Seychelles Part 6

Date: 2014-02-21

"When you write about my Island, you must tell your readers that it is the island of love." Our minder, Cindy, from Seychelles tourism was enthusiastically telling me all about the Island where she lives. Oh and she was so rightthe whole place is so intensely romantic that it inspires even the most hardened of hearts.

Praslin Island is the home of Valee de Mer - a World Heritage Site. It is also where the romance of the island begins. Epitomising Eros, or intimate love, the Coco de Mer palm tree, with a fruit that is shaped like the female pelvis, is truly one of the most fascinating phenomena's I have ever seen. The Catkin, which is the name for the male organ of the Coco de Mer, resembles a giant phallus and a male palm can have several of these.

Look it is unmistakable it is almost surreal; it grows high above the ground and can get as long as two meters. Each Coco de Mer produces as many as six of these phalluses per tree. The female bares fruits that are known to be the biggest seed in the world.

"We believe that the reason why the Coco de Mer is found here is because the island is very erotic." Says Cindy with her naughty giggle, "The fruit of the female Coco de Mer weighs as much as 25kg and has the sweetest fragrance known to mankind."

This is where the story gets beautiful and fantastic at the same time. The folklore tale begins with the female flower of the Coco de Mer, which is fertilized, by the flowers of the male through wind or insects.

The legend has it that if you go to the Valee de Mer at midnight you will come across the male and female Coco de Mer making love, you must not tell anyone what you see or else you will turn into the famous black parrot which is found only in the Valee de Mer.

Coco de Mer means coconuts of the sea; legend has it that the first one grew from an underwater tree. They're so large - weighing in at up to 20 kilos - which you have to see to believe.

Legend also has it that Praslin Island is the mythological Garden of Eden, and the famous Coco de Mer palm was actually the fruit of knowledge of good and evil that led to the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Perhaps this myth is born from the erotic shape of the fruit. In another similarly homosapien similarity, the Coco de Mer tree takes between 20 and 30 years to bear fruit, and a further seven years to fully mature, however, men may blush to be outdone by a plant as the female fruits grow up to 10 inches and males up to 12 inches in length. The tree can live for between 200 and 400 years.

However more accurately Praslin Islandwas named after the Duc of Praslin who was guillotined during the French Revolution. It belongs to a group of islands called theAldabra, which includesCurieuse, Cousin, andAride.

At eight miles long and three miles wide, Praslin is the second largest island in the Seychelles. It's a granite island awash with lush forest preserves and stunning beaches and yet another Seychelles example of tropical island paradise.

While planning your romantic get away, you have to stay at Castello Beach Hotel. The 4-star all-suite hotel, which opened in 2009, consists of 26 Suites in 2 single-storey buildings and 1 Pool Villa.

The Junior Suites with an area of about 44 square meters are designed in a luxurious style and offer a sitting area with ceiling fans, air-conditioning, a spacious bathroom with shower and private terrace or balcony.

Here you will meet the GM Fulgere Morel, he is full of fantastic stories about Seychelles. One story that really stuck with us and I thought about it long after we went to bed, Fulgere told us that as a little boy his older brother took him to the bank in Mahe so they could pay for Items bought off a catalogue.

When he entered the bank he saw an entire wall of hundred Dollar notes stacked. When he innocently asked the teller what the money was doing lining the wall, the teller responded by saying that there was no space left in the safe to keep the cash.

"When I was a little boy Seychelles was the Monaco of Africa." Fulgere told me. "Today it's a completely different story." Talking politics always makes me hungry, so when you are there do not forget to ask for a traditional Seychellois coconut curry recipe.

Praslin is a must see destination for all the lovers in the world - Castello Beach Hotel is a place of dreams and glorious sunsets. One of the more affordable menus we encountered had us choosing an aged French red wine, well chilled and delightful in the setting rays of the sun. The tranquil water was so inviting, even at night it provided a welcome relief form the hot sea scented air.

This Island is ideal for a honeymoon destination or even a second or third honeymoon get away. The days are delightful and even if it rains there is so much to do, as it is usually still around 27 or 30 degrees. The nights are filled with adventure and delightful aromas of flowers, sea breezes and island fragrances like coconut and frangipani.

Make this your next destination and rejuvenate that sense of romantic adventure that lies dormant in your life.

Seychelles Part 6

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