Southern Sights

Today there is a fresh wind blowing and the sun does not really come out from behind the clouds.

The perfect weather for a trip to see the last remaining sights down here in the south of the island.

We set off into traffic that is quite heavy for such a small island. In addition to the horn, the switch for switching to recirculated air is very important here.

Today Google maps and our navigation system agree: “Take this exit at the roundabout”

…….. and standing on a construction site.

We continue through endless sugar cane fields and small villages (with narrow streets that we are supposed to drive through) to the Black River Gorges National Park.

In the parking lot we are greeted by a horde

and a horde

who cannot read.

We follow the path towards the viewpoint.

The effort of the trail (fending off the many vendors that line the path) is rewarded with a great view.

Lost in thought, our gaze wanders into the distance when we suddenly jump up. A monkey has crept up unnoticed and is now sitting half a meter in front of Schahaatz. The two watch each other eye to eye until the monkey shows Schahaatz his teeth.

Okay… I’d rather keep my distance.

Micha had an unusual encounter with a monkey earlier. He was sitting on your wastepaper basket and didn't like it at all that Micha wanted to get too close to him.

Micha had to run pretty fast. As a garbage can bottle collector, you're in a really bad position here.

Another short stop at the Victoria Falls

We continue to the Grand Bassin.

Facts

68% of the population is of Indian descent.

Ganga Talao, also known as Grand Bassin, is considered the holiest pilgrimage site for Hindus in Mauritius. It is a crater lake on whose shores several statues of Hindu gods

as well as several smaller temples.

In 1972, holy water from the Ganges was mixed with the water of the lake to create a symbolic connection with the holy Indian river. The lake was renamed from Grand Bassin to Ganga Talao.

A 33 m high Shiva statue has been located at the entrance to Ganga Talao since 2007.

This is the tallest statue in Mauritius. The statue is a copy of the statue from Sursagar Talav Lake in Vadodara, India. Across the road there is another statue of Durga Maa Bhavani, also 33 m high.

Today, the annual pilgrimages to the lake, during which some walk more than 70 kilometers barefoot, are the largest pilgrimages of the Hindus outside India.

Not only Hindus from Mauritius are represented, but also from South Africa, for example. Around 450,000 pilgrims are counted in February and March.

Under the large Shiva figure we receive the blessing of Shiva

and a band around the wrist (men right, women left) which is supposed to protect us and our family.

Facts:

Another symbol is the red thread that Hindus tie around their wrists. It is a symbol that they trust in the blessings of the divine triad Brahma, Vishnu and Mashesh (another name for Shiva) and their wives Saravati, Lakshmi and Durga and are assured of their support.

Mindfulness, prosperity, strength, wisdom, serenity, absence of all bad influences are some of the effects of this blessing.

Schahaatz, Ira and Micha then enter the inner circle, barefoot, to wet their heads with the holy water. The water is said to contain an elixir of immortality and is useful for spiritual cleansing and the healing of illnesses. Well, we'll see.

Of course we also make a pilgrimage to the lake, because they say:

A bath in the Ganges significantly increases the chance of a better rebirth.

……..we just skipped swimming because there are so many fish in there that you would rather walk on the water than get wet.

Further towards the coast there is a tea factory (unfortunately closed because it is not picking season and we don't feel like going to the museum) and a rum factory.

The visit here fails because only Schahaatz and Micha are allowed to drive the car, Ira and I don't drink rum and one person doesn't like it alone. We quickly visit a neighboring petting zoo

and a small vegetable garden

and move on sober and without accomplishing anything.

From here, Micha's second hour of driving begins. Only 10 minutes later, the Rochester Falls follow.

We take in everything there is to see here.

Following the signs, we reach a residential area. Boys are playing football in the street with goals made of flip-flops - and of course - we have to go through there. They let us through and already have a grin on their faces, because 3 bends further on we are back there - a ring road 🤦‍♀️.

According to the satnav this is the way

….. but nothing, just a closed gravel road with three parked cars in front of it.

Ok, continue on the coastal road B9 towards Le Morne.

We originally wanted to book the Hotel Lux here, but Kitzi (the man from Explorer) said that the trade winds in the south and east are very strong at the time of our trip. That's why the hotel was ruled out 🤣, but we still want to take a look at it.

In Mauritius, every house has a high wall around it. And every hotel too, the gates are rarely open so that you can visit another hotel. We were lucky at the Lux. The gates opened - Schahaatz and I went straight in and through the driveway to reception, the doorman didn't get out of her cubbyhole that quickly. Then she caught Micha and Ira. "Room number please?" and Ira very confidently: 105.

The facility was beautiful

And it wasn't any windier than it was here. So now it's time to go home, dinner is ready and it's already getting dark.

PS: Micha has already completed his compulsory hours of cross-country and night driving in left-hand traffic.