Bliss!

After dropping us off for the boat, Hery 2, our driver and Fidel, who looked after the bus and the bags, drove off for Antananarivo. They are going to do it in 2 days and meet us at the airport on Thursday.

It was not simple getting the speedboat as the shore was mud for some way out. Instead of splotching through it to the depth where the boat was, we climbed down some steps and clambered into a rickety cart drawn by 4 Zebu and driven by a boy. Each cart took 4 of us perched precariously on the edge of each corner. I wondered if the cattle could swim but it was not necessary - we reached the boat when the water was up to their bellies. The side of the boat was cart height so I was able to swivel off the cart and onto the side of the boat in one seamless movement. Not.

Once we were all on board the uncovered boat it set out southwards in the Mozambique Channel. We sped along for 1.25 hours, meeting dhows and other small vessels. At one point a surfer was seen riding a wave that appeared from nowhere. We we were quite far out. Eventually we saw our palm-fringed village set on a spit of sand.

We stepped down from the speedboat into the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and onto the white sand right in front of the thatched reception area. How idyllic after such a full-on, demanding (but fascinating) trip.

After a welcome drink of ginger tea we got our rooms. We are so lucky. Our round stone hut with thatched roof has its own large covered stone deck area, also thatched. Inside in a big bed and behind a wall, loo area on one side and shower on the other, all beautifully appointed with blue tiles. The bungalow has young bushes and trees in front giving onto the sandy beach with thatched brolly and rustic bamboo beds. There’s a slight breeze making the 34 degree temperature pleasant.

After a tasty lunch of some kind of raw fish with a tomato and mango salsa we went to our bungalow to chill. Mr C had a nap while I went under a thatched brolly on the beach to read my book. It was bliss. I even had a quick dip but there was quite a backwash.

We’ve got ourselves a G&T and brought it back to our veranda as a few of the group already outside the bar are the noisy ones with shrill voices. We need a quiet chill now.

Wifi is on for an hour this evening but I don’t imagine this will post as everyone needs to be on. We get electricity for a few hours after dark and hot water from our own solar panel.

22 years ago we travelled with 2 daughters in our own jeep in Kenya, doing our own game drives, then by bus in Tanzania. At the end we had a few days on a remote beach on Zanzibar which was so idyllic, albeit very primitive (torn polyester curtains and torn lino)with just 4 huts and a place food was sometimes available. There was no public transport to it as there was no road. We got a shared vehicle there and told him when to pick us up several days later. It was one of the most magical trips.