We had a day largely away from the beach yesterday. Bob went off to Chaudi after breakfast to get some cash out of the atm and for a few bits and pieces. Then we spent the rest of the morning reading in our lovely cool room. It was blisteringly hot. The temperatures are due to dip down a few degrees in the coming days apparently which will be very welcome. I like the heat but this week it has been a bit much. The evenings are very pleasant though.
We had a lovely afternoon. Last year, when our eldest daughter was still resident in Dubai, we all went out for a last stay with her and we met a lot of her friends including Dipankar and his flatmate, Aaron. They very kindly made a most amazing Indian dinner for us – such delicious dishes, quite superb. Dipankar is from Orissa originally and he is in India at the moment visiting his family and also at a big wedding in Goa this weekend. We were so pleased that he wanted to come and see us old fogies!!!!! We had a lovely long lunch at Jaali Cafe under the trees and a big catch up amidst lots of laughter. Afterwards we walked along the beach and ducked out of the scorching sun into Papaya and continued chatting over ginger lemonades. He went back to the wedding hotel about 5pm amidst promises we would all get together when we visit Dubai in 2024. Such a lovely man.
A quick shower and change and we were out again for Gloria’s farewell dinner. Gloria returns to Kathmandu today. It will be another year before we see her again! She chose Magic View for the occasion so we walked across the beach as the sun set, glad the temperature was much more pleasant. We were 10 for dinner. I had the gorgonzola pasta again and the table was roughly split between that dish and the vegetable pizzas. A very jovial occasion although we were all quite tired by the end. I think the heat is quite draining at the moment. Bob and I tuk’d back to the hotel while others walked. We had a very “exciting” ride. The tuk driver took an unusual route up a rutted unmade road that gave us a ride that was definitely bone-rattling. The track was in a terrible state but it didn’t seem to affect his speed although it did affect our bums bouncing up and down on the hard seat!!! LOL!
