We are up right on time. Matty woke about 5 am to check and see if we could get the Superbowl, but that’s a no-go, Houston. Matt enjoys an Indian breakfast (I have dry cereal for the first time), and next we’re on the boat and loading our gear into the van. A short hour later we are in the airport, all checked in. Now I’m hungry. I’ve spent all my rupee, so they take a dollar for a curried chicken pie, which is totally yummy. I lose another game of cribbage, then it’s time to board our plane.
We get our own row and enjoy the brief 45 minute ride, including a nice, hot Indian lunch. As we come in for our landing, I lean over Matt to peer our the window to see my favorite color water : pale turquoise in a dozen different shades. As we clear customs, we are greeted by a man representing our resort. He leads us over to get our ticket for the water taxi, then delivers us to a little bus that drives a bunch of us over to another terminal. We are met there by a lovely woman from Mirihi resort, who helps us finish checking in, then leads us to a private lounge upstairs. There we wash with a cool, lemon-scented towel she gives us, and enjoy some fresh fruit juice while we fill out a little paperwork. We then relax until she takes us down to our water taxi. We walk out onto a little dock and board the plane. There are six passengers and two pilots in our double-prop plane. First stop, after thirty minutes, is our resort. The other folks have to fly another five minutes to reach theirs.
We bank a nice big turn and land smoothly in the water and glide up to a dock anchored out in the water, about 200 yards from our island resort. I, of course, have tears in my eyes and stop to close my eyes and give thanks to the universe for so much abundance in my life. We step out onto the little dock, which has the cutest sign:
If you can’t read it, it says “Mirihi International Airport”, very cute. We step into the speedboat, and take a 5 minute ride to the Mirihi dock.
We are greeted by the manager and everyone is already so smiley and nice. We sit in wide, swinging wooden chairs, receive a coconut with a straw in it, and hear all about the resort. We have a walking tour, and by the time we reach our over water bungalow,
our bags are there. We use the dipper and bowl of water to wash off our feet (everyone goes barefoot all the time around here):
before walking into our room:
I am only halfway unpacked when Matthew calls me. Dude has already jumped in the water with his snorkel and mask and just returned to tell me he has seen parrot fish, tangs and a baby shark within 5 minutes of being in the water. Oh yea, our bungalow has a back deck with a couple of chaises, umbrella, and steps that lead right into the water. The reef is three feet from there!
I finish unpacking and lickity split join him. No shark for me, but lots of healthy coral, parrot fish, triggerfish, Sargent majors, etc etc. even a juvenile queen angel.
Both of us out of the water, we change and head to the bar for a snack. We play cribbage (I lose both times, but only by a hair),watch the water and just chill. After a while, I head to the dive shop
to fill out paperwork and sign up for tomorrow’s dive. Matt joins the locals for a seriously hot game of soccer on their cool mini field. Then back to the room and work on the blog. Matt check out their library for some good books, but barring that, he settles for two medium ones. Whatever. Sitting on our deck as it grows dark, checking out stars and the almost full moon. Off for a late dinner at the buffet, then settle in for a good nights sleep. Busy day tomorrow!