Best of the Maldives: Magical Easter Egg Hunt – One & Only Reethi Rah

For this year’s Easter treats, One & Only Reethi Rah went beyond eggs an bunnies with a complete Harry Potter themed celebration. The “Hogwarts Open Day”

  • “It’s Easter Sunday and time for the traditional Reethi Rah Easter Egg Hunt with a magical twist! … This Easter the island is transformed into a Harry Potter Magical World!”

I hope the Easter bunny left lots Chocoballs, Pepper Imps, Jelly Slugs, Peppermint Toads, Exploding Bonbons, and Ice Mice in your Easter basket (though, you might want to skip the “Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans” as they come in every flavour including spinach, liver, tripe, sprout, curry, grass, and even vomit). And it would be great for exploring the reefs if they actually had some Gillyweed on hand!

One and Only Reethi Rah - Easter hogwarts 2

One and Only Reethi Rah - Easter hogwarts

Best of the Maldives Online: Yoga Instagram – Jessica Olie

In addition to having the world’s first underwater yoga session, Hurawalhi also secured one of the world’s best yoga Instagrammer, Jessica Olie. Her collection of Maldives shots are some of the best yoga post shots I have come across (and that is quite a competitive category in the atoll photo anthology). Here are a collection of some of the most stunning…

Jessica Olie (United Kingdom) – Anantara Dhigu - 5

Jessica Olie (United Kingdom) Anantara Dhigu 1

Jessica Olie (United Kingdom) – Anantara Dhigu - 7

Jessica Olie (United Kingdom) – Anantara Dhigu - 10

Jessica Olie (United Kingdom) – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru - 3

Jessica Olie (United Kingdom) – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru - 5

Jessica Olie (United Kingdom) – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru - 6

Jessica Olie (United Kingdom) – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru - 9

Jessica Olie (United Kingdom) – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru

Jessica Olie (United Kingdom) – Four Seasons Landaa Givaavaru - 2

Best of the Maldives: Underwater Yoga – Hurawalhi

 

No joke this time (or this time), but Hurawalhi really did do underwater yoga in a world’s first:

  • “Jessica promises the 1-hour vinyasa flow to provide physical and mental rewards, with captivating views of fish around you as you move from one pose to the next bringing you even closer to a state of the zen-like state of mind.”

The one hour Vinyasa flow session was conducted by Jessica Olie (who frankly has one of the best yoga Instagram feeds…stay tuned for more on that).

Hurawalhi - Jessica Ollie underwater yoga

Best of the Maldives: Kowgosmufushi– Underwater Activity

Myth that there is nothing to do except snorkel, dive and swim in the ocean because 99%+ of the county is water. While there is plenty to do on land, the potential for underwater frolicking in the crystal clear lagoons and reefs is boundless. No one seems to have embraced that potential more that the newly launched Kowgosmufushi resort  who have devised the most creative and ambitious slate of underwater activity of any other property in the Maldives. Maldives Complete has secured another scoop on this ambitious venture located in the Haa atoll. We have long tracked the unusual and distinctive so the resort management knew where to come to for someone that would really appreciate their bold ambition and creative offerings. Resort Manager Aff Ali told Maldives Complete, “Kowgosmufushi really understands the understated undersea potential with its innovations underway” In another Maldives Complete exclusive, here is the complete catalogue of underwater activity at Kowgosmufushi…

  1. Nightclub [ABOVE]
  2. Guitar Playing
    Underwater - activity - guitar playing
  3. Dancing
    Underwater - activity - dancing
  4. Conga Line
    Underwater - activity - conga line
  5. Disco Dancing
    Underwater -activity - disco dancing
  6. Dirty Dancing
    Underwater - activity - dirty dancing
  7. Pole Dancing
    Underwater - activity - pole dancing
  8. Pool
    Underwater - activity - pool
  9. Golfing
    Underwater - activity - golf
  10. Tennis
    Underwater - activity - tennis
  11. Skateboarding
    Underwater - activity - skateboarding
  12. Surfing
    Underwater - activity - surfing
  13. Weight Lifting
    Underwater - activity - weight lifting
          
  14. Boxing
    Boxing
  15. Spinning Class
    Underwater - activity - spinning class

  16. Biking
    Underwater - activity - biking
  17. Crime Fighting
    Underwater - activity - crime fighting
  18. Reading
    Underwater - activity - reading
  19. Fish School
    Underwater - activity - fish school
         
  20. Quiz Night
    Underwater - activity - quiz night

  21. Romance
    Underwater - activity - romance
  22. Wedding Make-up
    Underwater - activity - dressing
  23. Fashion Show
    Underwater - activity - fashion show
  24. Photoshoot
    Underwater - activity - photoshoot

       
  25. Driving
    Underwater - activity - driving
  26. Camping
    Underwater - activity - camping
  27. Swinging
    Underwater - activity - swining
  28. Massage
    Underwater - activity - massage
  29. Yoga
    Underwater - activity - yoga
  30. Watermelon Eating
    Underwater - activity - watermelon
  31. Cooking Classes
    Underwater - activity - cooking
  32. Web Surfing
    Underwater - activity - computer
  33. Candle Lit Phone Calling
    Underwater - activity - phone call
  34. Body Surfing
    Underwater - activity - body surfing
  35. Double Body Surfing
    Underwater - activity - double body surfing
  36. And whatever this is…
    Underwater - activity - whatever

   

Best of the Maldives: Organic Eggs – Six Senses Laamu

Six Senses Laamu - organic eggs

If the Easter bunny is looking for the best eggs for tomorrow’s baskets, he might want hop on by Six Senses Laamu. Yes, April Fools is tomorrow, but this announcement, “Six Senses Laamu Crafts Out-of-the-Ordinary Experiences on Land and Underwater”, came out last week so it appears to be legic (thanks Paola):

  • “The latest crafted experiences from the resort comes in line with two other Six Senses values of sustainability and pioneering wellness. This time the newest arrivals to the island are a flock of 24 chickens from two neighbouring islands, and their reservation at the resort is made for a long stay. Before their arrival the flock was vetted by Raymond Rochester, a guest and visiting veterinarian. They were given a warm welcome by the resort hosts and upon arrival, in line with guests experience, they are assigned a Chicken Guest Experience Maker (Chicken GEM) available to help make their stay comfortable. Their accommodation is located at the newly built organic Kukulku Farm. Kukulku is the word for chicken in the local language of Dhivehi…Resident Manager Frans Westraadt along with Sustainability Manager Megan O’Beirne supervised the preparation of the Kukulhu Farm. It includes a state-of-the-art chicken gym facility, a multi-level installation with terracing steps for exercise sessions and handmade nests that follow the fundamental philosophies of the Sleep With Six Senses programme.”

One of my favourite egg-cellent press releases of all time.

Six Senses Laamu - chicken spa

Best of the Maldives: Luxury Dolphin Cruise – Soneva Fushi

Soneva Fushi luxury dolphin cruise

With a dolphin cruise this luxurious, you don’t mind if it takes forever to find them. Soneva Fushi provides guests with a private motor launch with long padded settees for a comfy journey while the captain sets out in search of these playful creatures. In the meantime, you are served champagne, ceviche and Maldivian roshi. Nonetheless, it wasn’t but a few minutes before we spotted the spinners cavorting at the edge of the reef.

Best of the Maldives: Manta On Call – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru

Four Seasons Landaa Giravaru - manta on call
Mantas at Hanifaru Bay, Baa atoll

Most visitors to the Maldives was to just switch off and that includes all the stress inducing electronic devices, but at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru you just might look forward to that phone ringing in your room. If it is their signature “Manta on Call” service.

  • Sign-up for this thrilling adventure, that sees you contacted wherever you are in the Resort and whisked away by speedboat to snorkel with these elusive gentle giants

Creatures in the wild sort of follow their own whims and there are never any guarantees of seeing the critters you want to see when you want to see them. Even in a place like Baa atoll renowned for its population of Mantas (and even the occasional whale shark. That said, even Baa Atoll or the even more confined Hanifaru Bay part of the Baa, is a big place and the mantas could be anywhere. You can spend (and we have spent) an entire day just trawling around in the dhoni looking for signs of mantas. That is why Landaa keeps in regular contact with dive boats through the day to keep updated on the latest manta sightings. If a large group has decided to collect at some point, the resort calls your room and can have you on a speedboat in minutes to take you to the gathering so you can enjoy a view of these majestic animals and even join them for a swim.

Best of the Maldives: Concierge on Call – One & Only Reethi Rah

One and Only Reethi Rah concierge on call

If you think resorts in the Maldives are expensive, try using your mobile phone while there. Most of the top properties offer butler and other “guest experience” staff to cater to the clients’ every whim. But if you are lounging on the beach, how do you let your host know that you fancy a pin colada? Well, One & Only Reethi Rah gives your own mobile phone for the duration of your stay with a speed-dial setting for your very own concierge. If you’ve forgotten something back at the room, have a question about some plans or just want another cocktail in some obscure part of the island, they are just one button push away.

Best of the Maldives: Maldives Watch – Cheval Blanc

Cheval Blanc - watch 1

Daylight savings time starts today. And you will have to save up for hours to afford the latest item in the Cheval Blanc gift shop (or if you are totally loaded, maybe you will just buy a new watch instead of all the kafuffle of adjusting your current one an hour. At $32,500 for its latest Classic Fusion Cheval Blanc Randheli Special Edition, that $9 per second.

Really, this post is more of an update to my previous Best of the Maldives piece for Cheval Blanc’s watch offering. I could have just made a note in the comments, but I love the concept so much of capturing the distinctive aesthetics of this corner of paradise that I thought that I would publish a full post.

  • “Designed to embody a trip to the resort, the Classic Fusion Cheval Blanc Randheli Special Edition watch features the same varying shades of blue that are waiting to be discovered in the surrounding ocean. Parisian artist Vincent Beaurin, designer of the signature works of art at the Cheval Blanc Maison in the Maldives was commissioned to help create the unique dial using sand. ‘Just like the blue waters surrounding Cheval Blanc Randheli, the captivating blue tones of the two new timepieces dedicated to the Maison create an appealing aura on the wrist, offering wearers a new experience with time,’ said Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot. The Classic Fusion Cheval Blanc Randheli Special Edition is available in 45mm and 38mm versions with brushed metal cases and blue crocodile straps. The smaller version also features a halo of crystalline stones on the bezel. Both watches can only be purchased at the Cheval Blanc Randheli Concept Store, situated within the resort’s dedicated Hublot area.”

That said, Chopard hasn’t rested on its design. In fact, it even has a Happy Fish Sport design with Anemone Fish for one-fifth the price.

Choppard fish watch