A Christmas Update. Merry Christmas Everyone. Well first of all it is great having Kath here and I hate to admit it but being spoilt with a bit of luxury. Unfortunately she has to go home tonight but we've had a great 5 days and I hope it's helped to re-charge her batteries which was definitely needed. Thank you Kath for being here. 20degrees (can't find the degrees symbol) Sud is described in Lonely Planet as the boutiquiest of boutique hotels - which is not ...

A few thoughts on Christmas Eve while I'm sat by the bar - this is for my benefit so don't feel you need to read on It's a list of people that I've met who helped the last two months be special... - Monica, David, Chrissy and Josie at Nuarro for making me feel so at ease being on my own - Angelo for always being there for me in Tana and looking after me and Dad impeccably, - Matheur for being gorgeous, taking me to Nosy Hara (a very special place) but importa...

I'm sat among belle mamon (?) and three aunties all gossiping in Creole. I now feel I have become a temporary part of the family which is proving to be great fun even if I don't understand much. Last night we went round to Belle Mamon's house, she is 80, as she loves cooking and wanted to cook us a meal. She lives with her daughter in law and her granddaughter (her son died) and next door is another daughter and family and Loga is her daughter (who im staying w...

Mauritius feels very small compared to Madagascar. Where I am in a place called Moka, you are are about 30 mins in all directions to the coast. I'm staying in the central plateaux - higher up and therefore cooler than the coast and not at all touristy. It's nice to be in someone's home (I'm staying with my cousin Robert's Mauritian friend's parents who split their time living here and in the UK). So I didn't actually know the friend or the parents (Sam and Loga...