Mauritius, magnificent and wondrous.

Text and photos:John Russell

Visitors to the island enjoy the fresh, cool air at the resorts and spas. The island covers an area of ​​1860 square kilometers.²This is the ideal destination for travelers seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and recharge after tiring days at work. Instead of simply relaxing in a seaside resort, my friend and I decided to experience Mauritius in our own way. We spent five days immersing ourselves in the lives of the island's 1.3 million inhabitants, exploring the island beyond the tourist areas with all our senses.

We traveled 177km along the coastline from the island to the town of Mahebourg. This coastal town is like a microcosm of the island, with a mix of churches, temples, Indian and African cultures, American-style fast food, and traditional Indian cuisine. Tourists hoping to see famous landmarks might be disappointed by the town's potential and services, but if you want to explore and experience the simple daily life, you'll have memorable moments simply wandering through this Mauritian town. It might be the tree-lined streets with a few light-colored high-rises scattered along the beach; the schoolboys and girls laughing and playing on their way to school; the women chatting happily in front of small grocery stores; and the bustling city buses.

A minibus was perhaps the perfect means for us to take a 90-minute island-crossing tour to Mauritius' capital, Port Louis. The natural beauty of Mauritius made us forget the surrounding heat as the bus took us from village to village along bumpy country roads. The endless green sugarcane fields swaying in the gentle breeze added to the majestic scenery, even making the mountains appear greener against the deep blue sky.

The car took us uphill to the central plateau, where a cool stream flowed down. Finally, we arrived in Port Louis, a city with 128,000 inhabitants. Admittedly, the skyscrapers and the bustling atmosphere of the city were surprisingly fitting on an island with crystal-clear waters and waves lapping against fine white sand.

A beautiful sunny day was perfect for us to explore Place D'Armes, with its glass-walled buildings and colonial-style town hall, to the hillside where we could gaze down at the town center below. We were greeted by the fortifications and grey stone walls of the British Empire, built in 1835. This fortress, perched a few hundred meters above Port Louis, offers visitors breathtaking panoramic views of modern skyscrapers alongside the deep blue sea.

Finally, we descended the mountain and explored the Chinese village at the end of the Royal Road. The few tall buildings nestled between stone archways also stunned us. The bustling shops selling all kinds of goods, the fruit vendors on the sidewalks, the roast ducks hanging upside down in the eateries, and the dim sum shops were just a few colorful brushstrokes in the real picture unfolding before us.

This urban area gave us a feeling of excitement, quite different from typical tourist areas. We continued our journey by bus, with very cheap fares, from Mahebourg to the bustling town market in the central highlands, Bel Air. While waiting to return to the coast, we spent 30 minutes strolling around the stalls with their countless CDs, cheap jewelry, and miscellaneous goods—enough to supply an entire battalion.

A 35-minute bus ride took us to Trou d'Eau Douce, a collection of concrete buildings lining the road in the Flacq district. This small village is an ideal destination for speedboat trips to Iles Aux Cerf, a 20-minute ride away. While budget travelers opt for day trips on organized tours, or a five-star hotel with its own golf course allowing for longer stays, my friend and I chose to explore on a budget with a $5 boat to the center of Ile Aux Cerf, where outdoor restaurants and companies offer activities like scuba diving, parasailing, and other water sports. Sailing along the coast away from the bustling souvenir shops and eateries, we arrived at our own little paradise within paradise.

Upon reaching the small bay, I immersed myself in the cool water, closed my eyes, and floated on my back. The warm water, the scent of salt, and the sound of waves lapping against the coral reefs proved that Mother Nature is the ultimate spa, providing both relaxation and spiritual refreshment.

I'm a rather picky traveler and rarely have strong feelings about a destination, but with Mauritius, words can't describe it. The waterfalls in Black River Gorges National Park, the pristine beaches near La Morne, and the lush green tea plantations... have given me unforgettable memories. Mauritius has some of the most spectacular beaches in the world, and the experiences here are unlike anything I've ever had anywhere else.

As our plane flew over Mauritius, I watched the sunset gradually disappear behind the dark sea. The last rays of sunlight faded into the horizon, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia as my vacation came to an end. Even though the sun would rise again on this peaceful island, even without me, the memories of my brief time exploring Mauritius would last forever.

The Thanh