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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 |
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.
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