Having a birthday abroad can be a tricky one. You conjure up images of exotic cockatils, being pampered and washing sand out of your hair in the evening but in reality it can be hard when you wake up and realise your friends and family aren’t there and you can’t giggle into an empty wine glass with your best friends.
But I needn’t have worried because I was staying at The Hotel by the Red Canal in Mandalay for my recent birthday. After waking up in my delightful little room (with so many gorgeous finishing touches like the beautifully packaged bathroom amenities – earplugs were wrapped in rustic brown paper with a string bow around them!) I was in for a day of treats.
Our sweet room
As I padded downstairs for a delicious birthday breakfast I was greeted by one of the hotel’s smiling members of staff who handed me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and told me I had been booked in for a massage in the afternoon – a present from a wonderful colleague of mine who had contacted the hotel to arrange a surprise. Being hundreds of miles from home I was so touched.
But the real treat came in the evening as a romantic candlelit dinner was served by the poolside for my boyfriend and I. We made our way down to the lovely kidney-shaped pool that was all lit up and found a beautifully set table by the poolside.
As we sat down a bottle of pink bubbles was opened and as the cork popped, I thought to myself this was one of the most special birthdays yet. But the real treat was still to come. Our private waiters soon brought over the most delicious (and large) plate of thali.
Our delicious birthday dinner
Now I do not say this lightly but the thali was the best I’ve had since I was in India 9 years ago and the nan bread was light, fluffy – perfect for mopping up the spicy, rich curry sauce that adorned our plates. The dal was a delicious combination of creamy flavours and textured lentils and the meat was succulent and almost melted in our mouth as we bit into it.
The waiters were delightful, the setting was idyllic and the food out of this world. As my head hit the soft, feather-filled pillow that night I thought to myself what a special day it had been. So thank you to the Hotel by the Red Canal for an extremely special thirty-something (ahem!) day!