In the Seychelles, the majority of believers are Catholics (92%), there are also Protestants. Among the local population, the influence of African traditional cults is noticeable – Creole holidays are accompanied by the battle of tom-toms, faith in black magic and healers is strong.
Transport in Seychelles
In the Seychelles in 1971, an international airport was built, which is located 10 km from the city of Victoria. A flight from Russia to the Seychelles takes an average of 10 hours.
It is better to travel between the islands by local airlines, ferries (a ticket is purchased directly on board) and helicopters. There are no railways in the country. On the “capital” island of Mahe, there are taxis that are equipped with meters.
To rent a car, you must have a driver’s license (Russian license will also work) and be at least 22 years old. Traffic here is on the left.
Plant and Animal World in Seychelles
Dense tropical palm and fern forests are located on the slopes of the island heights. The Seychelles are isolated from the outside world, so there are many endemic (growing only in this area) plants. The symbol of the archipelago is a type of coconut palm, coco de mer. It reaches a height of 30 m, and the length of the leaf ranges from 3 to 5 m. The fruit of this palm tree, Sea coconut, is considered the largest nut in the world, its weight is about 20 kg. Bamboo, vanilla, dragon, breadfruit and cinnamon trees, takamak, Chinese apple trees, creepers, orchids, and ferns also grow on the islands.
In the Seychelles, you will not meet predatory animals or poisonous insects, but you will admire giant turtles (elephant, green, marsh). With a body length of about 1.5 m, local turtles weigh up to 500 kg. They are long-lived and can live up to 300 years. From mammals, bats and tenrec animals similar to hedgehogs live here, from reptiles – non-venomous snakes, various lizards (including geckos) and tiger chameleons. The world of birds is very diverse – endemic paradise flycatcher, Seychelles weaver and black parrot; ibis, Indian myna, terns, magpie warbler, frigatebirds, herons. About 900 species of fish live in the surrounding waters of the Indian Ocean – shark, flounder, marlin, sea bass, sailfish, stingray, tuna and many shrimp and shellfish.
Minerals in Seychelles
Mineral salts (guano) are mined from minerals in the Seychelles.
Banks in Seychelles
Banks are usually open from 8:30 to 14:00 on weekdays, on Saturdays they are open until 11:00
Money in Seychelles
The national currency is the Seychellois rupee. 1 Seychelles rupee is equal to 100 cents. Banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 rupees and coins of 1,5,10 and 25 cents are in circulation.
You can exchange foreign currency at any bank or at the airport. When exchanging rupees for dollars, you must provide a certificate of the previous exchange of dollars for rupees at the official rate. It is much more profitable to change travelers checks than cash, and credit cards are accepted for payment in large banks, hotels and shops.
Rate: 100 Seychellois Rupee (SCR) = 6.59 USD
Political State in Seychelles
According to politicsezine, Seychelles is a democratic republic. The head of state and government is the president, who is elected by direct elections for a term of 5 years. The legislature is a unicameral parliament (National Assembly).
Population in Seychelles
The locals – Creoles – are a fairly young people, in which there is Spanish, French and African blood. They make up about 95% of the population. The remaining 5% are Bantu Africans, Indians and Chinese.
Language:
The Seychelles has three official languages – English, French and Creole. Most of the local population speaks the Seselva Creole dialect, which was formed on the basis of the French language.
Cuisine in Seychelles
Seychelles cuisine is replete with seafood dishes. The most popular of them is fish with rice (“pwason ek diri”), you should try the baked bourgeois fish, small trululu crabs, lobsters in lemon sauce, shark shatini, tek-tek shells, octopus curry in vegetables, giraffe crab in coconut curry, “zurit” (octopus in coconut curry). Rice is mainly used as a side dish. There are many vegetable dishes – stewed breadfruit, mashed giramon (pumpkin), patoli (a variety of cucumbers), fried bringel (eggplant) with spices, pickled and fried Chinese cabbage, cassava, broth from “delirium” (young sprouts, stems or flowers of vegetables). Of the exotic dishes, it is worth highlighting bat stew, pork fried in a banana leaf, chicken curry and small kebabs with local fruit sauce. Fruit is an integral part of the local cuisine. They make both desserts and add to main dishes. Pancakes with all kinds of fillings, coconut nougat, candied bilimbi, stewed banana will be a great addition to your meal. Of the alcoholic beverages in the Seychelles, they use lemon mint tincture (“dite zitronel”), Sabrew beer, fermented coconut juice “kalu”, reminiscent of young wine, or “bacca” – fermented sugar cane juice.
