46 January 2016 www.bahrainthismonth.com firm favourite with honeymooners. After a quick flight from Bahrain to Abu Dhabi, Etihad whisked a team of journalists, including yours truly, away comfortably and safely to Paradise Island. Pardon the pun, but the journey flew by, thanks to the attentive cabin crew and comfortable seating. From the moment you land at the main island, Mahé, there is no mistaking where you are. The view from the runway is the ocean, which glistens like a thousand diamonds strewn across a blue blanket. With around 92,000 people, it has the smallest population of any independent African state — and I thought Bahrain was a small island! I spent my first few days at the Kempinski Seychelles Resort — located on the south end of Mahé in Baie Lazare. This awe-inspiring and expansive retreat offers a huge variety of facilities and activities. After getting one of the best night’s sleep of my life, I woke up early for a buffet breakfast before trekking up the vast mountains surrounding the resort. When we reached the top, there was a picnic waiting for us, after the yoga session, of course. Now, I should mention that, like many others, I find yoga to be a bit of a stretch, so I decided to sit back and enjoy the travelfeature Baie Lazare Beach A Slice of Paradise CHARLIE HOLDING I always thought Belinda Carlisle was full of it when she claimed heaven is a place on Earth. However, after a few glorious days in the Seychelles, I can emphatically confirm it’s true! The Seychelles — an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off East Africa — is as close to paradise as you can imagine. Idyllic white sand beaches with shimmering turquoise waters and palm trees hanging majestically … that, my friend, is not just a screensaver, it’s a real place. Besides the obvious aesthetic appeal, the warmth of the locals and the sensational food, the real beauty of the country lies in the fact that you can do as much or as little as you like. You want to sit on a beach and do nothing? Go for it. You want to go fishing? No problem. Fancy a nature hike? Sure thing. This is a place that caters to many tastes and, it comes as little surprise then, that this gem of a country is a breathtaking view while my travel companions attempted what I’m pretty sure was called a “backwards facing monkey” or something to that effect. The next day, we hit the road and headed towards Victoria, the country’s capital, which is famous for its covered market. Alongside fresh fruit, fish and vegetables, stalls sell Clock Tower, Victoria Gathering coconuts
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