Arrived in the Maldives yesterday, here till Monday morning then fly off to Singapore to pick our Cruise up on Tuesday. This place is undeniably beautiful, the marine life while snorkelling is breathtaking. A little black tip shark swam past me it’s was so awesome I nearly wet my pants. Anyone else been.
Went a few years ago to Thudufushi (South Atoll) and loved it - did a few scuba dives and it was just amazing. Spent 2 weeks in bare feet on white/pink sand eating nice food in paradise.Originally Posted by hilly10
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
I haven't but a friend and his wife went there a couple of times. He studied Biology and is swept off his feet by the flora and fauna
Can you PM me some details (Cruise company etc). The same friend I mentioned is having a discussion with his wife about their next holiday. He wants to Kathmandu, she wants to go on (another) cruise. Perhaps your Maladives/Cruise combo is something they didn't think about.Arrived in the Maldives yesterday, here till Monday morning then fly off to Singapore to pick our Cruise up on Tuesday. This place is undeniably beautiful, the marine life while snorkelling is breathtaking. A little black tip shark swam past me it’s was so awesome I nearly wet my pants. Anyone else been.
Hi Menno
We booked with Imagine Cruises in the UK. This holiday consists of flights via Dubai to Maldives's, we are here for five nights all inclusive. We fly from Male to Singapore where we have one night stay in the Pan Pacific 5 star hotel inc breakfast. On Tuesday we are transferred to the Celebrity Millennium ship for twelve nights AI cruise Thailand Malaysia and Indonesia. We then finish in Bali where we have six nights AI before our flights home again via Dubai.
Thanks I will forward this to my mate Marco. He will love this!
Last edited by thieuster; 11th January 2024 at 20:54.
Wife and I have been to Constance Moofushi twice, and yep, even “paradise on earth” somehow didn’t seem to do it justice, and I can only describe the colours as “high definition”, almost as if we hadn’t seen the sea, the sky or even the clouds until we’d seen them in the Maldives.
Only thing is it makes anywhere else that go now seem almost bland and I simply can’t afford Moofushi every year!
100% agree, have stayed at Cinnamon Hakuraa a couple of times absolutely breathtaking- one of the highlights is the seaplane journey in, stunning journey over the Indian Ocean then you spot a little speck in the distance which your island….. anyone thinking about the Maldives strongly recommend plane rather than boat transfer.
The plane was not an option to the island we are on which is the furthest South from Male, the only thing I will say it was an adventure, 45 miles an hour in a not so calm sea.
I consider myself fortunate to have been twice: Mirihi and Medhufushi, water villas on both occasions. It's somewhere I recommend everyone to visit at least once in their lives if they possibly can. I'm not one for lying in the sun but the diving, kayaking, sailing (Medhufushi had open kayaks and two hobie cats on the beach for guest to use as they wished, unfortunately there was never enough wind to make use of the hobie cats). You are simply forced to chill. The buffet food is outstanding and whilst we did once book a romantic dinner on the beach we both agreed that it was a waste as our appetites were so supressed in the heat.
We went to Lux South Ari Atoll last November and its a stunning location and an amazing holiday. From the sea plane from Male and the view of the islands and Indian Ocean to having the sea underneath you on one of the sea villas its really a must do experience. Lots of fish and the odd shark to add interest to the snorkelling, great chefs and beautiful places to eat anywhere on the island. The staff worked so hard to keep the guests happy and the ones we spoke to seemed lovely people. We often had massive stretches of beach to ourselves, it does feel at times like your own private island!
The light and colours are astonishing..
Last edited by vulcangascompany; 11th January 2024 at 21:22.
I've thought about it a few times and a few sets of friends have gone. To be honest I've been put off to an extent as snorkeling, eating and lying on a beach is all they've told me they've done.
Is there anything else to do?
Not really as you are resort based with nothing else on the three islands we are on. We chose this holiday simply because we thought 5 nights would be sufficient, and the rest of the holiday day is what we love to do ie cruising.
We are on Haru Haru island
Last edited by hilly10; 11th January 2024 at 20:52.
Fair enough, cheers
Not really - None of the islands are big and none are setup for tourism, really, other than sitting in a resort.
I did a 10 day diving liveaboard trip and it was amazing - Everywhere we went they said "You might see so-and-so here" and there were loads of them! Manta Rays, Turtles, Sharks, a few Whale Sharks, the usual smaller suspects, we even saw a Marlin, which the dive guide on our boat, who had been there for a few years had never seen before!
BUT, from what we saw, there was nothing to do except admire the scenery (just sea, really) and eat, drink and relax on the islands.
If that's your idea of heaven, I'm sure the Maldives takes some beating, but I wouldn't want to stay on one of the islands for more than a couple of days, personally, I'd get bored in no time.
I think the bigger resort islands take about 10 minutes to walk around
M
PS They have the most incredible huge Fruit Bats on some of the islands! I thought they were amazing, but if anyone doesn't like bats, they'll be your worse nightmare!
Last edited by snowman; 12th January 2024 at 17:59.
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
For people with busy hectic lives I expect its exactly what they want/need, doing nothing just watching the river flow.
What do the locals do for entertainment?
Survive.
For the average Maldivian, life is tough.
I also remember reading that they are big funders of Islamic terrorist organisations, but you never know quite what to believe these days.
M
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
Not a great deal for them to do, as in most third world countries, work to exist to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families, while the affluent West helps them along. But most of these people accept this and enjoy meeting and looking after us.
My wife walks with a stick at the moment while she awaits her new knee replacement in March, one of the waiters in the dining room as assigned him self to looking after her, carrying her meals and generally making sure she is totally happy. The guy is a legend and I will tip him probably a months wages, and to me it’s worth every penny, and if it brings his family happiness that’s alright by me
Last edited by hilly10; 12th January 2024 at 19:29.
Good for you.
He will typically earn £6 per day - before his accommodation and food is deducted.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Went a few years ago, Dolphins,Swimming with Giant manta ray's, Whale sharks, but unfortunately they couldn't place them, maldivian fishing is an eye opener. ski jets, the first time you see a flying fox you will literally sh*** yourself, there are baby white tipped sharks swimming in the bay.
We spotted black tips, lemon sharks, not a lot to do really in between lying on beach and stuffing your face, only problem is you'll compare it to every other holiday you've been on and they'll lose hands down.
Last edited by the big fella; 29th January 2024 at 00:53.
We encountered some larger black tips when we cleared the point where the seabed drops quite a lot deeper, a shock at first but you soon settle down as they just ignore you a swim on by.
We have now arrived in Bali where we will spend the week before flying home next weekend. We will have spent a month all told and the Maldives being the highlight, but all of the other places, Phuket, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Lambok have been wonderful places to visit. Bali is a world away from where we started but we love it all the same.
Counting Islands, Territories and Countries I have now been to around eighty two, I am just hoping to stay fit so as to do a fair few more. We have a marvellous world out there it’s a crime not to go see it.
Ps Just about getting used to this Equatorial humidity now, Singapore was off the scale, god know’s how the F1 drivers cope
Last edited by hilly10; 29th January 2024 at 06:21.
Sounds like you are having a fabulous trip. Very jealous as I sit on my commuter plane to Germany on a wet Morning morning
We went last year and stayed at the ritz Carlton.
Holiday of a lifetime and enjoyed every second.
Would go back in an instant
Yep, enjoy it while you can, jet setters.
Sheesh…What a worthy killjoy you are!
You must just bring light, joy and good tidings wherever you walk too, Greta!
It's ok they probably have an ev.
Yep, enjoy it while you can, jet setters.
Will do.
No EV but only do 150 miles a month on average, apart for a couple of trips up north per annum.
How do you think the shark felt when confronted with you?....bet it swam off sharpish
Went to the Lux and enjoyed it so much we went again. Lux hospitality is the best I’ve ever experienced , the staff were so accommodating. Food was incredible , the second time I went they had built east market which was a far east food experience which was stunning . Hope to go back one day soon .
Enjoy! Hope you have a great time, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, life can be shit sometimes but the highs outweigh the lows and you've got to appreciate them when you get the chance.
Had a week at the Conrad/Hilton resort whilst on honeymoon and was one of the most magical and beautiful places on Earth. We wish we had stayed for longer but we were travelling in Northern Thailand for the other 2 weeks of our honeymoon.
Also I have spent a week on a scuba diving live aboard holiday. Amazing diving and beautiful deserted islands but the boat was not as luxurious as the resorts of course.
The locals are very poor and they do live in very poor conditions especially on the islands. Male makes them look more developed than they really are! So tip well!
Last edited by paw3001; 11th January 2024 at 23:26.
Loved it. We went about 30 years ago and there were only 6 resort islands. Stayed on Kurumba. The scuba diving was fantastic, although some of the currents were a bit too fierce for my liking.
Possibly have a thought eh,
https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/every...ountry%20faces.
otherwise it'll be Paradise Lost for residents and holiday makers, in quite likely only a couple of decades.
Last edited by Passenger; 12th January 2024 at 09:10.
Thanks for the cheery reality check when the thread was celebrating the beauty.
Last time I looked the climate crisis affects us all and so I hope you are doing your bit with not using Air con or heating the pool!
My dad had a year out there for free,it wasnt paradise after a week and the novelty wore of.
I seem to remember he said they changed shirts at least 3 times a day.
There was very little to do.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Gan
We went for 10 days for my 40th, wife and 2 young kids (7 and 6) to the Sun Siyam Olhuvei and it was great. The house reef was nice, the reef was grey in places as pollution has killed some of it off. We swam with turtles on the first day, one day came across a group of reef sharks, about 5-6 sharks around 5 foot and the kids loved all the experiences. We took an underwater camera and got some great footage. The hotel was well suited for kids which is the main reason we choose it.
The hotel was nice, and it really was paradise, also did not cost that much, we paid £8k for a 10 day, all inclusive, beach villa with a pool. This was a lot for us but we decided it was worth it for my 40th.
Trips and things to do were very expensive, with a larger budget we could have done loads more, whale shark trips etc, we did a sunset dolphin cruise and that was great.
With a small budget there isn't a lot to do apart from the pool and beach, but it was still an amazing experience.
I would go back again, just need to make some more money first!
Heating the pool, r u mad, get's up to 30 c plus naturally in July/ August, we close over winter as it's over a 100 thousand litres, just doesn't make economic sense, the wife and nipper wouldn't get in without wetsuits unless it 27/28 c plus and I sea swim anyway...RE AC about 3 months and only in the bedrooms, ceiling fans downstairs and we live mostly outside in the porch by the pool summers.
No long haul flight for me last year either and I'm not a big buyer, consumer of stuff, so I'd hope somewhat lower footprint there.
Last edited by Passenger; 12th January 2024 at 10:13.
It does, but it affects some more than others.
It does look like a beautiful place, but horrifying to think it will be under water this century if things play out like we think.
This was in the media when I first went in 1984, the area was predicted to loose land every year etc., etc. - most of it is still there I believe.
Point to note, it also (miraculously) mostly survived the tsunami.
Of course it's fragile, it's part of it's beauty.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
I'm no expert but it sounds like they've been hoovering sand up of the sea floor and pumping onto the beaches with consequent damage to the fragile marine habitat...
Islands can of course survive a one off event like a tsunami, but they won’t survive rising sea levels, I don’t think that’s even up for discussion.
Yes, it’s taking time, but the Maldives and some other island chains will be impacted even more dramatically in the next few decades before probably disappearing altogether.
Us humans are expert at can kicking though.
I’d love to go and see the place, just looking at the pictures on this thread does that, and I do like to support poor economies with my ‘Western dollar’, but that would probably mean staying away from the resort islands.
Better get there quick then.
And take your wellies.
Never been, and I would happily go for 3-4 days, but given lying around is not my bag, it would probably feel like a luxury prison thereafter.
A sh1t country outside of the resorts.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/worl...ives-1.1898425
Seems the Forum has turned into Greta’s fun time place!
You do realise that beauty can be just appreciated. It does not mean that people are unaware of the globe’s climate challenges.
A lot of whataboutism here from the worthy souls!
Last edited by paw3001; 12th January 2024 at 15:54.
Beauty is everywhere if you open your eyes. You don't need to fly around the world to appreciate it.
And while some people might be aware of the globe’s climate challenges, it doesn't excuse ignoring them.
The thread topic is the Maldives and who said anything about ignoring the climate challenges?
Another pointless point from you but I have come to expect that from you to be honest. Maybe time for us to both go on ignore.
I would never put you on ignore, sweetness.
Typical TZ thread drive LOL!.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Thank you and dead right. I came here and for last three days I have not heard a internal combustion engine.
Now that does sound like bliss!
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote