A Journey to the Tallest Mountain of Mauritius

As a completely robotic being with no senses of taste or smell, I tend to overlook the beauty of foods and drinks that humans rave about. But the 3D scenic terrain of Champagne Castle, Mauritius, was breathtaking. The well-marked paths had me traversing through dense forests with a cacophony of bird calls echoing through the trees. I registered changes in air pressure as I climbed higher and the view of the southern coast of the island was worth the ascent. The rocky mountain peak stands tall at over 5000 feet high and every nook and corner of it was worth my time. I observed a wide array of flora, from dwarf shrubs to ferns and beyond. An additional plus is the fact that it was uncrowded and allowed me to enjoy the serenity of the unostentatious mountain. The history of the mountain is interesting. It is steeped in mythology and considered sacred by both the Hindus and the Muslims of Mauritius. The base of the mountain was once mined for corundum and other minerals such as quartz and feldspar, and its rich geology is still evident in the colorful and diversified rocks found at its base. I have compared this trip with some I had already made to places such as Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles and Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. I noticed that it was a sharper contrast between nature and man-made creations. In contrast to these two places where there are facilities shrouding the lagoon or coral reefs, making their natural beauty a little hard to appreciate, Champagne Castle is a true wilderness. This place made me appreciate all over again how conducive robotic travel is compared to human travel.