Best of the Maldives: Value Cooking Class – Vilamendhoo

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Vilamendhoo cooking class

It’s the optional extras that get you.

Just when we think we have gotten a great deal just within our budget, we come back a bit over-extended from all of the irresistible extras from souvenirs, diving, drinks and excursions. Special activities and special meals always seem to be a particular weakness for us and tote up some extra charges. But at Vilamendhoo, you can do both a superb activity and get a great meal all for $25! It is their Maldivian cooking class. You will work with one of their Maldivian chefs learning some of their traditional recipes as well as try your hand at preparing them for yourself.

Mastercard-friendly Master Chef!

Vilamendhoo chinese fondue

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Best of the Maldives: 5 Star Value – Kurumba

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Kurumba welcome

You won’t find anything near ‘free’ and even ‘budget’ options are limited in the prestigious Maldives, but if you want to dive down to the deepest value for the most dazzling quality, then you want to filter on the ‘Cost Per Star’ field in the Resort Finder. In these challenging economic times, people who need to mind their budgets but don’t want to compromise their trip of a lifetime have a great balance in Kurumba.

Ratings are one thing, but enough money will buy lots of sizzle and quality anywhere in the world. A big question is value-for-money. Who gives you the most star-value for your day rate?

The winner for 5-star value is Kurumba. Not only does it price itself very aggressively, but it is a good sized island which means there are often some excess inventory deals with operators who will discount the resort even further close to departure date. I find that the ideal timing for ‘last minute’ deals is about 6 weeks before intended departure – much earlier and the operators haven’t resorted to discounting yet, and much later the deals are mostly gone.

Kurumba is a proper 5 star in every respect. A number of Maldives resorts do sometimes advertise ‘5 stars’, but some are being a bit ambitious in their assertion. But Kurumba constantly looks for new touches and enhancements keeping it solidly in class. It’s not trying to be a super-premium with crazy luxury like butlers and underwater cinemas, but it has enough to satisfy most any fussy traveller.

The price for a 7 night stay Room and Breakfast (for a couple sharing) in mid-February 2013 from London is £1460 on Kuoni. That’s a £292 per star. The next best 5-star value is Robinson Club at £426 per star.

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Best of the Maldives: Free Diving – LUX* Maldives

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LUX Maldives free diving

Free Diving!

No, not ‘free diving’ as in ‘free beer’. ‘Free’ as in unencumbered.

Despite all of the spectacular diving in the Maldives, it took me several years before I took up scuba diving myself. And that’s despite the fact that my wife started diving and loved it pretty quickly after we started visiting. My logic was that it seemed a lot of kafuffle and expense for not much extra benefit. I would be taking the kids snorkelling and set out the same time that my wife would head to the dive centre. We would be heading back in when Lori was just setting out for her dive having sorted out all of her equipment, etc. Then, when she returned and we united at lunchtime, she would recount her sightings of morays, sharks, turtles and so on. My response was that we saw all that same stuff snorkelling!

Eventually, I did get PADI certified and entered the undersea world more completely. The big bonus to diving versus snorkelling is that you could ‘be at their level’ (ie. the fishes’ level). With snorkelling, you are mostly looking down on things. Along these lines, diving allows you to peak under the many ledges and crevasses.

If you want to have your cake-and-eat-it-too combining unencumbered snorkelling with unlimited perspectives, then proper free diving is the key. Free diving teaches techniques in breath control, oxygen use and pressure equalisation.

LUX* Maldives is setting up a free diving facility. The Maldives has sponsored some Free Diving events, but this will be the first free diving as an on-going regular activity. Normally, I would hold off the post until such activity was live, but LUX* is already offering introductions to the discipline to guests. And the driver behind the initiative is none other than the resort’s own General Manager Dominik Ruhl. In fact, on our snorkel safari during our LUX* visit, Dominic joined in and demonstrated his free diving (see picture above). As noted, he was able to drop down quite deep to see things that the other snorkelers couldn’t. And with his breath-holding techniques, he was able to stay down a good amount of time enjoying the view before surfacing.

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Snorkel Safari Alternative Big-5s

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Scorpion Fish attacks Octopus

Lions and Tigers and Bears…oh my!

There are all types of ‘Big 5’ possibilities for types of ‘Snorkel Safaris’. The TripAdvisor Maldives Forum discussed this subject a while back where I proposed the following added ‘Big Five’ lists…

Rare (for snorkelling) Big 5…

  1. Whale
  2. Seahorse
  3. Cuttle fish
  4. Manta
  5. Dolphin

Mini Big 5

  1. Nudibranch
  2. Anemone Fish
  3. Christmas Tree Worm
  4. Sand Eels
  5. Cleaner Shrimp

Camouflage Big 5 (for the eagle-eyed Where’s Wally fans)

  1. Stone Fish
  2. Leaf Fish
  3. Octopus
  4. Scorpion Fish
  5. Frog Fish

One I thought of since would be a ‘Namesake Safari’. Not the biggest nor most prominent sea creatures, but the ones who by name most evoke a ‘safari’…

  1. Lion Fish
  2. Leopard Moray
  3. Tiger Shark
  4. Zebra Shark
  5. Elephant Ear Mushroom Coral

And in a safari, one of the most prized events you can catch is a ‘kill’. Some predator like a lion or leopard catching a gazelle or water buffalo. I would say that in Snorkel Safaris spotting such an occurrence is even rarer, but the YouTube video (see above) of ‘Scorpion Fish Eats Octopus’ is an epic example of what might be dubbed the ‘Battle of the Camouflage.’

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Best of the Maldives: Eco Water Safari – Olhuveli

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Olhuveli - canoe safari

The ‘safari’ chic ambience of exploring remote and exotic lush landscapes packed with colourful flora and fauna permeates the Maldives. The ‘Snorkel Safari’ is a staple of any visit, and various resorts have extended this theme with ‘safaris’ of other types. As a result, I was immediately drawn to Olhuveli’s announcement this year of a special ‘Canoe Safari’…

“Situated on the tip of the water sports haven South Malé Atoll, Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort has just launched a brand new canoe safari, ideal for those wanting to step off the island and enjoy its sparkling, shallow lagoon, deep channels, numerous sandbanks and even a private island. Suitable for both active families and adventurous couples, this self-guided safari offers the ultimate day out. It includes canoe hire, a picnic to enjoy on neighbouring Dream Island and snorkel and fins – for intrepid water-babies who want to dive into the deeper blue waters and explore the resort’s house reef.”

In fairness, I was hesitant to do a piece about the activity. It seemed like something that you could do at many resorts who offer canoeing. But, I do take my hat off to Olhuveli for putting it together as a package, while in every other resort I’ve seen with canoeing you would have to take your own initiative to put together all the stuff for such a waterborne adventure. Most people aren’t typically bold enough to row out into the open ocean so it’s a good thing for the resort to structure it as an activity making them feel more reassured and not have to think about whether they have everything they need for a fun and successful outing.

The water-proof case is a big asset for bringing key items that you would otherwise fear getting wet (or worse, lost if they fell out of the boat with a mishap). Olhuveli has the bonus asset of the nearby Dream Island that gives one a practical destination for the safari sortie (some resorts have such handy and nearby, ie. paddle-able, island, but not many).

Finally, Olhuveli’s Watersports World has gone one further offering a similar package for people preferring more wind-power with a ‘Catamaran Safari’. As such, I’ve dubbed the piece ‘Eco-Water Safari’ because while other resorts offer motorised safaris (eg. jet ski, dhoni), Olhuveli’s are non-motorised.

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Best of the Maldives: Adventure Villa – Banyan Tree Madivaru

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Banyan Tree Madivaru tented villas

The soft coverings at Banyan Tree Madivaru aren’t just in the villa, but *are* the villa. Their unique ‘Tented Pool Villas’ a sort of sombrillas on steriods

The luxury tent is one of the ultimate in sumptuous adventure. My wife and I have been to some of the finest African safari lodges, but we haven’t had a chance to try one of the tented safaris. It might sound a bit rough and hardy, but actually a number of establishments have created 5-star luxury in a simple tent. Many Maldives resorts try to evoke that natural aesthetic with thatched roofs, but the main villas are all standard construction material. The soft and flowing tented design just seems like the ultimate final touch to that exotic cast-away experience…

“Experience desert island living with our Tented Pool Villas. Banyan Tree Madivaru comprises 6 Tented Pool Villas. Each Tented Pool Villa is a set of three individual tents, distinctively equipped to function as living, sleeping, and bath areas. The spacious bath tent features a pair of spa beds for enjoying In-Villa treatments that include signature Banyan Tree Spa massages and facials. Interior furnishings exude a warm and tropical ambience, replete with timber flooring, rattan and teak furniture, handcrafted wooden and canvas accents, and luxurious ceiling canopies.”

Banyan Tree Madivaru interior - Sakis

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Best of the Maldives: Bedroom a la Carte – Gili Lankanfushi

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Gili Lankanfushi - bedroom a la carte

 

 

 

Coverings can be just as a creative at night as they as in the daytime, just as flexible inside as they are out. Gili Lankanfushi provides a complete a la carte service for your comfy bed coverings (see above) with a range of room accompaniments. I think I’ll have the Feather Duvet and side of Ylang Ylang.

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Best of the Maldives: Sombrilla – LUX* Maldives

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LUX Maldives sombrilla

If on the other hand, you want to shun the sun, then LUX* Maldives’ ‘Sombrilla’ could be just the thing. I know most people go all the way to the Maldives primarily *for* the sun. Hence the ‘Sunny Side of Life’ slogan. But people with light skin or other heat or UV sensitivities actually find the abundance of sunshine a bit of an inconvenience. And sometimes, you do just want a bit of cool and shade.

Unlike the permanent palm frond umbrella spread around most resorts, the Sombrilla can be set up wherever you like including right up close to the alluring gentle waters…

“A first in the Indian Ocean, our sombrillas allow you to wander along the beach to find a secluded sport and yet still enjoy the shade. Part tent, part parasol, the sombrilla is a colourful canopy that’s simple to erect using light poles, pegs and ropes, which all stow away conveniently into a small bag. Manufactured from 100% cotton and 95% UV protective, they’ve been made for us by the Australian sun protection specialists, Hollie & Harrie, and they’re available in a vibrant spectrum of island light colours.”

LUX Maldives sombrilla 2

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Best of the Maldives: Astronomy Event – Six Senses Laamu

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Dr Parag Mahajani

If you want to expand your space science insight beyond the reaches of Earth’s gravity, then Six Senses Laamu is introducing a series of astronomy events hosted by Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society Dr Parag Mahajani. Along with his prize-winning expertise, he will be bringing to Laamu his solar telescope. Special sun observing sessions will be conducted each morning from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

The Maldives always has been a great place to take in the sun and Six Senses just made it that much more intimate and intriguing.

Siz Senses Laamu astronomy

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Lightest Place on Earth

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ESA GOCE gravitational data

Here is a post with a little less gravity. Literally. (thanks Adrian).

All Maldives aficionados know that there is something special about the Maldives. Something unique about its landscape and topology that is simply not found anywhere else on the planet. It turns out that such distinction might extend beyond the expansive lagoons and mottled turquoise reef waters.

The European Space Agency (ESA) recently published findings from its pioneering GOCE (Gravity-Field Ocean Circulation Explorer) satellite measuring the gravitational field of the Earth. As the map above shows, the epicentre of the lowest gravity point on the planet is focused right over the Maldives.

My wife Lori and I joke how after a hard day’s work it seems as if someone must have turned up the gravity-thermostat in our house, because getting up off the couch seems to be as hard as jumping on Jupiter (and looking at the map, it seems that we weren’t too far off with our paranoia since in the UK since a large orange blog of extra strong gravity is looming right next door in the North Atlantic…my hypothesis is that this blob of extra gravity shifts on top of our house every Monday morning().

If you are thinking that this gravitational void is going to get you off the hook from multiple trips to the buffet, be aware that these variations in the gravitational field are quite minute and take sophisticated scientific equipment to detect (a sophistication that your bathroom scale is not likely to have).

But if you want to feel light on your feet, or have that ‘floating’ feeling (even on land), the Maldives is scientifically proven to be the lightest place on the planet.

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