Napoli Pizza

Today I discovered some more exciting fish. After braving it a bit further from the shore, I saw a couple of bigger fish ahead. Decided too get closer and then saw that they were titan triggerfish.  On my last trip to the Maldives (hahah that makes me sound like I come here all the time) a guy at the resort I was on had to be medevaced out because he’d tried to feed one of these notoriously territorial fish and had his nose bitten off. Needless to say I sodded off pretty quick. They have some evil teeth. Oh and I rescued a bee from the see who’d flown in and was drowning. The bees here look terrifying. Massive black shiny things.

So it turns out the make-do reef the fish are shacking up in is under the water huts. Saw loads there today and can stop sulking at the lack of fish now. Tomorrow I’m going to swim the length of the huts and see what’s there.  There was a HUGE puffer/box fish today. About 60cm-70cm I reckon.

This evening I thought I’d leave the buffet restaurant and take advantage of my other half board option here. Sand Coast. Setting is lovely – on the beach lit by candles and tables under the palm trees and the equator stars. (If like me you take an interest in the sky, the stars here are so fantastic- there’s no light pollution to speak of and so different to the skies at home). They showed me the menu and said that apart from the lobster I could anything on half board.  I did my usual and explained I was veggie. And lo and behold they had an entirely veggie menu. So I’m sitting on the beach feeling truly blessed and happy having ordered myself a pizza with olives and caramelized onions. Life should be like this I decided, having just come away from sunset drinks watching shark feeding again and listening to some Arabic inspired music. I’m going to make SURE my life is like this.

Then my pizza came. It had an odd smell about it- one I didn’t instantly recognize as ‘food’ and found a bit off-putting. On closer inspection with the candle it’s covered in fish bones and anchovies! Life doesn’t want to be covered in anchovies thanks!

I did what anyone would do- sulked for a minute then called the waiter who proceeds to laugh at me and tell me I ordered Napoli with anchovies. I ask to see the veggie menu again and point out the lack of anchovies mentioned. They serve 2 Napoli- one veggie, one with anchovies. Apparently it was not enough to request a veggie menu, order from it and expect them to know I wanted the veggie version. Grrr.

Didn’t finish the pizza – was sort of put off. Maybe I’ll go back in a couple of days and try again.

Someone I know today said they wouldn’t want to be here – that all that luxury isn’t for them. At first I accepted this. Hours later I decided that’s bullshit. No one in their right mind doesn’t want this.