Whipbird

Walking along Lane Cove River, this is the sound you hear!

The Giant Lillies of Mauritius

you know you've been to Mauritius when...

1. We've swum at several beaches, including at Ile aux Cerf (Island of Deer)
2. We've followed the signs to "The North" and "The South": this lead to some beautiful drives along the coast, particularly along the south coast.
3. We've experienced serious weather.  Not cyclones (yet: but there's one brewing) but definitely the seasonal torrential rain; the heat - so hot that the locals are complaining bitterly.
4. We've met most of the "bebetes" (local beasties); mossies, cockroaches, a wide variety of flying bugs.  In addition there's lots of frogs and we even saw a family of porcupines. So cute!
5. We've eaten most of the local delicacies and many of them fortunately, cooked by our hosts: dholl purri, brede (greens), napolitan biscuits, a beautiful briyani cooked by one of the relatives; vindaye curry, rougai, chicken curry, faratas, gateau coco.
6. We went to the key tourist spots: saw the Blue Penny Museum which houses the worlds most rare and I think expensive stamps and also contains pictures, books and stories and statues of Paul et Virginie - the most famous Maurician folktake; L'Adventure du Sucre (Adventure of Sugar); Pamplemousses with the giant lily pads.
pics to follow on Friday

You know you're in Mauritius when...

Although we had the plan to go to Mauritius for several months, it wasn't until the Airsteward checking my boarding pass said "Bonjour" that it hit me that we were going somewhere new overseas. Because we arrived late at night, it wasn't until the morning that we felt that we were here.

You know you're in Mauritius when you see the volcanic remains as mountains, the cane fields in the foreground, when you are not sure weather the moisture on your skin is from the rain or from your sweat, and the sea water is like a bath.  I could almost be in Mackay (especially being on the same latitude) but the mountains are distinctive in their shape.  Then the cultural landscape colours in the rest of the picture when you hear the sing-song voices of the children speaking french, and the influence of the Indian population in the food and also in the Maha Shivratree festival where we've been watching the pilgrims walk to their destination.

Ile Maurice!

Ah, Mauritius! After twelve years of hearing about its tropical beauty and tasty treats, I have finally eaten a true Dhal Puri. And yes, it really is as light, flaky and tasty as I've been led to believe.

More sightseeing today!!