Pearl of Indian Ocean

Imagine yourself on an Island with spectacular scenic beauty, sun and sand; palm fringed beaches, luxurious hotels and crystal clear water. Tidy surroundings, smooth driveways, rare traffic signals minus the honks and the skyscrapers. Welcome to Mauritius. It is virtually a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean.

Your welcome starts at the airport itself as dancers belting out local songs set to local music warmly greet you. Mauritius has emerged as a major tourist delight attracting visitors from all over the globe.

A plethora of hotels, ranging from small to big five star hotels provide a multitude of recreational activities to explore the natural beauty of the island. Almost all hotels near the beach offer windsurfing, pedal boating, rowing, water skiing, speedboats and glass bottom boats. You have a wide array of activities to choose from like parasailing, sub-scooter ride, scuba diving, submarine, the blue safari, under-sea water walk and many more. It is a treat to see the clean beaches with crystal clear water.

The best months to visit Mauritius are from May to early December. Then comes the scorching summer that hangs on till April. Mauritius has a typically tropical climate with year round heat, although the southwest trade winds help it neutralize the mugginess. It would be wise to carry skin friendly cotton clothes, sunscreens, shades and caps.

The innate beauty and the extravagant natural make up of Mauritius have contributed to its International recognition as the pearl of the Indian Ocean. Primarily Mauritius is famous for its beaches, some being: Perybere, Grand Bay, Blue Bay, Belle Mare and many more. Apart from the beaches, the island nonetheless has a vast number of other breathtaking points of attraction. Some of them are Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, National History Museum, Alexandra Falls, Ile Aux Cerfs, Chamarel, Camp De Mars, Port Louis-Central Market, China Town and so on.

Drinking water in Mauritius is very expensive and the price of mineral water varies from place to place. Water in your hotel’s mini bar is always charged for. It is best to buy your own water. Enquire about the price first and it is economical to buy in bulk. If you cannot find a reasonable shop, head for the nearest petrol station.

Mauritius is worth a visit. Experience a mix of French, British and Dutch culture. Shop for local curios, laze on the beach, surf in the shimmering sea or go parasailing. And don’t forget to sample the different flavours of tea.

Road Less Travelled…

Gone are the days of a good romantic long drive, not because we have grown older or parted with our lover, but because the romance of driving has gone. The romance of being the privileged one owning a car and driving through the smooth traffic, on way to Connaught Place, crossing India gate and enjoying the ride as the fresh air kissed our face. It’s all past! It’s all lost!

Today we drive bumper to bumper with people overtaking from both sides. Honks and honks! No body wants to be behind the auto rickshaw and if there’s a girl driving a car then she is taken to be the culprit. If by chance you are just a learner out of the driving school and your car’s engine turns off…all you’ll hear are the deafening honks! Honk! Honk! Honk! Swish-sh-sh swosh-sh of the turning wheels of the cars which change lane without an indicator as if all contesting in the formula one race or are players in a video game. The loud thudding music adding to the noise and those cars with high beams on, almost blind you. Brakes! Brakes! Apply the brakes for heaven sake…screeeeeeech… whew! You almost got that woman crushed under your car. Uff! We have forgotten that the cars have a brake too. We have become so inhuman rather mechanical almost. Need for speed is the greed of the day. Where has all the sense and sensitivity gone?

Why don’t we halt at the traffic lights? Why don’t we indicate while changing lanes? Letting someone pass by is not that bad either. High beams and tinted glasses are ruled out by the traffic governance, why do we not understand that these belts are for our own safety? Where has all the sense and sensitivity gone?

Pedestrians, bicycle riders and rickshaw pullers are amongst one of us humans. They too have a right on road. Riding a technological and scientific box like well designed structure on wheels with five seats on it which runs on petrol and has loads of machinery loaded on it, does not make us larger than our tiny being. What would make us larger is to revive our sense and sensitivity on the road.

Everyday we crib about bad and rash drivers. A scratch or two per day has now become like a daily diet for our cars. And how about those bikers who try and act smart, zip and zoom into those teeny weeny gaps amidst your car and the one ahead, behind or besides you. But don’t worry these bikes would soon transform into another four wheeler- The NANO. And soon the day will arrive when we all will be jamming on road less travelled…

MEN: That is unfair…

Fairness of the fairer sex is always envied by the not so fair sex. So when different companies launch fairness creams for the women even men demand for equal rights. No more the guys love to reason out their fear of rejection by reiterating the song, “Hum kale hai to kya hua, Dilwale hai…” Rather they would prefer the girl’s temptation to make the first move singing, “Gore gore, oh ba ke chore…” Thus their wish was market’s command and fairness creams for men are here. No more our Adams have to be embarrassed and abashed for getting caught white handed in those secret applications.

JUST LIKE THAT

When life gets busy with no time to spare
Steal a few moments for yourself

When someone shouts
Smile back

When troubles surmount
Laugh them out

When someone hurts
Let go

When afraid
Step ahead

When crestfallen
Play with a child

When fed up with life
Live it

Don’t always look for a reason, do things…Just like that!