My trip to Mauritius!
When the announcement came in the earlier month about the trip I was thrilled. No yaar…..no by the idea of going to Mauritius but by the thought that I will be in an aeroplane for the first time! My mom was horrified. Six days devoid of seeing me was an indigestible thought for her (Don’t be under a misconception that she was going to miss me…..I am otherwise in office the whole day. I mean if you calculate the time of working plus travelling. She was afraid that I will be alone in some ‘pardes’). I was shopping for a week before the tour like a mad woman as if the stuff would get exhausted or wouldn’t exist after I return. My poor mom was with me running all the time (as I was in office during day time my mom bought the stuff for me which did not required my preference). She use to tell me, “I will relax the day you go” (‘angrily’) I knew that it was not true but out of frustration. I started packing my luggage on the morning of the flight and finished it one hour before leaving for airport. I was so exited to see an aeroplane! Since childhood we had a habit of viewing airplanes in the sky till they would vanish at the horizon. And now I was going to sit and fly in one!
At the airport the check-in was simple and swift. There were good looking guys in florescent green jackets for assistance if required. I blame my education, I couldn’t ask for any but they had some oldies for using there services. No……I am not a flirt but what can you do if you have to wait for three hours, spared after going through the ‘duty free’ shop on the airport (Chocolates were magnificently packed). Finally our flight arrived, we were walking towards it and suddenly I was in! The crew was wonderful and welcoming. I was in the plane for the first time and to my surprise I was among the very few in my team who had got the window seat (I know it sounds childish but I wanted to see the plane taking off from the ground). The flight was on time and started for take-off. I was not even interested in keeping my bag in the luggage compartment overhead; I was too busy taking picture of airplanes that could be seen from my window. Finally the plane started running and in just few minutes it left the ground far far behind. I was busy looking out of the window when a noise disturbed. It was the airhostess asking if she could help me in keeping my bag in the compartment overhead; at that time I saw a good looking flight purser standing besides her but not helping her (first impression is always the last impression) I couldn’t digest this so I decided to make him work, so I let the airhostess go ahead. I saw him coming back from the other end and stopped him to ask him to keep my bag in the compartment (I know it is not good manners to ask people to do work for you and if the airhostess would not have asked I was myself going to do it …. promise; but I don’t know what took over me and I decided to make him do it) The entertainment channels had started on the TV and it was showing ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’ (cut short to 2 hours). Then the lights were turned off and we slept for 2 hours (I had no intention of doing it and I had decided to stay awake for all 6 hours but the 3 hrs waiting at airport failed my plans). I woke up with some light coming through my half shut window; I quickly woke up and opened the cover. It was breathtaking view outside! We were flying over the clouds; I grabbed my DG camera and started clicking pictures. Time slipped like sand and it was time to land. The plane was slowly falling altitudes and then I could see my destination. There was an announcement that the plane will be landing in next 3 mins. I took a deep breath and down it went till it kissed the ground; I was willing to go through it again and again but it had already landed. Maybe I was the only one not interested in getting out; I came out last and was still watching the plane behind me (I took a photo of it to remember my flight).
First day was resting and having some fun in the evening. The hotel was wonderful and the rooms were well decorated (I forgot to call my mom as she had warned me to call as soon as I land in Mauritius). In the evening I got my mom’s call but she was not angry but more worried about me. We went to sleep early that day.
Day 2:
We visited the Ship Model museum where different kinds of ship models are kept from all over the world. You can effort to buy one for your good memories if you belong to the first world. Doesn’t matter seeing is also joy! From there we went to the glass factory where hand prints of famous personalities are kept for viewing. They had a factory outlet for there glass products but same here (first world). Then we went to Port Louis for shopping but I did not find anything that we couldn’t get in India (Mauritius imports most of its necessities like cloths from other countries like India). I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw my friends purchasing T-shirts from Mauritius (Truly ‘imported’ from India). People were speaking in tutala phutala Hindi what they knew from there ancestors (As they believe……. Many of the residents are immigrants from India. But without surname in Mauritians name it’s difficult to know the truth). I was looking for something different and so I bought a ‘Rain stick’ (as they call it) which is suppose to make noise of rain and further superstitiously bring rains! (I had heard the monsoon would be late this year but now when I take back the rain stick don’t be surprised if it rains in the last week of May…….. it’s me! and if it doesn’t, you can believe in the weather forecast). We had lunch in a hotel which promised to provide ‘Indian food’ (non sense…….no spices at all and they call is ‘Indian’. We all reciprocally decided to have burgers from the next day).
Day 3:
We saw the volcanic crater, Chamarel waterfalls and Chamarel (Seven colour earth formed by lava). I liked the Tortoise approximately 700 year’s old! Then we went to the beach and the rest of the day was spent in the sea waters.
Day 4:
We went to The Grand Bassin were the 108 ft. Shiva idol is erected (I looked like a Lilliput in front of the statue). We went to the Casela Bird Park and did Lion safari. My hotel was in Quatre Bornes which is quit equidistance from all places including the capital, Port Louis. The rest of the day was spent at the Grand Bay beach and the Blue Bay. We also visited the Gandhi Institute where the history of Mauritius is kept since 1957.
That’s all I wanted to write (so little… I can go on and on and on which will make this look like biography of Mauritius). Thanks for your patience
When the announcement came in the earlier month about the trip I was thrilled. No yaar…..no by the idea of going to Mauritius but by the thought that I will be in an aeroplane for the first time! My mom was horrified. Six days devoid of seeing me was an indigestible thought for her (Don’t be under a misconception that she was going to miss me…..I am otherwise in office the whole day. I mean if you calculate the time of working plus travelling. She was afraid that I will be alone in some ‘pardes’). I was shopping for a week before the tour like a mad woman as if the stuff would get exhausted or wouldn’t exist after I return. My poor mom was with me running all the time (as I was in office during day time my mom bought the stuff for me which did not required my preference). She use to tell me, “I will relax the day you go” (‘angrily’) I knew that it was not true but out of frustration. I started packing my luggage on the morning of the flight and finished it one hour before leaving for airport. I was so exited to see an aeroplane! Since childhood we had a habit of viewing airplanes in the sky till they would vanish at the horizon. And now I was going to sit and fly in one!
At the airport the check-in was simple and swift. There were good looking guys in florescent green jackets for assistance if required. I blame my education, I couldn’t ask for any but they had some oldies for using there services. No……I am not a flirt but what can you do if you have to wait for three hours, spared after going through the ‘duty free’ shop on the airport (Chocolates were magnificently packed). Finally our flight arrived, we were walking towards it and suddenly I was in! The crew was wonderful and welcoming. I was in the plane for the first time and to my surprise I was among the very few in my team who had got the window seat (I know it sounds childish but I wanted to see the plane taking off from the ground). The flight was on time and started for take-off. I was not even interested in keeping my bag in the luggage compartment overhead; I was too busy taking picture of airplanes that could be seen from my window. Finally the plane started running and in just few minutes it left the ground far far behind. I was busy looking out of the window when a noise disturbed. It was the airhostess asking if she could help me in keeping my bag in the compartment overhead; at that time I saw a good looking flight purser standing besides her but not helping her (first impression is always the last impression) I couldn’t digest this so I decided to make him work, so I let the airhostess go ahead. I saw him coming back from the other end and stopped him to ask him to keep my bag in the compartment (I know it is not good manners to ask people to do work for you and if the airhostess would not have asked I was myself going to do it …. promise; but I don’t know what took over me and I decided to make him do it) The entertainment channels had started on the TV and it was showing ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’ (cut short to 2 hours). Then the lights were turned off and we slept for 2 hours (I had no intention of doing it and I had decided to stay awake for all 6 hours but the 3 hrs waiting at airport failed my plans). I woke up with some light coming through my half shut window; I quickly woke up and opened the cover. It was breathtaking view outside! We were flying over the clouds; I grabbed my DG camera and started clicking pictures. Time slipped like sand and it was time to land. The plane was slowly falling altitudes and then I could see my destination. There was an announcement that the plane will be landing in next 3 mins. I took a deep breath and down it went till it kissed the ground; I was willing to go through it again and again but it had already landed. Maybe I was the only one not interested in getting out; I came out last and was still watching the plane behind me (I took a photo of it to remember my flight).
First day was resting and having some fun in the evening. The hotel was wonderful and the rooms were well decorated (I forgot to call my mom as she had warned me to call as soon as I land in Mauritius). In the evening I got my mom’s call but she was not angry but more worried about me. We went to sleep early that day.
Day 2:
We visited the Ship Model museum where different kinds of ship models are kept from all over the world. You can effort to buy one for your good memories if you belong to the first world. Doesn’t matter seeing is also joy! From there we went to the glass factory where hand prints of famous personalities are kept for viewing. They had a factory outlet for there glass products but same here (first world). Then we went to Port Louis for shopping but I did not find anything that we couldn’t get in India (Mauritius imports most of its necessities like cloths from other countries like India). I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw my friends purchasing T-shirts from Mauritius (Truly ‘imported’ from India). People were speaking in tutala phutala Hindi what they knew from there ancestors (As they believe……. Many of the residents are immigrants from India. But without surname in Mauritians name it’s difficult to know the truth). I was looking for something different and so I bought a ‘Rain stick’ (as they call it) which is suppose to make noise of rain and further superstitiously bring rains! (I had heard the monsoon would be late this year but now when I take back the rain stick don’t be surprised if it rains in the last week of May…….. it’s me! and if it doesn’t, you can believe in the weather forecast). We had lunch in a hotel which promised to provide ‘Indian food’ (non sense…….no spices at all and they call is ‘Indian’. We all reciprocally decided to have burgers from the next day).
Day 3:
We saw the volcanic crater, Chamarel waterfalls and Chamarel (Seven colour earth formed by lava). I liked the Tortoise approximately 700 year’s old! Then we went to the beach and the rest of the day was spent in the sea waters.
Day 4:
We went to The Grand Bassin were the 108 ft. Shiva idol is erected (I looked like a Lilliput in front of the statue). We went to the Casela Bird Park and did Lion safari. My hotel was in Quatre Bornes which is quit equidistance from all places including the capital, Port Louis. The rest of the day was spent at the Grand Bay beach and the Blue Bay. We also visited the Gandhi Institute where the history of Mauritius is kept since 1957.
That’s all I wanted to write (so little… I can go on and on and on which will make this look like biography of Mauritius). Thanks for your patience
No comments:
Post a Comment