Point Aux Piments

Pointe aux Piments nestles itself onto Mauritius north-west tip. The map of this end of the island comes with a cluster of holiday hotspots. This place, however, likes to live life outside of the spotlight. It started out as Creole fishing village. And, unlike many of Mauritius’ big-draw locations, not a lot has changed. The town shares its name with its beach, which unravels for almost four kilometres and is loaded up with Mauritius’ trademark white sands.  The beach here doesn’t buck the trend when it comes to crystal-clear waters. So, the nearby coral reef is the perfect place to don your snorkel or a scuba diving kit.

An hour and a half drive from our resort in the South.  This is where we meet Richard and Katie, Richard being John's younger brother and Katie Richard's bride-to-be.

The transfer was booked for 11 am Island Time, we did try and see if we could bring it forward but there was no answer on the Taxi hotline!  Turns out our driver had a 10 am drop off at our hotel and instead of driving back to town, decided to spend the time between on the beach til our 1 pm transfer.  Yep, did you notice the time change?  We were all ready to go at 11 am and no car, lots of calling around, and no luck.  Eventually, they get hold of the driver and he comes at 12:30.  Then he let's us know that he has been hanging around at the beach waiting for our transfer.  Ha ha - this is the Island way....

He was lovely and worth the wait.  Bob's Grandfather was brought up in Mauritius and we had a list of places where he lived and went to school - it so happened that we were passing through the town where Bob's grandad went to school.  So we stopped off to visit it and take a photo.

I do like the sign on the gate for all the schoolchildren.

We are now going to Point aux Piments on the Northwest tip of the Island.

The roads are narrow and maximim speed we are going is 60kmph, which is frustrating when you are an hour and a half later than your inteded start time.  We drove through the middle of the Island, as you can see.  You go through the mountains and in the mountains is the fresh water resevoir - a massive lake.  No water sports or swimming allowed to contaminate the Island's drinking water.

The second highest peak on the Island Pieter Both forms part of the Moka range and is only 8 meters less than Black River Peak, which is the highest.  Pieter Both was the first Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. He died in a shipwreck near Flic-en-Flac on 16th March 1615 and later on, the mountain was named Pieter Both in his memory.  There is a very cool rock balancing precariously at the top of this peak.

Its quite the balancing act and can be seen from a long way away.  We finally get to the resort and reunite with the wedding couple.  John and I get upgraded to the Adult only bit which is great but not in the same part of the resort and Katie and Richard.  Anyway after some negotiation we managed to get them the required little black wrist bands that allowed them entry into the Adult only bit.

This place is gorgeous with crystal clear waters, and an outer reef protecting the beaches and making the snorkeling great.  Not as good as Ningaloo - unfortunately we have been spoiled and I do not think any future snorkeling adventure will be as good as Ningaloo.

The main resort is busier with kids and families.  Organised activites - John was less than impressed when Rich and I went snorkelling and he and Katie were left to watch the morning aqua aerobics class with loud techno doof doof!

It was so nice just to chill and spend time with Richard and Katie, getting to know my future sister in law a bit better.  We have had lots of laughs and serious discussions.  Nerves were rife prior to the wedding, Richard wasn't well and spent the day in hospital on an antibiotic drip.  The day finally arrives and the skies clear and it is a beautiful hot, humid day.  That is for the pohms, it is a hot sticky, humid day for the Aussies.  The wedding vows were hilarious as Richard couldnt understand the Celebrant's accent and kept saying the wrong thing - we got the giggles.  Then Katie started to mimic the celebrant's accent.  All in all a very special day and both Bride and Groom looked gorgeous, John and I felt very privileged to witness the event.

Wedding done and dusted, then Katie got sick and hasn't been that well.  John also started to not feel well.  Luckily we are all okay and I managed to avoid the lot.  It is a lot of lazing by the beach, snorkelling, drinking cocktails, eating and more drinking and lazing.  Not much to write about really - just got to show off with photos.

Tomorrow we transfer to the East Coast Belle Mare Plage.