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My Sharjah Experience: Al Noor Island, Rain Room, Mleiha, Sharjah Light Festival

My Sharjah Experience: Al Noor Island, Rain Room, Mleiha, Sharjah Light Festival

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My Sharjah Experience: Al Noor Island, Rain Room, Mleiha, Sharjah Light Festival

Hey guys,

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I was in Sharjah in February for 5 days for the 9th Annual Sharjah Light Festival.

We covered so many places in 5 days and also 3 evenings were dedicated to the Sharjah Light Festival where different city landmarks were lit up with the light shows created by an array of international artists. And the Grand Finale was amazing, the fireworks were spectacular.

Sharjah is UAE’s cultural capital and rightly so with some of the best museums and art galleries in the country.

Let me start with my day by day experience..

Day 1:

We checked in to the Sharjah Sheraton Beach Resort, and after resting for a while and catching a bit of sleep, we headed to Mleiha. First we were given a guided tour of the Mleiha Archaelogical Centre and Indoor Museum. We learned some interesting facts about how people formed a society, how migrants from Africa came to Gulf through Mleiha and saw some preserved tools and weapons used by people in those days.

We then did buggy bashing and dune bashing which was a lot of fun, and stopped for a few pictures in the middle. Finally we headed to the last destination for the day, Mleiha Overnight Camps where we had barbeque dinner, did some star gazing (saw a piece of meteorite as old as the Earth!) and slept in tents. I have never done camping, that too in a desert, so it was kind of an interesting experience and I did enjoy it.

Day 2:

We had breakfast at the Mleiha camps and saw the most beautiful sunrise at 5.52 am. I have not seen many sunrises in my life as I am not a morning person, and this was the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen!

Later we came back to the hotel and after freshening up, we left for Rain Room. Rain Room was one of my favourite experiences in Sharjah. You walk through continuous downpour of rain, without getting wet! Yes! How you ask? There are sensors which detect your presence and the water stops pouring in that area. But you have to walk slow and alone, keeping distance from others, for the sensors to work.

Post the amazing Rain Room experience, we went to Souq Al Arsah in the Heart of Sharjah where we met Fatima and her colleague. They served us Gahwa (Arabic Coffee) which is their welcome drink and dates. Gahwa doesn’t have sugar and hence they drink it with a date, so it balances the bitterness from the coffee. They also explained and taught a bit about the culture and hospitality, how a glass is shaken if you don’t need more gahwa and how they eat dates in odd numbers always (it is said to balance the insulin in the body). We then headed to the Sharjah Heritage Museum which was also a part of Heart of Sharjah.

For lunch, we went to Al Bait which is Sharjah’s first luxury resort and is a part of the Leading Hotels of the World. Al Bait is a part of Emirati Conservation Project and the entire resort is made up of heritage buildings that are more than a century old. The lunch there was amazing and the entire experience was pure luxury.

By evening we came to Al Noor Island which had the most beautiful view and again one of my favourite experiences in Sharjah because it had butterfly house 😀 We played with the butterflies and clicked some pictures with them.

Then we headed to our first day of Sharjah Light Festival. We covered American University of Sharjah, Sharjah Police Academy & University City Hall. We had dinner at Sutis at Al Majaz Waterfront and it was one of the best Lebanese in Sharjah.

Day 3:

We left for lunch at the Shooting Club and also tried our hands at archery there. Shooting was the original plan but there was some technical issue, hence we tried archery.

Later we went to Kalba Birds of Prey center and Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Center where we saw some rare and interesting species of birds, reptiles and animals.

In the evening, we reached our Sharjah Light Festival locations Khorfakkan Municipality, Municipal Council and Town Planning Department.

We had dinner at Fatima’s house, her house was stunning and every corner was so pretty. We even tried some traditional outfits and jewellery.

Day 4:

On Day 4, we went to the Sharjah Islamic Museum and the Sharjah Aquarium. We had lunch at Jones The Grocer which was my favourite meal in Sharjah! Everything we ordered was so fresh and full of flavours, and the desserts were mind blowing.

Then we went to Al Jubail Market and bought some Medjool dates. It was a like an air conditioned vegetable market, and had everything you would need. The variety of dates here is amazing, and the prices are really good plus the quality. I highly recommend shopping for dates in Sharjah, I regret not getting more.

We also went to Irani market and bought some Oud perfumes. This was the final day of the Sharjah Light Festival and we went to Al Qasba and Al Noor Mosque. Then we headed for the Closing Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Al Majaz Waterfront. The lights, music, laser shows, fire crackers, it was a beautiful closing ceremony!

Day 5:

Day 5 was our last day in Sharjah. We went to Kingfisher Lodge for lunch, it’s a beautiful property and the chef was Indian, so we finally had Indian food on our last day and it was pretty good. We were supposed to do Kayaking but it was raining that day, hence we couldn’t. But we did tour the property and the luxury lodges were beautiful, definitely wish to stay there once.

We went to Sahara Shopping Centre for some shopping and then finally headed to the airport.

It was quite a different and unique experience, and I loved being a part of it. A big thank you to Visit Sharjah for having me, it was quite a memorable trip.

I am glad I could capture it all for you guys through this vlog. The total footage was of 80-82 mins, and I have cut it short to 40 mins. I know it’s a long vlog, but I wanted to show everything and I didn’t want to make two parts of it and cut the flow. Also all my Instagram stories from the trip are under the ‘Sharjah’ highlights.

I hope you enjoy this blog and the vlog, do let me know your favourite part in the comments down below or any questions/doubts related to Sharjah.

Why Is Mauritius An Ideal Honeymoon Destination?

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Why Is Mauritius An Ideal Honeymoon Destination?

By Sanchita

Introduction

You have often heard about the saying ‘Travel is about gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown’. And, when it is the Paradise Island to spend the honeymoon with your beloved, you can imagine the gorgeousness of the travelogue. Mauritius a multiethnic island located on the east of Madagascar, is also the land of pristine white sand beaches with a stunning horizon of a blue sky that no brush can transform into a canvas, the legendary sunsets, and crystal blue lagoons with beautiful coral reefs. It is irrefutably the best destination for newlyweds for their honeymoon. The aura of tropical climate, indulging spas, exotic food and cultures, romantic walk to isles, the scenic beauty of the land will be an unforgettable memory, to be cherished till the end of time. So, let’s embark the journey of Mauritius and see why it is an ideal honeymoon destination.

Places to visit

  • Mauritius Botanical Garden

Located near Port Louis, it is considered one of must-visit places of Mauritius. It is the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere and was built in 1767! From the gigantic water lilies, auspicious spice garden to the exceptional varieties of palm trees around the Indian Ocean, this Mauritius Botanical Garden (also known as Pamplemousses Garden) is beautiful in its own delicate way.

  • Île aux Cerfs Island 

A beautiful picturesque which is known as the deer island, is dotted with remarkable white sandy beaches, lagoon, magnificent view and the majestic houses the Bernard Langer golf course. Île aux Cerfs Island is the perfect place for invigorating the mind and soul with the beauty of the scenery around. There are also various fun activities around this 100 hectares of land. Do try the parasailing to unveil the beauty of the place from the bird’s view.

  • Grand Bassin Sacred Lake 

An extinct volcano, Grand Basin is now a lake in the mountains about 1700 feet above the sea level. It is considered another tourist attraction and also a pilgrimage place. Beside the beautiful lake, situated a temple with a 33mts high statue of Lord Shiva. There is a beautiful and uniqueness of the place which makes it an ideal destination of sacredness and mysticism.

  • Trou aux Cerfs

High extinct volcano located in Curepipe, Mauritius, Trou aux Cerfs is a 605 m high. It is one of the best attractions of Curepipe which allows you a spectacular view of the Island itself. This dormant volcano was active until 600,000 to 700,000 years ago and now the crater has a beautiful lake. The beauty of the place cannot be described and is a must visit of all time.

  • Ile aux Aigrettes

Ile aux Aigrettes is a tiny coral island dotted with rare and endangered natural species. It is breathtaking conservation site where you will get to see the most beautiful and rare birds like kestrel, the Green Gecko Phelsuma, etc. At the end of the Ile aux Aigrettes Island, you will be able to rediscover some of the extinct species of the Mascarene Islands in our museum.

  • Waterfalls of Mauritius

The most distinguished waterfalls of Mauritius are Chamarel waterfalls, Alexandra waterfalls, Exil waterfalls and Rochester waterfalls. The Rochester Falls, located between St Félix and Soulliac, crosses through sugarcane fields. It is the wildest waterfall in Mauritius. The abundance of fresh water crashing the old rocks from 10mts high, the setting is beauty in itself. The sound of the water crashing on the rocks and the beauty of the scenario is surely worth watching. There is a place to walk along the river bed for the romantic walk. Chamarel waterfalls is an impressive waterfall of 127m height. It also follows a road until you reach the Colored Earth of Chamarel. Due to different chemical reactions the earth has 7 different colors. It almost looks like moonscape. The Alexandra Fallsis a 105ft waterfall located on the Hay River in the Northwest Territories which is also the 3rd highest in the NWT.

Ideal for honeymoon

The scenic beauty and charisma of the Island, makes it a perfect destination for honeymoon or to propose your beloved. The allure of the white sand, the sunset, the long romantic walks and reminiscing the memories of the relationship will bring the hearts closer than you think. For couples, the foremost thing is to enjoy the beauty of the sunset on Sunset Catamaran Cruise from the South east coast of Mauritius along the east coast. From the slow setting of the sun behind the mountains, the beauty of the sky while altering colors and the reflection on the water is beyond blissful. For the adventurous couple, there are various wild sanctuary and natural reserves to explore and get to know the beautiful yet endangered wildlife.

Mauritius is also famous for shopping arena where everything from ship models and jewelry to Asian handicrafts, clothes, etc. are available. The place is also dotted with various spas and resorts providing the Indian, African, Chinese and European therapeutic traditions. So while you sip on the margarita or a wild berry daiquiri, indulge yourself and enjoy the blissfulness for a while.

It makes for a perfect honeymoon destination, you can either plan the entire trip yourself or choose any of the Mauritius Honeymoon Packages.

Things to do in Mauritius

  • Drive around. The beauty of this island is inexpressible and the only way to explore it is to drive through it. You can easily rent a car and explore the streets and the ethnicity of the place.
  • Walk through the sugarcane fields in the inland area. The place is very airy with a subtle climate and walking through the fields is nothing but a pure ecstasy! You can also visit the visit L’Aventure Du Sucre – a sugar museum with its own sugarcane fields.
  • The beaches. A heaven of white sand, sun and loads of memories. The top spots are the Belle Mare Beach, the hidden La Cuvette beach in the north, and the rugged beaches of the South, especially Le Morne. Sip on your favorite drink and enjoy the heavenly place.
  • Water sports is another great attraction for tourists. The sports includes the exciting snorkeling, exotic deep-sea diving, deep-sea fishing, thrilling parasailing and the fun of scuba diving. There is also a chance of undersea walking where one is on hold meters below the sea with an eyeshade to provide a continuous supply of oxygen.
  • Visiting the Eureka House is another exciting thing to do in Mauritius. It is a unique Creole house built in 1830 situated by the river of Moka. It is a sophisticated Créole house originally owned by British and French aristocrats in the 19th century. It is well known to be one of the largest houses on the island, with 109 doors and windows. Provides an intriguing glimpse into colonial life and has various antique photos and a beautiful garden worth visiting among other thing.

Mauritius Cuisine

Having a diverse population and a distinguished travel spot, the Mauritius cuisine is delicious. It has mostly the spicy taste of Indian, Creole, African and Chinese cuisine. The curry is the famous and a must try for every foodies. Along with that you can also try the rice, roti, niouk nien (dumplings) or mine-frit (Chinese fried noodles.). Cari poule (usually chicken curry) is accessible in most restaurants and street sellers. For curry, they mostly use tomatoes, garlic, ginger, turmeric and curry leaves.

Gateau piment or chilli cakes, is one of the famous snacks of the locals, is made with split peas (dhal or dholl), they also contain red or green chillies, coriander, onions and cumin. They are golden brown in color and deep fried. Salads are enormously popular in Mauritius. From the fruit salad to Millionaire salad, you have it all. The Millionaire salad is made from salad leaves and a palm tree heart, a vegetable taken from the inner core of definite palm trees. The dressing has oysters, shrimp, crayfish, prawns, smoked marlin and crabs. Therefore, the beautiful fusion of various cuisines is incredibly good.

Conclusion

The place is indeed called a paradise or something even better. Be it for a romantic destination with sapphire waters and alluring white sand of the beaches or simply adventurous journey among the craters, lakes, garden, forest, sanctuary – it is worthwhile to visit it once at least. The uniqueness of the place is the best attraction and the beauty is endless.

Mauritius is definitely on my bucket list, what about you?

P.S: Pics from Google