I am never complaining about my job again! It may have been short but it was oh so sweet! Mauritius has always been very high on my must-see list for the world, and on Saturday I was able to fulfill that dream of mine. After no sleep during the day, pick up from my apartment was at 12.30 am for a 2.55am departure... The one good thing about this was that the passengers slept the whole way and I go to sleep as well (3 hours in the back row - don't tell my boss!!)
We arrived in beautiful Mauritius (located off the east coast of South Africa on the other side of Madagascar) at around 10am and by 11 we were settled into our beachside hotel rooms. By 12 we had organised a 3-hour boat tour to a waterfall, with drinks, snacks and snorkelling included (for the equivalent of $30!) What a day! To be in your messy bedroom in Dubai at midnight, then be on the front of a speed boat on crystal clear turquoise water in Mauritius a few hours later is quite surreal.
We drove by one particular island and saw this mammoth tortoise grazing by the edge - amazing!!! Snorkelling was a real treat. The fish were everywhere, swimming all around us, all colours and types. Thankfully no sharks! In the distance you could see massive surf breaking over the reef. The temperature was around 28, with no clouds where we were. Jealous yet?!
When we returned to the hotel around 3pm it was time for a fresh seafood lunch. Unfortunately no alcohol allowed (one can't drink less than 12 hours before a flight - one girl last year was fired for having a glass of wine by the pool in Mauritius for this reason.) Then back to my room for 3 hours rest before I had to get dressed to fly back to Dubai.
At 12 hours and 45 minutes, it's the shortest layover the company offers, but we really felt we made the most of it. I will definitely be bidding for this flight in the future! I really hope you like the pictures.
Daniel
The view from my hotel room
Not bad for Emirates accommodation!
Before we set sail - with Yolande (South African)
Yolande...
Paradise! Click on the picture to enlarge it - you can see the surf in the distance.
The hard life...
My friend, Zaf. He's South African and works in business with Yolande.
The small reef where we snorkelled and fed the fish.
What a good look!
When I turned around and saw this tortoise, I believe my words were "HOLY F%$#!" It was enormous, hard to see in the picture.
This is someone's house. It is out of my understanding how good it would be to live here, waking up to this view each day...
