Eight of our number started the day with a snorkeling tour around Pearl Island, readily visible in the bay. They were picked up at 8:30, but before they left, Sue found a surprise in her room: Happy Birthday, Sue, from the staff at the hotel!
Sunday morning a group of 9 intrepid mariners set forth on a scuba expedition to the waters surrounding Pearl Island. One of the wooden ships was decorated with light blue curtains–very stylish.
The waters were greenish blue and relatively clear; the snorkeling gear was ok to marginal. But unfortunately no fins were provided–resulting in a couple of minor abrasions with the coral rocks in the shallower waters along the shore. The undersea spectacle is limited to smaller fish–and a couple of barracuda (very small ones)–but a good time was had by all. It is a bit of a challenge getting back in the boats–the boats are rocking and balance is at a premium.
And this was followed up with a ‘Harbour Cruise” complete with a a view of a mountain top Buddha–golden–with what we think is a surfer mudra.
Oh–and we saw a Pagoda that Mike did not see–one up on him…..
The snorkel-free crowd read and lounged and waited for our friends. The afternoon was a repeat of the day before. Sue and I walked most of the way into what passed for a town on the road, ogling the really splendid Hilton Resort down the beach, and walking back along the beach. The patterns created by sand crabs are like nothing we have ever seen.
Tun Tun has one more new experience in store for us. Six Tuk-Tuks picked us up just before sunset and we drove to the next beach down the coast for a birthday dinner for Sue at the Sunset View restaurant. The restaurant is run by one large family and spills over onto the beach. They put us at one large table in the sand and we watched the sunset while sipping wine provided for the birthday celebration by U Tun Naing.
Tun Tun ordered a splendid feast for us: shrimp and squid tempura, Thai lemon grass soup, a seafood platter highlighted by grilled shrimp, fish curry, avocado and shrimp salad, grilled vegetables, and sautéed bananas.
Then came the final surprise:
As they brought the cake to the table, the entire staff and most of the rest of the guests at the restaurant sang happy birthday to Sue.
Back at the ranch, the Westbergs hosted an after dinner drinks party on their terrace, where we were joined by the very nice young German couple, Markus and Alyssia from Stuttgart, with whom we had been talking during our stay at Ngapali. Remarkably enough, we had first seen them on our very first day at Shwedagon, and when they arrived at this hotel they had recognized Patti. A great way to end a terrific day.