Nikoi Island

We've now moved on to Nikoi Island which is an absolute paradise.  It's the ultimate in understated, ecologically sound luxury. A jungle island, ringed by a bright white sand beach where they've built a small number of fantastic chalets from local wood and thatch.  All of them are a stones throw from the sea, for someone who can't throw very well.  You fall asleep to the sound of lapping waves coming through the open front wall with, hopefully, a gentle breeze coming through the palm trees.  If not, there's a fan inside the mosquito net.  The service is amazingly friendly from the predominantly local staff, and so efficient but un-preprocessing that you hardly notice it until you wonder at how well something was done.

We're in a group of nearly 20 here for a long weekend to celebrate Alex's birthday.  A mixture of Brits, Aussies, South Africans and Americans.  The days are spent relaxing and playing about on and in the water.  All the waterspouts are included and you just go down to the beach and borrow what you need, with expert instruction if you want.  The evenings are spent wining and dining. In fact, there are three, 3-course meals a day of gorgeous, fresh Indonesian food.  We have a big table reserved for us, and these meals provide a great focal point for everyone to get back together.

Zeenit arranged special meals for the Friday and Saturday.  On Friday we had sundown cocktails, followed by a barbecue on the beach.  There were great seafood dishes such as a scallop salad, spicy fish in banana leaves and local squid.  We also had a whole lamb on a spit carved on to your plate, so juicy and tender.  On Saturday, it was canapés with champagne, followed by a big sit down dinner and then a party by the pool (well away from the other guests).  There were spectacular surprise fireworks laid on by the owner, and, of course, Alex got thrown in the pool.  But he kept his beer upright throughout. 

Anyway, enough words, here are some pictures.

Here are Alex and Dan riding at the back of the boat between Bin Tan and the island.  We for a ferry from Singapore to Bin Tan in Indonesia, drove across Bin Tan and then a power boat across to the island.  About 2 hours in all.

And here's Claire with a different approach.

Here's a view of the island as we approach.

 

And here's our luggage being unloaded.

Here's some views of our chalet and the beach.

This is the view out from in front of the bed.

The downstairs deck area, with its own separate bathroom.

Our chalet from the beach in front.  The main beach is further round, but you can just go in and swim here.

The main beach from the barbecue area

The beach outside our chalet

A beach babe

A hard days work for some.

Next post, I'll put up some pictures of the birthday party as I know you like to see who everybody is.