meet Mauritius, the Indian Ocean’s open secret.
the first thing i noticed about mauritius:
Mauritius has only two seasons: Summer (November-April) and Winter (May-October) – and i landed right at the heart of this transition; where everything felt like a rush of bright blue streaked with rays of sun. but, the glorious weather, i was told, was not a year-round privilege. the island is also very prone to hurricanes, which typically happens during the hottest months of the year (December-February).
that said, the other thing I really took to were its perennials. so many different kinds of them, all rising high above its streets like idling exclamation marks on the landscape.
even their cellphone towers are disguised as palm trees and at first glance, I readily assumed it was some special giant species of palm trees that really grew that tall and towering. can you spot said ‘tree’ in the photos above?
the thing about the waters:
Mauritius is genuine unspoilt paradise – the kind that doesn’t require you to hop off to neighbouring islets just for a taste of that stimulating waterborne escapade. even its mainland beaches bear breathtaking strips of fine golden sands lapped by the balmy waters courtesy of the grand Indian Ocean herself. during the week the beaches are a mellow scene, but on weekends they fire up the legendary Mauritian island spirit; making it such a wonderful cultural sight to behold.
but of course, for the ‘real deal’ that promises riches of abundant sunshine, exquisite beaches, stunning gardens both above and underwater, and creature comforts enough to ward off any hankerings for an early return to ‘civilisation’; take that boat ride to any island. this is possibly one decision you will never regret.
the things about the nature:
nature is everywhere but Mauritius doesn’t make you rough it. its luscious strips of land is a carpet for green palms and exotic wildflowers, and such a beautiful magnet for vibrant animal life. if you’re looking for non-beach activities, there’s the Black River Gorges National Park, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, the highly popular Seven Colored Earth; and of course, my forever favourite, the Casela Safari Park.
safaris and game reserves notwithstanding, Casela is definitely my most favoured animal attraction in the world. it’s run in such parallel with the physiological nature of animals that the keepers won’t hesitate to admonish the humans (and not the animals) when they (the humans) step out of line. i recommend it to EVERYONE I know – whether or not they’re even headed that direction .
the entire experience is a little pricey and i think i must have spent close to USD200 in total – but it’s so worth it because you see the way the animals are accommodated and managed; and you know that there is such a deep-rooted love for them stemming from the staff themselves. it’s run responsibly and ethically and i mean, the keepers really love the cats. they play with them and they hug them and they kiss them when no one’s looking, and that makes me jealous because then it makes me want to be them (the keepers, not the cats).
the thing i most wanted to capture:
the stunning sunsets that are so bold and so brilliant and so rich, night after night after night. that tangerine glow on the horizon; the purple haze phenomenon on cloudy days. it’s like a tropical version of the Northern Lights, a skyburst of silky smooth reds. like a powerful symphony winding down after its final concerto.
the thing i fell in love with:
the people.
Mauritius is a beguiling mix of ancient port town and seaside paradise; with a cultural maze of Creoleans, Indians, French, and Caucasians making up the majority of its demographic. there is an exotic vibrance to their spirit – perhaps from living so close to heaven – with an unparalleled warmth and friendliness to their laidback elegance.
one of the things my AirBNB host shared with me one day when i hitched a ride on his car to the west; was that cars in Mauritius never honk – no matter how bad it is.
i can’t imagine any city pulling off this level of all-encompassing courtesy and graciousness anywhere, let alone on the road; but it definitely does say alot about the make-up of these people who practise it and their values that lead them there.
the thing i learnt:
this isn’t earth.
and then, this is earth and we need to protect it.
these two thoughts played through my head on repeat like a broken tape recorder the entire time. it isn’t just the hypnotic, cascading aquamarineness of the island that is a vision to behold; but all the flora & fauna and birdlife that come along with it. on this island reigns a universal peace and tranquility where life flows glibly to the pace and rhythm of nature. Earth here is vibrant and unfettered, wildlife varied and abundant, and the environment so fragile that you almost feel an instinctive need to protect it. from the ones who don’t know about climate change. the ones who know but don’t care. And the ones who just simply, don’t believe.
paradise on earth isn’t paradise, but simply just how earth was before we took over and bore it down to ruins, square metre by square metre. please don’t ever think that you can’t make a difference. just as how, collectively, humans can have a huge cumulative impact on the environment; know that collectively, we can make that impact a good one too.
Comments
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shaf.finah
it really is – what a change it was coming in from city life! 🥰
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Kay
This was such a beautiful post – like poetry! I’d love to visit one day
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shaf.finah
Thank you Cosette! 💐
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shaf.finah
thank you so much Kay – that means the world to me! ❤️
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Josy A
Mauritius is just such a beautiful place. Beautiful scenery, incredible nature and kind, friendly people. I would love to step into your flip flops and explore those islands!
p.s. Those fake trees for cell phone towers are a genius idea! What a good way to hide them in plain sight.
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shaf.finah
it is! i literally found out about it ONLY after leaving the country! 😅😅
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Brittany
Your photos are so beautiful! I loved seeing the photos of all the wildlife and the sunsets. I’d love to visit Mauritius!
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shaf.finah
thank you so much Brittany – Mauritius’ sunsets are the BEST! 🌅
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Krista
Wow Mauritius looks like an absolutely gorgeous location to visit! I love the look of the clear water, and it seems like there are a lot of things to do here too which is great!
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shaf.finah
It is – I still have so many fond memories even with all the years passed! 🥰
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gloria li
I had forgotten how stunning your photos are. Mauritius is so close yet so far for me. enjoyed this photo story.
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shaf.finah
Gosh thank you Gloria, that means alot to me! ❤️
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Emma
What an amazingly beautiful place. I love the fantastic wildlife pictures. Seriously, so many lovely looking birds. And the water is so blue and inviting. A great looking place to relax and explore
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shaf.finah
It really is – definitely one of my top 5 so far!
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Annelies De Gelas
Wow, if that cat sanctuary is really run in an ethical and responsible way, I need to visit! 🙂
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shaf.finah
It is! ❤️❤️
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Manish Ambaliya
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.
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shaf.finah
me neither! 😅 I’m always bound to miss bits and pieces due to money constraints and just time really – but Mauritius is wonderfully bite-sized enough to cover a ton even when staying out of one place!
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Lasma
Wonderful article and inspires me to visit Mauritius 🙂 I always thought it was a fancy destination, but I love how you captured street life. Well done!
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shafinah.j
Thanks Lasma – I too thought it was a fancy kind of place at first but when I reached there, oh how it changed my heart! 🧡
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Lita
Wow I loved seeing all those colorful birds. Mauritius seems like a great place to visit and it’s so interesting how they never honk at each other. It must be a pretty friendly place.