Backpacking in Mauritius

[Dietmar]

Hello Titus,

and first of all, welcome to the Forums here. Thanks a lot, you have provided us here some real great insights of back packing in la Reunion and shared some great peaces of information. Are you from Reunion or living there since a long time ?

I went to la Reunion in 1995 or 1996. We stayed at Saint Gilles Les Bains, we were a group of scholars at that time and we stayed in some cheap bungalows which were OK with a Pool and pieds dans l'eau. In that region there were a lot of night clubs. I think one club was called "Funky Pussy" and another one something like "La Bastille" not sure... well, its quite a while so maybe those clubs have changed names.

For me the great difference in the clubs I noticed compared to Mauritius is that the crowd really enjoyed Island Music like bands like Kassav whereby in Mauritius at that time, clubs and crowds would usually go for pop music.

Else at that time Reunion has a lot of big supermarkets. Now Mauritius has them to. And the places we visited was Cilaos, La Fournaise, and a place that has some kind of German name, it was on the mountains to and there you could fish in a bassin and then you pay for those fishes that you can take with you. We ate a lot of them

I don't know if Saint Gilles and Saint Gilles les Bains are close but I saw people surfing there, but it didn't look like an easy spot to surf, quite rocky... Some people there were telling me that there are often deaths of surfers...

We did some sight seeing in Saint Denis, but I don't remember anything particular, its more the differences of Mauritius / Reunion that I took note of. For example the roads, highways and buses, its really like in Europe. On the mountains, amidst the fog and trees it really reminded me of european forests.

Also, in Saint Gilles les Bains, it was very hot, and we were there in Winter time, compared to Mauritius, Mauritius it was cold...

The Mauritius Pride and Mauritius Trochetia (both are of the same company) are the only passenger vessels between the islands- prices are almost the same as for an air ticket.
Should be reserved long time in advance... they are mostly booked out a few months before departure, mainly at school holidays.

In this case it might be better to opt for a flight. Our duration time was 45mins with the ATR. It was very noisy though to fly with the propeller plane. I just sat next the propeller

Other impressions I had at that time where the amount of BIG motor bikes and also lots of scooters and they drove really fast on the highway. The highways in Reunion are also longer than here and more straight.

Overall Reunion gave me the impression of a well structred, and orderly place with lots of smiling people. But I cannot say much about the people there as I was there really for a short time. The population is mixed and has a beautiful blend.

Do you surf from time to time there Titus ?

[Titus]

Reunion & Mauritius are close, but 2 different worlds.

I won't like living in Mauritius (feels like Bollywood). it's one of the most boring places I know.
Remember my first trip (1991 or 92) - hell, I ran away a few days before my scheduled flight. Luckily I took the last flight on Friday evening to Reunion (instead of a flight on Sunday evening) and i am sure I had much more fun over here than inMauritius during the weekend

The night clubs you are talking about were the Pussy Cat ( ) and Opera Bastille - I think they've changed names since, but they are still there.

There some more 5-6 night clubs in St.Gilles les Bains, a good place to stay for making party (St.Pierre too, there are also some 4-5 in St.Pierre).

St.Gilles and St.Gilles les Bains is the same stuff.
But there is also St.Gilles les Hauts = a few kms up the mountain.

The place with the "german sounding name" could be Hellbourg, in the cirque of Salazie. There's somewhere a trout farm where you can fish also.
There's also another fish farm, run by a German in St.Louis.

Temperature: St.Gilles and the West coast is quite protected from cold wind in the winter time (les alizées) by the mountains.
That's not the case in Mauritius (no mountains = cold winds don t get stopped)

Yes, we have a relatively high "death rate" among surfers Somehow 4th or 5th place worldwide in Shark accidents. But it doesn t catch more than 1 or 2 max. a year - though 50% are surfers, 50% divers.
There hadn't been a deadly shark accident now for 2 or 3 years. But I remember 2 (non deadly) accidents some 2 years ago. One of them lost his leg)

Compared to some 80-90 death on the road it's still safer beeing in the water than on the road.
Also: it always happens at the same spots that are known for sharks (but unfortunately also for good waves). But some people love exitement... and don't care.
Always the same conditions too = after heavy rainfalls/troubled water, often a short time after heavy rains or a cyclone or a like had passed along (=that means also great waves for surfing).

I don't know any shark accident at swimming beaches, like Hermitage, Roches Noir or Boucan Canot at St.Gilles for the last 2 decades at least.

Bikes: Yes in Mauritius there's some kind of restrictions on imports of Big Bikes = almost any to find, but those Indian or Chinese 50 cc Scooters.
Here's no import restrictions = 750 cc and up is standard. Scooters (50cc)are free of driving licenses, but most are boosted = running 80-100 km/h.
You can also find a lot of Harley, BMW, KTM, Ducati, and all Japanese makes here.
Don't wonder if you'll see them in a week or 2 also in Mauritius on the streets.
A motorbike club from Reunion will make their yearly trip to there by Dec. 18th or 20th (They go once a year to Mada, or South Africa, or Namibia, or, like this year, to Mauritius)

[Dietmar]

Hi Titus,

reading your words and point of views is really interesting. And I like also differences in opinions and point of views.

"Reunion & Mauritius are close, but 2 different worlds."

Yes, definitely! One territory has european standards, the other one is a complete different world, a rapid developing country.
I think in the next 10 years, standards will be the same, or at one point Mauritius will surpass Reunion. What do you think about this ?

"I won't like living in Mauritius (feels like Bollywood). it's one of the most boring places I know."

When we went to Reunion in the nineties with my class group, at the end of the trip none us wanted to go back to Mauritius, we wanted to stay longer in Reunion Its not to say that Mauritius is Bad, but the nineties were also different, the time we were there was like 12 years ago, since then a lot has changed in Mauritius. But for some of us in the group, in Reunion, we felt like being at home Its not necessarily the infrastructure, but I did like the neat way and well sorted infrastructure, but also the people, mixed culture, open minded people. But you also get them in Mauritius to, you have everything here to. But for sure, I would prefer if mauritius would have some more of the neat infrastructure you have in Reunion. Like in many places here, there was no planning. Like in Grand Baie where I stay, it was a chaotic development where everybody wanted to get his share of the pie concerning tourism business. Afterwards it was difficult for the government to put some order, they had to crash some stuff etc. There was no vision either. Well thats how it is sometimes with emerging economies, but thats now something of the past, and new planned cities with proper infrastructure are on their way...

"Remember my first trip (1991 or 92) - hell, I ran away a few days before my scheduled flight. Luckily I took the last flight on Friday evening to Reunion (instead of a flight on Sunday evening) and i am sure I had much more fun over here than inMauritius during the weekend"

Have you not been in Mauritius at all since then ? I was still a small boy at that time. We only had 2 or 3 TV channels and the Reunion TV Channel. Unfortunately I didn't have that channel, there you had the best comics like Dragon Ball Z Now 16 years later lots has changed, you should come by again if you can

"The night clubs you are talking about were the Pussy Cat ( ) and Opera Bastille - I think they've changed names since, but they are still there."

Yes, EXACT! You are well informed

"There some more 5-6 night clubs in St.Gilles les Bains, a good place to stay for making party (St.Pierre too, there are also some 4-5 in St.Pierre)."

In Mauritius, you have also some clubs, but its not the clubbing place to be. You also have some good concerts here from time to time of local artists but they still lack some support. I remember being in Reunion that many people in Reunion like the local music of Mauritius, our Sega! And many Mauritian artists in that time used to go to Reunion to get their stuff recorded.

"St.Gilles and St.Gilles les Bains is the same stuff.
But there is also St.Gilles les Hauts = a few kms up the mountain."

Ok.

"The place with the "german sounding name" could be Hellbourg, in the cirque of Salazie. There's somewhere a trout farm where you can fish also.
There's also another fish farm, run by a German in St.Louis."

Hellbourg!!! EXACT! Man, you know Reunion like your pocket!

"Temperature: St.Gilles and the West coast is quite protected from cold wind in the winter time (les alizées) by the mountains.
That's not the case in Mauritius (no mountains = cold winds don t get stopped)"

Ok. Thats the case, yep.

"Yes, we have a relatively high "death rate" among surfers Somehow 4th or 5th place worldwide in Shark accidents. But it doesn t catch more than 1 or 2 max. a year - though 50% are surfers, 50% divers.
There hadn't been a deadly shark accident now for 2 or 3 years. But I remember 2 (non deadly) accidents some 2 years ago. One of them lost his leg) Compared to some 80-90 death on the road it's still safer beeing in the water than on the road."

Good point to go surfing

"Also: it always happens at the same spots that are known for sharks (but unfortunately also for good waves). But some people love exitement... and don't care. Always the same conditions too = after heavy rainfalls/troubled water, often a short time after heavy rains or a cyclone or a like had passed along (=that means also great waves for surfing)."

Yeah, like here, once there are cyclones coming my friends are happy 'cause of the waves, there are also some spots here. Very popular is Tamarin.
There is some more infos about surfing in the forum here.

"Bikes: Yes in Mauritius there's some kind of restrictions on imports of Big Bikes = almost any to find, but those Indian or Chinese 50 cc Scooters."

Now you see more and more bigger bikes on the road, and there are also some bike clubs. But there must be some restrictions, i guess in the form of very high taxes... Mauritius is one of those countries in the world where taxes on imported cars and bikes are one of the highest in the world, so sometimes it makes more sense to buy it locally. What I mean by that is, when you import on your own, those taxes are applied. The distributors here have different conditions. Yes, those indian bikes, and 50cc stuff, there is still to much of it here, makes a lot of noise, but I am seeing less and less of it, and more and more cars...

"Here's no import restrictions = 750 cc and up is standard. Scooters (50cc)are free of driving licenses, but most are boosted = running 80-100 km/h."

You also have great highways to drive them!

"You can also find a lot of Harley, BMW, KTM, Ducati, and all Japanese makes here. Don't wonder if you'll see them in a week or 2 also in Mauritius on the streets. A motorbike club from Reunion will make their yearly trip to there by Dec. 18th or 20th (They go once a year to Mada, or South Africa, or Namibia, or, like this year, to Mauritius)"

Ok, maybe I will see them tomorrow then

I've been in Mada, the roads there are more for the offroad bikes, not the sporty fast ones. But I love Mada, hope to go there again next year. You been there ???

[Titus]

Dietmar, first time I came to Mauritius was on a business trip (arriving from,... Zimbabwe).

I think I arrived on a Saturday , and was scheduled to leave on Sunday evening, 8 days later.
I was quite young (mid-twenties), so => hotel and night club

But damn, no "real" taxi system. Had to make an appointment with my "assigned hotel driver" to pick me up. Shit, if it's boring there, you're stuck => if it's just fun, you got that driver waiting for you outside.

Well, I don't enjoy really making party under those circumstances.
But anyhow, "l'ambiance" was quite frosty. So it didn't really matter.
Was somewhere in the north, don't remember the name.

Another time I was in a night club somewhere in the center/South, Curepipe or Rosehill (don't remember too). But was almost the same.

well, what else to do in Mauritius? Beach: not really my stuff (except if there's at least half a dozen of lovely girls wearing string Tangas around me - and me in the middle of them, of course !)
Beach is ok for a day or two but in daytime I was working anyway (at Port Louis).

I also had the bad luck, that my hotel was almost empty (staff told me a group had cancelled the reservation) There where only 2 more couples in the hotel - and me. every evening the cook was waiting for me - to close the kitchen
So I was a little stuck in the hotel, having a drink after another, talking a bit to the barman and the receptionist....

That's OK for a day or two but a whole week is too long for me.

Mauritius is ok for mid-age tourists, couples, 50 and up but was so boring to me.

Well, but Friday was coming, ... I called the airline and scheduled quickly on the last flight to Reunion. Had a great weekend (same taxi problem there - but I got a rental car anyhow) and I didn't regret.

Have you not been in Mauritius at all since then ?

I've come some more 15 or twenty times to Mauritius since but I still have the same problem: I don't feel really relaxed.
I've been twice this year, but only for 2x 1 night in transit in Mahébourg. damn, I had the bad luck, first time was a holiday, and the other time a Sunday.
I was walking around the whole day in Mahébourg, just one restaurant was open... no bars, no beer ( ) no shops, nothing to do for a whole day.
Yes, an ice cream van passed along, I bought some coconut too, I watched a little bit the fishermen, but that's all I could do.

But I also avoid to go to Mauritius for some other problems:
I hate being spoiled ! And that's what Air Mauritius and Air Austral (and Coraline) are doing.
We pay almost 70-80% more expensive our tickets on our end - and already those bought at your end are very expensive for that short distance (compared to other routes of the same distance).
There are some politicians (on your and our end) that are earning a lot on our back. I avoid throwing my money after them (I hope they'll read it here, you'd say in German: "in den Rachen stopfen" it's a much more appropriated term)

By the way, it's not really infrastructure that's missing. Mauritius is good for quite beach holidays, somewhere hidden in a hotel, all-in.
But that's not my stuff, I'm looking for something else.
The infrastructure is OK.

What's mainly missing are human relations. Mauritians are always very polite, very friendly (nothing to complain about) but somehow relationship's kept cool, kind of client/employee relation.
And with relations to the people I have it much easier here in Reunion, and also in most places in Africa where I had been, including Madagascar (where infrastructures, as you mentioned, are almost inexisting).

Some 2 years ago I drove around a business partner from Mauritius here in Reunion for some 3 days. He had been here for the first time (a Chineseman).
He noticed (and mentioned) something to me that made me think:
-he was astonished that unknown people greeted him.

Yes, that made me think too (I didn't realize this anymore), and it's true, wherever you go, at Boutique Chinoise, or snackbar's, it's very common to salute everybody, to go around and shake hands. Somehow there's another kind of approach to strangers.

but also the people, mixed culture, open minded people.

YES, exactly that's what I like most here. I can get stuck in a chat with strangers in the supermarket, have a nice talk to anybody, of all races or mixes, almost everywhere. That's what I'm missing a bit in Mauritius.
You're a little stuck in Indians/Muslims/General Populations (what horribly term).

By the way, I would like to have more LINKS between Reunion and Mauritius.
It's a pity that such a few Mauritians come over here (or can effort the travel).
Would be good for you too to get out and see something else more frequently.

But this could only be changed with some more good will from the politicians
(that I don't see to come so soon)

I think in the next 10 years, standards will be the same, or at one point Mauritius will surpass Reunion. What do you think about this ?

No, I don't think so. You are complicating yourselves lifes. But this is also a speciality here, so nobody knows.

By the way, infrastruce isn't always keeping up here too. If I only think about the road problems that came up last 15 years...... (and are far from beeing resolved).

Like in Grand Baie where I stay, it was a chaotic development

Last time I was in Grand Baie was maybe (?) around 2001-2003 (was about a year after the "bombing", pardon, "accidental explosion" of that supermarket.
It was still in ruins.
I think it had improved compared to 10 years ago. Are sidewalks still missing along the main road ?

We only had 2 or 3 TV channels and the Reunion TV Channel

Same shit here ! We got 2 public channels ( RFO....) and 1 private (Antenne Reunion ). That's it for the next 50 years.....
Except you open your purse.... CanalSat or Parabole (but you got both too)

And many Mauritian artists in that time used to go to Reunion to get their stuff recorded.

I think for recording there are today more Reunion artists that go to Mauritius nowadays (it's cheaper).
But the Mauritian still like to come here for concerts, there's public and (mainly!) they get paid. Seems to be a problem at your end, some hotels give you some pennies to play every evening the same stuff for the tourists. But that's it already.
(I had some discussions on this with the band of one hotel "near Grand Baie" )

But I love Mada, hope to go there again next year. You been there ???

For work: yes, for tourism: never (unfortunately)
I'd been 10-15 times in Madagascar, mostly for one month. But that's a long time ago (last time maybe some 10 years ago). I wonder if it's changed, and I wonder if I won't be disappointed.
I'm thinking about going in February 09 for a week or two (first holidays there but still in combination with a short business of maybe 2 days)
But looks like I got some connection problems. I ' am about to go to a city somewhere in the "bush" that was heavily destroyed b y a cyclon last season - and I'd have to stay a whole week there due to flight schedules. I riks getting mad for such a long time without anything to do there. And I'm worried that they ain't got enough THB in stock in that town for me spending a whole week there.

I would like to see some friends from Tana again, but I hate that city. So I will avoid it if I can. I prefer the cities at the coast. I would love to got to Nosy Bé and Diego one day (never been to those places).

Greetz

[Dietmar]

Hi there Titus,

hope you had a nice week end next there in Reunion. Here up north in Mauritius we are not having any beneficial rain of the cyclone which could have been beneficial. I still hope some of it will drop by for my lawn to grow

"But damn, no "real" taxi system. Had to make an appointment with my "assigned hotel driver" to pick me up. Shit, if it's boring there, you're stuck => if it's just fun, you got that driver waiting for you outside."

They got their taxi act a bit more organised now, a taximetre system was once introduced but then removed again, it kind of didn't work out. But the taxi system isn't like it is in Germany where you can call a call centre and they organise you a taxi which comes by in 10mins. Its still more kind of a personal business where you ask around. And once you have a good driver who doesn't rip you off, you stick with that one only for all your drives.

"Well, I don't enjoy really making party under those circumstances. But anyhow, "l'ambiance" was quite frosty. So it didn't really matter. Was somewhere in the north, don't remember the name."

Mauritius is not the party place to be Am sure the frost is still available. But it depends, if you go to certain birthdays or weddings it can get very lively and nice.

"Another time I was in a night club somewhere in the center/South, Curepipe or Rosehill (don't remember too). But was almost the same."

Maybe that was Saxophone...

"well, what else to do in Mauritius? Beach: not really my stuff (except if there's at least half a dozen of lovely girls wearing string Tangas around me - and me in the middle of them, of course !)"

...with a good cocktail lol!

"Mauritius is ok for mid-age tourists, couples, 50 and up but was so boring to me."

Yep, mauritius, depending on what young people are looking for, might not be THE destination that will fullfill all wishes and wants that young people like to enjoy and experience. Yes, retired people love it here, get addicted with mauritius and often try to stay here 6 months a year to avoid the european weather.

"I've been twice this year, but only for 2x 1 night in transit in Mahébourg. damn, I had the bad luck, first time was a holiday, and the other time a Sunday. I was walking around the whole day in Mahébourg, just one restaurant was open... no bars, no beer ( ) no shops, nothing to do for a whole day."

Yes, thats often the case, sometimes even during the week, i think on thursdays many shops are closed. Have been eating there a few times, and sometimes had difficulty findind a place to eat as like in your case, everything was closed, during the week... I like Mahebourg, its a bit more the calm and less stressy kind of town. If you go to other towns its often more bustling.

"Yes, an ice cream van passed along, I bought some coconut too, I watched a little bit the fishermen, but that's all I could do."

lol! it probably got your attention with its nice music

"But I also avoid to go to Mauritius for some other problems:
I hate being spoiled ! And that's what Air Mauritius and Air Austral (and Coraline) are doing. We pay almost 70-80% more expensive our tickets on our end - and already those bought at your end are very expensive for that short distance (compared to other routes of the same distance).
There are some politicians (on your and our end) that are earning a lot on our back. I avoid throwing my money after them (I hope they'll read it here, you'd say in German: "in den Rachen stopfen" it's a much more appropriated term)"

hmm, actually we don't even think of going to Reunion here, among friends, its never a topic of discussion, probably due to the fact of the expensive prices. But am sure if it would be cheaper, we would be in groups going to Reunion. Actually, both countries would benefit. Reunion would get more of its empty hotels filled, and Mauritius more Euros...

"By the way, it's not really infrastructure that's missing. Mauritius is good for quite beach holidays, somewhere hidden in a hotel, all-in. But that's not my stuff, I'm looking for something else. The infrastructure is OK."

It depends what this something else is, for some people its ok to drive around, have a nice chat with some people for a few mins, receive some smiles, do some sight seeing, see a sega show, travel to an island, and then fly back home with lots of souvenirs from shopping...

"What's mainly missing are human relations. Mauritians are always very polite, very friendly (nothing to complain about) but somehow relationship's kept cool, kind of client/employee relation. And with relations to the people I have it much easier here in Reunion, and also in most places in Africa where I had been, including Madagascar (where infrastructures, as you mentioned, are almost inexisting)."

Yeah, i think thats what also makes the country. A country can have nice shops and buildings but unfriendly people, won't be that nice then to be there... Better nice interesting people than only material assets.
But I get the picture what you mean with the people issue here. For a short trip here you might actually not stumble into the people you could have a good chat with... You might need to stay longer and you don't bounce into them everywhere either. So in the end you might need to live here first, and after a longer time you might get to bounce into them... or not! But well, we are not talking about making some deep friends, but just having a good in depth chat, well yep, thats not something you can have here around any street corner... But you can talk to anybody, but it would be more like you said above.

"Some 2 years ago I drove around a business partner from Mauritius here in Reunion for some 3 days. He had been here for the first time (a Chineseman). He noticed (and mentioned) something to me that made me think:
-he was astonished that unknown people greeted him.
Yes, that made me think too (I didn't realize this anymore), and it's true, wherever you go, at Boutique Chinoise, or snackbar's, it's very common to salute everybody, to go around and shake hands. Somehow there's another kind of approach to strangers."

Yes, people usually greet people they know. And in shops you do get greeted with a "Bonjour" here to. And it also varies. Sometimes you don't get a hello back, or no good bye. I've been here a while so I don't pay to much attention to that. But when I went to France I also had a similar feeling. Usually I would travel from Germany to France, not to say that Germany they don't say hello, but in France I found them more polite and friendly in shops, buses etc. In Germany, the service was quite often not so good, sometimes its like the client is not king but a nuisance wasting the shopkeepers time

"but also the people, mixed culture, open minded people.
YES, exactly that's what I like most here. I can get stuck in a chat with strangers in the supermarket, have a nice talk to anybody, of all races or mixes, almost everywhere. That's what I'm missing a bit in Mauritius.
You're a little stuck in Indians/Muslims/General Populations (what horribly term)."

Yep. It will still take a while to get to this level. Or maybe never exactly on that same level as you know it.

"By the way, I would like to have more LINKS between Reunion and Mauritius. It's a pity that such a few Mauritians come over here (or can effort the travel). Would be good for you too to get out and see something else more frequently."

That would be great! Good idea actually, should consider Reunion for a future trip, need to talk to some friends. Would be fun.

"But this could only be changed with some more good will from the politicians
(that I don't see to come so soon)"

"Quote:
Like in Grand Baie where I stay, it was a chaotic development
Last time I was in Grand Baie was maybe (?) around 2001-2003 (was about a year after the "bombing", pardon, "accidental explosion" of that supermarket.
It was still in ruins. I think it had improved compared to 10 years ago. Are sidewalks still missing along the main road ?"

They have built a new shopping complex there, looks nice. Its already opened. There are still not sidewalks everywhere, i still miss those.
Now they are building some in Pereybere.

"Quote:
And many Mauritian artists in that time used to go to Reunion to get their stuff recorded.
I think for recording there are today more Reunion artists that go to Mauritius nowadays (it's cheaper).
But the Mauritian still like to come here for concerts, there's public and (mainly!) they get paid. Seems to be a problem at your end, some hotels give you some pennies to play every evening the same stuff for the tourists. But that's it already.
(I had some discussions on this with the band of one hotel "near Grand Baie" )"

Interesting that they are coming here now. Maybe in future this will also happen in some other sectors. Maybe plastic surgery...

"I'd been 10-15 times in Madagascar, mostly for one month. But that's a long time ago (last time maybe some 10 years ago). I wonder if it's changed, and I wonder if I won't be disappointed."

Difficult for me to say, haven't been there 15 years ago. But while I was there this year and travelling through the brousse, there were lots of road works going on. Its mainly done by the Chinese Railroad Corporation. I foung their trucks interesting, they looked like Mercedes Benz trucks, but instead of the Benz Star it had a reversed V, i wonder if its a copy... But I am still impressed that the chinese are doing constructions everywhere in places you wouldn't imagine and in many african countries. In mauritius also, some construction is being done by chinese. Mada also lacks a good highway. But the new president is pushing the progress forward. To the people I talked, most of them seem to like their new president and are happy with his new developments.

"But looks like I got some connection problems. I ' am about to go to a city somewhere in the "bush" that was heavily destroyed b y a cyclon last season - and I'd have to stay a whole week there due to flight schedules. I riks getting mad for such a long time without anything to do there. And I'm worried that they ain't got enough THB in stock in that town for me spending a whole week there."

lol!

"I would like to see some friends from Tana again, but I hate that city. So I will avoid it if I can. I prefer the cities at the coast. I would love to got to Nosy Bé and Diego one day (never been to those places)."

Been in Tana, big city, seen stuff there i haven't ever seen before, like its poverty level. In the coast I was in Morondava. I found it very interesting to see that most people stayed in simple huts. There is also a lot we can learn from them, from this simple way of life with little material possesions. I also enjoyed the long travels through the brousse, the nature and mountains, the rice fields, the Baobabs , hope to see those places you mentioned to. Mauritius is a small country, you can't travel much, nor drive endlessly. Thats possible in Mada. I also a lot of Fish in the coastal town Morondava, its called "Merlin", its till now one of the best fish i've ever eaten.

[Titus]

Originally Posted by Dietmar

we would be in groups going to Reunion. Actually, both countries would benefit. Reunion would get more of its empty hotels filled, and Mauritius more Euros...

The hotels are not really empty (in that case, it wouldn't make much sense to build them). On school holidays (mainly August and around Christmas/New Year) you might have problems to find rooms or rental cars.
That's changed a little bit since "Chikungunya" - tourism here has still not recovered 100%.

But service is not the same (4waiters have to to the same work as 10 in Mauritius). But that's the way the must handle business here. Too much charges.
That means also more stress on the personal, and due to our high unemployment rate, also few professional perspectives. Unluckily.

But we got also some natural sites, Mauritius will never top: our vulcano, the "Cirques", mountains, hiking, waterfalls, that's also another kind of client that comes here.
Still, we have only around 1/3 of tourists that you have. And we will never come up to 100%. That's not the question.
I actually prefer as it is.
But in other business sectors we could be more performant.

regarding artists & surgery:

Interesting that they are coming here now. Maybe in future this will also happen in some other sectors. be plastic surgery...

lol! I won't mind if our girls will get some big boops :D
Maybe also a good idea for Mauritian ladies

Mada also lacks a good highway. But the new president is pushing the progress forward. To the people I talked, most of them seem to like their new president and are happy with his new developments.

Been in Tana, big city, seen stuff there i haven't ever seen before, like its poverty level.

Exactly, poverty also sometimes shocked me. I've see things in Mada, I'd never imagined (thought I had been to more than 15 countries in africa before). 2-3 things i've seen their still haunt me.
But this also gives you another way of thinking about the sense of live.

I'm not so sure about the new president. Unfortunatly I don't see enough changes. He did some quite big shit too.
But anyway, impossible that he's doing worse than Ratsiraka. Madagascar only can improve.

[Dietmar]

Hi Titus,

hows the christmas celebration going down there in Reunion ? Here people are shopping like crazy and carrying all those goods with whatever means they can.

"Quote:
Originally Posted by Dietmar View Post

we would be in groups going to Reunion. Actually, both countries would benefit. Reunion would get more of its empty hotels filled, and Mauritius more Euros...
The hotels are not really empty (in that case, it wouldn't make much sense to build them). On school holidays (mainly August and around Christmas/New Year) you might have problems to find rooms or rental cars.
That's changed a little bit since "Chikungunya" - tourism here has still not recovered 100%."

Ok, good to know that.

"But service is not the same (4waiters have to to the same work as 10 in Mauritius). But that's the way the must handle business here. Too much charges.
That means also more stress on the personal, and due to our high unemployment rate, also few professional perspectives. Unluckily."

Well, thats coming to Mauritius to. Hotels are kicking out personal at the moment. My friend in hotelry is telling me that Naiade Group of Hotels did a record in kicking out about 150 workers, and many other hotel groups are doing the same. Apparently its because less tourists are coming... But they'll need to be careful and work hard to keep up the level of service to keep the 5 Star levels.

"But we got also some natural sites, Mauritius will never top: our vulcano, the "Cirques", mountains, hiking, waterfalls, that's also another kind of client that comes here."

Yes, not only do you have nice sites, but your sites are not so small like the ones here. Here, any site you have, is not very big. Most of the land has been put to use for agriculture. Sugar cane everywhere.

But this is also more what I would like to see and enjoy.

"Still, we have only around 1/3 of tourists that you have. And we will never come up to 100%. That's not the question.
I actually prefer as it is. But in other business sectors we could be more performant."

...and in those other business sectors, Mauritius will surpass Reunion. I'm pretty sure about that. What do you think ?

"Quote:
regarding artists & surgery:

Interesting that they are coming here now. Maybe in future this will also happen in some other sectors. be plastic surgery...
lol! I won't mind if our girls will get some big boops
Maybe also a good idea for Mauritian ladies"

Lol! You for sure can make me laugh! But definitely you have some of those clinics here, like hair transplantation. And now look who is coming:
Apollo Bramwell Hospital
This will create some new competition in the mauritian medecine industry. They also want to promote more tourism medecine now...
Usually when there is a surgery that Mauritian doctors cannot do, mauritians go to Reunion, South Africa or India. Maybe this might change in future, and people from Reunion might come here... Maybe for cheaper dentists. Like its happening in Europe where people go to eastern european countries to get cheaper health care...

"Quote:
Mada also lacks a good highway. But the new president is pushing the progress forward. To the people I talked, most of them seem to like their new president and are happy with his new developments.

Been in Tana, big city, seen stuff there i haven't ever seen before, like its poverty level.
Exactly, poverty also sometimes shocked me. I've see things in Mada, I'd never imagined (thought I had been to more than 15 countries in africa before). 2-3 things i've seen their still haunt me.
But this also gives you another way of thinking about the sense of live."

Yes, thats what I thought to, there is a lot we can learn there and from them to.

"I'm not so sure about the new president. Unfortunatly I don't see enough changes. He did some quite big shit too.
But anyway, impossible that he's doing worse than Ratsiraka. Madagascar only can improve."

Yes, thats something many businessmen in Mada still have to struggle with its their high rate of corruption. The people are happy as long something is done for the country and they see some progress even if there is some "big shit" happening aside from that. Definitely, with the past they had, even a little progress, already mean much. Madagascar was once a very prosperous nation exporting livestock, rice and much more. They had a great university that attracted students of the region to go there to study and Tana was called the "Paris" of the Indian Ocean, i think it was back then in the sixties...