What an amazing holiday in Mauritius! Thanks to Rose, John's mom, who decided 3 years ago that a 60th would just not be a 60th without sun, cocktails (mocktails for me and the kids), a blue-blue ocean, white sands and the island feeling! Rose took the family, Paul, Debbie, Ken, Nick, Karina, John, myself and not to forget our little bump to Mauritius for a week. We stayed at the 5* La Plantation d'Albion Club Med - http://www.clubmed.us/cm/resorts-indian-ocean-mauritius-la-plantation-d-albion-club-med_p-115-l-US-v-ALBC-ac-vh.html - which was its 5*'s totally worth! We had more food, fun and service we've ever had!
Have a look at our photos and get the bigger picture!
On our way, when we realised that John's passport expires in October and needs to be valid for 6 months after returning to SA, which had us sweating a bit, but luckily the Mauritians were nice enough to let us go and enjoy our holiday ... note to self ... renew John's passport!
Arriving in Mauritius, we were met by the Club Med team who drove us back to the resort and told us all about Mauritian culture and people.
Every single breakfast, dinner and lunch was something special and something you probably only experience once in a lifetime, with a different theme every single night, being welcomed by dancers and beautiful decor, it was totally impossible to capture everything.
Just one of the beautifully dressed girls welcoming you to dinner.
Paul enjoying a really weird dish ... Sea Urchin, which Paul and John seemed to have enjoyed ... a close up ....
You have to be brave!!!
Karina Beana enjoying the chocolate. Every meal had chocolate ... breakfast, lunch and dinner, fondue chocolate, chocolate fountain, chocolate ice cream ... any girls dream!
Food presentation like you've never seen before, with all the little details, and more than enough to totally fill that gap. Nope Sharon, it might look like fufi-food, but it certainly isn't!
My desert plate after I thought we were all done. I can remember growing up with a million and one mossies all around, well ... seeing as I haven't seen any in absolute ages, we realised on this trip that all the SA mossies must have immigrated to Mauritius ... a thought ... even the Mossies left ... :)
Every day, a wonderful lady called Poona, came to clean and decorate our room, she was the most talented towel, sarong, facecloth and flower arranger I have ever met. Just one of the beautiful creations she left us!
Club Med has every activity any outdoorsy person could possibly dream of. Just of the many things we tried while over there ... archery. They moved my target closer and gave me a smaller bow, but I was still not that great at it ... good fun though!
The pro at work!
Ken, Paul, me, John, Debs and Rose drinking a cock/mocktail before dinner.
Beana with her beautiful Umpalumpa drink.
Having fun in the swimming pool with Beana, we got carried away with our underwater camera, proof below:
John and Karina
Paul, Rose, John and Karina trying really hard to make a pretty smile under the water, unfortunately it is impossible to get everyone to hold their breath and smile at the same time, sorry Paul!
I actually don't have a clue what happened here, but I absolutely LOVE this photo. Beana doing ballet on John's head!!!!! :)
Why on earth does Karina look good in every single underwater photo ... she really mastered the art! Beana, Paul, myself and that huge bump touching the swimming pool bottom.
Is that a pregnant Hippo? Nope, its a pregnant Toni on her way to snorkel! I first hated the idea of wearing a wetsuit, but after trying on the XL, which actually fitted my bump, I was nice and warm in the water.
Ken posing underwater with the beautiful cowry shell John found at the bottom of the ocean.
John at the bottom of the ocean holding on to a ship wreck that we snorkeled around.
Just one of the scary creatures John saw at the bottom. At first we thought it was a sea snake, but it turned out to be some kind of eel.
If you think you're going to go for a walk on the beach barefoot, think again, the whole beach is covered with broken corral.
Vitor, just one of the amazing GO's who danced and preformed every single night. Every night, they have a different show for the guests, probably some of the best shows I've seen in my life. Everything from Caberet to Showgirls, to Sinatra, ABBA and circus. These guys were absolutely amazing!
The Bollywood spectacular!
The resort singer doing a Sinatra classic!
The Dodo (bump) and I tanning on the comfy sunbeds they have all around the beach!
John and Paul out on the cat, which they mastered in a matter of minutes and was whizzing up and down the bay.
Karina in her traditional Saga (the traditional Mauritian dance) dress.
Posing at the pool after dinner, and no that big stomach is not due to all the fabulous food we ate!
My gangsta in the bar area on just one of the beautiful pieces of furniture they have at the resort!
When my brother picked us up from the airport he couldn't stop laughing at my sunglasses tan, which is totally clear in his photo! What was I thinking ... :(
Our amazing South African waiter George, who served us the craziest cocktails, and I bet you wouldn't even be able to spot my non-alco drink ... he made such an effort!
Nick and Beana in the teardrop chairs they have all along the beach.
The beautiful pool just outside our room.
What a resort!!!!
We saw some spectacular sunsets in Mauritius ... just one of the many!
Having sunset champers with the GO's on the beach. Every day, the GO's walk around the resort at about 11:00 and 15:00 to serve the guests fruitsticks, champers, sweet things, anything your heart could desire as a snack!
Karina, John, myself and Paul in the pool.
The 8 of us on the beach!
John and I at the Port Louis Waterfront
The Saturday before we left, they called everyone out to the pool area after the 10:15 show for some resort fun. The Chief of the Club Med village took REAL FRENCH CHAMPAGNE and filled the pyramid of glasses. Every guest got a glass and we danced under the blue sky and bright stars for a few hours. What a finale!
It is impossible for me to describe in just a few words and a few pictures what an amazing experience this was. I would have to tell you all in person. But John and I would like to thank his mom for the most generous and amazing holiday with memories that we will cherish forever!
HAPPY 60th!!!!!
Goodbye Mauritius!
And thanks to my little bump, this daddy and mommy-to-be got business class seats on our way back home! :) Gotta love the pregnant-card!!! :)
With all our love and sooooo many smiles and happiness ...
The Woollams!
