Site inspection

Yesterday and today were another two days with a full work program. Usually the evening when we finally finish work, I just try to be strong enough to clean my make up, take a shower, brush my teeth and fall into my bed. The handover with my colleague is really very intense, and when I think "oh but tomorrow must be a bit more relaxed", then actually the next day is just even more exhausting.
Today we went to the other two bigger islands, Praslin and La Digue so that I get a picture about the hotels there. Thanks god the ocean was quite calm, even if in the rain season which is now, it could have been a lot more agitated. From the main island Mahe to Praslin it tooks around an 1 hour with the ferry line Cat Coco (cute name, isn't it?!) and from Praslin to La Digue with the ferry line Cat Rose maybe another half an hour.
La Digue is the smallest from these 3 islands, and it's also known as the calmest. There are no cars, just bikes. You can rent bikes in the several bike rental places or at your hotel. There are also donkey carriages, so it's like as time stood still on this island and that you are actually living in the past century.
The hotels are also smaller, there are some boutique style hotels for romantic getaways and also some guest houses for young people who like to be close to the nature.
I really liked Le Domaine de l'Orangerie which is in a picturesque setting in a garden where it smells like orange flower. I also loved the rooms with the open showers, very nicely designed. There was an amazing view from the spa: the massage beds facing the wonderful ocean view from the top of the property. It really took my breath away.

On Praslin there are also very nice hotels, big, small, boutique hotel, guest house, luxury hotel: there is something for everyone. My favourites were here Le Duc de Praslin and Constance Lemuria. Le Duc is a boutique hotel nicely decorated with the work of local artists, a tropical little garden, a cool surf style beach bar and tapas bar with amazing view of the bay, where you have live music and entertainment almost every day.
Constance Lemuria is a classical posh golf hotel, with an 18 hole golf course, 3 different beaches (all of them beautiful), great restaurants, a nice spa and luxurious rooms.

Praslin is also home to the famous “Vallee de Mai” National Park. Unique to Vallee de Mai and to Praslin is the “Coco de Mer” - or Coco de Fesse: it’s a butt shaped coconut. It’s illegal to poach these coconuts. It’s possible to buy them - they are very very expensive and each of them has a barcode. It’s the Louis Vuitton, or the Manolo Blahnik of the coconuts. I remember there is a shop on Eden Island also, where you can buy them. By the way Eden Island is not far from the airport of Victoria, on Mahe Island. It is a man made island where you have a shopping centre, a yacht harbour, some good cafes and restaurants, a hotel called Eden Bleu and also you can buy property there.
Since this was a business visit with site inspection and tight program, I couldn’t visit the national park yet, so later I will tell you more about Praslin.

We were served a delicious dinner at Acajou Hotel, and finally there was good service. Yes, the first time since I arrived on the Seychelles! Later on I will write detailed about tourism and hospitality on this island and I will explain why is it a “Wow” moment, when something works how it should work.

The way back with the ferry was not as peaceful as the onward journey, the ocean was not at his best, so I really had to concentrate to survive the last 20 minutes.