Best of the Maldives: Lettuce – Le Meridien

Le Meridien - hydroponic garden 3

Maldives resort gardens are used for any sort of fresh veg and herbs the chef needs in his kitchen. But the record-breaking hydroponic garden at Le Meridien features a special treat with unparalleled variety – lettuce. It grows 6 different varieties of lettuce

  • Green Coral
  • Crystal lettuce
  • Red Oak
  • Mizuna
  • Lollo Rosso
  • Romaine (Baby Gem)

The resort describes their lettuce plantation process:

· “Lettuce is grown in three stages: Seed sowing, Transplanting, and Harvesting. Lettuce gets ready to harvest in 45 days. Before transplanting into main NFT channels the lettuce is in nursery stage which completes in 20 days, and then after transplant another 25 days.”

Lettuce entertain your palette!

Best of the Maldives: Lazy River – Centara Mirage Lagoon

Centara Mirage Lagoon - lazy river

Loved these from the water parks in America and I first called for them in my 4thThings I Haven’t Seen in the Maldives” post back in 2014. Thanks to Centara Mirage Lagoon, the “lazy river” feature, that we enjoyed in the sunny summers of Carolina, is now available in the sunny side of life for a leisurely water-sun lounging combo so appropriate for the Maldives.

Best of the Maldives: Pool Channel – Oaga

Oaga - river

Pools have evolved in the Maldives from simple rectangular intra-island swimming holes to infinity pools, fountain featured, split-level, swim-up bar extravagances. But none are quite so extensive, creative and storied as Oaga pool channel behind its Veyoge Gallery Pool Villas.

  • “Nestled in the lush gardens of Oaga Art Resort, the Veyoge Gallery Pool Villa draws inspiration from the enchanting Maldivian folklore of the star-crossed lovers ‘Khalid and Sitti.’ This captivating garden villa in the Maldives features an exterior made of invisible mirrors, reflecting the secretive and mystical nature of the lovers’ tale. According to legend, Khalid and Sitti leaped into a lake and transformed into mystical creatures, eternally united.”

The “pool” connects all of the plunge pools for the Veyoge Gallery rooms with a long, sinuous channel that culminates at a larger pool by the craft beer bar and decorated with images of Khalid and Sitti.

Oaga - channel pool

Best of the Maldives: Most Pools – Haven Villa

Haven Villa - pools

The very earliest beginnings of Maldives Complete was a spreadsheet of my research looking for resorts with pools (which in the 1990s was not all that prevalent and the kids really enjoyed a break from the gritty coral sand and salt swimming in the lagoon). Over time, pools (infinity ones at that) became standard fare for resorts and increasingly, especially at the luxury end of the market, for villas themselves. We enjoy having our own private pool for a cooling plunge. And I have seen a couple of properties with two pool villas. But Villa Haven’s Two Bedroom Residence with Two Beach Pools and Garden Pool is the first THREE pool villa I have come across. An enclosed one in the back area for those wanting privacy, a small one for maybe the kids and a big one for everyone.