There are few places in the world to-day where people of the main world cultures and religions work and live together in harmony. In spite of its very small size, Mauritius is one of them and this has obviously given rise to a number of questions. Apart from the fact that the guests at Mon Choix will have the privilege to feel and taste this emerging Mauritius culture, the Mauritius cuisine, island recipes, the sega music and folklore, they will have the opportunity to explore this successful but fragile social phenomenon during their stay at the ecolodge

CULTURE

(We believe that Mauritius' cultural diversity stimulates its development)

Mauritius is often mentioned as an example of multicultural lifestyle where immigrants from France, England, Africa, India, China and Pakistan live in harmony, respect and enjoy each other's traditions, history, lifestyle, customs, religion, language, values, behavior, food and ceremonies. And because of its small size, visitors to Mauritius can easily visit, see, taste and appreciate this wide range of places of cultural interest, shops, book shops and music shops, restaurants offering european, chinese, creole, indian and muslim foods and places of worship - churches, mosques, shivalas and kalimays. Visitors to the island are welcome and often take part in the various religious ceremonies and festivals, including Cavadee, Maha Shivaratree, Chinese Spring Festival, Christmas, Divali, Easter, Eid-ul-Fitr, Ganesh Chathurti, Holi, Ugadi and Père Laval pilgrimage.

As mentioned in our "Vallée des Prêtres" page, any visitor to Mauritius will feel the island's strong historical and cultural heritage and vibration as there are plenty of stories, myths, facts, monuments and visible signs which together with the colourful garments, sarees, kurtas and churidars and the people's behavior create a unique, fascinating and very attractive mix of cultural flavours. Thus making of Mauritius, a very special island and multicultural nation.

Besides, the Mauritian cuisine (although you can eat European, Chinese, Muslim, Indian or Creole on its own) is a mix of cultures and colours based on rice, beans, chutneys and spices. Meat, fish and vegetable massala currys (a mix of spices, safran and chilli), the famous pomme d'amour (tomato) "rougaille", the wide range of "brèdes" (leaves), dholls, lentilles and "satini" (coco, mango, carambole, etc ... chutneys) with either rice or a Roti (flour pancake) followed by a pawpaw jam cooked with ginger or fried bananas with a dash of rum are the most popular dishes. Samoosas, dholl Pouri, gateau piment and gateau arouye (arrow-root) are gadjacks sold everywhere on the streets.

To experience the comfort and peace of Mon Choix, discover the real, authentic island and fully enjoy your Mauritius Holiday and Water-Sports at a most competitive rate, contact: dodoisland@intnet.mu

Mon Choix is Mauritius Island's (Ile Maurice) first internationally graded ecolodge at Vallée des Prêtres near Port Louis business, shopping & leisure centre and the sea. COPYRIGHT: A.R.Jean-Michel de Senneville. Underwater pictures are by courtesy and Copyright to: Mr Eugène Vitry.