January 16th, 2010Went back to Mauritius for 13 days
Did you think that I was disappearing again? 
Those who follow me on Twitter or who are friends with me on Facebook probably know that I went back to Mauritius.
Everything happened too fast. On Christmas eve, all job-related procedures were completed (medical check-up, work visa etc) and I phoned my youngest sis. She bought my plane tickets on that same day & emailed me the e-tickets. I packed my small suitcase with some clothes, filled my big suitcase with things for my sisters, went shopping and on Christmas day, I took a cab to Changi airport at 10 p.m. I took the 1:20 am flight on 26th December. It was my first time flying Singapore-Dubai-Mauritius. I couldn’t get a seat on Air Mauritius and that’s why I flew on Emirates instead. I don’t want to criticise Air Mauritius but I’m seriously considering flying on Emirates again if I need to go back to Mauritius in the future & of course if I’m not in a hurry.
Singapore to Dubai took about 7 hours and I had to wait at Dubai airport for 4 to 5 hours (didn’t feel long because I was in the duty free shops) before the Dubai to Mauritius flight. Dubai to Mauritius took another 6 1/2 hours. The tickets are more expensive than for Singapore to Mauritius on Air Mauritius but the food was better, the service was better. Enough said.
Something I noticed when disembarking from the Singapore to Dubai flight was that the plane was quite clean. I was impressed. Were most passengers Singaporeans? I couldn’t help wondering. In Singapore, people usually don’t litter because they risk getting fined heavily. On the other hand, I noticed that the plane for the Dubai to Mauritius flight wasn’t that clean when I got off the plane. The passengers were mostly Indians, French and Mauritians.
After I reached Mauritius, it took me a few minutes to get used to hearing most people around me speak Creole or French again and I smiled. This is home. I love that feeling of being back home, back to our sunny little island. :love: Well it wasn’t really sunny because it rained for a few days but my stay was still enjoyable.
I went to the beach once, went to Shout & Shotz once (but didn’t enjoy myself much because of cigarette smoke. I don’t have anything against smokers but I have breathing difficulties on and off. FYI, people aren’t allowed to smoke in bars/clubs in Singapore), met up with a few friends for lunch or dinner but I’ve been spending most of my time with my family. I didn’t have time to meet all my friends but hopefully, I’ll be able to see them next time. My parents weren’t keen on letting me go out at night and I had to stay at friends’ places instead of going back home after midnight because they reckon that our neighbourhood isn’t as safe as it used to be years ago. Mauritius is said to be an ideal destination for tourists but how do the local people rate Mauritius when it comes to safety, esp. when it’s not in the city centre? I’ve heard a few stories about people driving back home after clubbing , seeing bricks/crates/barrels on the road, getting out of the car to move them and then getting attacked & robbed? Something like that. Can anyone confirm those stories? To my non-Mauritian friends, please don’t get a bad impression of Mauritius. No country is 100% safe. I love Mauritius. (note: 2009 report about Crime and Safety in Mauritius. )
Staying in Mauritius from 26 December 2009 to 7th January 2010 was NOT ENOUGH. 
The last time I went back home was 2 1/2 years ago and I had stayed for about 1 1/2 months.
The good thing is that I’m back to Singapore with a clearer mind and feeling better than the last couple of months. Hopefully, 2010 will be a better year for me. :flowers:
I will write about my stay in Mauritius soon and of course, I’ll upload some photos.
I want to enjoy my Saturday lazying around at home after this long, tiring week.
I am glad that your trip back to Mauritius has recharged you
Yes,indeed looking forward to the photos you have taken during your stay in Mauritius (hopefully,some food photos :laughing:)
welcome back to blogging…yet again!
me very very very jealous la!!!
i want to go back to Mru too!
i hate transits. i usually feel like i’m wasting my time. but, thanks to multiple transits, i get a cheaper air ticket! why only 13 days? it’s so short!
I want to go Out of mauritius for some holidays
That’s great, spontaneous trips back home are a great way to chill out and relax. Especially when home is sunny and warm.
Emirates and most middle-eastern airlines are great actually, because everything is so new.
@waz, haha thanks!
Only 13 days because I had to report to work 3 days later.
@karl,
yeah I took photos of food…as usual.
@Yashvin,
The opposite of what I want.
I’m trying to find time to go back to Mauritius every year.
@Zhu,
I’m so glad that I went home.
yes, exactly.
It was a short trip but better than nothing
I’ve never took the SG-Dubai-Mru route. Maybe next time. How much more expensive was it?
I also hear about robbery stories too. My mum’s bag was snatched last time. I think it was along Labourdonnais road. Luckily she wasn’t injured.
Welcome back. Singaporeans are typically mostly clean freaks, me included :laughing:
Sounds like you’re yearning for more of your home, Chinese New Year is coming up, another trip back perhaps?
Ahhhh i so want to go back to Mauritius toooooo!
2 weeks is def. not enough, hey? :S
@Carine,
Looked for the info in my ETkt receipt.
AIR FARE : SGD 1730
EQUIV FARE PAID : MUR 37490
TAX : MUR 500MU 40JE 1307XT
TOTAL : MUR 39337
I don’t remember if it was Atom travel or somewhere else. My sis was the one who purchased my ticket. I suppose that it is cheaper if it is during a non-peak period.
@Sha,
thanks. Unfortunately, I didn’t go back for CNY. Maybe…. Dec 2010.
@Jaimie,
I feel like going back again but I will have to wait until December.
Not enough.