Travelling is one of my most treasured experiences. I don't know anyone who doesn't like or have no desire to travel. They'd be lying, if they said they didn't. Either that or they're bitterly broke but still secretly wishing. My recent trip to Mauritius has added a few double-cream-Oreo-brownie points to my list of island holidays. It's awesome!!!!! Initially planned as a diving trip with friends that was shelved following the Asian Tsunami, I didn't get to realise the plans until Lien announced that she was getting married in Mauritius. Well, of course, I RSVP-ed within the same second she proposed (for me to join her at her wedding!).
The flight to Mauritius on Air Mauritius/MAS was smooth. Gorgeous cabin crews with sun-kissed golden brown complexions livened the atmosphere in-flight. After 7 hours of cruise, I got really excited when I looked out my window. Anticipations heightened as we were made to circle the island a bit longer. Just watching the beautiful thick white cotton clouds above the island gave me goose-bumps! I swear even the clouds in Mauritius are different from the ones above home. The indian ocean had a striking aquamarine and light jade colour, white sandy patches and a silver glisten on the sea surface. I couldn't wait to get in!
God-forbid me going loony, but I know I heard by dive gear in the airbus' cargo jumpin' for joy too! Mauritius airport is situated on the SE corner of the island and it is about 1 hr by taxi to the capital, Port Louis. All around the island are heavenly miles of coastal beaches, luxurious holiday villas, hotels and resorts. My friends and I chose to stay at Pereybere, a small beachfront area, a little NW of the island. We got a villa accommodation with 5 rooms, 3 toilets, 2 kitchens and a swimming pool. Big place. Eight friends from London who were on the trip agreed that a self-catering option was most ideal. After all, the pool was great for the kids (and I mean, the rest of my friends from London, who don't get to swim in tropical weather 9 months of their year!).
The cultures in Mauritius is a good mix of French, Africans, Indians and Chinese ethnic groups. It's a bit like the mix at home but different. The traffic jams are 
the same though. Maybe even worse. Food is also familiar to the taste buds with curry dishes, dupree, which is essentially capati with dhall folded in like a wrap, a delicious fast food sold at quaint caravan stalls along the beach, and also Mauritian dishes that has abit of African influences - mainly use lots of chopped tomatoes and purees. Yummy! You also get the typical Western cuisine. There is only 1 McDonald's in the whole of Mauritius. Then again, why would u need more when the population is only estimated at 300, 000 people? Then again, why would anyone go all the way to Mauritius and eat McD's?
Shopping in Port Louis is ok. Shopping at the bazaars is fantastic! My mate Dushy bought a canvas art by a local artist for only Rps 5000 (GBP 75). The Mauritian currency is Rupees but unsurprisingly, some places quote in Euros too. The French influences left there during their occupation is still rife all around. The city's Port Louis harbour, waterfront hotels, Caudan peninsula and 
architectures are classic examples. It's amazing! There are even boat taxis that ferry people along the harbour front to get from the Caudan mall to the waterfront hotels or to office buildings. Many locals and tourists would spill into the exclusive Caudan complex, Mauritius' premier commercial and entertainment centre overlooking the thames for lunch or shopping or both. Pretty relaxing to have lunch by the steps of the waterfront actually. Whilst surrounded by the indian ocean, Mauritius is padded with endless vastlands of sugarcane plantations. Hence, their rich sugar economy. They have sugar for 
everything. 13 types altogether produced by the Mauritius Sugar industry- demerara sugar, golden granulated raws, golden caster, fine caster and golden bakery sugars, light and dark muscovado, molasses sugar, special raw sugar and coffee crystals to name a few. I guess similar to us where we have rice and the different SKUs. I can't even remember all the rice names. Yikes! We celebrated Lien and Darren's wedding at Domain Anna, which is a very secluded resort restaurant surrounded by sugarcane plantation. On our way back late past midnight after the wedding dinner, driving through without "street" lamps had us huddled together in our van as Creepy Jeepers threatened to jump alive out of the sugarcane alleys, thanks to MacPang's vivid imagination. Kids!! Trinh almost dug her nails into my flesh from holding my arm too tightly. She wasn't called "chic"-ken for nothing!
Although I hadn't the chance to catch some dives this time as there were 2 cyclones lurking in the NE bay rendering it neither safe nor pretty underwater, at the end of my week there and travelling home alone on valentine's day, I was somewhat lackadaisical about not being able to spend the over-rated Feb 14th with loved ones. In fact, the fun-filled time sunbathing in Pereybere, bazaars and the sunset in Grand Baie, 
wedding party at Domain Anna, crazy dinner at Club Med, Port Louis walkathon (I didn't tell u about this, eh?) and swimming in the Indian Ocean was exhilaratingly refreshing. Knitting new friendships (salute! to Dushy, Rachel, Sarah, Nghi, Kevin and Long) and catching up with old friends (Trinh, Hang, Lien and Darren, Binh and Quan) and the new babies (Cayla and Megan) are cherished moments. Getting a glittering golden brown tan with Mauritius written all over it is priceless!....
...well err.. no, actually it costed exactly Rps 45, 236.98. *Eeps!*
