Mauritius rendezvous

30th April 2016

Heading for a long awaited luxury holiday to Mauritius. Four elderly (average 68 yrs young) enthu ppl are totally thrilled to visit the Southern Hemisphere for the first time😊. It was an equally excitement to plan for the trip as usual. Which days, which flights, which hotel, what to see... Money spent v/s value and so on...  Guys you would agree it's not easy when two/four Desais are planning in it...😁....

Finally Thomas cook came to rescue and planned the trip for us. 

Early morning flight from Mumbai means that we gave to reach Mumbai previous night in order to catch wee winks. We explored transit hotel at T2 airport which is good. Air Mauritius flight had lots to improve but tired Desais didn't complain. 

Mauritius island was an amazing sight from sky... Green against blue sky n water ahaa

Drive from airport to hotel was diagonally across the island. Airport on south east tip and Le Meridian at north west. Tropical rain lashed us on the way much relief to us Puneri, craving for RAIN..

Le Meridien hotel is a perfect luxury beach resort with all amenities to be wished for. 

 

Hawaii day 7

Aloha...

21st July

21st July

The day when we were moving out of dream islands back to Sunnyvale. 

Morning we had to dip in Waikiki beach so off we went to the beach. Me in the water and Ashok walking in the sand. By this time I felt I've become pro swimming in lagoon, but noooo I got sprayed by a jelly fish on my arm, felt like a current going thru arm with severe burning. 

To our horror within minutes my arm was red and blisters, washing with water made it worse. No coast guard in view, a quick google search helped ... 'Wash with sea water to deactivate cells... And vinegar spray'.... Ashok rushed across to restaurant to get hold of Malt vinegar and tissues soaked in vinegar on my arm. Felt a lot better... no need to rush to ER...

No sign of serious reaction was a relief..
Some eventful swim it turned out to be...

Packed bags and ready to return to.... Laykhu once again.... Yaay...


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Hawaii day 6

Aloha...

20th July

A frequent visitor to Hawaii, Rushi & Pracheeti had told us places to visit and one of them being diamond head crater. So off we went in the morning in our hiking gear, by a city bus which took us to the community college at the foothill of the crater mountain. This is situated at south east side of the island. A huge crater created volcano with an Diamond shaped head facing the sea.  We started our climb in to the crater first, (had no idea cars can go up to here)

Then the actual hike of from bottom of crater to top of diamond head was toughest we ever climbed. Trekking  thru the near vertical mountain for two seniors, one with a new hip n coil in the heart & other pretending to be brave but shit scared of heights. But we made it....hurray... The sense of achievement along with a view to die for... Was all very worth the effort. One guy at the top was giving away certificates to show to everyone's cardiologist. Ha ha..

Climbing down was not so difficult but not easy for a height  fobic  person like me. 'Don't look down'... Was the mantra....

Return to hotel victorious and boasting to our children. With a little rest we went shopping to largest mall, Ala Mona center and later a quaint dinner in a Italian restaurant.

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Hawaii day 5

Aloha...

19th July

Ashok's presentation at 7.30 am. Went on well. This has been video recorded and should be soon uploaded on ICJR website.

This was also the day we move on from big island to our second dream destination 'Honolulu'. Honolulu a capital town of Hawaii situated at island Oahu . The land famous for pearl harbour and Waikiki beach, where rich n famous reside.  A city bustling with activities  swarming travellers in tiniest bikinis. Conservative Japanese too with families. Hawaii is a very popular destination for Japanese, they have tours n buses catering only for them. Ashok n I nearly felt we were in Japan.

Our hotel a regular city hotel was right on Waikiki beach. And beach was superb. Beach sprawling like marine drive of Mumbai, with swanky hotels along the road. The beach had a safety wall across to tame the high Pacific Ocean waves. So the beach was protected partially.

Ashok n I like the big city feel of Waikiki. The rest of the evening was spent loitering around.

<https://plus.google.com/photos/108546829212178007911/albums/6040994970704472065>

Hawaii day 4

Aloha...

18th July

The day we decide to go up the hills and visit Hilo, a town on the eastern side of island. There are no public transport system in nearly whole of USA. Everyone travels by own or hired car. So all the island adventures needed a car to be able to reach the place. 

Again Ms Page was summoned and she willingly came to take us around circling the island. Up thru the valley n high mountain with thick tropical forest, with a glimpses of deep blue sea. Ms Page was kind enough to show us the native Hawaiian culture. Huge Parker ranches, cowboy Texan culture. Houses on stilts, 'whoa'. 

Hawaiian tropical botanical garden was a true paradise. We had to go down nearly half a mile to see TALL trees, entwining huge Philodendron, ferns, enumerable birds of paradise, orchids, palms, vines, and what not. Water falls and sea in the background. We could have spent a lot of time enjoying this nature made but one man, Mr James Hurlington preserved & developed garden.

Hilo was a cute sleepy town reminded us of Panjim. This town was badly hit by last Tsunami in 2010.
Return trip was quick straight thru the plains between Mona Kea and Mouna loa. Mouna kea is tallest stand alone mountain 13600 ft above sea level but counting the under sea height it's taller than Everest. It has telescopes & observatory on top of it. 

Evening we had booked for traditional Lau dance and dinner show in the hotel. It was spectacular show of sensual Hawaiian dance & fire play display along with authentic poly-nation cuisine. Two hours of complete entertainment visual as well as gastronomic. Those professional dancers were awesome.

 https://plus.google.com/photos/108546829212178007911/albums/6040989492682594081

Hawaii Day 3

Aloha....

17th July

A day of serious attendance by Ashok in his conference & mine chilling out in the campus. Hilton campus being so vast and spread out. The surrounding sea n sky so blue n clear that my time stood still. Capturing all the beauty and getting the freshest of air must add some days to my existence.

Our hotel had 2 large swimming pools and one large >20000 sq ft lagoon and water fall. Swimming in the lagoon & snorkeling for the first time added to my adventure list. And the experience indescribable. Hotel had a dolphin pool where dolphins performed their antics and one could touch n feed them.

Fresh water swimming was not new but the ambiance of the pool surely was eye catching.

Hope Ashok's day at the conference was as exciting n peaceful as mine.

Sharing few pictures:

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Hawaii day 2

Aloha..

16th June : was relatively free day with conference starting in the evening.

Booked a taxi to take us around. Same old lady Ms Page who picked us up from airport. Quite a character this dame was. 75+ yr old spunky lady teacher of archeology now retired in Hawaii and driving taxi. She had very strong republic view but a good guide to show us things.

 Drove south n through hills to countryside. Saw Capt James Cook monument. He was the first invader of the island & was initially considered as God. The history goes that when this British naval officer landed in Big island at Kona, his 6'4" frame fair skin blue eyes made him look like God & the natives. They worshiped him offered goods n women. However they noticed iron nails in boats which were so useful for natives. So they captured naval boats. War broke when Capt Cook held hostage to their leader. Capt Cook was killed in the fight.

As usual all the islanders kept on fighting among themselves till King  Kamehameha was arose and  united all the islanders to what present Hawaii is. This king followed several Kamehamehas, his progeny.

Hawaii has been the centre of many such wars most important being the Japanese attacking Pearl harbour in World War II.

So our drive to Capt Cook memorial was a necessary visit. Drive involved sudden rise thru hills with all tropical trees, mango, banana to name the few. Going down to the lashing waves of Pacific Ocean against the tall rising thick green mountain reminded both of us the similar terrain of Cinque Terre in Italy against Mediterranean Sea

It was an amazing transformation of soil from volcanic rock to fertile soil. Mother Nature at its best. One is humbled seeing such formation of soil takes millions of years, and we take it for granted.

Informal opening of Ashok's conference followed by dinner. Hmmm...

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