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| Le Toulouse Rock - or something like that! |
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| Finding lunch! |
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| The Princess and her following! |
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| R100 sandwich! |
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| Not our boat, Bonnie! |
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| Getting ready for the boat ride! |
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| Fun in the sun! |
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| Lunch and drinks - check out the drumstick in the middle! |
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| Entertainment! |
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| Fish! |
Today is yet another excursion day. This time we are going East – to the idyllic Ile Aux Cerefs. Moya, our SAfrican friend who lives here, recommended this trip. So, you can to it one of many ways. You can book a really expensive tour – that is if you are staying at a really expensive hotel, where they add serious commissions, or you can book with a local travel agent situated in a side street. Then you can also book a day on a catamaran – where your meal and all drinks are included, or you can do the “cheap skate” tour – like we did. Which always promises to be the most fun.
Well, the fun started with the 5 South African (Bonnie, Kerri, Luc, Callie and Myself) forcing our minibus driver to stop at Chez Popo for a good stock of French chocolates. He saw that this shopping was going to take some time so he left us there to pick up the rest of the tour group. About 5 large chocolate bars later, we are picked up. Our fellow tour group, consisting of a very young and very reserved French couple does not seem very impressed with this loud group.
What we did not take into consideration was “Aunti” Cyclone which was causing havoc on the East side of the island. Halfway through our 1 hour trip all we could see was dark cloud, rain and wind – and we are all dressed in swimming costumes and little dresses! So this called for immediate action – we eat one big slab of French chocolate – white with nuts! The French think we are crazy!
On arrival at Trou Deau Douce we are very reluctant to get out of the car. It is cold and wet and the sea looks rough. Callie runs across the street, to get the blue tickets that will take us across the rough seas! And guess what – the shop does not sell rain coats, so we are going to be soaking wet. We are then commanded to the beach, where we join a big group of tourists all looking like “nat hoenders” waiting for a boat. As on que, a great variety of boats, pull up to shore. Luc immediately picks a speedboat with a “200” and for the rest of the day everything is measured by cc’s. Bonnie immediately refuses to get on that one! I stare in fear at the little tug boat loading in a group of tourists – hope that is not our boat! Callie decides he wants a 200 too and is about to get in when we discover that this is not part of the “cheap skate” tour! Guess what – we get the little tug!
In the end it turns out to be the best bet. The sea is pretty rough on the crossing over to the lagoon area, but we get to see Le Tousserok Hotel from the sea. We all decide that this must be stunning in great weather. Our tug goes around the hotel and enters a lagoon area surrounded by many mangrove plantations. It is really beautiful.
Before we know if we dock on a little jetty. A bit unsure as to what is going to happen next, Callie tries to establish what the game plan is. We finally figure it out – on the “cheap skate” tour, you are dumped on this side of the lagoon where you can tan, swim, do parasailing, drink and eat for two hours. Well, that is if the sun is shining and you have money. Because to rent a beach chair is Rupees 500 (note the whole trip was Rupees 1000 per person). So, whilst Bonnie, Kerri and Luc set off for a walk in the lagoon, Callie chats up the lifeguards (hopefully trying to get a discount) and I venture to the sea side looking for snorkelling spots. The wind is howling here – so I quickly join the others.
By now Bonnie and Luc has decided that they are starving – it is now 11 – and Bonnie has seen a faded poster of a pizza at a little tuck shop. We stroll over to the pub on the beach, where we are told that they only make pizzas from 12. Tell Bonnie she can not have pizza when she is hungry (remember she is Miss Roman’s!) and you are in big trouble! When telling the young waiter what will happen when she does not get food, he immediately gets together a table and some chairs and says he will organise some sandwiches for the “princess”. So, there on this beautiful remote island, Bonnie became a princess.
Also there on this remote island, Luc decides he wants a chicken mayonnaise sandwich – the most expensive one he has ever had @ R 100 for a sandwich and chips! And how do R50 for a beer or a coke sounds! We bump into a young South African couple from Kuruman who is on honeymoon and shares a plate of chips! After breakfast the group is feeling slightly better and we wonder back +to the jetty as we are being picked up from there for the trip to the waterfall and the lunch spot. Here we find a large group of tourists all sprawled out on the wet beach – tanning in the slight drizzle!
We all decide it is now time for the second chocolate – this time it is the dark 1848 with nuts and orange. Amazing how the chocolate seems to lift our mood on this cloudy day! Luc has now gone off on a mission to find a cheap trip to the marine park for some snorkelling. The start price was Rupees 500 per person on a speed boat. He comes back with another option – Rupees 300 on a glass bottom boat (with a 15cc engine – which does not suit his standards!). Turns out that Callie and Luc are negotiating against each other for the trip.
Finally it is 12 o’clock and once again a whole armada boats converge upon us as we are waiting on the jetty. This time Luc makes sure we get on a speed boat with a 200 engine. A funny Frenchman with a bright pink shirt and a camera with a lens that goes on forever and his wife/or mother take the seat right in the front. We end up right next to him and Luc, Bonnie and Kerri opposite us.
The boat sets off on a slow cruise down the lagoon with cameras clicking and the funny Frenchman waving at everyone on the catamarans. But then, just as we all begin to chill out, the fun starts. With a shock we discover that we were left in the hands of a lunatic skipper as he opens up the throttle and that 200cc starts to work. This is also when we discover that Bonnie is terrified of boats, especially fast moving ones! Initially she holds on to Luc but minutes later she is on the floor of the boat. Her fear seems to spur on our skipper, who heads straight for islands and then swerve just in time to clear them. It is only when we hear the hysterical shrieks from the front of th boat, that we see what is going on. The funny Frenchman is sitting with his camera high up above his head, pointed at Bonnie’ cleavage (which was now dangerously exposed because of her precarious position on the floor) and he issnapping away. Not bothered by any one else – screaming with delight!
By this time we are all in hysterics – not because of Bonnie, but because of this funny man who looks like a little boy let loose in a car toy shop! Finally, the boat slows down and we manage to calm Bonnie down enough to tell her what happened. By now the Funny Frenchman and his partner realised we knew exactly what he was doing, but he seems to get even more pleasure out of our conversation and telling Bonnie what he did – much to the embarrassment of his partner. Of course, by this time, we have decided that she must be his mother and that he still lives at home!
The boat now enters a wide river with high cliffs covered in giant fans and trees. High up in the treetops we see fruit bats hanging upside down. As we go around a bend in the river, we see a beautiful waterfall ahead of us. It is not large, but has a lot of water coming down. The sight of this causes the funny Frenchman to start shrieking again, which sets off another domino effect – the skippers opens the throttle and heads straight for the falls, Bonnie grabs Luc and the rest of us screams. The skipper pushes the nose of the boat right into the falls and the funny Frenchman tries to hug the falls! My goodness – I am sure he is going to go home and tell all his mates sharing his office about his wild Island adventure!
The trip back is just as crazy, but this time Bonnie handles it a bit better and even manages to threaten the skipper. Who is now also in love with the “princess”. We are dropped off on another island where we are going to have lunch. It is very rustic with tables and benches under canvasses on the sandy beach. It looks like great fun. We are welcomed with a large beer and a bottle of sprite. Soon to be followed by a bottle filled with white sprits and some pineapple. Callie pours some and Kerri realises that this is pure alcohol and you need to mix it with something soft! Much later we notice the French couple (who came on our taxi) drinking this clean. By the time we realise that they have not realised that you need to mix the drink, it is too late – they have just about finished their bottle. And this result in them becoming our entertainment for the afternoon. They have no idea of how sloshed they are – he poses and she takes photos – each of their own mission without getting anything done!
We are starving and lunch turns out to be the best event of the day (not sure if it was the Jungle Juice!). It starts off with a grilled fish – whos stare makes Princess Bonnie uncomfortable and all Luc wants to do is to pull it’s teeth and put it around his neck. This is followed by toasted French bread, Cabbage salad and the best chicken (we immediately name our waiter Nandos!). Later in the afternoon, three of the waiters pull out some musical instruments and we get a real, local show. We do a bit of island dancing, go for a swim – much to Luc’s embarrassment and are invited to do a local rum tasting. This rum is made on the island and there are various options – rum with vanilla, rum with ginger, rum with orange – and much more – but the best is the rum with chilli. Being SAfrican we do not trust any of this, so we take little sips. But then we see the tasting tray arrive at the table of the Frenchies. And they try it all as quickly as possibly. Knowing what is about to come, we get the camera ready and film the poor girl as she throws the very potent chilli rum down her throat! My goodness – no sign of the very reserved couple we picked up that morning.
Just before 4 we are told that our crazy skipper and speedboat is waiting. Bonnie asks him to marry him so that she can get possession of the boat. He, in true character, opens up the throttle and then invites Bonnie to come and sit on his lap. Then he calls Luc and allows him to steer the boat! Oh my – the wheels, engines, everything just came off on this trip!
The ride back home is great fun – we have fantastic rugby conversations and all sorts of other conversations with the Frenchies. Our taxi driver had enough – we ask him to stop at Chez Popo for some more chocolates – but he saw double trouble and decides to drop Bonnie and Kerri off first. Sies vir hom! (Please note that we finished all the chocolates we bought!).
We are exhausted by the time we get home. Quick dinner, a bit of TV and I am asleep by 9. Remember tomorrow we have a deep dive planned!
Well, the fun started with the 5 South African (Bonnie, Kerri, Luc, Callie and Myself) forcing our minibus driver to stop at Chez Popo for a good stock of French chocolates. He saw that this shopping was going to take some time so he left us there to pick up the rest of the tour group. About 5 large chocolate bars later, we are picked up. Our fellow tour group, consisting of a very young and very reserved French couple does not seem very impressed with this loud group.
What we did not take into consideration was “Aunti” Cyclone which was causing havoc on the East side of the island. Halfway through our 1 hour trip all we could see was dark cloud, rain and wind – and we are all dressed in swimming costumes and little dresses! So this called for immediate action – we eat one big slab of French chocolate – white with nuts! The French think we are crazy!
On arrival at Trou Deau Douce we are very reluctant to get out of the car. It is cold and wet and the sea looks rough. Callie runs across the street, to get the blue tickets that will take us across the rough seas! And guess what – the shop does not sell rain coats, so we are going to be soaking wet. We are then commanded to the beach, where we join a big group of tourists all looking like “nat hoenders” waiting for a boat. As on que, a great variety of boats, pull up to shore. Luc immediately picks a speedboat with a “200” and for the rest of the day everything is measured by cc’s. Bonnie immediately refuses to get on that one! I stare in fear at the little tug boat loading in a group of tourists – hope that is not our boat! Callie decides he wants a 200 too and is about to get in when we discover that this is not part of the “cheap skate” tour! Guess what – we get the little tug!
In the end it turns out to be the best bet. The sea is pretty rough on the crossing over to the lagoon area, but we get to see Le Tousserok Hotel from the sea. We all decide that this must be stunning in great weather. Our tug goes around the hotel and enters a lagoon area surrounded by many mangrove plantations. It is really beautiful.
Before we know if we dock on a little jetty. A bit unsure as to what is going to happen next, Callie tries to establish what the game plan is. We finally figure it out – on the “cheap skate” tour, you are dumped on this side of the lagoon where you can tan, swim, do parasailing, drink and eat for two hours. Well, that is if the sun is shining and you have money. Because to rent a beach chair is Rupees 500 (note the whole trip was Rupees 1000 per person). So, whilst Bonnie, Kerri and Luc set off for a walk in the lagoon, Callie chats up the lifeguards (hopefully trying to get a discount) and I venture to the sea side looking for snorkelling spots. The wind is howling here – so I quickly join the others.
By now Bonnie and Luc has decided that they are starving – it is now 11 – and Bonnie has seen a faded poster of a pizza at a little tuck shop. We stroll over to the pub on the beach, where we are told that they only make pizzas from 12. Tell Bonnie she can not have pizza when she is hungry (remember she is Miss Roman’s!) and you are in big trouble! When telling the young waiter what will happen when she does not get food, he immediately gets together a table and some chairs and says he will organise some sandwiches for the “princess”. So, there on this beautiful remote island, Bonnie became a princess.
Also there on this remote island, Luc decides he wants a chicken mayonnaise sandwich – the most expensive one he has ever had @ R 100 for a sandwich and chips! And how do R50 for a beer or a coke sounds! We bump into a young South African couple from Kuruman who is on honeymoon and shares a plate of chips! After breakfast the group is feeling slightly better and we wonder back +to the jetty as we are being picked up from there for the trip to the waterfall and the lunch spot. Here we find a large group of tourists all sprawled out on the wet beach – tanning in the slight drizzle!
We all decide it is now time for the second chocolate – this time it is the dark 1848 with nuts and orange. Amazing how the chocolate seems to lift our mood on this cloudy day! Luc has now gone off on a mission to find a cheap trip to the marine park for some snorkelling. The start price was Rupees 500 per person on a speed boat. He comes back with another option – Rupees 300 on a glass bottom boat (with a 15cc engine – which does not suit his standards!). Turns out that Callie and Luc are negotiating against each other for the trip.
Finally it is 12 o’clock and once again a whole armada boats converge upon us as we are waiting on the jetty. This time Luc makes sure we get on a speed boat with a 200 engine. A funny Frenchman with a bright pink shirt and a camera with a lens that goes on forever and his wife/or mother take the seat right in the front. We end up right next to him and Luc, Bonnie and Kerri opposite us.
The boat sets off on a slow cruise down the lagoon with cameras clicking and the funny Frenchman waving at everyone on the catamarans. But then, just as we all begin to chill out, the fun starts. With a shock we discover that we were left in the hands of a lunatic skipper as he opens up the throttle and that 200cc starts to work. This is also when we discover that Bonnie is terrified of boats, especially fast moving ones! Initially she holds on to Luc but minutes later she is on the floor of the boat. Her fear seems to spur on our skipper, who heads straight for islands and then swerve just in time to clear them. It is only when we hear the hysterical shrieks from the front of th boat, that we see what is going on. The funny Frenchman is sitting with his camera high up above his head, pointed at Bonnie’ cleavage (which was now dangerously exposed because of her precarious position on the floor) and he issnapping away. Not bothered by any one else – screaming with delight!
By this time we are all in hysterics – not because of Bonnie, but because of this funny man who looks like a little boy let loose in a car toy shop! Finally, the boat slows down and we manage to calm Bonnie down enough to tell her what happened. By now the Funny Frenchman and his partner realised we knew exactly what he was doing, but he seems to get even more pleasure out of our conversation and telling Bonnie what he did – much to the embarrassment of his partner. Of course, by this time, we have decided that she must be his mother and that he still lives at home!
The boat now enters a wide river with high cliffs covered in giant fans and trees. High up in the treetops we see fruit bats hanging upside down. As we go around a bend in the river, we see a beautiful waterfall ahead of us. It is not large, but has a lot of water coming down. The sight of this causes the funny Frenchman to start shrieking again, which sets off another domino effect – the skippers opens the throttle and heads straight for the falls, Bonnie grabs Luc and the rest of us screams. The skipper pushes the nose of the boat right into the falls and the funny Frenchman tries to hug the falls! My goodness – I am sure he is going to go home and tell all his mates sharing his office about his wild Island adventure!
The trip back is just as crazy, but this time Bonnie handles it a bit better and even manages to threaten the skipper. Who is now also in love with the “princess”. We are dropped off on another island where we are going to have lunch. It is very rustic with tables and benches under canvasses on the sandy beach. It looks like great fun. We are welcomed with a large beer and a bottle of sprite. Soon to be followed by a bottle filled with white sprits and some pineapple. Callie pours some and Kerri realises that this is pure alcohol and you need to mix it with something soft! Much later we notice the French couple (who came on our taxi) drinking this clean. By the time we realise that they have not realised that you need to mix the drink, it is too late – they have just about finished their bottle. And this result in them becoming our entertainment for the afternoon. They have no idea of how sloshed they are – he poses and she takes photos – each of their own mission without getting anything done!
We are starving and lunch turns out to be the best event of the day (not sure if it was the Jungle Juice!). It starts off with a grilled fish – whos stare makes Princess Bonnie uncomfortable and all Luc wants to do is to pull it’s teeth and put it around his neck. This is followed by toasted French bread, Cabbage salad and the best chicken (we immediately name our waiter Nandos!). Later in the afternoon, three of the waiters pull out some musical instruments and we get a real, local show. We do a bit of island dancing, go for a swim – much to Luc’s embarrassment and are invited to do a local rum tasting. This rum is made on the island and there are various options – rum with vanilla, rum with ginger, rum with orange – and much more – but the best is the rum with chilli. Being SAfrican we do not trust any of this, so we take little sips. But then we see the tasting tray arrive at the table of the Frenchies. And they try it all as quickly as possibly. Knowing what is about to come, we get the camera ready and film the poor girl as she throws the very potent chilli rum down her throat! My goodness – no sign of the very reserved couple we picked up that morning.
Just before 4 we are told that our crazy skipper and speedboat is waiting. Bonnie asks him to marry him so that she can get possession of the boat. He, in true character, opens up the throttle and then invites Bonnie to come and sit on his lap. Then he calls Luc and allows him to steer the boat! Oh my – the wheels, engines, everything just came off on this trip!
The ride back home is great fun – we have fantastic rugby conversations and all sorts of other conversations with the Frenchies. Our taxi driver had enough – we ask him to stop at Chez Popo for some more chocolates – but he saw double trouble and decides to drop Bonnie and Kerri off first. Sies vir hom! (Please note that we finished all the chocolates we bought!).
We are exhausted by the time we get home. Quick dinner, a bit of TV and I am asleep by 9. Remember tomorrow we have a deep dive planned!
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| Lunch table! |
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