Mauritius... a tiny speck of paradise in the Indian Ocean...azzure skys, green sugarcane fields, white sand beaches, crystal clear sea !!! Nature has been bountiful to this island. Gentle people & an easy pace of life makes it an ideal 'chill-out' destination.
The Ambre Hotel was an ideal base for our 4 day stay. A resort spread across acres of beachside land, it has it's own private beach & a very European crowd. The early morning runs on the sea-shore felt blissful. Pristine surroundings, clean , cool breeze & literally no one to be seen - one never felt more at peace with oneself. The serendipity of finding a small Shiva temple 3 kms away on a desolate beach made one feel that the divine forces were out to make sure that you enjoyed every moment of your stay on the island.
Mautitius has a lot to offer other than the sea & beaches. A very picturesque place, its green everywhere. Mountains & hills make up a large part of the island. Sugarcane fields are the most ubiquitous, but one also finds pineapple, litchi and many other exciting fruits. A delicious mango with red chilli flakes was one of the most exciting things I have eaten.
Exciting natural spots include Chamarel waterfalls, Grand Bassin & Chamarel 7 sands among others. Port Louis is a quintessential town, having a colonial charm of it's own. A place full of French & British history, it is ideal for postcard picture photo-ops. The Citadel offers you a view an amazing sunset.
A predominantly Hindu population means that one sees a large number of temples. The 110 feet Shiva idol is a spectre to behold. The sheer size & majesty of the statue makes you feel it is the reigning deity of the island. Apart from temples there are beautiful mosques & cathedrals which dot the island.
Most of the natives are of Indian descent. They have been here for close to 2 centuries. It's interesting how the Indian names have taken interesting spellings & pronounciations. A store board read 'Cauli Churn Store' - sounds familiar doesnt it ?? Have you heard of "Kalicharan" !?
Watersports is an integral part of the Mauritius tourist circuit. Parasailing, banana boat, water scooter, undersea walking & scuba diving can be enticing even to the most uninitiated. The crystal clear water makes undersea walking an amazing experience. The Blue Safari submarine ride was an out-of-the world experience - seeing colours change as the sub passes down 40 metres in the sea, seeing the wreck of the 'Hope Star' ship & of course the thousands of sea creatures.
Walk with the lions - one of the most 'hatke' experiences of ones life !! One could never have imagined that we would one day be petting lions in the wild, and that too 2 of them at the same time !! Lions (lionesses to be precise) who were strong, majestic, had all their claws & teeth, and ofcourse, were not drugged !!
Mauritius is not much of a shopper's paradise, though one finds a number of decent souvenir shops. Sacking out at the beach with a book & beer is the most paisa-wasool thing to do .
The beachside party on the 3rd nite, with live sega dance, bar-be-que, & an excited group of 50 was a great way to end the memorable trip. Some of the other events which will be etched in memory will be the high-sea rescue adventure & the Irish exploration (this is only for those who know about it)!!!
And most of you would be wondering about the title - well, whenever we asked the coach driver when will we arrive at our next destination the answer was always 60 minutes !!!
