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Mauritius | December 2021
  • Akash
  • Akash

Mauritius | December 2021

This trip was very special for us - our honeymoon, our first journey together, and our first international experience. Read more
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  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    Cooling off at the private beach...

    December 29, 2021 in Mauritius ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    📍 Trou-aux-Biches Private Beach

    Arun dropped us back at the hotel at around 5:30 p.m. It was a long day, and I felt a bit uneasy uneasy from being out in the sun for so long. At times, I felt overheated, and only the cool ocean breeze, sitting in the shade or the AC in the cab helped me calm down. We was actually fearing it might be COVID. After returning, I even checked my temperature a few times using the various temperature measuring machines kept at the hotel, but everything seemed normal. Since the temperature was normal, we assumed it was just the heat and tiredness from the day.

    To get rid of this tiredness, we thought of swimming in the sea to freshen ourselves up. We decided to spend the rest of the late afternoon swimming by the private beach. Before even freshening up after returning, we quickly dropped our belongings in the room and headed straight to the water. We spent about an hour in the sea till it got dark. The water was pleasantly cool and we enjoyed every bit of it. At times, seaweed brushed against our feet but it didn't take away from the experience - we simply soaked in the calmness of the ocean and unwound after the long day.

    💵 Tour: Cab/Guide - 4,800.00 MUR    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    Our final dinner at Mauritius...

    December 29, 2021 in Mauritius ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    It was our last dinner of the trip. Dinnoo offered us to have a buffet at the sister hotel - Casuarina Resort & Spa. He took us there to check out the menu, which was just across the street. The buffet menu didn't attract us that much, so we decided to have our full-course meal as usual to end the day.

    🍽️ Dinner (Day 3):
    Extras:
    🍞 Complimentary: Bread & Butter
    Starters:
    🍤 Crispy Fried Fish with Lemon and Sweet Chilli Sauce
    🍗 Grilled Chicken with Vegetables
    🧂 Sides: Mustard & Green Apple Sauce, BBQ Sauce
    Mains:
    🍝 Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta with Chicken
    Desserts:
    🍰 Chocolate Mousse
    🍰 Red Velvet Cake with Strawberry Ice Cream
    🍎 Fresh Fruits with Cream    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    The unexpected turn of events...

    December 30, 2021 in Mauritius ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    This was supposed to be our final day in Mauritius. Our check-out time was at 1:00 p.m., while our return flight was at 11:00 p.m. We had planned to utilize most of the time in between enjoying private beach, along with the different water activities offered by the hotel - snorkeling, glass-bottom boat tours. As we got ready for the day and packed our bags, we were also anxiously waiting for our RT-PCR test results.

    And then came the shock.

    While my wife tested negative, my result came back positive. As per the country's norms, we were required to stay back at the same room and quarantine for at least ten more days. We felt completely clueless - not knowing what to do, feeling helpless in a foreign country.

    I rushed to the hotel reception, to inform them, but the first thing they did was ask me to return to the room. Soon after, the on-call doctor-cum-manager contacted me over the phone. I explained the situation to him, including our concern about the cost of an extended stay. Understanding our situation, he offered us to move to their sister property, which was a bit less expensive.

    In the meantime, my wife informed our family back home, which understandably added to my mother’s anxiety - the fear of COVID on one hand, and on top of that, the worry of us being in a foreign land with no way to reach us immediately in case of an emergency.

    We then checked out of our hotel and moved to Casuarina Resort & Spa at around 9:00 a.m., where they provided us with a discounted room for the next ten days of quarantine.

    💵 Stay: Quarantined (219) - 200 EUR (per night)    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    Sinking into the reality...

    December 30, 2021 in Mauritius ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    The day turned out to be very different from what we had expected. The room we moved to was slightly isolated - as it should be - with a view of the hotel's garden from the balcony. It was not as luxurious as the previous stay, but that hardly mattered at that time. After having breakfast, which was sent to our room, we spent the morning trying to reach officials and figure out if there was any way to "escape" the situation - but there wasn't. We even contacted our travel insurance company for the financial support, but even they couldn't help since I wasn't hospitalized, and quarantine period extended beyond our travel days. We were stuck.

    After lunch in the room, I inform my office about the situation. I also tried to cancel the return flight, but the window had already closed. With nothing much left to do, I went for a short nap, while my wife tried to organize things and think of the next steps. In the late afternoon, the manager called with yet another shock.

    As per the norms, my wife was not allowed to stay with me and would have to move to a separate room for the entire quarantine period. That came as a complete shock, a nightmare. I could not imagine how we would manage staying alone in separate rooms for so many days, or how we would afford the cost of two rooms. The manager then suggested a possible solution - since my wife had tested negative, she could travel back to India with her report.

    It was already close to 8 p.m. and the flight was at 11 p.m. We realized this was the most practical option. I asked the manager to arrange a cab for her airport transfer. Within five minutes, she was ready. She quickly picked up her hand bag and left for the airport just as she was.

    🍽️ Breakfast (Day 4):
    🍎 Fruits: Pineapple, Kiwi, Mango
    🥞 Pancake: Thin Pancake with Chocolate Sauce
    🍳 Eggs: Cheese Omelette
    🍹 Juice: Mango Juice

    🍽️ Lunch (Day 4):
    🥗 Salad: Chicken Green Salad
    🍗 Main: Grilled Chicken in Sauce with Fries
    🍎 Fruits: Pineapple, Papaya, Apple    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    The sudden goodbye...

    December 30, 2021 in Mauritius ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Our driver from the previous day, Arun, was available to drop my wife to the airport. In the rush of leaving, I realized that she didn't have any of the important travel documents on her phone - the only thing she carried was her passport. I remembered that Arun had wi-fi in his cab, so I quickly planned to send her the documents on the way. I hurriedly called the reception and asked them to pass on a message the before she left - to connect her phone with the cab's Wi-Fi so I could share the required files. Around the same time, she realized she had taken all the first-aid medicines with her, so she arranged for a hotel staff member to send them back to me.

    Amidst all this chaos, she was finally on her way. It was a long, lonely ride of about one and a half hours through the dark countryside of Mauritius. The can moved steadily through the dimly lit roads, and though Arun was friendly and reassuring, the journey felt a bit uneasy for her. Eventually she reached the airport safely. Thankfully, we couldn’t cancel the tickets, which at least allowed her to fly back to India.

    I realized she would be needing another document - the Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form - to enter India. I assumed I would be fill it out and send it to her while she would be waiting during her layover at Dubai, not realizing it was required at the time of boarding from Mauritius itself. She called me from the check-in counter to inform me. I quickly filled out the form and send it to her within fifteen minutes, while she had to wait at the counter. To her surprise, neither the airline staff, nor the other passengers showed any impatience during the delay. It was quite different from what we were used to back home. during emigration, she was asked few questions about why she was travelling alone though the ticket showed two persons. She handled the situation tactfully, and finally, she was ready to board her flight.

    💵 Transport: Airport Transfer - 1,000.00 MUR (approx.)    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    From Mauritius to Kolkata, but only for her...

    December 30, 2021 in Mauritius ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    This was our pre-booked return flight, but only my wife boarded it while I stayed back at Mauritius, quarantined due to COVID.

    ✈️ Emirates

    From Mauritius to Dubai:
    ✈️ EK-704
    🛫 MRU - 30th Dec - 11:00 p.m.
    ⏰ Flight: 6 hours 35 minutes
    🛬 DXB - 31st Dec - 5:35 a.m.

    ⏰ Layover: 20 hours 25 minutes

    From Dubai to Kolkata:
    ✈️ EK-570
    🛫 DXB - 1st Jan - 2:00 a.m.
    ⏰ Flight: 4 hours 10 minutes
    🛬 CCU - 1st Jan - 7:40 a.m.

    Note: All timings are in local time.    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    An unplanned New Year...

    December 31, 2021 in Mauritius ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    It was New Year's Eve. We had planned to make the most of the long twenty-hour layover with short in-transit visit to Dubai - especially to see Burj-Khalifa and Dubai Mall, including the Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. We had even arranged a special in-transit Dubai visa through Emirates for the same. But nothing went as planned.

    Her flight from Mauritius took off on time and landed in Dubai at around 5:30 a.m. Although she had the visa, I asked her not to step out of the airport. If she did, she would have to undergo another COVID test, and I feared that a positive result there would leave her stranded in Dubai as well. It felt safer for her to return to Kolkata first and then deal with quarantined if needed. That meant she had to spend the entire long layover at the airport.

    While at the airport, she explored a bit - walking through the terminals and even experiencing the internal metro that connects from one terminal to another. But the situation weighed heavily on her. The anxiety of returning home alone, while leaving me behind in Mauritius with COVID, made it difficult for her to truly enjoy anything.

    She had some food from the different shops at the terminal as needed while spending the long day there. Before boarding, she picked up some chocolates to carry back home. Eventually, she settled near the boarding gate, waiting for the final leg of her journey. This also meant we were welcoming the first New Year after marriage in two different countries - though at the same time-zone.

    💵 Dubai In-Transit Visa Charges (2) - 3,921.00 INR

    🍫 Bon O Bon Chocolate
    🍫 Candy Nuts

    🍽️ Breakfast (Alshaya Group):
    🫔 Halloumi, Kashkawane & Zaatar Wrap - 27.25 AED

    🍽️ Lunch:
    🍛 Yellow Rice with Chicken Kasha
    🧃 Fresh Orange Juice (Camden Food Co.)

    🍽️ Breakfast (The Daily DxB):
    🍝 Chicken Alfredo Pasta - 45.00 AED    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    The final hurdles for her before home...

    January 1, 2022 in Mauritius ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    While boarding the flight from Dubai, Arpita had to face yet another unexpected challenge. Until then, showing soft copies of documents had worked smoothly at all the places. But at the boarding gate, she was asked to present the hard copy of the negative COVID test report - and without it, she was not allowed to board.

    She didn't have the printed copy. She hadn't found the time to get it printed, and honestly, we didn't think it would be necessary. Panic set in. With boarding time slipping away, she ran through the terminal in heels, searching for a place to get it printed. Every passing minute made it feel certain that she would miss the flight. She had to rush from one terminal to another, and finally found a printing corner. After waiting through a small queue - though it felt like forever - she managed to get the document printed - though at a rather high cost. With no time to spare, she sprinted back and boarded the flight just in time.

    The flight departed and landed in Kolkata as scheduled. But one final hurdle remained - the Rapid PCR test at the Kolkata airport for the arriving passengers.

    I was like almost convinced she might test positive and be sent to a quarantine center at Kolkata. Even that felt more acceptable than her being stuck at abroad. As she waited at the airport for her result, I waited back at Mauritius holding a faint hope.

    Then she called. From the sound of her voice, I could tell something good has happened. She was happy as she had tested negative and was allowed to go home. It felt unbelievable, but also like a huge relief. No matter how much uncertain everything had been, at least she was finally getting safe and getting back home.

    And with that my own journey was yet to conclude - leading into the ten days of isolation.

    💵 COVID Test Report Print-out - 15.00 AED
    💵 Rapid PCR Tests - 2,900.00 INR    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    Ten days of isolation...

    January 10, 2022 in Mauritius ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    It was a long ten days for me. Well, not exactly ten - since the protocol required ten full days of isolation, it actually meant eleven nights.

    The days felt slow and difficult to pass. Apart from basic daily chores, my daily routine included light exercise, spending time in the balcony looking outside, clicking few photos of the surroundings, endlessly scrolling through my phone, and watching whatever series or movies I could access. I used to play BGMI, but that didn't work there, and even most of the streaming apps had connectivity issues because of the location. The hotel staff provided three meals everyday - breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu kept changing, but it generally included a mix of fruits, vegetables, breads, rice or roti , chicken or fish, and desserts.

    Finally, on the twelfth day, I was allowed to step out. After breakfast, the first step was to get a RAT done at hotel. As Ashley, the manager, conducted the test, I waited anxiously for the result. He tried to lighten the mood by making conversation on various topics. Though I engaged, my anxiety didn’t really ease. A wave of relief finally hit me when the result came back negative.

    With that, I was ready to get the RT-PCR test done again for my journey back to India.    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    One last test before home...

    January 10, 2022 in Mauritius ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    I left for the clinic on the hotel cab at around 10:15 a.m., with Arun. On the way, he shared how he had dropped my wife to the airport that night. He also mentioned that he had to undergo an RT-PCR test himself, along with a few days of isolation, because of my COVID diagnosis.

    The clinic was just five minutes away. It was a bit more crowded than the previous visit, but still quite efficient. Within fifteen minutes, I was done with the test.

    💵 RT-PCR Test - 2,700.00 MUR    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    Stepping out, but still waiting...

    January 10, 2022 in Mauritius ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    After returning from the clinic, I went back to my room, freshened up, and waited for lunchtime. Lunch was sent to my room, and I had it there before stepping out for the afternoon.

    In the afternoon, I decided to take a walk to Trou-aux-Biches public beach, which was just around a twenty-minute walk from the resort. The fresh ocean air felt incredibly rejuvenating after days of isolation. I spent some quiet time there by myself, soaking in the surroundings while also missing my wife. On the way back, I stopped by a nearby ATM to withdraw some cash, as I was running low.

    In the evening, I spent time back in my room, with not much else to do. Later at night, I was asked to come down to the restaurant for dinner. It was a buffet - well, in this resort, there wasn’t really an à-la-carte option anyway. Being a foodie, I did enjoy the spread, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but miss having my wife there with me.

    As the day came to an end, the tension slowly started building up again, as I awaited the test result the next day.    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    The longest morning of the trip...

    January 11, 2022 in Mauritius ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    It was a long night, couldn't sleep properly, waking up again and again, constantly thinking about what the result would be. I finally got out of bed very early and stepped out into the resort's garden for some fresh air, hoping it would calm my mind. But the tension just wouldn't leave me.

    After a while, I went back to the room and called my family, trying to ease the restlessness. Still, unable to hold myself together, I couldn't wait any longer and headed to the lobby. From the reception, at around 8.30 a.m., I called the clinic to check on my result - I just couldn’t wait any longer for the email.

    And then came the shock.

    Over the call, after checking their records, they told me I was still positive. In that moment, everything just went numb. It felt like the world had come to a standstill. I felt completely helpless, not knowing what to do next. I almost broke down at the reception saying I was mentally and financially exhausted to continue like this. They calmly asked me to return to the room first, which I did.

    It was exactly 8:45 a.m. After returning to my room, I first informed my wife and my mother back home - they were equally shaken and helpless. After that, I kept refreshing my inbox, waiting for the official report. When the email finally arrived, I opened it with trembling hands - and it showed that I was negative.

    In an instant, everything shifted. The weight that has been crushing me just moments ago, lifted all at once, replaced by relief and disbelief. I immediately called back my wife my mother to share the news. Then I rushed back to the lobby to show them the updated report and inform them that I would finally be able to return home. After returning to my room, I finally booked my return flight to India, scheduled for 11:00 p.m. that night.

    Looking back, I realized where things went wrong. The report showed a timestamp of 8:42 a.m., while I had called the clinic at around 8:30 a.m. - a little too early. At that point, the new report hadn’t yet been generated, which meant they were still seeing my previous report from 30th December, which was positive. When they checked my name, that older result showed up, and without verifying the date, they conveyed it as my current status.

    But all of that was behind me then. Finally, I could return.    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    A breath of relief...

    January 11, 2022 in Mauritius ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    📍 Trou-aux-Biches Public Beach

    It had been a whirlwind of emotions—almost half an hour of extreme highs and lows. I lay down on the bed for a while, just letting everything settle. At around 9:15 a.m., I headed the restaurant for the breakfast buffet at the resort.

    After breakfast, I returned to my room, relaxed for a bit, and then around 10:30 a.m., made my way once again to the public beach.

    That day the beach felt very different. I was still missing my wife, but the sense of relief overshadowed everything else. I stepped gently into the ocean, letting the calmer water brush against my feet. The feeling was surreal - even more special by the fact that, after so many days, I was finally at ease.

    After spending about fifteen minutes at the beach, I started walking back towards the resort. On the way, I stopped by a small souvenir shop near the beach and picked up a keychain for myself - a small memory from a journey that had turned out to be far more than just a trip.

    💵 Souvenir: Key Chain - 40.00 MUR (approx.)    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    Wrapping up and heading home...

    January 11, 2022 in Mauritius ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    I was back at the resort from the beach by around 11:30 a.m. Though the usual check-out time was 1:30 p.m., I managed to extend it until the evening, since my flight was scheduled for late at night.

    In the afternoon, I enjoyed the lunch buffet one last time. I also walked over to Le Cardinal to meet Dinnoo before leaving. After returning to my room, I spent the remaining time packing my belongings and organizing all necessary documents, including a hard copy of the rest report. I even managed to take a short nap in between.

    Meanwhile, after completing all the formalities at the resort, I booked the resort's cab service for my airport transfer at 6:00 p.m.    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    The final goodbye to the island...

    January 11, 2022 in Mauritius ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    There was a strange mix of relief and quiet exhaustion as I finally set off for the airport. Arun was there once again, right on time, to pick me up for the airport transfer. The drive was about an hour through the semi-dark countryside - calm and quiet, almost reflecting my state of mind after everything that had happened.

    We reached the airport at around 7:00 p.m. The check-in and immigration processes were smooth, and I was through security in no time. After exploring the airport for a bit, I finally settled near the boarding gate—quietly waiting for my flight back home, bringing an end to this long and unforgettable journey.

    💵 Transport: Airport Transfer - 1,000.00 MUR (approx.)    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    From Mauritius to Kolkata, finally for me...

    January 11, 2022 in Mauritius ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    ✈️ Emirates
    💵 34,102.00 INR

    From Mauritius to Dubai:
    ✈️ EK-704
    🛫 MRU - 11th Jan - 11:00 p.m.
    ⏰ Flight: 6 hours 35 minutes
    🛬 DXB - 12th Jan - 5:35 a.m.

    ⏰ Layover: 7 hours 40 minutes

    From Dubai to Kolkata:
    ✈️ EK-572 (21K)
    🛫 DXB - 12th Jan - 1:15 p.m.
    ⏰ Flight: 4 hours 5 minutes
    🛬 CCU - 12th Jan - 6:50 p.m.

    Note: All timings are in local time.    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    The final layover at Dubai...

    January 12, 2022 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    The flight took-off on time from Mauritius. It felt longer without my wife. Apart from spending some time browsing through the in-flight screen, I slept for most of the journey, waking up occasionally for meals. We landed in Dubai right on schedule.

    Unlike the previous time when we had planned an in-transit visit, this time I didn't have a transit visa. So I spent most of the time exploring the airport a bit more. Like my wife, I also tried out the internal airport metro - just to travel from one terminal to another and back again.

    I would have loved to pick up some souvenirs from the shops, if I had actually visited the country, as we had originally planned. But since that didn't happen, I let that go. Like Arpita, l did pick up some chocolates and baklava for our family. Then I had some food from one of the restaurants, before finally settling near the boarding gate, waiting for the last leg of the journey.

    🍽️ In-Flight Meal:
    🍞 Bread, Butter, Cheese with Crackers
    🍝 Sides: Sliced Bread with Veggies & Pulses
    🍝 Mains: Fried Rice with Chicken Curry
    🍰 Dessert: Chocolate Mousse
    🍹 Beverages: Mango Juice, Water

    🍫 Bon O Bon Chocolate
    🍫 Cadbury Dairy Milk Triple Chocolate
    🥮 Authentic Lebanese Baklava (AlBaba Sweets)
    🥮 Delicious Arabian Sweets (Al Mealim Sweets)

    🍽️ The Daily DxB:
    🍝 Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti - 45.00 AED (Approx.)    Read more

  • AkashMauritius | December 2021Akash

    The journey ends, memories stay...

    January 12, 2022 in India ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    The flight from Dubai to Kolkata was on time. I spent most of the journey as usual - napping, having meals, and occasionally browsing through the in-flight screen. It felt no different from the previous leg of the journey.

    Like my wife and the other arriving passengers, I had to undergo a Rapid PCR test at Kolkata airport after immigration. This time, I was much calmer and waited patiently for the result. The report came back negative, as I had hoped, allowing me to finally head home.

    And with that, this long and unforgettable trip came to an end.

    💵 Rapid PCR Tests - 2,900.00 INR

    🍽️ In-Flight Meal:
    🍞 Bread: Pav Bread & Butter, Salt & Pepper
    🍬 Sides: Tomato Garlic Pickle
    🍝 Mains: Rice with Palag Chicken & Veggie Mix
    🍰 Dessert: Payesh
    🍹 Beverages: Mango Juice, Water
    🍬 Extras: Savory Mix, Mouth Freshener    Read more

    Trip end
    December 31, 2021
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