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Around the world in 2000,
via Asia and Madagascar.

MAURITIUS

Bec
2004-09-18 18:48:54

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Mahébourg
At the Mahébourg airport, a bad humoured customs official suffering from a poor self image made an effort to boost his ego by giving me a hard time. It didn't really bother me for I somehow felt that he was just passing on a bit of nastiness he had received from his boss or his wife.

In the end, I considered myself lucky for the scene he made brought me the sympathy of a local couple who generously offered to drive me to my hotel, "L'Aquarelle" from which this view of Lion Mountain was taken.

L'Aquarelle is a pleasant family run hotel with a great view where I had a nice room for 12.00$US.

Over half of the population descend from Indian indentured laborers that were brought here to work the cane fields after the abolition of slavery in 1835. They were numerous enough to remain endogamous and have preserved their ethnic specificity as can be seen in the colourful Mahébourg market.

Naturally, there are Hindu Temples all over the island.

The Hindu Mauritians I have talked to explained that most of them still respect the constraints of the caste system regarding marriage but that they will eat at the same table as lower caste members of their community.

Port Louis
The capital Port Louis is on the opposite side of the island from the airport next to Mahébourg. Port Louis is the commercial center where all the island's business is transacted. This is "Intendence" street in the center.

The island's airport is next to Mahébourg but its port is Port Louis where the Caudan Waterfront Complex and labordonnais Hotel are located.

The fine Municipal theater was built in 1822 to satisfy the need for cultural distinction of the island's wealthy plantation owners. It is used only occasionally now by local amateur groups and sometimes for Hindu weddings.

Grande Baie
The Hindu religion is doing well in Mauritius as evidenced by the construction of new, elaborately decorated temples like this one in Grande Baie north of Port Louis.

The island's economy, which traditionally used to be based on the sugar cane, had been diversifying into textiles, light manufacturing and tourism. There are tourist resorts all around the island but most are located on the north coast from Grande Baie onwards. Here is a view looking south across the bay.

London England
It was raining and cold in London and was more of the same was forecasted for the week ahead.

I had planned to visit Ireland with the hope of understanding why Christians were so intent on killing each other but my mind was saturated with India and the bad weather nudged me into deciding to head for home.

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