Can Life Get Any Better?
- nansknits19
- May 15
- 3 min read
God does have a wonderful sense of humor!!! If you recall, after my 2023 experience in India, I vowed that even though I had long wanted to see The Taj Mahal, I would not be doing so until such time as I learned it was no longer in India. God heard my vow. Then, along came this voyage which allowed an inland excursion to The Taj Mahal. I waffled... Signed on for a shorter version of the "Around the World" including The Taj Mahal, along with other favorite ports from previous travels, and many places to which I had never traveled...
But then, before the final payment was due, I received a letter from Oceania advising that our route might be altered due to the the military action in the Middle East. If that action continued, we would be rerouted around Africa - instead of India, The Suez Canal, Greece, etc. However, this did nothing to lessen my enthusiasm because we would be returning to one of my very favorite spots on the face of the Earth - Seychelles!
Then, that particular bombing of Gaza stopped, prisoners were exchanged, and what passes for calm broke out... for a minute at least. But just before my departure to San Diego, more rockets commenced to fly around in the Middle East. Still, hope remained that this hostile action would cease and we could stay with our original itinerary. Then, well into our journey, comes an announcement from Oceania, "In an abundance of caution. . . ."
So, I will not be seeing the Taj Mahal. (Think there is a lesson therein?) Instead, after leaving Colombo, Sri Lanka, we took a sharp left sailing South, Southwest through the Indian Ocean for two days to Mahe, Seychelles.
As we pulled into the harbor, I spotted something totally foreign to my idea of heaven on earth: an old ship docked some distance away with no less than three smokestacks pumping gray pollution into the air! Otherwise, the island was as pristine and beautiful as I remembered. My excursion of choice was "The Northern Highlights" which consisted of tours of the Botanical Gardens and downtown Victoria, followed by a drive through a lush tropical paradise to North Beau Vallon Beach - including the opportunity to sink our toes in the most beautifully soft white sand and deep blue waters.
This day did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm/love of Seychelles! Quite the opposite. Apparently our guide, Guy, is as smitten as I. According to Guy's comments, these islands are the Garden of Eden before Adam & Eve bit into the apple. Yes, they have a military, but have never gone to war. No, they have no poisonous snakes, killer crocodiles, alligators, nor other lethal creatures. They do have almost, if not every, kind of fruit one might wish to eat - and in abundance! Plenty of fish for the catching, too. "Oh, no! COVID was not a problem. Plenty of work to do and one lives off the land!" Life is very, very good! Who am I to disagree. Only problem I encountered: our visit was far too short.
In 2023 our tour arrived at the Botanical Gardens just as it was closing. Our guide on that day did some fast talking to the guard at the gate who graciously granted us thirty minutes inside the gardens. Totally inadequate, but something. This day, we went first to the gardens so we could enjoy it in all its grandeur. Excellent call.
Our walking tour of downtown Victoria took us down the main street past Little Big Ben (which was undergoing restoration), a stop at their central Market where the cabbage was bigger than the watermelons, beautiful gift shops, a casino, an extremely ornate Hindu Temple, and their Catholic Church where Guy's father was (had been?) a member...
Then, back onto the bus for our trip to the beach. The scenery along the way and the beach itself were equally spectacular. Yes, I walked barefoot through the sand and waded in the beautiful blue waters! It was pure bliss!
Pictures speak louder than words. Judge for yourselves...
Today Is Someday! Here's to another day in Seychelles!
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