3rd Jan 2019

              So eventually in Mauritius but not without a bit of drama 😊 since I was nearly not allowed to flight from Amman as per “system” at the check in I was not allowed to fly to Mauritius since I have no hotel reservation, neither return or out flying ticket and the “system says no”. Well get into a bit of anger as I had not seen this on any website when checked the Mauritius but eventually bought a ticket out as I had to do so anyway. Got in the airport departure lounge, finished the selection photos upload here in gallery and walked a bit before boarding on the plane. The plane was full to Jeddah so not much rest but thankfully only short flight as time zone changed and got one hour more i.e quicker to Jeddah. The airport in Jeddah is not that much I had to say that probably worse I had been, bit dirty and mainly overcrowded, people sleeping, sitting on the floor everywhere and no matter how many flights departed more people appeared on the floor. Eventually after three of four attempt for sleep on marble floor with back pack as pillow I gave up and went for a walk to stretch legs. After forty five minutes the flight to Mauritius was boarding and all people went running as if mad cow was chasing them. Thankfully this time the plan was quarter full, mainly one person per three seats but I’ve got the first row to stretch my legs from girl at check in at Amman airport to sooth my anger with the process so thank God for that. I would still like to sleep across three seats so going to explore a bit if there are any free for me, since it is after breakfast and for few hours nothing will happen anyway. Unfortunately no free three seater left for me so I’m stuck to my seat but honestly could not sleep anyway so I went to walk along the plane chat to Russian air hostess who was responsible for part of the plane where I was sitting so since I was walking up and down the plane like air hostess and she was sitting on her seat I’ve stop to chat to her. It was strange to see her sitting there but apparently the big nose aka boss told them that they had to be seen by us travelers in case they need anything, does not matter that most of the people were sleeping. She said that she is Russian but lived in Serbia and now in Saudi Arabia and always did the air hostess job so just travelling, having good time and enjoying life. She was the only white blond girl from the crew and I had forget to aske her if she understand Arabic as every time she talked to colleagues it was in English so it was strange but I assume that she is there for English speaking people. After few minutes of chat her colleagues appeared and she mentioned that I might like to take seat, politely tell me to F.. O.. 😊  Got a snack, tea and read a bit of book of Noam Chomsky but since it is a heavy read I just got through one chapter before I put it down to floor and just gazed through the window on starting sunrise as much as I could see as I was in the middle aisle.

Time to land and the scenery changed to some beautiful green lush forests, fields and sea at horizon as if I was landing to some jungle or mystic secret place Shambala or just simply paradise. I have flown few times as I’m not a globetrotter but this was so far the best scenery to be seen during the landing and the slight movement of the plane in the strong wind does not bothered me at all. The shock when we exit door and got hit by the hot wave of really hot, dry air was really something especially after the cold Amman and I was happy to have my flip flops ready for change to not overheat myself. Airport has the most beautiful view from all the airports I have ever been as the whole main glass wall is facing the green fields and mountains as we well as you can see the ocean at the end, mesmerizing. 

              Filling the embarkment immigration and health cards at the window watching the scenery behind was so nice that it take me some time and since the line to immigration was long and slow so I had time to admire the scenery and the Wi-Fi was so intermittent that I could not get into my email for onward ticket to show the immigration officer and also to what’s up to let my friend know that I’m on my way. Eventually the line approached the line painted on the floor and I was called to immigration officer and after few questions such as “welcome back , you’ve been here before” I was let go to process  through health check which was easy since I was not coming from Africa or South America so the few questions, how long i was in Egypt, Morocco I was stamped and officially admitted to Mauritius. On the way out I stopped in the duty free to get some wine for my friend and the selection was not so big so I hope that they liked the selection. Now I was leaving airport with my “little” suitcase and as I was nearly at the exit I just heard “ sir, passport “ as I passed by the custom official without blinking. So step back, gave him my passport and answered the usual question have no been here before, I was asked to place my luggage on the X-ray machine “wondering how much x-Ray is healthy for the luggage 😊” and being thanked for the officer wished me nice day and here I was at arrival cattle yard with all the railings like they expect bulls running out of the airport. Rajiv was there together with his friend Vimal as they can pick me up from the airport, rather than me taking a bus, what I was planning but with the heat and my little suitcase I was happy that they were there. The car journey was like if I was driven to paradise. The mountains, the green and the heat… ahh I love it here.., we had to stop for obligatory hydration since they make here two types of beer and it needed to be tasted straight away to acclimate to Mauritius 😊  and I chose Phoenix  instead of blue marlin.  On the way we go as dinner was awaiting us at Rajiv home , where his Mom cooked lovely dinner and since I was little knickered from the flight Rajiv said that we go for swim in the ocean to refresh but we just got into  his friends car where we were told that there is invasion of jelly fish now here so we cannot swim and therefore the cart just pulled into driveway of the house of his friends and I was introduced to three brothers father and I admired the Triumph 1300 yellow car parked between the two houses what was present for dad from one of the Son who fully restored the car before giving it to dad as this was his first car, such a nice gesture !

Obviously such event could not be without drink and beer was put on the table with local rum and delicious snacks home made from dhal as far as I remember. Since I was tired from the flight I was sipping beer slowly and expected to fall asleep any minute… however after few beers it was time to switch to seven seas drink, what is rum, water and dash of coca cola, thankfully this was last drink as I felt it after arriving at the house. The evening itself was absolutely fabulous and I was really taken aback by warm welcoming from Rajiv’s family and friends and thankfully they speak English what makes my evening much more pleasant as my broken French would be not sufficient for conversation. The sense of family togetherness here is amazing even on the first night at Mauritius.

              4th Jan

Port Louis by music bus is on program today as I have to see the capital 😊 relatively good sleep in 30 degrees sweating my bol…. Off was interesting but thank you to Tullamore Dew I feel asleep really easy and woke up in the morning. Tea and sandwich for breakfast and we set off to bus station and the local buses are something like American school buses in type but not in color, energy or music for that matter as the lovely Caribbean style music is coming out of the speakers so it put smile on your face, plus the colors of the bus and clothes of all travelers is amazing for the eyes. WE got in and I have to say that Port Louis is hot and I mean more hot that the part where I’m staying, which is out of the main town and no tourist is here except me” the only white European guy” and we went through local market street, busting with all types of sale items and voices shouting in creol to attract potential buyers. After few meters we went to this heaven of fresh vegetables, what was closed market with every possible vegetable, fruit I have not even know exist all freshly produced in local fields and beautifully presented on the stools, shelves. Amazing how much vegetable is there in the world available for cooking delicious food. Since there was a stool with fresh coconut we got two and seen the guy chopping the skin with long big machete while holding the coconut in other hand and tossing to get equal chop was some skill. Straw in and drink the whole coconut yummy refreshing water, then the guy took the coconut and took the outer skin away some sort craw bar, to get to inner skin what was skillfully removed by this long machete until we got fresh coconut to eat. Nothing like the dry coconut you could lose your teeth on in Ireland or for that matter in any European country as this was soft and lovely as if you cross between apple and banana. Then we went around to local fast food part of the marked and got the dhall purii and black refresh mousse made from sea weed and chia seeds for late breakfast, earl lunch and both were amazingly cheap €1 and tasty. This market is only few meters from the central bus station to the right and down the street walk about 200 meters and on your left you see the fruits stalls through doorway. Refreshed and fed we took the walk to Mauritius museum, which was unfortunately closed for renovations so we just walked the park front of it with trees what looks like form Avatar movie. Long branches, hanging down like hair after wash towards the earth, created nice atmosphere in the park, which I was told was not only thing that created “nice” atmosphere in this park in the past…😊  Exiting this  park we took the usual touristic way at the sea front where  all the fancy boutiques sold overpriced set of spices what you can get on this fruit market for third of the price. Walked a bit but this is not my cup of tea so we turned back and stopped at hydration stop for three lovely beers and some sea food with chat. I had not have drink in long time and three beers, plus the sun and 30 degrees sticky heat caused my sleep on the local bus after short walk through the streets of Port Louis eventually arriving at bus station with bottle of water on the way home for dinner on the roof. Dinning on the roof is absofuckinglutely  “great dinning”  with the fresh breeze shifting through and birds sing their lullabies before bedtime until dark sky and start are the only show. Especially when the town is out of electricity due some issue when the whole town went dark 😊 amazing sight of sky and starts.