Our Real Honeymoon - Mauritius 24-31 Jan 2009

In Port Louis, at the Waterfront

Our patio to our room, ground floor and 5 steps from the beach

Kim going snorkeling

The beach right in front of our room, we were so lucky

The beach in front of the Le Victoria Hotel

Walking the streets in Grand Bay

We hired a scooter for a day

Having our last romantic dinner at the pool side

Snorkeling right outside our room

Just look at how blue the water is!

On our yacht to Gabriel Island

Last morning at Le Victoria Hotel, sad

Seeing our cricket team

Okay, so we got home last night at about 8pm - 11pm Mauritius time. We were told by the travel agents and even brochures that the time difference was 2 hours, it was actually 3. Anyway, we had a excellent time and are happy to be home.

Mauritius is not what I expected........but that's what makes it even more surprising. We stayed at the Le Victoria Hotel on the north-west coast, between Port Louis and Grand Bay. The weather was extremely hot and humid and by 10am the sun is scorching. We showered 2 to 3 times a day and tried not to get too sun burnt.

We hired a scooter on the Tuesday. Kim did all the driving while I held on for dear life. We were given a hand drawn map on how to get to Arsenal and Grand Bay, 2 places in different directions.

Finding Arsenal that morning was not bad, the shopping was great and we thought we hit a jackpot when we came across a clothing store that was closing down. The prices were great. I got a D&G handbag for R300 and Kim got a Prada and Polo shirt for next to nothing.

The challenging part of the day was when we went to Grand Bay in the afternoon. The sun was scorching and we learnt that our hand-drawn map was not so reliable. After about an hour, we finally got there only to turn back 'cause Kim was feeling awful and needed to lie down. Finding our way back was even more challenging, because we disagreed on where to turn etc. Of course, I was right and got us home.

Turned out Kim had a nasty fever and headache and was very sleepy. When we got back he crashed on the bed. His temperature was sky high and yet he said he was getting cold. The local doctor didn't really know what was wrong with him. He hadn't eaten that day and the whole of Wednesday and I was getting worried. His throat was sore and he was complaining that he couldn't swallow. So for the rest of the holiday, Kim lived on eating Disprin's (not healthy) but it was the only thing that allowed him to eat and swallow.

On the Thursday we went to Gabriel Island off Grand Bay on a yacht tour to go and snorkel.

We decided to go to Port Louis (the capital city) on the Friday by taxi. After our hair-raising scooter ride on the Tuesday, we decided to let a local get us there safely. We went to the market there, where they sell everything. From meat (open air butcheries, siff really), to fruit, veggies, dried fish, clothing, curios, you name it, and quite smelly really.

We left midday on the Saturday for the airport and drove through a downpour, the first rain since we had been there. We checked in, the normal routine, and then over the PA system "will Mr Pomario please come the the check-in desk etc. etc." Okay so now what's happening - I sat with our bags while Kim went off. Crazy things were going through my mind. Finally he returned to tell me that they thought there was a bomb in his bag and he needed to unpack it. His diving equipment looked like a bomb on the x-ray machine, can you handle it! lol

And what a surprise when we got to the airport - the SA cricket team was at the carousel next to us waiting for their luggage......

We couldn't have wished for a better, more exciting honeymoon. But do I really have to go to work tomorrow?

Love Leigh & Kim :)