Solo to Mauritius ( if you don’t count the 25 colleagues and their partners)

[GDSman]

Jet lag alive and well. I’m up at 04:30. Today is golf - quite looking forward to it! Then a sunset cruise later. Should be a good day!

 

[turtlemichael]

I'll be interested to hear if you got the same impression as us - amazing traffic in most places and incredible downpours in the centre of the island. We stayed at the Hilton in Flic en Flac and enjoyed it.

 

[GDSman]

After another stunning breakfast I decided to go to the golf course early and try to loosen my dodgy back. This course is absolutely beautiful - one of the nicest I’ve played. Spent a few minutes hitting some balls on the range and putting. I don’t play often these days (used to play a lot so know what to do just can’t remember how...).
We had 3 in our group all finely matched so it made for a good round. It would be fair to say that I was ordinary, especially in the 2nd 9 as my back got worse but....oh my...their signature hole is the par 5 4th which goes out to a stunning sea view...and for a brief moment everything went right and I birdied it. What I love about golf is that you can stuff up any number of shots but you’ll always get a memory to enjoy...
Salad and beer in the clubhouse ‘Fourno’ after and then back to the villa for an hour. I managed to lock myself out of the room for a few mins but after a shower and change I was ready for the organised sunset cruise.
It was ok, bit blustery, but enjoyable as there are many at my company I get on well with. But still missing having my wife here unfortunately...
I decided to have the evening on my own - there’s some rugby on tv and I have plenty of G&T....
A good day, enjoyed the resort and it was mostly warm and sunny.

 

[GDSman]

A few pics of the golf course

 

[GDSman]

Another fab morning, prawn curry for breakfast. Quick meeting with the boss and then today we have a visit to a school this morning followed by free time through until a gala dinner...should be good.

 

[GDSman]

Super day today. Our company has a 1% donations strategy and we do it as part of the incentive trip to involve partners as well. We visited a school for disabled children. It was very grounding to see these kids. We saw what they do, chatted to the teachers and the kids and served them some lunch. Best part for me was play time where we went in the garden and had a kick of a football with me being the ‘mugging’ goalie letting everything in. We ended with a donation to the school to help them out a bit. Good stuff and very heartwarming.
Had some free time in the afternoon. I went to the gym and had a crack on the bike....not a pretty sight but I got the heart rate up. Then had a 4pm tennis game with my mate from WA. We are both competitive by nature but clearly quality has dropped off. He was bad, but I was awful and lost 6-4. In better news it seems to have stretched out my back and pain gone!
I had a plunge swim to cool off, outdoor shower and tonight is Gala dinner. It’s a great trip but I keep thinking of home and would happily fly home....but 3 more nights to go...

 

[GDSman]

Gala dinner on the beach was fantastic- everything has been generous and definitely an incentive! Kicked off with music and dancers (pic) then BBQ seafood, curries and all sorts of things. Rum coughtails to wash it down were great. There was a live band that included a guy who apparently came 3rd in ‘The Voice’ somewhere in Africa (perhaps RSA). One of the best ‘party’ bands I’ve heard...
Left around 10:30 as I’d done enough damage....

 

[GDSman]

Today was a catamaran trip to an island which is part of the Lux group and is a beach club setup. Snorkeling and then a buffet lunch (more bbq seafood) then a few rums to enjoy in the shade - very nice! Back at the resort a grudge game of table tennis- I appear to have lost all hand eye coordination as I lost again!
Tonight I’ve decided I need a break - the guys are lovely but I’ve spent a lot of time with them so I’m just in the room watching a replay of Roma v Liverpool...
Tomorrow’s fishing has been cancelled due to expected rough seas so I’m going to try to get some more golf in instead...

 

[GDSman]

A couple of friendly hotel guests...

 

[GDSman]

Quick early breakfast and then off with a colleague for 9 holes - decided my back couldn’t do 18. Gorgeous morning. The golf was appalling- you know it’s bad when you only get 4 puts for par (and miss them all!)...anyway we had a good chat. Back in room now cooling off. Going to hang here till lunch I think... farewell dinner tonight at Italian restaurant. Looking forward to getting home...

 

[GDSman]

Some photos of the villa. First is the garden with the plunge pool and outdoor settings

 

[GDSman]

Panorama not loading due to size...

 

[GDSman]

Have taken some basic ones given the panorama is too big.
Bedroom, bathroom and outdoor shower

 

[GDSman]

Outdoor shower (take 2)...I seem to be having some tech challenges...

 

[GDSman]

Photos don’t do the place justice - it’s absolutely gorgeous and huge...

 

[GDSman]

Farewell dinner was in the Italian restaurant ‘aquapazza’ and was ok but not great - a bit pretentious. Met the hotel manager and complimented him on the team - service has been terrific.

 

[GDSman]

Up early this morning 0600 for deep sea fishing. It’s the last day but I can keep my room until 7pm which is good.
4 of us went fishing - out about 20kms looking for marlin. It was pretty rough - big southern Indian Ocean swell running. There was a lot of bouncing around and no fish to be found. For five hours.... Eventually we told them head for home.....at which point we caught a couple. We’re now back at the hotel waiting for the chef to prep and grill....yum!

 

[GDSman]

Where’s the fish?

 

[GDSman]

Ok, that’s it, we’re off.
After a fantastic fish lunch (we fed 12!), I headed back to the room for a nap. Then 7:15pm we’re on the bus heading to the airport. Flight to PER is 2240.

 

[GDSman]

Flight should be 2240 but at checkin we’re advised of an hour’s delay....checkin experience not great. 2 desks open for J with large family groups in front. In each case the agent went away to check something (visas?) for lengthy periods. Most of my colleagues in Y checked in online and we’re all processed before me.
Now sitting in the MK lounge. Downstairs has a fair selection of foods and drinks. Upstairs purports to be a relaxing lounge except it’s open to the main terminal with loud onflgoing announcements. And definitely the most uncomfortable chairs I’ve seen in a lounge for some time...