Le Digue and Undersea Magic

Leaving Praslin

We say goodbye to the lovely Mango Lodge. The lodge cat could not care less.

It starts to pour rain as we reach the ferry jetty. We wait over an hour for the fifteen minute ferry  trip from Praslin to the nearby island of Le Digue. One of the older men on the boat has a strong resemblance to one of yesterday’s tortoises. The water is calm. By the time we arrive, the sun is out and it is hot, hot, hot.

Upon arrival, we notice signs announcing that it is the 50th anniversary of Seychelles Independence.

Arrival in Le Digue

Le Digue is about a third the size of Praslin. There are less than a hundred cars on the island. The majority of traffic is bicycles and electric golf carts.

Our accommodations, Cocotier du Rocher, organized a golf cart to take us from the ferry jetty to their property.

We are located a fifteen minute walk or seven minute bike ride from the main village of La Passe  were the ferry docks.

Cocotier du Rocher

It is a very lush island and our little cottage is surrounded by gardens. I head into our bathroom and am sidetracked by the big fruit tree outside the window filled with all different kinds of birds.

Groceries

We walk into town for some groceries. Despite going to three different stores, I cannot find any frozen vegetables. I find fresh (?) broccoli, peppers añd carrots but they are very expensive and way past their prime. We do find eggs for .50 cents CAD an egg and a tub of yogurt (about 4 servings) for $14 CAD..

I look up local food specialties. Creole is the local cooking however there are lots of other available options. One of the specialties is Fruit Bat Curry. There are a number of high end restaurants that serve it. I am curious  and highly tempted until I read that you have to be careful not to swallow the little bones …and there are lots of little bones in bat meat. I also have to admit that after this week’s nocturnal digestive adventures, I am nervous about trying new foods.

Biking in Le Digue

We have rented bikes while on Le Digue.

After a late lunch and cool down break (thank god for air conditioning), we take our bikes and head to Anse Severe beach to watch the sunset. After almost taking out a local cyclist, I get used to the idea that I am to stick to the other side of the road.

Sunset at Anse Severe

Once reaching Anse Severe we find ourselves a great spot to watch the sunset. As we pass a beach bar called “Bikini Bottom” I notice a directional sign which includes the distance to Canada.

The sunset is lovely featuring dramatic storm clouds This is such a beautiful island.

It is dark by the time we return to our cottage and I can hear the fruit bats squabbling in the mango trees.

Snorkeling Trip

Next day we have a morning  snorkeling trip booked.  After breakfast we take our bikes and head into the main town – La Passe.

There are only seven of us on the tour plus our guide and driver. We first head to Coco Island Marine Park. I am delighted with the snorkeling. We see three Hawksbill Sea Turtles and a huge array of fish including large Parrotfish, a puffer, Trumpetfish, powder blue tangs, electric blue damselfish, athias, chromis, Moorish Idols, Angel Fish and Seargent Majors. There are so many fish and such bright colours. It was like being in a magic otherworld and the ocean was like bath water. Click here for an article about Marine Life in Seychelles.

There are different corals as well as the limestone rock. The viewing conditions are perfect; clear and bright. This is the best snorkeling we’ve had on this vacation. Outstanding.

We snorkel in two other locations which are equally as fabulous. One of the islands is Felicite Island which is privately owned and has a number of villas on its lush property that go for a measly $4,000 CAD per night. Yep…. book me a month.

The Drain stopper Mystery

Too soon, our tour is over. It is really hot and the sun is  beating down. Our bikes are now parked in the sun. The seats are scalding hot so we put them in the shade until they cool enough to sit on. I’m still in my wet snorkel shirt and bathing suit as we bike back to our cottage.

One of John’s and my most used travel accessories is our universal drain stopper. It is surprising how many sinks do not have plugs in places we stay. 

I go to wash my snorkel clothes in dish detergent only to find that our stopper has vanished. The cleaners were here while we were out and made up the beds and cleaned the  kitchen and bathroom. After a thorough search we email reception with a picture of our missing stopper. The cleaner arrives and opens up the lid of the coffee maker, laughing he explains he thought it was part of the coffee machine filter! Mystery solved.

Downpour

We do washing, have lunch and cool down from the afternoon heat in our air conditioned room. At 4pm we get on our bikes and head to Anse Severe for a late afternoon swim and sunset.

We pass a huge graveyard filled with white tombs decorated with many, many bright flowers.

We find a place in the shade, John goes for a swim and we chill until sunset. The burning sun sets directly into the water, then the heavens open and the rains come. The rain is so heavy that we are soaked within a minute or two and I have to stop the bike and take off my glasses because water is running down the lenses.

It stops just as we arrive to our accommodations. 

I feel ready to go to sleep as soon as we finish supper. There is not a lot to do in the evenings so I have been in bed by 9pm (noon in Ontario) and up at 5:00am (8pm Ontario time). We will be back in Ontario in eight days and I have a lot of commitments so I am trying to gradually adjust to the time change. Today’s challenge is to stay up until 10pm and up at 6am. It is only 8pm and I am ready to go to sleep. Yikes.