10 Groyne Uses

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Lily Beach - groyne

The idyllic image of a tiny Maldivian island is a drop of sand in the middle of the ocean with a few palm trees. However, Mother Nature (aided by King Neptune) has a millennia-old habit of tossing that sand all over the sea at its whim. So resorts have introduced a few erosion prevention methods to keep their island intact. For vista purists, these man-made constructions – known as “groynes” – are a blot on the otherwise perfect seascape, but they are essential to preserving the islands that everyone wants to visit. What I applaud are the properties who embrace this imposition by leaning into it for a silver lining. Putting these promontories to good use and even aesthetic appeal…

1. Beach – Lily Beach: A beach beyond the beach so lounging in the sand above the water instead of just next to it (see above).

2. Spa Treatment Area – Kurumba: For the closest-to-water massage you will find.

Kurumba - outdoor spa 2
 

3. House Reef Entry – Lily Beach: If it is going to protrude out into the ocean, then take advantage of that access.
  
Lily Beach - groyne 3
  

4. Lagoon Privacy – Nike:  The same groynes that protect against erosion can protect against prying eyes when you go for a dip in front of your beach villa.
  
Nika - groyne
  

5. Lounging – Taj Exotica:  If you can’t have you own over-water villa, you can still lounge over water here.
  
Taj Exotica - lounging
  

6. Pool – Huvafenfushi:  If you want to swim “in” the ocean without being “in” the ocean.

Huvafenfushi - groyne
  

7. Pavillion – Centara Ras Fushi:  A little sun protection for the erosion protection.
  
Centara Ras Fushi - groyne
 

8. Dining – W Retreat:  For a private meal away from your island which is away from it all itself.
  
W Retreat - groyne
  

9. Wedding – W Retreat:  For an outstanding nuptials…out standing in the ocean.
  
W Retreat - groyne 2
  

10. Mini Island– OZEN Reserve Bolifushi:  For the truly iconic plot-of-sand-and-palm-tree…all you need is a message in a bottle.

OZEN Reserve Bolifushi - groyne
  

   

Posted in: Lists \ Tagged:

Best of the Maldives: Kids Club Pool Style – OZEN Reserve Bolifushi

\ Leave a Comment \ by

OZEN Reserve Bolifushi - kids pool 1

For years, kids clubs were after thoughts relegated to a simple buildings in the island interior, but the rise of families visiting the destination has led to as much effort going into making the younger set experience as luxurious as the adults. This up-leveling is not just the bevy of indulgent activities and amusements, but also in the aesthetics as. The kids club pools are been particularly nondescript, but OZEN Reserve Bolifushi’s is as elegant as any you will find in the Maldives.

OZEN Reserve Bolifushi - kids pool 2

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: , ,

Best of the Maldives: Go Karting – Siyam World

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Siyam World - gokart 3

The Maldives still suffers under the misconception that there is nothing to do there. And while there is plenty of opportunities to do nothing, there are also lots of opportunities to do, well, nearly everything. And Siyam World has been pushing that envelope to new extents most recently with its go-karting track.

  • “Siyam World, known for breaking the mold of traditional Maldivian holidays, is paving new ground with the launch of a state-of-the-art go-kart track, the Speed Racers Circuit, that comes fully equipped with 18 sleek electric go-karts and a rugged off-road course. Spanning 205m² of heart-pounding twists and turns, the track is designed to ignite your inner racer and unleash the adrenaline junkie within.”

For those looking for as much of a thrill as a chill during their holiday in paradise.

Siyam World - gokart 2

Siyam World - gokart 1

Posted in: Best of the Maldives \ Tagged: ,

Best of the Maldives: Round Glass Bottom Sink – Dhawa Ihuru

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Dhawa Ihuru - glass bottom sink

I love a creative sink. We are in the midst of remodelling our current house and looking at fun sink designs. Our previous home had glass sinks in the master bath, but I was especially enchanted by Dhawa Ihuru’s “glass bottom” sinks. I had come across one before, but I liked this one so much as well that I decided to give it a post distinguished (perhaps somewhat trivially) by its shape. With all sorts of glass bottom boats, canoes, floats, etc in the water sports centers, it seems only fitting to have a glass-bottom in the water closet.

Posted in: Best of the Maldives \ Tagged: ,

Best of the Maldives: Accessible Public Toilets – Amilla Maldives

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Amilla - accessible toiler

Another entry in the expansive catalogue of accessibility innovations by Amilla Maldives, this one applying one of their villa innovations to their public amenities:

  • “Our restaurant area guest washrooms are accessible by a playful “fish ramp” and we are currently building a second block which will feature a “whale shark” ramp. Adding to our desire to integrate accessibility into something special.”
Posted in: Best of the Maldives \ Tagged: , , ,

Best of the Maldives: Convenient Kids Club – Cora Cora

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Cora Cora - accessible kids club

Anyone taking their children on a holiday in the Maldives (which is an ever increasing number) is certainly keen on sharing their company. But sometimes kids want a break from the parents and visa-versa. Most of the time, the resort kids clubs are tucked away in some remote section of the island interior, but Cora Cora has positioned its kids club right in the center of the action. The club has its own water view (which only a few other kids clubs have). It is near the pool, reception and several restaurants so close to where the parents might be hanging out (“Adults Club”?) savouring a cocktail or lounging by the pool. It is easy for the anxious parents to pop over to check in on the children, or for the kids club staff to get the parents if they are needed. And it is easy for anxious children to be comforted by the notion that mom and dad are “just over there”.

Posted in: Best of the Maldives \ Tagged: , ,

Best of the Maldives: Mangrove Lakes – Soneva Jani

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Soneva Jani - mangrove lakes 1

The Maldives is renowned as a water wonderland of immersed in the ocean surroundings. Despite having nearly 100 times more water than land, the land also features a number of inland water bodies. If you are interested in interior waterfront, Noonu Atoll is the place for them. Inhabited island Kendhikulhudhoo boasts the largest lake in the Maldives. And among the resort islands, Soneva Jani has 3 mangrove lakes. They are not only a distinctive site for human guests, but also are particularly appealing to all the various birds in the destination.

Soneva Jani - mangrove lakes 2

Posted in: Best of the Maldives \ Tagged:

Best of the Maldives: Eco-Cleaning – Amilla

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Amilla - eco cleaning

Choice of ingredients and packaging is the first line of attack in saving the environment. The mantra “Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle” is intended in that order or priority. Reducing consumption of the things that harm the environment has the biggest impact in sustaining it. These changes can go all the way to the backroom considerations of the cleaning products a property uses. Amilla Maldives has adopted the appropriately named Ocean Saver for its domestic needs:

  • “Just drop one of our plant based, non toxic EcoDrops into an empty bottle filled with tap water and shake! No fuss, no mess and zero plastic waste.”

For a cleaner conscience.

Posted in: Best of the Maldives \ Tagged: ,

Best of the Maldives: Mosquito Control – Soneva Fushi

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Soneva Fushi - mosquito control

The most common response to the question of “which species on the planet would you like to get rid of” is “mosquitos”. The are a very problematic creature transmitting many (sometimes deadly) diseases while very few species depend on eating them. I’ve never experienced many “mossies” during my many stays, but the tropical environments are common breeding grounds for them, visitors sometimes get bothered by them and the country has had reports of dengue fever in the past.

A typical measure is fumigation which some resorts do in the late afternoon and early evening, but this process can be noisy and irritating as well as contain troublesome chemicals. As CNN reports in its article “A paradise island vacation with no mosquito bites – and no chemicals”, Soneva Fushi has introduced an innovative technology to keep the numbers down in the least intrusive and more environmentally friendly way:

  • |Soneva first employed the Biogents system in 2019, using two different types of traps – more than 500 in total positioned around the island. The first type, called the BG-GAT, is a passive trap meant for tiger mosquitoes that have already bitten someone and are searching for a place to lay eggs, according to Oines. The second type, the BG-Mosquitaire CO2, is meant to attract mosquitoes searching for blood, which it does by using carbon dioxide created through yeast and sugar fermentation, plus lactic acid, which mimics human skin. Beyond just using the traps, the resort has educated staffers on mosquito ecology. Now, the Soneva team does inspections of the property to identify and reduce things like tarps, fallen coconut shells and anything else that could hold stagnant water, which is necessary for the bugs to breed… The resort said it recorded a dramatic decrease in the island’s mosquito population by upwards of 98% in the first year.
Posted in: Best of the Maldives \ Tagged: ,