The following day drifted by, Sue walked to the mangroves to try to see some Madagascan Bee-Eaters, she almost didn't until a bird of prey scared them up - maybe 40 of them! We sat and watched the tide come and go, went next door for pizza and a few supplies (they also have little deli). Their garden is lovely with some big baobabs. Mike popped round to say farewell - they are off to Nairobi to fly home.
On Tuesday we got up early to make the most of the cool morning air and the low tide - villagers were already out collecting shellfish or whatever. At he village we bought tomatoes and sugar from a tiny shop - the lady didn't speak any english, we don't speak swahili - but it was fun and we think she was amused too! The village really reminded Sue of the Maldives.
We decided to have another relaxing day by the pool....swimming and lying in the shade with the breeze in the palms - idyllic. The an alarm went off - we wondered when someone would turn that car alarm off - it went on for a while. This puzzled us as there weren't many people with cars here today - and the staff would surely have dealt with it by now? We stood up and turned round to go and have a look - that's when we saw the flames in the air above one of the buildings - they are all thatched - one was clearly burning hard. We ran to see what could be done - it was the kitchen, but was already burning so fast that the flames were up in the palm trees - it was clear that the dining area would go next, so as people arrived from around the site we all started to try to save furniture, fridges, anything. Carys' house is close to the dining area - the wind was onshore so it should have blown the flames away, but the fire was creating it's own wind - it was clear that the house would go soon, so a group ran round to try to save Carys' possesions - we had maybe 3 minutes before it too was ablaze. Anothe cottage next door was obviously going to be the next - some of the campsite workers climbed on the roof and started to cut the thatched roof off - too late it started to burn around them, but they continued to try to get it under control, eventually forcing the building to collapse into itself rather than blaze upwards - this probably prevented any further spread. Sue managed to get Poppy (she's young and too excitable/inquisitive/friendly) and take her to the truck where she tied her up safely, got the truck ready to move in case the fire spread further and came back to help. More and more people were arriving, but no water - but then buckets started to appear and a local lodge owner organised a chain from the swimming pool to the fire - in the end there must have been 50 of us desperately passing full water up and empty buckets down the chain. The fire brigade finally arrived - and miracle of miracles - they had brought water! They soon got what was left of the fire under control and doused the area down. By this time Carys had lost her kitchen, dining room, gust's lounge, her home and possesions and a cottage where her sister Natalie was staying - but she went into overdrive to make sure that her guests wouldn't be affected too much - organising a clear-up, making sure services were available, sorting otu food at capricorn, the lot - she certainly earnt our respect that day. As everything calmed down we went back to the truck and Poppy, a neighbour had found the other dog - a beautiful mongrel called Sahara (looks Egyptian somehow) - and brought her to us for safe keeping - they both had a hard boiled egg each and seemed to enjoy them! Luckily no-one was hurt - a few grazes, small burns, a lot of shock - but nothing serious.It seems it all started with a faulty gas bottle. Luckily they have just built a new pool bar complete with small kitchen - so they will be able to continue to feed guests - in some respects they already had a back-up facility and will be able to remain open for the high season.
That evening most people went next door for a pizza, adrink and a wind-down.
On Tuesday we got up early to make the most of the cool morning air and the low tide - villagers were already out collecting shellfish or whatever. At he village we bought tomatoes and sugar from a tiny shop - the lady didn't speak any english, we don't speak swahili - but it was fun and we think she was amused too! The village really reminded Sue of the Maldives.
We decided to have another relaxing day by the pool....swimming and lying in the shade with the breeze in the palms - idyllic. The an alarm went off - we wondered when someone would turn that car alarm off - it went on for a while. This puzzled us as there weren't many people with cars here today - and the staff would surely have dealt with it by now? We stood up and turned round to go and have a look - that's when we saw the flames in the air above one of the buildings - they are all thatched - one was clearly burning hard. We ran to see what could be done - it was the kitchen, but was already burning so fast that the flames were up in the palm trees - it was clear that the dining area would go next, so as people arrived from around the site we all started to try to save furniture, fridges, anything. Carys' house is close to the dining area - the wind was onshore so it should have blown the flames away, but the fire was creating it's own wind - it was clear that the house would go soon, so a group ran round to try to save Carys' possesions - we had maybe 3 minutes before it too was ablaze. Anothe cottage next door was obviously going to be the next - some of the campsite workers climbed on the roof and started to cut the thatched roof off - too late it started to burn around them, but they continued to try to get it under control, eventually forcing the building to collapse into itself rather than blaze upwards - this probably prevented any further spread. Sue managed to get Poppy (she's young and too excitable/inquisitive/friendly) and take her to the truck where she tied her up safely, got the truck ready to move in case the fire spread further and came back to help. More and more people were arriving, but no water - but then buckets started to appear and a local lodge owner organised a chain from the swimming pool to the fire - in the end there must have been 50 of us desperately passing full water up and empty buckets down the chain. The fire brigade finally arrived - and miracle of miracles - they had brought water! They soon got what was left of the fire under control and doused the area down. By this time Carys had lost her kitchen, dining room, gust's lounge, her home and possesions and a cottage where her sister Natalie was staying - but she went into overdrive to make sure that her guests wouldn't be affected too much - organising a clear-up, making sure services were available, sorting otu food at capricorn, the lot - she certainly earnt our respect that day. As everything calmed down we went back to the truck and Poppy, a neighbour had found the other dog - a beautiful mongrel called Sahara (looks Egyptian somehow) - and brought her to us for safe keeping - they both had a hard boiled egg each and seemed to enjoy them! Luckily no-one was hurt - a few grazes, small burns, a lot of shock - but nothing serious.It seems it all started with a faulty gas bottle. Luckily they have just built a new pool bar complete with small kitchen - so they will be able to continue to feed guests - in some respects they already had a back-up facility and will be able to remain open for the high season.
That evening most people went next door for a pizza, adrink and a wind-down.