Blue Bliss in The Maldvies> > by Melissa Rimac      
When it comes to celebrating the fact that you only live once, The Maldives – a stunningly beautiful haven which coaxes deeper connection with your partner, and your inner hedonist – has the last word. Turquoise. Sapphire. Aquamarine. Azure. Cerulean. Cobalt. Indigo. Powder-blue. Blues so resonant and intense you almost have to look away. Blues that envelop your every move and unfailingly dispel woes. Blues punctuated by pods of dolphins and shimmering flying fish. In the Maldives, just about every hue of blue imaginable - and then some - presents itself in a single vision. And, unfurled as far as the eye can see, is a kaleidoscope of pleasures. In the global imagination, the Maldives has become a byword for exuberant indulgence. And, as the world becomes increasingly shrill, cluttered and chaotic, the Maldives stands apart; here, inimitably heady escapism melds with high-octane indulgence and abundant, pristine natural marvels. The accolades are indeed apt. It’s nigh impossible not to gasp: 1200-odd islands (depending on the tide – does, for example, a sliver of sand topped with a single coconut palm, where you can be dropped off for the day, or a moonlit dinner, count?) that catch the light and sparkle like diamonds sprinkled across a satiny, electric-blue Indian Ocean. Splashed to the south west of Sri Lanka, the fact that it takes a little over 15 hours to wing it to The Maldives from Australia highlights the delicious sense of having dropped out. As befits a watery wonderland, Male airport occupies its own island, blessedly bereft of taxi scrums. Instead, you’re whisked to your island fantasy by speedboat - which, as the tiny islands blur on the horizon, breeze ruffling your hair, is guaranteed to dislodge all vestiges of urban angst - and by seaplane, a journey which takes on transcendental tones, especially when you spot turtles and clusters of coral. What awaits is a welcome consisting of warm smiles, sweet scents and the realisation that you’ve embarked upon an entirely new reality, where pleasure is the paramount pursuit. Each resort is situated on its very own island, no building can be higher than a coconut palm, and, by legal decree, a vividly romantic, untrammeled environment beckons. The trick to making the most of this sublime location is to define your dream and head for an island which embodies your vision of paradise. Then, get set for serious sybaritic exploration. Five star is where it starts. Resorts in the Maldives have perfected exultant luxury and style, sumptuous comfort, delectable food and sensational spas (widely lauded as amongst the world’s best; most open directly into the tropics and delight with diversions such as watching mischievous bat-fish whilst shoulder knots turn to jelly). Some hideaways serve up a jungle-clad, castaway experience – rustic, tactile and sensual – whilst others soothe with refined stylishness. If you’re seeking solitude and unfettered scope to lounge together on beaches that go beyond picture-perfect, gin-clear water lapping near your feet, a resort with an active party scene and jet-skis won’t sate to the same extent as one where seclusion and tranquility prevail. Every whim imaginable has been anticipated. Think discreet butlers, generous plunge pools (typically within tumbling distance from bed), cozy lounging nooks, surround-sound, lavish outdoor bathrooms, complete with couch, luxe herbal potions and colossal bathtubs splashed with petals, and sun decks from which you can slip unnoticed into the embrace of warm, silky water. Island life entails dilemmas, however. Do you, for instance, languor over freshly- brewed coffee whilst reclining on the trance-inducing daybed, or, perhaps, salute the sun with an in-room yoga lesson followed by breakfast on your deck, where shells have washed up overnight? Beyond your glam bungalow, lay temptations well worth stirring for. Like kayaking to the reef’s edge or tiny islands, then swimming amidst a whirl of incandescent fish and intricate corals. Or, hopping aboard a dhoni (traditional Maldivian sailboat) to seek out dolphins, empty islets and reefs where the water turns deep violet and the fish and corals form pulsating ribbons of shocking colour. The Maldives boasts some of the best snorkeling and diving on the planet - remarkable for both its rich profusion and astonishing diversity - and rendered all the more glorious by breath-taking visibility. Many resorts abut their own lagoons and fringe an extensive house reef; which makes accessing the psychedelic underwater wonderland as easy as sauntering from your bungalow into crystalline water. More recently, surfing in the Maldives is inspiring sighs from those in the know, and, like some of the best underwater scene-scapes, takes on a whole new dimension when savoured from a safari-boat. Most of all though, The Maldives is a mood. Although what’s on offer is utterly sumptuous- it’s the luxury of time together, space, tranquillity and natural wonders that leaves the deepest imprint. And, just as it becomes impossible to tell where sea becomes sky, in the Maldives you quickly lose track of the date, and the to-do list. It’s that priceless, blissed-out haze which makes the Maldives such a very special splurge. |
Photograhy by Melissa Rimac
