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96 OUR RESORTS THE ART OF BEAUTIFUL BEACHCOMBER GOLF RESORT & SPA T The grounds of the resort, stretching over nearly forty-five hectares, are among the finest gardens on the island. A masterpiece of simpli- city and authenticity, they honour the island’s native flora. Screwpines, latanias and hurricane palms were reintroduced with the finest speci- mens imported in colonial times from India, Asia and Madagascar. A delight to behold, and to inhale. And to hear, too. For there is no doubt that here you are in the kingdom of birds – cardinals, yellow canaries, parrots, and turtle- doves. “ It’s the most beautiful symphony ever written! ” says Ranjeev, 41, with a smile. He has a degree in horticulture from the University of Mauritius and now manages the team of 51 TROU AUX BICHES gardeners dedicated to maintaining the grounds of the Trou aux Biches. In the shade of the frangipani trees, the scented paths lead to the beach, just a few metres away. Simply step through the curtain of palm trees to discover a magical beach running the length of the bay. The lagoon, calm and motionless, sure of its power, is a sight for sore eyes. The appeal is irrepressible. Quietly, in the intimacy of sea and sky mingled, time is suspen- ded. A salutary swim that reminds you that life can be simply wonderful, on land and in the sea. For the more athletic, a team of professional divers is on hand to show you another dimension of time and space: the ocean depths. “There is a garden unlike any other, encircled by the green lawns of the surrounding golf course: theTrou aux Biches. A natural, uncluttered garden, with a palette of greens and whites, and here and there some splashes of garnet red. Humble yet sophisticated, it enhances the beauty of the place, yielding to what is already there: the colourful notes of the birds, the majesty of ancient trees, the different blues of the sky and the sea, the silky carpet of sand. The garden of theTrou aux Biches is like the face of one beloved.”