Leaving behind an empty hotel, dancing girls, surreal Bhuddist monks, etc., I went to the Hilton DoubleTree resort on Sonaisali Island. The management of Anchorage Bay were very pleasant and understanding, but offered no apology or recompense for the film-crew invasion and then emptying departure.

The DoubleTree is actually on a long sand-spit reached by a 1-minute ferry. 

The place was quite full – just what I wanted – with a mix of Kiwis, Yanks, Aussies, Brits, Koreans, Chinese, etc, and lots of children from infants-in-arms to 15/16 yr-olds.

The swimming pool was a busy place with a swim-up bar on one side and the main restaurant on the other side.

There were a couple of blocks of rooms; mine was chalet-style. When I arrived, check-in tried to upsell me to an ocean view. As it happened, I had an ocean view anyhow

The DoubleTree Hotel swimming pool

The pool-man got up to his neck in the job…..

Returning to my room on the first night, I thought there was an animal above throwing things down. I evaded them and in the morning saw the pathway was littered with little red nuts which I discovered were

immature coconuts!

Also, as I looked out to sea, it appeared as if the islands were floating in the sky!..

There was a great entertainments team who -in their off-time – also helped prepare local delights. Here they’re making coconut pies for the evening dessert. The big guy on the left has an amazing basso voice which when combined with a great sense of humour and a ukulele turns him into a dominating singer. The Uke looks so little against his massive body.

A form of coconut

Preparing and drinking Kava, the national drink with mildly narcotic effects

 I met quite a few people in the pool, by the bar, or in the restaurant, and although we chatted and drank together I didn’t get to eat with any of them.

The weather turned into a predictable cycle of massive thunderstorms in the late afternoon and late evening, but nice sunny or partially overcast days. Ideal for lazing around.

I did feel a little bit guilty that I didn’t explore more of the island, but didn’t fancy any of the organised tours and when I thought of hiring a car, I didn’t relish the thought of having to drive again in heavy rains after the Yacatan experience.

So I stuck around the hotel until I left on Saturday morning in the middle of another rainstorm…