Flying with PM: Random notes from Mauritius

Deputy Managing Editor Anthony D'Costa is travelling with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the latter's four-day visit to Mauritius. An intrepid observer, D'Costa will report on every move that the prime minister and his team make. Here are some random notes he sent us just hours after landing in Port Louis:

Who is travelling with the prime minister?
His wife Gursharan Kaur. One of his three daughters and one of his son-in-laws (no names, please, say top officials!) Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran; National Security Adviser M K Narayanan; Secretary (west), Ministry of External Affairs, Shashi Tripathi; Indian High Commissioner in Mauritius P S Haer; Media Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr Sanjaya Baru; Director, Special Protection Group, B V Wanchoo; Joint Secretary (XP), MEA, Navtej Sarna; Officer on Special Duty (PR) in MEA Shambu Kumaran, Protocol Liaison Officer, MEA, Mam Raj Behamni; Publicity Officer, MEA, M S Bhandari.

A 32-member press team and 20 security officials are also accompanying the prime minister.

What did Dr Singh eat on the flight?
I tried getting that information from the Air-India crew. "Of course, sir. I will get you the information. I can also tell you he is a very light eater,'' said an attendant. The information never came.

What did I eat?
For breakfast -- fresh fruit appetizer, fruit-flavored yoghurt, chive omelet, grilled chicken sausages, roesti potatoes, grilled cherry tomato, assorted rolls and coffee

For lunch -- supreme of chicken with hot pepper sauce, saffron potatoes, bouquet of vegetables, natural yoghurt, peach and apricot mousse and fresh fruits.

One question I did not have the guts to ask the PM -- how will you chill out, sir, in Mauritius?
Media Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr Sanjaya Baru offered some help. He said Dr Singh will probably spend his free time reading some book. He ruled out a swim or a walk along one of Mauritius' beautiful beaches.

The Sound of Silence
The prime minister's media encounter on board Air-India's Khajuraho was a near disaster, as the sound system failed. Or rather, the mike to the left of Dr Singh failed. And as most of the questions were fired from his left, he turned in that direction.

Most recorders failed to pick up any sound bytes with the aircraft noise silencing everything else.

Shambu Kumaran, Officer on Special Duty (public relations), Ministry of External Affairs, said he told the Air-India officials to make better arrangements for the prime minister's next foreign tour.

Either speakers will be installed near the passenger seats or the audio will be available on headphones attached to the seats.

What's Mauritius like?
A beautiful excuse to stay back. The people look like Africans and the towns have got a Goan feeling. I'm enjoying it!

Also read:
Manmohan arrives in Mauritius