SATURDAY 26TH MARCH 2015 - MY LAST DAY

So, today is just me and the beach. All has been completed. 

I am beyond words so far as how incredible this ten days has been. Many news articles have now appeared and family have been sharing these with me.There are apparently more but the High  Commission is collecting those to send to us all. And I hope to get a copy of the MBC Culture show for which Aunty Arlette is also going to be interviewed for. How great for our Mauritian family to be able to be part of the celebration of their family, history, the book and their part in it. So proud for them.

The trip has been fantastic. And now as I return home to life, I look forward to sharing the stories with dad, Larry and family. Can't wait to tell them all about it.

Thanks to all that made this happen. Yes one journey is now coming to an end. But I have the feeling another is just beginning. Time will tell.......

Thanks for showing an interest and wanting to share in the journey. 

Love to you all

Rob xxx

FRIDAY 27TH MARCH 2015 - THE BEACH

It was now time to recover. I had a late request from the high commission to attend a Flic en Flac school to give a talk. But I had already made plans with Lorna to finally catch up and spend some quality time at the beach. She was traveling down to spend the day with me. So I had to decline, sadly.

We headed to Flic en Flac beach over the road, once she finally arrived on the slowest bus in the world. Seriously she was so 'over it' by the time she arrived. She took a couple of hours on a trip that should have taken 30mins in a car. After that, every bus that drove past us we laughed and she said "look at him!!! look!!!" and the bus would be crawling past at no more than 10kms per hour. Lordy that would be a hell of a slow trip. So we both chipped in for her TAXI trip home at the end of the day.

The beach was glorious.We were both there strutting our stuff in our kinis. Lorna left me around 2pm. But I stayed on and on and on until the sun was setting. The crowd is still there until dark. I just didn't want to leave it. Thank God I had one more day to enjoy it.

THURSDAY 26TH MARCH 2015 -- THE UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

Today's a big day. But first I go for a long long walk on the beautiful beach at Flic en Flac which is just over the road from my  hotel. The pictures don't do it justice.

I had a nice relaxing day and was then picked up about 1pm for my 2.30pm talk at the University. When I arrived and got to the auditorium, the MBC TV reporter and camera crew arrived to interview me for a culture show on next Monday night. This was nerve racking but exciting for book Promo in Mauritius.

They then stayed on to record the start of the event.

Next thing the MBC TV News arrived and wanted a quick interview for the news show. 

There was a great number of current students along with lecturers and the Chancellor of the University, along with the Australian High Commissioner, Marie France Chelin Goblet and Mr Abdool Cader Kalla, the latter two whom helped me with the book and research. It was great to have them both there. The talk was well received, and then I started another book signing -- selling, and sold quite a lot of copies. The Chancellor bought extra copies both for his Australian based son, and for the University library.

What stood out most is that Grampa's story across our cultures is of GREAT interest....the resilience and what they call the 'diaspora' of a family -- their movement across the oceans, how and where they settled, and the impact they had; along with the need for Uni students to understand what is expected in research, what can be achieved etc. It was good to share our story, but to also share my tips on how it should be done; what to be careful of; how to look; where to get help; the pros and cons; etc. The students were eagerly taking notes. It was great to see I had something to offer them.

This was my last official event.And it was fabulous. I am so very thankful to the Australian High Commission in Mauritius along with the University of Mauritius and the Mauritian Historical Society who together had organised and promoted the event and put it all on for me. AWESOME!

WEDNESDAY 25TH MARCH 2015 - REST DAY

Today was meant to be a rest and beach day, but at the Alumni talk last night, I made arrangements to be picked up by a lady named Anneloes there and she offered to take me down south to the area at Black River where Grampa's father James Peersahib, would  have arrived as an Indentured Labourer back in 1854. Wow. This was an opportunity I couldn't say no to. But also, very emotional. So I was picked up at 10am and off we went. what a journey. Powerful. I can't describe it and really, in the most part it's so spiritual and so emotional that I can't even begin to try. This area is extremely sacred land, and I can't say anymore than that.  






When I returned to the hotel, I had to race straight out and jump in the car to head up to Bagatelle shopping centre -- back up near Port Louis, to catchup with cousin Lorna. Then returned home with her for a lovely family dinner at Marie Lourdes home on the same block of land as Lorna, her parents, and Aunty Arlette. Marie Lourdes is Lorna's sister in law, and her hubby (Lorna's brother) passed away suddenly just on 3 years ago. It was and still is tragic. Marie Lourdes cooked a beautiful meal of Biryani chicken rice, which is a fave local and family dish. I was so full when I left. Made my way back in the darkness to Flic en Flac, and dropped into bed. I knew that tomorrow would be another full day, with my event at the Uni Of Mauritius and a TV interview. So I needed my rest.

By the way, this same night (Wednesday) there was a showing of Bran Nue Dae on, and Heath was central to this because although don't think he was in the movie, he was in the play version. 

 

TUESDAY 24TH MARCH 2015

Each and every morning I had been going for my early morning run and then to the gym, and today was no different. I had a pretty free day as my major event wasn't happening til that night at 5.30pm. BUT, because I was  heading to my usual hotel at Flic en Flac at the beach,  to stay that night, I had to check out of my room this day by 11am. Fortunately they allowed me to stay in my room until 1pm check out, then I just had to hang round for 4 hours. 

I went down to lunch where I was asked to join a table of Women who all either came from Australia (Expats) or had lived in Australia. This was really great because I met some lovely women, and many of them wanted a copy of Dharmalan Dana. Terrific. 

I then headed into a special room which is put aside in the hotel for business men and women to use a computer, and attend to business. A lovely  lounge area. I was doing final prep for my talk at 5.30pm which was specifically for AUSTRALIAN ALUMNI. These are Mauritian people who have previously studied and completed studies at university in Australia. Most at Curtin University in Perth, but also others in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney. 

Once I finished my prep I went back downstairs to the flash bar, and sat in a huge lounge suit, relaxing looking out the window at this view to the right.  I was there for a couple of hours until it was time to head up to do my presentation.

There were a few people present and the group was really keen to hear about the story of Dharmalan Dana and Grampa. During the talk I realised that I was standing in the exact same spot where I stood in 2010 to talk at the Conference -- trying to generate interest and support for our search. Now I was there again with a new group to tell them about the journey. 

The Commissioner Susan Coles and Yasmina her staff member who organised everything, were there at most every event of the ten days. A huge effort. What amazed me was how 'hands on' Susan is. A fabulous woman. And Yasmina? she is very  terrific.

Some of the Australian Alumni there that night.

MONDAY 23RD MARCH 2015 BACK TO RADIO ONE

This day Krys Smith the wine maker, Yasmina from the Commission, and I, all returned to Radio One for a radio interview. This was a really good interview and gave us both a chance to talk about what we were in Mauritius for. It really gave us both a good plug, and we were able to promote the work and events we had on for the rest of the week. 

Black  Tie Event:
That evening we all (except Heath), went to a black tie dinner, to raise money for children that needed to travel to Australia for life saving medical treatment. It was an auction event, with people donating all sorts of things from fancy bottle of wine, artworks, books, etc, and people bid on them.

The evening was still only just getting going by 10.30pm so around 11pm I headed back to our hotel. I was buggered.

SUNDAY 22ND MARCH 2015 - THE HIRE CAR

Today is a free day and at 7.30am the hire car bloke arrived with my little car. Deadly. Now I had wheels I could get out and about. I have always driven in Mauritius, even from the first trip with dad. Mauritians are amazed that I drive in Mauritius. The traffic is afterall, unbelievably overcrowded, with no real speed limit from what I can tell. On the freeway, limits are posted, police motorbikes are all up and down it, but that doesn't stop locals speeding down the freeway at 120-140kms per hour in cars and on motorcycles, even past cops. So I  haven't worked it out yet, but I just do my thing.

Soon as in my car, I headed out to Bagatelle shopping centre to meet up with cousin Lorna, Aunty Arlette, Marie Lourdes and son Mathew. We went and had lunch at my fave little place where fresh seafood is great. We had a nice lunch together, and caught up, then I drove them back to the family home at Rose Hill, where I could catch up with Lorna's mum and dad. Her dad, Uncle Sydney was waiting for me at the door and so very loving with me. Soooo happy to see me. His so proud of the book, and has been reading it intently. His pretty chuffed that his in it too by the way. Very proud. 









I was so happy to see Aunty Joceyline and she was so happy to see me too, and we are all really close now. I am like another daughter, a sister to Lorna, which is lovely. 

At the end of the day, I headed back to the hotel, and rested up, calling in room service and just taking it easy to recover from the heat and humidity. It really wipes me out. But it was a great day.

SATURDAY 21ST MARCH 2015 : CASCAVELLE AND FLIC EN FLAC BEACH

Saturday 21st March 2015: Cascavelle Shopping Centre

This was my day off but my hire car wasn't arriving til the next day so I headed down south to support Heath at a shopping centre. A big crowd gathered and Heath did his thing with the didj, and lots of kids were around and really besotted by bruz and his didj. Then he did question, answer and photo time. Then I was asked to talk quickly about the book and invite people to come along to one of my talks during the next week.

Cascavelle is down near Flic en Flac Beach which is were dad and I stayed the first trip, and where I always stay. In fact, I am heading there to stay on the 24th March for the remainder of my trip. 

So, when we finished at Cascavelle, we, the High Commission staff, Heath, me and the son of Yasmina one of the staff (Yasmina was the person that organised everything for this entire event -- amazing woman), headed to the beach. It's an awesome place. And as soon as I got on that white sandy beach, great emotion came over me. I just  had to go in that water. When I got into that water I started weeping. Something swept over me and I can't explain it. The water is so warm, salty, luscious, and I feel it has enormous healing power. It's like all that had been done over the last 5 - 8 years, along with all the blood, sweat, tears, heartbreak, sorrow, pain, disappointment all culminated in that moment in time, when I was finally able to swim in that ocean, on my fave Mauritius beach and LET IT ALL GO. Wow!

With young Heath - a brother from another mother.

 

FRIDAY 20TH MARCH 2015 - MAURITIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Today we head off at 10am for the MBC Station (Like ABC and BBC). We women are the special guests for a women's radio show called d'Etre Femme RV/Radio Show. Today it is just radio.

One of the trio is there with her violin, while the rest of us are just there to speak. It's good fun, but most of it again, is in french. All  I can say is the jist of it is all good. I did Year 7-9 French at school and gee it's amazing how much of it stuck....key words etc. That is the commissioner Susan Coles on the right and the wine maker Krys Smith from Adelaide in the middle in green. Both of whom speak excellent french. Thankfully the interviewer spoke English when interviewing me, but overall it was all good fun then we were off back to the hotel and had a rest arvo.

In MBC Studio on air - me, Radio interviewer, Krys Smith and Commissioner Susan Coles

So I was in my room and then straight to the gym and sauna for a couple of hours.

THURSDAY 19TH MARCH -THE PAPARAZZI

I am up really early, because I seem to be still functioning on Australian time which is 7 hours ahead of Mauritius. So I head straight out for a run around the waterfront. I have been working  hard on my fitness the last twelve months and am really conscious of going backwards while here so best attack that head on.

It's lovely around the waterfront, and Caudan Waterfront (picture below) is famous for it's shopping centre, but as I get around it, there really isn't much here to see. I think it was greater, back in 2010 but seems to be fading now. My hotel is the one on the right.

Caudan Waterfront at Port Louis, Mauritius. Labourdonnais Hotel 

is on the right.

I notice that McDonald's is just around the corner -- yep you can't go anywhere without a Macca's fine food store somewhere. The warmth and humidity is so high even at 7 am with me working up a sweat very fast. But I get back shower, dress, and yep, still as sweaty once I get out. Phew. So have to sit in front of air con for while to cool down before head downstairs. It must be 85% humidity.

11.00am Press Conference:
I head straight down to the first floor where we are having a Press Conference to kick off the Australian Festival. The crowd is building -- crowd of media. All sorts. All into one tiny room.

Magellan (classical music trio) are there ready to play a little song, and Heath is asked to do his thing -- so he sits cross legged on the floor with everyone so fascinated by the amazing vibrational sound coming out of the old didjeridoo. Gee I love them. The really sing to my soul. Like we go way back in time, to when our Ancestors were on our tribal lands with  no other people there to impact on our lifestyle. The Ancestors live on through that beautiful sound -- it's like singing up their spirit. Makes me proud to stand here listening to Heath -- and he plays the didj so easily.

The media

The media cameras are going mad, and then each of us is surrounded by reporters wanting to know about our craft. For me it was the book and the interest is fabulous. They want to take photos of me with the book. I am standing up there all serious, then smiling up on cue, but then start mucking around with the pics. Geez, later I will regret that I just know it. Note to self: don't muck up in front of the cameras....it'll come back and bite you on the proverbial.

Heath and I at press conference

1.00pm Radio One (below)
We then head as a group along with the Commissioner and staff, to the Radio station called Radio One. We all cram into the little studio -- and it's only the Commissioner and Yasmina from the High Commission that speak. In fact it's all in french so most of us can't understand a word. But it all sounds good.

Radio One

2.00pm Georgina Ragaven from EXPAT Newspaper:
I go straight into a one-on-one interview with Georgina and this goes for 1.5 hours. She shows enormous interest in the book, how it come about, why, our culture, and we especially connect on a spiritual level. I really hope I get to see this story eventually -- and that it's in English.

Australian Cultural Evening and Launch of Australian Festival plus Launch of Dharmalan Dana  at
Moulin Casse and Grand Baie:
I then have to race upstairs to get ready for our evening event which is at Grand Baie at the top end of Mauritius. It is the area I have always thought to be the best beaches and classy expensive resorts.   
We head off at 4.30pm in a mini bus for a fast ride to Grand Baie. Once we get there we are about 2 hours early because is doesn't start til 7.30pm. It's an  open air building with no aircon and mosquitoes are rife. For us Aussies, the heat it unbearable. But who are we to complain.

Eventually many people start arriving for the 'invitation only' event. It's a really out of the way place that I am worried whether those who have been invited for our book launch will actually find it ok. They all do.  Marie France Chelin Goblet arrives, as does Mr Govinden Vishwanaden. And then our family arrive. It's all very exciting.  My only disappointment is that I didn't get a photo with Mr Govinden on the  night. He had done so much work to help me get to the completion of our book. Bugger.

The evening started with the Commissioner (above in green), opening and speaking and then the Magellen Trio playing a range of their classical music, and the crowd loved it. Then Heath played the didjeridoo as the lead in to my speaking about the book, our journey, and our joy at  launching the book in Mauritius as a way of honoring Grampa, his family and those who helped us there, not to mention dad, mum and our family here.

I then had a book selling/signing period and the night was over. It was fantastic, but very exhausting in the heat.

Soon we were back in the bus for the fastest trip I have ever had in a bus -- back to our hotel. It was an enormous first day.

OUR ARRIVAL 18TH MARCH 2015

Our plane lands in Mauritius and Heath and I connect straight away as we walk off the plane and head to customs. It's scary arriving in Mauritius because every time I arrive here I am pulled aside by customs to go through my bags. Drives me nuts. I must look guilty. Others tell me they are always suspicious of people that travel alone. This time Heath and I are passing through and it's him they first pull up. But once he gets his didj, they all crowd around and forget their role as customs officers. 

Needless to say it takes us ages to get through customs because they keep asking him to keep on playing. Then line up for photos with him. 

Once we finally get through to the other side we have a group waiting for us. It's the Aussies that have arrived with us, and the Australian High Commissioner Susan Coles. 

We are quickly transferred to our Hotel Labourdonnais at the Caudan Waterfront in the city of Port Louis, and head straight to bed. I have been to Labourdonnais back in 2012 when I spoke at a conference in an effort to try and generate interest and therefore, support in our research -- that's how I met Marie France Chelin Goblet and Mr Cader Kalla, both of whom helped me in the following years.  

Anyway straight to bed, tuckered out, and knowing that tomorrow we would be hitting the ground running. 

Night. xx

A NEW JOURNEY - 18TH MARCH 2015

It's today, the 18th March, that I am flying out to Mauritius. I have been there many times before but this time is different. This time I go, to represent my father, mother, family and community, on the land of Grampa James and his (our) family and Ancestors -- a journey to finally present our book DHARMALAN DANA to the Mauritian people. Afterall, it's a book that encompasses history and that of our people the Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, India and Mauritius. I am excited and yet go with some trepidation, or is it sadness. I wish dad was able to come along once again to complete this with me -- but also, Larry and mum. That would be nice. But you know, as I am on this Air Mauritius flight, with an empty seat to my left, I see, feel, hear, mum sitting right beside me, as she always has on my left in the car, whenever I would go out shopping. She was always there. And still, there she is.

I am on this flight to Perth, and then transfer to the International airport, to catch my flight to Mauritius. 

As I reach Perth, I notice the little Aboriginal guy names Heath Bergesen who is a WA actor and entertainer (didj player). He too is traveling to Mauritius.

Way back when the talks started happening re our book launch, it was just a book launch. But in November I was contacted by the Australian High Commission in Mauritius and asked if I would mind if they put on an Australian Food and Wine Festival around our book launch. Of course I said "NO". Yeh right. So now we have:
 

Heath - a didj player

The Magellan Trio 

Chris - a Chef and Restauranteur from Perth originally from Wang.

And Krys  Smith a wine maker from Adelaide - that's her third from right.

Anyway, our book launch has turned into a ten day Australian Festival, of which the launch and a range of speaking engagements and two book launches is a part of.

The timetable for me is enormous with daily events related to the book. I am hoping to get a couple of days rest to get to the beautiful Mauritius beaches and just have a rest. We will see. 

Hope you can join me and read on about the journey I now take to Mauritius.

Rob xxx

MONDAY 16TH MARCH 2015 - A JOURNEY COMING TO AN END

Well here I am back on my blog about all thinks related to the book Dharmalan Dana. It's seems pretty surreal to now be heading to Mauritius this week to complete the journey, with our book launch, being very kindly put on by the Australian High Commission there. 

But I go with some trepidation, leaving dad at this point in life is very difficult, but I must  just have faith that he is okay and go ahead to complete this journey for him, the Ancestors, and of course myself.

I invite a handful of friends and family to come along on this trip, via this blog, to hear about the adventures. Hope you enjoy. 

Love yas 

Me xoxox

Itinery:

PROGRAM

Wednesday 18 March 2015

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Local Time                                                                         WA Time

1740	Arrival in Mauritius on MK 441 (SSR International Airport) Met on arrival by High Australian Commissioner, HE Ms Susan Coles	2140
1810	Depart airport for Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel	2210
1840	Arrive at Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel	2240

 

Thursday 19 March 2015

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Local Time                                                                           WA Time

1100	Press Conference to launch Australian Festival Venue: Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel, Port Louis	1500
1200	Depart Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel for Radio One	1600
1300	Depart Radio One for Labourdonnais Hotel	1700
1310	Arrive at Labourdonnais Hotel	1710
1400	Interview with Georgina Ragaven from EXPAT Newspaper Venue: Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel	1800
1630	Depart Labourdonnais Hotel for Moulin Casse, Grand Baie, for Australian Cultural Evening to launch Australian Festival	2030
2115	Depart Moulin Casse for Labourdonnais Hotel	0115
2200	Arrive at Labourdonnais Hotel	0200

Friday 20 March 2015

_____________________________________________________________

Local Time                                                                            WA Time

1000	Depart Labourdonnais for Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation to participate in d’Etre Femme TV/Radio Show	1400
1015	Arrive at the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, Moka	1415
1200	Depart MBC for Labourdonnais Hotel	1600
	No further engagements

Saturday 21 March 2015

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Local Time                                                                            WA Time

0900	Depart Labourdonnais Hotel for Cascavelle Shopping Village for Public Performance by WA Indigenous Performer, Heath Begersen *Optional	1300
0920	Arrive at Cascavelle Shopping Village	1320
1300	Depart Cascavelle Shopping Village for Labourdonnais Hotel	1700
	No further engagements

Sunday 22 March 2015

_____________________________________________________________

Local Time                                                                            WA Time

Participation in Culture Dimanche on Radio One Venue: Port Louis *to be confirmed

Monday 23 March 2015

_____________________________________________________________

Local Time                                                                            WA Time

Free Day

Tuesday 24 March 2015

_____________________________________________________________

Local Time                                                                            WA Time

1730 - 1900	Public Talk at Australian Alumni Speaker Series Venue: Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel *You would be addressing Australian Alumni	2130 - 2300
1930	Depart Labourdonnais Hotel for Aanari Hotel, Flic en Flac	2330
	No further engagements

Wednesday 25 March 2015

_____________________________________________________________

Local Time                                                                            WA Time

1630	Depart Aanari Hotel for Charles Telfair Institute for screening of Bran Nue Dae *Optional	2030
1700	Arrive at Charles Telfair Institute, Moka	2100
1830	Performance and Talk by WA Indigenous Performer, Heath Bergersen	2230
1900	Screening of Bran Nue Dae	2300
2100	Depart Charles Telfair Institute for Aanari Hotel	0100
2130	Arrive at Labourdonnais Hotel	0130
	No further engagements

Thursday 26 March 2015

_____________________________________________________________

Local Time                                                                            WA Time

1230	Depart Aanari Hotel for University of Mauritius, Reduit	1630
1320	Arrive at Octave Wiehe Auditorium, University of Mauritius - Reduit	1720
1430-1630	Public Talk *Audience will be students, members of the Historical Society of Mauritius and the public at large	1830-2030
1700	Depart University of Mauritius for Aanari Hotel	2100
1800	Arrive at Aanari Hotel	2200

Friday 27 March 2015

_____________________________________________________________

Local Time                                                                            WA Time

Free Day

Saturday 28 March 2015

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Local Time                                                                            WA Time

1900	Depart Aanari Hotel for SSR International Airport	2300
2210	Depart Mauritius on flight MK440	0210