Playtimes HK Magazine February 2018 Issue | Page 52

features
conditions. On our excursion there were
just six people – the four of us (the kids
came along but Nanny and Granddad
opted for a sunlounger on the beach),
another couple, and the instructor. We
didn’t see much, but we did achieve our
objective and saw a manta ray, about 2.5
metres wide, gliding through the water.
The kids were awestruck.
There are a number of guided
activities available besides snorkelling.
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There’s reef walking at low tide and
controlled fish feeding every afternoon
(the kids loved this). You can take a
historical tour of the island or maybe
a bird-watching tour (more on birds
in a bit). Also, for such a tiny island,
there are quite a few family-friendly
facilities. There are a small saltwater
swimming pool, a children’s playground,
a table tennis table, a pool table, a
football table and beach volleyball.
A reef education centre has a number
of displays and videos to educate
visitors about the flora and fauna of
the island. They also hold a number
of talks, including one about manta
rays. All in all, the facilities exceeded
our expectations.
Accommodation is more
perfunctory than luxury, but perfectly
comfortable. You really won’t spend
much time in the room, and it is an
eco-resort, don’t forget. There are
four different options. The most
economical are the eco cabins –
permanent safari-style tents that
sleep up to four people in bunk
beds, with communal bathroom
facilities. Garden units also sleep
up to four but have a fan, mini-
fridge and tea- and coffee-making
facilities. Reef units sleep two or
four, and are a little smarter and
closer to the beach – less than
10 metres away. There are also
two-bedroom air conditioned
“island suites” that have
absolute beach frontage.
Going on holiday offers a
great opportunity to switch
off from your everyday life, so
one of the things I love about