WEATHER: Reunion Is 19C and Seychelles 24C
HIGHTLIGHT OF THE DAY: Seeing the stunning Seychelles from the plane as we came in to land
BUMMER OF THE DAY: Feeling bad I didn’t see as much of Reunion as I wanted
BUYS OF THE DAY: Prices are exy here a cocktail of the day 90 shillings (8.50AUD)
WORD OF THE DAY: Beautiful and stunning
I prefer morning flights than afternoon flights generally, if you aren’t flying too far, you still get in during daylight and it doesn’t seem like a total waste of a day. In saying that morning flights require early starts. So I was up at 5am for a 6.30am pickup. I don’t even know what time breakfast started, I may have been able to pop in and got something on the run but frankly I just couldn’t be bothered. I checked out of my room and I have to say I may have been one of their worst spending guests on record for a 5 night stay. My total food and beverage bill came to 45.35EUR! Not too bad if I say so myself! The reception chicky didn’t make a comment either way about the miniscule amount but it bought a smile to my dial anyway!
So I had a private transfer again in the 18 seater Merc back to the airport back along the stunning cliffs. Along the way I saw a rainbow as well and it was beautiful, is there any good luck omen’s seeing rainbows on the day you fly? When we arrived the airport it was pretty bust for 7.15am, but there was an Air Austral plane from Paris that had landed and an Air France flight to Paris checking in, oh plus our piddly flight to the Seychelles and one to Maurice. My check-in counter wasn’t open yet, so I pulled up a pew down in the arrivals area watching all the excited faces of people standing there waiting for loved ones and friends to come out of immigration and customs. I can’t remember the last time I had someone meet me at the arrivals hall and never really thought too much of it, it was always a pick and run type of collection which is fine. But it made me a little sad. I finished a book that I had been reading since Madagascar, so instead of me taking it with me I wrote inside the front cover that Bernie from Australia had read this book and hope that some-else will enjoy it as much as I did and I put todays date in it and left it on the chair. I wonder if some-one picked it up or it just got tossed in the bin.
When I got to the check-in counter the young gentleman took a look at my passport and told me to wait one minute and used the phone to make a phone call. Uh Oh – trouble? He then hung up click clicked in French to the agent next to him, she looked at my passport, said something to him and he picked up the phone again. I am assuming that he was checking if I needed a visa, which I knew I didn’t, but I haven’t checked since I left home, what if it had changed since then? I then started to panic a little as he put the phone down and asked for my onward ticket, which was issued on a separate ticket, so I dug that out and satisfied, continued with my check-in. I did say in my nicest voice, any problems? to which he replied no. Thank god! So with my window seat boarding pass and my 19.9kg bag checked in I was able to head through security and into departures.
It is a small airport for the amount of traffic that goes through, there with only 4 gates, so all the shops were super busy and there was only one eatery place thing opened with a queue a mile long, so I decided I would just wait till I got on the flight to get fed.
As both large planes were home today using the air bridges, we got the dreaded bus transfer to the plane. It is quite comical as the bus was parked I would say not even 400m away from where we actually gotten on, I wonder why they just didn’t get us to walk? We walked further when we landed in Madagascar but there weren’t 2 airbus’s in at the same time either. This also reiterates my hate for the bus as we waited 25 minutes before the bus doors closed and we drove the 400m. Insane I tell you.
The plane was a 737-800, so bigger than what I have travelled on the last few times with a seating configuration of 3x3 and they even had 6 rows of premium economy. I was seated directly behind the premium economy cabin, so we had the business class chairs in front. So even though I wasn’t in business, book and belongings was stored in the back of a business class chair – does that count as a partial upgrade? We also had more leg room in these seats, as they can extend their premium economy cabin if require, so it was like sitting in a bulk head seat but with the pockets in front. The only downside is if you’re sitting in the middle you don’t get a pocket as there are only the 2 seats in front – but if you’re travelling with some-one you could just use theirs. The flight was 2 hours and 40 minutes with a good meal, but I love airline food so it would have to be pretty bad to not keep me happy.
I love window seats. I always ask for one or try and pre-book them before I leave. I am not a toilet goer, I either don’t need to go or I can hold till I get to my destination and that also includes the big flights of up to 12-14 hours. I watch what I drink and I just think I may have the best bladder in the world. In the whole 60 days in Africa, not once did I need to do a roadside stop and very rarely used the toilets en-route unless they were good ones. If they were disgusting ones then I could again hold till we got to camp. What can I say, I am a machine and it comes in very handy on drinking nights let me tell you. I love window seats, especially during day flights, as you can see out the window and get some great photos of arriving into and departing from countries. In saying that coming into the Seychelles was a WOW moment. I was lucky enough to be on the right side of the plane and we came in and followed the coast of the main island Mahe. The weather was a little overcast and there was low cloud hanging on the tops of the beautiful mountains that make up Mahe. The colour of the water was AMAZING. I have been to Bora Bora and also Zanzibar now and the Seychelles has to give the colour of their water a run for its money. Even around the port as we flew over, which can be the dodgy’ area for water was a beautiful turquoise colour. There were like 5 different shades and as we flew over some of the resorts the colour of the white sand contrasting with it all was just amazing. Have I told you it was amazing? This is why I love window seats so I can have my camera handy and snap all this as we fly over, it’s like a scenic flight but included in the cost of my airline ticket!!
The landing was a good one, there was just one little air pocket we hit, you know when you lose you’re your stomach for a second, and people gasped (what is wrong with them) and when we had landed and started to taxi to the terminal the plane broke out into massive clapping frenzy!!! Is there something here I don’t know about? The only other flight that I had clapping on was a few years ago from Bangkok to Delhi. Anyway well done pilots for doing your jobs, maybe it is a Seychelles thing??
Seychelles major airport reminds me of Hawaii’s International but way smaller. It was a walk job between the plane and the building and as I was in the first row of economy I was one of the first people off the flight, which meant I was one of the first people to immigration and what do you know we needed to fill in a form! This wasn’t given to anyone on the flight, so they did a quick run around and gave a wad out as we arrived in the building. Well I have filled in a few of these forms in the last 6 months, so I was quick off the mark and was processed before the other animals had done there’s and then I was though to the baggage carousel. This is the thing when you get through quick; the bags aren’t there, so you have to wait anyway!! As the bags start to come out you always get that small panic feeling that what about if your bag doesn’t arrive! It is an awful feeling and I am lucky enough (touchwood) that is has not happened to me and I always sigh a small relief when I see my bag on that belt. My bag is starting to see better days. It has 2 small holes in the bottom, which I think will be okay and the carry handle is starting to fray a little, after the zip breaking on the small backpack that zips on, that has been the only issue I have to date with it, so fingers crossed she lasts the journey.
So with a free trolley wheeling my bag, I am nearly out of the ‘nothing to declare’ aisle with the exit doors in sight when I got pulled over by a customs official. First time I have been pulled up so I can’t complain. He asked for my passport, flicked through every single page, asked what I did for a job, was I travelling with anyone to my reply was a no, and I guess that maybe a little unusual when you are coming to a romantic destination, everyone is a couple. Had I just come from Australia to my reply was no I am on a 12 month holiday (he doesn’t need to know the truth-I think that would look even more dodgy) and I had been in Africa for 3 months. He needed to clarify that I had said 12 months to which I replied yes that’s right. He asked about my bag, the usual had I packed it, yes, no one else packed you bag, no, are you sure ummm yes. You’re not carrying anything for anyone, no. You don’t have alcohol, cigarettes, perfume in your bag, no. Are you sure, ummmm yes. What was this the Spanish inquisition? After one more flick through my passport he said thanks just a routine check and he let me go without asking me to open my bags. No worries and even though I have nothing to hide, you still feel nervous.
Mason’s travel were the guys that all my arrangements had been booked through and they look like they run a pretty smooth operation and look like one of the major tourism players in the Seychelles. There was sign with my name as I exited customs, then taken to a small counter where I was introduced to my driver Michele and given an arrival pack with my vouchers, another itinerary and a map of the islands. It was all smooth and efficient and I was taken to the car to unload my bags. We did have to wait for another couple, so I decided to make the use of the ATM, so I asked Michele what was the rate of the Seychelles money to the dollar hoping I wasn’t going to look like a goose and he say it’s the Euro. But they do have their own currency called the rupee and you get 12 rupiah’s for 1USD. So I am back to my 10 times tables just to make it easier for the next 5 days. So I walking to the ATM trying to calculate how much local money I needed to take out, I hot the first button I saw and it was 5000RP, as after getting in the car I worked out I had just withdrawn 416AUD. Yep way too much money you boofhead, oh well I will just exchange what I don’t use on my way out next week. The other people must either be really slow or got stuck waiting as we had to wait 20 minutes before they arrived. With one stop to drop them at the port, they must be doing a cruise the lucky bastards, we then continued the 30 minutes to my hotel that was located on the other side of the island.
We drove though Victoria which is the capital of the Seychelles and according to Michele it is the smallest capital in the world (will need to check that) but the main street was pretty small. Very Pacific feeling and then driving over the range to the other side it really did have a tropical feel, all very lush vegetation, banana trees and just the one road that winds itself around the island, no room for overtaking, one windy road that traverses the mountains. It is a public holiday today as parliament has had its local elections and tomorrow being Sunday nothing is open, which for me is good, I’ll have a relaxing day tomorrow and then head into the city on Monday for a look and then I will book my day tour for Tuesday. When I made my bookings for the hotels, we couldn’t decide on which property to choose, so I have decided to split my time between 2. I am doing 3 nights at Sunset Beach and then my last 2 nights will be at Bliss Hotel. So my change over day is Tuesday, so I decided to do my day tour then as the check-in-checkout times don’t gel and it is a nothing day when you do change overs so it was a perfect day for me to do this.
I do need to mention, welcome back English speaking people! They also speak French and Creole but they understand English and it is ‘proper’ English. I can say something and they understand me no worries. It has been over 3 weeks since this has happened and it makes a nice change to have conversations with people again. The hotel check-in was seamless. As I lighted the car there was a frangipani lei popped over my head and I was lead to an awesome lounge area giving me a fresh fruit drink while I handed over my passport and the check-in formalities were done. I asked about Wi-Fi when they came back for me to walk me to my room and she told me that it was 150RP for an hour or 650RP for 24 hours. Well not even thinking too much I purchased the 24 hour access. It wasn’t until I was dropped at my room and she had left that I worked out I had just paid 50AUD for Wi-Fi!!!! OMG Now I could have taken it back and asked for a refund, I hadn’t cracked the packet, but I was waiting on some very important messages via email and FB, so I decided it was something I would have to suck up and once that ran out that I could do without internet for a few days. 50AUD – that is INSANE. As I logged onto make sure it worked from my room, the 24 hours is a clocked thing, so I have 2 days from activation to use 24 hour’s worth of internet. So now that bought it down to 25AUD a day – well that is still a crap load but doesn’t look as bad as 50AUD!!!! I don’t mind paying for access but that is ABSURD. I am also taking into account I haven’t paid for Wi-Fi for the last 4 weeks, so this is one I can wear and not feel like I have just been robbed!!!
My room is….tropical. It doesn’t have first class furniture, it is all wood, pineapple base lamps etc. but I have massive windows and glass doors that open directly out to the beach and the beautiful water. The waves are so loud I am wondering if I will have trouble sleeping with that tonight – yeah right! The sound of crashing waves just outside my door – heaven. So I went out and took a few photos of my home for the next 3 nights and then headed up to the bar to read (on my Playbook), have a late lunch and wait till 5pm when I was going to meet my representative while I am here and book any tours with her and any questions I have she will answer. Thanks Adele, see you at 5pm. The bar is pretty amazing and stands over a small cliff face that looks back towards my room and the beach. It is an amazing view and they also have a pool that also juts over the cliff, but I am just not sure how much use this gets with the magnificent beach right next door. The bar tender was quite sweet and I got a cocktail, the cheapest one was 90RP (7.50AUD) to the most expensive, like the slings and cosmos at 15AUD. The lunch menu was massive and it is served till 6pm, so I ordered a hamburger with bacon and egg and it came 40 minutes later and looked like I could have done a better job myself and it was missing the bacon, but it hit the spot and was delicious so it lasted all of 10 minutes on my plate. I was hungry.
So 5pm arrives and I meet Adele. She is sweet and walks me through, don’t drink the water, I’ll reconfirm your flights, the buses to town, opening hours etc…… and also runs through the day tour that I have picked. It looks awesome. I get collected at 6.10am, we catch a catamaran to Prasiln that takes 1 hour and 45 minutes which is home to the rare Seychelles black parrot and the Coco-de-mer which is the world’s heaviest seed which was found in the once to be believed the original site of the Garden of Eden! We get a creole buffet lunch and time to visit the beach on this island and then we get a ferry to the island of La Digue where the only form of transport is ox cart and an opportunity to see examples of creole architecture and a visit to one of the world’s most famous beaches renowned for its spectacular rock formations. You mean it gets better than my beach at the hotel. No way! It is not a cheap tour at 2700RP which is around $225, which looking at it now doesn’t seem that bad actually. I can’t wait till Tuesday and just hope we get good weather. Adele said to take a copy of my passport with me as some people prefer to fly back rather than go back the same way we go over. I wonder if she’s hinting that the weather gets rough. She also did mention to not have too much for breakfast! Hmmmmmm I can count on one hand the amount of times I get sea sick and the last time was when I was in Central America crossing from the mainland of Honduras to the island of Roatan for 3 nights, that was one rough crossing and I think I was sick actually on that crossing.
So with our meeting done, I asked at reception if they have any books that I could borrow while I was here. As I had finished my last book at the airport in Reunion I didn’t want to be taking my Playbook onto the beach and as luck would have they have a library stocked with all sorts of books and in all sorts of languages, but there were enough English books for me to choose one from. Thank goodness, I am a big reader and I felt a little nude that I didn’t have a book at all. I did check the newsagent at Reunion but all their books were in French, no good to me!!! But I have one now, so I headed back to my room, sat outside my room with my oversized chair and leg rest and watched the sunset over my first day in paradise.
So with the sun gone and my belly still full from my late lunch, I decided to click on the TV, skip dinner and see what television they offered here. Well the first channel that comes up was a movie channel in ENGLISH! Jackpot. So I watched 3, ad free movies on TV before turning off the box and listening to the waves outside my door rock me to sleep. It is magic here and just what I need for the next few days. No feeling bad of doing nothing here as there aren’t lot of day tours that interest me (hiking and fishing etc.) and I am doing the one tour that covers it all anyway and the beach is what it is all about.
The weather comes and goes this time of year. Rain will blow in, gives a small shower and then moves off again into the Indian ocean, so it does get sunny, then cloudy and then sunny, but if that is the only thing I have to worry about, then what can I say.
Welcome to Paradise on Earth and it’s called the Seychelles.
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