It’s official! Baros has its own plot of sand and this one is actually a “registered” sand bank. The only resort to do so with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Best of the Maldives: Black Sand – Conrad Rangali
“Admire the black volcanic sand imported from New Zealand on the floor, which gives a stylish counterpoint to the white sand floors throughout the rest of the resort.”
The place to celebrate New Zealand Waitangi Day today is in the Maldives is Conrad Rangali. Their distinctive plot of sand is as black as the Maldives beaches are white. The juxtaposition is sort of a geological circle of life. The black sand comes from relatively recent volcanic eruptions while the Maldives themselves are anciently defunct volcanoes.
Their marketing manager Katherine Anthony elaborates…
“Yes, the black sand in the Cheese and Wine Bar (the only place we have it) is volcanic sand from New Zealand. We liked the contrast with the white sand that we have everywhere else throughout the resort.”
Best of the Maldives: Food Lighting – Jumeirah Vittaveli
Drizzles and stacks are a bit done to death on the gourmet tables. The cutting edge of cuisine involves a touch of techno. Jumeirah Vittaveli does this with its lighted bowls for its desserts. If Dhuni Kolhu adds the ice, Vittaveli adds the fire.
Best of the Maldives: Cold Sorbet – Iru Fushi
One of the few things you do want kept freezing cold on your Maldives holiday is your ice cream dessert. A challenge to savouring ice cream is to enjoy it in hot weather when it is more “ice” than “cream”. Iru Fushi finesses this with their own dive into the cold…
“The sorbet is served in a double cup (glass).. a round one with ice cubes to keep the temperature and a small conic one fitting in.” (thanks Paola)
Best of the Maldives: Lawn Bowls – One & Only Reethi Rah
Super Bowl Sunday.
And in the Maldives, the most super bowl you will find, complete with astro-turf, is One & Only Reethi Rah’s “Lawn Club”. The club has an superb all-weather lawn bowls pitch
Be up! (A short bowl is a wasted bowl).
Best of the Maldives: Highest Mountain – Shangri-La Vilingili
“Ain’t no mountain high enough…”
That just might be your feeling in the Maldives when you want to shout out your love for your beloved. And for good reason with an average elevation the lowest in the world. But on todays “Beloved Wives Day,” your highest option is Mount Villingili on the eponymous Shangri-La Villingili resort.
“The world’s smallest mountain, Mount Villingili, at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives has just been officially certified as the highest point in the Maldives, which is known for being the flattest and lowest country..Despite its humble height, it dwarfs over the previously known highest point on Addu Atoll that stands at only 2.4 metres above sea level…From 25 November 2013, visitors may conquer Mount Villingili with the opening of a daily Mount Villingili Tour. They will be issued a certificate confirming that they have climbed the islands’ highest point, a perfect memento of their trip to the Maldives.”
At a less than nose-bleeding 5.1 metres, it might be more aptly named “Mound Villingili”.
Best of the Maldives: Full Moon Excursion – Nika
Another rare “Super Moon” tonight!
While the sunrise and sunset seems to be the celestial obsession of the Maldives resort, it is the moon that really seems to evoke the romance for which this part of the world is renowned. Like the eponymous “honeymoon”, which many consider the Maldives to be the capital of, the shimmering moon has been the inspiration for lovers forever.
And nothing is as heart-throbbingly magical as the bright full moon. Many resorts offer sunrise yoga and sunset cruises, but Nika offers an excursion crafted around this monthly event. Their “Full Moon Excursion” features “Swimming in the lunar path reflected in the sea. There will be a drink to celebrate this special night. 23:00 – 1:00.” (35 euros)
Super.
Best of the Maldives: Dhoni Cruise – Safari Island
If you want the actual cruising dhoni, then the excursion word on the water is that Safari Island’s is the tops according to authority on all things Maldivian, Adrian Neville…
“They are the dhonis from Dhoni Island, formerly Dhoni Mighili and now Safari Island Resort (Per Aquum once ran Dhoni Mighili). They are terribly nice and certainly the best dhoni cruise around.”
Gone are the days when these vessels were the villas, but they are still a cracking cruise.
They are also graced with Sakis’ portraiture…
Best of the Maldives: Nautical Lodging – Cocoa Island
Instead of construction inspired from overseas, Cocoa Island features villas inspired from over the sea. These dhoni-inspired delights are the centrepiece of the all-water villa resort. The design makes if one of the most captivating resorts. Cocoa was one of the top resorts recommended to me by one of the Maldivian government ministers on my last visit and it is regularly featured in distinctive hotel lists like “The 100 Most Amazing, Unique, and Beautiful Hotels In The World” (one of the best lists I have come across and has inspired a short Italy getaway for Lori and I next month).
Best of the Maldives: Indian Spa – Gangehi
Neighbouring India has its national Republic Day this weekend as well (today in fact). And if you want to celebrate with a distinctively Indian spa, then Gangehi’s “Ginger Spa” is the place. The striking facility is made up of cottage taken apart from Kochin in south of Indian and re-assembled (also, the Library on the island is a similar re-assembled building from Kochin). Aruvedic ingredients like oils and incense imported from India and offered in treatments provide by Ratheesh (see photos), the resort masseur also from India.
