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The water really is as bright blue and the sand as white here as you may have imagined or seen in the magazines. It's a beautiful country, spread out over some 1,200 islands. It is a strange holiday destination in that you are cocooned from the real country, most tourists going straight from the airport to their chosen resort. So we were glad we had a day to explore the capital Male, to try and get a feel for the place and the locals. We stepped off the plane onto the hot tarmac an hour after leaving Sri Lanka, making us less jet lagged than most of the visitors which was also a plus. Got the dhoni (wooden boat) from the airport for US$1 and found our hotel conveniently near the arrival jetty. Checked into our unremarkable room (the cheapest we could find - not cheap compared to Sri Lanka!), and pretty much went straight to bed.
The next morning we had breakfast next door which was nice and simple, the people were very friendly and gave us a few pointers for our stay. We started walking one way to see what it was like, and after a hot couple of hours had made it full circle in time for lunch! We had seen life at the harbour where the fishing boats and resort boats meet to trade, and fresh fruit is spread out on the street for purchase. We had stopped off for a dip in the artificial beach to cool down. It was amazing how much marine life you could see just from the promenade - the water was so clear and the fish so brightly coloured. We even saw a group of rays and a big eel playing right where the sea lapped onto the beach. I was suddenly very excited about diving here, but also wandering whether you really needed to dive to see more!
Chris had spoken to some locals about surfing, and we passed a spot where you could see the potential for a small wave, and he was told to try at high tide. So we went for lunch, eating the local devilled (spicy) fish which was very tasty. Had a wonder around some of the central parts of the small island, visiting the national museum which was a bit of a disappointment, but at least to Chris' delight it was over quickly! Apart from that, there is an impressive mosque, and a few shops, just like any other small town. Chris went for a surf at the mention of shops, while I had a little whip round then went to join him! Was taken aback on route by a wheezing octopus on the pavement that had just been hooked by a local, and suddenly I was a little less keen to go for a dip. Saw Chris catch a few waves, but they were nothing like the size of the Sri Lanka breaks, and he didn't stay there for too long. He spoke to a couple of expat locals in the lineup who gave him a few pointers and discussed important issues like how they can get out of the dry state ruling! We were going to be out of luck on that score, with the only bar serving alcohol being back at the airport island, so we took the opportunity to detox and went for a nice meal, then prepared for an exciting boat trip the next morning.
Our transfer to our resort would cost considerably more than the one to Male, so we started to get used to the theme for the coming week! We were excited about the opportunity to be here though, and looking forward to meeting Chris' Dad and his partner again. As we blasted across the Indian Ocean for twenty minutes, we could barely wipe the smile off our faces. The breeze was fantastic and the view breathtaking, sea planes taking off nearby, and beautiful yachts all around. Dark patches in the water signified the reef underneath the surface, and we were excited about seeing what lay there.
We arrived at the Full Moon Resort island, and were provided with lovely freezing cold towels and iced tea! It was seriously hot outside, so we were anxious to jump into the water. There were bungalows on stilts on one side of the island, and one and two story room blocks spread along the length of the beach in crescents on the other; it was surprisingly large; we got a lift to the bar in a golf buggy!
We met Michael and Sue half asleep by the pool, getting into holiday mode already! Had some drinks and caught up, then took a walk along the beach. Already we could feel that this week was going to be wonderfully relaxing and we quickly moved down a gear to get into the mood! The rooms were lovely and modern with views to the sea naturally. Michael and Sue's bathroom was fantastic and outdoors!
Had a cocktail with an introduction to what's on at the hotel, and booked up a few things in our heads and visited the dive centre the next day. We went to a site not too far from the island and went down to about 23 metres (no wetsuit required - amazing!), we drifted with the current for some of the time, then held onto a rock each at the bottom and watched the larger fish swim through the channel above us, and play on the reef beside us. The vast array of species was spectacular, but I wasn't overly enamoured seeing the white tipped reef sharks (apparently they're not dangerous, but they look shark-like enough for me and were about my size)! Chris and I both did some snorkelling during the week just outside the resort which was great, and he did two more dives as he's not as good at relaxing as I am! You didn't need any gear to see lots of marine life though - every evening the hotel threw some food out from the terrace bar, which although we weren't convinced was a great idea when we saw the baby sharks, it was impressive, and small rays, eels and other fish literally ate out of the guests hands!
The hotel spa is on it's own island you can walk across a bridge to, which was stunning, and Sue and I each had a brief welcome massage which was very nice indeed, and Michael offered us a full hour's worth which was a real treat on our last day. It was the best massage I've ever had, carried out by a Balinese lady with very strong hands! Had a good hour in their relaxation suite afterwards and didn't want to leave!
We enjoyed fantastic meals, dining al fresco at the seaside restaurants, and trying out all five by the time the week was up. Did a few workouts and played tennis to work them off. Chris went wakeboarding a couple of times, and Michael and Sue braved the inflatable armchair pulled by the speedboat which was very amusing - and yes, I've got the pictures to prove it! Apart from that it was a serene, civilised and very relaxing beach holiday after our adventures in Sri Lanka, and although we may not be able to hurry back, one day I hope we will get there! Chris would've liked to get some more use out of his surf board there, but the season is only just beginning, so it will probably have to be a little later if there's a next time!
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