Eid-al-Adha Staycation

In late August, the Embassy (and almost all of the country) shuts down for Eid-al-Adha. It translates to Festival of Sacrifice and occurs in August (the actual dates shifting year to year as the Islamic calendar is a lunar based calendar). Mr. Wiki also tells me that the festival is in honor of Abraham's attempt to sacrifice his son to show that his love for God came before anything else. The Eid-al-Adha holiday lasts for the three days of festivities!

For us, our HHE had arrived in port the day before the Eid holiday began. Our fingers were crossed in vain during that one business day in hopes everything would clear customs AND be delivered. So we had lots of days off, no car, and not much to do. Given we had just arrived, we hadn't even given much thought to taking a trip out of the country (like many expats do we quickly discovered). So we went shopping at IKEA, watched movies, went to the pool, played some Uno and some more Uno....luckily having gone to the Intercon Natadola Bay so many times in Fiji, at some point we had decided to upgrade to their Ambassador Membership. It gave us late check outs, early check ins, room upgrades, free water and snacks, and every year we get a complimentary weekend night. So when you book one weekend night, you get one free. So for the weekend after Eid, right before school started, we opted for a little staycation and headed to the West Bay beach in Doha and stayed at the Intercon here.

We had booked the standard two beds in a room, but our free upgrade came in handy (and it was busy that weekend) and we ended up with a 2 bedroom suite! It was huge! Bigger than apartments I had just out of college! The kids room had a lovely desk with a view where Clarissa contemplated how she would someday have a job with a desk having a similar view!

I had a chance to stick my toes in now the other side of the Persian Gulf (recall Richard and I visited Dubai).

We all jumped in the water. It was nice and warm!!

As you can see by her grin, our fair weather snorkeler liked the water temperature. It was a sandy beach with nothing to see (though none of our snorkel gear is here yet). Mason and I took turns and swam out to the rocky little spot you see in the back of the photo. There were a few more fish swimming around there. Past the floating line of bouys, there is a decent drop off and jet skiers were seen zipping around behind there as well.

The first evening, Richard and I walked around hoping to find a good spot to get some 'sunset glimmering on the skyline' photos but the beaches are all private so we were limited to just the Intercon property and did not find any good vantage points. We did find a resting bird on one of the buildings that was quite photogenic.

The next day was more of the same....beach and pool time! They had a Jenga game in the Ambassador's lounge (which had free nibbles and drinks)....so we hung out there a good bit too.

What you can't tell from these photos is how HOT the sand is! (I know I know, comparisons get annoying) On our Fiji weekends, I'd kick my shoes off on arrival and not put them on again till we were getting in the car (sometimes not even then). Here....you have to wear you flip flops right up to the water's edge! It is was that hot....if my 'crazy hippie feet' - as Richard calls them - couldn't even handle it...you know it was hot (Cap't Dainty Toes was completely out of luck).

We'd managed to make do with snacks we'd packed and the Ambassador lounge nibbles the first day. We had a fun poolside lunch the second day. On our second evening, we opted to eat at one of the restaurants on site. Clarissa was sold on the idea when she saw the chocolate fountain at the dessert section! At the entrance, they had some interesting art work. Hanging from the ceiling was a huge 4-story jelly fish. Below it looked a giant brain coral head. Cnidarians represented!

We also thought it was interesting and thoughtful that on the ceiling in our room, there was an arrow indicating the direction of Mecca. Saves a bunch of calculating when trying to determine where to place your pray rug.

Our last morning, we hit the pool one last time before getting cleaned up and heading home. We had laundry to do and the kids had New Student Orientation the next morning. I give her an eight for attitude! Getting outside early beats the crowds though!

I did walk down to the beach and get a little artsy with the sand and city skyline. I started at the far end and had to move down a bit after the different shots to get "fresh sand" (especially after a wave would take a letter or two).

It was a nice break from the everyday and the emptiness of our house. Richard and I even had the chance to squeeze in badly needed massages! We also now have information about getting day passes to just come to the beach occasionally!

Monday's Moment: Have you seen my friend Ariel?

Monday's Moment: Boy's Weekend....of course they get the room with a view!

Natadola Beach...part 2.0

So mid-March we decided to take one last beach weekend before R&R (much to our dermatologists dismay we can't go stateside after 15 months in Fiji looking pale and sunless). We opted to go to a tried and true fave the Intercontinental Hotel on Natadola Beach (and I used points for our stay since I have a feeling our easy access to Target/gluttonous eating out/etc on R&R might run up the credit cards a tad).

We drove up Friday after school and arrived just after sunset. I played with the GoPro on the drive up (I have this blog post in my head and I'm trying to get some photos to enrich it.....unfortunately the angle of the sun did not help....I got pictures of what I wanted but the lighting didn't work....sigh!). Did get some nice scenery shots like this one.

As well as, a nice shot of a road side vegetable stand.

Even though they snacked on the drive some little people insisted on getting dinner right after we arrived. We then did a flashlight beach stroll in the dark....it was fun to spook the crabs. The next morning we had tasty donuts....

and found a giant slug, that had been in the middle of the sidewalk on our way to breakfast, had safely made it to the side on our way back!

After breakfast we headed out to the reef to snorkel....definitely no Leleuvia....the current was strong and of course the waves were breaking right on top of the reef. So we did not stay out very long. Did have time for a selfie....

but didn't get many other photos/video...safety first. We then headed over to the family pool. I then snuck over to the adults only infinity pool for a bit....so quiet!

By the pools they have some round lounger/couches with a pop up umbrella/shade. We managed to snag one....perfect for cuddles.

While we were there, a film crew was on location filming a movie (pretty cool if you ask me!). So the kids took the GoPro in the pool and channeled their inner directors. I will save you the motion sickness and just share a couple screen grabs. Apparently "my turn" with the camera, doesn't mean I'm the director and you are the actor/performer.....it means.....

and

No concern here on the kid's ego development...lol. While Richard was in time out having his quite adult only time, the kids decided they were now starving (apparently snorkeling and swimming makes you hungry). So while some fancy cake by the ocean (seems a bit heavy to me), we opted for slushies and pizza by the pool!

Our regularly scheduled swimming was then resumed.....

In the afternoon the kids headed to the kids club and Richard and I headed to the spa for massages (we are really missing our chiropractor and that was one of the first appointments we booked when we had our R&R plane tickets...lol....but seriously we did!). Afterwards, we all got cleaned up and in our kalavata (family colors). If you recall, on our Yasawa Island cruise we had tried to do some nice family photos with Fijian scenery but TD04 has some other plans for us. One recent weekend, Clarissa had put on her sulu jaba and we discovered she has nearly outgrown it (drawback of tailor made clothing...they fit perfectly...until you grow, like kids do). So we brought it with us to get some photos. 

Yippee! My pretty 'family in kalavata by the ocean at sunset' photo (check out our facebook page for the outtakes). The Intercon does the traditional sunset torch lighting ceremony....which the beginning is marked by the blowing of the triton shell.

The sunset ceremony was enhanced by a movie scene being shot....(it's amazing how much time is spent setting up for a scene that takes maybe an hour to shoot that will end up being maybe 10 minutes in the whole movie).

and further aggrandized by a SUPboarder!

The next morning we took advantage of the late check out and opted to the take the boat out to the reef. Patiently waiting....writing in the sand with a stick....

So the boat took us out to the second reef/break line you see out there. So the water was relatively deeper than we were expecting.  They had a PVC pipe square the guide pulled along for anyone to hold onto if they got tired. Clarissa adopted that as her personal snorkel pool as you can see. 

The current was strong so it ended up being a drift snorkel and as the water was rather deep we didn't get very much good fish video (should of put on the red filter to help with the lack of light). I did get this cool clip of the guide swimming down and messing with the "magic coral" as he called it (the googles says it is likely Cladiella sp., a hardy coral (popular in the aquarium biz)). It is initially brown in color, then when disturbed the polyps retract and you only see the white skeleton....viola...magic color changing coral....

After the snorkel...more pool time of course. By the way the kids swim in resort pools, you would think we don't have one at home and they never get to swim.....we then took turns showering and got all packed up. While checking out, I just had to take to a picture from the front desk, I swear they have to have a "blue dial" under their desk that they turn up when you are leaving to make you sad to be departing and mentally planning your next trip...lol.

On our way home, we stopped for a late lunch at EcoCafe....on Monday, I showed you the most beautiful Triton shell. We actually saw two of them just laying on the beach. Everyone in the restaurant took turns going down and holding the shells...we aren't really sure how they ended up right there (sitting at the high tide line, though it was now low tide). So beautiful though. Clarissa and I took photos holding the tritons so you could see just how big they really were (she had the oddest/unflattering expression....so you are stuck with the photo Clarissa took of me). Since, Richard and I have both done some google research on the Triton...they are quite handy little snails! They will eat the nasty crown of thorns sea star that destroys coral. According to the wikis, tritons will detect the scent of their prey and will turn and chase them down. The crown of thorns, as well as some other prey, can detect the giant snail hunting them down somehow and will attempt to flee before any contact has occurred! Science (animal behavior) is cool kids!

It was a fun weekend away at one of our favorite resorts!

InterCon Weekend

So after our first delightful resort weekend, I had decided I wanted to get away again for Mother's Day weekend. I had dove my first dive in way to many years the prior week (in my defense the diving in Charleston isn't all that great and we had been landlocked for the last two years) and my ears were still popping, so I wasn't concerned with great snorkeling for this adventure....I wanted nice sandy beaches and no cooking or unpacking to do. We have been told the nicest beach on Viti Levu (the island we call home) is Natadola Beach. A couple weeks prior to Mother's Day, we got an email for a local special at the Intercontiental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa at Natadola Beach. I forwarded the email to Richard and said book it for Mother's day weekend (hey...I wanted to do no work for "my" weekend!), we picked the kids up from school a little early on Friday (must maximize our beachtime!!) and away we went!

Parts of the drive are lovely like this stretch right along the coast. Other parts are super curvy mountain roads and while other parts are slow with giant speed bumps going through villages. There is one village we see some Momma and baby pigs crossing the road every time we drive through it! Given it was Friday afternoon, we hit a good bit of traffic as a lot of people head to visit family in other villages. The drive ended up taking close to 3 hours (we made it home in about 2.5), but being a left hand drive car in a right hand drive country makes passing tricky especially when you become the 4th or 5th car back....

The welcome at the InterCon was great. The greet all guests with the Lali drum and shell leis. We were able to watch the sunset from a porch overlooking the Pacific while checking in among the beautiful flower bowls. They then shuttled us to our room. We dropped our stuff and went to find something to eat. We choose to eat at a cafe by the infinity pool and enjoy what was left of the sunset.

Afterwards, we decided to go check out the beach. Clarissa was smart and put on her swimsuit. Mason was too cool for that and wasn't going to go swimming....

Well you see how well that turned out...lol. We didn't get any pictures of the room, but it had a true garden tub with the bathtub outside on the back porch which was somewhat buffered by a garden. I did pull the curtains across to provide the kids with a little privacy. I had headed back with Clarissa before the boys came back....she was being difficult cooperating with washing her hair....which Richard said he could hear from a good distance away....ooops....

The next morning was beautiful. Richard and Clarissa went for a walk before breakfast to pick up dropped flowers and check out the beach.

They found a beach access closer to our room....it was along an inlet and across the water were some cave looking structures. After we dragged Mason out of bed, we headed to breakfast. Our room rate included the breakfast buffet....we were super impressed with breakfast. Yum! Everyone found lots of options that they liked. We told everyone to eat up since we were planning a late lunch.

Next we headed down to the beach to play....since that was the goal of the trip!

Lots of sand visible (and still hours away from low tide) and so many shades of blue.

Clarissa and I worked on a sand castle and the boys went walking/exploring a bit into the water.

I quickly got summoned to identify what kind of marine organism that was everywhere......

So quiz time.....remember what it was? I posted photos of the kids with the mystery animal a few weeks back...brittle stars!

Clarissa got over her initial 'eeh, its prickly' and started picking them up. I told her to only get ones where you see the main body portion as a lot where hiding in tiny holes and crevices getting ready to really hunker down for low tide.

I seriously could of sat here all day and not gone anywhere....

The pool was beckoning the kids with all of its fountains, water jets, and ledge/seats....so much to explore.

Which was fine, since I had an appointment for a cabana beach massage. I debated between the warm shell and the beach massage. I really enjoy the sound of the water....so beachside won.

While I was getting my massage, Richard got the kids and himself showered and dressed. I then did the same. We then headed out for the afternoon in Nadi. Other than landing and chilling in the airport for about an hour, we haven't spent any time in the other major city on Viti Levu. On the way to the car, the kids picked up some handicrafts they had seen before breakfast for sale by some local ladies. Clarissa got a bracelet and Mason got a mini Lali drum. While waiting for the valet to bring up our car, Mason had some Lali drum lessons on the big full size drum....apparently the beat is not as important as the big Bula at the end....

So we went through Nadi and out to Port Denarau. At the port, they have a shopping center that includes a Hard Rock Cafe, in addition to boats that will take you out to the Yasawa & Mamanuca Islands....which we will venture out to at some point. We had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe. Richard was a little disappointed they were not serving any American beers, but otherwise we were all hungry and cleaned our plates....it was good and tasty. We then walked around and did a little window shopping at the souvenir shops...much to the kids' displeasure...we have 2 more years we do not need to buy it all now. We then headed back to the InterCon and made it back just in time for a spectacular sunset!

I attempted to get a nice picture of the two of them....seriously how hard is it to "smile nicely"....apparently insanely hard!

These are just a fraction of my failed attempts....I finally gave up!

And so we went down and "played" chess. Mason knows how to play chess, but Clarissa does not and was not following his directions.....eventually we found our way back to the pool for the rest of the evening.

The next morning after another delicious breakfast and requesting a late check out (benefit of being an IHG member...woohoo), we took the kids to the Planet Trekkers, the kids club. They have set drop of and pick up times, serve lunch (or dinner depending on what time slot you choose), and it does cost per session. The kids were a little hesitant after the last experience....but with a little bribery we convinced them to go. They both said they had a blast....so I guess lesson learned is you get what you pay for....

So while the kids were being entertained and since it was Mother's day, I played the let's do what I want card....lol. So we walked along the beach and I picked up a bunch of pretty shells (Richard found a few of them also).

We then headed over to the adults only infinity pool.

We noticed as the tide went out it was looking more and more doable to walk over and explore the caves. While relaxing in the infinity pool we even saw a few people doing just that. So we walked on over, on the way we found this pretty polka-dotted little fellow.

There were some strong currents towards the middle of the passage of the inlet, but since we hit it close to low tide the water never got much higher than knee deep. It was doable for us, but it would have been tricky to also help the kids navigate across since you couldn't really see where you are stepping and we didn't think to bring water shoes so stepping on shells and broken coral bits hurts a bit.

We could hear crickets chirping as we walked around.

I just couldn't pick one favorite picture.....

Richard was disappointed we didn't find anything super interesting in the tide pools...he was hoping for an octopus or something cool. We did find an anemone which I finally convinced him to touch...still not impressed.

Afterwards, we made it back across the inlet, had some lunch (including fresh tropical smoothies), got cleaned up, packed up, grabbed the kids, checked out, and drove back home. It was a very fun relaxing weekend. With this view and the tasty food, we have already another trip back in the works...