I’ve seen fish that look like parrots, fish that look like rabbits and fish that look like butterflies. I’ve seen fish that look like other fish and fish that look like quintessential fish. However I had never seen a fish that looked like one of Jim Henson’s characters until now.
He was a biggie, frowning out at me from under a boulder surrounded by his minions of tiny fish. He had thick lips and bulging eyes. Yellow fins with black spots adorned his dark mottled body. After looking at me for awhile he retreated into the cavernous hole under the rock. He came back out to check if he had really seen me, before disappearing back into darkness.
I looked him up in the fish book when I got back to camp – he was in actually fact a “Giant Grouper” and giant he was! He wasn’t as big or majestic as a whale shark but I will never forget that moment with my Muppet Fish.
Wuss was a late comer to our small group of cats. He limped in, hissed and clawed at the other kittens. We fed him out of pity because his leg was wounded but we never expected him to survive. He did.
A local farmer wanted a cat for his wife, we told him to take Wuss, he was an outcast and still had a slight limp. We never expected to see him again. We did. Wuss came limping back to base the next day having run away from the farmer – he was home here.
Shortly afterwards Wuss had a seizure, we thought he would die and put him in a box never expecting him to live through the night. He did. Wuss is a survivor; he’s the cat that came back.
He grew to trust us, stopped hissing, would allow himself to be picked up and cuddled, and even came when called.
I never loved a cat before – before that is, I met Wuss.
I made a good friend while living with 30. We arrived on the same flight, shared a cab and ended up in the same room on base. We’re similar enough to get along and different enough to find each other interesting. She’s perceptive and well spoke and we had countless good conversations.
We had our fair share of adventure too whether it be hitching around Seychelles, hiding to avoid duties or sneaking into five star hotels to use the pools.
When we weren’t hiding out, we did said duties dutifully. We helped each other wash sheets, made cakes and surveyed the ocean floor.
I’ll see you again, somewhere in the world A.
Whale sharks are quite literally the biggest fish in the sea. To swim with one – nay – to simply see one is a spectacular experience. I am saddened to say that through the entire length of the phase, of the various whale sharks seen – four of us never saw one. Now, don’t feel sorry for me yet – I’ve swum with them before in Kenya (can I get a hurrah from my CFSIA peeps!) but I still feel like my Seychelles experiences is lacking.
Every second Wednesday like clockwork, whale sharks would pay a visit to the bay during the plankton tow. Guess who was on the alternate plankton tows? Afore mentioned four sad souls. I’ll accept pity now.
After the GVI phase ended, I spent a week on holiday in Seychelles. I could hear the crashing waves from my room and walked on the powder sand every morning. It was glorious to drink beer before six, sleep late and dive deep. I was breaking all the GVI rules but had to remind myself the rules don’t apply on holiday. I spent all day on the beach, hours by the pool (which I of course snuck into), did wreck dives and deep dives, and didn’t once have to cook for anyone.
My vacation rounded out my Seychelles experience, I lived the rough life with bugs ‘n rats and now have also had the slice of heaven. Despite the money it cost, I’m glad I stayed!
I watched the sun set in Beau Vallon. I floated on my back in the sea and looked through the silhouette of my toes poking through the water surface. The rays of sunlight stretched across the water’s surface. The water went from turquoise to blue to inky black while the sun sank lower. The sun dropped behind the clouds and the wind got chilly. I looked back at the jungle lying behind the beach and saw the birds of paradise flying through the treetops.
I watched the sun set in Beau Vallon in Seychelles Africa and will never forget it.
