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Published: March 31st 2009
Sorry folks, no photos for this blog. Something has gone ary with our memory card and the camera won't show us the photos. Hopefully, part 2. Also, put up with spelling mistakes, i'm not using an english keyboard.
OK
Near the end of our first full day at the resort, the biggest decision we
had to make was which cocktail to order from our private plunge pool and be brought to us by our butler while we watched the sun set over the vast Indian Ocean...
We were greeted at Male International airport and taken by speedboat to our resort in the late evening and upgraded on our arrival to an Escape Water Residence (website- http://www.cocopalm.com/boduhithi/escape_water_residence.html). We were also given a lovely bottle of sparkling wine and fresh fruit. Once check in formalities were completed, we headed straight to our plunge pool (it was still 30 degrees at midnight and very humid) and drank our sparkling under the stars.
We woke the next morning, not too early and opened our power operated curtains to a stunning view over the ocean from our bed. It's true that the lounge, the bedroom, the bathroom (including the bath and indoor shower), the plunge pool (which I mentioned earlier), and the outdoor shower all have similar views of the ocean. In fact, even the toilet would have views if you left the door open (it has views of the water from it's large window though).
After breakfast, the remainder of the day was spent sleeping, swimming, eating and then I think swimming again. We even managed a snorkel straight off our private deck and into the turquoise, coral and fish infested warm waters. Paradise you might ask? I think so!
So we watched that magnificent sunset at the end of our first day sipping our cocktails (non alcoholic for Eve) from our pool and outside daybed and then mosied off to dinner. And once that was said and done, we were exhausted and wrapped up the day. A tough one at that!
Our second day and every day after that were pretty much the same. Breakfast at a reasonable hour after a swim, more sleeping and snorkelling which by the way, is incredible! As I said earlier, we snorkel straight off our deck and into coral and fish (many an hour would pass over the next few days watching fish, octopus, sharks and sting rays from our pool as the water was so clear). About 40m out, the coral and fish increase in density for another 20m or so before the lagoon drop off (all of the islands are within coral lagoons or atolls - a maldivian word). This drop off is a ledge to the reef and drops to about 15-20m deep. We could just make out the floor through the schools of fish and the coral is in abundance. You certainly know you have reached the edge of the island lagoon as you feel the cold water currents rising up. On the other side of the island, the coral and fish are even more spectacular as the visibility is better, it's closer to the shore of the island and surface of the water. There is everything you could possibly want to see in these waters just metres from the shore. During our stay, we managed to see all types of colourful reef fish, turtles going about their day, moray eels, octopus, small black tipped reef sharks, sting rays, eagle rays and the giant manta rays.
On our third day, we took a private excursion onto reef but still well within seeing distance of the island and swam with 6 or so manta rays. We can't explain the feelings of swimming with these gentle giants (we called them 'birds of the sea') that reached over 2 metres in wingspan. It was an amazing up close and personal experience that was probably the highlight of our stay in the Maldives. Our next drop off point was more reef even more colourful than the house reef. Huge fan and tree corals as well as table coral. Yes, if I lived under the sea, it would be dining table!
We prepared ourselves well in advance for our departure and did as much snorkelling and swimming as possible. In our last few hours on the island we once again had cocktails and watched the sun set. A beautiful bookend to the first part of our honeymoon.
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Shane
non-member comment
What a start!
Sounds great guys. With a description like that, just as well there are no pictures - we would all be even greener with envy! Looking forward to further updates.