Backpack Me Collaborative Post


View of Silhouette Island from Beauvallon BeachI contributed to a collaborative post at Backpack Me. People from all over have written a few lines about the country they live in. Mine is a little tips an tricks on what to do in the Seychelles. Go on over and take a look. 

Travel to my Country 2/4: Africa & The Middle-East

5 Fun Ways to Exercise at the Beach Even if You're Afraid of Water

fun ways to exercise at the beach - tree pull ups
By Louise Pool
I love hanging out in the water. Floating on my back staring at the sky whilst trying to split clouds is my idea of heaven. Now and again, I'll swim a few strokes just to feel the water lapping against my skin. If I feel like a little more exercise, I'll jump in the waves and have been known to indulge in a bit of body surfing as well.

But I know there are countless islanders who can't swim. Maybe they're not really aquaphobes, but the thought of being out in the deep blue sea where feet don't touch the ground will trigger a minor (or major) panic attack or at least get that adrenalin coursing through the veins with no thought of a fight response.

Fear not; there are other fun ways to keep fit at the beach. Here are some ideas:

Just for Fun: The Beach Personality Test

You Are Quietly Passionate
You like people, but you're careful about who you get close to. Friendship is important to you... so important that you aren't just friends with anyone.

You fall in love with ease and confidence. Even if you've had bad experiences in the past, each new love is a reason to start completely over.

You are a deep and contemplative person. You are as passionate as everyone else, but your passion is not always apparent.

Your sense of humor is intellectual and obscure. Only really well educated people get your jokes.
Blogthings: Learn Something Surprising About Yourself

This is fairly acccurate... How did you fare?



How to Decorate with Sea Glass Even if You're Totally Craft Challenged

Call it sea glass, beach glass or mermaid's tears, it's just plain beautiful.
By Louise Pool
I love sea glass. Call it beach glass, mermaid's tears or verre bouteille as it's known in Seychelles, it's one of my favourite materials to work with when crafting. I collect shells and driftwood whilst beachcombing, but what really makes my day is when I find a particularly lovely piece of beach glass. In Seychelles, we get mostly green (Keep them coming Seybrew drinkers!), white and brown sea glass, but once in a while I come across a rare piece of violet or blue sea glass.

I know that not everyone enjoys making things, but that's no reason not to use sea glass as a decor accent in your home. Here are some ideas for the non-crafty on how to use these beach finds in your home to celebrate the beach lifestyle.

Create the Sacred Space You Need to Survive Daily Life

Create the Sacred Space You Need to Survive Daily Life By Louise Pool
Virginia Woolf said that every woman needs a room of her own to be able to write. I would go further; everybody needs some sacred space of their own to survive daily life. We all have to retreat from the mundane at times and get in touch with our spirit.

As a child, I always wanted a treehouse. It seemed like the perfect sanctuary to me, high up and hidden away from sight. In my imagination, I decorated my treehouse with exotic wall hangings and huge fluffy cushions. Unfortunately, my father had two left thumbs and couldn’t put up a shelf, let alone embark on a dwelling, however minor. Ever the resourceful child, I looked for the next best place and found it behind the Freemason’s Lodge. Nobody ever went there and it seemed sufficiently magical to qualify as a sanctuary. I spent a lot of time just sitting and dreaming and also set up a graveyard for dead birds there. I particularly enjoyed holding funerals for the poor birds. My mother called me a morbid child…

Did You Know You Can Eat Coconut Sprouts?

Coconut sprouts are delicious and nutrional powerhouses
And that they taste like manna from heaven?

Coconut sprouts are called uto in the Cook Islands, o'o in Samoa, manzanas de coco (coconut apples) in Latin America and here in Seychelles we call them koko zerm (or coco germes if you wanna be a little more high falutin'). In Hawaii, this food was considered so powerful that only the royals were allowed to eat it.

Who Needs Kite Surfing When You Can Ride in a Tata Bus?

Tata bus in Seychelles
http://www.flickr.com/photos/seba_f80/
By Louise Pool
I do not and have never indulged in ice climbing, bungee jumping or any other extreme sport, although I do seem to be drawn to the type of man who does. I get my thrills vicariously by watching my man take the risks or from watching serial killers and vampires on tv. I'll also get my adrenalin surges by taking adventurous (some might say stupid)  decisions in life.

Alas, there is one area of my life where I cannot avoid putting myself in physical danger: riding a Tata bus in Seychelles.

Sweet and Sour Pork with Tamarind and Mango Recipe


gluten free sweet and sour pork with tamarind and tomatoBy Louise Pool
Good pork is always available here in the Seychelles. I've bought imported pork fillet a couple of times and it just can't compare with our local meat. I wonder if it's all the breadfruit the pigs are fed?

Since we have such a mixture of cuisines making up our Creole cuisine, sweet and sour pork is available in most take aways. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's, well... What it always is, to my taste, is too fatty. Now I enjoy good pork crackling, but I can't stand mouthfuls of fat (and bits of bone) in my pork dishes. I like lean filleted pork, not pork that's looks like it's been attacked with a machete. (This goes for chicken, too. Those of you who have eaten chicken curry take aways in Seychelles will know what I'm on about.)

How to Make a Mini Beaded Dreamcatcher


Mini beaded dreamcatcher with a piece of seaglassBy Louise Pool
This isn't a traditional Seychelles craft, but I've given it an island touch by adding a piece of seaglass. You could make it more beachy by using shells instead of glass beads.

A traditional craft among many groups of native North Americans, dreamcatchers are hung above the head of a sleeping person to ensure a good night's sleep. The web traps bad dreams, while the hole in the centre allows good dreams to pass through.

My son used to have nightmares until I made him one of these, but since he hung up his dreamcatcher, he enjoys peaceful sleep. Don't know if it is the power of suggestion, but it definitely works. And looks nice, too...

9 Easy Come By Benefits of a Walk on the Beach

By Louise Pool
Living right next to the beach, I do a good amount of walking on the beach. I'll go in the early morning for exercise and in the evening to beachcomb.

We all know walking is good for you; what makes a walk on the beach even better for you?

9 Easy come by benefits of walking on the beach infographic


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