Thursday, July 31, 2014

MARCH 2, 2014: SNORKEL TRIP TO PEARL ISLAND, SNACK-LOBSTER POT, DINNER-HTAY HTAY KITCHEN


March 2, 2014

     Another glorious morning.  Great breakfast.  Good coffee.  I'm raring to go snorkeling even though I'm not too comfortable in the open water where it's over my head deep!!  Too bad we didn't bring our own snorkel gear but we left it in Bangkok.  Didn't think we'd have the opportunity to do snorkeling here in Ngapali. 

     SNORKEL TRIP TO PEARL ISLAND  Arranged through the hotel.  Cost $28 which will go on our hotel bill.  There's a boat and crew for us at 10:00 am.  After going out a bit towards Pearl Island the boat stops for our snorkel spot.  I use the life vest as it makes me feel more comfortable.  Unfortunately the snorkel mask didn't fit right and water kept leaking in.  Bummer!  I had to clear my mask several times.  I saw some fish-small yellow orange color.  Also yellow sponge, lavender coral, and brownish flower petal shaped coral.  I gave up due to the leaky mask but my husband stayed out and was happy with what he saw although it didn't compare to trips in the Caribbean.  We continued to motor to the island and anchored here for a time to relax or grab a bite to eat.  There's a restaurant shack here-LOBSTER POT.  We ordered fries and drinks for 7500k.  Hit the spot.  While there my husband went to use the toilet.  Then I decided to make use of the facilities and DH said he'd have to help me get in.  WHAT!!!!  Ok.  Now I understand.  It's perched up off the ground and the step stool is very rickety.  What an experience.  The water is shallow here and the bottom is sandy so I sit in the water cooling off while my husband takes pictures that I don't want him taking of me.











Pearl Island




Our boat


The raised toilet is to the left of the restaurant as seen here.

Fries











Our boat crew


     Upon returning to our hotel we spend the rest of the day at the beach and a short amount of time at the pool.  We also admire the grounds of the hotel and Richard clowns around with a cart.

Our room


Great beach for swimming



















     Dinner  We decide to venture out of the hotel to see what's out there.  Stop at HTAY HTAY KITCHEN.  I think I read some reviews on TA about this place.  There are lots of places just down the road about 5 minutes walking-Best Friend, Golden Rose, Paradise, Friend 2.  Just go left from our hotel.  I order the grilled seabass and grilled potatoes.  My husband has spicy king prawn curry.  Beer and coke and the bill is 12000k.  Right next door to the restaurant is a good sized store with lots of things you may want to buy.  They even sell stamps.  We buy some stamps for the postcards, beer, and coke to take back to the room.  Back at the hotel I make a reservation for us to rent a kayak for tomorrow and time at the spa.





Spicy king prawn curry

Grilled seabass

Grilled potatoes


Lots of restaurants-Golden Rose
Paradise Restaurant

Best Friend 2 Restaurant

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

MARCH 3, 2014: KAYAK AND SPA TIME, FIRST AID, DINNER-GOLDEN ROSE


March 3, 2014

     As we step outside to go to breakfast we see a guy leading some cattle? down the beach.  Interesting.  On our other beach vacations we never had the pleasure of seeing something like this.  Just an ordinary moment in time for this local and his  cattle.  I wonder what they are-water buffalo maybe??  After breakfast we are waiting for our kayak which never shows up.  We had made arrangements for a 2 person kayak at $10 per hour.  Disappointed we decide to lounge on the beach.  Finally we are informed that the kayak is available for us.  We take it out from 12:30-1:30 pm.  It was a lot of fun and relaxing at the same time.  It was nice to catch the current/waves to help us land on the beach.  Then it's more beach and pool time.  While my husband spends more time at the pool I go to the spa for my back and shoulder massage.  It's 60 minutes for $18.  The girl was very good and I feel so relaxed.



   






Our kayak
Kayaking







Spa



     Then calamity strikes.  Stupid me I'm walking around in my bare feet on our verandah and I get a splinter in my foot.  Luckily I have all my first aid stuff but my husband needs to use all sorts of equipment to get the splinter out.  It hurt like heck and it wasn't an easy procedure.  Soap, a wipe with disinfectant, antiseptic iodine, and a bandaid later we find that it's time to think about dinner.  It's a really nice sunset tonight.  Great timing for our last night.






     For dinner we head back down the road and stop this time at GOLDEN ROSE.  This place has about 11 tables and there are only 2 empty tables left so lucky us.  This meal turned out to be the best we had outside of the beach BBQ when we first arrived.   We each have vegetable soup.  Then my husband orders a set menu of grilled pork and fried vegetables.  He declines the rice that comes with this choice.  I get grilled whole red snapper, grilled tiger prawns, and tomato salad. Beer and coke.  Our food arrives and OMG there's so much of it.  But it's all so good.  We enjoy sharing all the goodies in front of us.  Then we get free slices of papaya and the owner comes over to us with 2 small glasses of a drink.  I ask him what it is and he says it's Myanmar rum.  It is SO GOOD!  Bill 13500k.  Nice friendly service and great food.  And the prices are so reasonable.  Don't miss trying this place out.


Full house

Grilled pork set menu 3000k

Grilled red snapper 6000k

Grilled tiger prawns 2500k

Tomato salad 1000k

Vegetable soup 500k


This soup was yummy! 

Grilled whole red snapper cooked perfect-moist and flaky.


Husband's grilled pork-4 skewers was a lot of meat!

Grilled tiger prawns-3 huge guys


Husband's fried vegetables

Tomato salad


Papaya slice 


This Myanmar rum was the perfect ending to our fabulous meal.


     I loved that rum so we go across the street to the store and there among all sorts of liquor I see a 175 ml bottle of Myanmar rum for 1000k.  Upon returning to our room we sit out on our verandah drinking a coke for me and a beer for DH.  This is our last night here and we wish we didn't have to leave.  This place was just the ticket to recharge our batteries as now we head to Mrauk U and lots of sightseeing.

I'm happy and sad at the same time.  Have had a great time but it's ending.