Murder, bullying and theft in the Serengeti

Murder, bullying and thieving occur on a daily basis in the Serengeti. It is here that large quantities of animals gather on these vast plains and play out the tribulations of life and death. It is a delicate balance, in which each plays out his part in the story.

The Serengeti plains and rich grasses support vast quantities of herbivores. It is estimated that there are more than 2 million wildebeest, 500,000 zebra, large quantities of buffalo, 500,000 Thomson’s Gazelles and more than 100,000 other animals including large quantities of the small deer including dik dik and impala. The herbivores strength is in their numbers, but because they are so numerous, they also attract the natural predators.

The predators are the lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas. Some of them will hunt alone; sometimes they will hunt in packs depending on their family situation. Lions sometimes hunt together, sometimes alone. One of the great sights in the Serengeti is the sight of a co-ordinated attack by lionesses that form part of a pride. They will each quietly take their positions, one to chase the prey from behind, one lining up on the side, with another to cut off the escape route. Although they are acting on instinct, it almost seems they have their own walkie-talkie; such is their co-ordinated pursuit of their prey.

 Once one of the lionesses has their prey in her jaws, the others will join her to try and kill off the victim. Lions do not have giant jaws, and they are not strong enough to kill their victims instantly, hence they sometimes have to keep squeezing until the victim finally gives up their agonizing fight. Sometimes the pack will arrive, including Big Daddy, and they will just start eating the victim alive! Murder is not clean and simple in the Serengeti.

Lions will attack practically all the animals, depending on the situation, even buffaloes, elephants and giraffes at times. These attacks make fascinating viewing, and are not always successful for the lions.

Leopards are smaller and faster than lions and will tend to concentrate on smaller prey. Their attacks are not as co-ordinated as lion attacks and will often involve a sole leopard. Leopards have a distinct advantage against the bullies of the Serengeti; they will often take their prey and store in up in their tree larder, beyond the reach of other predators who fancy a quick dinner. Even so, lions that smell the prey may come along and jump onto the tree, almost shaking it in their frustration at not being able to get their hands on it. It is a bit like the bullying boss at work who comes round to your office to remind you that he is the boss, and that if there is anything that he fancies in your office, you should, of course, give it to him.

Hyenas work in gangs. These guys look like cowards, and their ungainly gait and sorrowful expression seems to indicate that they regret what they do for a living, which is probably as close to being full time bullies as you can be. Though hyenas look like losers, they do not give up, and when more and more of their kind show up, they can be ever braver, even shoving lions off their dinners at times. More often, however, they will move in when lions, and other predators have already had a good meal.

When the hyenas move in, the vultures will be waiting for their turn. The vultures are the undertakers of the savannah, who just happen to eat their clients. They are appropriately dressed in black, and are not discreet and quiet like you would expect undertakers might be. But, they leave their clients beautifully prepared to return to the earth from whence they came, just the pure white bones, and ready for the termites to take their turn in the recycling process.  

There is no time for regret and remorse in the Serengeti. Once a wildebeest has been caught by a predator, other members of the herd will often return and take a last, sorrowful look at their colleague, before they move on. Buffalo are more aggressive, and the herd will often return to try and rescue any of their family or friends who have been caught by lions. Sometimes they will be successful, trying to circle their colleague and help him move away from danger.

Most of the predators will look for cheap take-away meals, which they do not have to pay for. Thievery is rife in the Serengeti. Making a kill is hard work, because not only catching the prey is difficult and requires a lot of training, speed and skill, but also the actual killing of the prey is an exhausting process. Often a predator will have to wait hours before actually achieving the kill, if they are working by themselves. So if there is a cheaper way to get a good dinner, most of the predators will take it. Lions will think nothing of stealing another predator’s kill. Neither will hyenas if they have the support of their gang.

So here we have it, murder, bullying and thieving are daily occurrences on the plains of the Serengeti. The clues are everywhere, but they disappear very quickly as life goes on at a very intense pace. There is no police force to enforce the law, but as everyone knows the rules already, they just go about their daily lives.

                                                     Image from www.msnbc.msn.com

Dancing in Paradise

If you were to go to paradise surely the most enthusiastic thing you would want to do is to dance. Dancing is a way of expressing supreme happiness, and if you are in paradise you would certainly be happy.

 The Tahitian dance  is called the otea, characterized by the fast hip shaking. This dance is carried out by both male and female dancers and is played to music, generally fast drums, but has no singing. The dancers are often dressed in grass skirts with no shoes.

The dancers make gestures, re-enacting the preoccupations of daily life. The women’s gestures can be related to the combing of hair or the flight of a butterfly. Men’s gestures are often related to war or sailing.

The dance itself is a mesmerizing combination of body contortions to the pace of fast drums. Some dances make you want to join in and dance. This dance is for watching, as you quickly realize that you could not possibly do what they are doing, and you might as well watch for what it is, a unique and scintillating performance of dance.

However if you are in Tahiti, you should certainly try the otea. It will make you smile, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry. That’s when you know you are having fun!

 Watching this mesmerising dance inspired me to write a poem, The Tahitian Dancer.

 The Tahitian Dancer

With eyes of white and body brown,

Upon her head a flower crown,
With tension high and music low,
Her teeth shone row on row.
Brief, but bright was her dress
And in her smile, a sweet caress.
Her hair was black and fell in cascade,
As before us, her dance was laid,
The crowd, like puppets, she did pull
For she was so bright and beautiful!

She stood serene in classic pose,

But as the rhythm of the music rose,
All were silent, all were numb,
As she danced to the beating of the drum,
And with her body all in proportion,
She went through her contortion,
Then she fiercely swung her waist,
As through her timeless steps she paced;
With flashing eyes, she thrust her hips,
Waived her arms and pursed her lips,
For all just sat transfixed, entranced,
When that sweet Tahitian lady danced!!

                                                               Image from www.examiner.com

The Truth about Lions

                                         Image from www.animalszooguru.blogspot.com

You can tell there is something special about the lion. There is just something about him. Maybe it’s the mane. It looks decorative, it looks pompous, it is certainly regal. Yes, he is without doubt the king of the jungle.

The lion is the ultimate macho. He lets the women lions do the hunting while he reserves his energies for resting, or sleeping or occasionally fighting other lions.

The lion has unusual eating habits. They enjoy Henry the Eighth style feasts which last for some time. They then call in the cleaners-the hyenas and vultures-who clean up after them, and instead of paying them a living wage, they let them have some food instead. The lion then sets about what life is really all about, snoozing and dozing and relaxing in the shade.

The pronunciation of the word ‘lion’ has at least two other meanings in the English language. Lying also means resting, which is what lions do best. The other word, lying also means telling untruths. Can this really be associated with lions? Do lions really lie?

Surely not?  But on the other hand there are white lions, and there are white lies, so surely the coincidence does not remain there?

                                                      Image from www.telegraph.co.uk

When the child lions come back from the nursery at the end of the day, they may ask their Dad.

 ‘What have you been doing today Dad?’

 Well, Dad is a little embarrassed by the answer to this question, despite being the King of the Jungle. And of course, the lion is the master of looking busy, while doing as little as possible.

                                                           Image from www.deshow.net

 ‘Well’, says Dad, ‘I have been checking out our lands and properties, and making sure there were no intruders’.

‘And were there any?’ squealed the young lions excitedly.

‘And were there any what?’ grunted the Dad back.

‘Daaad! Intruders of course!’.

‘Err, no there weren’t any’ gnarled Dad through gritted teeth, eying a pack of hyenas in the distance. Hence comes the expression, ‘You lying lion’.

‘And Dad, what time is dinner?’ asked the young lions eagerly, bouncing up to their grumpy Dad.

‘Well, your Mum has gone out shopping and should be back shortly’ replied Dad, feeling a little peckish himself.

And, sure enough, there in the distance Mum was arriving with food. And yes, there would be food for all tonight. After a great dinner, with full stomachs the lions got back to what they are really good at, lying about…and lying to each other….

                                   Image from www.predatoraware.wildlifedirect.org

The Pantanal-The most special safari in the world

The Pantanal is the largest wetland area in the world, covering up to 195,000 square kilometres, covering mainly the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, but also areas of Paraguay and Bolivia. In the rainy seasons up to 80% of the area is submerged, creating a unique and wonderful eco-system. Annual rainfall is up to 1,500 mm per annum, falling between November and March, with the area gently releasing water through the River Paraguay and its tributaries. During this time, the rise in the water level is normally between three and five metres.

                                                Image from www.viagensmaneiras.com

The Pantanal is the most unusual and spectacular home for wildlife and fauna. It is the home to more than a 1000 species of bird, more than 400 species of fish, 300 mammalian species, 480 species of reptile and over 9000 different subspecies of invertebrates.

                                                       Image from www.lanskipworth.com

There is an interesting comparison to be made between the Amazon rainforest and the Pantanal. While the Amazon hides, the Pantanal shows, while the Amazon is intensely dense vegetation, the Pantanal’s vegetation is less dense, and more broken up. In the Amazon, the jungle is impenetrable, so the only real means of travel is by boat on the rivers. In the Pantanal you can travel by boat or on the land. It is not easy, but it is easier. One of the best ways of travel is on horseback.

In the Amazon you can travel for days and hardly see any animals. They can see you, and you can hear them, but you cannot see them. In the Pantanal you can hear and see the animals. They are everywhere. The rarer animals, such as the Jaguar, are more difficult to see, but they are there, and you would be unlucky not to see one if you were to stay for a few days.

                                           Image from www.animaispantanal2010.blogspot.com

So what animals could you expect to see on this most spectacular of safaris? This safari is not special just because of the animals on the ground. This safari is unique because it includes the birds in the air, the animals on the ground, and the fish in the water. And there are also some animals that combine different combinations of those environments.  In the forest there are Marsh deer, giant river otter, bush dogs, South American tapirs, and the daddy of them all the Jaguar.

In the air there are 600 different species of birds including Jaiburu storks, toco toucans, many types of parrots, egrets, jays, cormorants, doves, cuckoos, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, eagles, hyacinth macaws, toucans and much more. In the early morning and evening, you can watch a bird display of stunning proportions with thousand of birds flying backwards and forwards.

Reptiles include the yellow anaconda, the green iguana, the gold tegu and the red-footed tortoise in addition to great numbers of caiman. In the waters of the Pantanal there is an army of fish of more than 300 species, including the pacu, tambaqui, piau, Dorado, pintado, sirubu and yes the famous piranha.

                                     Image from www.trekking-andes.com

 This is not luxury travel like you or I know it. The accommodation in the Pantanal is still very basic. The distances are long, the infrastructure is weak or non-existent, and it will not be the most comfortable and luxurious trip you ever make. However, the greatest luxury is to experience one of the great safari experiences of the world in a unique and stupendous place.

Image from www.gobrasil.com

The Shopping Trip

Yes, ladies I know you have been shopping before...Paris, Milan, LA...but you haven't been here before....shoes you haven't heard about ...not to mention the handbags...and the clothes...This is the best unknown destination for shopping that you have never been to before.

You are going to be looked after in exclusive style-you and your girlfriends. You can plan the perfect trip. It is one week of hedonist shopping, with everything in place for the perfect voyage. And you will not forget this one!

Keep guessing, because I am not telling you where it is yet.

Ok Ladies, I know that you are dying to know what shopper’s paradise I am promising you, but I am not going to tell you yet. But take it from me; you are not going to be disappointed. It is a modern capital city, with many beautiful buildings. It has been modernized in recent years and now has a bustling port area which has been turned into a centre of nightlife. Yes, this city has a cracking nightlife, but that is not why we are recommending it. It is because it is a shopper’s paradise.

Firstly there are many antique shops, you know, those kinds of things you can't find anywhere else. Some celebrities have discovered this location, and make a point of looking for antiques whenever they are there. A famous British singer is well known in this part of town.

Then there are the shoes. Of course, there are many of the best known designer names here, but you wouldn't necessarily come for that. It is the up-and-coming names that will catch your attention. Why? Because some of these shoes will make your grillfriends (yes, that is the correct spelling-these are girlfriends who will grill you until you tell them where you bought the shoes! Only they won't be able to get hold of them quite so easily!).Different designs...you know the ones that will make your grillfriends perk up and not stop the questioning until they get some answers.
               

                                                              Image from www.rhythmandmotion.ca

The handbags are mostly made from pure leather of the best quality. Something different, something to really get your hands on. They don't make them like this anywhere else. Made to inspire and to spread envy amongst the female population. These bags will inspire confidence and admiration.

Somebody whispered to me the location must be Rome. No, it is not Rome! And you might not want to go home (not in a hurry anyway), as Michael Bublé might have said. But, there is plenty of Italian influence, and the Italian restaurants are to die for!

Yes, the food is great, and for some foods it is the best in the world. Full stop. No doubts. Because when you are on a serious shopping trip, food is important. Ladies have to keep their energy levels up. How else can they keep going day after day, after many a wimpy man has long given up?

Even the name of the city is cool. Cool. Cool! A city you will never forget, that you will dream about.

No, you haven't guessed it yet...as Michael Bublé might have sang, but he didn't and to put you out of your misery, it is not anywhere in Canada.

I am going to give you a quick dance around the city. It is a European city but is not in Europe, they speak European languages, but alot of English is also spoken, the British have had a big influence on the city, but so have the French, the Spanish and the Italians. Latin sophistication and English charm, or English sophistication and Latin charm. Whichever way you want it, it is here.

The city is classical, but modern, old but new, big but small, bustles but is calm; this city is what you want it to be....

And so let me explain a little. You will be blown away by the classical buildings, built in the style when they really knew how to build properties to stare at, to stand in awe of, and to live in style and luxury. And yet they have modern buildings, in glass and steel that stand comparison, although in my opinion in a different way, to the wonders of the past.

Image from www.flickr.com

They build new shopping malls here, for example, like nowhere else. They look and feel like monuments, they are celebrated buildings with lines which pay homage to the classical architecture of the past. They have frescoes that look like they were plucked from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Did Michelangelo live a second life here? It certainly looks that way.

And yes! This is a city of music and dance and shopping, celebrated and renowned for shopping, but not as much as it should be. You can be romanced and listen in awe to delicious pop songs, ballads and opera. And the dance! They do not so much dance, as set the place alight! Yes, you can dance while you shop. Ladies prepare to move your bodies; you will discover parts of your body you didn't even know existed! Wow, let's go shopping....in Buenos Aires.

Image from www.en.wikipedia.org

A Different Planet

Virgin Galactic is taking passengers above the earth for trips into space, for which they are charging in the region of one hundred and twenty five thousand pounds. Let me tell you about a different planet, right here on earth, and you don’t even have to be a multi-millionaire to visit it. It is called the Amazon, a thrilling place of fact, theory and legend.

                                           Image from www.travel.ezinemark.com

The Amazon River is quite simply the most astounding river in the world. Although it fights with the Nile for the title of the longest river in the world, it leaves its African cousin in the shade with almost every other measurement of the great rivers in the world. The Amazon has a water flow that produces 20 per cent of all the fresh water in the world, and its force pushes the fresh water more than 160 kilometres into the Atlantic Ocean from its mouth.

Is it any wonder the river is called the River Sea? With a length of more than 6,500 kilometres, it has 17 tributaries with lengths of more than 1,500 kilometres. In the rainy season its width is more than 160 kilometres, and its river flow is larger in one day than that of the River Thames’ in a year. The mouth of the river is so large that it has an island the size of Switzerland. The Amazon demands respect and recognition.

The Amazon rainforest is the richest tropical rainforest in the world and covers an area of more than 5.4 million square kilometers and is home to more than one third of all the animals on earth. More than 3,000 types of fish make their home here. Many exotic and beautiful birds also nestle in its trees.


                                                Image from www.luxuryhedonist.blogspot.com
                   
Many of the animals, fish and birds, are the most extraordinary creatures known to man. In the forest, the mighty Jaguar roams, and other interesting and exotic animals include the anteater, the sloth and wild pigs. You will see trees that walk on sand, people who appear out of nowhere, birds that sing that you cannot see, a myraid of the weird and wonderful.
    
The waters of the Amazon hold great quantities of alligators and piranha. The latter are prevalent in such huge numbers, that they are really quite an easy fish for fishermen to catch, and actually are quite tasty. However, catching them is a bit of a hazard as their teeth are so sharp that they slice through flesh so finely that a person only realizes they have been bitten when they see the blood.

 Another extraordinary fish is the piraracu, the largest freshwater fish in the world, which grows to a length of 4.5 metres and can weigh as much as 200 kilos. The fish is so large it needs to be caught by harpoon, and is sometimes a hazard to humans because it has bad eye sight and will swallow almost everything it encounters, including human arms and legs.

                                                        Image from www.digi-note.com

The Amazonian waters are also home to the giant anaconda, one of the largest snakes in the world. This massive snake spends much of its time in the water, with only its nostrils protruding above the surface.

Image from www.itsnature.org

The friendly fresh water dolphin is also a common sight in Amazonian waters. But man has betrayed the trust of his best fish friend, by giving the friendly dolphin the blame for any unexpected pregnancies which occur in the villages along the banks of the Amazon. Legend has it that at the village parties, where young men and women meet often for the first time, and under the influence of alcohol, the friendly dolphin will appear as a man for the evening and seduce the spellbound and innocent young girls. The result is the unexpected and surprising pregnancies, for which the dolphin is given the blame. 

                                                   Image from www.amersol.edu.pe

The Rio Negro (Black River), and one of the main tributaries of the Amazon, is a beautiful river. It gets its name from its black colour, through the sediment falling to the bottom of the river, and just like black tea, the water assumes the colour. The water of the Rio Negro is sweet and soft, a delight to swim in and even to drink. It tastes delicious.

In the dry season the banks of the Rio Negro are laid bare, and reveal beautiful crystal white sandy beaches. This is picture postcard country because the four startling vividly pure colours of the Amazon form the most amazing picture frames-the black of the river, the white of the sand, the green of the forest, and the blue of the sky.

                                            Image from www.luxuryhedonist.blogspot.com

Another unique and wonderful phenomenon occurs close to the city of Manaus. Two of the tributaries of the Amazon meet, but do not join together. The black waters of the Rio Negro meet the chocolate coloured waters of the Rio Solimoes. For six kilometres the different coloured waters and their different textures flow side by side. This is known as the ‘encontro das aguas’ or ‘meeting of the waters’, a beautiful spectacle best seen from the air. Almost every pilot flying to Manaus takes his plane over the meeting of the waters and dips his wing, almost in salute to the mighty Amazon, enabling his passengers the perfect view.

                                          Image from www.nick-sas-spring2010.blogspot.com

So if you are thinking of going to the Amazon, be prepared for the unexpected, for you will amazed, astounded and thrilled just as you would be in space. There is no need to go to space, however, as you will already be on a different planet.

The Pink Mirage-The Pink Flamingo

Have you ever seen a mirage, only to realize you didn’t? But isn’t that what a mirage is all about, not seeing something? So, you ask me, how can I not see something, when I am seeing it? We are getting into Edward de Bono territory here, but surely if you can see it, surely it has to exist? Well, no goes the argument, you only think you can see it.

Surely that is not logical? You can think something or not think something, that is up to you. But if you see something, you either see it or you don’t. Eyes do not tell lies.

A mirage is defined as an image, produced by very hot air, of something which seems to be far away, but does not really exist. Here again the definition is ambiguous. The whole thing revolves around the word ‘really’. Surely it either exists or it does not exist? Can it really not really exist?!

Well, you are thinking, what has any of this got to do with flamingos? Well, because flamingoes are the most perfect mirage in nature. Colonies of them create a mirage. You do not see a lone flamingo taking a walk by himself in the sunset. These guys stick together. They understand they create mirages. We have all seen the iconic images of flamingoes. But the flamingoes stick together because they are better together. To understand this better we need to take a closer look at a flamingo.

                                                       Image from www.guy-sports.com

If you look at the head of a flamingo, as the picture on this page shows, you will be surprised at how awkward, and dare I say it, somewhat ugly, the flamingo is. You have a beady eye and beak which seems to have been broken, and then crudely stuck back together again. It is bent in a somewhat awkward way.  But you always thought they were beautiful right? Lots of flamingoes together do look beautiful, but individually they are quite ugly. This is the effect of the mirage. You see something quite ugly, but you see lots of them, and they appear really beautiful. The effect they make does not really exist, but it is stunning.

                                                          Image from www.guardian.co.uk

 Now if you were to look at the body of a flamingo you would be surprised at how geeky they look, with their awkward, stick-thin legs, and incredibly long necks. They look like real nerds. You would be probably feel quite happy to invite the flamingo guy to help you with a problem on your computer, but you would probably not be overjoyed if the guy invited your daughter out for dinner!

This is not least because the flamingo eats upside down! It’s not like they are bad mannered or anything. It is just the way they have been designed. They place their long necks in the water and stir up the sediment at the bottom of the lake. They then use their long tongues as a pump to push the water and algae into their large bills. Large bills in any walk of life, are probably not a good idea, especially if your daughter was asked to pay half of it. But in this instance, each half of the bill-the upper and lower mandibles-are lined with flexible plates which are lined with hairs. This acts as a sophisticated filtering system. The system works and the flamingoes enjoy good dinners. With or without your daughter.

                                                        Image from www.en.wikipedia.com

Flamingoes also enjoy very good food, generally algae and shrimp. Quite sophisticated food really, so they could, for example, take your daughter to a seafood restaurant or a Japanese restaurant. You can imagine their curved necks and enormous long legs being very useful for grabbing one of those plates of food that rush by on conveyor belts in those Japanese restaurants. If you missed anything they could reach out and grab the plate from the other side!

Flamingoes have an unusual body structure. In proportion to their body, they have longer legs and necks than any other bird. Their very thin legs and web feet mean that flamingoes can wade in water which is too deep for other birds. Their very long necks mean they can search for food at the bottom of the lake. Individually the flamingo looks ungainly and gormless. Together with other flamingoes they look majestic and serene. Such is the effect of the mirage.

Another reason why you would not want your daughter to marry a flamingo is that they live in very extreme habitats, where other birds and creatures do not dare to venture. Flamingos’ favourite food is algae and shrimp which thrive in saline water in shallow lakes. Africa’s Rift Valley provides the perfect conditions for these lakes, which often appear and disappear with the rains in the area. Flamingoes often appear or disappear according to the lakes.

Flamingos are highly gregarious birds which move around in large flocks. They know they are more beautiful all together. They honk incessantly, and dance and move all together. If you ever wanted to go to a party, it would surely be to a flamingo party. Your daughter would certainly enjoy this part of the flamingo lifestyle. They look as though they are constantly having fun. Their mating dances are regimented and they look terribly arrogant with their noses in the air, as though they are more superior. They probably are more superior if they can still have such fun all together in some of the most extreme habitats in the world. 

                                                             Image from www.en.wikipedia.com

If you have ever seen the flamingo in flight you would see how effortlessly graceful they are, with their long flapping wings, and long legs trailing behind held closely together. The designers of the Concorde airplane must have had their imaginations fired by the flamingo because the design features in both seem eerily similar.

Firstly the large wings on both beasts, and then more importantly the nose. The concord’s nose was tilted down to enable the pilots to see the runway, given the acute angles the aircraft landed at. The flamingo’s nose also points down, not just for landing, but also for feeding. The Concorde used to take off with a skip and a jump, landing was much the same, a few gentle calm steps and it would come to a standstill. The flamingo operates in the same fashion despite landing generally in water.

                                                            Image from www.exfoliation.co.uk

So where can see this mirage in pink, one of the true wonders of the natural world? Lake Nakuru in Kenya is the place to go.

These majestic birds really make us think, and appreciate their collective beauty and grace. They are one of nature’s most pure and iconic images, in image and mirage. This is really one of nature’s little tricks. Think! A mirage in pink. How really cool is that?

                                                               Image from www.123rf.com

God's own Islands-The Seychelles

When I first went to the Seychelles some years ago I thought I was dreaming. I would sit for hours on the veranda of the villa I was staying in and stare into the sea. It was so beautiful it was difficult to believe and the funny thing was, I didn’t seem to tire of it. When something is so beautiful, enquiring eyes will not tire of looking at them.

                                                      Image from www.worldalldetails.com

 It was as though God had designed the islands for himself, because almost everywhere you can see his hand at work. So much so that one of the islands, Praslin, is said to be home to the Garden of Eden. There is a forest garden in Praslin, and it is full of the most unusual and exotic plants and wildlife, mostly not found anywhere else in the world.

Unlike most tropical forests, which are full of creepy crawlies which are keen to remind us humans that they are real inhabitants of the forest, this forest is different. It is a pleasure to walk through it. Nothing bites you, stings you, slaps you in the face, or your feet don’t sink into a pile of mud. This is a real garden which you can almost skip through. In the garden you will find the huge Coco de Mer, a giant sexually erotic nut, often called the ‘love nut’ which has the world’s heaviest seed pods. Adam and Eve frolicked here, and the love nut is their legacy to the world.  

The Seychelles is composed of 115 islands, although its constitution lays claim to 155. Many of the islands are not inhabited by humans, but birds and amphibians have made many islands their home. Almost everywhere God’s hand is at work. There are impressive sculptured rocks edging into the sea on the island of La Digue, which look as though God had them commissioned so that when he lay on the beach sunning himself he could admire them.

There are also the most beautiful beaches in the world, lots of them. BeauVallon beach is regularly voted the most beautiful beach in the world. Pure golden sand, little crystals that hardly cling to your feet, clear warm waters, beautiful fish swimming around your ankles, yes, these are the type of beaches God would have designed for himself.

                                               Image courtesy of www.carteblanchetravel.com

The weather is also rather special, and very simple. It either rains or it doesn’t. When it doesn’t rain, the sun shines and it is beautiful. When it does rain you get wet. There is almost nothing in between. Most people can get their head around that one. 

God’s hand is seen in no clearer terms than in the fish and birds he has invited to inhabit his islands. And what’s more they are not afraid of humans. Why should they be after all, when these are God’s own islands? More than a thousand species of fish live around the islands, and they have the friendly Aldabra giant tortoises in large numbers as neighbours. Some of the largest colonies of birds in the world inhabit their own islands, and they have a ball there. After all in God’s islands there is something for everyone and every animal and bird and fish.
 

                                                  Image courtesy of www.carteblanchetravel.com

 What about the people of these magical islands? There again, God has created a stunning, and unusual combination. He has combined the prodigious talents of those two somewhat querulous brothers, the English and the French, who have enriched the world with their languages and cultures in practically all spheres. Both languages are spoken, and just to spice it up, Creole is thrown in the mix. The result is rich culture, and delightful, happy people who love their islands lent to them by God.

These delightful people have carried on God’s work, and built temples of class and style of the five star variety to cater for those less fortunate than themselves, to grace their islands.

So when visitors come to these islands blessed by God’s fair hand, they come to rest their weary souls, absorb the scenery and culture, partake of the luxury and gifts of nature on offer and once new life has been breathed into them, they return to their busy lives elsewhere, always vowing to return one day to God’s own islands, the Seychelles.

                                                 Image courtesy of www.carteblanchetravel.com

 

Going to Paradise

If there is one place in the world which conjures up images of paradise, this is it. If there is one place in the world which makes your imagination go wild, this is it. If there is one place in the world where words could not do justice to the scenery, this is it.

                                                      Image from www.livingbetter.org

So having set myself the impossible task…here goes..I will keep the words to a minimum and the images to the fore. Tahiti..Moorea…Bora Bora…even the names of the places ooze sex appeal! Is it any wonder that Tahiti’s most famous resident was a painter, Paul Gauguin? It is also not surprising that Gauguin was a post impressionist, best known for his use of vibrant colours. Tahiti gave him all the colours he needed, plus a few more...

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Painted in 1897 this was Gauguin’s masterpiece, searching for the meaning of life with Tahiti as his background. Gauguin was a restless spirit in a peaceful place. The beauty of the people and scenery of Tahiti constantly drove him on to ceaselessly paint his surroundings. After all what normal person would return to constantly painting masterpieces even after failing in an abortive suicide attempt?

                                                              Image from www.nitrocandy.com

Moorea has often been described as the most beautiful island in the world. It is not difficult to see why. Why the island is even in the shape of a heart!! This is the place for young lovers, which makes it perfect for a honeymoon.

The beaches in Moorea are amongst the best in the world, and just so that everybody is happy it is one of the few places in the world which has both white and black sand on its beaches.

  

                                                     Image from www.thundafunda.com

The Tahitian people are warm and hospitable. They are also very attractive. And when they dance, the whole world moves with them. And boy can they move!

                                                        Image from www.dailymail.co.uk

If you want to get further away still from civilization, you can go to Bora Bora. This stunning island is surrounded by a lagoon. Accommodation is provided by luxury huts over the water.

Image from www.thundafunda.com

As Gauguin found out, Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora are so inspiring and so beautiful that you will want to reflect on the meaning of life. For now, you will just have to reflect on When are you going?

                                                         Image from www.thundafunda.com