employés (Kind employees), all very hospitable and friendly.

Heaven is the Cinq Mondes spa.

The 21-hectare resort located between majestic mountains and the Indian Ocean would be home for a week as I experienced the good life here. I was taken to my room, which looked more like a bungalow, by Suka, a Japanese GO. The bubbly Suka explained that Club Med employs thousands of GOs and GEs of different nationalities in their resorts all over the world, and that La Plantation had over 200, with the majority being Mauritian.

Though most of the staff — as well as the guests – speak French, everyone was conversant in English.

I was delighted when I saw my room, a deluxe which was very modern but rustic. It came with a large outdoor terrace overlooking the garden. Mine may not have been a seaview room but I was happy with the gardenview as it provided a calming vista of Mauritian flora and fauna.

Suka bade goodbye, reminding me of the dinner that was being prepared for us that night at the Le Phare Restaurant and the party afterwards.

Idyllic: La Plantation D’Albion’s Zen Pool is undoubtedly one of the fave places for guests to hang out.

Wine and dine

That evening, the GOs put on a show at the “Theatre”, as they do every evening, featuring dance and comedy, each time with a particular theme, whether Disco, Masquerade, Brazil, or The 70’s Show. Almost every night we were asked to dress to theme, though this was not compulsory.

It was always fun when a theme was unveiled. I particularly enjoyed the Mauritian theme, where we were encouraged to wear something bright and colourful. Having nothing of the sort and refusing to spend money at the pricey boutique shop inside the resort, I decided to improvise by wearing a lovely, red-and-white Mauritian flower which I picked from the garden.

Club Med is renowned for offering “all inclusive” resorts for families, but I thought their selling point, by far, to be the personalised service rendered by the resort staff. During my stay, I had no cause for complaint – the service was first class.

Everyone was exceptionally friendly. I befriended many of the staff, from the polite gentleman (whose name I simply cannot recall) who served me breakfast in bed each morning, to the sweet-natured Reshma who never failed to place a flower and chocolates when she made my bed each day.

Food is an important part of the Club Med experience, and dining at the La Plantation is a delight for both the palate and senses. Gourmet dining is available at two restaurants. La Distillerie, the main restaurant, serves a wide selection of international cuisine both indoor and alfresco. Le Phare, meanwhile, is the more romantic and intimate outlet – it offers an a la carte menu for late breakfast, lunch or dinner.

On our first night, I enjoyed a four-course dinner of Linguine Pasta with Lobster, Fillet of “Sacréchien” Fish with Thyme, Warm Brie in Phyllo Pastry, honey and walnuts, and Apple Tatin and Vanilla Sauce for dessert. It was a great way to start of a vacation, I thought.

The multi-hued Land of the Seven Colors.

After dinner, our evenings would usually carry on into the late hours with a neverending supply of cocktails and wines. However, I was more partial to hot chocolate, either at the Le Banian Bar which overlooked the ocean, the elegant L’Alouda with a view of the rocky coast, or over at the poolside Zen area with its magnificent view of the sea.

Do everything or nothing

La Plantation presents families with an all-inclusive holiday for everyone. Children between the ages of four and 10 can have fun in their own space at the Mini Club Med, designed as a cluster of Mauritian-style bungalows with shady canopies and an outdoor pool.

Activities here, like flying trapeze lessons, golf, sailing, tennis, archery, and snorkelling, are specially adapted to children.

The Chamarel Falls is a vision to behold.

For the adults, a wide range of sports activities are available. Just go down to the sports centre located at the heart of the resort, and they will name all the options available to you, as well as the top-of-the range equipment for the various activities you would like to undertake. There’s golf, tennis, archery, sailing, diving, kayaking, scuba diving, and a whole lot of other things as well. Definitely, a paradise for sports enthusiasts.

Sadly none of these were my cup of tea as I am rather more into sedentary pursuits. What I do enjoy is a good spa experience. The Club Med Spa by Cinq Mondes is simply divine, if very pricey. However, I was able to enjoy a relaxing 50-minute massage.

The spa service with a view of the blue ocean yonder was simply awesome. There was nothing but the sound of the waves as the tensions in your body are loosened and rubbed away. It was so relaxing and invigorating. I cannot describe the feeling and can only say that if you ever do visit the resort, make an effort to experience the spa.

Sea, sand and sunset

My last two days in the Mauritius were enjoyed through taking in the sights and sounds of the island. This was courtesy of the Club Med’s Discovery Centre. The centre offers a variety of excursions that allow you to discover the island and its secrets.

Some of the highlights of the trip include a cruise on a luxury catamaran whereby you get a spectacular view of the sun setting over the Indian Ocean. I wasted no time in making full use of my iPhone as we took in the spectacular views.

The Mauritian Colour day trip that I took was not too bad either, even though I would have liked to have seen more of the local culture. The visit to the Eureka Colonial House was noteworthy and offered a glimpse of Mauritian history. I also enjoyed the visit to the Ganga Talaab, a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 30m-high bronze statue of Lord Shiva provided fodder for my iPhone.

Since it was an auspicious occasion for Hindus, I took a moment to pray and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva and went around the temple nine times. We also managed to catch a glimpse of the Chamarel Falls at the village of Charamel, as well as admire the Land of the Seven Colors where the earth is a multihued marvel.

As always, it was a pleasure to come back to my room after the excursions, and of course, to find Reshma’s little gifts on the bed. Ah, and sink into an enticing bubble bath and relax with the sea breeze wafting in through the curtains. It is during moments like this that I think I have found my Nirvana.

For enquiries call the customer line at (03) 7957 5678 or visit www.clubmed.com.my.

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