Mauritius- This small island located off the coast of Madagascar was beautiful. After days of rough seas they made up enough time and we arrived around four hours late. We got in around 12. We then headed to our house that was very nice. It only cost $40 per person for two nights and it was a very nice three story house a block from the beach with nice porches and lots and lots of bugs; upon arrival three girls left our “villa” because there was a cat outside. So they went to a five star hotel and stayed there making everyone else in the villa mad except for the people who got to sleep in beds instead of the floor. The first night was an early night for everyone; we had some awesome seafood and then hung out in the villa for a while then went to bed. The next day might have been the best day so far on Semester at Sea. We got out own private boat with driver who took us around the islands on the east side of Mauritius and the water was so clear and light greenish blue. We went to a waterfall which was freshwater that fell in to the ocean. We got to swim in the waterfall and jump off rocks. We later went to another island which had water sports and we went swimming there for an hour until lunch which was the last island we went to. This was a small island with locals cooking us food on the beach and drinking Phoenix; which was one of the Mauritius beers, the other major one was Blue Marlin which was really good. They cooked us some Marlin and chicken which was amazing. When we were leaving a bunch of Germans sang us American songs; on the boat ride we saw some of the most amazing views you could think of. With huge houses right on the water and gigantic green mountains in the background. The next day and our last day in port was St. Patricks day and we went to the local markets and saw a collection of junk and fruits with flies all over them. Later we went to the bars on the waterfront and celebrated for the old Saint Patrick.

March 19- We had the Sea Olympics which our team came in second place so we get off the boat second in San Diego. There was a lip synching contest which was awesome to see and we got some entertainers on this boat that’s for sure and a lot of boring people that well are not entertainers. Our next place to go to is India where I am assuming is where the learning of very different cultures takes place; this is going to be interesting how some kids in this ship take this place. I can not wait for it.

March 21^st- I got electrocuted at Pub Night that was a lot of fun. A few more days till India, we get there on Sunday. Hope everyone is enjoying March Madness. We are going to India on Sunday for five days and this is were the learning part of the trip really starts.

We are planning big things for Malaysia

Cape Town, S. Africa- March 2- Pulling in to this harbor was awesome, there were sea Lions and penguins swimming around and the harbor was awesome with tons of fishing boats and mountains in the background. The currency is the Rand. One US dollar is equivalent to 7 Rands. Later that day we made a trip to go skydiving; which was backed up about two hours, so we sat in the waiting area and had a party which was really fun. Finally we went up on the plane at sunset which was awesome. Then came the jumping out of the plane; it was awesome. Once you jump out of the plane a feeling of freedom comes on and it was great. I got to drink a beer on the way down from skydiving which was easiest the best beer I have had in my life. And doing this at sunset made it that much better. If anyone has ever thought of doing skydiving; do it, it is a lot of fun. We then got back and went to the bars on the pier which were awesome, and then we later went up to Long Street which is there nightlife area, and is a lot of fun.

S. Africa day two- We walked around during the day, and had some awesome crepes and got some lunch on the water which was good. They have some good seafood here. We then went to the Tequila bar which advertises every tequila in the book on the outside but when you go in they have about three different kinds. They also had this thing called the fishbowl; which was like 5 different alcohols in a huge bowl that took about four kids to drink and there was some serious competition on who could finish them first. Then around nine we went out to dinner and it was pouring rain outside, and about two of us had jackets so it was funny. (I had one) We went to this place called “Mortons on the Wharf” and it was unbelievable. There was about eight of us and everyone had a great meal. Good champagne and wine too. We then went to the tequila bar again and later tried to go to the ice lounge which is a bar with everything made out of ice but it was closed so we went to another bar which a cop told us about and demanded for a tip after he told us which was pretty funny. When this bar was closing they used teargas to get everyone out which was awful. Everyone just started coughing really bad and we were all running out, it was pretty efficient though. We then went up to Long Street were they had a festival on the streets which was a lot of fun.

Day 3- I had a plane to catch at 6:30, then had a three hour plane ride to Kruger; which is where our safari was at Kruger National Park. We had a safari later that day which was fun, Wcame back to an unbelievable dinner where they had some awesome food. I then went to bed because we had to be up at 4:30.

Day 4- Getting up early was a lot of fun. We then had a six hour safari with an hour breakfast. Then later in the afternoon you got on a three hour safari. It was my teacher’s birthday so we bought him a lot of shots and beers, So he had a good birthday. 4^th and

Final day of Safari- We got to pet the elephants on our last day and be around them for a while which was awesome. We then hopped on our plane to go back and I started a party on our plane with vodka and then our tour guide cut us off on the plane because we were not supposed to drink on the way back. Later that night me and some girl went back to Mortons and had dinner because everywhere else you needed reservations. But it was awesome again. Then it was party time again.

Last day in S. Africa- We went to the Wine lands which were awesome. We sampled champagne, wine, and then Brandi. The wine lands were huge and looked amazing. Then here comes the bad part. We went to some dumb museum and then the bus decided to leave without me. I then found out it left ten minutes early. So I thought I was about ten minutes away from Cape Town and I found another bus with some girls on it that I knew and jumped on with them, it turns out it was an hour and a half ride back. I then found my tour guide and asked him how his ride back was and he did not even know I was not there. He said he did a head count and got the right number, so I guess he just can’t count. Anyways I lost about fifteen dollars worth of stuff which I am trying to get Semester at Sea to pay for. Then we went out to the bars at the jetty for some last minute partying, which was a lot of fun. There were a lot of drunken people on the ship when we got back on the ship. I could definitely see myself coming back to Cape Town. This place was awesome and very modernized. It is a very nice looking city and a lot of fun.

March 9- We are still in Cape Town because it was too windy, so we left at around 5 Pm and we are on our way to Mauritius where a bunch of us rented a cottage on the beach for a couple of days which should be a lot of fun. We had our first karaoke night on the boat and they had no songs at all. It was disappointing, but a bunch of us sang Piano Man and had a good time.

March 10- For some reason we did not have class today, and everyone is just hanging out. I will write after we leave Mauritius unless if something good happens before then. Well we just had a fire drill and it was spectacular, I got sent back to my room because I did not have shoes on; they take these things seriously. But I redeemed myself by getting my Nikes…..GO RED SOX!!!!

If anyone has a chance to go on this, do it. You get to see the world and have a spring break every other week and meet some awseome people and somehow get college credit....