Aloha!

Our quick flight went smoothly and I LOVED that all the air hostesses wore flowers in their hair and the guys had Hawaiian shirts on. Also loved them saying ‘lets get this boeing going’! Cracked me up!

We got off the plane in high spirits and excited to see our new home for the next few weeks. We collected our car rental smoothly…PAH!!! Like THAT ever happens!!! Alex was getting me back for not knowing the hotel name and misplaced his drivers license…and mine…and every important document we had with us. He went through his day bag as I went through his backpack…imagine the scene, were on the floor in the queue which is about 18 deep dragging out all of the dirty washing, hiking boots, washbags etc etc. Alex stands up and declares it is NOT in the day bag…we have lost it! WE! As in the two of us have lost it out of HIS bag! I calmly ask if he wants me to check the day bag and get my ear bitten off but I check anyway and find it in about 3 seconds flat! So, that done we repack all of Alex’s earthly belongings back into his bag and then face the Spanish Inquisition to finally get the car.

We type the address of the bugalow into the GPS (otherwise known as several profanities as it is as much use as I am at giving directions) and cross our fingers and hope for the best. After driving on main roads for half an hour we turn down a 2 mile long side road that is like a rippled rug reaching into the darkness. No street lights just hump back hills that make your stomach roll for 2 miles. Suddenly GPS tells us to take a right onto a dirt track and says we have reached our destination in that really annoying voice. We hopefully had not reached our destination as it seemed we were in the jungle. We followed the gravel track further into what looked like forest all around us and finally saw a house number…no sign of a house but a drive way. We kept going and finally found the house number we needed and pulled into the drive. By now it felt like we must be absolutely in the middle of nowhere after diving down wobbly roads, gravel tracks and forest all in the dead black of night! We dragged our bags inside and eventually found a light switch and sighed a huge sigh of relief! We had arrived in heaven. The kitchen gleamed, the bathroom shone and the shower made those angel singing noises! We checked the fridge and read the notice that said not to drink the water and set off back out to find a store. 12 miles round trip later we had water, milk and coffee and were ready for bed and the coqui frongs sang us to sleep.

The wake up call wasnt as pleasant as the lullaby, it transpires that everyone in the surrounding area breeds Roosters. That cant tell the time or crow very well for that matter. They just sound like they are screaming! So by 4.45am we were wide awake and excited to see where we were. We put the coffee on and wandered outside and saw the pool, the BBQ, the hammocks, sun loungers, outdoor fridges and not at all least the immaculate gardens. Banana trees, orchids, Papaya trees, Angels trumpets, bamboo and perfect lawns. The smell was incredible. The orchids are the most beautiful I have seen and they grow in the walls and wherever they can, almost like weeds. If only all weeds were as pretty and sweet smelling as these!

We settled in quickly and within minutes had made a mess. It still amazes me that we manage to live in the tiny van yet give us an inch more space and we spread like wild fire. We don’t even have that much stuff…I don’t know how it happens! Cant wait to see what excitement our time here brings…around the tidying up!!!

Have a look around for yourself! The bungalows were just perfect! A home away from home!

Here’s what happens next on our wedding travel adventure!