Maldives
The dreams' olympus
Our trip to the Maldives was a validation of the self-help book phrase about the word's power.
More than ten years before its realization, when we were still just friends and there was no apparent chance of being together, a chat took place with Mr. @tripticity_ about exotic and extravagant destinations to visit. It was there when my mention of these islands generated in my life partner a quick google search, and he warned me that his first "Like" on his Twitter account was a publication that gave notice of the fabulous beaches of Maldives' crystal clear waters and the villas suspended over the sea.
Well, the years passed and those supposedly non-existent chances of meeting passed, until we met. The merit was his because he knew how to wait for the right moment. Then after a few months of being together it was clear that we felt it for life, so the idea of making it official was imposed and what better way to celebrate it than traveling to that destination referred to so long ago, to fulfill a dream. There was no other option. And to tell the truth, it was the chosen destination that ended up defining even the date of the wedding, because the Maldives is one of the most exclusive and expensive tourist spots on the planet!
An astute option was to plan the trip for the first week of the low season, which marks the months of the monsoon wind that lashes those coasts, since prices drop significantly. No one wants to go on mega-storms on vacation, but we bet that the storms would not start in the first week of the season. And the risk turned out to be right. May was the month chosen for the wedding. Then, the difficult task of defining the hotel continued. There are countless offers, different options, stars, categories and styles to choose from.
Maldives is a country in the Indian Ocean that is made up of an archipelago of more than a thousand islands. It is made up of twenty atolls, which are oceanic coral islands, formed by a group of small islands, surrounded by a coral reef that forms interior lagoons. As a result of this wonder of nature, an ecosystem of extreme marine diversity makes its home in these atolls, which not only offers exclusive beaches of soft white sand but also fun water activities to enjoy the colorful fish and crustaceans that live there.
Obviously there is no direct flight from Argentina, so finally the wedding trip included a super tour through Italy, since it was very convenient as a stopover to get to Asia.
We took a flight from Rome to Malé, the capital, with a stopover connection in Qatar, on a lonely morning when the city was going through Ramadan.
Arriving at our honeymoon destination, the heat was felt, especially when, upon seeing our passport, we were directed to the health checkpoint. Although the official website specifically stated that the Maldives did not require a yellow fever vaccination, we were required to have one. That is why our recommendation is to always travel with all possible documents and certificates, with due precaution so that they do not get lost, for example, by using the safety deposit boxes offered by the hotels.
When we went out to the main hall, the girl with the little sign with our names indicated the place where we had to leave our bags and take the bus that would take us to the adjacent airport. There it was time to board our seaplane to the hotel island.
The option of arriving by boat was logically cheaper, but we could not miss the opportunity to see the coral islands formed inside the atolls from the sky.
The Trans Maldivian Airways aircraft are small, only about fifteen passengers plus crew and all the luggage crammed in the back. The flight took about half an hour of pure fascination at the beauty unfolding below.
The landing in the middle of the Indian Ocean, near Machchafushi Island, was subtle but felt like an adventure. We were dropped off on a platform, where we were greeted by the hotel staff, who guided us to a boat that took us to the hotel lobby, a large open bar, overlooking this massive natural setting.
The Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives is located in the South Ari Atoll. The stay was for six nights. As the water villas were very expensive, we decided to stay the first two nights in the lowest category, Duplex Beach Villa, and the remaining four nights in the overwater cottages. A golf cart brought us to our room, which turned out to be a two-story cottage with direct and exclusive access to the white sandy beach, a spectacular and dazzling suite! The sand felt powdery to the touch and the sea was a @tripticity_ type turquoise. In addition to the living room, the villa had a gallery overlooking the sea and an outdoor shower.
We chose the hotel's all inclusive regime, so we didn't hesitate to grab some refreshments from the fridge bar and dive into the water. Just then, a bottle of Riesling arrived, the management's honeymoon treat.
In addition to the traditional shower at the back of the luxury cabin, the open-air shower invited you to take a "jungle" bath in the evenings. Although, it must be said, the mosquitoes were quite a threat: the friendly iguanas were not enough to neutralize them.
At sunset, we opted to enjoy the cruise offered in our package, a tour of an hour and a half sailing in the atoll in search of the most romantic image of the sunset.
That first night we had dinner at the Suan Bua hotel restaurant, which specializes in traditional home-style Thai food. The curry we ate that night was truly unforgettable.
The next day, we decided to hire a private speedboat tour to make sure we enjoyed the underwater life at its best. We went in search of whale sharks. Not only did we get to see it, but we were invited to jump into the water and swim inches away from this extraordinary giant animal, which despite its appearance does not represent any danger to humans. The experience was unique.
Next, we headed to the reef to see the huge sea turtles swimming back and forth, as well as manta rays and countless colorful fish.
On the way back, we opted to try Azzuri Mare restaurant. Italian food and fresh fish were the main dishes with an incredible view of the natural lagoon formed by the atolls, totally open and with no railing so the fish passing by were a real attraction.
The next day, we moved to our overwater villa. The suite offers a unique view of the sunsets. The bathroom connected to the bedroom has a bathtub for soaking baths. Outside, in addition to a terrace and private infinity pool overlooking the sea, stairs allow you to dive in and enjoy the warmth of the sea. In addition, the snorkeling equipment was at our disposal for the rest of our stay, so we went into the sea whenever we could to appreciate the colorful underwater life of fish, snails, crabs and even baby sharks that strolled by our villa. Superb all around.
During that part of the stay, we also had access to the benefits of the Ultimate All Inclusive pack, which included exclusive lunches and dinners at the Island Club Lounge, premium drinks and access to the VIP pool and solarium area.
We also liked the Thai restaurant so much that we chose Suan Bua on several other occasions to enjoy its gastronomy and the beauty of its lotus ponds.
We also enjoyed the hotel's glamorous spa in the center of the island and some unforgettable relaxing massages.
The days went by too fast in paradise, eating delicacies, swimming among the fish, taking the best baths in the sea and celebrating love!
