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Published: February 19th 2010
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Leslie has changed his own travel plan last minute and decided to visit his grand-parents in Europe...I don't know in which order to put it...for the snow, for Bonne Mamy cooking...or simply to enjoy more time with his grand-parents.
On our side, it's time for one more little diving trip. I've been wondering all this week how to write this blog. We spent a week in a seriously amazing place...with a very seriously attached price tag (not for us). So I may start by writting a disclaimer. Do not try to add one plus one to try to figure out how crazy this place was...we are no rockstar, but I made my homework seriously to end up with a great deal and some smiles. First rules...I don't care what they think...I'll do it....this could sum up the all experience.
First point. Conrad Rangali is outrageously expensive...so this is THE place to blow your points if you are a member of the Hilton group. Put it simply...when you look at the ratio points-price, it sounds suddenly a great bargain.
Second, after checking on tripadvisor, I found out that they would kill us once on the ground. Eh...we did get
organize and did fly with our own supplies....12kg of food and drinks...I know, this is the first time I fly with more than 4 liters of tonic in my bags. Breakfast was including, but dry-noddles did help one more than one meal!
Third...you cannot get with alcohol in the country. I know...this means...how do I find gin for our gin tonic every night? Well, guess some creativity with the toileteries did help!
Fourth...this is the only property which will not upgrade even the higher-tier level regular guests in the Hilton group. Well, one more time, some little magic at check-in did work. I always said....these over-water bungalows are a waste of money to spend...still agree...but if you don't really pay for it, why not! Our "pavillon" was...slightly impressive, great to set the rules of a very romantic week.
This end the disclaimer. In Maldives...you dive, you enjoy the sun...and you make sure you have a seriously huge dose of romance on top of this. It is the first visit to Maldives for Ma'ri, so I'de better make a good impression. My 6th visit over the last 12 years, last time was more than 2 years ago with
Lelsie and my parents...in a less luxurious place I must admit, but ask Leslie...he loved it!
I've always considered Maldives as a pretty much average diving place. I know, I'm spoiled...and Ma'ri too ( she is getting very fast dangerously to her 100th dive...). Corals are pretty average, and in some places non-existent, macro is very basic...the only good news is that you can see a lot of diversity in the bigger stuff. Conrad Rangali is on the South Ari Atool, a great place for the bigger stuff. So we did 6 dives...encountering nearly each time white tips sharks, seeing 3 mantas, one leopard shark, few napoleons...and I've stopped counting the turtles...Liveaboards diving boats were all around , giving you an indication of the diving quality of the place. And I have to admit, if there is a place for corals in the Maldives, this is it...great hard corals on most of our dives...and even few soft corals as a bonus.
Our room...well, they call this Pavillon Spa Overwater Villa....was huge! Great views from the bed...huge...the bath...huge....we even had our own spa room!
Food...well...happily our breakfast was including in the rate, and they have a very nice
happy hour in one of the bar. Breakfast was wonderful...and the only time of the day I could have a steak...late breakfast...oh yes! So it was one day steak, one day egg benedictine with smoke salmon.
You have to know these people are crazy! On Valentine's dinner....you get a nice information sheet with the choices they have....and these guys have no problem to advertise as one of the options...a diner for two for 3300usd!! Are they mad or what! The Conrad have THE only underwater restaurant in the world. Call Ithaa...I did ask how much is the diner...oh sir, it's a set menu, 392usd plus 10% service charge, and this is without the drinks. In which world do people spend a thousand usd on a dinner...with an unknown chef? Not me...I really wanted to see it, so on the last day I went swimming...pass the no-swim zone...to see it from...the water. Really impressive I must admit, but I simply don't have that money to blow in a restaurant.
So thanks to the happy hour, and to our 12 kg of "imported" food and drinks, I didn't had to wonder if we would end up doing the dishes in
the back of the restaurants for the century to come.
The place is amazing, if you are still reading this, just have a look at the pics. We had an amazing time! We actually spent seven days on a lazy mode...6 dives...walks on the beach...reading on our terrace with sharks, rays and other fishes passing below us...enjoying the luxuries of our pavillon...after all who say Valentine's Day couldn't be lived as Valentine's Week?
We are back home, Leslie is back soon, and the next entry on this blog may come earlier than you think, in a very different setting.
Hope the year of the Tiger will be as nice as this first week we had.
With love from us! Some dream their life, I live my dreams....seems we did it pretty well this week!
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liliram
liliram
hi peter and mari
Been "off" for a while. Guess i am taking a leave from moderator duties, at least till May. It is only now that I am able to check TB and found ur blog. What a wonderful way to spend Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year. Your "survival kit" reminds me of my own, whenever i travel with family esp the kids. Packed noodles, chips and cookies, for sure! Thanks for sharing. Btw, i can't seem to access your photos on pages 3 through 5. Each time I click, I get directed to the list of blogs on Maldives.