Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Mauritius feels very small compared to Madagascar. Where I am in a place called Moka, you are are about 30 mins in all directions to the coast. I'm staying in the central plateaux - higher up and therefore cooler than the coast and not at all touristy.
It's nice to be in someone's home (I'm staying with my cousin Robert's Mauritian friend's parents who split their time living here and in the UK). So I didn't actually know the friend or the parents (Sam and Loga) before coming here, but they are very welcoming and hospitable. And of course we talk about their three children (who all live in the UK) so I feel like I know them. I'm trying not to impose but at the same time they want to show me around so trying to get the right balance.
I am however really missing the hustle and bustle of Madagascar, the smiles, the dust, dirt and hawkers. Mauritius is far more civilised. Decent roads, cars that don't seem to be 20 years old, shopping malls and of course on the coast quite a few tourists. It's also not too far off UK prices but it does have it's upsides -I had my first diet coke for a month and I am renting a car for a few days to independently get myself around and also I'll pick up Kath when she arrives. It's old colonial past is British, so that also means driving on the left and British plugs, not to mention English is taught at school so although French and Creole (which sounds to me like French) is spoken mostly- people seem to be able to switch to English.
Most of the Mauritians appear of Indian decent - although there is a real mix. I was also not expecting quite so many Hindu temples and small shrines around - my ignorance.
There has been a severe water shortage here, so mains water is only available from 4am to 9am everyday. There is an extra water tank on the roof so that water is used between times. It has however started to rain - more so in the higher central areas than on the coast. This has bought out the mosquitoes who are enjoying my clearly delicious taste no matter what time of the day. But fortunately there is no risk of Malaria here and they want to keep it that way judging by what happens on arrival at the airport - the huge amount of health questions you have to complete and then go through a check point - in fact I'm surprised I didn't have a thermometer thrust somewhere to check I was telling the truth when declaring I didn't have a fever!
There are a lot of dive sites here and I wanted to do some before Kath came and even look into doing my Advanced - but I need to make sure my ear infection completely heals up. It's on the mend but I need to be patient.
I've been taken to the Black River Gorges National park viewpoints and Tamarin Falls viewpoint - a short walk but no hiking due to the rain, seen a sacred (Hindu) lake called Gran Bassin, where Hindu's come on a pilgrimage once a year from all over the world to pay homage to Shiva at the Maha Shivarati celebrations usually in Feb. Apparently the largest Hindu celebration outside India. However it was hard to see much of it due to the mist!
Also been down to the south coast to have a long swim at Le Morne, near where the escaped slaves used to hide in a mountain - Le Morne Brabant - a stunning rock crag. In Moka there is an old colonial house called Eureka and gardens still mostly intact, so I walked there and had a walk around and along the river and waterfall - picturing the grandeur of living here 150 years ago with many servants. Walking around is about the extent of my exercise at the moment which is a bit worrying as I need to be fit for New Zealand.
- comments