I've moved on...
...to a different domain. Why, what were you thinking? The truth is, I just woke up one day and decided it's time for a change—a metamorphosis, if you will; or, in layman's terms, if Britney can shave her head, then maybe so can I? Nevertheless, it's been a rather handsome 10 years of talking to you, and thank you for putting up with all my moodswings and terrible dad jokes. Fear not! The hormonal imbalance and jokes are more terrible on CUBICLE, see you there.

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_001

Royal Palm Mauritius
Grand Baie – B13, Mauritius | www.beachcomber-hotels.com/

Gawping is encouraged in Mauritius, and best done airborne in the final quarter of hour of the eleven something from London Gatwick. The first quarter is uneventful, as usual. Like clockwork, I nod off to gentle groans of the aircraft as it laboriously tears through soggy rainclouds, the occasional turbulence is but a nudging into a more permanent sleeping position. Throw in a few grainy movies in between and it’s the typical long-haul – I’ve never found it difficult to idle time away in planes anyway. Then it happens, local time 6AM, the sun splits between the blinds as the captain announces our descent into Mauritian domain, circling the South-Eastern coast, and gone are the blanket-sheathed human-cocoons (aka Londoners). Every passenger cranes their necks towards the nearest window, gawping. A breath-taking view of an infinite blue pans out across the cabin, and for some lucky few behind the left wing, a dazzling view of the milky atoll, swirling with under-water dunes, that give way to a rippling green island mottled with sugar cane farms and fishing villages.

Royal Palm Mauritius, a Beachcomber that boasts six stars, both on paper and from the moment of arrival – is a 40 minute air-conditioned, cold-towelled, ABBA (from the Creole-speaking radio)-infused ride from the airport. We weave North, through hills and crossroads, skimming the feet of some great mountains (more craning and gawping) with tropical vegetation sprawling at the hem, and wonder if a visit to Jurassic World is in the itinerary. At just a stone throw from the coastal village of Grand Baie, the hotel comes into view – heavily veiled by coconut palms and guarded by uniformed staff. Phew, no velociraptors are going to find us here.

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_002Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_003

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_004

Hat – Melissa Odabash. Dress – Topshop Unique (similar).

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_005

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_006

Check-in is breezy, just long enough to notice that the lobby smells of sun-warmed nutmeg and coconut lotion. We decide to do breakfast first, showers can wait. Overlooking the glassy cerulean water with hazy eyes, I order eggs at La Brezza: ‘Over easy, with a sprinkle of garlic pepper – with a serving of some smoked salmon. And a glass of apple, carrot and ginger smoothie, please, EXTRA fiery’ . A smiley waiter named Ritesh takes down my order and in the following five days, remembers my preference. The same way the housekeeping staff turn down my sheets during the day as my tendency to napping indoors become apparent, and a random-yet-justified appearance of a serrated knife in the room one afternoon after having bludgeoned the five yellow passion fruits with the sharper end of my eyelash curler on the first day. So this is what six-star service means (!)

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_007Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_008

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_009

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_010

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_011Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_012

Lingerie – Gooseberry Intimates

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_013

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_014

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_015Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_016

The hotel isn’t much to figure out, a haven for those who like it simple: all 69 (newly renovated) suites are treated to a sea view, one central corridor, and sports & spa facilities in the back where it’s cooler, water sports at the beach front where it’s wetter…  Rather, it’s one’s job to be creative (or incredibly lazy) with the same 24 hours that is usually dissected with zeal back at home. Is it an early morning yoga session at the spa, followed by a flop down on the powder-soft beach and lull into a delicious, woozy half-sleep until the smell of pasta reaches your nose? Or giving water-ski a go? You’re on Mauritian hours, nothing but your own whim can command.

Park & Cube was a guest of Royal Palm Mauritius, all views and opinions are my own.

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_018

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_019

Skincare – Dolce & Gabbana. Cleanser – Creme de la Mer. Sun screen – Clinique.

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_020

Top & Bottom – Next.

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_021Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_022

PJ’s – Gooseberry Intimates

Park-and-Cube_Royal-Palm-Mauritius_023

Park-and-Cube_Whats-in-my-Travel-Bag_01

A little peek at what’s in my carry-on!

Park-and-Cube_Whats-in-my-Travel-Bag_02

Sunglasses – Carrera by Jimmy Choo

Park-and-Cube_Whats-in-my-Travel-Bag_03

Park-and-Cube_Whats-in-my-Travel-Bag_04

Park-and-Cube_Whats-in-my-Travel-Bag_06 Park-and-Cube_Whats-in-my-Travel-Bag_07

Park-and-Cube_Whats-in-my-Travel-Bag_10

Coat – Mango. Jeans – James Jeans. Shoes – Zara. Bag – L.K.Bennett. Rolly bag – Longchamp

Park-and-Cube_Whats-in-my-Travel-Bag_08 Park-and-Cube_Whats-in-my-Travel-Bag_09

Park-and-Cube_Whats-in-my-Travel-Bag_05

(Rollover to activate numbers ↑)

Rosamundthe gentlewoman that has been accompanying me on many flights of late. Has a soft suede heart, and capability of holding many stories (by way of Kindle) and secrets.
A cashmere scarf that fits in tight corners and folds out into a creamy cloud around your neck, should you wish to hide that double-chin on your snooze. Alternative to the U-shaped flight pillow I never remember to buy.
Carrera by Jimmy Choo – ready for landing, for that rockstar moment when you step out of the airport in a sunny country and you find yourself sporting two more carry-on’s under your eyes.
‘Shut up, I’m fabulous’ rose-gold headphones by Frends. Perfect for NOT hearing the We’re boarding announcements and being that ‘fashionably late’ passenger that gets all the attention in the world. Clever.
Limousine for key items for any trip: the Louis Vuitton Mon Monogram travel wallet – does not come with a mini-fridge with champagne, but does have compartments for different currencies. As if I’m going on more than one destination at a time, pffsh.
Airport pouch by the geniuses (geniusi?) at Muji – mine’s a small version but they come in larger sizes (within airport regulation) for shorter trips where you don’t wish to check-in one lone shampoo bottle.
Fences and Windows by Naomi Klein, amazing read – but sometimes used as alternative to sleeping pill on longer flights. Must’ve read the same sentence in that on chapter about five times now.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 S Pen only comes out above 10,000 ft – highly practical when re-thinking your life and writing down life goals that you’ll never read again. Also partner in crime for item .
Snacks – Because somebody is always too impatient for the food trolley to roll by. Plus, I’ve never seen a flight offer Coconut Water (more potassium than four bananas – try taking four bananas on board), and until that day, I will insist on bringing one aboard.
Trusty Casio on my wrist. I don’t want our plane to crash because I turned on my mobile to check the time, thank you. BECAUSE THAT’S A THING APPARENTLY.
Mulberry envelope pouch I got for £25 in Bicester Village, used as foreign currency wallet, or what is now a mixture of Yens, Euros, Dollars, Pounds and Wons, and a game of is this your country’s money at checkout.

Crème de la Mer, the Moisturizing Soft Cream

Vest & Top – Day Birger et Mikkelsen. Khaki jeans – Henry Holland x Debenhams. Wedges – Kurt Geiger Montpellier. Tropical-print blazer – Maarten van der horst for Topshop.

I grew up to the sound of slapping – my mother slapping serums and lotions into her face every morning and evening, that is – nothing at all to do with being a tiger-mum, oh nooo. (Come back after midnight and I’ll share some gory details of me growing up a Korean kid with absolutely no talent for maths) We kept the dressing table in my room even before I had my first acne, but the light was always good in the morning and for years I’d jolt awake to wild noises of my mother’s extensive skincare routine… and in a couple of years once I’d grown a pair of boobs it’d become mine. Layering skincare is no secret to modern women, and while I won’t deny that my mother’s clap-fest was probably more fuelled by the horsepower in her arms than some kind of dedication for good skin, slapping – or ‘firm’ patting – is a neat trick that helps stimulate blood-flow, which makes the skin more receptive to ingredients. Plus, it also raises the skin temperature ever so slightly which means products can seep deeper! So that’s my little skincare tip, whacking in all those layers in and hoping I won’t pop an eyeball.

I’ve been meaning to share the few products I use daily, but this Crème de la Mer review + shoot I did for Editer.com came at a great time so I thought I’d start with this. Make sure to check out for the little treat that Crème de la Mer are offering to Editer.com readers: a deluxe 7ml travel size of the Moisturizing Soft Cream with any purchase at www.cremedelamer.co.uk (just use ‘EDITER‘ when you check out)!