Best of the Maldives Online: Whale Shark Spotting – Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme

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Whale Shark app

Another two things I love in the Maldives are logging apps (with maps) and whale sharks. Now the Maldives Whale Shark Research Organisation has brought these two great things together in their mobile whale shark tracking app:

  • “Since 2016, we’ve worked with the team at Critter to develop a mobile app built on their Track system, and in 2019 we’re proud to release the next generation full of exciting new features. ‘Whale Shark Network Maldives’ now takes technology that has long been the preserve of scientists at desktop computers and puts it into the hands of anyone with a mobile device. This innovative approach representing a huge leap for efficiency in citizen science engagement caught the attention of Apple, who selected the app from over 2.5 million others on the app store and championed it in the Keynote of Apple’s annual World.”

Whale Shark Spotter on steroids. They’ve also merged two general features of Maldives Complete – (a) a spotting tracker, and (b) a database lookup (with individual profiles). Add a blog and you have Whale Shark Complete!

Whales Shark programme

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Best of the Maldives: Bed Decorating Map – Kudafuhi

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Kudafushi - bed decorating map

Two of my favourite features – island maps and bed decorating. Both are quite distinctive in the Maldives with their “all on one island” resort properties and their tradition of elaborate blossom bed creations. Kudafushi has merged the two together for a mattress-based map of the island’s landscape (thanks Paola). One of the most exquisite works of bed decorating I’ve seen.

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Best of the Maldives: Salt Water Lake – Rahaa

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Rahaa - Salt Water Lake 1

While most Maldives aficionados seek out the best house reefs (with their plummeting walls of coral), the Maldives lagoons are equally as distinctive. They might not make for the finest snorkelling adventures since they are essentially just shallow pools of water with sandy bottoms. Typically, not much marine life to see except for a few foraging sting rays and the wandering couple of goat fishes. But the lagoons are what give the Maldives its distinctive palette of soft blues and provide ocean swimming that is as calm as a backyard pool.

Rahaa’s “salt water” lake is one of the most distinctive resort bodies of water in the Maldives (thanks Francisco). Other resorts feature “lakes”, but none so front and center. None with villas on the shores and none you can swim in. Now whether Rahaa’s “lake” is really and lake or a totally landlocked lagoon is a bit of a semantic fine point. It is as notable a water feature as you’ll find in a destination that epitomises water features.

Rahaa - Salt Water Lake 2

Rahaa - Salt Water Lake 3

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Best of the Maldives: Edible Straw – LUX South Ari Atoll

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LUX South Ari Atoll - edible straws

When most of what there is to do all day is savour pina coladas in the sun (or whatever your favourite tropical tipple is), plastic straws can pile up. Most resorts are moving away from plastic to a variety of sipping tools (so much so that with this post I have introduced the “Straws” tag). LUX south Ari Atoll has introduced another variety of edible straws:

  • “The biodegradable straws, made from cooked rice flour, tapioca starch and water, can last up to one hour before they soften and eventually dissolve.”
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Best of the Maldives: Plastic Bag – Conrad Maldives

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Conrad Maldives - plastic bag

Black Friday! The biggest shopping day of the year. Of course you will need something to carry all those purchases and you don’t want to be adding to the landfill with shopping bags. If you do your early Christmas shopping at Conrad Rangali you not only get a useful and stylish bag for your shopping and more, but the bag itself doesn’t just stop added plastic consumption, but it actually removes waste plastic from the ocean. The bag is made from recycled plastic removed from the ocean. Parley’s website describes

  • “The bags are made with Ocean Plastic® — a premium material created from upcycled plastic waste recovered from remote islands, waters and coastlines by our growing global cleanup network. Each Parley Ocean Bag in the artist series is made from approximately 5 intercepted plastic bottles and funds the removal of another 20 pounds of marine plastic waste by the Parley Global Cleanup Network.”

Bag for Sea Life!

   

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Homecoming Parade-ise

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Margie M (Australia) - Kandima

Happy Thanksgiving and a big welcome to all those Homecoming Queens riding in on their colourful floats…

  1. Margie M (Australia) – Kandima [ABOVE]
       
  2. Alana Panday (India) – Kandima
    Alana Panday (India) - Kandima
      
  3. Romana Rabinig (Austria) – Hondaafushi
    Romana Rabinig (Austria) - Hondaafushi
      
  4. Rkycia (Thailand) – Anantara Dhigu
    Rkycia (Thailand) - Anantara Dhigu
       
  5. Amanda Lynn (USA) – Six Senses Laamu
    Amanda Lynn (USA) - Six Senses Laamu
      
  6. Maumi Zhou (China) – Coco Bodu Hithi
    Maumi Zhou (China) - Coco Bodu Hithi
      
  7. Ariel (China) – Grand Park Kodhipparu
    Ariel (China) - Grand Park Kodhipparu 2
      
  8. My Life Inspiration (Russia) – Vilu Reef
    My Life Inspiration (Russia) - Vilu Reef
       
  9. Yuliya Bezdar (Russia) – Cheval Blanc
    Yuliya Bezdar (Russia) – Cheval Blanc
      
  10. Beatrice Wong (Australia) – Reethi Faru
    Beatrice Wong (Australia) - Reethi Faru
      
  11. Kristyna Sixtova (Czech) – Kuredu – Angel Wings
    Kristyna Sixtova (Czech) - Kuredu
       
  12. Cherliza (Netherlands) – Jumeirah Vittaveli
    Cherliza (Netherlands) - Jumeirah Vittaveli
       
  13. Enrou (Malaysia) – Kandooma
    Enrou (Malaysia) - Kandooma
      
  14. Maria (Italy) – Anantara Dhigu
  15. Yasemin C (Denmark) – Robinson Club Noonu
    Yasemin C (Denmark) - Robinson Club Noonu
      
  16. Karina Volodina (Russia) – Sun Island
    Karina Volodina (Russia) - Sun Island 2
       
  17. Maria Sionova (Russia) – Gili Lankanfushi
    Maria Sionova (Russia) - Gili Lankanfushi
       
  18. Khongyeusonglau (China) – Thulhagiri
    Khongyeusonglau (China) - LUX South Ari Atoll
       
  19. Rachel Jeon (Japan) – Milaidhoo
    Rachel Jeon (Japan) - Milaidhoo
       
  20. Shivani Patil (India) – Vadoo
    Shivani Patil (India) - Vadoo
      
  21. Fahlalaaa (Thailand) – Constance Moofushi
    Fahlalaaa (Thailand) - Constance Moofushi
      
  22. Pui L Bes (Thailand) – Kanuhura
    Pui L Bes (Thailand) - Kanuhura
      
  23. Galina Bezruk (Russia) – Vadoo
    Galina Bezruk (Russia) - Vadoo
      
  24. Dasha (Russia) – OZEN by Atmosphere
  25. Evgenia Radzevichus (Russia) – Summer Island
    Evgenia Radzevichus (Russia) - Summer Island
       
  26. Sin Tong (Philippines) – Thulhagiri
    Sin Tong (Philippines) - Thulhagiri
       
  27. Tata Nualpeng (Thailand) – Centara Grand
    Tata Nualpeng (Thailand) - Centara Grand
      
  28. Peggy Hung (Taiwan) – Finolhu
    Peggy Hung (Taiwan) - Finolhu
       
  29. Joice Oliveira (Brazil) – Hurawalhi
  30. May Buranasiri (Thailand) – Kanuhura
    May Buranasiri (Thailand) - Kanuhura
       
  31. Maria Pogrebnyak-Shatalova (Russia) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
    Maria Pogrebnyak-Shatalova (Russia) - Sun Siyam Irufushi
       
  32. Valeria Hammer (Ukraine) – Meedhupparu
    Valeria Hammer (Ukraine) - Meedhupparu
       
  33. Yulia Schastlivaya (Russia) – One & Only Reethi Rah
    Yulia Schastlivaya (Russia) – Gili Lankanfushi
       
  34. Katrin Amaure (Austria) – Furaveri
    Katrin Amaure (Austria) - Furaveri
       
  35. Bia Feres (Brazil)
    Bia Feres (Brazil)
       
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Best of the Maldives: Plankton Condiment – You & Me

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You & Me - H20 plankton 2

No matter how many toppings or how exotic the flavours, I have not come across any item on the menu as exotic as You & Me’s underwater restaurant H2O – plankton! More for a whale shark’s palette than appetite as it was presented in an eye-dropper bottle as part of the seafood platter. You sprinkle the “plankton” on the delicacies for that extra bit of taste of the sea. It didn’t really taste of anything other than just some seawater, but I guess that for mantas and other filter feeders, to them its all just sea water to them too.  Something small (actually microscopic) before the big feast of Thanksgiving tomorrow.

You & Me - plankton 2

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Best of the Maldives: Ice Cream of the Month – Soneva Fushi / Soneva Jani

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Soneva Fushi - ice creams

Forget Book of the Month Club or Employee of the Month plaques, I want the Ice Cream of the Month subscription thank you. Just another ice cream extravagance at Soneva (both Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani) as Maldives Insider reported at its launch last year:

  • “Soneva is developing 10 new and unique flavours at Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Kiri, for a total of 30 flavours. These flavours are only available for the next 12 months, after which time they will change. This is in addition to the regular rotating roster of flavours at each resort. Guests at Soneva Fushi’s So Cool will get to sample new flavours such as: Soneva Bread Fruit and Maldivian Pine Nuts, Strawberry, Aged Balsamic and Green Olives, and Curry Leaves and Sweet Mango. While at Soneva Jani’s So Cool, Yuka with Garden Basil, Seaweed, and Caramelised Young Coconut join the classic ice creams and sorbets. Soneva will also be introducing one new flavour each month inspired by that month’s Festival of Colour theme.”
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Best of the Maldives: Make Your Own Sundae – LUX North Male Atoll

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LUX North Male Atoll - sundaes

Buffets are part of the fabric of Maldives resorts, but I’ve never come across an ice cream buffet like LUX North Male Atoll sundae counter at its ICI ice cream parlour. It took me back to perhaps my earliest memory of personalised, decadent taste treats – Putnam Pantry. Back in the 70s, we would make the half hour drive to “make your own sundae” and their ice cream smorgasbord which was the ultimate treat or birthday party. But, not surprisingly, LUX surpassed even the American penchant for excess with 18 flavours of ice cream, 6 sauces, 8 toppings and a range of other accessory treats.

LUX North Male Atoll - sundaes 2

LUX North Male Atoll - sundaes 3

LUX North Male Atoll - sundaes 4

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