Travel

Maldives: Turquoise Seduction

by Trans World Features (TWF) 31 Oct 2015, 09:05 am

Maldives is the land of turquoise-cobalt waters, colourful coral reefs and sparkling white sandy beaches. Sujoy Dhar returns mesmerized after a rather sinful island resort hopping, spiced with self-indulgent spa experience, snorkeling and exciting stay in the upscale water villas in the Indian Ocean

When the return flight took off from Maldives' Male International Airport on Hulhule Island, the feeling was not sad. It was one of rejuvenation. Because like all visitors to this land of white sands we were taking back a piece of the turquoise, emerald and cobalt memories of the Indian Ocean with us, to beat the blues of daily life. The SriLankan Airlines flight took off and as it gained height we saw from the windows the capital Male like a piece of showpiece in our living rooms surrounded by the blue ocean.

True that an exciting journey ended, but what was fresh was the previous night's dinner in the beach at Adaaran Club Rannalhi  resort and how after waking up early in the morning the sea and the sky outside was mystic blue in that all quiet water world. We left the island in speed boat for the airport in the morning, rewinding in our mind a three-day stay in a dreamland beginning with the sprawling Meeru Island Resort. It should be mentioned here that every island has been turned into a resort in the Maldives and to enjoy this enchanting land, choose your resort holiday according to your budget.

The best way to travel to Maldives from India (New Delhi) is to take a flight of SriLankan Airlines. You can even choose an overnight stay in Colombo and then in the morning take a little over one hour flight to reach finally in the land of turquoise seduction. As you touch down and come out of airport, you do not see a bus or a car waiting for you. There was a speed boat waiting to take us to the Meeru Island Resort from the airport. After a nearly one hour boat journey we were finally in  the Resort in Meerufenfushi island.

Maldives is an awesome wedding destination too and romance is in the air here in its white pristine beaches. So while marriages can be made in heavens, some die-hard romantics love to solemnise them in some of the most exotic, or rather heavenly places, here on Earth. But what better destination can you find, than in the Maldives, the tropical paradise of palm trees and turquoise lagoons.

We were lucky that on reaching Meeru Island Resort, when we took a buggy ride to the beach on the other side of the island, we were witness to such a fairy tale wedding.

A good-looking German couple exchanged their wedding vows afresh in the glistening white sand beach.

Meeru Island Resort and Spa has some of the most luxurious jacuzzi water villas right in the lagoon. In the resort, which is about 1200 metres long and spread over 60 hectares,  these villas not only overlook  the waters but they are right in the lagoon and you can climb down the wooden steps and swim in the crystal clear water instead of the jacuzzi.
 
Jacuzzi Beach Villas are Beach Villas with a bedroom including a four poster bed, a private, walled-in outdoor area featuring a Jacuzzi for two "under the stars" with a wooden sundeck with chaise lounges, a shade Pavilion or umbrella, tropical plants and a beautiful view of the lagoon. 

At Meeru, we also took a cruise in the evening for dolphin spotting though it yielded only two sightings. But the cruise was refreshing as we watched the twilight sky with awe. Living in Meeru Island Resort is sinfully luxurious.

After a  stay in Meeru Island, on the second day of our tour, we reached Paradise Island Resort. The resort  lives up to the title and its promise of uncompromising luxury and comfort. We checked in, in one of the water villas again and this time we had an amazing swim in the crystal clear waters. This is at the heart of the island Lankanfinolhu in North Male' Atoll.

If you are looking for the much touted Spa experience in Maldives, perhaps one of the best is offered by Paradise Island Resort.
 
At the Araamu Spa in Paradise Island Resort (Araamu meaning comfort) if you have deep pockets you can regenerate your hormonal system and improve blood circulation and stimulate nerves system. This Spa also boasts of the Loabi loabi massage, a sensuous massage for couples using Ayurvedic oil and herbal powder. It is also called honeymoon “massageaphrodisiac”. More details can be spared.

Shark and Stingray feeding in Paradise Island Resort is quite an experience and watching the flattened bodied stingrays settle on the bottom while feeding, often leaving only their eyes and tail visible, is quite a treat. They usually do not sting humans unless you step on them. Fatal stings are rare but who can forget the death of the famous Australian "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin in 2006.  

While Paradise is the second of the resorts we visited, it will remain etched in memory for a rainbow sighting. Over the horizon beyond the water villas we were caught unawares by the nature's surprise. As we were waiting for a buggy to take us back to the water villas after a gust of rain, we were frozen for a moment on the wooden causeway at the sight of a colourful arc. Yes, a rainbow so beautiful is one we had not seen in a very, very long time. It was kind of a divine blessing or as Wordsworth said nature's piety, on us from above. It lasted not more than ten minutes.

Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi resort was the next resort we stayed in The Maldives. The journey to the resort was wonderful and with a stopover at the airport and then in a speed boat of the resort. We had a great spa experience here and later we went for snorkeling.

But the most spectacular of coral reefs and underwater life was in store for the next day when we snorkeled in the most beautiful part of the sea in Maldives at Adaaran Vaadoo Resort.  
 
But the ‎Adaaran Select  morning would always be cherished for a breakfast  in an wooden water villa deck by a serene crystal clear Indian Ocean lagoon with shoals of fishes swarming below for company.  

This resort has some of the most beautiful ocean villas. You can walk along a dark wooden causeway into the enticing waters upon which lay their distinct thatched roof Ocean Villas. Featuring wooden exteriors with modernist interiors, each retreat is complimented by bright colours and contemporary design. 

Our snorkeling experience of the life was however awaited at the Adaaran Vaadoo Resort. This is resort is ideal for the super rich honeymoon couples perhaps and we halted there for  snorkeling. 

But as the property manager, who left his San Francisco job to take up one here in the island, showed us around it was mind blowing. Even the bathroom has a glass floor with the turquoise water visible below while the deck of the water villa sports a mini infinity edge pool. And what we saw underwater cannot be described in words perhaps. 

Adaaran Club Rannalhi was our last of the resorts and it was a wonderful evening spent, first lazing in the white beach and then taking a ride in a fishing boat. We took a fishing trip but what captivated us that evening was the vastness of the horizon, and amazing colours of the twilight sky when we went fishing. ‪

Maldives is indeed a tropical paradise to be experienced at least once in a lifetime.

 HOW TO GO: 

From India, the best option is to take SriLankan Airlines flight. 

WHICH RESORTS TO CHOOSE: 

Every island is a resort in Maldives and all are mind-blowing, but some of your options can be a combination of Meeru Island Resort & Spa, Paradise Island Resort and Adaaran Group resorts.