http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , Maldives , Ari Atoll en-us Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:35:50 +0000 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:35:50 +0000 On arrival at Male International Airport which is situated on one of the islands of the Maldives we were smoothly transferred to a nearby seaplane port for our 30 minute flight to Vilamendhoo Island. There were a number of 18seater DeHavilland Twin Otter Seaplanes waiting at the port but ours was delayed so we had a little wait before we boarded. It had also started to rain heavily whilst we wai http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-786741.html Here we are on the final day of Fun Island. Not my name for the place I39m guessing it must have been one of the first resorts in the Maldives and they were looking for something to catch the english tourists. That being said it has been fun here. The resort itself is rather spartan but all we were looking for was white sand and clear near 80F water. I was telling Penny the other day if http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-755228.html Here we are the focus of our travel the birthday It has been a long journey to make it here with a short stop in Paris but we can finally state we have arrived. One might think that this is the focal point or height of the travel but looking at the details we realize that it39s just another of our steps before the eventual goal is realized. What is that goal Well it39s still a myster http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-754645.html At the end of our last entry it was just before midnight when we arrived in Doha. We had gone to the transfer area and Penny had found out that we were not going camel treking in the desert near Doha. But she did not know where we were going. When we found our gate the first screen we saw for our destination was in arabic so we just kept walking for a washroom and our destination was still a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-754484.html Our final day in the Maldives as we are heading home to London and the Olympics early tomorrow morning. We have had a great time here its a stunning place with incredibly friendly and welcoming people we have had a terrific trip. We will leave you with some favourite images. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-734640.html Spent a great evening yesterday watching the rays in the ocean. There was a Whiptail Stingray and Black Blotched Stingray swimming together and tussling for food. The Whiptail ray also had traveller fish attached to it incredibly this fish stayed attached even in the tussle for food. This was followed by watching the guys place buoys out for the Dhonis moored up in the lagoon and then they enjoyed http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-734413.html Our days here in this gorgeous atoll and on this beautiful island are coming to a close. We have been very privileged to come here see a new world experience that extra ordinary new world with incredible scenery wildlife so we are spending the last few days relaxing and chilling taking in the scenery and the seascapes to try and etch them in the memory for a long time to come. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-734211.html I am not sure if it39s because we remain becalmed with virtually no breeze and little current in the ocean or because the temperatures are getting hotter but the last two evenings we have seen two fantastic and utterly different sunsets. One from the Dhoni as we sailed the atoll islands changed colours all the time with beautiful shades of pink and coral reflecting on the clouds and the surface http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-733912.html Yesterday was stunningly hot the breeze of the last few days disappeared and the whole atoll and island was becalmed. The sea was like a mill pond and the visibility in the water was terrific with views of Surgeonfish Cornetfish Wrasse and Unicorn fish crystal clear. We decided to go on a Donhi in the evening to watch the sunset and search for dolphins. A Donhi is a Madivian boat wooden up t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-733768.html Two encounters with the local fauna yesterday. One good one not so good. We have seen lots of jellyfish in the last few days as the currents have brought in lots most of the time they are small about 5cms in diameter or so clear with a blue central piece. Tricky to see when you39re swimming or snorkelling but the stings aren39t too bad and some rapidly applied vinegar does the trick. H http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-733466.html We have had two very lazy days lolling around on the beach and by the pool having a few drinks and reading our books life really doesn39t get more chilled than this.... In addition yesterday and today we were treated to two great sunsets we sat out on our deck and just watched the sun sink behind the clouds pretty chilling too... http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-732935.html Cob has now returned from Romania having had a fantastic time there learning how to lay foundations build concrete floors and brick laying with a bit of plastering thrown into too for good fun. The next team are out there already doing the decorating sounds like Cob had the short straw. But what a great experience ...Josh is in Belgium near Bruges preparing for the first festival of his tour.We http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-732722.html For a very small island there is a wide variety of flora. Yesterday Gemma and I went on a flower safari to see how many different types of flower we could see. These are some of the results of our botanical research ... Plus a photo of the explorer on the beach ... http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-732631.html As well as being a divers dream and a great place to snorkel the atoll is a pretty good place for all sorts of other water sports too.... http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-732502.html Even though it is not the best season for sunsets you can still see some remarkable ones with evocative cloud scenes as the cloud builds up when the heat of the sun diminishes. What39s also really spectacular is that for a short five minute spell the colours on the sea surface also mix with the coral reefs too. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-732401.html Ok so some photos are up side down this has nothing to do with being in a particular hemisphere I39m told and even if I were on the equator they should be just be normal it maybe a connection speed issue so we will try how these work .... We also had a stork visitor today so here he is on the first photo ... http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-732223.html So this summer we are spread out all over the place Cob is is Romania and has been there for a couple of weeks. He39s working for a charity helping to build orphanages. He is in a remote part of the country without phone and Internet.Josh embarks today on a month long tour of Europe with his friends from college. He is aiming to hit the main music festivals in Belgium Netherlands and Germany http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-732160.html Some more photos http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-732026.html The last full day of our holiday dawns and after an early breakfast I39m down at the dhoni by 815.Today we have 3 crew 1 instructor and 3 divers it39s almost like a private dive.The wind has got a bit blustery overnight so we have to pick our dive site carefully as the current and waves can make visibility a bit dodgy.We arrive at Angaga Thila after 30 minutes of somewhat choppy sailing http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-695744.html Well just when you thought a rest day would be dull with nothing to write about along comes a dastardly cone snail to spice the day upDuring one of our perambulations along the surf Sue bends down to pick up an interesting shell when she realizes it39s occupied. Luckily she did as I recognised it as a cone snail. I won39t bore you with details but if you39re interested then google awa http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Maldives/Ari-Atoll/blog-695549.html