Monthly Archives: July 2017

Hispanic student harassed for calling out liberal ‘bigotry’ – Campus Reform

Posted: July 8, 2017 at 4:40 am

A freshman orientation retreat at Texas A&M University devolved into a debate over diversity after a student complained that there were too many white students in a group photo.

According to its mission statement, Fish Camp strives to welcome freshmen into the Aggie family by sharing the traditions and values of Texas A&M University and creating a universally accepting support system that allows them to build relationships and embody the Aggie spirit.

"I tweeted that because I am sick and tired of people judging each other based on the color of their skin."

Despite this welcoming message, some students feel that the camp is not diverse enough, and one student made those feelings known with a sneering post on social media.

[RELATED: College diversity council posts FAKE racist flyers]

LOOK AT ALL THIS DIVERSITY, Hispanic TAMU student Cynthia Mendiola sneeringly captioned atweet featuring group photos of this years Fish Camp participants, quickly garnering hundreds of likes and retweets and subsequently sparking a large online debate.

This organization is mainly white. What makes you think a minority would like to join when theres so many? Mendiola continued in another tweet, although thepictures featured white, black, Hispanic, and Asian-American students.

Andrea Argenal, a fellow Latina TAMU student who describes herself as the, loudest and proudest member of the Aggie Class of 2020, took exception to Mendiolas tweet.

It is this kind of bigotry that I hope to keep out of A&M, she wrote. She doesnt deserve to be an Aggie, we stand for our core values, not skin color.

Mendiola responded by attacking Argenals ethnicity, accusing her of being whitewashed because she is a Donald Trump supporter.

How are you an immigrant AND a minority (in both sex and ethnicity) and somehow STILL whitewashed?????? LMAOOOOO, Mendiola mocked. If yall think Im about to let a Trump supporting wannabe-white Latina make me feel bad about myself? Yall really thought.

The exchange soon attracted notice from other students, many of whom weighed in with their own criticisms of Argenal.

Lmfaooo why are some republicans such douches? one comment asked, while another speculated, bet money if you look at the demographic of her friends youll see a trend. Still another reply was even more succinct, saying simply, shut up white.

I tweeted that because I am sick and tired of people judging each other based on the color of their skin, Argenal told Campus Reform. I look white, but I was born and raised in Nicaragua, and up until this past year, lived almost on the border with Mexico.

Argenal remarked that her antagonists are being no better than the people they claim are excluding them by judging me on the color of my skin, pointing out that they almost immediately began calling me white as if...that was some kind of insult.

[RELATED: Students, donors fleeing Drexel over profs inflammatory tweets]

Others, however, came to Argenals defense, scolding Mendiola for attacking something that is trying to create a loving and supporting environment for freshmen no matter what they look like and pointing out that Fish Camp is far from an ethnically-monolithic group.

Yall can try again, one user taunted, attaching a group photo taken at Fish Camp. This is Camp Fish Frye proudly representing TAMU from all walks of life.

Texas A&M [students] are majority white, but it doesnt make it a racist school, another user proclaimed. Who are you to boldly state it as a racist school?

Mendiola initially refused to speak with Campus Reform for this story, but eventually offered a brief insight into her motivations.

All I was doing was pointing out the lack of diversity. PoC [people of color] are poorly represented in this organization, she explained. I know of people who have felt they were turned down because they were PoC.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @RobertMGunter

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Hispanic student harassed for calling out liberal 'bigotry' - Campus Reform

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Neighborhood Notes: the first week of July – Mission Local

Posted: at 4:38 am

Photo by Lola M. Chavez

Lotus SF, an Indian restaurant, will give a new face to the historic yellow building at 2434 Mission St. The venue used to be home to Big Glass, an Irish bar owned by Leo McCartney back when the Mission was an Irish neighborhood, and later became a retail space. The new owners of the venue have already painted over the graffiti that covered the wall and have applied for a change of use permit, which means they are getting ready to open and welcome the public. CE

Peephole Cinema at 280 Orange Alley (off of 26th Street near Valencia) will be featuring Looking Back a collection of short films that range from one using found objects to another exploring the Greek myth in which Orpheus is given permission to rescue his wife Eurydice from the underworld. The catch is he cant look back, but as we know, he cant resist. LC

We Be Sushi on Valencia between 21st and 22nd streets turns 30 this week, according to a banner hanging outside the business window. Happy anniversary.

Lawrence Bakery Cafe is going to close indefinitely after selling bread, pastries and donuts to the community for more than 20 years. The owners were told a couple of months ago that they would have to leave the venue at 2290 Mission St. The building is going to get refurbished to comply with earthquake regulations and the owner does not think that the lease will be renewed to her. Furthermore, she added, there is no way that she willbe able to afford the rent in the future with the way rents are rising. CE

Productos Naturales Georginas and Taqueria Cancun will not be affected by the earthquake reconstruction that will happen in 2290 Mission St. It appears that the building will be refurbished in sections. For the time being, the famous taco joint and Georginas will keep their doors open. CE

Sealand Trading Inc. at 2469 Mission St. has hung a yellow banner declaring that the store is closing. The lease ended and the owners could not afford to pay the new higher rent. They currently have a sale and are trying to sell as much merchandise as possible before they have to leave in the next few months. CE

Omar and Christian Hair Salon is opening a new venue at 22nd and Alabama streets on Sunday. The space used to be a laundromat and was sold to owners Omar and Christian looking like a war zone, with walls crumbling and debris everywhere. Omar and Christian have refurbished and transformed the old laundromat into a stylish salon with wooden floors and candelabra. They are confident that they will do well in the new space as they already have a well established group of customers and will be able to provide a new level of customer service. Furthermore, said Christian, salons are safer than retail stores because they provide a service that cannot be obtained online.

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Mars Might Not Be The Potato Utopia We Hoped – Gizmodo

Posted: at 4:37 am

In Andy Weirs novel-turned-Matt-Damon-movie The Martian, the protagonist endures the harsh terrain of Mars by using his own shit to grow potatoes. The idea isnt that outlandishover the last few years, a NASA-backed project has been attempting to simulate Martian potato farming by growing taters in the Peruvian desert. While early results were promising, new research suggests that survival of any life on Marsmuch less potato-growing humansmight be more difficult than we thought. I blame Matt Damon.

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh tested how the bacteria Bacillus subtilis would react to perchlorates, which were first discovered in Martian soil back in 2008. Perchlorates are naturally-occurring (and sometimes, man-made) chemicals that are toxic to humans, but theyre not always so bad for microbes. In fact, in the Atacama Desert in Chile, some microbes use perchlorates in the soil as an energy source. On Mars, perchlorates allow water to exist in a briny liquid form despite the planets low atmospheric pressure.

However, when the researchers put B. subtilis in a bath of magnesium perchlorate solution similar to the concentrations found on Mars, and exposed the microbes to similar levels of UV radiation, the bacteria died within 30 seconds. Even when the researchers repeated the experiment on a Martian rock environment they made of silica, most of the bacteria still died. The depressing research has been published in Scientific Reports.

Although the toxic effects of oxidants on the Martian surface have been suspected for some time, our observations show that the surface of present-day Mars is highly deleterious to cells, caused by a toxic cocktail of oxidants, iron oxides, perchlorates and UV irradiation, the researchers wrote. However, we show the bacteriocidal effects of UV-irradiated perchlorates provide yet further evidence that the surface of Mars is lethal to vegetative cells and renders much of the surface and near-surface regions uninhabitable.

Not all hope is lost, however. For one thing, the study only tested one species of bacteriaits unclear how others would have fared under the same circumstances. Lynn Rothschild of NASA Ames Research Center told Gizmodo she and her team recently conducted research that suggests bacteria could withstand the perchlorates and salts on Mars. Weve reached out for additional information and will update this post when we hear back. Of course, its always possible that life forms on Mars are so biologically different, theyve found a way to adapt to perchlorates in the soil, and even thrive.

Obviously, more research must be done before we give up on Martian potatopia. Still, it does sense that a giant unused litter box orbiting the sun wouldnt be a great for potato farming. Goddamn you, Matt Damon.

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The wonder, peace and ‘harmony’ in Southwest Indiana – WGN-TV

Posted: at 4:36 am

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Cruisin Indiana is headed to an unusual village on the southwest tip of the state. For more than 200 years, people have been drawn to the peaceful charm of New Harmony.

Theres an undeniable sense of tranquility in historic New Harmony. It is surrounded by beauty and the search for higher meaning. This fertile village on the banks of the Wabash River was once the outermost edge of the Indiana frontier where settlers tried to form the perfect society.

Think if you rode into this town on horseback in 1820 and found this out in the middle of the wilderness, said Linda Warrum. Youve just got culture way ahead of its time here.

German-born spiritual leader Georg Rapp, led his Harmony society to Indiana. For ten years, they built a pious and prosperous utopia that became known as The Wonder of the West.

They made products they shipped to 10 countries and 22 states. They had leather and shoe factory and made rope.

But the experiment moved elsewhere.

Rapp and his followers left in 1825 to get closer to East Coast markets. They sold the village to a British social reformer Robert Owen. Owen was Welsh born and had factories in New Lennox, Scotland. He wanted another Utopia and a new moral order with equal education and equal social status.

Walking tours beginning at the Athenaeum Visitor Center where you learn about Owens rigid socialism too radical to survive. But his ideas and respect for education live on.

Today New Harmony is buzzing. Visitors flock to the village's artisan shops.

Golf carts you can rent are a favorite mode of transportation. Others strolling to friendly taverns and a local micro-brewery. There are performances at the historic Opera House.

Pottery makers also put on a show and display their creations at local galleries like 609.

When you look at that piece of art, you see the beauty of the art. And when I look at it, I see the beauty of the artist, said Len Blackwell.

Theres equally brilliant art at the Red Geranium Restaurant, with an original Picasso in the dining room.

Overnight guests can lodge at the eco-friendly New Harmony Inn or rent an original home. Much of the village on the National Register Historic Places.

Especially for my wife and daughter, its one of those things where they just love the old houses and different architecture and landscapes, said David Roos, a visitor at the New Harmony Inn.

New Harmonys challenging Labyrinth was designed as a place for reflection. It can take an hour to reach the center if you make a wrong turn. Harmonists believe that the labyrinth is a symbol for the difficulties of making the right choices in life towards attaining true harmony.

The early Utopians are gone, but the yearning for something greater remains.

The serenity of the Chapel of the Little Portion dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi is one of many places to find spiritual connections.

Many are drawn to a New Harmony treasure known as the Roofless Church commissioned by descendants of Robert Owen.

Walk up underneath the small dome and youll feel the presence of something special. The spirit of peace and perfect grace that seems to envelope you every time you return to the place known as New Harmony.

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Getting used to not-so-new Cubs norm of mediocrity no problem if you know history – Chicago Tribune

Posted: at 4:36 am

It was back in mid-May that Joe Maddon first urged Cubs fans to "embrace the suck," one of the rare Maddon catchphrases that never caught on.

The Cubs were a mediocre 21-19 when he unveiled the T-shirt during a pre-game news conference at Wrigley Field, and they remain a mediocre 43-43 after Friday's 6-1 victory over the Pirates.

But for one reason or another, no one has embraced the fact the Cubs suck, especially those who paid a whopping 20 or 30 percent increase on their season tickets.

They have analyzed it, debated it and denied it, but embracing it is another matter altogether.

Of course the point of the slogan, as well as the original 2016 version, "Try Not to Suck," was to poke fun at the franchise's well-chronicled failures of the past century. Maddon effectively was de-Cubbing the Cubs image, turning the loveable losers tag on its head for a laugh, with proceeds going to charity.

It worked fine in 2016, but not so much now.

For the first time since he came to town in 2011, President Theo Epstein is under pressure to make changes and avoid the suck. Epstein said Thursday most of the answers can be found inside the Cubs clubhouse, and he doesn't feel the urgency to make a splashy trade.

But remember that one of the first things Epstein said when he took over the Cubs was he prided himself on being unpredictable, suggesting "being unpredictable is a competitive advantage."

So far Epstein's biggest decisions have been predictable dumping Miguel Montero for his rant about pitchers not holding runners and sending Kyle Schwarber down to Triple-A Iowa for a couple of weeks.

Maybe it's time for an unpredictable move just to shake things up.

Waiting on the Cubs to get hot has been mind-numbing, and it's time to consider the possibility this just isn't the year. It doesn't appear as though this particular team is capable of matching last year's postseason success even if they get in, so maybe it's best to enjoy each game on its own merits without fretting over the big picture.

It was once common to do that to go to Wrigley and take in a game without the extra baggage of really caring whether or not the Cubs win. "That's Cub" had a totally different meaning to the generations of fans who endured a 20-year stretch of bad baseball from 1947-66, when only one team the 82-80 Cubs of 1963 were above .500.

Losing seasons were taken for granted, yet they kept coming out to the Friendly Confines, and now their grandkids are doing the same. Some blamed that laissez-faire attitude for allowing Cubs ownership to field mediocre teams continuously, knowing the ballpark was going to be a drawing card win or lose.

But now that the Cubs finally have won, just going to Wrigley for the sake of being there isn't quite enough.

Games like Friday's, when Ian Happ ran into Schwarber on a routine fly and knocked the ball out of his glove, and Gregory Polanco took an extra base after Addison Russell flipped the ball to an inattentive Eddie Butler without calling time, make you nostalgic for the days when Larry Biittner lost a fly ball in his cap.

You laughed off the ineptitude back then and chalked it up to being a Cubs fan. Those days are over now, thanks to that shiny trophy and dreams of a dynasty.

The new norm of Cubs' mediocrity may be hard to stomach for those who expected utopia based on a young, talented roster and one of the top managers in the game.

But the dinosaurs among us have endured worse seasons and survived. One of the more memorable examples occurred 40 years ago in 1977, when the Cubs finished 81-81 after being 25 games above .500 on June 28th.

It was a classic Cubs choke, but for a while it was some of the more enjoyable baseball we had seen on the North Side, and a fun time was had by all, with the possible exception of manager Herman Franks and his team.

Two years later, after another underachieving season, Franks quit and ripped his players, calling them "crazy" and leaving with one of the greatest exit lines ever on outfielder Mike Vail: "There isn't enough money in the world to pay me to manage if I have to look at that face every day."

Maddon never will channel his inner Herman, and probably could find a silver lining in a pothole, as his glass half-full assessment of Thursday's 11-2 loss to the Brewers showed.

"If there is a way to get your butt kicked properly, we did that yesterday," he said.

Embrace the butt-kicking?

Now that's Cub.

psullivan@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @PWSullivan

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Sooners prep for Oceania – Tahlequah Daily Press

Posted: at 4:36 am

NORMAN - The Oklahoma Sooners are packing their bags to go half-way around the world.

In preparation for the upcoming season, they are traveling to Oceania for 12 days, featuring four exhibitions against international competition in Australia and New Zealand from August 3 to August 14, announced Friday. Competition starts against the New Zealand Select in Auckland, New Zealand on August 6. Then, the Sooners have three games against teams from Australia's premier basketball league, the NBL.

They face the Southerland Sharks on August 9, the Sydney Kings on August 10 and the Cairns Taipans August 13. The trip will carry a special significance for redshirt-sophomore Matt Freeman, who is from Auckland, New Zealand. Freeman averaged 2.7 points and 1.5 rebounds in 29 games, two starts, last season with the Sooners.

"It's going to be pretty special," Freeman said.

"For me, the amount of time I get to go home is very limited during the year, so anytime I get to go home is meaningful. It's extra special that I'll get to be there with my other family - getting to take everyone home that's close to me here and show them where I've been brought up."

The NCAA allows basketball teams to travel outside the U.S. to face foreign competition once every four years. Kruger and the Sooners most recently traveled to France and Belgium for 10 days in 2013. OU also traveled to San Jose, Costa Rica, in 2003 under Kelvin Sampson and to Vancouver, B.C., in 2007 under Jeff Capel.

Making international trips also comes with additional practice time. OU added eight more practices in July and two in August due in preparation for the exhibitions.

But the trip isn't all about basketball. It will be a good chance for the student athletes to experience all that Oceania has to offer.

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Our View: Good luck to teams competing in U17 Oceania … – Pacific Daily News

Posted: at 4:36 am

Pacific Daily News , news@guampdn.com Published 5:35 p.m. ChT July 7, 2017 | Updated 5:35 p.m. ChT July 7, 2017

The line-up for the Men's U17 team that will be representing Guam in the 2017 FIBA Oceania Championship. Wochit

The U17 Guam men's team practice on July 6 at the Father Duenas Memorial School Phoenix Center for the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships that will run from July 10-15.(Photo: Kasmira Engichy/PDN)

Starting Monday, the top youth basketball teams boys and girls from across the region will square off, each hoping to claim a title in the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships.

Guam, Australia, the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Samoa and Tahiti will compete over the course of six days. The winners will be crowned Oceania champions.

This tournament is the first youth championship under the international basketball federations new competition system. Asia and Oceania are combined for competition purposes, and qualification for the under-17 and under-19 World Cups is now a two-step process.

What that breaks down to is the top four teams in Oceania will advance to the next level of competition. Previously, only the champion advanced.

READ MORE:

FIBA U17 Oceania Championships come to Guam

Samoa ready to take on the regions best

New Caledonia hopes for podium finish in championships

This means teams of youths from Guam and the rest of Oceania now will have more opportunity to compete against a bigger pool of international competition. This will translate into valuable learning experiences for boys and girls from the region, as well as chances to play their way into higher-level tournaments.

It also will help the athletes further develop their skills and abilities, to prepare them as they transition to national teams and competition.

We commend the boys and girls who will represent their nations in this event for all the hard work, long practices, tough training and time commitments the'veput in. Give it your all on the court, and exhibit good sportsmanship whether your win or lose.

To the parents of these youths, kudos for the time, effort and money you put in to helping your children develop athletically.

We also thank the coaches, staffs and volunteers for their effort, time and dedication. You made it possible for these youths to reach this stage of competition.

Good luck to all the teams competing in the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships.

The Guam Girls U17 Basketball Line-up for the 2017 FIBA U17 Oceania Championship which runs from July 10-15. Wochit

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Fiji focused on securing Oceania 1 spot – Rugby World Cup 2019 – Rugby World Cup 2019 (press release) (blog)

Posted: at 4:36 am

Pacific Nations Cup

Having claimed back-to-back wins over tier one nations in June, Fiji will hope to continue their impressive form against Tonga on Saturday to confirm their place at RWC 2019.

Fiji coach John McKee has made five changes to his starting line-up for Saturdays match against hosts Tonga as the reigning World Rugby Pacific Nations champions go in search of the result that will secure them their place at Rugby World Cup 2019.

A win or a draw at the Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa will be enough for Fiji to become the second team after USA to emerge from the qualification process for the tournament in Japan in two years time.

Asaeli Tikoirotuma (pictured), who played a starring role in helping London Irish win promotion back to the English Premiership, comes in at outside centre for his first appearance in national colours this year. He replaces Albert Vulivuli, while the only other change to the backline sees Timoci Nagusa step in at full-back at the expense of Kini Murimurivalu.

In the forwards, captain Akapusi Qera shifts from number eight to openside flanker with Nemani Negusa taking his place at the back of the scrum. There are two new starting props in Campese Maafu and Manasa Saulo.

Wins over Italy and Scotland in their last two internationals have boosted 10th-ranked Fijis rating to 78.06 and they can close to within a third of a point of Argentina if they win well on Saturday.

However, qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2019 as Oceania 1 is clearly their primary focus though this weekend, something they will achieve with a win or bonus-point draw against Tonga.

"We take confidence from our success against Italy and Scotland but those wins count for nothing in terms of RWC qualification. It is this weekend's match performance that is important, said McKee.

This match against Tonga is very important for us to achieve our goal of finishing as Oceania 1.

Taking results from the last 2016 and 2017 Pacific Nations Cup into consideration, the top-ranked team will occupy the spot reservedforOceania 1 in Pool D where matchesagainst Australia, Wales, Georgia and Americas 2 (either Canada or Uruguay) lie in await.

VIEW LATEST PNC STANDINGS >>

Heading into the final two rounds of the Pacific Nations Cup 2017, Fiji top the standings on eight points with Tonga and Samoa level on five. Fiji travel to Apia to play Samoa in the final match next Saturday.

Tonga kept alive their hopes of qualifying as Oceania 1 or 2 and avoiding a play-off against a European team with a tremendous 30-26 win over Samoa last weekend in what was their home test match in eight years.

"We expect a very physical encounter with Tonga on Saturday," McKee said. "Tonga played very well in winning against Samoa last week which will give them a lot of confidence coming into this match and they will be backed by a very loud local crowd.

"We will need to be absolutely on top of our game and not be distracted by the crowd."

VIEW FULL RANKINGS >>

A victoriousTonga will move up one place in the World Rugby Rankings, possibly two, depending on the margin. They are currently in 13th place but have Georgia and Japan within their sights.

The Ikale Tahi starting team shows two changes to the one that downed Samoa, with Rugby World Cup veteran Nili Latu and Nafi Tuitavake replaced at flanker and centre respectively by Jack Ram and Tevita Taufui.

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Oceania Gas Meeting unique gas needs in the Pacific Islands – gasworld

Posted: at 4:36 am

Primarily focused on all gas related products and services within their unique geography, Oceania Gas Limited (OGL) has built a reputation for high quality and reliability across all traditional market segments. Maintaining a leading approach to safety in the gas industry is of paramount importance to the team at OGL. Voluntarily introducing and adhering to ASNZ standards across all business activities has been the companys most visible commitment to enhancing safe practices across the industry and throughout the Pacific Islands.

The company has an extensive network of over 100 outlets including branches and distribution partners around the Pacific Islands. With its main operation centres based in Suva (Fiji) and Apia, Samoa, OGL has a desire to continue to build on its already established local activities. Currently employing over 70 people in the region, local cylinder filling of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide (CO2), medical air and LPG are at its core. In addition, having a full scale Dissolved Acetylene (DA) plant means that customers can trust in OGL as a supplier with the ability to meet the markets ever-changing needs.

Abdul Ali, Operations Manager at OGL, explained that, Keeping business activities local wherever possible is the most important thing to us here at OGL. We dont only want to keep up with the industry; we believe we can continue to build a company that utilises leading technologies and processes which will be seen as an example to the industry from both a process excellence and safety perspective.

While OGL has its roots in Fiji and Samoa, respectively, being able to transport its range of products around the Pacific Islands even to the most remote countries and locations is at the forefront of its strategy. With a modern fleet of bulk distribution tankers for CO2, oxygen and LPG, in addition to multiple ISO shipping containers for liquid product transport as well as its traditional cylinder fleet, OGL has true flexibility in ensuring that its gases arrive in the right place at the right time. We are continuing to invest in our distribution capability with significant investment in new assets in 2017, including four new cylinder handling vehicles and a new engineering response vehicle being released already, with much more to follow, the company says.

Building on traditional gas supply activities, a full scale design and engineering team are also on hand to support customer installations and site maintenance activities throughout the region. Whether it be a full scale medical installation, calibration of gas equipment, laboratory fit-outs or gas detection solutions, there is no challenge that the OGL team is not well equipped to support. Having recently completed a number of hospital upgrade projects around Fiji, including full theatre fit-outs as well as bulk oxygen storage solutions, OGL has proven that it continues to have capabilities well beyond traditional cylinder supply activities. The company also stocks a full range of welding and safety equipment and has plans to build even further on these product categories over the coming months.

Oceania Gas has a clear path in mind for its future, as General Manager Cory Spence reaffirmed to gasworld, We want to continue to partner with suppliers that share our vision for the region, assisting our business to grow and be more effective for our existing and future customers.

He went on to add, We hope not only to be an example of excellence within our industry, we aim to be an example of excellence across all industries throughout the region.

Get in touch

Oceania Gas Limited

GPO Box 687, Lami, Fiji Islands

PO Box 1862, Apia, Samoa

http://www.oceaniagas.com

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5 Reasons Why You Should Go to Seychelles and What You Can Do – HuffPost

Posted: at 4:35 am

Go online and search for images of Seychelles and it is incredibly hard not to drool. Why? Imagine the best version of a dreamy tropical holiday that your mind can conjure and Seychelles makes it all a reality.

Yes. It is that amazing. Nature certainly did not hold back when it endowed the island with pleasant gifts!

Just off the coast of Eastern Africa, Seychelles is lapped by the Indian Ocean. It is composed of 115 islands, each with its own unique appeal and charm. Until the late 18th century, Seychelles has been uninhabited but through the years, it has been influenced by the French, British, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arabs. It goes without saying that the culture mix creates an explosive experience for travelers wishing to sink their feet deep into this lovely island.

It is also a luxury hotspot: five-star resorts with white-sand beachfronts, slick restaurants, and posh hotels everywhere. But you do not have to be a millionaire to enjoy it.

For one, our accommodation in Seychelles was provided by Seyvillas; actually, they arranged everything for us - transfers, hotels, even the lovely boat tours and island hopping excursions. It was amazing!

In Mahe, we stayed at the Hanneman Holiday Residence in a nice serviced apartment near the stunning Beau Vallon Bay and only a few minutes ride to the ferry port. Meanwhile, in Praslin, the Le Duc Hotel was our home, a boutique hotel located in the beautiful Curieuse Bay.

But there are many other reasons why Seychelles delights and endlessly enchants. Below are some of the best, and really, these are only the beginning!

1. It is beach-lovers dream.

Having one splendid beach on an island makes it great, but in Seychelles, the list of awesome beaches just seems never ending. It is the biggest attraction of the island and there is one to hit at every turn. Long stretches of sandy beach, clear and crisp waters, and lush palms and boulders to complete the picture.

You are really spoiled for choice here. The best ones include the Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio, Baie Lazare, and Anse Source d'Argent. The most popular is the Beau Vallon. It is family-friendly and has plenty of tourist facilities.

Meanwhile, Anse Lazio is picture-perfect with its lovely waters and thick fringe of palms. It is a great site to go snorkeling, too. For Baie Lazare, it is a small curved bay with a forest as its backdrop - no way it cannot be stunning! Finally, in La Digue, you find Anse Source d'Argent, a small but perfectly-formed beach with few facilities but enchanting pink sand that you should definitely not miss!

2. Underwater is as beautiful as above it!

There are six marine national parks in Seychelles. What more do you need to tell you that this is an awesome place for enjoying underwater beauty and wonders? It is as picturesque as the splendid beaches and you can snorkel and dive the entire day and not get tired of it. It does not hurt that there are gorgeous snorkeling and diving sites everywhere on the island, too!

The array of tropical fish that you will encounter is dizzying. It is hard not to feel like a child as you get excited swimming among the puffer fish, hawksbill turtles, whale sharks, and sting rays. The corals are colorful and electric, too! It is no less than an alluring underwater garden.

Undoubtedly, diving and snorkeling are the most popular activities in the Seychelles. The variety of environments underwater is nice. There are shipwrecks, canyons, granite outcrops, and shallow shelves. The water is warm, it is clear, and life is everywhere!

3. Island hopping takes a new meaning.

As mentioned, there are 115 islands in the Seychelles. For sure, one of these will be the perfect one for you. Explore them via boat tours and excursions and fill your eyes with so much wonder.

There is so much to see it is difficult to decide where to start. Curieuse Island is always a winner - home to hundreds of giant tortoises. They are truly amazing creatures and it is humbling to see them roam free on the island. Also, more turtles can be seen on Cousin Island. It is a protected nature reserve. If you are lucky, you may even find nesting turtles, as well as birds! Sister Island is equally gorgeous. It has beaches on both sides that will fulfill all your beach bum fantasies.

Of course, no island hopping experience is complete without snorkeling. There are many sites for you to enjoy such as Avemaria Island, Felicite Island, and Coco Island. You can have a full day snorkeling and not be done, contact Praslin Boat Tours to arrange the island hopping for you!

4. It is 'The Galapagos of the Indian Ocean' for a reason!

The Seychelles harbors a wealth of wildlife. It is largely protected by various conservation programs because it is home to unique flora and fauna. The Seychelles has over 2,000 species of plants, 1,000 species of fish, and the largest population of Aldabra giant tortoises in the world. It is every bit impressive!

On the smaller island of Praslin, you will find the gorgeous Vallee de Mai. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a nature reserve where you can see the rare coco de mer palm. It is also a great spot for bird watching where you can find black parrots and blue pigeons, and also some blue geckos. They are unique to the island and live in the forest.

Another spectacular national park is the Morne Seychellois National Park. Located on Mahe Island, it has a lot of trails to indulge your outdoor whims and the coco de mer palm also grows here, as well as the carnivorous pitcher plant! There is a nice viewpoint over Port Victoria, too.

5. Fall in love with the culture.

Seychelles features a mixed heritage, which gives travelers a lot to love. The easiest to fall for is probably the Creole cuisine. Think spicy grilled octopus in a chili and garlic sauce, fresh fish baked in banana leaves, and deliciously thick seafood curries and rice. These are what dreams are made of!

For drinks, there is a local Bavarian-style brew called Seybew. It is a light and refreshing drink ideal for the hot days by the beach! The island also produces its own dark rum called Takamaka, a local favorite that you have to try.

Every year, there is also a vibrant carnival here. It is a big celebration of cultural dances and lots of parades. Music festivals, particularly percussion, reggae, folk, and mainstream pop are also held in April and May. It is always great to come during festival time as the mood is super celebratory and your holiday just takes on another level!

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5 Reasons Why You Should Go to Seychelles and What You Can Do - HuffPost

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