Seven days & seven nights
Mahebourg, Mauritius
July 2015
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| Preskil Beach resort marina jetty and beachfront - Blue Bay, Mahebourg, Mauritius |
Seven years after we got married, we were able to have the honeymoon we always wanted. We could only afford it after working for 6 months in Saudi Arabia, earning very good money. So I booked a full 7 day, 7-night hotel package for us at the four stars Preskil Beach resort in Mahebourg, Mauritius through Flight Centre. It cost R40 000 for the two of us after we calculated all the hidden expenses and the extra things we did. We spent time on the beach at the hotel, but like the explorers we are, we were not content sitting still.
So we rented a white little Hyundai i10 car and took day trips all around the island. This island has such a rich culture and various ethnic, cultural and religious groups make up the population of the island. There are also a huge amount of expats, especially South Africans who have made this compact tropical island their home. Even though it is not a big island, it will probably take a year just to get a taste of everything and visit all the places. Pristine beaches to the exterior and sugar cane fields with beautiful mountain scenery make up most of the island. I took more than a thousand photos, which I will only post the best here. This photo expose will hopefully paint a picture of our experiences on this beautiful island.
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| The turquoise lagoon at Preskil Beach Resort |
About Mauritius
Mauritius (French: Maurice), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometers off the southeast coast of the African continent. The country includes the islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues [560 kilometers east of Mauritius], and the outer islands (Agaléga, St. Brandon and two disputed territories). The islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues form part of the Mascarene Islands, along with nearby Réunion, a French overseas department. The area of the country is 2,040 km2. The capital and largest city is Port Louis. Formerly a Dutch colony (1638–1710) and a French colony (1715–1810), Mauritius became a British colonial possession in 1810 and remained so until 1968, the year in which it attained independence. The government uses English as its main language.
The people of Mauritius are multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multicultural and multilingual. The island's government is closely modeled on the Westminster parliamentary system, and Mauritius is highly ranked for democracy and for economic and political freedom. Along with the other Mascarene Islands, Mauritius is known for its varied flora and fauna, with many species endemic to the island. The island is widely known as the only known home of the dodo, which, along with several other avian species, was made extinct by human activities relatively shortly after the island's settlement (Wikipedia).
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| Dining room and swimming pool with beach front in the background |
About Preskil Beach Resort
Preskil Beach Resort is situated on Pointe Jerome in Blue Bay, on a private peninsula along the south-east coast of Mauritius, near the village of Mahébourg. The resort borders a lagoon of crystal clear blue waters which leads to the Blue Bay Marine Park. It’s the only hotel in Mauritius on a private peninsula. It has approximately 750 meters of beach and a breath-taking turquoise colored Vieux Grand Port lagoon. This luxurious and elegant 4-star hotel is not intrusive but rather blends harmoniously with the typical Creole architectural style of Mauritius. Across the lagoon from the Preskil beachfront is the I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve, a protected island to which one can paddle boat.
Our chalet
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| View of beachfront - taken from our chalet balcony |
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| On our chalet balcony overlooking the beachfront |
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View of beachfront and Vieux Grand Port Lagoon
- taken from our chalet balcony |
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View of beachfront and Vieux Grand Port Lagoon
- taken from our chalet balcony
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| View of beachfront - taken from our chalet balcony |
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View of Vieux Grand Port Lagoon - taken from our chalet balcony
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| View of beachfront - taken from our chalet balcony |
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| Our chalet balcony |
Hotel facilities
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| The dining room where we could eat 3 buffet meals every day |
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| The outside seating area of dining room complex next to the pool |
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| The outside seating area of dining room complex next to the pool |
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| Birds eating crumbs on the table - Outside seating area of dining room complex next to the pool |
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| Ansu in the outside seating area of the dining room complex next to the pool |
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| Pool with the beachfront area in the background |
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| Pool with the beachfront area in the background |
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| On the left the dining room & bar complex with the beachfront to the left |
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| On the left the dining room & bar complex with the beachfront to the left |
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| Beachfront deck chairs and coconut juice bar |
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| Jetty walkway to the jetty veranda |
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| Jetty veranda from where water sports take place |
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| Beachfront & lagoon |
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| Chalets |
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| Chalets and lawn near the beachfront |
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| Chalets |
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| Our chalet top left and surrounding garden |
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| Chalets |
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| Garden walkways between the different chalets |
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| Resort drop-off point - Overwhelming chirping of birds in the tall trees |
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| Ansu on the walkway between drop off and resort reception |
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| The post box in the reception area |
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| Resort reception area decor |
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| Drop-off point and resort reception area |
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| Garden veranda resting spot |
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| Spa reception & garden |
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| Spa garden seating area |
Hotel dining
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| Buffet dessert |
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| Ansu at dinner |
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| Ansu during lunch buffet |
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| Dining room with the buffet in the background |
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| Lobster for dinner - last night in Mauritius |
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| Ansu in the dining room |
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| Waitress & Preskil Colada |
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| Buffet |
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| Having coffee |
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| Buffet salad |
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Preskil Colada
Pina Colada without alcohol |
Hotel beach & marina
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| Beachfront, jetty and lagoon |
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| Deck chairs on the beach |
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| Beachfront, jetty and Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Beachfront, jetty and Vieux Grand Port lagoon......and my feet |
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| The view above..... |
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| Ansu relaxing on the beach |
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| Water sports equipment on the beach and Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Jetty & Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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Enjoying coconut juice
from a REAL coconut |
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| Jetty & Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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Ansu and I enjoying coconut juice
from a REAL coconut
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| Jetty & lagoon....and my feet |
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| Dhow in the Vieux Grand Port lagoon....from the jetty veranda |
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| Preskil Beach |
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| Preskil Beach with jetty and Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Preskil Beach with jetty and Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Preskil Beach with jetty and Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Preskil Beach and Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Coconuts on palm trees on the beach |
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| Preskil Coladas on the Beach |
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| Windy beach |
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| Jetty and Island Hopper Catamaran |
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| Preskil beach |
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| Preskil beach taken from a paddle boat in Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Coconut juice for our thirst....complete with an umbrella |
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| Ansu - Our first morning on the beach |
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| Our first morning on the beach |
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| View of lagoon and Preskil beach from the jetty veranda |
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| View of Preskil beach and hotel from the jetty veranda |
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| View of Preskil beach and water sports center from the jetty veranda |
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| Water sport in the lagoon - taken from the jetty |
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| Beachfront - taken from the hotel |
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| Ansu on a deck chair on Preskil beach |
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Deck chairs - Preskil beach
Red and green flags to message waiter |
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| On the beach with Preskil hotel behind me |
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| On the lagoon corniche with the lagoon behind me |
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| Panorama - Preskil beach, jetty & lagoon |
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Vieux Grand Port Lagoon from lagoon side chalets |
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| Vieux Grand Port lagoon from lagoon side chalets |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background |
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Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background
with the lagoon corniche at Preskil resort on the right |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background |
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| The clear and turquoise waters of the Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| The clear and turquoise waters of the Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background |
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| Windsurfer - Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background
Taken from Preskil Beach |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background |
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| View of Preskil beach and Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
Kayaking on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon
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| Kayaking on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Kayaking on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Rowing towards the beach |
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| At the beach in my kayak |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background |
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| Preskil beach resort jetty & Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Windsurfer - Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
Paddle boat trip to I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve
Ansu and I rented a small paddle boat to paddle across the Vieux Grand Port Lagoon to the I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve, a small island protected by the government. I snorkeled a bit near the island, while she enjoyed the sun and took pics. After about an hour we paddled the 700 meters back to Preskil Beach resort.
About Ile aux Aigrettes
Ile aux Aigrettes is a small (27 ha) island situated in the Mahebourg Bay, about 850 m off the south-east coast of Mauritius. Ile aux Aigrettes is made up of coralline limestone, unlike the mainland which is of volcanic origin. It is home to the last remnants of dry coastal forest, once found around most of Mauritius. Ile aux Aigrettes was affected by tree logging and land clearance, and the introduction of exotic animal and plant species almost destroyed the native fauna and flora. In 1965 the island was declared nature reserve.
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| Paddling on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon towards I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| Ansu - Paddling on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon towards I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| Paddling on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon towards I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| Paddling on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon towards I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| Snorkeling near I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| Preparing to snorkel |
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| Snorkeling near I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
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| Ansu on I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve 'beach' |
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| Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon - paddling back to Preskil |
Snorkeling in the Vieux Grand Port Lagoon
I paid a local Mauritian about R1000 to take me on his speed boat on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon to do some sightseeing and snorkeling for a couple of hours in the late afternoon.
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| Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| My guide |
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| Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Beach side residences - Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve |
The guide threw bread crumbs in the water to attract fish...I saw beautiful fish...including a lionfish. The corals, however, have degraded and died in many places probably due to the 'footprint' left by excessive tourism.
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| Snorkeling in Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Snorkeling in Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Selfie in the boat |
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| Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Island Hopper catamaran in Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
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| Island Hopper catamaran in Vieux Grand Port lagoon |
Sunset at Preskil Beach Resort
