Background for the book.
Mauritius
Mauritius continues to fulfill every visitor's dream of a tropical island, from swaying palms to the dazzling blue of the ocean, balmy nights and smiling people. One of the loveliest gardens in the world, the island inspires visions of unspoilt natural beauty mellowing in the sun between sea and sky. Its racially diverse people is a part of the natural set up, ever beaming with the typical gentle tropical smile of sensual, carefree and contented happiness.
Mark Twain recorded his poetic delight when he wrote "You gather that Mauritius was made first, and then heaven, and that heaven was copied after Mauritius".The Mauritian Garden of Eden is as much marine and 'sub-marine' as it is terrestrial.
This jewel of the seas, set within the beautiful Indian Ocean, is surrounded by a precious filigree of coral, created over thousands of years from the bodies of tiny marine creatures.
Reunion
The French colony of Réunion, has spectacular natural and scenic wonders. Reunions spectacular mountain country is a naturalist paradise! The rugged mountains and gorges offer great trekking adventures. If you like unusual hiking, you'll really enjoy Réunion's tropical lushness.