We arrive at our hotel, the "Plantation Club", on the southwest coast of Mahe.

Out on the grounds, people are scattering in all directions, and a great commotion is obviously in progress.  An ox belonging to a local farmer has gotten loose, terrorizing the pool and the handball green, and is being very un-cooperative about being returned to the ranch!

Our room is a few steps from the beach and is air-conditioned.

We do a bit of beach-combing, and the prize find is what appears to be a fragment of blue coral.

We also do a bit of sight-seeing in the capital city, Victoria, named after the British Queen. The Victoria Clock Tower was erected to celebrate the islands' becoming an independent crown colony, in 1902.  It is not a replica of Big Ben but a replica of the Tower at London's Vauxhaul Bridge.

The local outdoor market is a good place to see the "real" people.  A racial mixture of largely European and African descent, the total population of all the 115 islands is probably still less than 80,000, and 90% of them live on Mahe.  

The official languages of the Seychelles are Creole, English, and French.  Creole is basically French in vocabulary, with French and Bantu syntax, and with other words borrowed from Malagasy, Bantu, English, and Hindi.

The abundance of the Indian Ocean is an important factor in subsistence and the economy, with tuna being a major export.  Only 2.2% of the land area of the Seychelles is arable.  The minimal availability of pasture for cattle favors smaller livestock such as pigs and chickens.

In a population where 97% are Christian, and mostly Catholic, a Hindu temple is a curiosity.

Farewell to "Paradise on Earth"! 

For us, Hawaii has a good deal of the natural beauty and more diversity than the Seychelles and is a lot closer to home in California.

But on the other side of the globe, at this time of year, the Seychelles' sunshine, warm water, and palm trees offer an exotic escape for the winter-weary of the Nordic countries.

If you happen to be suffering from Seasonal Affect Disorder and find yourself within a few hours flying time to the Seychelles, it might be worth a visit.

Romantic as they are, the Seychelles face challenges in controlling problems associated with economic progress, expanding tourism, population, and pollution.  

We certainly hope they can preserve their unique island ecology, or this pristine place could someday end up being "Paradise Lost".