dancingthroughchaos

‘From one citizen you gather idea that Mauritius was made first, and then heaven, and that heaven was copied afterMauritius’ – Mark Twain; from ‘Following the Equator’

I am back, safe and sound from my two week holiday on the island where the last Dodos died.  Mauritius has been a wonderful early celebration of a significant birthday which I fully plan to celebrate all over again in another six months time.  I’ll never be this young again right?

Two weeks of doing virtually nothing has done me the world of good.  I fought every impulse to jump into social media and kept my phone contacts to a minimum.  I resisted the urge to engage with the BBC news threads, although the question of whether World War III might have started without me prompted me to take a peek every now and again. 

It was a fortnight consisting almost entirely of sun, though we did enjoy a couple of impressive tropical downpours. I consumed an epic total of one dozen books, the best of which I give you below, and all of which were going for a mere 99p on Kindle at the time of purchase:

Relaxing was interrupted only by two boat trips, including some very amateur snorkelling and the wonderful experience of watching elegant dolphins swim below me while zebra fish congregated around me.  Utterly mesmerising.

I was intrigued to discover Mark Twain’s quote and have been pondering whether I agree because, wonderful as Mauritius was, I am trusting that the reality of heaven will be miles better.

A first-timers bullet point review of the island: 

• SOOOOOoooooo green!  Lush, but like England, it’s all that rain that makes it so lush, However, the humidity is on another level.
• Dogs – everywhere; mostly strays unkempt and uncared for.  Some definitely looking the worse for wear and a few decidedly unwell.  To be avoided at night when they congregate in unnerving packs.
• Palm trees and coconuts – of course
• Scooters and bikes – also everywhere and also trying to dodge the dogs.  Self-propelled vehicles are almost universally ridden with the elbows and knees at 90º to the body, giving drivers a challenge to navigate around them.
• Sun – certainly; SPF50 is mandatory.
• Sugar cane – one of the island’s most prolific crops.  Word to the wise: approach Google maps with caution or you may have more adventures amongst the cane than you bargained for: ‘Is that a road? Seriously?! OK, let’s give it a go… Ah. Maybe not.’
• Boats – scattered on the shore and liberally distributed across the water.  Great photo furniture. The island is full of fisherman keeping themselves and their families stocked; some sell to restaurants too and if you arrive on the quay at the right time you can purchase some for yourself.  Dorado is a new discovery on the menu for me; highly recommended.  Negotiating a price and going on a trip with a local is a much more satisfying than joining a franchise group where the pounding music is liable to frighten the fish (if not you) away.

• Pineapples – another local product in plentiful supply.  Unfortunate for those who are allergic to it, but it does look good in photos.
• Snorkelling – super popular.  A few bits of bread bring the eager fish within reach.  No touching, of course, but quite beautiful.
• Clear water – yes; just like in all those holiday adverts you see on TV.  I’ve never swum in sea like this before; an intoxicating experience.
• Sand – also yes; but not the soft stuff you find at Bournemouth.  This is gritty thanks to the high shell and coral content.  Sea shoes are a must to avoid shredding of your poor feet.
• Shops – probably.  The inevitable tourist traps abound but I was there for Vitamin Sea, not to engage in retail therapy.  There are numerous shack shops around the coast selling snacks and essentials, not unlike the Spaza shops we find here in South Africa.
• Culture – always interesting when you travel.  A plethora of Hindu temples which I find garish; their idols don’t look remotely friendly to me.  I saw signs for ‘Buddha World’ and ‘Hare Krishna Land’, so there’s a pot pourri of people looking for truth.  
• Poverty – this isn’t what you’ll be seeing on the holiday ads but it’s abundantly evident if you drive around the island.

So was the citizen who spoke to Mark Twain’s accurate?  I’m certain that heaven will be poverty-free and we won’t all be lying around on sun loungers or sitting on clouds learning the harp. There will be no more death or pain or sorrow, and that is going to be amazing!  Even while we were away we learnt of the death of a friend back in Cape Town.  None of us can escape the realities of this life however far, or how much, we travel.

However, it seems to me that God declares His presence daily through the beauty of creation; nothing we humans have ever made comes close.  Let me illustrate the point and finish, as all good travel blogs do, with some sunset pictures.   Photos are a great way of lingering in holiday mode long after the plane has landed, the cases are unpacked and the laundry done. So, as I gather myself for the next chapter of life, I know I’ll treasure this holiday for years to come.