At 7am, the breakfast was already set. An array of different foods from sausages, to beans, noodles, spaghetti, porridge, assorted meat, chicken, and lots more, a buffet, the like that is usually set out for royalty, in attractive silver, gold plaited pots that urges one unto good appetite.
The breakfast this morning was located at the edge of the fresh waters of the lagoon, directly adjacent to the mass of salt water that makes up the great Atlantic ocean. So, the breakfast was sandwiched between these two massive waters, on the beach sand dunes that separated both sides.
On the other side of the lagoon was a virgin land, overgrown with shrubs and trees while on this other side, were the luxury homes built on the edge of the lagoon to ensure ecstatic beauty, extraordinary view of the ocean and the lagoon with an enhanced carribean feeling, of a home away from home.
The food was well laid out. The dining space comfy and the ambience, the landscape, was out of this world. Children, the young, the not so young, mixed freely, moving from the tea table, then to the buffet point itself to pick their gourmet taste.
Meanwhile a lot of activities were ongoing between the ocean front and the eating space by the lagoon, as the resort guests, poured out this particularly cool morning to have breakfast. The food had been diligently prepared, to keep them fit for the days activities.
The lagoon offered a good opportunity for kayak, a light sporting event to shake down the breakfast, in case it turns out too heavy. The beautiful Stallion horses of the resort were gallivanting in excitement in between the Atlantic ocean and the Lagoon, teasing the guests to hurry up with their meal and come over for a ride!
The boats were on display, beckoning on guests to jump in for a cruise on water. The entire environment was so picturesque as the scenario blended so well with natural environment of nature’s greenery, along with the colourful background of the holiday homes, in their distinct African themed concept of the resort’s infrastructure.
And Atunda Entertainment, the in-house cultural troupe of the resort was helping the guests’ meal to digest with light African musical entertainment.
But the coolness of the morning weather persisted.
It had been a rainy day the precious afternoon, evening and night. But since the guests persisted that it must be an outdoor breakfast, the resort management had to oblige, with a creative addition – a breakfast with a bonfire, to drive away the early morning cold!
And it worked like magic. The dining guests brightened up! One after the other, they stood up after their meal, to dance to the African drum beats and songs of Atunda Entertainment. So much fun, so much enjoyment!
Good hospitality is caring for the needs of your guests and bringing out the best of laughter and joy in them.
● Paul Ukpabio is Nigeria’s Tourism Writer Of The Year Award Winner 2023
