One of the most important aspects of a flight around the world in a light aircraft is getting rest so that you can remain sharp at all times. In past trips Mike and I have often found that the hassle factor associated with finding accommodation, getting currency, food to eat and suchlike outweighs the value of stopping at all. In fact in our 2009 trip around the world we chose not to make a stop at Colombo in Sri Lanka at all we re-fuelled, serviced the engine, filed a flightplan and left within three hours.
This time, however, our comfort and security, in Reunion and the Maldives anyway, (our first two stops), have been taken care of. The Naiade Hotel Group, in the form of the Grand Hotel du Lagon in Reunion and the Hotel Diva in the Maldives have very generously jumped in to put us up at the end of each long leg. To get an idea of what that means, take a look at the photographs of these wonderful establishments and eat your hearts out! Since the Diva hotel in Maldives is ordinarily accessed by sea plane it remains to be seen whether from a practical perspective we’ll be able to take up that offer, but for obvious reasons we’ll do our best! Either way, perhaps we can fly over and have a good look!
We’ll report further on our experiences as we pass through. In the meantime thanks so much to Laurent in Reunion who runs a microlighters forum and has proven to be a friend to even unknown aviators, and to his friend Arnaud Lagesse and the GML Group Mauritius Island. You’ve shown us a very great kindness and we look forward to meeting you.
James, Mike and Jean
