Interviewing a Mauritian
For our Post 4, we will be interviewing a Mauritian, to bring some close insight from someone who lived there for a large portion of his life. Andy Moothoocaroopen will be our interviewee today. He was born and raised in Trou Aux Biches, Mauritius. Living there for 18 years of his life, he came to Canada to study mechanical engineering, being here for the past 2 years. How different could the lifestyle, culture and food of Mauritius be compared to Canada? Let’s check it out!
What is some things you think people should know about Mauritius that they may not already know?
A thing everyone should know is that the island is 28 miles wide and 40 miles long, but even though, has a big population of 1.266 million. Second, It is that coral reefs surround most of the island, so shark population is close to non-existent. A last interesting fact is that Mauritius has no indigenous population
What are some of the most popular cultural events or festivals in Mauritius?
As Mauritius is a very diverse country, it has numerous cultural events due to the number of religions that are found across the island. Some example are Cavadee, Chinese Spring Festival, Christmas, Diwali, Easter, Eid-ul-Fitr, Ganesh Chathurti, Holi, MahaShivaratree, Père Laval Pilgrimage and Ugadi
How do people typically spend their free time in Mauritius? Are there any popular hobbies or activities?
People usually spend their free time doing numerous activities such as going to the beach, practicing sports, going on a hike, going to nightclubs. However most people like to receive family and friends at their house for lunch or dinner.
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Quick facts: The interviewer actually spend some time on a Mauritian's family house in Canada, and can confirm that they were very opened and reciptive. They gave food and drinks without any hesitation! Would definetely love to do it again in Mauritius!
What are some of the most popular tourist destinations in Mauritius, and what makes them worth visiting?
The most popular places to go in Mauritius are the beaches as they offer nice views and relaxation vibes that some tourists may not experience from their home country. Another popular place would be Casela, which is basically some type of zoo where there are many different activities that can be done from walking around watching the animals to feeding and petting them. You can also go on a segway or a quad bike tour in the park and see animals like zebras, antelopes and ostriches, there is also the possibility to do ziplining for about 1 km.
Out of the places that were mentioned in the previous blog, which one do you suggest the readers go to?
My personal choice would be Eau Bleue as it has a nice trail that brings you to this isolated waterfall that has clear blue water. But it is advised to go on a clear day to have the best experience.
What do you think are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about your country?
Well the most common one is the famous “underwater waterfall”. The picture taken makes it seem that there is a waterfall but in fact it is not, it is just an illusion.
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Secondly another misconception is that people think that they need to learn French to come to Mauritius. But it is not the case as most people speak French and creole but they also speak English very well.
What is your favorite place that is not well-known in Mauritius?
I would probably go to the Grand Gaube beach. Grand Gaube is a quieter option to Grand Baie, located at the northern tip of Mauritius. You will find a number of upscale resorts here, as well as beaches and rocky bays. You can breathe the cool ocean air at Grand Gaube beach. Get away from the noise and hustle of the city and enjoy some alone time. Within a few meters, you will find a few restaurants and snack stalls. While the landscape is vastly developed, infrastructural progress has been very slow. Grand Gaube has two public beaches, Anse La Raie and Butte A l’herbe. These beaches are great for kitesurfing and swimming.
What is a typical/most popular dish from Mauritius? Which restaurant would you suggest for someone who is going to Mauritius for the first time?
The most popular dishes in Mauritius don’t usually come from restaurants but from street food carts. A famous spot is a noodle shop near my house. Where you can go grab different noodles varying from chicken, beef and squid with also the pellet. As the food is a unique experience, what I find amazing is that you can grab the food and go sit on the rocks next to the beach and watch the sea. This gives a different vibe which then makes me enjoy my food even more. But to have the best taste of the local food you should go to Grand Baie. They have so many food stands that you can get a variety of different meals.
This conclude our blog post #4
Hope this enhance your visit to Mauritius, and that you can have a wonderful experiences there!
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Have any suggestion of blog posts? Email us at explore.mauritius@hotmail.com
Thanks for your time!