How much do you like lazing by the pool? Can’t get enough of it? Could be a dream come true? Just what you need? A little R&R?
That’s what I thought too! That was until I was fortunate enough to get a chance to do it.
I recall years ago visiting this tropical location on a family camping trip. We camped in the local caravan park on the beautiful beach. We walked along the beach and peeked in at the luxury resort awestruck by the beautiful swimming pools. Never did I dare to imagine that one day I would be lazing by one of those pools.
And yet, there was I just last week lazing by the pools, swimming in the pools, ordering cool drinks that waiters brought to my lounge chair. It seemed decadent and I felt like a bit of a fraud. This level of luxury does sit well on my conscience. I can open my own door thank you. And carry my own bag – I’m not an invalid. I don’t mind getting up and walking to the bar to order a drink.
How long before the laze by the pool on the sun lounge gets a little boring? I start to fidget. I go for a swim. I read another couple of pages of a boring book. I get on Facebook on my phone and tell my friends that I am bored or lazing by the pool, or whatever.
This resort is aging and in need of a makeover. There are cheap packages available – one we bought. The food is quite awful – food for the masses – smorgasbords of food that could be fresher and authentic. Was that reconstituted egg I tasted in the scrambled eggs for breakfast? I’m not a fussy eater but at this level of promoted luxury you do expect the food to be at least real. The banana smoothie I ordered had banana essence as the banana component: not a real banana to be seen. I know bananas are expensive at the moment but this is the tropics and this is a luxury resort!
I’m not good at sitting still. I need to explore, walk, and look around. The boat trips to the outer barrier reef were great. We snorkelled and we saw turtles, reef fish, and colourful coral. We saw whales and dolphins. We walked around the town dreaming about buying a little piece of tropical paradise.
It was good to get a little bit of warmth and sunshine, but I am quite happy to be back at home under grey skies. And now at least I know that lazing by the pool is not all that it appears.
Spending my childhood and teenage years outdoors without a hat or sunscreen was normal for me and my generation. I spent most of my free daylight hours outside playing tennis, swimming, and water-skiing. Cracked lips, peeling noses, and sun burnt skulls were badges of honour as proof of sun-worship. My skin did tan to a light golden colour and to me this was some kind of validation of my Australian identity, shunning my English, Scottish and French ancestry. I inherited my skin type from my mother and aunt and they both have had many nasty things cut and burnt from their skin. My aunt who will turn 90 years of age this year has had so many cuts made to her face that she looks like she has been in a car accident. She is not the slightest bit vain about it and I admire her common-sense and practical attitude.
Sues Bent 