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February 2023

February 2023 - June 2025
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Sailing to Africa, rounding the cape, & crossing the Atlantic! Read more
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  • Namibia
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  • Mauritius
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  • Seychelles
  • Maldives
  • Show all (8)
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Around the world, Couple, Cruise ship, Culture, Nature, Self discovery, Sightseeing, Vacation, Wildlife
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  • TravelerFebruary 2023
    1

    Bodysurfing on La Praslin

    February 9, 2023 on the Seychelles ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    I don’t have any photos of the beach where we swam after lunch on the island of La Praslin, but these photos give an idea of the granite outcroppings that are a hallmark for the Seychelles.

    The waves were strong, so I bodysurfed and had a grand time being tossed around by the sea.

    Rather than swim, Larry chose to relax in the shade. He chatted with some locals and learned a lot about life here.

    For one thing, few people get married in the Seychelles. According to our cultural lecturer on the ship, this is a vestige of their colonial past.

    During the time time when locals were enslaved by the French, they were not allowed to marry, so it never became a custom here.

    Signs here are in French, English, and Creole. The Creole language looks and sounds a lot like French. “That’s why we don’t like speaking French,” our guide told us. “It is too similar to Creole, and the spelling is terrible.”

    We also learned that if you are not a native of the Seychelles, you cannot buy property or open a business unless you have locals for partners.

    I was happy to learn that there are strict laws for conserving nature, and I saw no litter at all, which was refreshing.

    Not only do the people of the Seychelles appreciate the paradise they have, but they also seem to possess a desire to preserve it.    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023

    Lunch on La Praslin

    February 9, 2023 on the Seychelles ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    We enjoyed a marvelous lunch at a seaside resort on the Island of La Praslin in the Seychelles.

    I chose the most exotic things I could find at the buffet. On my plate you can see shark curry, creole pumpkin, and a salad of shredded cabbage with mango.

    For dessert, I enjoyed a coconut tartlet with a really yummy concoction of sweet potatoes and coconut milk and washed it all down with a cup of vanilla tea.

    As we dined, we enjoyed a view that made me feel as if I’d stepped inside a poster on the wall of a travel agency.

    I’m not sure if the beach dog was a stray, but he certainly seemed to be enjoying his lot in life, as was I!    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023

    Coco de Mer

    February 9, 2023 on the Seychelles ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Here’s a trivia question for you: What is the world’s largest nut?

    Answer: the Coco de Mer, a unique coconut that only grows in the Seychelles.

    Not only is a Coco de Mer nut big and heavy, but it has the shape of a woman‘s body!

    While visiting the Isle of Praslin, Larry and I saw this exotic tree growing in a forest called Vallee de Mai.

    The Seychelles was once part of the supercontinent Pangaea, but the archipelago broke away from India around 65 million years ago. Flora and fauna of these islands evolved in isolation.

    Photos of the Vallee de Mai do not do it justice. The vegetation was similar to other tropical islands, but it was super sized. We felt like we were in that 70s show, “Land of the Lost.”

    The Vallee de Mai is also home to a bird that lives only the Seychelles, the Black Parrot.

    As the name suggests, this bird is not brightly colored like its tropical cousins. It’s rather small with brown/black feathers, rather like a starling. I was so excited to see and hear black parrots! (I was not able to get a decent photo, but I’m sharing it anyway.)

    The Vallee de Mai has been listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983. To make this list, a cultural or natural site needs to be of such quality that it’s worth protecting as a gift to all of humanity.

    I think the Seychelles’ Vallee de Mai certainly qualifies, don’t you?    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023
    1

    La Digue Swimming

    February 9, 2023 on the Seychelles ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    We visited two granite islands in the Seychelles: Praslin and La Digue. Praslin is quite mountainous, while La Digue is very flat.

    On La Digue, a class of school kids came out to greet our catamaran. They were so cute!

    So many blues and greens to enjoy here!

    We visited La Union Estate, where a group of large tortoises have been imported from the Aldabra Atoll.

    The tortoises we saw were brought here for tourists to enjoy, but the ones remaining on the Aldabra Atoll live in peace because it’s a nature preserve.

    We were allowed to feed them, but most were pretty sated already.

    Afterwards, we visited a beach with dramatic granite outcroppings. Larry stayed in the shade while I swam with my new canine friend (the one I wrote about in another post.)

    I wish I’d had swim goggles, because I found the perfect spot to float and watch schools of brightly colored fish. They seemed to regard me as a bit of scenery and were swimming through my legs and by my arms.

    There was a rocky reef protecting the area, as well. Our guide said this discourages sharks from entering the bay where we swam.

    On the walk back to our open air tram, we saw and heard many beautiful birds. It was truly a taste of paradise!    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023

    My La Digue Doggie

    February 9, 2023 on the Seychelles ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    While watching the tortoises on La Digue, a dog trotted by and had a drink of water. I called out, “Heya, pooch!” and she looked my way.

    She followed Larry and I for the rest of the tour, and even swam with me, as you can see! It was nice to have a dog friend for the day.Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023

    The World

    February 9, 2023 on the Seychelles

    As of today I can truly say, “I’ve seen the world!”

    The World cruise ship, that is…

    Guests on The World own their staterooms. It’s more like a super fancy floating condo than a regular cruise.

    I was surprised to see how small it is; it’s probably 1/3 the size of the Costa Deliziosa.

    I don’t know much more about The World, although one of my friends aboard has a brother who works on it, so if I learn anything interesting, I’ll share it here later!    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023

    Equator Crossing Ritual

    February 7, 2023, Indian Ocean ⋅ 🌙 82 °F

    As far as imaginary lines go, the Equator is actually quite meaningful. It’s not just some human construct due to territorial issues and politics; it truly divides our planet in half.

    This ship threw a party to commemorate crossing the Equator. The captain joined us on deck and asked Neptune, God of the Sea, for permission to cross.

    Neptune and his pals then baptized all passengers who were willing with ladles of sea water on our heads.

    My favorite part was when all the ship’s officers who had never crossed the equator before jumped into the sea water pool together. I got a wonderful photo of that moment.

    The whole thing was a lot of fun, but it made me teary eyed; it’s one of those days where I can’t stop thinking of my Dad.

    When you love someone, so many things can trigger memories and connections to them.

    Even so, it was a fun ritual!    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023
    111

    Sultan Park

    February 5, 2023 on the Maldives ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    While wandering around Male today, Larry and I stumbled into Sultan Park. The treehouse was closed, alas, but this lush park is a real gem.

  • TravelerFebruary 2023
    1

    Green City

    February 5, 2023 on the Maldives ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Male is the capital of the Maldives. But while the roads are cram jammed with cars and motorbikes, it still did not feel as frenetic as most big cities.

    Larry and I tried to pinpoint what makes Male feel more relaxed, or at least what made us feel as if it were.

    For one thing, people drive at an easy pace, without much honking. Sure, they want to get from here to there, but there is a palpable air of patience running through it all.

    It’s hard to explain, but Male feels more relaxed than most cities. (We experienced something similar in Bali.)

    At one point, Larry joked that, “Male is full of house plants!” Perhaps the abundance of flora contributed to our sense of relaxation here.

    During our snorkeling trip, the heat and humidity of the Maldives did not bother me. After all, we were in the crystal blue water most of the time!

    Exploring the city on foot, however, was another story. Many streets here are shaded by trees. (If you look closely at one of the photos I shared, you can see a tree growing through the roof of a restaurant.)

    By the time we bumped into our Romanian friends, we were drenched with sweat! (You can probably tell from the photo.)

    The man in the red shirt is walking down one of Male’s many narrow alleyways. While we appreciated all this shade, Larry and I were more than ready for a shower once we returned to the ship!    Read more

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