Day 33 to 36 - September 23 to 26, 2013

September 23, 2013

Praslin, Seychelles to Gen, Maldives ( 1,100 NM)

Today's fly time is approximately 5 hours. In addition, there is 1 hour transfer from Praslin to Seychelles. We got up early and leave Raffles at 6:45 AM. Good weather most of the fly time, with one hour time forward, we arrived Maldives Gan airport around 4:00 pm.

Shangrila Resort has the only other airport besides capital Male in Maldives. We took advantage of the location and fly here directly without the transfer form Male which is the case for most Maldives resorts. The Gen airport was a military airport and was converted to international airport just for Shangrila. When we arrive the private terminal, staff of Shangrila lead by General Manager were there to receive just two of us. It is their strategy to establish Shangrila as the JETSET destination in Maldives very unique concept and only they are qualified to do it.

 

A 5 minutes private boat transfer from Gen island to resort.

At the dock house.

The beach front villa is well appointed and is right at the whitest sanded beach. The decor is personal and comfortable. Strange, it does not feel exssesive at all. I guess the feeling is by personal taste. Expect to do some good diving and snorkeling here.

The small bike is per request of Renee.

There are beach villas and over-water villas. Compare the two, we like beach villa better.

We can definitely feel the powerful Chinese tourism here. Seventy percent of the 86-villa resort are Chinese. Most of them look like newlywed or with young children. This is good, we can have Chinese breakfast and fry rice again.

This island is mix of jungle and beach. Our host arranged a jungle dinner for us. Private dinner under a giant banyan tree and the stars. Something different again.

 

Jeffrey played golf at the only course in Maldives. Really beautiful 9-hole course along the coast line. Scuba diving and snorkeling were good but visibility was affected by morning showers. However, we seem to lost our camera somewhere. All the photos of the golf course and jungle dinner are gone too! Oh, well, things happen. Good thing I still have my small Leica "AND" I backed up all the previously photos.

 

We will fly to Sri Lanka tomorrow.

 

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Day 29 to 30 - September 18 to 19, 2013

September 18, 2013

Lanseria, South Africa to Nosy Be,Madagascar ( 1,415 NM)

Today is a real long leg. It took us six and half hours straight and still have 2 and half hours of fuel onboard. It really showed the long range quality of PC12.

Madagascar was colonized by French until 1960s. Nosy Be (pronounced nousi bei) is a tiny island north west of the big Madagascar island. Most people speak French only thus attracts primarily French tourists. Fortunately for us, G can help communicate. When we landed today, we were the only plane at the airport. It seems that everyone is waiting at ground for us. As we were passing the custom, the immigration officer found out he forgot to bring his stamp with him. After 10 minutes of high pitched discussion among the officers, we were asked to meet the officers in town to get passports stamped. So, the officers, holding our passports, followed our hotel car to town. We waited in a small parking lot for almost half an hour until we see our passports again. This is a first!

 

Mayor's office in town where we waited for passports.

Street Vendor.

 

Due to its geographic position, Madagascar is culturally influenced by both Africa and Malaysia. Malaysian came to the island hundreds year ago by floating boats with right trade winds. It is interesting to see familiar Asian elements this far out. Very green landscape with banana and sugar cane fields. Asian buffalo is the main farming cattle here.

At Nosy Be, it seems like we are back to 1960s. The island is undeveloped except some hotels by the beach. On the way to town, we saw street venders using candles for lights. Do not remember when have I seen that last. Where we stay, L'heure Bleue" is the best lodge In the island. It is simple yet clean and cute. I feel like a young hippie. Not bad!

Temperature is constant around 20 Celsius. Sea breeze is gentle and comfortable. Lodging is also priced at 1960s. No wonder French kept this place as a secret.

View from room at low tide.

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September 19, 2013

The rain poured down last night for hours. Waked up to a bright and blue sky. Every leave was washed to a green and fresh shine. What a morning! Jeffrey and G went for a morning dive. there is no fishing allowed in the marine park, therefore, fish are really oversized. They saw groupers at 300 ponds. Whale watching is popular but we did not organize.

"Saw a BIG fish!"

 

 

Local black faced monkeys.

 

Local woman selling shells.

Tonight is " Mid Autumn Festival". At the dining deck, we saw the full moon emitting pearly lustrous shines over the ocean. The sea water is calm as a mirror reflecting the moon light. We think of our friends and family. Wishing everyone a "Happy Moon Festival" !

 

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Day 26 to 29 - September 15 to 18, 2013

September 15, 2013

Livingston, Zambia to Lanseria, South Africa (460 NM)

 

Today is a short leg. We are going to one of the wildlife reserves in South Africa, the Tshukudu Lodge. Lanseria is a sizable international airport just half an hour away from Johannesburg. Lots of private jets land here.

 

 

One and half hour car ride to the reserve. This time of the year, South Africa is hot and dry. We were told this year is the driest in 10 years.

The concept of South Africa's reserve is very different from Kenya and Tanzania's. The reserve is manually surrounded and isolated from very developed agricultural area or even townships. A mere two hours drive to metropolitan city centers. The reserve occupies 125,000 acres of land and most animals were born inside of the reserve. They move from one area to the other for grass but do not migrate like those in the grassland.

One hundred thirty six big steps to clime up to the lodge. Cottages are build high up to avoid animal's reach. Tshukudu in tribe language meaning "place for rhinos". Sure enough, our first drive out, we saw 5 of them inclose view.

 

September 16, 17, 2013

If Kenya grassland is a loving side of nature, I feel the Tshukudu reserve is more like a harsher side of nature. It is dry and hot now, winter is dry and cold. Animals are not active most of the day. Therefore, game drives are in early morning and late afternoon (5:30 am and 4:00 pm). Well paved road. Regular street cars can come in and drive around without a guide.

I don't know, maybe too much human interference or too close to the city, I cannot grasp the feeling of "Safari" here.

Our first game drive, we are in close view of Rhinos. Rhinos can weight up to 7 tons yet is vegetarian. Like elephants, they eat almost every minute of their awaken time as oppose to lions. Lions make a kill and can go for a couple of days without eating. It seems that life is easier for meat eaters. ... Just joking.

 

 

 

Baby!

Impala in sunset light.

 

Zebras here is not black and white. There are brown shadows in between. At first, I thought they were dusty.

 

Elephants are overpopulated here is known to be aggressive. They have to walk far for water. We see many of them.

 

September 17, 2013

Had a little change of plan. We took one day off from Tshukudu and decided to stay in "Joborg", Johannesburg, to see the capital. The capital is well developed. Feel like back in L.A. Jeffrey got a needed hair cut in the mall.

 

Tomorrow, we will leave the group and will fly to Nosy Be, Madagascar with G as our co-pilot for the rest of journey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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