Bheki: A Tropical Storm... in a Cup of Rum.

To say we were prepared for the cyclone would be an understatement. The stockpile in our fridge suggested we were ready for anything—be it a meteor strike or the return of the dinosaurs. Just to be safe, we picked up another bottle of “Lazy Dodo”, reasoning that if we were going to bid farewell to the world, it should at least be with a glass of delicious passionfruit and mango rum.

Image of Mauritius Dodo Rum mixed with satellite representation of tropical storm Bheki wind speeds

In the final hours before Cyclone Bekhi was set to hit, we ventured to the beach to contemplate the approaching storm. Some fluffy clouds gathered on the horizon, but the palms stood perfectly still. The waves lapped gently against the shore, and the boats in the bay remained quietly moored.

We watched as an elderly couple in flip-flops calmly folded their beach towels and strolled back toward the city. "Clearly terrified by the unpredictability of nature," Aaron quipped dryly. Taking inspiration from their composed exit, we wandered back home, locked the doors tight, and settled in to wait, nervously glancing out the window at the lightly swaying treetops.

And then, Bekhi surprised us. Again.

By evening, the official announcement came: no cyclone threat for Mauritius!Bekhi had slowed along its path,weakening to nothing more than a moderate tropical storm.The island collectively exhaled in relief. And guess what happened?
Nothing, but a little bit of rain and some wind.

...

How did we celebrate surviving the non-cyclone?With a glass of rum, naturally. And the first of twenty cans of tuna.

Author: Caroline Kepler
Photography: Caroline Kepler

Comments

Thank you! Your comment will be posted soon!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
No items found.