A week in the Maldvies
Written by mumma
Day 1
Feeling incredibly lucky to tick off this wish list. We arrived in the Maldives at 3am after a short 100 minute flight from Colombo, picked up and zoomed at high speed by boat in the pitch black to our home for the next 5 days.
The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia and the lowest in the world with an average elevation of only 1.5 meters above sea level. The Maldives consists of 26 natural atolls, we are most south, hanging across the equator on the heart shaped Addu Atoll on one of the 250 inhabited islets, Villingili, however the Maldives has a staggering 1,192 islets in total.
The Maldives is unbelievably blessed with an abundance of nature above and below the ocean. The underground colourful marine playground is going to keep us entertained for the next few days and yesterday’s snorkelling off the back of our water villa was amazing.
Our villa has bikes so we can ride if we choose through the coconut trees to our table on the edge of the ocean. Difficult to choose between the lobster or scallops but there again wasn’t so hard choosing between the Pina Colada or Margarita, I’ll have both! Total paradise.
2
Another day in paradise and the colours of the ocean constantly wow me. Layers of turquoise and aqua frame our view and water so crystal clear. Whilst baby turtles played and popped their heads up outside the villa yesterday we went out on a boat trip to deeper waters to snorkel with the turtles and found ourselves in the finding memo set. From beautiful corals, amazing coloured parrotfish, giant bright purple clams, eagle rays, it’s truely another world down there. So close to the coral one minute then the deep drop offs are quite incredible. One of funniest things happened today, it has to be the world record for the shortest ever flight of a drone. I practically read a whole book whilst Darcey set up the drone, which I’ll add she’s never used. Off we go to the beach, a narrow beach, not ideal for its maiden voyage. Well she had clearance for take off, up it went, off it went and she had absolutely no idea how to get it back! Just wished I’d filmed her running alone the beach as the drone flew over the bushes and that’s where it still is! The lovely staff are resuming their search this morning!! Another stunning sunset and a delicious Maldivian dinner to complete Tuesday.
3
Lovely hot relaxing day exploring the island on our bikes. Discovered the lakes, the other remote Oceanside restaurants, the turtle nesting area and the chefs garden. Took the kayak out & chilled out in the pool with a cocktail. Plenty of books getting read while the fish swim below us. In seafood heaven with the tastiest food I’ve ever had & sunsets so colourful to end our days here in paradise. Very blessed
4
Slightly cooler, the sun appears and the colour of the ocean becomes translucent aqua in its many layers, darker around the reefs and more blue when deeper. Smoked salmon for breakfast with some halloumi and just to try, a little curried fish!
Today I wanted to see if I could water ski, haven’t done it in 13 years, just wanted to get up at least. I remembered what to do and surprised both myself and Darcey by getting up, ok it may not have been for long and had my share of forward and backward dives but exhilarating all the same. It was pretty choppy! I loved it, not sure how dignified or what I revealed getting on and off the boat but hope the skipper has seen worse!
More book reading in the most idyllic setting ever followed by some fresh tuna for lunch. An afternoon snorkel off our villa was instantly met with a friendly turtle. Darcey entered the water with big boobs! She had stored the bread rolls down her bikini top and when she fed the small pretty colourful fish we soon freaked a bit when the big pretty fish not only ate the bread but swallowed up the pretty little fish that were enjoying their lunch! Again a technicolored underwater aquarium so interesting watching them feed off the corals. A G&T to watch the sunset before deciding which fish to have for our dinner with the ocean right next to us and the sand below us, a perfect setting for meal times. Well, usually anyway, except a cool air suddenly appeared followed by instant strong winds then the heavens opened and showed us why it’s so green and lush here!! Dinner finished inside and bikes abandoned in favour of the lift home in the golf buggy!
5
Last day which started off a little cooler with some rain which later turned into a lot of rain! how rude! Breaks in the weather and low tides showcased the fish who swam around our villa whilst we relaxed and read. Went snorkelling and the underwater playground was clear and active. We will be getting the speedboat back to Gan Island Saturday morning to fly back to Colombo for our tour of South Sri Lanka. An airbase was built on Gan Island in 1941 and used as a major military base for the British Army during the Second World War, imagine the views they had! The airstrip recently converted into the Maldives second international airport.
It has been incredible plunging into an extraordinary underwater world straight off our villa, meeting face to face the spectacular marine life swarming these calm and serene waters bursting with the finest coral reefs. The Indian Flying Fox (a species of bat) fly around during the day with a 80cm wingspan and we are surrounded by 17,000 individual coconut palm trees. I have been mesmerised by the surroundings here in the Maldives, it truely is paradise and the resort is to be praised for its sustainability and responsibility to its environment. We’ve eaten like royalty, I’ve seen and eaten so much fish I’ve grown scales! Despite the rain, the sunset didn’t disappoint and as we move on, the drone is staying for a longer holiday!!!