23.2.26

Our taxi arrived at 10am and took just over an hour to reach The Iris, Betalbatim, our home for our last 6 days.

It’s fabulous. I could definitely live there and love how they’ve decorated it.

First job, get some washing on while we unpack and get sorted. We’re so excited to have a machine.

We came as friends, became housemates and will leave having handled each other’s smalls.

By the time load 1 was done and Kevin & I had figured out how to open the airer, we were ready for a late breakfast.

Kevin saw somewhere called Za something that sounded good. Off we went. We’re very much in the sticks here, surrounded by some huge stunning houses.

I’m the only one with Internet but Google maps couldn’t find Za something.

We ended up at Martins Corner. Time was getting on by now. So in we went expecting small and homely for brunch.

Inside it’s huge!

No brunch menu, we were onto lunch now. I had a fabulous chicken biryani, the best I’ve had since we got here. We all had mains, Kevin and I were stuffed but found room for deserts.

The restaurant was really busy considering it was a Monday lunchtime. Everyone was smartly dressed, and looked affluent. Liz was spotting the Louis Vuitton and Balmain handbags. We had just nipped out for breakfast in our travelling clothes.

Perfect, a great start having found this place, fab food, atmosphere and staff.

Next plan.. Let’s see the beach. Fabulous and enough shacks to make sure we don’t starve.

Everything we Google seems to be 13 minutes away. We found 2 small shops by the beach road and bought soft drinks to add to our spirits while playing cards on our lovely terrace later tonight.

We went back, put more washing on and had a swim, the pool is lovely, perfect temperature and enough sunbeds.

Determined to visit Za Something, we set off for 13 minutes to Newtown restaurant and bar for a drink. It’s not Za something at all. Worse than that it’s not open as it’s being refurbished.

It was hard trying to get our bearings. We continued walking, stopped in Friends shop to get snacks for later. Deciding we needed a drink we walked a bit more to Fish-Ka Bar and restaurant. By now we were peckish.

Kevin and Sharon ordered Onion Pakodas, yep a K not an R, and a blue cheese naan.

Raw onion in some sort or unappetising coating arrived. A huge plate full. Being terribly polite they ate all bar one but couldn’t manage the naan. My cheese and garlic naan was a 9/10 on my scale.

The place itself was soulless, we won’t be back.

By the time we got home it was too late for cards. Again.

Lovely first impressions of where we are.

Kevin’s already researching tomorrow evenings food…