Yesterday evening, I was in Champs de Mars for the official celebrations of the 44th anniversary of the independence and the 20th anniversary of the republic of Mauritius. And as usual, I was with my camera. Enjoy the pictures!
IMHO, too many flags...Foreign soldiers participating in the celebrationsBlame who? Police officers had to intervene to get them off the roof.The crowd of CitadelleBeginning of the show : Entrance of the Police BandBringing the flag to the poleMarching inThe man with the 'flaggish' hat. Hats off!Another glimpse at the officersArrival of the Prime MinisterArrival of the PresidentThe crowd on Citadelle still growingGlory to thee, in Mauritian language signPassing by of the first plane, while president of Seychelles arrives. Nobody cares about him, everyone looking high up in the skyDropped from the plane.Flag raising... Glory to thee...The Mauritian FlagFlags everywhereApplauded by most, the last canon shot with the colors of the Mauritian FlagSoldiers marching away2 helicopters carrying the flag3 other helicopters flying over Champs de MarsFollowed by the Dornier of the National Coast GuardsA rope dropped from the helicopter.The show begins. Sliding down the ropeSeveral demos by the teamSliding till firm groundImpressive figures during performancesThe 3 helicopters going forward while the red-blue one going on reversePlane flies againAnd drops 3 parachutesLooking upwardsLanding on the groundQuickly followed by the second one, and the third one lands down a few mins afterMinistry of Youth marches in, with a demo of Kick BoxingImpressive capture!Demo by the forcesForeign soldiers securing their guns under the eyes of the SSU peopleWalking back to Caudan, where I left the carOne of the extremely rare occasions this thing works!Colourful for the celebrationsPolice everywhereSplendid lighting of the Bank of Mauritius buildingA look at the fireworks from Port Louis waterfrontA last one for the road
As you perhaps noticed, I did not remain for the rest of the show because firstly, the area was not well lighted and secondly, I was a bit tired of holding the camera while standing with the bag. Anyway, the cultural show is better viewed on tv lol.
To end, I would say that they nearly failed in the timing of the official show (flag raising, parade) because as the sun went down, it was much difficult to see what they were performing in front of the tent (Chapiteau).
Another last word : Why wasn’t there any large screen displays for the ‘crowd’? The only one installed there was viewable only by ‘official guests’, comfortably seated in the huge tent.
Anyway let’s forget these things for a while, personne pas ammene narien kant zotte mort.
The French were parading in their colours, not even any acknowledgement that their are on Mauritian soil… That was the ugliest thing i’ve seen so far: which country allows a foreign country to parade during its National Day? Incredibly lame idea.
The FAZSOI were here in 2007, but did not parade: why now? If it’s an acknowledgement to former colonisers, may we expect British troops to parade here next year? Or even Dutch? Or Arabs (whichever was the country which really came before the Dutch)? Or even better: the US: they are our new colonisers, given that they are already here on OUR Chagos?
Or was it just because they were here? Then, what kind of people are governing us: when you already have a wife at home since 44 years already, she’s yours whatever your find bad with her, it’s not when you see any attractive woman passing on the street that you have to invite her into your house on your wedding day to show her talents and make a strip-tease like the French were doing yesterday.
Shame!!
thanks a lot i am barlen i was in taekwondo demo i was first one to break wood and the second was my friend and u get the second one photo its great                                             do u have for the first one thk u
Yashvinblogs 
Nice shots!
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Nice photos, good action photo of I believe Tae Kwon Do demo. The foreign transport plane with the parachutists was a French military Transall C-160. The SMF contingent was the guard of honour and they were very smart in their drill. I squirmed at the CG marching some individuals did not know their left from right but then I have a critical military view. The French parachutists were from 2e régiment de Parachutistes d’Infanterie de la Marine Française based in Reunion.
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The French were parading in their colours, not even any acknowledgement that their are on Mauritian soil… That was the ugliest thing i’ve seen so far: which country allows a foreign country to parade during its National Day? Incredibly lame idea.
The FAZSOI were here in 2007, but did not parade: why now? If it’s an acknowledgement to former colonisers, may we expect British troops to parade here next year? Or even Dutch? Or Arabs (whichever was the country which really came before the Dutch)? Or even better: the US: they are our new colonisers, given that they are already here on OUR Chagos?
Or was it just because they were here? Then, what kind of people are governing us: when you already have a wife at home since 44 years already, she’s yours whatever your find bad with her, it’s not when you see any attractive woman passing on the street that you have to invite her into your house on your wedding day to show her talents and make a strip-tease like the French were doing yesterday.
Shame!!
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Hello, I want to know if I can take some of your photos to post on my Facebook to show my foreign friends? thank you!Â
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Hi!
You are free as long as you keep my copyrights on the image (and a link towards the blog).
btw, why don’t you share the link directly?
All I want is some traffic on the blog 🙂
Cheers,
Y.A
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Of course I will include the watermark on your image, I will also promote the link as well! Thank you!
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Great 😉
And thanks for your comments
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oh god, you’re damn good!!!Â
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thanks a lot i am barlen i was in taekwondo demo i was first one to break wood and the second was my friend and u get the second one photo its great                                             do u have for the first one thk u
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Hello.
Splendid performance, kudos!
Unfortunately no. There was so little light in there, it was difficult to capture everything 😦
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Très jolies photos, merci pour le lien, je reviendrai faire un tour.
J’ai aussi vu l’homme au chapeau, on a en effet dû se croiser… Bonne journée.
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Nu pays nu fiertE
Nu politic nu salT
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nice picture
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