Clearing A Monday And Looking Forward!

For those just starting your Monday or if you are ending it! This 'Brew' is for you! Cheers mate! Now if you are not in Seychelles yet? What is keeping you?

More updates shortly.........

'UniqueOffersGhana' Here We Come!

Good day to all! Just a quick update. Two of them actually!! One of them involves the 'look' and 'feel' of 'UniqueOffersSeychelles' and the other concerns our 'prelim' discussions with a potential partner for 'UniqueOffersGhana' project!

It was always our intention to have 3 websites catering to Seychelles, Ghana, and Kenya. The 'Seychelles' site is now up and running and now is the time to move to the second project - being 'UniqueOffersGhana'!

Early days yet but after some back and forth with different interested parties it looks like we are about to settle on a partner who will bring much positive contributions to the project! Ghana is indeed the 'gateway' to Western Africa and the completion of this project will be very much welcome.

At the same time we are constantly looking to improve upon the 'Seychelles' product!

To all those who have visited either this 'blog' or our other sites - www.uniqueoffersseychelles.com or www.uniqueoffers.rovia.com - A Big Thank You!

All sites under 'UniqueOffers' works with small business owners and establishments directly, and more importantly where we sell or promote their products- we give back to the community, a percentage of sales generated!

Make it a great day!

More Than Just Beach & Sun!

When you think of an island what is it that is in your mind? Sun, sand and beach, quiet times, fishing, scuba, nature, trees, lush mountains, fresh air,fruits, cuisine? Ok well that is a good start for sure!

Every island has a story and a good reason why you should go and visit! And if you can, visit them all, not just the Seychelles. For all those who live on an island, be they by one or a few thousands, share a common aspiration and a link with each other no matter the distance or their geographic location.

I just love islands and living on one! They can be fun and always challenging, even today in our 21st century.

For the most part if you are going to an island you are going as a tourist which means that it will be for the most part a catered affair! My advice is mingle with the people, walk around, shop in the village shops, sample new fruits (always wash them though), learn to dance the Sega (if you are in the Seychelles), get to really know the island you are visiting and take as much as you can, in! That is the best way to enjoy.

Other ways to enjoy? Go fishing my friend. Going to the Seychelles and you want to go fishing? Great! We can recommend and organise for you a fishing trip that will last for many years in that part of the brain that stores all your 'fun' stuff!

Visit our site and go to 'Boat Charter Fishing Fun'! Enjoy!

A Leopard Came Calling On My Island Of Desroches

By: Rosemary Pothin Ludwig

21st November 1959 a ‘leopard’ came calling to our fair island of Desroches in the Seychelles Islands. Well I called it ‘ours’ but actually in those days it was owned by the Delhomme family.

My father, Antonio, was hired by Mr. Andre Delhomme to manage the island for him. As a young girl, 14years of age, at the time living at the manager’s quarters, La Maison Blanche, I recall with fondness the time that I spent there with my mother Marie-Ange and at times my younger brothers Harold and Nicholas.

Life was not easy but we made it our home and shared what we had with the other families who lived there as well working on the island farm.

Once every 3 months we would be visited by the either the schooner ‘MV Anne’ or ‘MV de Quincy’ bringing supplies such as sugar, flour, rice, lentils, and the like, perhaps some live animals, books, medical supplies, alcohol, cloth, and other needed items, from the main island of Mahe. In return the schooners would be filled with copra and other crops which were grown on the island. If the wind was right the schooners could expect to make it back to Mahe some 24 hours after leaving our shores.

Indeed a visit by the schooners was the talking point by all and for many days after the memory of them anchored offshore seared hot on the mind. Now with them gone we would all watch and mark off on the calendar each passing day so as to prepare for their next return.

On this particular morning however it was not the arrival of a schooner from Mahe which had grabbed the attention of all of us. Rather it was the sight and sound of a much larger vessel, the HMS Leopard, with the marking ‘F14’ on her bow. Officers from the ship had made it ashore and had been met by my father in his capacity as the manager of the island.

I recall it being a brief but friendly visit as the captain of the ship explained the reason for the visit. Having visited Poivre island the day before this ship of the Royal Navy would next visit Praslin and Mahe where they would stay for a few days before heading off to Mauritius and later South Africa. “Showing the colours”, I recall one of the younger officers saying.

After a delicious meal prepared by my mother it was left to me to show some of the officers the beach and perhaps showing off some of my ‘local’ knowledge of the island to them as well.

On the beach walking and sharing stories with my mother in tow, there we happened upon several beautiful shells freshly brought ashore by the surf, which were almost immediately picked up by the captain looking at them briefly and placing them ‘safely’ in his pockets.

“Captain”, I said, “Perhaps it would be wiser to first clean out the shells before placing them in your trouser pocket”, I dared to suggest. My mother was quick to excuse my remarks to this most seasoned officer of Her Majesty’s service with a quick and clever retort back, my suggestion was politely ignored and our walk continued.

It was not but a few minutes later did we notice the mighty ‘Leopard’ looking strangely and removing the ‘innocent’ shells from his pocket. “Whatever was the matter?” asked the ship’s medical officer to his senior. Puzzled they all looked at the shells while the captain explained that something had been nipping at him and this was most puzzling?

Ever the expert I recall stepping in to explain that there was a simple reason for this. Taking one of the shells in hand I began to gently blow into one of the openings to persuade the occupant to come out. Indeed it did, a small crab, extending its claw and almost instantly grabbing hold of my upper lip! How embarrassed I was!

Indeed the mighty ‘leopard’ had gone from having a ‘crab’ in his pocket and being confused as to what it could possibly be, to a young teenage girl scurrying off down the beach with the very same crab now dangling off of her lip, screaming! What a log entry this would make I later thought to myself.

My father was not too amused ‘yanking’ the small animal from my lip causing a gash at the same time.

Later as the officers from the HMS Leopard paid their respects to my family I was nowhere to be seen. The mighty ‘leopard’ had landed and met his crab but I was the worse off for it!

More information on the island of Desroches:-

Desroches was named by Chevalier de Roslan, commander of the ship L'Heure du Berger, after the Chevalier des Roches, the Governor of Mauritius (then Île de France) and Réunion (then Bourbon) from 1767 to 1772. [1] It was explored by the Chevalier de la Billioère in 1771. The British had originally named it Wood Island because of its dense tree vegetation. The island was an important producer of copra.

Along with the remaining Amirante Islands, Desroches had been a part of the Seychelles since it became a separate colony in 1909. On November 8, 1965, the United Kingdom split Desroches from the Seychelles to become part of the newly created the British Indian Ocean Territory together with Farquhar, Aldabra and the Chagos Archipelago, but returned it to the Seychelles with the first two. The purpose was to allow the construction of military facilities for the mutual benefit of the United Kingdom and the United States. On June 23, 1976, Desroches was returned to Seychelles as a result of it attaining independence.

Desroches has a population of about 50, a settlement in the middle of the northwestern shore (looking to the lagoon), a small luxury hotel with 20 rooms in the south (Desroches Island Resort), built in 1988[2] and a paved airstrip 1372 m long in the southern part. It is located 36 km east of the Amirantes Bank, and separated from it by water over 1300 meters deep. It lies on the southern edge of a reef of atoll character.

At the northern edge of the atoll are the Shark Rocks, with least depths between 3 and 6 meters. There is a lighthouse on the northeast end of the Desroches Island. The island is fringed by a drying reef which extends 1.6 km offshore from the northeastern extremity and 0.8 km from the southwestern extremity.

The island is low and is covered with coconut palms and tall hardwood trees. A deep channel, about 1.6 km wide, leads into the lagoon. The least depth in the channel is 18.3 m, and it crosses the atoll in a position about 11 km northwest of Desroches.

We know the Seychelles Islands. Would you like to? www.uniqueoffersseychelles.com

Rosemary Pothin Ludwig is the owner of 'UniqueOffersSeychelles!LLC'

Simply Enjoy! For All Fish Lovers Out There!

Hi all! One of my favourite photos of my most fortunate uncle - why? Because of the catch he had in hand and was going to prepare that very day the 'Creole' way!!!

Believe it or not this fine fish, a Red Snapper, was purchased fresh from one of the village fishermen by the side of the road.

If you are ever driving around on Mahe and find yourself at 'Anse Poule Bleu' just past the grotto of the 'Virgin Mary', you may look for an elderly fisherman by the name of Maurice who will be standing by the road with his very fresh catches.

Even though Maurice cannot swim he has been fishing from the waters around his village for the past 50 years!!!!

The Seychelles Islands. Visit soon! We know the Seychelles. Would you like to?

What Does A 'Leopard' Have To Do With A Crab?

Hi there! No matter where you are at right this minute I really appreciate the time you have taken to stop by and visit and hopefully find something of interest on the Seychelles Islands. As well your comments are always welcome! If you are planning to come to the islands I invite you to visit our website 'UniqueOffersSeychelles!'as a starting point and get in touch with me if you need help to organise.

So back to the question - 'what does a 'leapord' have to do with a crab?'

First let me assure you that the Seychelles has never had any lions or tigers so if you are out and about for a trek in the woods at 'Morne Seychellois' a beautiful mountain located on the 'big' island of Mahe, you have nothing to worry.

Perhaps the best way to get to know the 'big' island is by taking a private tour! If this sounds interesting let me know!

Check back again real soon and the question will be answered!

Flying In To The Seychelles.

Excitement builds up anytime the flight you are on approaches its final destination. For one thing there is a 'sigh' of relief that the flight is about to be over and on the other - that you are about to arrive and begin your holiday or meet up again with loved ones! What a thrilling feeling indeed!

For me I have had this feeling over and over again no matter where I would be landing in many locations around the globe. The biggest emotional lift however was whenever we would make our final approach into Mahe, the 'big' island within the Seychelles group.

My mind would start to race with anticipation and I would start to think about all the things that I would be doing on my very first day back for you see time is precious and being in Seychelles even more precious so why waste any?

Word of advice for new visitors to the islands. Do please wear appropriate clothing. No heavy jackets or the like. I always travel light to speed my way through the friendly arrival formalities and of course I bring a change of clothes and change just prior to landing. T shirt, shorts, and slippers! Very comfortable and primed to handle the tropic air as the door is opened.

Another word of advice. Once the plan has landed there is no need to rush to stand up to de-plane. Relax and prepare yourself by all means but as the Seychelles is a unique place to be, the health authorities will be making a quick inspection and ensuring that the flight crew has sprayed the plane before any doors are opened. Why? Well to kill off any bugs that may have hitched a ride. This will take a few minutes after you have landed. It always amuses me to see pasengers in a hurry standing and then finding out that they will have to wait for a bit longer.

So back to me and what I will be doing once on the ground. Well once clearing immigration my first stop is the Duty Free and a purchase of a bottle of Jim Beam! Cannot arrive empty handed that would not be polite. Then on to baggage claim and out the door to waiting family and friends. All the while my senses are alive and my eyes searching for familiar faces to say hello to! WoW! Sounds simple enough but what a thrill it is. The ride home with the window open even better!

Within the hour after getting home I am taking a cold shower and kicking back sipping tea and catching up on all the local gossip! And after? Hmmmmm.... a dip at Beau Vallon of course!

As night falls I sit back under the night sky looking up at the stars. Thank you God for what we have.

I hope you enjoy your stay on the islands and that you return many times over!

Happy Easter to all.


(Photo Credit: Rita Hinder)
Remember if you book through www.uniqueoffersseychelles.com that a percentage of sales goes back to community projects! How 'kool' is that? Very!