Returning from a Trip to Mauritius
When Things Go Wrong, they can go very wrong. After many years without serious travel problems, I experienced this first-hand. I had meant to write a light article as a counterpart to my previous post of old photographs from western China. After those grainy black-and-white images, I wanted to show sea, colour and the comfort of a very different setting. The contrast turned out to be less simple than I had imagined.
Publication note, March 2025: comments and likes initially failed to work on this post. I was able to correct the problem.
The Yin Part
Today’s article should be the yin-part: sea, luxury, designer hotel, and paradisiacal surroundings. However, that was only partially true.
As mentioned, I had originally planned a trip to Laos (Luang Prabang) in 2025. From there, I would travel by bus to Hoi An (Vietnam) and down the Mekong to Saigon.
For years, I organized and booked trips myself, usually through the most popular online portal. I basically was always satisfied. When I booked a room in a first-class hotel in Luang Prabang a year ago, I was pleasantly surprised by the low price. But a few months later, my room got canceled. Not only without reason, but cheekily with the message: “We are pleased to inform you that we were able to cancel the booked room free of charge.” The room was now available for more than twice the price. What the hell!
I mention this as it exemplifies our time. Contracts – including those secured with a credit card – can easily be violated by the stronger party. Who should I sue? Unfortunately, this principle applied to the newly planned trip as well. After two more annoying incidents during planning, I decided on a different destination. Mauritius seemed like a good choice. Especially as I had been suffering from a flu infection all winter. When I saw a picture like this on the internet, I didn’t think twice and booked.
The boutique hotel I chose had an unusual design and presented itself around yoga, sustainability and locally sourced food. Its bright colours and planted courtyards were certainly inviting.
And Then in the Other Direction
Two days before my planned departure, a cyclone warning was issued. The day before, everything not nailed down was locked away.
During the night, I received a message from the airline: the flight was postponed by a day. Then another day – a total of four postponements. Finally, the departure day arrived. Chaos reigned at Mauritius airport, and checking in took forever. Adding to the discomfort was the oppressive humidity. I felt close to collapsing and was finally relieved when I took my seat on the plane.
Shortly after takeoff, I noticed a commotion two seats to the left behind me. Several stewardesses approached, one ran to the phone, and another fetched a defibrillator. Shortly after, an announcement was made: “Is there a doctor or medical assistant on board? Please identify yourself!” Fortunately, there was one. After a while, I heard something that sounded like “shark – shark – shark – compression, shark – shark – shark – compression.” The cardiac massage had begun and lasted over two hours. I didn’t stare, of course, but I saw horror on the faces of some passengers who were standing and gawking. When I turned around, the deceased man had been put on a wheelchair and covered with a sheet.
The nightmare was far from over. I spent an extra day in Dubai, rebooked via Istanbul, where I only got a standby ticket. It seemed I might have to spend a night there too. However, with the Viennese charm I mentioned earlier, I managed to win over a nice, young Turkish woman. After an anxious half hour, she handed me a valid ticket with a beaming smile.
Self-Reflection
During the fatal incident on the plane, I realized I’m a pretty irresponsible idiot. I fly alone, and nobody knows where I am. I didn’t even name a person to contact in an emergency. When I examine my behavior more closely, it’s even more sobering.
I returned to the winter behind this trip in Depression: A Journey Through the Long Winter, through the paintings that came out of it.
A Few Comments on Mauritius
Two weeks are not enough to judge a country, but the coexistence of different cultures and religions made a strong impression on me. My driver spoke about it with similar warmth. Mauritius has communities of Indian, African, Chinese and European ancestry, alongside several religious traditions. I also learned more about the island’s long Chinese history: the Mauritian embassy’s account traces Chinese arrivals to the eighteenth century. This was new to me.
The Great Night of Lord Shiva in Mauritius
During my stay in February 2025, pilgrims were gathering for Maha Shivaratri at Grand Bassin, also called Ganga Talao. I took these photographs two days before the festival, which fell on February 26. I wanted to visit before the busiest period, when travelling there by car would be difficult.
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Every Picture Tells a Story · I Promised You the Sky · Depression: A Journey Through the Long Winter
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