ROAD TRIP BEAUTIFUL MAURITIUS 22 the thirty talipot palms – a major event for a tree that blossoms only once and then dies. Noon has just struck in this halfmoon March day. It’s the birth day of Ram, an incarnation of Vishnu and symbol of the “ideal man”. Not far away, in Triolet, a crowd of colourful saris sparkle on the steps of Maheswarnath Temple. Two buildings stand to the north and south of this sacred complex. Their white meringue domes have been moulded by hand. You can just make out the slight imbalance that gives them their unique charm. They are topped with Shiva’s symbols: a trident (trishula) and the lotus flower. At the entrance, visitors make their presence known by ringing a small bell to ward off demons and attract the attention of deities. Here, we worship Ganesh, Nandi the bull, and Parvati, the wife of Shiva, with trails of incense, offerings and acts of devotion. In the middle of the courtyard, a couple of worshippers stand in front of a Shiva lingam. The man pours coconut milk on the stone, while the woman holds and guides his arm. This gesture of togetherness fills the space with grace. THE WEST COAST From Pointe aux Piments to Cap Malheureux, the long white sandy beaches in the shade of filao trees go on and on, with the occasional magical headlands that are the kingdom of fishermen. The pirogues set out to sea before daybreak. Some of the fishermen walk out to deposit their braided pots, lined with small bread rolls as bait. From Trou aux Biches to La Cuvette cove, via Pointe aux Canonniers, the shoreline is mostly populated by tourists seeking sun and the deep blue sea. The oceanside resort of Grand Baie, with its “Sunset Boulevard”, is the area’s beating heart. Here the fishermen have swapped their pirogues for 1, 2 and 3 : In the Pamplemousses botanical garden, the water-lily pond, the “cannonball tree” in bloom and the main royal palm avenue. Dans le jardin botanique de Pamplemousses, le bassin des nénuphars, l’« arbre à boulets de canon » en fleur et l’allée principale de palmiers royaux. 4 : The perfect Mauritian countryside stall. L’échoppe de campagne mauricienne par excellence. 1
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