Best of the Maldives: Highest TV – Dreamland

Dreamland - ceiling TV

One resort who has a high bar (literally) for videos is Dreamland with their ceiling mounted television (thanks Paola). The set up allows for supine lounging while catching a bit of TV. It also means that one can glance at the TV (above) or the scenery (below) which might be useful if you were following a news event or a big sports match.

Best of the Maldives: Instagram Video – Cocoon

A post shared by Nicole M. (@nicolemazzocato) on

Instagram has started as a straightforward snap sharing service from simple phone cameras, but it has exploded so much that now you get Hollywood quality productions being shared. I check out the Maldives geotag every morning over coffee as a great scouting radar for resort highlights as well as the latest fashionista shoots so I have been tracking the Maldives material for a couple of years. The video clips have increasing popped up and feature more and more in my fashionista posts. My favourite, that really stuck out for its sophistication and quirky style is Nicole Mazzocato’s post (above) filmed by Fabio Colloricchio.

Best of the Maldives: Submarine Jet – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru

If you prefer your James Bond ocean travel under the water, then check out the latest submarine in the Maldives at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru:

  • “Landaa Giraavaru is the first resort in the world to launch DeepFlight Adventures: piloted submarine excursions for up to two passengers in the DeepFlight Super Falcon 3S, enabling once-in-a-lifetime sub-aquatic explorations of the Maldives only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Individual viewing domes provide a 360-degree view of the Baa Atoll’s incredible underwater world. Skim over coral formations; fly through shoals of brightly coloured fish; encounter creatures like turtles, sharks, dolphins and rays; and explore the Maldivian waters down to a depth of 37 metres/120 feet – all without getting wet! Battery-operated, the Super Falcon 3S features minimized electric and acoustic emissions so as not to disturb the marine life and never lands on the seabed or reefs.”

A one-hour trip for two costs $1,500 (£1,100) plus tax.

Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru - submarine

Best of the Maldives: Seaweed Straws – Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem - edible straws

We all can embrace the ocean with more sustainable choices in what we consume and discard. One of the areas getting lots of scrutiny these days is plastic use. Bottles and bags have already been targeted, but a more recent opportunity is to cut down the use of plastic drinking straws. Carpe Diem (note: the resort is not yet open, but the Carpe Diem cruising yacht is in operation) is not just taking a bite out of plastic use, but is introducing straws you can take a bite out of yourself:

  • ”It’s widely claimed there are enough plastic straws to wrap around the Earth’s circumference 2.5 times each day. Because they are so small, most straws are not recycled and usually end up in landfills and waterways, where they linger indefinitely, harming wildlife, and marring the natural beauty. Made to disappear and designed to have the same functionality expected of a plastic straw, Lolistraw will last for up to 8 hrs in a beverage and will have a shelf life of up to 24 months. When you’re done sipping your drink, you can eat the straw or compost it. The founders of LOLIWARE and the straw’s designers, Chelsea Briganti and Leigh Ann Tucker, have coined the term ‘Hyper-compostable’ to convey that all of their products, including Lolistraw, will break down at the same rate as food waste in compost or in the natural environment, such as a waterway.”

Mother Ocean’s Colourful Embrace

Clow fish 6

Mother Ocean Day today which “spotlights the magnificent bodies of water that make life on Earth possible”. Few countries appreciate the ocean more than the Maldives where is makes up more of their country than any other. To mark the occasion, I’ve assembled one of the most popular ocean shots on Instagram – the Anemonefish nestled in the protectively mothering tentacles of its host.  If only we landlubbers could live in harmony with the ocean as well as these Amphiprioninae live in harmony in the ocean…

Clown fish 1

Clown fish 2

Clown fish 3

Clown fish 4

Clown fish 5

Clown fish 6

Clown fish 7

Clown fish 8

Clown fish 9

Clown fish 10

Clown fish 11

Clown fish 12

Clown fish 13

Clown fish 14

Clown fish 15

Clown fish 16

Clown Fish 17

CLown fish 18

Clown fish 19

Clown fish 20

Clown fish 21

Clown fish 22

Clown fish 23

Clown fish 24

Clown fish 25

Clown fish 26

Clown fish 27

Best of the Maldives: Observatory Bar – Anantara Kihavah

I am tasting stars” – Dom Perignon

Now you can taste Dom Perignon among the stars. On Anantara Kihavah’s new rooftop observatory and bar:

  • Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas has taken the wraps off its new SKY overwater observatory, which combines a luxury cocktail bar, a resident story-telling ‘Sky Guru’ and its very own telescope.”

Kihavah has extended the ultimate bottom-to-top vista to the heavens now including the most exquisite wines to accompany every concourse.  And even if you have cloudy night, you can enjoy your sparkling wines under a sparkling firmament in the bar with a luminous ceiling display of constellations (see photo at bottom).

Anantara Kihavah - observatory

Potions in Paradise

Olga ST (Russia) – JA Manafaru

Raise a glass to National Beverage Day. The fashionista set enjoy a pose with a glass of bubbly or a tropical cocktail, but that is just the tip of the thila for imbibing beauties…

  1. Olga ST (Russia) – JA Manafaru [ABOVE]
  2. Belle Lucia (Australia) – Cocoon
    Belle Lucia (Australia) - Cocoon
      
  3. Olesya Malinskaya (Russia) – Velaa
    Olesya Malinskaya (Russia) – One & Only Reethi Rah 2

       
  4. Katrina (Russia) – Kihaa
    Katrina (Russia) - Kihaa
       
  5. No A (Thailand) – Centara Ras Fushi
    No A (Thailand) - Centara Ras Fushi
      
  6. Mali Kosinska (Russia) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
    Mali Kosinska (Russia) - Sun Siyam Irufushi
       
  7. Shannon More (New Zealand) – Kanuhura
    Shannon More (New Zealand) - Kanuhura
     
  8. Eva Gutowski and Belle Lucia (USA – Australia) – LUX South Ari Atoll
    Eva Gutowski and Belle Lucia (USA - Australia) - LUX South Ari Atoll
       
  9. Ayla Marie Woodruff (USA) – Park Hyatt Hadahaa
    Ayla Marie Woodruff (USA) - Park Hyatt Hadahaa
      
  10. Yulia Rybakova (Russia) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
    Yulia Rybakova (Russia) - Sun Siyam Irufushi
       
  11. Xenia Van Der Woodsen (Germany) – One & Only Reethi Rah
    Xenia Van Der Woodsen (Germany) – One & Only Reethi Rah
       
  12. Anya Denisik (Belarus) – Kurumba
    Anya Denisik (Belarus) - Kurumba
       
  13. Jacqueline Fernandez (Sri Lanka) – Conrad Rangali
    Jacqueline Fernandez (Sri Lanka) – Conrad Rangali
       
  14. Jamie Chua (Singapore) – Maalifushi
    Jamie Chua (Singapore) - Maalifushi
       
  15. Baby Akiyo (Malaysia) – Club Med Kani
    Baby Akiyo (Malaysia) - Club Med Kani
       
  16. Faya Nillson (Sweden) – W Maldives
    Faya Nillson (Sweden) – W Retreat
       
  17. Lauryn Goodman (United Kingdom) – Sun Aqua Vilu Reef
    Lauryn Goodman (United Kingdom) - Sun Aqua Vilu Reef  
  18. Karina Irby (Australia) – Adaaran Hudhuranfushi
    Karina Irby (Australia) – Adaaran Hudhuranfushi

      
  19. Yulia Schastlivaya (Russia) – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru
    Yulia Schastlivaya (Russia) - Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru
       
  20. Or Daniel (Israel) – One & Only Reethi Rah
    Or Daniel (Israel) - One & Only Reethi Rah
       
  21. Poppy Delevingne (United Kingdom) – Finolhu
    Poppy Delevingne (United Kingdom) - Finolhu
      
  22. Diana Dryn (Ukraine) – LUX South Ari Atoll
    Diana Dryn (Ukraine) - LUX South Ari Atoll
      
  23. Marissa Cox (France) – Halaveli
    Marissa Cox (France) - Halaveli
      
  24. Beatrice Ong (Singapore) – Olhuveli
    Beatrice Ong (Singapore) - Olhuveli
      
  25. Pamela Reif (Germany) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
    Pamela Reif (Germany) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
       
  26. Anna Sharapova (Russia) – One & Only Reethi Rah
    Anna Sharapova (Russia) – One & Only Reethi Rah
       
  27. Reham al Nahii (Jordan) – Conrad Rangali
    Reham al Nahii (Jordan) – Conrad Rangali
       
  28. Tatjana Kreuzmayr (Austria) – Summer Island
    Tatjana Kreuzmayr (Austria) – Summer Island
       
  29. Jessica Lee Buchanan (South Africa) – NIYAMA
    Jessica Lee Buchanan (South Africa) – NIYAMA
      
  30. Henna Advani (Singapore) – Six Senses Laamu
    Henna Advani (Singapore) – Six Senses Laamu
       
  31. Belinda Morgan (Australia) – Club Med Kani
    Belinda Morgan (Australia) – Club Med Kani
      
  32. Mai Morishita (Japan) – Oblu by Atmosphere
    Mai Morishita (Japan) – Oblu by Atmosphere
      

Best of the Maldives: Football Camp – Amilla Fushi

Amilla Fushi - football

More “fullback” than “full bodied”, Amilla Fushi introduced its own training programme for guests (who are a bit too young to sample the wine cellar) of a football training camp:

  • Designed and developed by former professional football players, Jason and Glen Trifiro, FUTBOLTEC focuses on the techniques of young footballers in a professional and enjoyable learning environment. Sign up your kids for an exclusive 3-day football camp and let them participate on a field where players have the freedom to play and creativity is the most important thing. Choose from Junior camp for players aged 5-11 years old or Senior camp for players aged 12-16 years old. Each player will receive 9 hours of experienced coaching, training shirt, shorts, socks and training equipment.”