Wow

Okay, I thought I had seen pretty beaches in my travels, but I was wrong. The Seychelles have 3 of the top 10 beaches in the world, and they are all well deserved. We chose to reside in La Digue for its peace and serenity and for 3 beaches: Grand and Petite Anse and Anse Source D'Argent, the last of which is the main attraction for this island. Huge boulders jut out from the perfect white sand and into the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. 100-foot tall tropical trees holding 20 coconuts leave over the ocean threatening death from above; litterally, as one crashed down not far from us. The shallow lagoon extends about 300 yards into the ocean, allowing for hours of snorkeling. The sand is as powdery-white and fine as you can imagine. We motor around on bikes, as it is the main transport around the island for all. It took us about 45 minutes to bike the circumference of the island at a leisurely pace and it is vista after vista of beauty. Utterly spectacular. Oh, I forgot, on the main island we flew in on, Mahe, we went to Beau Vallon, another top 10'er, ho hum. Facing west, we got to see the sun sink into the ocean, right before we ate super-fresh seafood for dinner. Lately on La Digue, we let our host cook us home-cooked fare, rife with local fruit and fresh catches o' the day. Its a pretty sweet life at this point. So, it is that I have a new look and emotion in me about the continent I just left, that is undefinable at this point, and a thirst for all of this to continue, as it will for some time to come. Its hard to believe: only half way. I keep telling myself that and I laugh at the amazing blessing that is my life.

OH! And for all... Shantaram. Read it. Crazy story, but so thought provoking and poignant between the lines. Creeping up to the top of my favorite books ever list.