Tag Archives: Praslin

Seychelles, La Digue: Nature & Friendliness

Posted on June 9, 2017 | Leave a comment

Welcome To La Digue

After A Long Rain

Epic arrival at La Passe harbour, by ferry from Praslin at midday, under a heavy rain. So I canceled the rental of the bike. And I wait patiently in the veranda of my bungalow that the rain stops.

On the island, you can’t rent a car. A very good point considering its area (9.81 km2)! One moves by bike, buggy or taxi (bugy or car). It gives a charm to this small island of the Indian Ocean!

Around 3 p.m. the rain stops. If the weather allows, I will visit the island before dusk, in bugy (no time to bike). First stop: Grande Anse, awesome fine white sand beach, with turquoise emerald water and granite rocks, a marvel! But dangerous for swim (photos and videos above and below). 

 

 

I Continue My Island Tour

Clear Water Everywhere

Even when the weather changes from rainny to sunny (on the photomontage below). After visiting a succession of lovely coves (which I will not enumerate!), we stop at Chez Jules, the small Creole bar-restaurant of Anse Banane, ideally located facing the sea. Where I taste a Creole nougat with banana and coconut: very perfumed but too sweet for me.

Then back to my bungalow with a kitsch interior design (I like it), but super clean and very well equipped (photo 2 on the photomontage below). In fact, I should had to sleep at La Diguoise, but there was confusion in the dates.

The Gourmet Address

La Diguoise

I’m lucky enough to have dinner and have breakfast at La Diguoise, a refined small guest house (photo 3 above). Very warm welcome in a lovely Creole house with a beautiful garden where it is good to farniente! One of those confidential addresses you share with friends. 

Elodie is a very caring owner and a fabulous chef (video below). On the photo montage above, the succulent dinner: photo 1, homemade chips with pieces of coconut. And photo 2, a Creole dishes assortment with salads, fish and salt donuts. A delight! Photo 4, the breakfast served like a painting … in a really relaxing setting (photos below).

I really enjoy the slow rythm of La Digue island. I will go back.

 

  

The next day, Departure For Mahe via Praslin

Photos & vidéos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

Seychelles Tourism Board, La Diguoise, Air Seychelles.

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks the Seychelles Tourism Board and Air Seychelles for this fantastic experience. Also many thanks to Elodie and her smiling team for the very warm welcome. As always, these are my opinions.

Leave a comment

Posted in "On the road again", Hotels

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Seychelles, La Digue: nature et convivialité

Posted on June 9, 2017 | Leave a comment

Bienvenue à La Digue

Après une longue pluie

Arrivée épique au port de La Passe, en ferry de Praslin, en milieu de journée, sous des trombes d’eau. Du coup j’ai annulé la location du vélo. Et j’attends patiemment que la pluie cesse sur la véranda de mon bungalow. 

Sur l’île, on ne peut pas louer de voiture : ce qui est très bien vu sa superficie (9,81 km2)! On se déplace en vélo, char à boeuf, ou taxi (bugy ou voiture). Ca donne un charme fou à ce petit bout de terre de l’Océan Indien! 

Vers 15h la pluie cesse et si l’éclaircit le permet, je visiterai l’île avant la tombée de la nuit, en accéléré en bugy. Premier arrêt : Grande Anse, superbe plage de sable blanc fin, eau turquoise émeraude et rochers granitiques, une merveille! Dangereuse pour nager. En photos et vidéos ci-dessus et ci-dessous.

 

Je poursuis mon tour de l’île

Partout l’eau est transparente,

même lorsque le temps oscille entre éclaircie et pluie (sur le photomontage ci-dessous). Après avoir visité une succession d’anses (que je ne vous énumérerai pas!), nous nous arrêtons Chez Jules, le petit bar-restaurant créole d’Anse Banane, idéalement situé face à la mer. Où je goûte un nougat créole à la banane et noix de coco, très parfumé mais beaucoup trop sucré pour moi.

Puis retour à mon bungalow à la décoration kitsch, mais super propre et très bien équipé (photo 2 sur le photomontage ci-dessous). En fait je devais dormir à La Diguoise, mais il y a eu confusion dans les jours. 

L’adresse gourmande

La Diguoise

J’ai la chance de dîner et de prendre le petit déjeuner à La Diguoise, une petite maison d’hôtes très prisée (photo 3 ci-dessus). Accueil très chaleureux dans une belle maison créole avec un magnifique jardin, où il fait bon buller! Une de ces adresses confidentielles que l’on conserve précieusement entre amis. 

Elodie est une propriétaire attentionnée et une cuisinière hors paire (vidéo ci-dessous). Sur le photo montage ci-dessus, le succulent dîner : photo 1, chips maison avec morceaux de noix de coco. Et photo 2, un assortiment de plats créoles avec des salades, du poissons et des beignets. Un régal! Photo 4, un petit déjeuner, beau comme une peinture… dans un cadre super relaxant (photos ci-dessous).

J’aime l’indolence de La Digue. Je reviendrai.

 

  

Le lendemain: départ pour Mahé via Praslin

Photos & vidéos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

Seychelles Tourism Board, La Diguoise, Air Seychelles

Autres articles : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Un grand merci au Seychelles Tourism Board et Air Seychelles pour cette superbe expérience. Un grand merci aussi à Elodie et sa souriante équipe à La Diguoise, pour ce chaleureux accueil. Comme toujours, ce sont mes opinions.

Leave a comment

Posted in "On the road again", Fooding & Bars

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Seychelles, Praslin: Beaches & Coco de Mer

Posted on June 7, 2017 | Leave a comment

The Arrival At Mahe

The Departure To Praslin

As soon as I got off the Air Seychelles plane, I took in a cab to catch the Cat Coco Catamaran ferry from Mahe to Praslin, the second largest island in the Seychelles archipelago.

We arrive at the pier under a blazing sun at 9 plus a.m. I stay in the shade, patiently waiting to embark. What a light! Incredible blue sky and white clouds! I arrive in Praslin at 11.30 am, in a landscape of postcard with turquoise waters (photo above).

The crossing lasted an hour … of pure ecstatic contemplation of the Indian Ocean (with air-con)! In the taxi to go to the Coco de Mer hotel, I am surprised by the lush vegetation, steep road and small mountains. Like Mahé and La Digue, Praslin is a granitic island. 

The Charming Hotel

When arriving in the lobby of the Hotel Coco de Mer – Black Parrot Suites, I am attracted by the ocean view and the verdant gardens of this 200-hectare property.

The welcome is warm and friendly. Like Ash Behari, one of the owners and General Manager of the hotel (video below), all the staff are smiling and professional. It feels like visiting friends. 

And guess where the hotel gets its name from? According to a local legend about the Vallée de Ma! nature reserve: 

 

The Suites Black Parrot are located in the exclusive part of the hotel, on a small cliff with a pool offering a panoramic view of the ocean and beaches. My suite in pictures below.

The Island Tour

The Vallée de Mai

I really enjoy taking the road (taxi or rental) to visit the island at my own pace (sometimes exhausting for others, LOL). I am too eager for breathtaking scenery to stay on the beach of the hotel … 

Thanks to my need of action, I discovered stunning coves and beaches! Beware of currents in the water (they can be dangerous), the best is to inquire before bathing.

First stop under tropical rain: the Vallée de Mai, a primitive forest with six species of endemic palms. I have an appointment with the guide Shaun Larue for a detailed visit. He begins by explaining the formation of the Seychelles granite islands (video below). 

Oops I was about to forget ; ) The biggest seed of the world grows on the palm trees of the Valley of May nature reserve : the endemic iconic Coco de Mer (photo above).

 

     

Back On The Road

Anse Lazio

Crystal Clear Water

It doesn’t rain when I finally arrive at Anse Lazio considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I agree, it is superb!

The quality of the very fine sand, the crystal clear water with emerald, turquoise and deep blue reflections, the rock blocks scattered here and there and the palms and vegetation with different green tones.

Unfortunately I don’t have time to swim. I have a ferry to take to another island. To be continued…

 

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

Seychelles Tourism Board, Coco de Mer Hotel, Air Seychelles.

A guide to visit the Vallée de Mai: Shaun Larue, [email protected], tel. (+248) 2595110.

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks the Seychelles Tourism Board, Air Seychelles and Coco de Mer Hotel for this beautiful invitation. Also thank you to Ash Behari and Shaun Larue. As always, these are my opinions.

Leave a comment

Posted in "On the road again", Hotels

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,