Week at Mauritius and wedding to enjoy...

Mauritius here I come again ! This time only for short visit for Nitish and Sweaty wedding since it is not every day that you are invited to Hindu three days wedding in such paradise as Mauritius, so I jumped the chance and now I’m going there. It was a tough deliberation if yes or no give the fact that I came to Dublin to assist friends in need aka Frank & Nook. However we had a chat and he agreed that he will get by without me for a week so I booked ticket, one day apart from Rajiv’s as  I need one more day to stay behind in Dublin. He mentioned that his Mom was asking if I’m coming too, so I decided that it will do me good to have a little vacation form one long vacation and I really liked there last time so give it another go as Islands are amazing and have some magnetic attraction for me. Also there will be nice warm weather what would be nice to experience, given the fact that I came from Asia to Ireland and there was not too warm so warm up a little bit until the hot summer will arrive to Ireland will suit me. Well ticket bought, medication dispensed as I fell ill when returned to Ireland as definite sign that Ireland is not long term location for me. Because I had big clear out before me leaving on Big Trip I have disposed all my shirts “maybe as symbolism to get rid-off office life” and therefore I had to go shopping oy w wey, not my favorite past time. Thankfully I’m meeting Sebastian and his boss i.e girlfriend Lea for lunch in town so we could get some walking done after lunch and look through shops as well as walking off that lovely Japanese food we had for lunch as what else than Japanese…. ? We are Japan addict and those two even more than me. So we had some nice food, took photos and let them walk off into their love nest in Dun Laoghaire and me headed to Arnott’s as last chance to get something since all the shops were closing so I entered Arnott’s with announcement from speakers that shop will close soon and run to the short section to have look at some shirts and found one that was quite o.k with little blue patterns as some flowers on white and paid the overpriced €89 to walk out and drive home, haircut have to wait for Mauritius or I will go with wild hair style and shave just for effect. Backpack and suit packed, ready to go and my fabulous Italian colorful shoes too “ahh I love them as well as the jacket” shame that cleaners fecked up my shirt but hey what can I do, I will not fly to Italy just to get new “maybe I will” as they were absolutely amazing purchase in Lucca and time there will remain in my memory for long as it was very nice and for time being I though that this could be my new home. Now I have no home but plan to travel around the world for diving at various places and in various conditions to enhance my ability as professional diver and later instructor so when I settle down somewhere nice I will be happy to teach diving from my boat and enjoying the company of various people, who would love to be shown / taught how to dive or just to do fun dives. The plan is big and flights are long and I cannot wait to see all that beautiful underwater life and took a photos with my brand new underwater camera, what I need to purchase but still have time to do so. Marcel is picking me up in the morning and driving me to the airport and here he is already outside of the Frank’s door, for some reason not coming in. Boarding pass in the phone, back pack on my back and here I’m walking towards the gate. Still on the phone try to arrange for Frank’s children to go to Slovakia with Sebastian in case there are free tickets t ogive him a space and them nice holiday with granny so Ryanair, Sebastian and Frank on the phone like pro PR personnel 😊 but at the end there are not more tickets available so I was just of the phone when boarding plane when saw this sympathy smiling brunet few seat front of me, sucker for a beautiful smile of beautiful girl. Quick stopover at Paris CDG and en route to MRU aka Mauritius on board of Air Mauritius watching German movie about gardener who realized that he has not lived and decided to live “ nice movie, not too tacky, just about rate pace, bit predictable but still easy watching” to kill time as I could not sleep on the planes “unless in business class laying” I’m spoiled prince charming.  Also listening to good music of band called “London Grammar” what was exactly what I had in mi mind when searching for some music. Snoozed a bit as usual but not like if you can fully sleep, better than nothing on the other side. Breakfast came right in time before my stomach would grumble like if someone wrought elephant by the trunk and tail as if you are wring the wet towel or as stone grounding machine in quarry so good timing of food delivery. Landing in dark with streets lights shining on the ground on land below and people getting ready to jump to aisle standing and pulling suitcases like it is emergency landing and the luggage is necessary for survival. Déjà vu moment as I stepped out from the plane and walked into the terminal…. I was here in January and here I’m again … maybe sign 😊 This time no welcome party as the plane landed 5:35 so everyone is sleeping and I’m getting through passport control with the usual questions, when suddenly the officer must saw that I was here before as he asked if I will stay at the same address with the same host as previously, which I will so that might helped to get stamp faster and leave the line. Ahh finally out of terminal in nice fresh air of early morning, with sky still dark with Sun slowly awaking in the dark distance and stretching it’s rays slowly to brightening sky a little every time it stretch its rays more and more. The bus stop is outside at carpark so the not knowing person is catch by taxis right outside terminal as I have to admit this is probably only airport I have been that has no signage for public buses. Most of the tourist are awaited by their hotels anyway so I get my bearings and walk towards the car park with verifying location by questioning the one airport staff coming from the direction where the bus stop supposed to be. So Turn right after exiting arrival hall. Walk under the over pass, follow path towards left and turn right on the huge car park and there it is bus stop in the middle of the car park with some sort café on side, where locals already probably have tea, coffee. As I was on the bus stop watching sunrise coming to live over the tops of palm trees and over the roof of airport terminal, one man is walking across the car park and towards me and as we say “Bon Jour” and strike conversation, to my surprise he says Ahoj in Slovak when I told him that I’m from Slovakia. Waiting on the bus stop for a bus and he was on the way back so we talked again and he said that I could walk a bit to Curepipe station to get bus there and stretch legs what I wanted after such long flight anyway. We had great chat walking on side road when the bus hurled from behind and in true Mauritius fashion he just casually stopped bus on the side of the road and I hooped in, wave him good bye and sat at back of the bus to Maherbourg where I need to transfer to 189 to Port Louis and I have to say I love Mauritius buses I really do. Coming in the morning rush hour is slow process but that givers me time to see and be seen as the only white quite blond guy in the see of dark skin and hair is a some spectacle for some local people as well as for me. Also the music and scenery with morning sun is breathtaking, with mountains in backdrop and green as far as eye can see “rather not looking forward on traffic jam, ahead of us” plus I’ve got the last seat in the back sitting in the middle aisle to stretch legs and see the beauty of the nature coming and going through bus. Not sure how awake I was as sometimes I woke up by banging my head on the back pack or back window 😊 but arrived in Port Louis and went straight to market for fresh Roti, Samosa, Dhal puri and the fried egg something we had there with Rajiv in January. Finally quenched my thirst and hunger I went to the bus station get the bus towards Goodlands on my final leg of this arrival trip. The road is familiar now opening towards the fields of sugar cane, villages, SSA Hospital in the forest which means I’m near the LOLO supermarket and the next stop is mine. Ahh heat and sun warmed my skin and I felt alive, even still a bit tired but seeing the Rajiv’s house brought memories and home feeling what as homeless man is really priceless. Get off the bus and walked back towards the house and as I turned the street downwards the road Yogesh stop talking and starring on me “how did you get here” as apparently Rajiv went to collect me on the airport and he was just surprised that I took bus from airport on my own as they do not hold local buses to high in their opinions. We welcomed each other and then Rajov’s Mom came out as well and all the hugs, creol words of welcome “ I assume they were” otherwise I’m not invited 😊 and I was ushered to house, offered coffee and give mobile to hand as Mom was so surprised that she called Rajiv, that I had arrived on my own. Hospitality and guest service is really on high level as from the start to the end guest is center of attention and everything is made to make his/ hers visit memorable and hassle free what exactly had happened and this might be major role in my enjoying Mauritius as I feel like part of family / community and not some tourist in fancy hotel resort but living the local life, riding local buses….ahh I love it ! All guys are happy to see me “I Hope” we shake hands, hug and talk a brief talk but since the main reason is the Nitish and Sweety wedding I see that preparation is in full swing so I will finish my cup of coffee and roll up sleeves “literally”  on my shirt and get on with helping to putting down cardboard to protect floor, moving the rubble around to create field kitchen, prepare tables, chairs, etc … whatever is needed and language is not barrier I’m on it. In a while Rajiv arrived with Michael and Yvonna from the airport getting slagging from everyone that I arrived by bus, what is either slag that he does not look after me or they cannot believe that I took the bus on my own. The field kitchen is ready and test run will be completed shortly as the amount of expected guests is in ballpark figure of six hundred for the food since the Hindu wedding is about feeding family, friends as one of the main things to be completed on day two of wedding since today is Friday and that means party with family of groom and close friends in the groom house and same thing is valid for bride house too. After short break for food and second coffee it was time to making more preparations for party and wedding itself as the wedding is planned for four days and each morning there are some tasks to be completed as day specific only. The tent for the wedding is putted up by rental company who are decorating the tent since the whole wedding is happening at cul de sac road in of the groom house, which is at the very end of this street. First is the scaffold going up what makes the roof and side walls as protection from the rain and then, inside walls are covered / decorated by white and blue fabric with later addition of various trinkets and chandeliers  to get final effect of nice hall or house, except the flooring what is just street tarmac and gravel on side used to even out the uneven ground. Thursday nearly behind us and the cutting of chicken is left to do but I was so tired that I had to escape to bed since after twenty four hours of no sleep, two coffees and one energy drink my energy level went to shut down / recharge mode so sleep is on the schedule. Ahh I was so tired that I collapsed around eight in the evening and woke up Friday morning around eight, rested and well ready for another day shift of helping and organizing this four day feast. This time most of the things are about positioning furniture, have a brief chat and watch the ceremony for the groom and his family as the rest of the wide  street “family” is preparing what needs to be prepared as they all working as one family unit here. It is fun and we are having a good time with lads, some quick nap in afternoon between coffee No:1 and coffee No:2 to recharge a bit as the jet lag is here no joking and old fashion physical work also taking a toll on the energy level “ uf uf I’m so unfit” then get back to last few things to be completed having shower, change of clothes and evening vegetarian meal is served as for three days it is only vegetarian meal served until Monday when the meat can be served as well as alcoholic beverages so Friday till Sunday night only veg and non-alcoholic drinks “with some exception off the street areas” and we are having great time on Friday night. It is slow night as we have dinner then a bit sitting around and talking, watching the entertainers i.e. dancer try to entertain us with their body movements and had to say thank God that it was dark, i.e dawn as fo our own safety it was better not to see them in detail. However they had moved all evening long, which I had to admire since they were well pass the expiration date “that been between 20 and 30 years old” so the movement was observed as flying of fabrics and clinking of chains, jewelry etc… Then the live music came with drums , bongos, mostly any equipment what could be classified as making noise to be used as music.  Amazing what can be done when the people gather with few instruments and their voices. We danced, listened to music and overall had good time till three in the morning. What a start of the wedding party woo hoo 😊 I’m either getting old or the jet lag is messing me up, since I was up at eight o’clock in the morning after five hours of sleep, when the Rajiv Mom came and try to wake him up what was not really possible by the grunt of his. I did understood that she needs to go help cooking since tonight is the small being served for the crowd of approx. 600 people, so lots of chopping and cooking needed to be done. So since I was up I went to kitchen for fresh cup of coffee and breakie served by Mom and then went straight to street hall to help again to prepare the area this time as sit down area for dinner. Day is flying when you have hands full and are also a bit tired / jet lagged so I did not even realized that we are already pass the time of coffee No:2 and it was time for walk to the local shop to get wiiiings 😊 i.e. e energy drink keep me going all night long. As we waited for our table we realized that this might take a turn to a bit of madness since people were queening to get food on the street for good half an hour and since we had our food and I saw Yogesh, Vimal and lads getting new tables in the hall and even in Yogesh car park I took role of water boy since my Creol is not good enough to serve food. Pouring the water to the thirsty guests and make sure that no one get into Yogesh house through car park was main duty. Well the madness slowly turned down and as none native I was asked by Yogesh to close the gate to his car park to make sure that no one will sneak in and also that no one tell him to feck off and leave it gate open, since it would be seen as rude if he close gate to visitors. However we managed all in nice matter and here you are really realize what are the family and friends for since everyone worked in unison to make sure that dinner will go well and everyone will be looked after no matter that catering screwed up as friends step up and save the day. Now it is time to digest and wait for music come alive again and dance a bit until three in the morning again 😊 Since everyone was a bit tired it was a slow start but strong finish of hard core center of group and Sunday is the main day, when we all travel to Sweety house for main marriage ceremony and food so sleep a bit now.

Sunday is here and we are all ready and up in the morning but this time just easy morning as main even is held at Sweety’s house so we just getting tidy up the “hall” make sure all is ready and snoozing. Vimal came to pick me up form my sun lounge on the roof to go with him to get flowers and garlands for ceremony so we hit the road, had a chat and then picked up the flowers and hit back home in time for shower, shave and getting ready as the cars and bus is coming soon to take us there including all the Police flags what will be used by Nitish colleagues as part of ceremony at Sweety house and later in Nitish house. All in and even in winter it was hot inside the tent so I decided to stay on the edge standing, to be able get out side to cool off when needed and return to take some photos of the ceremony itself. As I was taking them neatly leaning against wall the bridesmaid smiled lovely smile and motioned to me that I can get front of her “I rather from behind” but hey it is wedding and I will leave in two days so what the heck, smile was beautiful but pricey as Vimal said “she is eating money”  which means she is high maintenance. Anyhow the ceremony was loooong but nice and the end was great fun with police parade and dance.  As we took the photos on the stage with bride & groom I was laughing to myself that it would be funny if the whole thing collapse with us on it as it bended down as we climbed up 😊  Than we moved to Nitish house and all repeated again, this time the ceremony was really short and was more dinner than ceremony, but cutting cake, pop the champagne and dance inclusive photos were the same.  But had to say Sunday was a bit tiresome and we all finished at two in the morning with some people move home early. Monday is the last day of party and on Monday the alcohol is finally officially allowed in the “hall” and everyone came and I had to say for me this was the best night of partying, maybe because I was finally  over the jet lag and was able to dance and have fun with energy and most important there were finally some ladies on dance floor and some of them were smoking hot, some were just pure sensuality and sexuality and it was hard to keep hands to myself during the dance, Obviously the one who cannot keep hands off me was not my type and she was so desperate that she tried to get Michael too but he was lucky that Yvonna was there and therefore no blood was spilled in girl fight. We danced until the shirts were wet with sweat as if we were on the set of “dancing in the rain” but no one really cared and everyone moved hips in the way the sunny nations do… sensual in way of foreplay I could say. Ohhh my God some hips were to die for…just grab them and ……well you know what I mean and as ass man I have weakness in my hearth and other body parts for such view. Ahh what a finish of four day fiesta… it would be even better but as guest I was not intended to cross the line as well as I was easy spotted around in the sea of black hair and dark skin but sweet lord what a beautiful sea of chocolate bodies and smiles… I think I slowly falling for Mauritius “and darker skin girls” well time to say good night as girls left and as abstinent I was not part of drinking culture

Tuesday is here and finally longer sleep without waking up to rattling sounds and people talking loudly over what needs to be done etc… so ten o clock I was up and stretching getting ready to have my cup of coffee after moving from living room sofa to bedroom to change since it is impossible to sleep with Rajiv snoring like in the competition for first place in Snoring Olympics until the house is shaking down. Coffee on the roof with sunshine, catching the sun rays on my skin, snoozing and relaxing before packing the bags and  leaving the second home. I was already after coffee and sunny snooze when the rest of the crew except of sleeping beauty “Rajiv” woke up and sat down for breakfast so I sat down with them and enjoyed the sandwiches. Small chat and then me and Michael went to Lolo supermarket get beers for lads as thanks for their  hospitality. Got eleven PHOENIX bottles and stash them in fridge for their BBQ later this week. Then Rajiv with Michael left to get famous Red Nissan Macro “Micra in Europe” what I had rented too so I got another snooze, since they offered me lift to airport. As I had my reading time on the roof terrace Rajiv’s Mom came up saying that Rajiv is back so I went down and they brought cakes and Yvonna made tea wit Mom what she likes so much, sweet milky tea with custard pastry and coconut cake as parting tea time before we will head off to the airport. What a nice gesture and time spend together before we part our ways. All done and ready to go, it is time to shake hands with lads and family in this special place of Mauritius where friends and family are really holding the true meaning of those words. All said and done we are in the car and Mom with everyone is waving to us like some VIP delegation. It is sad to leave but life is change and change is life. For the moment I will return to Dub and see what and where I will be afterwards. We had a one cup f coffee at the airport to get their twenty minutes of free parking and they were of to home for dinner and me for gate. Another trip and another flight is awaiting me.

Overall I have to say that I was happy to be part of such great wedding and as I have no expectation prior leaving Dublin, now I knew what does it mean when someone say Hindu wedding. Lots of great food, fantastic people, center of attention “if you are only white boy at wedding” feeling like celebrity under the spotlight. J’adore Mauritius…