I’m back!!!! And what an adventure I’ve been on. I have so much to share about this magical place. I’ve been to Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, 6,000 miles from the UK and 1,200 off the south east coast of Africa i.e. in the middle of nowhere!
However, I have so much to tell you that it’s going to take me a while to write this up, and for the next few weeks I have not got much time so I thought I’d just share some photos, a bit like a photo journal, to give you some highlights pending the full detail.
I returned on Thursday after a very cramped economy class 12 hour flight with Air Mauritius, as I swapped my flights to avoid the Middle East. However, that made for a very long direct flight to CDG, Paris. It was my longest flight, the furthest I’ve been before is the USA, and I’ve decided that I’m not really made for long haul, although I would do it again to get somewhere like this. Thank goodness for in flight entertainment! The film of the flight which passed some time was “The Fault in our Stars”………………………bit of a mistake for an highly sensitive person like me. Bit of a cheesy film but I started crying somewhere over France and stopped somewhere over Africa!😂 Tear jerking quote of the film “You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world…but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices.” Be warned, you need tissues if you watch this one.
I’ve not been to a resort on the beach, I’ve been to a sort of wellness retreat, with only 25 lodges in 12 hectares/30acres, in the middle of the forest canopy. I’ll tell you all about it later in my detailed post but it was bliss!! It was luxurious in an understated, unpretentious way. An eco resort, all natural materials, all local food, nothing glitzy and fancy……………..the beauty was in the location, the lodge/hut accommodation, outdoor bathroom, the vast forest site, the nature, the birds, the wildlife, the wellness facilities and above all…………..the amazingly attentive and beautiful staff who all come from the villages surrounding Chamarel. If I could give it 11 out of 10 I would. I have come back feeling thoroughly refreshed.
However, I needed to, because I arrived home on Thursday, just 30 days from my ultra run and a few weeks more from my Spanish exam. So it’s head down and focus now for a few weeks which is why the detail might take a while.
I’ve been consistent and continued with my yoga, weights and been on the running machine while away, but now is the final 2 week push before a 2 week taper. After a 12 hour flight on Thursday I did a 10 mile run on Friday (didn’t feel great with puffy legs and jet lag), 20 mile run yesterday (felt a bit better) and an hour strength and conditioning session with my PT at 7:45am this morning (I am now broken😂). So this Sunday afternoon is for Spanish revision and I might bake a cake and eat it!😆
However, Yorkshire is looking mighty fine in the Spring time and I’ve enjoyed my 2 long runs.
There are lots of baby animals.
I didn’t get spat on by my friend who lives nearby who likes to run along the fence with me and spit at me if I get too close………………he was good yesterday!
There was some cool fungus.
The bluebells are out.
And there were lots of uneven uphills as I tried to replicate the terrain I will be faced with on my 47 mile run. 🥵 There’s no point me training on a flat road!
So all in all I’ve decided that Yorkshire’s not too bad and I’m glad to be back for a while pending my usual summer exodus.
So, quick summary of Mauritius – what’s it like and what did I do?
I climbed some mountains!
I propped the bar up on a night! 😁
Drinking possibly a new favourite………………..the passionfruit mojito!
I zipped around the village of Chamarel on my bike to discover the local village and its people……………………..who were all very lovely……………..and speak great English as it’s their first language……………along with French, Mauritian Creole, and anumber of Indian and African languages, as the island is so diverse in its cultures due to its history – which I’ll explain when I do my more detailed write up.
I went to the coffee plantation.
And was taught how to do coffee tasting properly – dry nose, wet nose, and slurp test! It was fun and as you can see I took it very seriously. 😆
I spent a lot of time just lazing around my cabin ……………………….
…………………and dozing in the garden by the pool reading.
I visited the Ebony Forest reserve………………..
Where I stumbled across a giant tortoise called Ralph (well that’s what was painted on his shell so I assumed it was his name).
I lay in the garden at night marveling at the Milky Way.
I went to the village Rum Distillery and tasted all the rums. Rum is in huge production here.
I went scrambling through the forest……………………………..
……………….in search of amazing waterfalls.
So many of them……
I watched the sunset from the hotel ‘View Bar’
While watching the fruit bats fly above……………………..
I visited the chaotic and bustling capital of Port Louis………….
The colours.
The smell of spices.
The market
The street art
I visited the botanical gardens ….
Where I discovered waterlily ponds……..
Full of these…..
Beautiful flowers…….
And unusual flowers.
I wandered around the lodge garden……………
Visited Grand Bassin Hindu Temple (Hinduism is the main religion in Mauritius – almost half of the island) to pay my respects to Shiva……………
………………..and Hanuman, the monkey god.
I read my books……………………… ‘Silent Winds, Dry Seas’ by Vinod Busjeet has to be read if you are coming here. You will understand the caste system and the history and the geography of the island much better. It is a novel about a boy struggling to find his place in the world growing up in Mauritius. A really good read. I also read a Garret Carr new release, a Gabriel Garcia Marquez and a Claire Lynch novel, but more on those later.
Met and leant about the history of the beautiful, friendly and extremely patriotic local people.
Donned my hi vis vest………………
…………………to visit the tea plantation.
Went to the beach.
Met the local wildlife.
Went to the retreat spa for a lovely massage.
And spent a lot of time just being still.
So that’s Mauritius in a nutshell for you. It was my idea of Paradise…………………………….however, it’s not for everyone! I know people who have been and don’t like it. There are various islands in the Indian Ocean to visit and they are all very very different. I had done a lot of research beforehand and knew this was where I wanted to be. I like culture, I love mingling with local people without a tour guide but still feeling safe, I love diversity, I love sampling local food, I love adventure, I love nature, I love walking, I am very aware of the environment and the importance of its preservation. I’m not bothered about everywhere being clinical and pristine. In Mauritius there is evidence of the caste system and hierarchy. A lot of locals, whilst extremely happy and friendly live in shacks with a tin roof, they are very poor. If you don’t like seeing that then it’s not the place for you. Otherwise, if it sounds like it is for you……………GO………….it’s am amazing island.
Otherwise, if you are extremely romantic, crave seclusion and want nothing to do except lay on white sand in a little over water house and are happy to do NOTHING else then you need the Maldives.
It you have more cash to spend and need an expensive, gated resort like setting, better beaches, are not that bothered about the culture or exploring on your own and want things to be more like at home and have pampered luxury then you need the Seychelles.
The choice is yours! There’s no correct one. Just make sure you do your research. I’m happy with my choices! Even my choice of sunglasses………………..”Mum, why have you bought a pair of sunglasses that look like pastry cutters?” 😂😂😂 Don’t you just love your children! I suppose he’s got a point………….I think I was thinking flowers when I bought them, but now I can’t unsee jam tarts.