Honeymoon Part One - The Seychelles
July 5-11, 2004		 Previous Albums

 

After a long flight, we arrive at the Seychelles International Airport. We were officially on "island time" as we waited in line to reach the immigration window, which looked like a wooden phone booth. After checking in at the Banyan Tree, the staff showed us to our private villa, with amazing views of the Indian Ocean as well as free fruit and champagne on ice. The view from the veranda of the hotel. The beach was just for guests of the hotel, and the water was clear, blue and warm (about 28C/82F). Greg tries out the water. Since it was "winter" just south of the equator, we usually had the beach more or less to ourselves. The mandatory "hey, we're on vacation" shot of our feet, with the hotel swimming pool in the background. Amy enjoys a poolside ginger tea. Notice the stress of the pre-wedding planning slowly melting away... Panoramic view of the pool at the Banyan Tree. The pool has an infinity edge, which makes it seem like you're floating above the ocean. A view of the Banyan Tree from inside the pool. There is a bench at the ocean end of the pool where you can sit and look out at the sea and watch crabs scuttle around the beach.
Another view of the beach, taken from the hotel pool. Floating in the pool with the warm breeze and the sound of the ocean, it's hard to imagine yourself ever leaving again. Greg and Amy in the pool. Just after this picture was taken, the camera got hit by a splash of water and took a couple of hours to recover. Amy strikes a glamour pose at the beach. The private jacuzzi in our villa, and the view overlooking the rest of the hotel and the ocean. Each day they left fresh island flowers around the jacuzzi for us. A panoramic view taken from our jacuzzi. Whoever designed the layout of this place really knew what they were doing...just beautiful. Amy contemplates the view from the edge of our private pool. Unlike the hotel pool, this one wasn't heated, so at this time of year it's mainly for taking a mid-day dip. Another view from our private villa pool. Here you can see the bench for sitting and watching the ocean on warmer days.
Greg's head hovers between pool, sea and sky. Once you got in and got used to it, the water wasn't bad, especially in the middle of the day. Amy writes down some thoughts in the journal that her mom bought her just before the wedding. Note that she's also getting good use out of the complimentary slippers. A panoramic view of the outside of our villa. Everything back to the gate in the background was ours, and it was designed to be completely private. Some of the flowers that the housekeeping staff left around our room and the jacuzzi each day...very tropical and fragrant. On one day, we actually managed to leave the hotel, rent a 4x4 and explore the island. You can drive around the entire island in a few hours, so we did just that. Clear turquoise waters along the southern coast of Mahé (the main island, where we stayed.) It seems like you could easily walk out to the next island. There are about 115 islands that make up the Seychelles, and the majority of them are unpopulated. Together, they span an area of 1.3 million square kilometers. Another view of the crystal-clear water. In the middle distance you can see some small local boats anchored in the shallow water.
A very tropical jungle-like view off one of the main roads around the island. In the higher altitudes the climate is much cooler and wetter. A banana tree, one of many found all around the island. Like most tropical places, fruit of all kinds is abundant here. Despite knowing that it was a tourist trap, we decided to take a detour to a waterfall which was marked on our map as a highlight of the local scenery. If you don't already know that an attraction is a tourist trap, a sign saying "welcome tourist" is a pretty big hint. After paying our 50 rupees (about 8 euros) entrance fee, we walked along a path that led through some pens with rabbits, pigeons and tortoises (which, as you know, often hang out together in the wild.) Two tortoises doing pretty much what it is that tortoises do (which is to say, nothing, and very slowly.) Tip: if your sandragon trees aren't pulling in the tourist business, try marketing them as "BLOOD sandragon trees!" In the end, the waterfall actually was quite nice, tucked back in the jungle complete with a little lagoon at the bottom.
A group of island kids, presumably on their way to school. There are certainly worse places to grow up, but we wondered if they have hopes of moving away when they get older. Climbing up the mountain, you see view after panoramic view of all parts of the island. One of the views of the southwestern coast of the island from higher in the mountains. Two of the long-tailed tropicbirds that fly around the forested parts of the island. Late-afternoon panorama from Beau Vallon beach on the north side of Mahé island. The water here was the best we found on the island for swimming. Amy is ready to sample some of the cuisine of the Seychelles. The food was good, with a mix of Thai, Creole and European influences. Eating most of your meals at the hotel gets expensive, though. Nighttime view of the Banyan Tree reception and restaurant. The tree on the right is actually a banyan tree, which will get much bigger in the next few years. After a day at the beach and a couples massage at the spa, there's nothing nicer than lying in the jacuzzi and looking at the southern stars. This is the life.

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 July 11-18, 2004
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