Back to normality

After travelling thousands of miles to the Indian Ocean, it's hard not to feel some sense of sorrow when the mundane reality of life kicks in....

I can only dream of eating my way through a buffet table of crisp French pastries still warm from the oven, of tucking in to slices of succulent pineapple as we plan the days events- sipping spiced rum from a coconut...

Banquet after banquet, followed by days of adventure on the island. Red, dusty trails, azure oceans, warm tropical rain. Stray dogs strolling down the beaches-like they own them...

My first time on a speedboat, island hopping. Fretting for my life, my tranquility restored by a rum and coke at 10.30am.

We make a pit-stop on an island where the blue sea laps the white coral sands. Where yellow birds make themselves known in the trees and we congregate for lunch.

The starter....a whole local fish barbecued on the beach. Served simply with a lemon wedge and coleslaw.

The main course... half a barbecued lobster and chicken drumsticks with fresh garlic bread...

The dessert... banana flambe, followed by more rum, wine and beer. Then back to the boat, Bob Marley blasting through the speakers as we made our way to Ile aux Cerfs.

These beautiful memories seem so distant, like a half-remembered dream that I'll never forget.