Tropical paradise

When I saw SEZ on my November roster I did not know first what airport it was. I was so excited when I found out it was Seychelles! I thought I was very lucky to get to see this amazing destination. Even though the layover in Seychelles was only 13 hours long, it could not in any way spoil my excitement. Just the thought of sunbathing underneath the African sun, swimming in the Indian Ocean and visiting an exotic destination for the first time was so thrilling.

The flight was only 4 hours long and since the departure time was in the morning, I was well rested after the whole night of sleep. The passengers were mostly honeymooners, or people going for the vacation, all with their spirits up. Many of them had transit flights so on this flight they were so tired they just slept all the way. What more can a flight attendant wish for than relaxed and cheerful or sleeping passengers! The crew was also in very good mood; we were all excited to spend some time in a luxurious beach resort, getting some tan and going for a seafood dinner. Very smooth flight, no turbulences, no problems.        

As soon as we got out of the plane I felt strong heat and humidity with very particular smell. I imagined this to be the smell of exotica. It was a bit cloudy with tiny rain drops. Suddenly I felt hot and uncomfortable in my thick uniform, with my hat on; thinking only of removing it and putting on my bikini. The trip from the airport to the hotel resort was quite long. I was observing the island from inside the bus while listening to the driver´s African music. From what I could see the island was rather green and hilly, with a lot of curves and narrow roads.

Seychelles is actually an archipelago off East Africa, consisting of more than 100 islands, the majority of which is completely uninhabited. We landed at Seychelles International Airport which is located on the island called Mahe. Mahe Island is the largest one in size and population and the capital Victoria is located here as well. Our hotel resort was located on the eastern coast of Mahe island. I was told that the interior of the island is rainforest and then all the coastal areas are white powder beaches, with bays, coves, and coral reefs. The island has a few small towns featuring Creole culture, a lot of breath-taking viewpoints and waterfalls. The environment is really unique. I saw animals and exotic plants which I did not even know existed.

Upon our arrival to the hotel I asked the concierge about the most popular activities on the island. She said the tourists generally enjoy the snorkelling as the island is full of colourful corals, tropical fish and sea turtles; then diving, kayaking or rock climbing. The hotel resort we were staying in had a private beach so we spent the whole afternoon there until the sunset; no other activities this time.   

Later at night I joined the crew for dinner. We all came dressed up, girls wearing colourful summer dresses and soft scarfs to protect ourselves from the mosquitos. When we were checking in we were actually informed that it is a hotel policy to come for dinner dressed appropriately; no beach shorts or flip flops allowed!

The dinner was served in a big open air restaurant and it was “all- you- can- eat” buffet. There was absolutely everything: international cuisines, such as Italian, Mediterranean, English and then the local Creole cuisine which blends the African, French, Chinese and Indian flavours with native Creole influences. The Creole cuisine uses a lot of spices, fresh fruits and fish. Some examples of typical meals would be grilled octopus with spices such as ginger or chilli, various seafood curries, fish baked in banana leaves, and desserts made from fresh tropical fruits, such as mango or passion fruit.

After watching the sunset on a quiet sandy beach, swimming in the blue waters and then having a dinner, consisting of meals with all these aphrodisiac spices I understood even better why Seychelles is such a perfect place for honeymoon. Everything is just so romantic: from the sounds of the tropical birds and colour of the sand on the beach up to the hotel room design and music in the resort. Tropical paradise indeed!

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