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Winter warning
Now that “winter” is here and Mauritians have pulled out their sweaters, it’s only fair that tourists who brave the wintry shores of Mauritians should be prepared. Perhaps some of these tips from veterans of the Northern hemisphere could help with packing your suitcase!
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Potatoes. Excellent for heat retention. Baked in a 180 degree C oven for an hour, potatoes can be wrapped in tea towels and placed in the pockets of shorts or shirts for warmth. If you have been considering plastic surgery, think again... these same potatoes can also be placed in your swimming bra! Concrete bricks can be used the same way and, although bulkier, they tie better to the undersides of your sandals with a piece of rope. Not only will you feel warmer, but the added height they give might be a plus!
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Salt. It improves traction on a wintry beach. Skimpy bathing suits on a slippery beach can prove quite embarassing. Fill all possible pockets with salt and throw handfuls ahead of you as you walk. People will definitely move out of the way and you’ll avoid unnecessary collisions!
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Layering. Bring as many colourful long sleeved woollen sweaters (turtlenecks even better) as you can to co-ordinate and wear layered over your bathing suit. They’ll not only keep you toasty, but will make a fashion statement. Why not throw in a fur shawl for an added touch? While you can purchase sweaters here during “winter”, gloves and mittens have not caught on yet, so bring a few pairs with you.
That should cover most of your needs. You’ll get used to things like frozen pineapples, mangoes, guavas, papayas and coconuts, which do not lose their flavour and actually are kind of nice eaten crunchy.
Icebergs while beautiful, do play havoc with para sailors and water skiers, not to mention the nasty bumps that snorklers have experienced, but they can provide a handy resting spot for hand gliding enthusiasts.
All right, I’ve exaggerated a bit. The winters here aren’t that bad... So it’ll take you two years to pay off the airport penalty for excess weight in your luggage. And what’s so bad about being jailed for illegally importing potatoes into Mauritius anyway? By the time you get out, the winter will have melted away and it’ll be summer again!
<B>Angela KEESSOONDYAL</B>
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