Paradise
Trip Start
Aug 26, 2010
1
9
17
Trip End
Dec 18, 2010
Port Louis, Mauritius
Thursday, October 14, 2010
During the Mauritius Pre port meeting, they basically told us to relax on this tropical paradise and treat it like a vacation. This was surprising, but excellent news as we were in the thick of midterms. And after I experienced such intense food poisoning for the past 4 days, and seeing how ports are really the only time have days off, it would honestly be nice to have a good solid stress free break in such a stress free port as Mauritius.
My roommate and two of her friends had the idea to go get a hotel room at a beachside resort for the night. While this would cost a pretty penny, she convinced me to do the same with the logic, "How often are you in a tropical island?” Seeing as this was my first time on one, I thought I should splurge for the occasion.
So a few of my friends and I headed out on the first day in search of a tourist information spot that could give us some good advice on a nice hotel, close to the beach, with free WIFI, for a fair price. From my roommate's Internet research, this might prove to be difficult as she got the best deal she could find for the going rate of $375. We thought maybe finding a good tourist place might produce better results than what she found on the Internet.
We first took a water taxi (a $2 boat) into town and started asking locals where a tourist information spot would be. After a few blocks and about 5 locals, we came upon one of the tallest buildings in the city. We walked in and it was under construction in the lobby. As we were about to find out which floor the tourist info was, four SAS kids came out of the elevator carrying a load of maps and brochures, laughing. "Are you guys here because you wanted tourist information, too?” One of the girls asked. “Because that’s not what this place is.” Apparently there is one little room on the seventh floor that has a rack with a bunch of brochures and maps, and that’s it. No person is working there, but they said there was this lovely woman working in the office next to the rack that helped them as much as she could, stuffing their arms with brochures. “She was very nice.” They laughed some more. And they wished us good luck as they stepped over construction tape to exit the building.
After almost 45 minutes looking for this place, we were a bit discouraged. Especially myself , as I was still very weak from being sick and it took most of my energy just to find this place. All we wanted was a hotel to relax in. As we were about to leave, rather aimlessly, a man dressed professionally walked up to us. “Can I help you?” We explained, again how we needed tourist information, knowing that he would also point us to the map rack upstairs. “Well, what information do you need?” We explained the kind of hotel we were looking for. Right away, he took out his cell phone and made a call. “Follow me.” He said. Leading us into the elevator.
He took us to his office, where he made and took some calls, while asking us where we were from and what Semester at Sea was about. It turns out that while he is not in the tourism department, he used to work for one. He called on one of his “Special connections” and before we knew it, a hotel called his office and he booked us a room for the discount price of $185 at the Maritam Hotel Resort!
While we were sure it was one of the crappier hotels on the island, we didn’t care as long as it was close to the beach and had free wifi. He sent us on our way and we hailed a taxi and off we were. After about 30 minutes, our cabs approached two elaborately decorated automatic protected gates. The driver had a few words with the guard including the word “Americans” and the guard wiped his suspicious look away, smiled, and welcomed us in.
The grand gates opened to a beautiful winding road wonderfully accompanied by a wide array of exotic plants and trees. The cab pulled up to Daddy Warbuck’s mansion. Fountain and all. This was no ordinary hotel. We walked in and immediately saw a wide-open view of the most gorgeous swimming pool overlooking a tropical beach pulled right out of a postcard. Our jaws dropped to the floor.
We were welcomed like royalty with an ice cold wet towel and a cool refreshing sweet herbal drink... with a bendy straw. They went on to tell us that there is a spa with free usage of the steam room, sauna, and Jacuzzi. Also included is a gourmet dinner and breakfast buffet. And of course we have access to their two swimming pools and access to their private beach resort. While sinking into their soft couches, putting the towels on our foreheads, sipping our drinks, we thought it was too good to be true. They handed us the bill and indeed... it wasn’t. $185 on the dot. It was glorious. We were getting utter paradise for $185, split between us.
We walked out to the beach and had a lovely lunch next to the sand and the waves. Sushi for me.
After our lunch, they showed us to our room and there waiting for us was a huge king sized bed with a plate of fresh plums and oranges sitting on it (which was all I had craved during my sickness on the ship, but was never able to eat... until now) The centerpiece of the welcome, was a glorious, already skinned, fresh whole pineapple, ready to eat. We promptly shared it, holding the green leaves, eating it like a corn on the cob. It was possibly the sweetest most juiciest pineapple I’ve ever tasted.
We then took some time to lay out on the luxurious beds on the beach. We took a quick dip when the clouds started to come in. This wasn’t too disappointing as we headed straight for the spa to make use of the sauna and steam room. One thing I must say first is that after my severe food poisoning and stress from midterms, it was impossible to do a spinal roll or touch my toes because my muscles were so stiff. I have been able to do both with ease before, and in four days, I was as stiff as a board. After the steam room... I was as limber as a cat. Like magic. I have never felt so relaxed. While sitting in the Jacuzzi, I thought about all the times I imagined what Semester at Sea would be like. Getting lost, seeing so much poverty and suffering, eating strangely wonderful foods, and constantly stretching my comfort zone. Never had I ever expected anything like this. Before I could let any thoughts of guilt set in, I dunked my head underwater to wash it away. As I learned before in Ghana, “Don’t sulk in your privilege. Appreciate it to its fullest capacity.” And after the epic sickness I just experienced, I believe that I truly did.
We then showered up and enjoyed a quick half hour on the internet. Hello Facebook! There I saw for the first time all the comments people had left after I had posted the picture of my shaved head. I have to say, I teared up a bit. I never imagined the amount of support I received from my friends at home. It truly blew me away. Again, a bit of guilt crept up because, well... why should I get praise for doing this trip? I’m sure if most people had this awesome privilege, they would do it too. Sure, maybe they wouldn’t shave their head, but still. I’m not an amazing person because I’m doing this trip. Like I said in previous posts, there are many SAS people who are complete jackasses, to be quite honest. It doesn’t take an amazing person to do this. And here I am in a plush bathrobe in a paradise resort, reading on Facebook how awesome my friends and family think I am. The mixed wave of utter gratefulness and guilt came over me, and while it was a struggle to not choose the latter and get myself into a big funk, I fought it.
I closed my laptop and walked out my sliding glass door just in time to check out the most vibrant blood red sunset over the blue crystal ripples. I realized how honoring it was to have so many people, (whom I love and respect so very deeply) support me, wholeheartedly in my journey. Even with such a seemingly crazy decision like shaving my head. My guilt turned to a new sense of empowerment. A type of empowerment that I couldn’t give myself, but was sent over from all the way across the world.... I love you all. So very much. It is so very humbling to think that you, yes YOU could find the time in your busy life to read about my journey like this. And write such kind and loving words to me in return. I assure you that they are BEYOND appreciated. More than you’ll ever know.
I would especially love to give a big BIG thank you to my Grampy, especially. Without his hard work and generosity, I would not have this rare astounding opportunity. I love you Grampy. So very much… And before I cry again, I will have to move on.
We went to our complimentary dinner buffet and it was... beyond incredible. Fresh raw sashimi straight from the ocean, shrimps, salads, soups, pastas. Oh. My. God. The creamiest most delectable pasta carbanara ever made. The best part was that they substituted gross obtrusive peas for meaty savory mushrooms. And the DESSERT! An entire bowl of chocolate truffles and whipped cream. Fresh mousse that was piped into an ice cream cone, and lovely little decorated cakes. The fruit was out of this world.
After about our zillionth course, we were ready to retire. After a quick blog post of South Africa, I passed out on a soft roomy bed, watching the waves go in and out directly outside of my sliding glass door.
10/15/10 – Day 2
We had to wake up early (6am) to have time to eat breakfast and catch our taxi back to the ship, where we will be meeting for our SAS Catamaran snorkeling day trip. We walked down to the beach and had fresh fruit and yogurt, letting the waves calmly and gently awake us. We toasted our orange juice with a sad farewell to paradise.
After a long ride in rush hour traffic, (which was ALMOST stressful enough to take me out of my uber relaxed high) we arrived at the port, just in time to make our bus. Again, another long stop and go drive of about an hour and half later, we arrived at the harbor. Out of the hundred or so that signed up for the trip, we dispersed into multiple smaller boats. Ours had about 20 people on it, including the original eight people that I met on the third night of the voyage. Yes, we are all still friends. I have become very close with all of them in various ways. And we had planned within the first night to all do this trip in Mauritius together. And here we were.
This is what the snorkeling trip consisted of. Three separate stops in the water to snorkel. One of which included glowing sea urchins. One of the SAS kids , Jamal, moronically touched on of them and got stung. Not bad, just enough to be funny for the rest of us. He still has pricklys in all of his fingers. It was quite hilarious. While we were aiding his bloody hand on the boat, we were saying how the Marine Biology teacher was talking about how not to touch sea urchins. And Jamal said, “How was I supposed to know not to touch it? I live in Brooklyn! We don’t know shit about stuff that lives in the water besides tampons and condoms. Obviously we don’t go in the water much, okay?” Then he asked “Well what did the professor say about sea urchins?” And my friend said, “Well what do you want to know?” And Jamal very sharply and sassily, “I wanna know 'what is a sea urchin and why are they there?!’”
When we weren’t snorkeling, we were listening to reggae music and sunbathing, sipping on bottled cokes (with sugar instead of corn syrup), eating BBQ and being teased by the local guys who owned the boat. They kept serving everyone except for a few of us girls so we had to chase him, climbing up and down the boat to get a slice of orange cake or pineapple. It tastes sweeter when you work for it ;-)
We kept having the realization: We are in SCHOOL right now! But this dream didn’t last.
After about 6 ½ hours of snorkeling bliss, we had to head into shore, back on the bus, back to the boat and say goodbye to our short, but oh so sweet time in Mauritius. People, if ever you want a reasonably priced vacation getaway or a place to honeymoon, I highly recommend.
Next, I need to wrap my mind around India. Whooosh.....
