Boat Trip and Monkeys in Mauritius

Every month, the most exciting time for me is to see where I will be flying next month. Months feels like days and years feels like months. Time just flies and it feels that I went to Mauritius just yesterday. I did all my research about the place because I wanted to know where I was going. For those of you who might not know, Mauritius is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean and is very famous for its beaches, lagoons and reefs. What makes me go all crazy and excited is the combination of mountains, rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails and native fauna like the Mauritian flying fox.

If you are not good at geography, having the job I have will stimulate you to learn more. Every day is a new day and a learning process. Without realizing, you learn more day by day while you don’t make any effort or at least it feels like you don’t.

I was admiring the view from the sky of the island. I don’t know who was more excited, the honeymooners on the flight or me. I felt like jumping up and down, screaming and laughing at the same time. I had been doing that all along anyway for the past two weeks, and my family didn’t hear the end of it. In my innocence, I sometimes don’t even realize I can make them envious. I just want to share my joy and vent it all out.

In less than two hours after reaching the hotel, we all met in the lobby. We had arranged a boat trip with a traditional local lunch on an island. I couldn’t wait for it. The minivan was waiting for us and we hit the road immediately.

I could see the humbleness of people on the island and the simplicity. They were all smiling while talking amongst themselves. The island is so small that they might all know each other. Even if they did not, they still spoke to each other and there was no fear of being rubbed or hurt. You could feel the positivity in the air. This place was an instant anti-depressant.

Finally, we arrived at the mini port they have here, and our boat was waiting for us. The scent of the ocean, the sun and the good company made me feel even better. It was like all of us had transformed and become better people. Super excited, we jumped into the boat and we were ready to explore the nature. The feeling of freedom was absolutely amazing. The wind was running through our and hair. I felt all my worries fly far away with the winds. The crystal clear water gave a peaceful feeling. We arrived into the fauna of Mauritius where we could see the green trees that are leaning into the ocean as if they needed to be close to it and embrace it. 

Taking a look up at the trees, I saw tiny small hairy balls jumping around the trees, twig to twig. Monkeys! I instantly put my hands on top of my head to cover it in a panic attack. We were so close to the twigs since we were under them that the monkeys could just grab you by the hair. You will wonder why I had an instant panic attack.

Well, on a nice summery day of desert safari in Dubai’s dunes, there was a gentleman who had a small monkey with him. Apparently the monkey found my golden hair attractive and jumped right onto it and was pulling so hard that I thought I will lose my hair. It took three people to take the monkey off my hair while the audience seemed very well entertained by my screams and desperation. My brother, instead of helping me, was rolling on the sand laughing. So, I hope you can now understand the panic of being so close to the monkeys. The last thing I wanted was to return bald.

These particular monkeys were very different from the one I came across. They were mothers with babies. It was wonderful to watch how the small animals acted in their natural habitat. Slowly riding on the boat underneath the trees and watching the monkeys play was serene. At one point, they became so curious that they began leaning on the twigs near the boat to watch us. The view they offered to us was spectacular.

After we saw the monkeys, we went for lunch and took a dip in the breathtaking ocean. It was an absolutely amazing day. I often think of how blessed I am and how sometimes I tend to take things for granted in life.

I made a pact with myself to appreciate more of the small things in life that give us joy than the superficiality that surrounds us. Yes I love a good lifestyle like all of us do, but to see the joyfulness of people who probably have nothing to put on their table is a great lesson for life that we should all consider following. We need to start valuing nature and people more than expensive shoes and handbags.

Go for a walk in the nature, walk on your bare feet in the ocean, laugh even though you might think you have no reason to laugh, make a fool out of yourself if that makes you feel better or let a monkey pull your hair and be happy that you made people laugh.