Mauritius 3

Hmmm this probably will be a bit difficult as I will try remember nine days as I have not wrote anything since 7th January as the time flew by and days were filled with things to be done and seen.

8th of January.

It is time to explore the local areas since I’ve rented a private car form the son of pastor from the church Rajiv is member of it and it was a better deal than if I will go to rental agency plus my money went directly to local community and not some face less corporation as well as I liked the church when went there. The cost was about fifteen euros for Nissan March / Micra in rest of the world automatic with all the perks that car could have. The pickup was scheduled for 10:00 but thankfully it was later as after late arrival from fishing we need a bit of snooze at roof terrace with Rajiv and the time was pushed to 15:00 which gave us plenty of time to rest and be fresh. Eventually we went to the auntie at the Rampart what is another part / village but before we stopped to get some cash to pay for rental as cash is the king, also I do not have to put up with those credit cards conditions when renting a car. Rajiv also got some pastry for auntie, then got a cab and headed towards the auntie house. Renting car is easy and straightforward procedure from the rental agencies but it missing the warmth  of delightful family who are happy to see you and wish you to host, feed you while talking. Such a wonderful experience I have to say that we were there and got something to eat, bit of drink “nonalcoholic “of course, chatting away and also listening to chat in creole between the family members and Rajiv. Time to hit the road and we headed towards Grand Baie to just cruise around where we saw Yazvi and his girlfriend so we pulled in to car park and had a chat for a while, then just popped to shopping center as we need to replenish water supply and also Rajiv was looking for some presents. Said good bye to couple we head off to Cap Malheraux famous church with red roof and beautiful beach for some photos and relax, watching people play petanq. The beach is set nicely beside the road with church sitting close to water edge with view on the island across the ocean waves. Since we were there for sunset and did not want to look like a couple, more less like rat pack on the hunt 😊 we decided to move on and continue little car ride back to Grand Baie and home for nice home cooked dinner.

9th January

Next day after the breakfast the plan of the day was established with priority to get table and new chairs for Mom’s dinning area at roof terrace with Vikash “ Rajiv’s brother” who knows the local area and shops so we cruised to visit few of them at Triolet and found one relatively good what they agreed to purchase if nothing else is found. Well three more shop visits later and we were back to the first one as they had cheapest option but unfortunately all needs to be ordered as nothing is available for immediate purchase. This out of the way we are heading to Flick en Flack what I renamed to Fic & Fuck due the amount of young people on the beach interested in themselves on the backdrop of romantic beach set. On the way there we stopped at Cascavelle shopping center for good espresso and toilet as I was bursting to pee and at the same time I need kick to wake up as the sleeping in 30 degrees and 70 percent of humidity I had not mastered yet. Nice cups for espresso form what looked like artificial stone and when you stirred your coffee it made sound as if you have grounding pot for herbs. Coffee Lux is lovely spot with so nice and pleasant décor, staff that it looks like from out of place but actually fit in perfectly in ,even with the leather butcher apron wearing staff who might look like welders with their caps. However refill and wake up done we went to Flick en Flack to look for diving center as I came here for diving too but first we had to stretch legs so walk on the beach will do and what a beach it is…. Wow this is real paradise if you are like me, less travelled and more mountain orientated person. The white sand gentle smoothing by waves of turquoise water as long as you can see, with people sitting, standing in the sea or just watching it from under the trees and palms. We walked the beach a bit and afterwards we aimed for the town to find the scuba diving center where I could book the diving for tomorrow. First one was local small shop in something that looked like back yard garage with some equipment hanging on the coat hangers drying out and the guy at shop was eager to explain all about the diving places and that I would need to book it in advance as he is booked out tomorrow and therefore I made provisional booking for Friday and then went off in search of another dive center to compare offers and across it was SSI diving Centre what looked professional and well equipped with so many certificates on the wall that you nearly could not see the wall itself. Another business card and price written on back of it. Across the road there was a PADI flag wavering in the fresh see breeze to attract attention of passersby what exactly did. Went in and the girl behind counter had a lovely warm smile and was happy to give me information about and also was the most expensive cost per dive from them all. On the way we talked about it and I think that maybe the local guy would be good but I would like to verify his credential first with PADI as I would like to use only certified dive center to gain my stamps and training. We had what we came for and it was time to go home as it is birthday of Rajiv Mom and we are taking her to restaurant to celebrate since she always working hard cooking the fabulous meals for us and one day she deserve a treat. Saffron grill in one of the shopping malls was selected by Rajiv as the best spot for it as this is where the local people going for food and the recommendations were only great. After ordering the food Rajiv called me out to get cake for his Mom under pretext that I need something from the shop and he is going to help me. Rajiv bought a nice strawberry cheesecake what we left out side the restaurant on the table and notify staff to take it in and prepare it for us so we could have it after meal. Food itself was very tasty, in good amount as well as cocktail pina colada. Rajiv run first to cash register to pay and to organize the cake to be brought out with candle, what they did and even played Happy Birthday song over the speakers what his Mom did not expect as her face was showing the surprise and happiness. She blow out the candle and we all had a piece of the cake each and left the rest to staff as we agreed that it is no point to bring it home as no one will eat it. Lovely evening and also good time to get my trousers and shirt on since I carry them around 😊Went home and had a brief chat with drink at roof terrace before we all grew tired and went to bed.

10th January

Early morning ish as I want to get on hunt for diving at Grand Baie since tomorrow is diving at Flick en Flack and after the quick shower and coffee since I do not like to eat before dive we pointed our little Micra towards Grand Baie and hit the gas pedal “ not really as everywhere is 60 km/h limit” but get cruising and enjoying the view of nature and roads unobstructed by advertisement billboards, instead rolling hills of sugar cane and massive trees lined up  at side of the road were all around us , soothing our souls with deep, lush color on the azure blue backdrop of the sky. As we turned corner to Grand Baie about one hundred meters Rajiv spotted PADI flag so I did quick U-turn and headed towards it. Talked to guy and immediately had a good feeling that this is it and arranged the diving right there and then to shipwreck and then to aquarium. Start assembling gear when I realized that I left my computer at home and jumped to little Lui shift the stick to D and took off to get my computer. Thankfully it was just two of us for this dive and therefore they waited for me. All done and we are on the way to boat with dive master who was so cool and nice that I wish I remember his name to mentioned here. We talked and he did his DM when he was nineteen years old as he grew up at sea and I wish I did it earlier as we agreed that this is the life, not a mundane day to day grey day in the office. We buddy up and went to the ship wreck, which was the only one with propeller attached as this one is made from steel as he said that any propeller made from copper would be immediately removed by locals for scrap metal money. He was excellent and showed me the lovely fishes hidden under the keel of the boat in dark, where some special fish was there , looked like tiny tortoise but he said that this is special fish what is seen only few times and he apparently seen it once per year. Great experience and one day I will do ship wreck license as I would like to see it from inside too, since there are most beautiful fishes. We said hello to the other diving team who went inside and slowly ascend to safe stop at five meters and hoover above the shop wreck. Get to the boat where we met the other guy who went with another DM. Changed tanks and pointed boat to dive site know as aquarium with lots of fishes. Nice dive and seen octopus, moray eel, and lots of various fishes.  Enjoyed the dive very much as well as the talk afterwards on the boat and all his advices in relation to how to increase diving experience as well as regarding the equipment. Back on the boat and later on the land I was happy until I found that my white bracelet what I’ve got from Sebastian is lost as Rajiv transferred all to the car but somewhere between the dive center and car the bracelet got lost and I lost it as it was gift from my son what I value very very much. I think I must be really nasty as Rajiv tried once asked me something and I snapped back at him so we rode in silence as I was fuming inside as much as I know that this is only incident and not happened deliberately. Thankfully his friend spotted us on the way and she flash her lights and honk the horn so I pulled car on side as Rajiv recognized her. Immediately after introduction I said that she can give him lift home and I will return to search for bracelet again. Ahh I cursed and shouted in the car to ventilated my frustration and after few minutes the emotion of frustration and anger went and I was calm and ready to return home realized that sometimes things get lost. Arrived home and waited for dinner chilling at roof talking to Rosa on what’s up. After dinner we did a bit of painting flower pots for Rajiv mom since she wanted to have nice garden and Rajiv came with this idea as to make her day and future nicer. Rajiv friends invited us out to sit down for a few beers which is nice and rally homely and I was felt welcomed like at home. I declined beer since when diving I’m not drinking but sat around, talked, listened and genuinely enjoyed the company and moment. Since tomorrow we a re heading to Flick en Flack I went to bed early to be in shape.

11th January

              Drove to Flick en Flack with stopover at Casavelle for obligatory espresso and toilet break and arrived to the beach around 8:00 but the guy told us that see is too rough to dive and that today is not a good day which I was thankful as later I realized that his license from PADI is expired and decided to go to another center but in all fairness he was a nice guy. Went to the Tribeca dive center and the guy there told us the same, no diving today but told me to go to Belle Mare on the other side of island and dive there, what I did. Drove across to Belle Mare where are mostly five start resorts but I went to check it. First thing was that security guard at one of the resort took our names, reg number of the car and told me to repark car so that car facing outward. Then we found this dive center, where all were English speaking guys who were like Egyptian sales man “ no problem, my friend, come, come” so when I asked what is the dive site the reply was nice, very nice and come =, come we are going to dive, get gear up. Well I asked twice what is the dive site and got the same stupid answer so I switched and straight asked  for price per dive what was a rip off 2 200 MUR what is €55 so told them bye. I’ve got out of this “holiday from hell” place as soon as I could as this is like prison just wrapped in gold wrapping brrr never, ever I will have holiday in such place. Drove to the village, where Rajiv asked for dive center local security guy who pointed us towards direction of another one. Founded it right at road side, we went inside and there was no one :-o so we hang around until someone showed up and we had chat about the diving and he said that yes they will actually going diving just waiting for boss who went pick up diver from the hotel and depending on this diver skill we see where we will go to dive. We chatted about various things regarding diving, licenses under various agencies such as CMAS, PADI, SSI and afterwards I’m thinking to do CMAS as well since they are apparently more scientific about the diving and all the science behind it. Eventually the boss arrived with the another diver, who was from Sweden and was real rescue diver with Fire department as well as rescue diver under PADI license so we went to drift dive “ my first” and what a dive it was WOW. I did used my air to fast as I was breathing fast, trying to adapt to drift dive for the first time. Amazing sight of huge school of big fishes standing in the current i.e swimming against it but stay still on one place. Octopus and some living coral or what ever it was, what changed color when DM touched it with finger. Huge manta ray aliening on the sea floor. The drift is something else and I defo want to do it again as it is more challenging and I love challenge plus the sea life is different in strong current. Also need to learn slow down breathing since the instructor had about 100 bars in tank when surfaced and me 0 bars. Maybe get a gloves to as when drift you need to hold onto rocks sometimes so another three pieces of equipment to purchase in Thailand. Total bottom time of 49 minutes was longest dive I did. Really amazing dive what I recommend for sure. Also I did nice deal regarding price so was so happy and thankful for this to DM. So happy going back that I must be like little child with ice cream in the summer grinning like mad. Packed the gear in and drove back home with stop at Trouve de Stag If the name is written correctly 😊 what is actually crater of dormant Vulcan overgrown by green vegetation with houses build on its hills. Hopefully it will not finish as Pompei….Continued on the way home we hit the motorway what had a great sign at the start “THIS IS A MOTORWAY,NOT A RUNWAY” what I found great. Arrived home, hanging the gear to dry, which in this hot weather is done really fast. Since we were on time started to painting of the flower pots until dinner and after dinner to get it done asap. Texted my friend who is now living in Mauritius and who is running Air B&B at her place, who offered me accommodation in case of need what I did not need it but said that we could meet up. She said yes and that she will bring some friends and I will come with Rajiv for a vegan dinner tomorrow at Grand Baie.

12th January

Another dive day at Flic en Flac in Tribeca center where the girls remembered me from day before welcoming me “ahh so you came back” and warm lovely smile, no wonder she is behind the counter selling… most of divers are men and susceptible to charms of young beautiful girls. Well got my gear, changed and ready for briefing what was made by this DM in training girl who was visible first time talking and stressed about but we are all starting somewhere, sometime. As she finished the DM who observed her repeated the briefing a more professionally with some correction for her to learn, what I would do in person not front of the people but she needs to learn. Well another drift dive as we were group of rescue divers PADI and all French except me and I was slightly nervous not knowing why but later understood that probably the espresso is not good idea before diving, since the blood pressure will increase under water and coffee is like alcohol, increasing one blood pressure what is no good. Lesson learned as I breathed really fast and had to ascend too early in the dive. It was still nice and the sea life was beautiful with moray eel big as my leg right under me, lots of fishes and slight slower current comparing to the previous day in Bell Mare but I felt more nervous and not in present moment. Maybe because the French divers who were kind of in pack and did not really bother engage with me. Was not really happy camper and Rajiv was asking what happened and I told him that I breath too fast and that I was not happy with my behavior / breathing under water but he calmed me down and eventually all was good. We went to have our lunch at the beach and left the equipment to dry a bit so that car will be not wet when transporting the equipment. Lunch eaten and back in center to pick up equipment, say good bye to all and drove home as we had dinner arranged at vegan restaurant “Eat With Fingers” with Sapna and her friends Gunwalle and one more what I forgot the name. We had great craic talking eating laughing and I was talking to Gunwale / Emilie who was doing her DM internship here after two previous visits from her home Sweden. She had a seventy dives so we had a lot to talk about but eventually she was talking more to Rajiv who was interested in talking 😊 Dinner was over and night was young so we decided to hit the town of Grand Baie but apparently we came too late as the girls favorite bar  was closing down. I was more happy to just be outside on the beach what was eventually what had happened but not before we secured dosage of liquor to keep the girls warm and chat going. Funny what people do for a bit of drink. Since I was driver I was in no need for it but drove around to get some, what proved a bit difficult. We drove from one shop to another as they were all closed and eventually Sapna rang her friend who directed us to the local shop in the narrow street what sold alcohol to locals. This was not easy as the directions he gave us were a bit confusing but eventually I turn on my natural drink locator “liver” as true eastern European drunk and found the shop in minute. It took longer for Rajiv top get drink as guy needed to rang someone for price of the booze. He got a local wine what he drank when he was younger and that brought memories back to life for him as well as for Sapna since apparently this is not a fine wine but cheap wine. Anyway we were stocked up on alcohol and mixer so we hit the beach. Amazing that right beside the main street you have a beautiful beach full of trees, benches “what were all taken” with view on the marina under the light from stars. We get down on one bench for a while until one girl taxi arrived and then four of us left for beach. Laying down on the sand we talked and talked, while the three of them were drinking I was getting drunk on the view of beach and stars. Locals were on the beach too, sitting around fire and drinking as we were just we missed the fire but when you are coming from Ireland or Europe in January you do not need fire as you are warm. The stars were amazing and we just talked, looked at passing clouds discussing what are they look like and having a blast. When all the drinks were finished we said that it is time to hit the road and going to drop Emilie to her place. On the way the craic continued and the idea came to light of skinny dipping, which as true naturist I said yeah and suddenly the drop off of Emilie was changed to pick up of towels. We drove to Cap  Malheureux beach where it was nice and dark to get a privacy under the big tree with swing. Undressed and in the water I went and what amazing sight floating in dark on warm water looking at the stars and feeling like taking off to space. I float in distance beside the fishing boats anchored in shallow water close to shore, illuminated by stars and light from the hotel nearby. After while I returned to group after time what I considered sufficient for them to do what they want to do 😊 We get out dry off and sat down at bench beside the petanque field where they finished the bottle of wine and then early in t he morning we dropped the girls home and went home. The streets become alive again with street food vendors and people going to work, we drove past them and laughed in great spirit and since Rajiv was a little bit tipsy the usual food attraction came in play but since I was sober and not hungry he said to continue home as we both needed bed and sleep. Arrived at 5am to home and as we were passing the open front door we saw Mom in the kitchen with look at her face that was clearly not happy. I sneaked fast as weasel to my room to avoid scorching and hell from Mom and just before I closed my eyes in bed I heard Mom giving out to Rajiv… Well what a day and night… love it and this was something I will not forget that easily… Maurice J’adore ca.