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When I found out that I was going to be going to Mauritius in November 2007, I will admit that I was both excited but also a bit apprehensive. Obviously, we have all seen the pictures of the idyllic Mauritius on the television and in books - white beaches, palm trees and blue seas...this was the part I looked forward to. However, I wasn't looking forward to the heat, the burning sun on my pale skin and the food, if I am honest! But things went a bit better than expected!

Firstly, a little bit about Mauritius. Mauritius is a republic, having become independent from the UK in 1968. It became a republic in March 1992, 24 years later, and as such is officially known as the Republic of Mauritius. It is off the coast of Africa, in the South-west of the Indian Ocean. The island itself is a former volcano, which is why there is a vast expanse of mountains across the country, which are a stark contrast to the gorgeous beaches and clear blue sea surrounding the island. Also, surrounding the island are coral reefs, which explains why some of the beaches are quite rough with broken coral, and why you can find big chunks of coral washed up on the beaches. I would recommend taking some flip-flops or Crocs or something similar to wear on the beach because of the broken coral, and other sea animals which can be poisonous if trodden on, especially Sea Urchins.

The official language of Mauritius is actually English, and I was very surprised to find this. The other language they speak there is called Creole, and is similar to French, so if you can speak French, you would definitely be okay over there. Almost everyone who approached me firstly spoke in Creole, then when they realised I was English spoke to me in English, showing how bilingual they are. But some Mauritians couldn't speak a word of English, strange as it is the country's official language, and all Government business, road signs and official documentation are all done in English. And I should mention the airport, located in the south-east of Mauritius, and is called Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. The staff there all speak good English. The airport itself has a good duty free shop, selling alcohol, tobacco products, sweets, cosmetics and perfumes at good prices. They are all marked up in Euros, but they have an electronic board telling you the rates so you can work it out into pounds. You can pay for the items by Rupees though, or aby Credit or Debit card.

When I first visited, I could not believe

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