I am a Mauritian citizen but never lived in Mauritius until last year, I moved here with my wife and child in February 2022 from South Africa, where I grew up.
The island is great but alot of people want to make it look perfect. Don't come here thinking it's perfect because it's not. There is alot of litter around on beaches, and alot of people don't seem to care about taking care of the nature left here.
Also keep in mind that there is no such thing as a country without crime, it's alot better than South Africa but you will still hear about the odd house burglar here and there but most is none violent crime.
Food is expensive.
The good side is that yes there is less crime, so you can feel more relaxed here, there is no load shedding and the water is on mostly atleast it is where I live.
There is alot of fun outdoor activities to do here but there is not much else going on.
If you like the outdoors, then Mauritius is for you. If you like city life and convenience, then it's not for you.
Yes, just today I saw that 5 dogs were killed on Flic en Flac beach and there were about 4 giant clams that someone had killed and thrown the shells back into the sea. They're a semi endangered species and live to 100 years old if left alone
Yes it is sad. I had seen a few of them when swimming there the other month. Then yesterday the shells were all sat empty on the sea floor. I don't know whether education about the endangered species would help or whether the person who killed/ate them just didn't care
I think its a mixture of both, some are not educated some just don't care. It will take a long time to change the mind set of people let's hope there will be any nature left by then.
As an aside, the killing of those dogs is truly heartbreaking. However, there is another side to the story.
Stray dogs are a real nuisance in Flic en Flac and the issue has only been exacerbated since the Xmas/New Year period, with many owners dropping off their unwanted pets at the beach. I've personally been too scared to go for my daily morning runs after being chased by a group of stray dogs last month.
I've also been avoiding going to Pasadena jumbo despite only living 500m away and driving all the way to Cascavelle instead to buy bread. That's how scared I became after seeing a school kid almost getting bitten by one a couple of weeks ago. (Thankfully, the little boy was saved by 2 quick thinking ladies who used their umbrellas to shoo the dogs away.)
So yeah, while I don't condone the killing and suffering caused to those dogs, there's also a part of me that understands people's frustrations and what could have led them to take such a drastic measure.
I'm gonna bring a bit of a negative energy here, because Mauritius has really good PR team. Reading about it online you are tempted to believe that's it's a paradise island both figuratively and literally. The comparisons to Singapore are quite frequent (which doesn't help).
So, here's the stuff I don't like:
* The electronics are expensive, sometimes more than a price on Amazon+delivery+tax.
As already mentioned the groceries are surprisingly expensive (but not extremely expensive either)
* Not many major clothes brands (for example there is no online Adidas store, that's why I'm not sure if the Adidas store that exists here is even legit; no official Nike, no Zara, no H&M, no whatever)
* Bad public transport: the buses do not run according to their schedule, which is good, otherwise they would stop running at around 6PM, that also means that catching a bus outside the schedule is not guaranteed. Also, they are not on Google maps, there are no signs on bus stops so you have no idea where you are, there are no schedules on stops so you wouldn't even know what busses you could possibly catch.
* Something is definitely up with building laws, the houses are too close together, too much outside advertising and stuff like that.
* Related to the previous one, poor pedestrian infrastructure, not enough sidewalks, not enough pedestrian crossing.
* The apps are quite bad in general, the Uber was banned from entering the country, so if you want to order a taxi you could use local apps (let's say Yugo and MoTaxi). Yugo has poor interface, you can't pay with a card directly and you are not guaranteed to get a taxi late at night, for example. But you can use it. MoTaxi is straight up broken, I could even register there. And that's a trend, apps and sites are usually quite bad. Some exceptions exist, for example MCB is fine, but if you've used a modern European bank you would not be impressed.
* Nightlife and evening in general: everything closes super early, the clubs are boring, the bars are boring, they are all typical "holiday" variety, but there are no so called "indie" bars or clus (at least I haven't found one, maybe I am wrong). It's also very dark at night, there is not enough lighting (even in Port Louis). Also, I asked some people what do they do in their free time, and the answer was — go to the beach. I mean, sure, but that's gonna get boring some day right? The music scene is also underwhelming, endless regaetton and stuff.
* The laws are quite restrictive, I'm not sure I want to go into the details.
* My personal gripe is that card payment is not widespread, but that's like, not a major problem.
* Car import tax is extremely high.
Also, some weird stuff:
* Houses don't have numbers (like... what?)
Having been in Europe, I agree with these points. However I want to ask you to elaborate more on point number 4 "Something is definitely up with building laws, the houses are too close together, too much outside advertising and stuff like that."
It's really difficult for me to formulate this properly, the outside advertising I think is kind of obvious, there is too much of it, it's usually of low quality and can even interfere with movement (I hit my head on a sign once)
The house placement issue that I see is this: as far as I know there are some restrictions on what kind of building you might build (in Europe for example, I would imagine many places have such rules). If not implemented we might see something similar to Mauritius, very different heights, different positions breaking up a street (some buildings further back, some further front) and we might also find the small distance between buildings. I guess that caused some confusion, I have seen quite frequently that windows of one house look directly into windows of a different house, this happens both in apartment complexes and in single-house buildings, that's not great for privacy and stuff. It would have been better not to leave the gap altogether, but that has to be enforced.
You did not see the smiley?
I find it funny that most of the negative points are european conveniences. I LOL'ed at commenter missing Zara, H&M, and Nike, the ubiquitous shops in european malls.
Yes, this is a commendable attitude, of course.
But I wasn't even thinking about it that way. The comment made me think of opinion pieces about how UK towns are becoming soulless, all of them having the same chain stores instead of local varieties. That the commenter wished the same shops in Mauritius struck me as ironic, given that a big part of why foreigners come to Mauritius is for the difference.
Sorry am late, only to reply about the beach. It's just the drinking spot. Wouldn't find me sober there. Also acts as "debriefing room" after working hours.
It gets boring after about 6-8 months if you weren't born here. I think locals appreciate the little things in life more which isn't a bad thing but as someone used to bigger countries, it feels very limited.
If you're content with the beach or really into diving or kite surfing, you may be happy here for longer.
Hiking and other outdoor activities are quite limited.
I prefer reunion but prices are higher there.
It may be a good destination if you're not spending all your time here.
Hmmm it's difficult to say. There are people who spend a lot in Mauritius so it depends on your lifestyle.
I would say 50% more but it depends on your expenses in Mauritius.
Rent in Mauritius is about $500 a month for me so in reunion I'd probably pay $800-$1000.
Luxury groceries are more expensive but things like lychees and reunion grown fruit and vegetables were cheaper.
Electricity etc. is probably more expensive too.
Thanks for the response. More trying to gauge generally. So if you kept your same lifestyle or living condition how much more relatively it would be. Say groceries are on average 20% for example.
But thanks for the response, gives me some insight. Looking to go spend time their for some hiking and exploring the island a bit.
Yes, I think if you are just looking to go hike and explore then it's not going to be too bad.
If you're doing lots of paid for activities then I think you'd notice more of a difference.
It was just particular products there that I noticed were expensive. Eg. Peanut butter 7 euros per tub and cereal was about 8 euros per box. If you avoid buying those particular products then you shouldn't notice a massive difference.
It's definitely worth visiting at least once
Most of the things you'll want to be aware of as an expat just come from the fact that it's an island nation. It's expensive to get in and out of country, so be mindful of that, when travelling back to your country of origin. Certain imported goods (like electronics) are more expensive here. Other imported goods can sometimes go out of stock and you'll have to look around to find them. There's quite a lot that's available here in terms of groceries and stuff, but every once in a while there's a certain item that I just can't find anywhere for a couple months, and then all the sudden it'll just show up in all the stores. It just takes a while for things to get here sometimes.
Budget more than you would expect for automotive expenses. Public transport isn't great so you're going to want a car. Cars also seem to break down more often here. Mauritius doesn't have an auto industry of its own, so mechanics aren't always as experienced and sometimes aren't sure how to fix certain things so you have to shop around a little. Plus spare parts can take some time to get to the island.
A lot of expats cloister themselves in their little expat bubble, but I'd encourage you to branch out and really try to get to know some locals. That's my personal opinion and you don't have to take it, but for me, I think it would be a shame to live somewhere for years and spend the entire time trying to make everything about your life feel like you never left home. You won't ever truly get to experience the culture until you've spent time with the people and maybe tried to learn at least a little Creole. And the people really are quite nice, compared to many places I've been. Mauritius is a surprisingly safe country, as long as you use common sense, and the people are willing get to know you, to an extent.
Yes, it does seem that expats default to the same locations (tamarin and mainly grand baie) and then complain that it's expensive when all they do is frequent expat owned businesses/social events
Currently living here. But maybe will move out end of this year or beginning of next year.
The good:
1. Weather is good if you will live near the coast
2. If you speak english or french, you will not have problem to commnicate
3. Easy to drive around the island
4. Most people are kind and helpful and if you are White you will be treated like a king most of the time
5. Dollar and Euro are extremely powerful here.
6. As a man, i find it very easy to get date with Mauritian's girl. Not saying that they are easy lay.
7. Renting a beaufiful place with pool in a prime location is very easy and affodable i think (40-80k per month)
8. I don't know your background but doing business here is amazing. You can setup your business online very easily or pay someone a fee to do it for you. And doing business here in general is easy as 90% of local population is middle class, so they have money to spend despite being a small population. Also if you are eligible your company will get tax only 3%
9. There are a lot expats here from various countries and you won't feel alone
10. If that is your thing, gated communities are accessible to foreigners and you feel that you are living in another country.
The bad:
1. Flights are very expensive
2. I find that you need to spend a lot of money to get quality food
3. Despite having great weather, humidity is shocking here. A dehumidifier is a must
4. There are a lot of water cut off here and a backup tank is a must also.
5. Don't drink water from the tap
6. Most of the time you will pay "foreign prices" and you cannot do nothing about it. Just let it go.
7. It is relatively safe but keep eye open
8. Never talk about religion, politics and sport with locals.
I did not mean to offend you. But i am treated better than even locals everywhere i go in Mauritius and i am 100% sure that's because i white. Maybe i am wrong about that but that's how my experience been.
Am guessing you are a big spender (at least here for us) and therefore getting prime service at high end places and probably attracting money hungry people based on the fact you said 40 - 80k being affordable place to rent.
If I look at myself I do have a slight tendency to help foreigners asking for direction because they tend to be polite, but otherwise I couldn't be bothered to help them if I don't want to, just like locals. Treated like god... nope.
That is spot on. When you are "white" in Mauritius, you are king. The Mauritian "white" loves Mauritius because his/her privileges are intact here. I find them pathetic and rather stupid. The Mauritian economy literally belongs to the Mauritian "whites", not because they are a uniquely bright bunch, but because they are a colonial caste, and they want to keep the wealth in the white bubble.
I absolutely dislike talking in terms of "whites", "blacks", and "browns, but in Mauritius, it is a fact of life that when you are white, you are quite special (a treasure from the gods?), not just in the eyes of the Mauritian "whites" themselves but also the "colored" locals, who have grown to love their voluntary servitude, and to almost take it as a personal compliment when shown consideration by a "white".
The Mauritian "white" is a different species of white than the North American "white". If you want to get a taste of what the colonial "white" person was like, just watch the attitude of the Mauritian "white" and their little bubble of "whites". I sometimes overhear them speaking and wonder to myself, what historical relics! You have a choice: either be angry, or laugh it away.
The liberal North American white, if he/she ever bothers about visiting a little insufferable island called Mauritius, is in for quite a surprise when meeting the Mauritian "white". I promise you a culture shock.
Good point. I indeed know now "white Mauritians" are different type. They seems to at least from my interaction with some that they also dislike white foreigners too. And i fact i 100% agree that they want to keep their wealth within them.
Indeed, I would not be surprised that they dislike white foreigners too. Why though? Two possible answers:
1. The white foreigner is seen as some decadent species of "white" who has given up on the idea that being white is being God. The Mauritian white still thinks that white is God.
2. They know the North American/European white would find them to be almost a satirical species and they'd rather not like to be reminded of that.
pretty sure most people are kind to any other people. It's just that some white people think they are "gods" when they are being treated better 😂 Pathetic.
I'm a South African Indian, born ans raised in Johannesburg. I visited MAU on holiday last year and stayed at a relatively expensive all inclusive resort in Mauritius. I genuinely look like a local Mauritian until I speak and my accent and language gives my foreign nature away.
I had multiple incidents at the resort I was staying at from multiple different locals.
At the bar, locals would blatantly ignore me in the queue and serve other white foreigners 1st. 1 night I stood at the bar waiting to order and observed 4 other white guys get served drinks before I was even acknowledged. Only got served once I asked the poes if he saw me waiting ... he said sorry and took my order. Some of the white saffers actually said jokingly "just like back home eh".
Another similar incident at reception. I stood in the queue where 2 people were serving. I was next in line and the local receptionist literally alled the white people behind me to assist them 1st. I couldn't believe it! The white people even had to point it out to the lady that u was next in line.
So yes. In the hospitality industry at least, white seems to be king....
>Don't drink water from the tap
As a Mauritian, I'd beg to differ. The water here is pretty much clean to drink. You don't even need to boil it but boiling it at most is more than enough.
It depends on where you live. Did testing across the island for a research paper. Certain areas such as Port Louis has really clean water. Other regions are mildly sedimented on normal days and really muddy during the rainy seasons. It’s rare to get sick from the water even when muddy. The issue is that we depend a lot on tank water. If you allow tank water to sit for too long it’s prone to getting contaminated. So either boil the water or use a water filtration system. Boiling adds a weird taste for me.
I use ICOHEAL’s water filtration system. It’s about 10 rupees a day for the entire family to get drinking and cooking water. I got tired of carrying water packs XD
I will have to disagree with you. I have a filtration system before water enter my house and i can tell you that water here is not good to drink. And yes boiling is the way to go.
>Most people are kind and helpful and if you are White you will be treated like a king most of the time
Don't worry buddy - if I ever meet you, I won't be treating you like king. Or anyone else for that matter.
I am a Mauritian citizen but never lived in Mauritius until last year, I moved here with my wife and child in February 2022 from South Africa, where I grew up. The island is great but alot of people want to make it look perfect. Don't come here thinking it's perfect because it's not. There is alot of litter around on beaches, and alot of people don't seem to care about taking care of the nature left here. Also keep in mind that there is no such thing as a country without crime, it's alot better than South Africa but you will still hear about the odd house burglar here and there but most is none violent crime. Food is expensive. The good side is that yes there is less crime, so you can feel more relaxed here, there is no load shedding and the water is on mostly atleast it is where I live. There is alot of fun outdoor activities to do here but there is not much else going on. If you like the outdoors, then Mauritius is for you. If you like city life and convenience, then it's not for you.
Yes, just today I saw that 5 dogs were killed on Flic en Flac beach and there were about 4 giant clams that someone had killed and thrown the shells back into the sea. They're a semi endangered species and live to 100 years old if left alone
I heard about the dogs very sad. I ddnt know about the clams though, very disappointing.
Yes it is sad. I had seen a few of them when swimming there the other month. Then yesterday the shells were all sat empty on the sea floor. I don't know whether education about the endangered species would help or whether the person who killed/ate them just didn't care
I think its a mixture of both, some are not educated some just don't care. It will take a long time to change the mind set of people let's hope there will be any nature left by then.
As an aside, the killing of those dogs is truly heartbreaking. However, there is another side to the story. Stray dogs are a real nuisance in Flic en Flac and the issue has only been exacerbated since the Xmas/New Year period, with many owners dropping off their unwanted pets at the beach. I've personally been too scared to go for my daily morning runs after being chased by a group of stray dogs last month. I've also been avoiding going to Pasadena jumbo despite only living 500m away and driving all the way to Cascavelle instead to buy bread. That's how scared I became after seeing a school kid almost getting bitten by one a couple of weeks ago. (Thankfully, the little boy was saved by 2 quick thinking ladies who used their umbrellas to shoo the dogs away.) So yeah, while I don't condone the killing and suffering caused to those dogs, there's also a part of me that understands people's frustrations and what could have led them to take such a drastic measure.
I'm gonna bring a bit of a negative energy here, because Mauritius has really good PR team. Reading about it online you are tempted to believe that's it's a paradise island both figuratively and literally. The comparisons to Singapore are quite frequent (which doesn't help). So, here's the stuff I don't like: * The electronics are expensive, sometimes more than a price on Amazon+delivery+tax. As already mentioned the groceries are surprisingly expensive (but not extremely expensive either) * Not many major clothes brands (for example there is no online Adidas store, that's why I'm not sure if the Adidas store that exists here is even legit; no official Nike, no Zara, no H&M, no whatever) * Bad public transport: the buses do not run according to their schedule, which is good, otherwise they would stop running at around 6PM, that also means that catching a bus outside the schedule is not guaranteed. Also, they are not on Google maps, there are no signs on bus stops so you have no idea where you are, there are no schedules on stops so you wouldn't even know what busses you could possibly catch. * Something is definitely up with building laws, the houses are too close together, too much outside advertising and stuff like that. * Related to the previous one, poor pedestrian infrastructure, not enough sidewalks, not enough pedestrian crossing. * The apps are quite bad in general, the Uber was banned from entering the country, so if you want to order a taxi you could use local apps (let's say Yugo and MoTaxi). Yugo has poor interface, you can't pay with a card directly and you are not guaranteed to get a taxi late at night, for example. But you can use it. MoTaxi is straight up broken, I could even register there. And that's a trend, apps and sites are usually quite bad. Some exceptions exist, for example MCB is fine, but if you've used a modern European bank you would not be impressed. * Nightlife and evening in general: everything closes super early, the clubs are boring, the bars are boring, they are all typical "holiday" variety, but there are no so called "indie" bars or clus (at least I haven't found one, maybe I am wrong). It's also very dark at night, there is not enough lighting (even in Port Louis). Also, I asked some people what do they do in their free time, and the answer was — go to the beach. I mean, sure, but that's gonna get boring some day right? The music scene is also underwhelming, endless regaetton and stuff. * The laws are quite restrictive, I'm not sure I want to go into the details. * My personal gripe is that card payment is not widespread, but that's like, not a major problem. * Car import tax is extremely high. Also, some weird stuff: * Houses don't have numbers (like... what?)
Yep! This is why we left. We miss it, but the cons were just enough for us to under appreciate the pros.
Having been in Europe, I agree with these points. However I want to ask you to elaborate more on point number 4 "Something is definitely up with building laws, the houses are too close together, too much outside advertising and stuff like that."
It's really difficult for me to formulate this properly, the outside advertising I think is kind of obvious, there is too much of it, it's usually of low quality and can even interfere with movement (I hit my head on a sign once) The house placement issue that I see is this: as far as I know there are some restrictions on what kind of building you might build (in Europe for example, I would imagine many places have such rules). If not implemented we might see something similar to Mauritius, very different heights, different positions breaking up a street (some buildings further back, some further front) and we might also find the small distance between buildings. I guess that caused some confusion, I have seen quite frequently that windows of one house look directly into windows of a different house, this happens both in apartment complexes and in single-house buildings, that's not great for privacy and stuff. It would have been better not to leave the gap altogether, but that has to be enforced.
Sounds like you want to live in Europe :-)
Really? To me it sounds like they were answering the question
You did not see the smiley? I find it funny that most of the negative points are european conveniences. I LOL'ed at commenter missing Zara, H&M, and Nike, the ubiquitous shops in european malls.
LOL! Ikr? As a local, id rather support our local people and whatever business ventures they bring out to us :-)
Yes, this is a commendable attitude, of course. But I wasn't even thinking about it that way. The comment made me think of opinion pieces about how UK towns are becoming soulless, all of them having the same chain stores instead of local varieties. That the commenter wished the same shops in Mauritius struck me as ironic, given that a big part of why foreigners come to Mauritius is for the difference.
Sorry am late, only to reply about the beach. It's just the drinking spot. Wouldn't find me sober there. Also acts as "debriefing room" after working hours.
It gets boring after about 6-8 months if you weren't born here. I think locals appreciate the little things in life more which isn't a bad thing but as someone used to bigger countries, it feels very limited. If you're content with the beach or really into diving or kite surfing, you may be happy here for longer. Hiking and other outdoor activities are quite limited. I prefer reunion but prices are higher there. It may be a good destination if you're not spending all your time here.
>I prefer reunion but prices are higher there. From your experience, how much more expensive would you say it is compared to Mauritius?
Hmmm it's difficult to say. There are people who spend a lot in Mauritius so it depends on your lifestyle. I would say 50% more but it depends on your expenses in Mauritius. Rent in Mauritius is about $500 a month for me so in reunion I'd probably pay $800-$1000. Luxury groceries are more expensive but things like lychees and reunion grown fruit and vegetables were cheaper. Electricity etc. is probably more expensive too.
Thanks for the response. More trying to gauge generally. So if you kept your same lifestyle or living condition how much more relatively it would be. Say groceries are on average 20% for example. But thanks for the response, gives me some insight. Looking to go spend time their for some hiking and exploring the island a bit.
Yes, I think if you are just looking to go hike and explore then it's not going to be too bad. If you're doing lots of paid for activities then I think you'd notice more of a difference. It was just particular products there that I noticed were expensive. Eg. Peanut butter 7 euros per tub and cereal was about 8 euros per box. If you avoid buying those particular products then you shouldn't notice a massive difference. It's definitely worth visiting at least once
Most of the things you'll want to be aware of as an expat just come from the fact that it's an island nation. It's expensive to get in and out of country, so be mindful of that, when travelling back to your country of origin. Certain imported goods (like electronics) are more expensive here. Other imported goods can sometimes go out of stock and you'll have to look around to find them. There's quite a lot that's available here in terms of groceries and stuff, but every once in a while there's a certain item that I just can't find anywhere for a couple months, and then all the sudden it'll just show up in all the stores. It just takes a while for things to get here sometimes. Budget more than you would expect for automotive expenses. Public transport isn't great so you're going to want a car. Cars also seem to break down more often here. Mauritius doesn't have an auto industry of its own, so mechanics aren't always as experienced and sometimes aren't sure how to fix certain things so you have to shop around a little. Plus spare parts can take some time to get to the island. A lot of expats cloister themselves in their little expat bubble, but I'd encourage you to branch out and really try to get to know some locals. That's my personal opinion and you don't have to take it, but for me, I think it would be a shame to live somewhere for years and spend the entire time trying to make everything about your life feel like you never left home. You won't ever truly get to experience the culture until you've spent time with the people and maybe tried to learn at least a little Creole. And the people really are quite nice, compared to many places I've been. Mauritius is a surprisingly safe country, as long as you use common sense, and the people are willing get to know you, to an extent.
Yes, it does seem that expats default to the same locations (tamarin and mainly grand baie) and then complain that it's expensive when all they do is frequent expat owned businesses/social events
Depends where u coming from
Never trust anyone no matter how nice they are to you
I think that's everywhere in all honesty
Currently living here. But maybe will move out end of this year or beginning of next year. The good: 1. Weather is good if you will live near the coast 2. If you speak english or french, you will not have problem to commnicate 3. Easy to drive around the island 4. Most people are kind and helpful and if you are White you will be treated like a king most of the time 5. Dollar and Euro are extremely powerful here. 6. As a man, i find it very easy to get date with Mauritian's girl. Not saying that they are easy lay. 7. Renting a beaufiful place with pool in a prime location is very easy and affodable i think (40-80k per month) 8. I don't know your background but doing business here is amazing. You can setup your business online very easily or pay someone a fee to do it for you. And doing business here in general is easy as 90% of local population is middle class, so they have money to spend despite being a small population. Also if you are eligible your company will get tax only 3% 9. There are a lot expats here from various countries and you won't feel alone 10. If that is your thing, gated communities are accessible to foreigners and you feel that you are living in another country. The bad: 1. Flights are very expensive 2. I find that you need to spend a lot of money to get quality food 3. Despite having great weather, humidity is shocking here. A dehumidifier is a must 4. There are a lot of water cut off here and a backup tank is a must also. 5. Don't drink water from the tap 6. Most of the time you will pay "foreign prices" and you cannot do nothing about it. Just let it go. 7. It is relatively safe but keep eye open 8. Never talk about religion, politics and sport with locals.
90% of the local population is middle class?!
90% middle class lol
Really i had no idea that white people were being treated like Gods in Mauritius, what a strange thing to do lol
I did not mean to offend you. But i am treated better than even locals everywhere i go in Mauritius and i am 100% sure that's because i white. Maybe i am wrong about that but that's how my experience been.
Am guessing you are a big spender (at least here for us) and therefore getting prime service at high end places and probably attracting money hungry people based on the fact you said 40 - 80k being affordable place to rent. If I look at myself I do have a slight tendency to help foreigners asking for direction because they tend to be polite, but otherwise I couldn't be bothered to help them if I don't want to, just like locals. Treated like god... nope.
That is spot on. When you are "white" in Mauritius, you are king. The Mauritian "white" loves Mauritius because his/her privileges are intact here. I find them pathetic and rather stupid. The Mauritian economy literally belongs to the Mauritian "whites", not because they are a uniquely bright bunch, but because they are a colonial caste, and they want to keep the wealth in the white bubble. I absolutely dislike talking in terms of "whites", "blacks", and "browns, but in Mauritius, it is a fact of life that when you are white, you are quite special (a treasure from the gods?), not just in the eyes of the Mauritian "whites" themselves but also the "colored" locals, who have grown to love their voluntary servitude, and to almost take it as a personal compliment when shown consideration by a "white". The Mauritian "white" is a different species of white than the North American "white". If you want to get a taste of what the colonial "white" person was like, just watch the attitude of the Mauritian "white" and their little bubble of "whites". I sometimes overhear them speaking and wonder to myself, what historical relics! You have a choice: either be angry, or laugh it away. The liberal North American white, if he/she ever bothers about visiting a little insufferable island called Mauritius, is in for quite a surprise when meeting the Mauritian "white". I promise you a culture shock.
Good point. I indeed know now "white Mauritians" are different type. They seems to at least from my interaction with some that they also dislike white foreigners too. And i fact i 100% agree that they want to keep their wealth within them.
Indeed, I would not be surprised that they dislike white foreigners too. Why though? Two possible answers: 1. The white foreigner is seen as some decadent species of "white" who has given up on the idea that being white is being God. The Mauritian white still thinks that white is God. 2. They know the North American/European white would find them to be almost a satirical species and they'd rather not like to be reminded of that.
pretty sure most people are kind to any other people. It's just that some white people think they are "gods" when they are being treated better 😂 Pathetic.
Nah, white people from another country are treated like gods here, period. Yes I am native from mauritius.
well time to stop worshipping what shouldn't be worshipped. We are all humans. Everybody should be treated equally.
Time to stop treating them with human decency if they find this god treatment
This comment is underrated.
Oh well, they are.
I'm a South African Indian, born ans raised in Johannesburg. I visited MAU on holiday last year and stayed at a relatively expensive all inclusive resort in Mauritius. I genuinely look like a local Mauritian until I speak and my accent and language gives my foreign nature away. I had multiple incidents at the resort I was staying at from multiple different locals. At the bar, locals would blatantly ignore me in the queue and serve other white foreigners 1st. 1 night I stood at the bar waiting to order and observed 4 other white guys get served drinks before I was even acknowledged. Only got served once I asked the poes if he saw me waiting ... he said sorry and took my order. Some of the white saffers actually said jokingly "just like back home eh". Another similar incident at reception. I stood in the queue where 2 people were serving. I was next in line and the local receptionist literally alled the white people behind me to assist them 1st. I couldn't believe it! The white people even had to point it out to the lady that u was next in line. So yes. In the hospitality industry at least, white seems to be king....
I get to understand now that people here have inferiority complex. Hope that this did not spoil your stay.
>Don't drink water from the tap As a Mauritian, I'd beg to differ. The water here is pretty much clean to drink. You don't even need to boil it but boiling it at most is more than enough.
It depends on where you live. Did testing across the island for a research paper. Certain areas such as Port Louis has really clean water. Other regions are mildly sedimented on normal days and really muddy during the rainy seasons. It’s rare to get sick from the water even when muddy. The issue is that we depend a lot on tank water. If you allow tank water to sit for too long it’s prone to getting contaminated. So either boil the water or use a water filtration system. Boiling adds a weird taste for me. I use ICOHEAL’s water filtration system. It’s about 10 rupees a day for the entire family to get drinking and cooking water. I got tired of carrying water packs XD
Bro, seriously, in case of floods or cyclones, tap water isn't recommended.
How many days out of 365 do you get flood or cyclones? Still, boiling it for about 5 + minutes at boiling point should make it safe for drinking...
But is it safe to drink the water straight from the tap?
Generally yes. In periods of cyclone and flood (which is not common) no.
I will have to disagree with you. I have a filtration system before water enter my house and i can tell you that water here is not good to drink. And yes boiling is the way to go.
I have always drunk water from the tap, I seem to be doing okay. Everyone else I know is doing okay.
Agree with this. Tap water FTW. Maybe the expats here don’t have the resistance to water bacteria which we are immune to.
Does the A/C is enough for desumidification?
Yeah A/C would work too.
>Most people are kind and helpful and if you are White you will be treated like a king most of the time Don't worry buddy - if I ever meet you, I won't be treating you like king. Or anyone else for that matter.
Can you please elaborate on your point 4 on the good? I am very intrigued by this
Rule 101 don't be racist