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From
Mahe we took a short boat ride to the tiny forested island of Sainte
Anne. Situated in a national marine park, it's home to bright green
lizards, multicoloured birds and the guests staying in the 87 villas
that make up the exclusive Sainte Anne Resort & Spa.
When
we woke on our first morning, we swung open the windows of our
bedroom and saw nothing but sea and sand, framed by palms. Each villa
has its own terrace and garden, and many are just yards from the
beach. Ours had a pair of loungers on the sand, a hammock and an
open-air shower.
The
villas on Sainte Anne are spread around a central complex and, to
aid lazy honeymooners like us, a golf buggy and driver can be
arranged to ferry you about. The resort's two restaurants were as
good as any we'd been to in London.
It
was astonishing that they managed to produce gourmet cuisine in such
a remote place. As I'm pregnant and had been warned off seafood, I
had to watch enviously as Derek wolfed down lobsters caught in pots
just off the island. Mind you, everything else on the menu more than
satisfied my cravings.
After
two days of vegging out, we thought a visit to the Clarins Spa was
in order. I had my hair blow-dried - a pampering but pointless
experience. The staff there joked that the climate doesn't suit
European hair and, sure enough, in a few hours I was back to looking
like Kate Bush circa 1985! I tried talking Derek into a manicure and
pedicure, but he preferred to laze in the steam room. We did have a
couple's massage, which was an intimate and romantic experience.
The
next day we sauntered down to the jetty and joined one of the free
twice daily snorkelling trips. There are reefs five minutes offshore
where you can swim through shoals of iridescent blue and yellow fish.
If you're lucky, you might spot a stingray gliding past. I was
disappointed that we didn't come across one, but Derek admitted
afterwards that he'd had his fingers crossed, hoping the stingrays
would steer clear.
For
us, the Seychelles was the perfect mix. There were plenty of
opportunities for luxurious relaxation and many attractions. We spent
a great day being driven around Mahe by Wilson, a taxi driver who
entertained us with the tale of Olivier 'La Buse' Levasseur, a pirate
whose treasure is rumoured to be buried on the island. He also showed
us the ruins of an old school for slaves freed in the 19th century, a
jungle waterfall in the foothills, and - best of all - a hidden
beach, where we enjoyed freshly opened coconuts.
On
Sainte Anne there were pedalos and bikes to hire, diving, tennis and
gorgeous places to hike. There were excursions by boat and plane to
many of the Seychelles' 100-plus islands, too. I'd love to say we
took advantage of some of these distractions, but the temptations of
an ocean as warm as a bath and cocktails by the pool won out every time.
My
excuse was that I get up for work at three in the morning, so
lolling around was practically medicinal. Derek had a better excuse:
honeymooners don't need one. He did talk about bodysurfing, but when
we couldn't find a board, I'm not sure who was more relieved - Derek
or the lifeguards! |
