Hall in Mauritius February 2009

It was some time since we were last in Mauritius, about 15 years to be exact, so thought it time to go back. It was lovely seeing all the family and friends again. Unfortunately for me the Islands has "grown up" a bit which I am not so sure I like. Last time you had big areas of land between one hotel and anoher. Now it is just one hotel after another followed by one housing estate after another. Suppose it also has to develope. Here are just a few sights and sounds.

Toure Blanche. This is the house that he hired for our stay in Mauritius. It was at Trou-aux-Biches. It was right on the beach. A bit tatty as not really well looked after but fine for a beach holiday.

This was our own little private beach with our rather large swimming pool in the back garden called the Indian Ocean.

This was the same as theabove picture except that this is what sundowners was like EVERY night. Not to shabby I say.

One of the main reasons for visiting was for Marie Anne to visit her ageing mom Norma.

One of my favoutite pictures. A fishing boat near La Morne.

Le Morne.

Didier in in charge of all boat houses for a hotel group. He kindly arranged for a boat to take us sight eening and aquanutting. It was terrific and hogged most of the time on the aquaboard. Neville and Marie Anne.

This is the gang that went to Mauritius and shared the house. Moi, Marie Anne, Roger, Pauline, Neville, Lyn, Bernard and Cecile.

Isle de Cerf.

We hired a yatch for the day and sailed on the Eastern side of the Island. Me giving orders as usual!!

From the yatch a tender boat takes you to the water fall on the River Rampart.

Ernest Hemmingway if you ask me...

Lyn and Neville.

Marie Anne and Vero.

Arty farty of the yatch.

Bernard and Cecile.

Plonky Neville.

Pigged out totally on Scuba diving. did 13 dives while on the Island. Must have taken 2000 pictures of fishes. Anyway this one was sepcial as I had never seen a Bat Fish. By the end of the diving it was a case of "Oh God not another one".

My best fish picture of the hols.

Another special sighting was this Frog Fish. Fairly rare.

Coral on the NW coast as really good.

Fishing boats at Cap Mallerouex.

Grand Baie.

Only played two rounds of golf. Played horribly.

The temples were really very colourful.

The Manor House at Pampolmous Gardens.

A giant water lily with a lovely purple flower.

Lakes in the garden.

This is Port Louis waterfront. Locals say it is bigger that cape Town. But I can assure you .... It is not. Not bad all the same.

Lovely sighting of Eagle Rays while diving.

Two Honeycomb Moray's on the wreck "Stella Maru".

This was our swimming pool in front of our house.

My best girl Nadia.

Not perfect but not too bad either. Next time I will get it right.

Trou-aux-Biches. Just loved the tranquillity of this picture.

My favourite girl in the world my niece Nadia with her dad Didier.

Lovely and peacefull angle fish.

William Michael Hall who had joined the "previously disadvantaged club" with his suntan.

The Chamarel Water Falls.

This looks just like my cock!! The ancient tortoises.

The coloured earth at Chameral.

A look at the Island as we were flying out. It is really a lovely place.

Up up and away my beautifull ..... on our way home.