Arrival in paradise

By heck it took long enough!.... Actually, the time went surprisingly quickly, although, 2 hours from my destinations we hit turbulence that, I have to admit, scared me half to death. It felt like we were falling out of the air! Of course It was not helped much by the continuous shouting of an American man net to me "O fuck, O fuck, put your seat belts on. I felt my self subconsciously reaching for the pedals....

As the air craft came into land the on board cameras showed the characteristic islands with turquoise waters. As soon as I got off the plane the humidity hit me, a sweetly scented wave of what can only be described as "stuffyness". Once through immigration (this took a while) the next task was to get a taxi. This was a difficult job. One always strives to acquire a taxi man that looks the least shifty, unfortunately I had slim pickings - so instead, I choose the safest looking car....

Once at the Island development company, after a few strained conversations with some men outside- in which they asked questions in English and proceeded to answer them in Creole.... Eventually I got to see the infamous "Stella", who I had been in correspondence with. I can honestly say she was one of the loveliest people I've met, in fact everyone seems really nice.

I was still yearning for paradise, as of yet I still had not come face to face with the idyllic white sandy beaches and warm ocean that the Seychelles is famed for. Instead I wound around the built up areas, with roads and shops for the need of every tourist. However, there was no mistaking this was a tropical island. The mountains rose up above the built up suburbs, covered with untouched tropical jungle.

The air smelt different too.. When I stopped in Dubai it smelt like old carpets, but here, here it was sweet with tropical scents and ocean winds.

Stella showed me around the town, which as it transpired, was actually an excuse for a shopping trip in which she was looking for a wedding outfit. My God they like things sparkly in the Seychelles.....

At last I left Mahe on the speed boat, I was so tired but the occasional spray of salty sea water woke me up. The Island was a perfect little paradise in the middle of the ocean. It gets dark at 6.30 here so I didn't have a chance to explore, that would have to wait till tomorrow....