Mauritius United Properties

 www.newsnow.mu

Our columnist is now settling in Mauritius after arriving a few months ago from his home country of Pakistan and will be giving a regular update of life in our island Paradise ? A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to get a weekend test drive in a classy automobile – I am looking for a new set of wheels – so I took the opportiunity it presented to take the children out for a long drive. I wanted to leave early so that we could do all we could before sunset as the TP registration did not permit me on the road after dark. We packed most of our stuff in the trunk and loaded five girls in the backseat. We stopped at a couple of showrooms to check out a few more cars before we headed South towards Mahebourg. It was fun driving down the M2 highway. Our first stop was at the National History Museum. Is it at Mahebourg? Since I’m still rather new to the island, forgive me for mixing up a few names and locations. Inside the museum, the curators warmly welcomed us and other visitors and readily answered all our questions. The museum housed some of the relics of imperial rule on the island and pictures of those who ruled it. The poor dodo was on display in all its bony glory, along with pre- historic weapons and tools. The museum must have been painted recently because it was hard to breathe inside. However, since the children were having fun looking around, we had no option. The gardens outside the museum are a joy, though. The fresh air was a welcome relief for our lungs. We found a patio and sat down in the shade of trees, listening to the chirping birds veiled in them. We also found a solitary music- man in the gardens, softly playing a guitar while a harmonica lingered near his mouth in mystical fashion. Once the girls finished their exploration of the museum, we moved on from “ La Maison de Robillard”. Our next stopover was at the picturesque Blue Bay Marine Park where we found a good mix of foreign holidaymakers and locals – the former sunbathing as usual while the latter mostly indulged in selling services. Boat rides We found a stall selling glassbottom boat rides at just Rs100 per head. That’s not a bad deal, unless you’ve already had one for free during your honeymoon hotel stay! I saw a few men tossing a volleyball in the water but nobody swimming in the very limited swimming zone demarcated by yellow buoys and floats. One of the most amazing features of Mauritian beaches is the juxtapose of blues and greens in the water. It’s something that I’ve seen in few pictures and only on this island in real life. Blue Bay is a small yet complete tourist spot great for an entire day of idleness. They have a few stalls for shopping, in case you’ve forgotten your beachwear, and a reasonable Tuck Shop in case the ladies with you live by whatever- we- canfind- outside. While driving around the Southern coast on our way to the West, there are a number of small townships and interesting locations where tourists can obviously pause and picture. Among them, I hear, is the La Vanille Reserve Des Mascareignes where you can find turtles and crocs. I am told it is designed like a tropical rainforest and visitors can take a nature walk with the animal life on Mauritius, Rodrigues and Reunion Island. We couldn’t stop here unfortunately, as time was racing by. If you have a 4x4 or another vehicle that can make it through tough off- road terrain, you must visit Le Souffleur. I’ve been told that a rockface here resembles one of the most famous poets of the island who was also a resident of nearby Souillac. Unlike the picturesque beaches of the island, this coastal region is marked by cliffs where the waves come crashing in with ferocity and you are sprayed with seawater every few seconds. Keeping you sensitive camera equipment dry becomes a challenge too, so beware of the elements. The view and the experience are well worth the trouble, I must confess. I wished I could just sit down on one of the rocks here and meditate, But I have promises to keep; and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep… We were trailing a map and our next stop nearly took my breath away. Once again we had to go off- road but this time the track was more earthen and less rocky. We drove through fields with magnificent mountains in the foreground. After 10 minutes or so of snail- pace driving, we parked between a handful of vehicles next to another sugarcane field in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. Rochester Falls I was led by myMauritian family down a hill on to a path running through more, taller sugarcane. I was told that we were going to Rochester Falls, which is another natural wonder on the island. It wasn’t long before I could hear the water falling but I could not have expected the beauty that awaited me. The twisting path leading to the falls was damp but we kept going. Finally, it was within sight, and it truly was a sight to behold! A huge cascade of river water splashes down with enormous ferocity here, sending sweet droplets into the air in the narrow gorge. It was awesome, the sound of the water thundering down. I gazed at the falls for a few minutes, speechless with joy at the spectacle. It’s an unbelievably beautiful place; one I would love to visit again and totally divulge in for an entire day. This road leading to the Western coast was at times lined with trees on both sides, joining each other in an embrace and creating a graceful shade on an otherwise bright day. I’m still not programmed to carrying my thermos full of tea and coffee, so I felt exhausted at times from the continuous driving but when my better half told me we could have tea at this place called St. Aubin. I turned in without a second thought. St. Aubin is a sugar, tea and rum estate and was a welcome break from the monotony of twist, turn, accelerate and break. It is as scenic as any resort on the island. A vast entrance welcomes drivers in through one side and you have to make a U- turn to get to the restaurant, rum distillery and souvenir shop. I sat down for a cup of coffee while the kids enjoyed fresh fruit juices. The souvenir shop sells their brand of tea leaves in a variety of flavours along with brown sugar and five variations of local rum made from sugarcane juice. It’s worth a sip even if you’re driving. The freshness and zest of the products is certainly worth a mention. And the place is great for relaxing. I desperately wanted to stop at the Valley of Colours and see the Chamarel Coloured Earth but time was rapidly running out and I had to speed my way back home before or shortly after sunset. On our way back, I also came across another place I want to see, the Casela Bird Park, where I hear they have South African lions besides other animals. Although I still have a lot of globe- trotting among my plans for the future, I doubt if I will ever come across a sunset like the one I witnessed at Ilot Sanchez near Le Morne. There’s something about the sunsets here which I cannot put in words. They’re breathtaking, and of course, they provide for perfect photography, as you may see from the image I’m posting today. The only complaint I have is that there was not a drop of rain on the weekend. On the following Monday, the clouds rolled in and I forgot about the hot weekend – my kind of weather! I’ve got many more adventures lined up in the coming weeks that I hope will keep you reading about my explorations around this fantastic island. Until next week folks, Adios.