It was great for Will to invite us to his school and we had an opportunity to interact with the locals when doing a bit of work and taking some staff photos. Compared to inner-city London, this international school seemed extremely informal and friendly, and it was pleasing to see children of all ages, from 5 to 15 playing together in one playground.  The innocence of childhood endures several years longer than it does in London! A selection of the photos are below.

Technical details: Olympus ZD 70-300mm lens; all unedited  and  straight  from the camera (square crops become full when clicked).

According to UNESCO, Vallée de Mai is a palm forest that has been largely unchanged since prehistoric times. But what makes it a national landmark is that it is home to the largest population of Coco de Mer trees, which produces (and obviously germinates from) the largest seed in the plant kingdom. Seeds can weigh up to 17kg and fruit up to a whopping 40kg, and a quick google search will reveal the male and female plant's mythology! Another point of interest were the giant leaves, up to 20 feet long and the sturdiest I've ever felt (a bit like plastic panelling) - roofs thatched from them can last about 20 years! Apparently you can walk through the forest during periods of heavy rain and remain relatively dry as these huge leaves channel the water towards the trunks of the tall palms. The video is shown just to give a feel of the breeze experienced when walking through the palm forest: the sway and crunching sound of the giant leaves in particular.

Following Vallée de Mai, we were lucky to make a short visit to Anse Lazio - renowned as one of the best beaches in the world. We could not disagree! "Anze Lazio feels like a hidden oasis, thanks to the giant granite boulders that shelter its white sandy beach and bright turquoise sea. The shoreline remains largely untouched... and a coral reef that keeps the waters calm also makes for an ideal snorkeling and swimming spot" (Smarter Travel).

Technical details: Olympus ZD 12-60mm; all unedited and straight  from the camera.