Aquamarine, cerulean, cobalt… your mind is constantly searching for synonyms of the colour blue as your eyes get their first glimpse of the breath-taking waters of The Maldives from the tiny little seaplane that takes you from the main airport on the island of Hulhule to your destination. In my case, I was headed to the lovely little island resort of Medhufushi that is part of the southern Meemu Atoll chain of islands for two days of some hardcore rest and relaxation.
Creating quite a dramatic entrance with its boisterous ocean landing and splashing water everywhere, my seaplane deposited me and six other pleasure seekers on a wooden jetty, slap bang in front of the welcome cabana where tall and refreshing welcome drinks awaited us while a resort representative filled us in with what in store for the next 48 hours. Spa sessions, fine dining, dolphin watching excursions and a lot more apparently…I couldn’t wait to get started!
Checking into my stunning beach front villa, I was amazed to find that not only was it a self-contained unit made from thatched palm fronds and bamboo, but it also had an outdoor open air shower that gave al fresco bathing a whole new meaning. Ignoring the nagging urge to curl up on the giant bed and watch a spot of telly, I sauntered down to the spa, housed in a wooden villa in the middle of the ocean for my hour-long soothing Balinese massage that was just what the doctor ordered after a grueling 12 hour flight.
Later, the incessant rumblings of my belly were silenced with a dinner offering of some of the most amazing sushi and Vietnamese rice paper rolls, I have ever had the privilege of gourmandizing, along with a refreshing coconut water-lychee nectar-white rum cocktail. The setting for this perfect meal was the resort’s Malaafaiy restaurant that is located besides the infinity pool, offering some awesome buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner with culinary influences from around the world.
Back in my villa after all that papering, I hit the pillow and was instantly transported to the land of Zzzzs with dreams of even more spoiling sessions the next day. Up and early on day two, I opted for a rather frugal in-room breakfast of just fruit and juice as I had my diving lesson to think of a few minutes later at the resort’s diving center. Operated by the German company Werner Lau, the diving center is the place where an international team of diving instructors will lead you to the underworld pleasures of Meemu Atoll. All suited and geared up, I took to the water like a proverbial fish and enjoyed every moment of my three hour beginner’s diving lesson that was more fun than intense as I had expected it to be swimming along side fish of every hue and shape.
The Alfresco restaurant was the venue for a hearty lunch of squid-ink ravioli and eggplant for starters, along with a duo of salmon and streak teriyaki as the main course and finished off with a potent shot of espresso to keep me from falling asleep after a meal of such decadent proportions. Since the late afternoon is the perfect time to catch a glimpse of the pranksters of the deep--the dolphins, my guide Ahmed suggested that we head off immediately after lunch and so we did just that. Merely five minutes into our boat ride and Ahmed pointed out a group of playful dolphins who had come right up to the front of the boat frolicking in all their glory. A little while ahead another group came up to say “hello” in their squeaky language of hoots and shrill calls.
Returning to Medhufushi at around 7pm, a true Maldivian feast of some amazing chicken curry, rice and a unique dry dish of tuna flakes mixed with coconut called mashuni awaited me at the Malaafaiy restaurant. And as I ate my final dinner, engulfed in the sound of the traditional Maldivian folk band, I realized that this is probably the closest I have ever come (and may ever come!) to being a part of paradise…
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