By Uche Amunike
I started being obsessed with Seychelles without even knowing a thing about the country. I believe I just loved the name. Yeah that’s it! No deep knowledge, no friends who’ve been there, no insider tips… just a weird fascination with the way it sounds. Kind of like when I became a die-hard Chelsea FC fan back in the days.
I mean, who needs to know the players or coaches when you’ve got a snazzy name like Chelsea? My friends would chuckle at my passionate defending of the team, despite having zero clue about anything concerning the club. All I knew was that their jerseys were blue(ish) and John Mikel Obi played for them (I think).
Fast-forward to 2013, my sisters and I decided to start our ”Annual Sisters’ Trip” tradition. One would think it’s as easy as it sounds. Right? Well, not exactly. Since they lived in the United States and I was here in Nigeria, getting a visa for our dream countries was always a problem for me who had a green E-passport, unlike them who had their pretty blue American passports.
So, even though I was stuck in visa limbo, we had to get creative. We then decided to opt for destinations with more relaxed visa requirements or, better yet, visa-free paradises. And that’s when Seychelles started calling my name…
Our Seychelles escapade was a long time coming. After conquering Dubai twice, Ethiopia, and Zanzibar, we set our sights on this island nation off the coast of East Africa. Why Seychelles, you ask? Well, like I said, I was drawn to its exotic name.
My sisters were like, ‘Let’s go somewhere else’, but I was all, ‘Nope, Seychelles is where it’s at’! Fast forward to months of planning, and we finally made it happen. We even brought our mum along for the ride, because, why not? She’s 76, and we’re basically trying to give her the adventure of a lifetime.
We arrived in Seychelles, exhausted from our layovers, but the moment we saw our beachfront bungalow, all fatigue melted away. It was like stepping into a tropical paradise. It was a beautiful ‘homely’ apartment that faced this beautiful beach that seemed to stretch forever, just as the property owner described it while we were still trying to make up our minds about renting the apartment.
It was really clean and the compound had these perfectly manicured grass that made you long for a picnic. Then, there were palm trees in the compound that gave it this ‘Africanness’, if there’s such a word. I just felt at peace with the world. I felt at home. I felt like Seychelles was already in love with me! I felt like I had finally found my happy place.
We spent the first day lounging by the beach, soaking up the sun, and marvelling at the crystal-clear waters. The locals were friendly, and we couldn’t help but notice the laid-back vibe that seemed to permeate every aspect of life on the island.
As we explored the island, we discovered that Seychelles is a haven for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts. The culture is a fascinating blend of African, European, and Asian influences, which is reflected in the architecture, food, and even the language.
We spent our days taking buses, strolling through streets lined with sea shells, and visiting local markets. We visited Victoria, the capital, where we discovered that banks closed at 2 pm (talk about a relaxed country). We also learned that Seychelles is a bit pricey, but hey, it’s worth it.
One of the highlights of our trip was the food. Oh, the glorious seafood! We also tried some delicious local dishes, including coconut rice and curry. The flavours were amazing, and we couldn’t get enough. We feasted on fresh fish, lobster, prawns and even snails, which were surprisingly abundant and affordable.
I mean, who needs expensive snails in Nigeria when you can find them crawling all over your compound in Seychelles? I happily picked a lot of snails, cooked beautiful Onugbu soup with it and even froze some that I took back to Nigeria. I came with foodstuff, since we rented an apartment and my mum and sister really craved for Naija local food. So I came prepared.
As we settled into island life, we started to notice the little things that made Seychelles special. The locals were friendly and welcoming, and they seemed to love Nigerians. We even had a hilarious encounter with a local fruit vendor who tried to sell us a pineapple for $19. Yeah, no thanks! We politely declined and continued our search for more reasonably priced fruits.
Our last night in Seychelles was unforgettable. We dined at a lovely restaurant with live music, and I just had to get up and dance after a sumptuous meal. My sisters joined me, and before we knew it, we were dancing the night away to Nigerian tunes. The crowd loved us, and we loved the energy. It was the perfect way to wrap up our trip.
As we said our goodbyes at the airport, the day after, I realized that this trip had given me something special – my writing mojo -back. I’d lost my passion for writing over the years, but Seychelles reignited that spark. The island’s beauty, culture, and people had inspired me to start writing again. I’m grateful for that, and I know that this trip will stay with me for a long time.
Looking back, I realize that Seychelles was more than just a vacation – it was a journey of self-rediscovery for me. It reminded me of the importance of taking time to appreciate the little things, like a beautiful sunset or a delicious meal. Each time I strolled to the beach and immersed myself in it, I felt peace.
I felt alive, like the water, wind and even the calm waves were trying to tell me something. I saw myself writing again. I was inspired. I was filled with that passion that disappeared a long time. That need to make myself understood through my writings and be the voice of people who had no voices in society. I lost all that and haven’t been the same, because writing is my life.
Don’t get me wrong. News writing is a different ball game for me. I write News just to earn a living and believe me, it pays my bills. Human interest stories however make me come alive when I write them. They make me serve society like I have always dreamed. They unlock all the keys in my heart, mind and soul in a way that I can’t explain. It’s my call. My song!! My life. That’s why I have this vacation to thank for making it possible for me again, to write like I love to.
I have also learnt that sometimes, all it takes is a change of scenery to reignite our passions and inspire us to pursue our dreams. For me, that dream is writing, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to rediscover that passion in that beautiful and inspiring country, Seychelles!
It feels good having my mojo back and be who I really am…who I’ve always wanted to be. Thank you, Lord. I am back!!
