Thread: married to a kiwi Discussion 3: “The end of the Pontoon Villa”

Ten years ago, I started saving for Bora Bora. We could have probably gone earlier, but I wanted the proper holiday, the five-star experience, the end of the pontoon villa. From the word go, my Kiwi husband was not terribly impressed by Bora Bora, which for the next ten years he would refer to as Boring Boring. Needless to say, it annoyed me, but I ignored it. Every birthday and Christmas I asked for cash gifts. I started to save as much as I could while said Kiwi husband made fun of my obsession with the “end of the pontoon villa”. I think he would have driven me insane with his constant moaning about why anyone would need an “end of the pontoon villa” if we hadn’t gone to visit Lake Inle in Myanmar.
Lake Inle is one of the most beautiful places we visited on our travels and one of the treats is to stay in the then still very much affordable hotels that line the border of the lake. Each room in those hotels is a private little hut on stilts that extends into the lake and from where you can observe the famous fishermen of Myanmar that use their legs to paddle. That is, you can observe them if you are in the “end of the pontoon villa”. You won’t see them from the cheap room at the very start of the pontoon. Yes, the one next to the staff quarters and the one they all have to pass to get to that “end of the pontoon villa”!
In 2013, when we travelled to Myanmar, we innocently thought that we were one of a few to venture to this foreign country that for such a long time had been more or less closed to the public. I mean, they only got Coke Cola the year before, but now I wouldn’t be surprised if they have things like KFC or McDonald’s. So we travelled to Myanmar without making any reservations, thinking that we would easily find hotels, youth hostels and B and Bs. As I said earlier, at that point we still enjoyed roughing it and going where the wind would take us. However, we were not the only ones who had the bright idea of travelling to Myanmar and there was not a bed to be had in this country whose infrastructure was nowhere near ready to accommodate all the different nationalities that suddenly embarked in Mandalay or Rangoon. After driving for hours after our arrival in Mandalay in search of a room, we ended up sharing the last room to be had in this fascinating place with a German couple and some cockroaches. The following morning, after having stepped my way around the many tourists who were sleeping on the bare floor of the hotel corridor, I quickly went to the next travel agency and started booking ahead, as I was in no mood to find myself sharing another night with some weird strangers or worse, outside in the wilderness with no tent or sleeping bag.
Lake Inle, which was one of our main destinations, was solidly booked and the only room available was the last or first hut, depending how you see it, at the beginning of the pontoon. We took it and even though the people who passed it day and night got on our nerves with their constant chatter, it served its purpose, as my Kiwi husband finally understood that when one goes to Bora Bora, one must have the “end of the pontoon villa”.
(Guess, I won't have that problem though on Stewart Island will I? From what I understand there is no choice, but only one cabin and I'm hoping that comes with a view

I think you are definitely going to find it a little quieter on Stewie. Most of the noise will be the bird life. You will most certainly have your "end of the pontoon".

Take some fishing gear, doesn't have to be flash, hand lines are great! You can eat fresh fish any time of the day.

Oh, and if the cabin doesn't have a view get out and find some views.

Well Mrs S....I reckon Bora Bora is overrated (personal opinion),,,,Myanmar,whilst living in Saigon tiki-toured around the place several times,roughed it ,loved it......you want a real trip...Mongolia!!!!...start in UB,unbelievable country......start with Stewart island,then Mongolia ........

Jeez Sideshow for crying out loud man, take this good lady to Bora Bora and then bring her back home and show her what real living is like. A weekend away in the Taihape Tavern would be a good contrast. Real people, great grub and a wire wove bed with a cappock mattress. Turn on a bit of charm by letting her have a go on the dart board first followed by a couple of games of pool with the locals and Bob’s your Nana. She will never speak of Bora Bora to you again. Of course there is always the possibility that she will never speak to you again full stop but thems the chances you gotta take when exposing a lady to the Kiwi heartland. Hell man I’ll even chip in and shout you both a cheese and egg burger for dinner.

Are there big fish to be caught off the hut deck at Borabora?

Originally Posted by Woody

Are there big fish to be caught off the hut deck at Borabora?

Ahhh the key question... Depending on the block and hut you can catch them from the hut doorstep on Stewart...

Will there be any posers on Stewart with socks pushed down their budgie smugglers rippling there muscles.

Originally Posted by chindit

Will there be any posers on Stewart with socks pushed down their budgie smugglers rippling there muscles.

It could be arranged...

Jeeze I could do some boring in Bora Bora.

I hope your not blond but here's some free advice - You need to plan ahead, start selling some of his rifles, he will have plenty I guess, most likely all black to fool you into thinking he has only 1 rifle. There's usually a serial number stamped on the receiver, the bit the the barrel screws into, each rifle has a unique serial number. Take note of the rifles manufacturer and calibre, look on trade me for price comparisons to figure out what they are worth then have a fire sale, shit forgot to mention that the telescopic sights (scopes) could be worth more than the rifle so you need to identify brand, model and power.
There is a buy sell section on this forum where you can quickly sell the items at a discounted rate, Let us know if you need some help, I'll see you right.

There are plenty of hotels on stilts in Asia at reasonable prices, Phllipines, Malaysia & Indonesia, if you want a laid back holiday with plenty of things to do try Sri Lanka, it's bloody amazing. If I were to cash up and retire overseas that would be the place.

Originally Posted by 300winmag

Jeeze I could do some boring in Bora Bora.

I hope your not blond but here's some free advice - You need to plan ahead, start selling some of his rifles, he will have plenty I guess, most likely all black to fool you into thinking he has only 1 rifle. There's usually a serial number stamped on the receiver, the bit the the barrel screws into, each rifle has a unique serial number. Take note of the rifles manufacturer and calibre, look on trade me for price comparisons to figure out what they are worth then have a fire sale, shit forgot to mention that the telescopic sights (scopes) could be worth more than the rifle so you need to identify brand, model and power.
There is a buy sell section on this forum where you can quickly sell the items at a discounted rate, Let us know if you need some help, I'll see you right.

There are plenty of hotels on stilts in Asia at reasonable prices, Phllipines, Malaysia & Indonesia, if you want a laid back holiday with plenty of things to do try Sri Lanka, it's bloody amazing. If I were to cash up and retire overseas that would be the place.

Turncoat!

They would be sold on the UK anyway. Prices are low at the moment, not worth doing.The prices you see online are all over inflated and the stuff just doesn't move. Much better to bring one over here and put it to proper use.

Saved!

Originally Posted by A330driver

Well Mrs S....I reckon Bora Bora is overrated (personal opinion),,,,Myanmar,whilst living in Saigon tiki-toured around the place several times,roughed it ,loved it......you want a real trip...Mongolia!!!!...start in UB,unbelievable country......start with Stewart island,then Mongolia ........

Ha @A330driver now you are talking! I have always wanted to go to Mongolia. Love horses

Originally Posted by 300winmag

Jeeze I could do some boring in Bora Bora.

I hope your not blond but here's some free advice - You need to plan ahead, start selling some of his rifles, he will have plenty I guess, most likely all black to fool you into thinking he has only 1 rifle. There's usually a serial number stamped on the receiver, the bit the the barrel screws into, each rifle has a unique serial number. Take note of the rifles manufacturer and calibre, look on trade me for price comparisons to figure out what they are worth then have a fire sale, shit forgot to mention that the telescopic sights (scopes) could be worth more than the rifle so you need to identify brand, model and power.
There is a buy sell section on this forum where you can quickly sell the items at a discounted rate, Let us know if you need some help, I'll see you right.

There are plenty of hotels on stilts in Asia at reasonable prices, Phllipines, Malaysia & Indonesia, if you want a laid back holiday with plenty of things to do try Sri Lanka, it's bloody amazing. If I were to cash up and retire overseas that would be the place.

Hi @300winmag am kind of blond so I gave him a shotgun for his birthday. So I know exactly what it's worth....:-)

Big mistake !!! if you want to a five star holiday at a nice resort, you cant waste money on guns, no matter what.

And it’s not black!!
Walnut and blue thank you very much she has good taste.