Sand, sea, surf, snorkelling and sun

We have just spent a really relaxing week on the coast for half term. Bliss. Animals, safaris and the landscape here are all pretty amazing but the ease with which we jumped on a cheap flight to the Indian Ocean was something else. Matthew has long wished for a beach holiday with palm trees and he wasn't disappointed, although he was a bit surprised when we landed in the middle of a tropical storm with the afore mentioned palms bending dramatically and we were completely drenched running from the plane. But that was short lived, the sun came out and we spent most of the rest of the week drenched from the sea and swimming pool.





We all love being by, in and under the sea and so have been thinking about this trip for a while. Tim and I had first thought we would rent a house on the beach - there are plenty to choose from all long the coast - but we were lobbied by the kids to stay in a very child friendly hotel and we decided that there would be much more for them to do (and so less or us to have to do) if we were somewhere with other kids. It was definitely a good call even if it does make it unlikely that we will ever be able to go anywhere else on the coast as my observations that there are lots of lovely places to stay are met with incredulity that I could think of anywhere else. The kids all made loads of friends and were so happy and occupied that Tim and I managed to read lots and do a couple of very gentle, lovely reef dives together.





And when we weren't hanging out on the beach or by the pool, we all went sea kayaking and snorkelling and looking for crabs and moray eels (grown fat on sausages taken from the breakfast buffet by every boy and most of the girls under 12) in the rock pools at low tide. High tide bought some great surf and we made the most of boogie boards, emerging one day where the waves had been particularly big covered in sea weed and looking like one of the characters in pirates of the Caribbean.

Our week flew by and all my plans to get out and about a bit and visit a snake farm and some ancient ruins and go for a tree top walk came to nothing. But at least we now have lots of reasons to go back to the sea - the kids are already planning a trip during the Christmas holidays. And I've tried hard this week not to be too post holiday smug - the shock of 615 starts, a gently peeling tan, 3 parents evenings in a row and Tim being away in Addis for a few days has helped but the post holiday glow is still lingering.

Anne