Seychelles islands are scattered in the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, 1,500 km east of Kenya, between the fourth and fifth degrees south of the equator
FOR HUNDREDS HUNDREDS, SEYCHELLES ISLANDS REMAINED THE FARK BRITISH COLONY DISCUSSED AT THE EQUATOR, THE PIRATE LOGO ON THE GREAT SILK ROAD SLEEP SOON SOON.
On the far shores
On the almost uninhabited islands, scattered off the west coast of the Indian Ocean almost on the belt of the Earth, former conquistadors hurry to anchor, who are not abandoned by the longing for the deceased empire; those who still rave about the legends of brave pirates, or couples who want to climb into the most exotic corner of the planet and already completely disconnect from civilization there. The first thing that the Seychelles archipelago is valued for is pristine nature, pristine beaches and the endless turquoise expanse of the Indian Ocean, where white sails of a merchant ship or black flags of an insidious pirate ship can appear at any moment from the horizon. However, historical tourism is not in a hurry to develop here, and therefore fragments of the legendary schooners can be found only in the museum.
The history of the islands is fairly straightforward, and, in principle, any local will tell you about it. Already a thousand years ago, Arabs and Phoenicians landed here, but the archipelago and, above all, its main island, Mahe (then Ilya Ganaa) were mapped due to the notorious Vasco da Gama, who stumbled upon them during his "Indian campaign". Later, the hands of enterprising Frenchmen reached the islands, who gave them the name of Minister Jean Moreau de Sechelle and planted them with plantations of spices - cloves, cinnamon and vanilla. To care for them, slave labor was required, so soon a lot of Africans appeared on the archipelago. At the beginning of the XIX century, the Seychelles officially became a British colony, which remained until 1976, when they gained bloodless independence and set sail for free from the rest of the world.
All these twists and turns of fate ensured the birth of a unique nation of Seychelles Creoles, whose veins mixed the blood of European colonialists, African slaves, as well as newcomers Indians and Asians. Local Seychelles, as a rule, are fluent in French and English and are very friendly with tourists of any nationality and race. “30-40 years ago, the marriage of a black Seychelles to a European was exotic, but now you won’t surprise anyone,” said a local resident Serge. “Even you will soon become a creole if you stay with us.”
In the capital of Victoria, located on the central island of Mahe, in the same place as the only international airport, a monument was erected in honor of the mixing of all bloods, showing the tolerance of local residents, as well as a smaller copy of London's Big Ben: it has not only not been destroyed since the times of the British Empire , but on the contrary, they regularly tint and look after him, believing that any story can be proud of.
Seychelles sun is so insidious that you can burn even during a dive
Try to spend time on the outdoor beach in the morning and evening hours, and the remaining time can be spent, for example, studying local cuisine or visiting the spa. Specialties include octopus curry, and drinks include fermented coconut juice or fermented sugarcane juice.
Friendly and welcoming locals are one of the main attractions of the island nation. The local nature is endowed with the same qualities. There are no poisonous plants or dangerous animals on the islands. Here you can find unique species - for example, magpie brush, nightingale bul-bul, and if you're lucky, and black cockatoo, a unique symbol of the Seychelles. Locals treat their natural riches with awe and care - and the same is expected from arriving tourists. "Seychelles is distinguished by unlimited respect for the ocean," said a local resident Victoria. "For example, you will never make a creole swim after sunset."
"Strange things happened at noon. The blinding sea rose up, layered on layers of sheer inconceivability; the coral reef and consumptive palms sticking out somewhere in its heights soared up into the sky, they shook, ripped off, they spread like rain drops on a wire, multiplied like in opposite mirrors. Then, in the evening, the mirage settled and the horizon, clear and blue, stretched out under the lowering sun. And again there was a coolness, clouded, however, by the threat of darkness. As soon as the sun was setting, darkness was pouring onto the island, like from a fire extinguisher , and in the huts under far my stars were filled with fear. "
William Golding. "Lord of the Flies"
Sun, air and water
What can you do in the Seychelles, in addition to daily contemplation of the ocean surface and beautiful sunsets? First of all, the islands are a real mecca for divers. The underwater world on coral reefs is unusually diverse - from tiny colored fish to whale sharks and giant sea turtles. No less interesting occupation is a trip on a yacht or a catamaran with fishing, which is considered the second main occupation of local residents here after tourism. You can catch tuna, dorado or try your luck on blue marlin - you never know what kind of surprise the ocean will prepare for you.
Nevertheless, the main occupation of tourists in the Seychelles is a beach or family vacation in luxury hotels by local standards. According to the tourism committee, about 230 thousand travelers arrive on the island annually, while the Russians, along with the French, Italians and British, are confidently holding the top five. Probably not so much because of a thirst for new adventures, but because of convenient flights: daily flights to the Seychelles are operated by Emirates Airline (with a transfer in Dubai), as well as Etihad Airways and Air Seychelles (from Abu Dhabi). Thanks to this, UAE residents increasingly choose islands as their destination for long weekends and holidays.
Five-star hotels of several international chains are represented on the archipelago. Over the past three years, the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa has been recognized as the best resort of the islands (according to the World Travel Awards). A collection of 110 villas with sea or garden views is hidden in the shade of a nature reserve on Silhouette Island, a 35-minute boat ride from the airport. The hotel has seven restaurants and cafes with Italian, Japanese and Creole dishes, as well as a diving center for beginners and experienced divers.
Another very interesting resort is The Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa: a village on stilts in the cozy Bou Vallon Bay, from where you can contemplate the Silhouette and the North islands in a haze. 40 comfortable villas are located on a hillside among tropical thickets. The external local flavor is complemented by modern equipment from the inside. The real attraction of the hotel is the villa of Jan Fleming: locals believe that it was here that the famous British writer gave birth to the idea of his legendary “Bondiana”. So here you can often meet fans of agent 007!
Seychelles certainly has something to strive for. I would like to believe that soon there will be more than one five-star hotel, new restaurants, taxi services. However, it is important for local residents not to miss the main thing - not to lose balance with nature, which today serves as a natural magnet for tourists from around the world.
