The Maldives: where you basically feel like a celebrity, and keep asking yourself "HOW AM I EVEN HERE???"
On the map, the Republic of the Maldives is a tiny, nearly invisible, dot in the middle of the ocean. It's been high on my travel bucket list for a while now, and last week I was lucky enough to finally explore that tiny dot (read: paradise) on the other side of the world. I travelled with a dear friend, Aryan, whom we met in the Philippines, and have since been to five countries with (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and now, the Maldives!), and Andrea (world travel-beer drinking-getting lost-partner in crime).
KANDOOMA ISLANDDDDDDDDDDD YOU GUYSSSSSSSS
After a brutal day (days) of travel: plane to Abu Dhabi, plane to Male, speed boat to Kandooma, we arrived at the heaven on earth, Holiday Inn Resort at Kandooma Island. Even from the view out the plane window, you can tell you are about to land somewhere special. I mean LOOK at those blues!
Why Kandooma is perfect:
1. The beaches. DUH. But honestly, I've never seen such gorgeous white sand beaches in my life. I took the same picture every morning from the deck because I could not believe how incredible the view was. There are cabanas, lounge chairs, and private coves all over the island. Somehow every few meters you walk you find a new kind of adventure. One side has the best snorkeling, one the best views of the neighboring islands, one with the best waves, ones with the sharks (more on that later). UNREAL.
2. The water. When they say the water in the Maldives is clear, they mean it. The minute you put your head under, you can find an underwater world as clear as day. We snorkeled over reefs that were twenty to thirty feet deep, and you could still make out the fish swimming around at the bottom. It's unique, truly nowhere like it. (watch out for Trigger Fish- they are small, terrifying, ultimately harmless, but have gnarly-looking teeth)
3. The activities. Although I'm sure we could have been perfectly content laying on the beach for seven days, we found ourselves pretty active! The resort offers TONS of activities, lessons, excursions, and nightly events. We took a catamaran out to a reef to snorkel, paddle boarded to a far off sandbar, took a sunset cruise around the island, fed sharks at night, and toured a nearby local island.
4. The staff. Fact: the staff of the Holiday Inn Kandooma Island Resort are the kindest, most accommodating people in the business. If they ever felt something wasn't to their standards, they went above and beyond to make you feel special. They even upgraded us to the Presidential over-water villa during our stay. THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA (water hammock included). If I visit again, it will be largely due to the amazing people who keep the island running smoothly.
Presidential Villa (photo by Aryan)
5. The sunsets. Just check them out:
All in all, the Maldives is everything everyone has been gagging over. Get your butt to this slice of heaven, and see for your self!
SHOUT OUT to Emirates for making two very tired travelers, very happy yet again! (I know, I would want to strangle us too)
