This is a belated post, but I have to mention the crazy metro and train strikes of late last year. I've seen some a lot of French striking in the past 8 months but this one was by far the most impressive. Both SNCF (transport railroad network) and RATP (major operator for transportation in Paris) had shutdown a majority of their services, and in doing so crippled public transport all over France. Paris was the worst hit as almost everyone here depends on some form of rail transport to travel to and from work. The traffic was horrible, buses were packed like sardine cans, and there were people everywhere - Paris felt like a human beehive. It was absolute chaos and I loved every minute of it! > continue reading

Après un séjour de 3 mois en Australie avec ma famille et des amis, je suis retourné de nouveau à mon île préférée. Je voulais arriver mi-février, mais j'ai finalement décidé de partir le 6 mars. C'était un bon choix vu qu'il y avait un cyclone de classe 3 qui a touché la côte de Maurice fin février. J'ai raté la plupart des dégâts initiaux - pannes de courant, linges électriques tombées, arbres abattus et maisons détruites (celles qui sont faiblement construites en tôle ondulée et/ou en bois), mais il y avait des effets intéressants à la suite du cyclone - l'anticyclone et une pénurie de légumes. > continue reading

Contrary to what the postcards depict, Mauritius is not all fun in the sun. The country is currently facing a time of unprecedented economic hardship. Life is now expensive, crime is at an all-time high and the people are consequently very angry. So what is the Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, doing about all of this? Well, he's just bought himself an Aston Martin DB9 Coupe. > continue reading

Just my luck to be stuck in the middle of a terrorist alert right when I'm about to move to Mauritius. I was planning to carry aboard most of my valuable electronics but they have now banned all cabin luggage (except for essential items like such as wallet and keys). I don't feel too comfortable about packing my brand new Canon 5D in a suitcase. If that thing gets lost I'll be screwed - HARD. I need it for my work. Plus I also have my Imac G5, laptop, ipod, Lacie hd and flash cards. Stupid terrorists.

Yesterday, the day after several bombs exploded across London, was almost as grim as the first. Apprehensively, yet without much hesitation, I decided to head into work. My only safeguard was to wait for the peak-hour period to pass while checking the news to see if any more bombs had been detonated. It may have been paranoia, but everyone was feeling it. > continue reading

I was unable to go to work today after some medical treatment yesterday left me somewhat immobilised. After preparing a soothing cup of morning tea I was suddenly alerted to the incredible news of several bombs exploding during peak-hour here in London. There have been about 5 separate and simultaneous explosions leaving (so far) 20 dead and over 100 injured. One tore a bus right open like a thin tin of aluminum, people have been stranded beneath King's Cross underground for the past 5 hours and no one knows what the hell is going on. The whole thing is pretty horrific and I must say I'm quite jarred by it (even though safely at home). This is after all my first taste of international terrorism up close. The Bali bombings of two years ago were pretty savage, but they were far away in another country no one cared much about. This time it's different. This time all that destruction is a lot closer to home. > continue reading

It was rather painful site today, masses self-congratulatory Londoners taking to the streets and celebrating their successful Olympic bid. I don't think they were that excited about winning the Olympic Games (after all, the public support for them had been quite low); it seems that they were just happy beating the French. I honestly do not know how London is going to cope with the mess that 2012 will bring. The city already functions like some overpopulated beehive. London is one of the most visited cities in the world, so there really isn't the need to generate more tourism. At least those eastern suburbs will finally get a much needed face-lift.