Sneaky Sneaky Pool Swims!

I'm in the Seychelles and....

•   Mascara is a luxury reserved for the weekend

•   My dreams are littered with different types of corals

•   My clothes are always slightly damp due to the heat and humidity

I've been in the Seychelles for a month and I'm starting to forget what real life is like. On the weekends I can sleep in until 7:30, whoo hoo!

I've sustained my first injury while here as well. It's not dramatic or sexy in the least. It's a bruised ear drum from (get this!) sleeping with my iPod earbuds in. Yup, I was injured in my attempt to escape from the noise and chaos of communal living. It cost me a day of diving but I quickly recovered and now have to learn how to sleep through conversations and heavy footfalls from late night pee-ers.

I went on a second Crown of Thorns dive this week. The reef was on the southern tip of Mahe and had a really terrible infestation. All the damage done occurred within the last six months, I couldn't believe how destructive these animals are and how fast they can destroy the reef. Last week in Northern Mahe 12 divers in the water for two dives managed to find a total of 21 animals. This week, at this site, 12 divers in the water for only one dive culled 272 animals! Literally I spent the entire time underwater stabbing and bagging starfish, we didn't need to look around for them b/c they were everywhere. I doubt the reef will recover, but at least we've stopped these animals from moving on to another location.

Funny story, I was first on the boat helping with the collection of data (weighing, measuring, tissue sample for DNA testing) but was so eager to get in the water that when a random guy pulled up on a boat and offered to help, I practically leapt into the water to go down with him. Back on the surface I asked him if he worked in the Seychelles and he smirked and said yes. Later I found out that he was the dive center owner and was sponsoring today's project! Doh!

The shops in Seychelles have quite an eclectic mix of items. The internet cafe I often use also doubles as a DVD rental shop, money exchange venue and cafe. They've also got a display case with the most random things inside. There's an MP4 player on the shelf next to some nail polish bottles. A box with an engagement ring in it and some tennis rackets under a big screen TV. The clothes shops aren't much better. A pink tank top is in front of a blue tee-shirt and brown sequined top. It honestly looks like someone's closet displayed out on the racks. I've no idea what they do if they fall in love with a top that doesn't fit properly, get it tailored I suppose?

Since I can't upload photos with the ridiculously slow internet connection in this country, I'll try my best at describing the beaches here. It's a bit like a postcard has just sprung to life in front of me. The beaches are powder soft white sand and the water is bands of turquoise and aqua blue. The palm trees on the coast lean out towards the water and the sky is a vibrant blue with powder puff clouds. This morning I got a lift to the bus stop (hurrah no hike over three hills!) and had some time to potter about the beach before getting on the bus and it struck me that I'm living here. With all the daily chores, it's easy to forget I'm in a place so beautiful.

On the weekend when I have precious time off from base life, I often go into Victoria or Beau Vallon. Alice and I were meeting some friends at the Sun Coco take-away shop for lunch on Saturday and went at the appointed time. They weren't there when we arrived, and we noticed that there was a sit down restaurant in the back. We went in to eat and wait, and noticed that there was a pool behind that. We asked if we could go over there to sit and then noticed that there was a table with an umbrella closer to the pool so went over there. By that time we'd already resigned to the fact that the girls weren't going to find us but we figured they'd understand. Since we were so far onto the resort property it was only natural that our clothes accidentally fell off and we slipped into the pool! We left a big tip for the waitress and she was really friendly about it. It was so lovely to spend the afternoon swimming in silky fresh water again, I forgot what it felt like – salt water is so gritty!

Next week I'm off to Curieuse and a short holiday after that. Stay tuned for the special edition!!