Magic Dad and Daughter memories at The Manta Resort

One of the perks of this “job” is the great travel benefits in Africa and Latin America, which on occasion extend to my family. In April this year, I was lucky enough to spend a week at the Manta Resort with my three year old* daughter. It was an incredibly special week, with memories which I will always treasure. Below are just a few of these very special Dad and Daughter memories from Manta.

Sunrise at Manta:

My daughter has always been a kid who wakes up with just the slightest bit of morning light peaking through the window shade (hence our blackout curtains in her room at home!). So thanks to the early rising African sun, she was always awake at first light. While this meant I also had to wake up early, on the positive side, it also meant we could share a moment together each morning, watching the colors of the sunrise reflecting off the gathering clouds and the sparkling turquoise Indian Ocean. It reminded me how important it is to slow down, stop, share and savor these kind of special moments with her.

Underwater Room sundowners:

We didn’t stay the night in the Underwater Room (minimum age for this is 12) but we were able to enjoy sundowners “on board” one evening when the room wasn’t in use. After enjoying snacks and drinks (including her favorite, watermelon juice!), we climbed down the ladder to the underwater bedroom for a look. I must admit, I was a bit cynical and skeptical about the Underwater Room prior to visiting Manta for the first time. But wow, how wrong I was – it is so incredibly cool and such a unique experience! It really is like sleeping in an aquarium. Then we went up to the top deck to watch the sun drip below the  horizon. It felt as if we were the last people on earth with the endless ocean stretching out before us. . .

A handmade dress from Pemba:

But if I have to pick one moment, probably my most special memory was the spontaneous visit we made to our guide Saidi’s house. While on a walk through the local village to visit the historic lighthouse nearby, I learned that Saidi’s wife was a seamstress who made clothes for children. Seeing an opportunity for a special keepsake from our visit to Pemba Island, I asked if it would be possible for her to make a dress for my daughter. So we stopped by Saidi’s home where his wife took her measurements and assured us she could have the dress ready before we left. Three days later, the dress was ready and we returned to Saidi’s home where his wife had made not one but two beautiful dresses for her to choose from! Admittedly, I was expecting a dress made from the colorful fabric prints which many of the local women wore as skirts, blouses and headscarves. Instead, Saidi’s wife had handcrafted two incredible dresses full of bejeweled and sequined trim and flowing lace that would befit any Disney princess! Not exactly what I had envisioned but exactly what Hollywood and Disney would have you think is every American girl’s dream dress! And which, of course, my daughter absolutely loved!

* The minimum age at Manta is typically seven but as we visited just before the resort’s annual closure in mid-April, an exception was made. Plus I know the owner, of course . . .