Expatriate in Mauritius: WILLIAM DE MARSANGY

Expatriate in Mauritius: WILLIAM DE MARSANGY

TAMARIN - A HIDDEN JEWEL IN THE MAURITIUS CROWN

Situated on the western coast of Mauritius, the town of Tamarin is considered one of our hidden jewels. Once considered an established fishing village, it is now a holiday destination, thanks in part to the fabulous surfing, fishing, and other water sports in the area. With beaches, forests, mountains and the expansive ocean, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Water Attributes of Tamarin
There is a coral reef break south of the beaches off Tamarin Bay, creating some great surfing possibilities along the southwest shore. Most of the year, surfing is accessible but the breakers are best from May through September. A few surf shops are available along the beach in case you need to purchase or rent any gear.

Part of the appeal of the town’s water features is the wild, undomesticated feel around Tamarin Bay, thanks to its shallow salt flats that surround the area. In fact, this untamed characteristic transfers over to some of the water sports available. You can choose to hire a deep sea charter for some fishing, particularly hard fighting trophy fish like blue marlins.

If fishing is not your cup of tea, you might consider joining a dolphin watching group on a charter boat tour. Dolphin and even its cousin, the porpoise, can often be seen frolicking in Tamarin Bay, their favoured natural habitat. Some charters offer swimming excursions with these delightful, inquisitive sea creatures. You definitely do not want to forget your camera!

Snorkelling in the clear aqua blue waters in the lagoon area of the bay is another fun activity to try in addition to kayaking and kite surfing. A number of prime diving spots are located around the Tamarin waters, too. There is a spectacular professional dive to the Cathedral, an underwater cavern where the light from the surface reflects in beautiful ways. Of course, during any dive, you will see a variety of underwater sea life such as clown fish, sting ray, barracuda and bubble coral. Diving around the Tug 2, a wreck partially buried in the sand, holds a wealth of encounters with snapper, sturgeon and lion fish.

The Draw of the Natural Landscape
Beyond the native evergreen trees and palms that line the beachfront lays a wild, natural landscape. There are the remnants of an ancient volcano as well as forests and mountains. The nearby Black River Georges National Park offers a wealth of outdoor adventures such as hiking, sweeping views of gorges and waterfalls and nature trails ripe for exploring.

If you are a nature lover but do not necessarily care for the physical bushwalking a national park would entail, consider a round of golf or two. The Tamarin golf course is situated on a picturesque backdrop of jagged, rough sea cliffs. The view of Tamarin Bay’s blue waters is breathtaking.

Whether you are an intrepid nature lover or just like the novelty of it, Casela Bird Park is a must-see on your Tamarin tour. This park has over 1,500 birds, including rare ones like the Mauritius windhover and pigeon. Of course, you won’t see Mauritius’ most famous DoDo bird because it has been extinct for several hundred years!

You can also see a variety of other animals such as kangaroos, zebras, monkeys and native deer. Feeding the giant turtles is a real treat. However, it is the preying cats that have become the star attractions of the Casela Bird Park. You can walk with the lions and cheetahs, getting up close and personal. Playtime with the cats and the wildlife safari experience are some great picture-taking opportunities.

A Great Home Base for your Mauritius Escape
Tamarin is a short drive or bus ride away from other Mauritius towns like Port Louis, Flic en Flac and Quatre Bornes, making it a great choice for your vacation home base. You can enjoy the town’s beaches, good weather and some great shopping and dining experiences.

Thanks to the protection of a mountain range, the area is the warmest part of Mauritius, so every day is a good day to visit and stay in town. Because of its rustic, untamed beauty, Tamarin offers less crowded beaches and water-related activities. You can relax on the beach soaking up the sun and many appreciate the opportunity to relax with a book without worrying about other visitors tripping over your claimed beach spot. With sights and activities that appeal to both nature lovers and city dwellers, Tamarin is a great place to explore on your Mauritius holiday.

WILLIAM DE MARSANGY

WILLIAM DE MARSANGY

William de Marsangy’s day starts early, but he starts it off right with a nutritious breakfast because he believes it’s one of the most important meals of the day. And he needs a strong start to his day to be able to run his business and enjoy the wonders of Mauritius. Passionate about friendship, family, hard work, and flying, William feels that Mauritius is the perfect place for him and his wife to explore their personal life journey. The Early Years Born in April, William is the first born son of a Scottish mother who was pleased that her son was born in time for her to enjoy her afternoon tea. William has two older sisters, who now have small children of their own, and one younger brother. His most notable memory of childhood is that he never stayed still. He wasn’t content reading a book, but rather enjoyed being out running, jumping, and playing football. His goal was to create memories and have fun so that he could be the one to write the story, rather than read it. William’s father was an officer in the French army, and William spent much of his childhood travelling the country. Thankfully, William loved all that an army life entailed. He got to experience different cultures, learn the history of other countries, and visit places his friends only dreamed about. Instead of taking ski vacations like the other kids, William was off with his family having adventures in Roma, Kenya, Madagascar, London, and New York. After spending six years in a Catholic boarding school, three of which were difficult years as he spent time adjusting and learning the ropes, William learned developed a strong spirit. He believes his experiences in boarding school gave him a fighting spirit and taught him to meet obstacles with a smile and humour. He still carries this spirit and philosophy with him today. Learning to Fly William credits friend Lou Wainman, whom he met in the Dominican Republic, as being a strong influence on his life. Lou is a passionate kite boarder, Maui. William spent three months in Maui, living out of a van, taking life as it came and learning to fly a kite board himself. He remembers the strong energy of Maui and all of the wild but tiring times of learning how to fly, and he considers it a very fulfilling experience. William’s education has also given him the gift of wings and allowed him to experience other lands and cultures that led to his current profession. William holds degrees in hotel and tourism management and gemology. His travels to Tahiti in 2004 introduced him to the Tahitian black pearl and life on an atoll. William was amazed at the simple life led by the islanders and how warm and welcoming they were to strangers. He remembers how passionate they were about their ukulele music, their oysters, their lagoon, and of course --- their pearls. The experience in Tahiti led William to want to move closer to family, and that’s what led him and his wife, Julie, to Mauritius. Mauritius – A Fusion of Colour, Nature, and Goodness William is impressed by Mauritius’ fusion of cultures, richness of nature, and proximity to Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The couple hopes to start a family here. After living in places such as Hawaii, New Caledonia, Australia, and the Dominican Republic, they believe that this land of good food, great beer, strong winds, and waves is the perfect place to be happy and continue on their life journey together. In June 2010, William and Julie began a jewelry work shop in Pointe aux Cannoniers. Their time in Tahiti taught them much about the Tahitian black pearl, and William now considers himself the “human pearl buying guide”. With a variety of pearls existing from China, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, William believes that many consumers struggle to shop for and purchase a good pearl. Not only does he create custom jewelry pieces using the black pearl, but he provides consultations with clients to educate them about pearls and how to know the true value of a pearl. He has created the Living Room Concept “Invite me to your home and I will draw you the piece of jewellery that I will create for you” William considers himself very lucky to be living on Mauritius, not only because of the people and culture, but because running his own business allows him to spend extra time with his wife and enjoy a day of kite surfing and swimming when the weather’s right. It’s not uncommon for William to see a favourable weather forecast, close up shop, and spend the day flying. He has great respect for the Ocean and hopes that all people realise the treasures provided by the ocean. Most of all he strives to continue to create a great life story. http://tiny.cc/gq9rd