May 6, 2025
The boys requested a break from the kids club for the day, more Ollie then Lenny, which seemed fair and gave us time to get back to some home school. Also it was nice to give them a break from the bug attacks at the kids club.
We had our normal buffet breakfast at Annabella’s. The boys know what they want by this point. Lenny goes around with Kayleen to help him while Ollie is keen to take a plate and load it up with whatever catches his eye. Always including a coconut or chocolate croissant and pickles. Once we finished it was back to the room to start home school.
The iPad learning games are still helpful but the boys definitely get more out of them when we sit with them while they do it. Sometimes what the game is asking them to do can be a little confusing or they need an explanation of why what they are doing is not correct. After the iPad Lenny worked on his “Lenny Words” and helped me read a book while Ollie wrote a letter to his Aunt Lisa.
After home school we headed over to the meeting spot for the glass bottom boat ride at 10:30. It was right near the adult only section of the resort and asking the kids to be quiet is always a challenge. It was overcast so there were not too many adults out for us to annoy.
There was a paddle board tied up in the water so we used that as a distraction to allow the boys to practice surfing while we waited for the boat to arrive.
The glass bottom boat ride was only 30 minutes but that was enough for Kayleen and I. Looking through the glass bottom when the boat was moving fast was like taking an instant motion sickness pill. Once the boat slowed down it was fine. The boys enjoyed it and we got to see a ton of sea cucumbers and different coral, which the boys call “Carl”. They had a lot of questions about the coral that was bleached white.
When we got off the boat two women from the marine education center where on the beach and we peppered them with questions, a lot about the crown of thorn starfish. One confirmed she had also seen the one on the beach yesterday and that is was very odd for them to end up on the beach since the reef is not close to shore.
They told us how a few are good for the reef, to slow down the fast growing coral, but too many will destroy the reef since they eat it. The boys of course asked how to get rid of them and they explained that it’s hard because when the crown of thorn starfish feels stressed It released hundred to thousands of eggs so you stab or pick up one and end up with a hundred more. The most effective way is to inject them with vinegar, which is difficult in practice, or introduce their nature predators…. enter the Pacific Triton Snail.
The boys loved the name and wanted to know why they don’t release a lot of the snails but the women told us that their shell is very large and pretty so people tend to pick them up and try to take them or hurt them by accident. There is also a few fish that eat them but there are not a lot of those fish around the reef currently.
Once done with the question bombardment we tried to get a coconut at this little shack on the beach but where unable as it was not fully opened for the day yet. The boys were disappointed but enjoyed their waiting time on the swings. We promised we would sneak past the adult only section to come back for one before we left.
We headed to the main pool to play for a while and get lunch. It was cloudy and drizzled on and off but the pool is warm enough to stay in for a long time. The boys practiced different swimming challenges for a while before they were back to their attacking games. Ollie was able to go to the bottom of the pool and swim along the bottom until he got to me. Lenny is still working on taking a breath while swimming without coming to a full stop.
They like to stand on my shoulders and have me try to walk up and down the pool. It’s a nice change of pace from the bee ball game. I think other families think we are silly, or maybe just loud Americans, as no one else seems to play games like this. A lot of the other kids I have noticed are 3 or under so that also could be why. The boys have a great time and burn off a lot of energy.
We had some lunch by the pool, Ollie took down most of a “giant crabby patty” much to my amazement. Then we headed to the boat center to mess around in the lagoon that leads to the ocean.
The resort had these two really cool little boats for kids where they can spin a paddle wheel on each side using their arms. We knew our kids would love them but had doubts on how capable they would be on maneuvering them. Much to our surprise they did great!
Kayleen and I took a traditional paddle boat and we made our way down the lagoon slowly with the boys. Ollie was able to zip around while it took Lenny some time to get the hang of it. The lagoon is lined with big rocks on each side that are covered in little brown crabs. They almost look like bugs. There were a few bigger crabs that had brighter colors as well and we found the biggest one when we got to the furthest point we were allowed to go to with the boats. It was a reward for everyone making it to the end in their boat.
After the boats we walked over to another pool area on the side of the resort near the lagoon boats. The boys took a few whacks at a punching bag with Kayleen calling out their karate combinations. Then practiced hitting the volleyball for a brief period before going in the pool. It was a nice change since there was a big slope into deep side of the pool so the boys could stand and not be clinging to me the whole time. Though Lenny still needs constant supervision due to his daredevil ways.
The weather got much worse quickly while we were at the pool. The wind became very intense and it eventually started to rain hard which sent us back to our room in a hurry.
Ollie and I were considering going out fishing in the ocean for a half day and almost booked it for this afternoon. I was very glad we had not and told Kayleen so about 5 times. After his last few fishing experiences, Ollie is keen to go out and try to catch a big fish in the ocean. I am trying to book something with the resort before we leave and he asks us constantly when we are going to do it.
The boys took a bubble bath which ended in a pinching fight. We then resorted to some iPad time for a little peace since we were stuck inside until dinner. Lenny groaned of being hungry so we cracked into the minibar nuts to keep him from getting to hangry.
We went to dinner at the C Beach Club restaurant, same one as our first night. We were all very hungry and dinner was quickly devoured by all. The boys, mostly Ollie, is still always looking for a new story from Kayleen and I. I remembered one about fishing in Florida when I was a kid where someone caught a bonito and when they were reeling it in a barracuda came up and ate it. They both really enjoyed that one.
Ollie also asked about gladiators so we went down that path eventually leading to the movie which I gave the PG summary of. Once they got all their questions about that out Ollie wanted to talk about something else. He asked me what it should be and I said I didn’t know so he suggested “how humans came to exist.” The variety of topics that rolls through his brain is wild. I convinced him to save that one for another day. Instead I told him that him and I would probably be the first ones ever in our family to be on a boat in the Indian Ocean when we went fishing. He reminded me that we did the glass bottom boat today so all four of us were already the first ones ever in our family history to be on a boat in the Indian Ocean. Kids really like knowing they are the first to do something!
My caper to save us from being charged $5 for water at dinner did not work. They give us free water in the room but for the same bottle at dinner charge $5. I brought a bottle with us to dinner but they charged us anyway and I didn’t have the energy to fight with the waiter.
Lenny noticed a tiny gecko in our room tonight which he was very pleased to have spotted. Hopefully they continue to nab any unwanted bugs that make it into our room. Off to bed for all of us since we are living the one room dream at this stop
