A little piece of paradise in the Seychelles

Blog 1 written on 06/01/15

I did not expect to write a blog on my short stop over ion the Seychelles but I had such a nice experience I thought I would!

Only 17 hours in Seychelles and already I leave happier than when I arrived! The people are amazingly friendly here, helpful and full of warmth. Usually in big tourist places like this the local are, and quite rightly, sick of western foreigners and there whims! But not so here :

I had just taken 2 local buses to the little, tiny town of Beau Vallon, where my hotel was (was a nice journey and in 1 hour i had spanned half the island). So im just off the bus and standing in the street with a confused look on my face, no idea where i was going! I approach a shop just a few yards off the sea front.  Before i had time to inquire a cool looking mixed race local guy approached me asking if i was ok. I showed him my limp piece of paper of the hotel booking on. He says 'no problem man, ill take u there '. I think, yeah im sure u will mate, but i don’t want to be ripped off! I ask how much (he speaks perfect English),  'don't worry man' he says, in a nice Jamaican/creole accent, and off we go . 5 minutes later, just up the hill away from the sea, im forcing on him a pounds worth of local currency. He really did just give me a completely free ride, I thank him again and he has a big smile for me.  This wasn't the last time someone helped me out completely selflessly and man it felt so damn good to be back somewhere like this.

In an hours time after a quick rest in my apartment I strolled down to the beach in my swim shorts. In no time I was floating effortlessly, lying back in the Indian ocean with my eyes closed and taking deep humble breaths - i was in the tropics and out of the western civilization! My head relieved itself of the bullshit of before and it was a great start to my journey.

After 2 hours of playing in the waves I was really quite hungry. All i wanted was some fried fish and rice, seeing as I was at the coast!  I wondered lazily along the beach front and to my delight there were 2 old ladies behind a stall with a big grill and a few large pots under a fire. Aloft the grill were several large sizzling fishes I did not recognise and in the pots were rice and vegetables.  I payed them the hefty sum of 75 pence, sat on a bench looking towards the sea and thoroughly  enjoyed my meal. Soon after I wondered up the shore taking photos of the sunset and awing at these giant bats that flapped there wings liked bird and hovered in the sky. I sat at a beachside cafe, drank a cheap expresso and watched the sun go down.

Yes Seychelles is a little piece of paradise and i was very sad to be leaving at 9am the next morning but very glad i came.