Pipa

No fancy bars, flash restaurants or expensive suits here. It is the perfect lazy fishing town we were hoping for. The road from Natal to Pipa was like driving through North Queensland with hectares of Sugar Cane lining the road.

We took a local bus that took 2 hours and the Manager of the Natal hotel offered to drive us free of charge to the station. Unbelievably nice people – we tried to pay him but he refused to accept. Jeff comments every day on how incredibly friendly the people are here and I wholeheartedly agree. We could be paying our bill at a bar or getting out of a taxi we negotiated a cheaper price for and they will still shake our hands. We will miss this place.

Yesterday was Jeff’s birthday and we spent the day lounging by the pool, watching movies in our air-conditioned room and had dinner in the coolest little restaurant on the beach. It was dark but the sound of the ocean was very prevalent. We waddled our way back suitably stuffed. We won’t dare weigh ourselves – it’s not only our luggage that has gained a few pounds this trip. :-)


The hotel we stayed in for 6 nights in Pipa was nothing short of spectacular. We managed to get a deal that gave us more than 60% off the normal room rate AND had breakfast included. It was every bit as beautiful as the pictures on the website. We really did have to pry ourselves from the pools each day to check out the beach and town.

Breakfast was like nothing I have ever experienced! Every morning we spent an average of 2 hours there – around 9 we started with fresh fruit and glass of juice, half an hour later we had something hot (eggs, sausages or steak and onions) and toast then their local delicacies (chicken or ham/chs/tom filled pastries and quiche like things) then coffee and cake (there were an average of 7 to choose from!) not to mention the abundance of cookies and bite sized sweet treats in independent jars dotted around the 3 large tables of food. I couldn’t’ help but think of the possible waste each day and what the food could have done for others.


After breakfast, the toughest decision of the day was deciding which pool to swim at – yeah there were 2 to choose from. It was pretty over the top.

On Sunday Jeff went for a wander into town and walked to a point where he went for a swim and got within 20 metres of dolphins swimming. Very cool experience.

The weekends are like walking through a night club in the main street. There is music and people are quite overwhelming. The PERFECT place for 20ish year olds. Jeff’s hoping to bring his sons here one day soon – I think he’d be crazy not to. Speaking of perfect we found the greatest little bar in town we went to a few times before dinner – awesome drinks, bar staff (yum!!) and the best list of reggae music I have heard.


We spent most nights lounging in the hammock drinking wine or vodka and listening (and singing) to music - the photo of my feet was my common afternoon/evening view.

For the epitome of luxury on a backpackers budget in one of the prettiest coasts we have seen, it cost us less than $60 each per night. If only we could stop time and stay longer!!!! I loved Pipa.

The closest thing I have come to comparing these stunning parts of paradise is the Sunshine Coast. I do miss home, but not ready to come back just yet…….