NEW PICTURES! With these new ones, you can click to make the picture bigger. Then, when you have had enough, use the 'Back' button to return to this page.
In November 2002 we went to the Seychelles on an Island Hopping holiday. We were going to visit 4 islands. It was meant to be (in order) Praslin, La Dique, Bird Island and Mahe. We didn't know it when we arrived, but one of those was to change.
We arrived on Saturday 9th. And so did one of our suitcases. It's a shame the second one with all our snorkelling and underwater photography gear didn't! However the staff at TSS (Travel Services Seychelles) were very helpful and assured us it would arrive soon.
We stayed at the Paradise Sun resort on Praslin first and got there from the international airport on Mahe via internal flight on a Twin Otter and a minibus trip.
Praslin....
On our last day at Praslin we had two pieces of very good news. First, our suitcase had turned up. Secondly a very nice French lady called Simone called and said that our chosen resort on La Dique (La Dique Lodge) was fully booked and would we mind being moved to another resort owned by the same people? The conversation went something like this....
Me - Well, what's it like?
Simone - Well, it's a private island. There will only be one other couple there, and some staff.
Me - That's it? So is it very nice?
Simone - Well, Richard Branson took his family there a couple of months ago and Tony Blair had it for his family once.
Me - Well, okay then!
All in all it was absolutely wonderful. It's usually $1000 per person per night and we had it for next to nothing and were upgraded from half to full board! It had the best snorkelling from any beach we've ever seen with turtles, sharks and Napoleon fish only 20 feet or so out from the beach. It also had many beaches and only two couples and the other were on honeymoon and wanted to keep themselves to themselves. So in effect it was us and 5 staff. It made our holiday!
Felicite....
Boat ride (with La Dique in the background)....
That was quite exciting! For a partially disabled person with very weak legs a trip involving minibus, boat another boat and a rubber dingy was quite a mission. We both made it in on piece though!
The Island (and wildlife - or a fruit bat and Spot the dog)....
I believe you will find that nobody, ever, in the entire history of the world, has ever looked cooler than I do up there behind that rock!
Under the sea....
In order these pictures show a Napoleon fish (it might not look it but it was 4 or 5 feet long)), a Power Blue Surgeon, a Wrasse a Morish Idol a Bat Fish, a Butterfly, some Racoon Butterflys, some Mullets, 2 Regal Tangs (my favourite fish) and then, of course, Sea Turtles.
We also saw far more fish and a 5 foot White Tipped Reef Shark, but the pictures were just not good enough to put up. A great shame.
We were very well looked after on Felicite by Andy and Greta. They were wonderful and it was very sad to leave them and our little paradise island after 3 days. This trip was also a bit of a mission. I didn't have to climb down a ladder from a boat to a dingy this time but we had to get a small boat to La Dique and then a minibus to the main resort to settle our bar bill, then minibus back to La Dique jetty. Then a large ferry to Praslin, then a minibus to Praslin airport, then a plane to Mahe, then another plane to Bird Island. Phew!
Bird Island....
Now before we left, we thought this one would be the best island. It was meant to the be smallest one we visited and had not only the world's largest land tortoises but also excellent snorkelling. In fact Felicite was miles better on all counts. So much so we were not very impressed at first. But we soon came around. It was in fact lovely. It's not called Bird Island for nothing. Although the million plus breeding Sooty Turns had left for winter there was still plenty enough birds to make the name fitting. It also had lovely clear beaches. And with only about 50 people was never too crowded. We were a little disappointed with the snorkelling though.
Now we move onto our last Island. It was the main Island of Mahe and our biggest resort. The Coral Strand Hotel. Although it was big and fairly full it was a very nice setting with good restaurants, etc.
Mahe....
So that's it!