Wednesday, 19 October 2011








We just chill out for the best part of the morning, have a cocktail later on. I have a Zanzibar iced tea as Jon & Sarah like them. The waiter says it is a longa longa as there is much alcohol in there. It did not taste too bad but as Sarah said when I got home it tastes a bit like you have raided your dad’s drinks cabinet. Mr F had to finish it off. We go for a paddle, the sea is very warm. Further & further we go I want to go out to the reef. Huge circles of coral are adorned with spiky purple sea urchins. The sea bed is sandy, but razor sharp pieces of coral litter the floor. I am wary of falling over as you need to pick your way through the rocks. Small fish like little swimming Everton mints dart in & out of the coral. There are white fish & larger silver fish as well. Now Mr F can see the value of the £7 Tesco coral shoes I have forced upon him. (It was a struggle; we had several heated discussions about why he needed the hideous footwear) A fisherman calls to us, he tell us he is “Fisherman” catching octopus. He holds one up for us to see, would we like to take photo of it, touch it? We decline. He tells us it is very dangerous out here; there is not much to see as no water. We need to go out just as the tide comes back over the reef as the fish pour over it into the lagoon. Plenty plenty fish then he says. Yes but it is a mile from the shore it takes 45 minutes to walk there & 45 back as it is so rocky, so I am not sure of the logistics. As surely we would get caught out as the tide came back in. The water is very low now & heated up to bath temperature by the sun. I am wishing it was deep enough for a swim, but make do with the pool, which is luxuriously warm. Then sun bed, suntan lotion & Sangria and a good read. I am quite brown .
Footnote – Ian is much relived about the coral reef as it means Somalia pirates are unable to take us unawares and kidnap us.
There are so many lovely touches to this hotel. There is a shisha bazaar bar. A private dining room with white drapes & chandeliers which seats 2 people & overlooks the beach. There is another private dining room called the Sultans table – seats 12. You climb ornately carved stairs to a small room decorated in purple voile & beads. You can order sundowners to be brought to your room with “Tasty bitings” (I think they mean nibbles).
Spice night Dinner – this was such a delight. They had a tandoori oven, made naan bread & chapattis in front of you. There were tandoori meats, many different curries, vegetable and rice to choose from. It was all homemade & authentic. There was a band playing Indian music and all the staff were dressed in purple & cerise silks. We had a delicious spiced pineapple and ice cream for dessert. Yumaroony.

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