056 – Mauritius – Heavenly Bodies, Earthly Creatures, and Spiritual Encounters

With Saturn coming into alignment,

And Ciel on the fast track to eternal damnation,

It was high time for some divine intervention. 

Led by our spiritual guide/driver, Abedeen, 

We ventured forth through the island's mystical realms, on a quest to save our souls.

Looking for salvation from the sea, we launched into a catamaran trip up the coast,

Catching a glimpse of the uplifting Spinner dolphins.

And, praise the Lord! Guess which two stowaways cooperated with happy hour.

Until, Taz woke up, looking for a communal beverage.

The ride home offered time for self-reflection.

It’s gotta be the sea breeze…

Our pilgrimage continued in the capital, Port Louis.

Where at the Citadel over looking the city,

The hoards of Indian honeymooners (we counted 14 sets at one point) with arms outstretched,

Had our little star shining brightly.

At L’Aventure du Sucre we paid homage to the history of Mauritius, its people, and (obviously) sugar cane,

(“Aargh! To the gift shop, mateys! Our booty awaits!”)

In all its blessed forms.

(Post-tour, rum tasting. The vanilla-plum infusion was glorious…)

We witnessed the miracles of nature at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Gardens.

(THAT is a massive palm tree)

And THESE are Giant (Aldabra) Tortoises!

(Unfortunately, the pics of the shaded hatchery through three layers of fence weren’t stellar, but the dozen pint-sized hatchlings were…)

And of course, we've spent many an afternoon paying our respects to Helios at the Cathedral of Sand.

(Just a little something Ciel and Taz whipped up)

Where everyone worships in their own way,

And some languish in purgatory.

Fuelled by the previous night’s divine dinner at Hippocampe (Seahorse),

Octopus Vindaye

Giant King Prawns

We continued on our hallowed trek, 

Through the "Bombato Shipmodel" shop,

Past the Trou-aux-Cerf crater,

Under the nesting Village Weavers,

Via the Black River Gorge National Park,

To the most sacred Hindu site in all of Mauritius, Ganga Talao.

After paying our respects to (33 m tall) Shiva and the gang,

(Vishnu and Lakshmi)

(Ganesha and Hanuman)

Checking out the temple,

Watching the monkeys steal all the offerings,

And being officially blessed,

We’d pretty much attained Nirvana.

At least until the next diaper change.