Maldives Complete-ly By the Numbers – 7

MC Completely numbers 7b

The first decade of Maldives fandom completed. The 10th anniversary of the Maldives Complete website today.

And, in keeping with its original mission, it has continued to get more and more complete now achieving the high water mark of 99.56% completeness. That’s 16 pieces of information missing out of a potential 3,600 from the profiles of 143 active resorts (not counting all the added information about 61 inactive properties – ie. not yet opened or closed). 6 of those missing pieces are dive charts from the relatively newly developed atolls (ie. Raa, Thaa, Shaviyani). 5 of those are from 2 relatively recent openings – Miriandhoo and Sangeli – for whom photography is not yet complete.

This past year was the first one that I have not added a major feature or component to the site and this year I didn’t really add any new significant data fields or design changes for the first time ever (last year I added “Name Meaning” and the new logo and palette). So maybe the site functionality itself if becoming more “Complete”.

Best of the Maldives: Wood Painting – Rihiveli Dream

Rihiveli Dream - flags

With all of the glitzy bling scattered around the Maldives like toddlers throwing tinsel on a Christmas tree, some of the old school décor with retro charm stand out even more distinctively. One example is Rihiveli extensive oil on wood paintings. The reception features one of the most handsome island maps I have seen, and I love the little vexillological (word of the day for you) retrospective.

Rihiveli Dream - reception map

Best of the Maldives: Positive Message Hangers – Joali

Joali - message hangers

When I first started the “Best of the Maldives” series on Maldives Complete nearly a decade ago (very nearly!), I wanted to find and call out some of the truly distinctive touches that resorts had. I didn’t want to (re)write the same glossy article about palm trees and pina coladas that every celebrity comp article writes. When I spoke with folks about this angle, I often used the “clothes hanger” example citing Gili Lankanfushi’s unique bamboo ones which provided a subtle touch of natural materials used in a stylish way. Now Joali has introduced its own creative hangers with “feel good” messages inscribed on each of them (thanks Paola). Who knew when I started focusing on such attentive details that not only would I end up writing about “clothes hangers”, but would write about multiple variations on just that item? 

I wonder if one says “My bum does not look big in this.”

   

Best of the Maldives: Comfort Menu – One & Only Reethi Rah

One and Only Reethi Rah comfort menu 2

One & Only Reethi Rah’s “Comfort Menu” offers up a selection of treats for floating in the comfort of your own villa – “Individually chosen ESPA bath oils, mineral sea salts and petals envelop the body as candles bath the room in a soft relaxing light.”

You have a choices of several variations including:

  • Essential oils of the West Indian Bay and Clove” served with Hot cinnamon tea
  • English Peppermint and Rosemary” served with a refreshing ice cold Earl Grey tea with Rosemary and Citrus
  • Frankinceance and Ylang-Ylang served with a hot herbal tea of Rosehip and Hibiscus

Calgon take me away…to paradise.

One and Only Reethi Rah comfort menu

Best of the Maldives: Float Menu – Coco Bodu Hithi

Coco Bodu Hithi - float menu 1

If you want to select from your own float parade (or even have your own), then Coco Bodu Hithi has introduced its own “Pool Floats Menu”…

  • Coco Bodu Hithi has teamed up with Sunnylife, the Australian company that has become one of the world’s leading summer lifestyle brands, to introduce the world’s first Pool Floats Menu. Featuring an eclectic selection of Sunnylife’s colourful, whimsical, and stylish inflatable swimming pool floats, this unique menu is sure to be a hit with everyone, from young ones to those young at heart. Martin Lount, General Manager at Coco Bodu Hithi said “We’re extremely excited to be working with Sunnylife to kick off our summer pool floats programme and offer this one-of-a-kind menu experience. Our guests love to share pictures of their holiday with friends on social media, and with over 12 different styles on offer from our pool floats menu, we’re excited to see what they’ll be posting online!”

Coco Bodu Hithi - float menu 2

Best of the Maldives: Whale Shark Float – Rihiveli Dream

Rihiveli Dream - whale shark float

Black Friday today is the annual carnival of commercialism. The day after American Thanksgiving when all the families get together (“homecoming”) and have a Friday day off so they all go to the mall to get a jump on their Christmas shopping. For float aficionados, I had already added today’s feature to the resort Santa list. And now one lucky resort – Rihiveli Dream – finally features it. In fact, the whale shark float was the bequest of Maldives Complete and field correspondent Isley Lynn who stayed their this summer as a part of the artist-in-residence posting. Best Maldives Float Ever.

   

Bath Room with a View

Conrad Rangali - toilet

World Toilet Day today. With a very serious message about the importance of proper sanitation. Despite the advances in the modern world, 4.5 people live without a toilet. More than half the planet. One of the aspirations of the day is to make sure that everyone has a safe toilet by 2030.

To mark the occasion, Maldives Complete has assembled a list of top toilets in the Maldives when it comes to a view of nature when nature calls…

1. CONRAD RANGALI   [ABOVE]

2. SONEVA FUSHI
Soneva Fushi - toilet

3. LUX SOUTH ARI ATOLL
LUX South Ari Atoll - toilet

4. SIX SENSES LAAMU
Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru - toilet

5. KANDOLHU
Kandolhu - toilet

Best of the Maldives: Mermaid Photography – Palm Beach

Palm Beach - mermaid classes

Little Mermaid Day today celebrating the release of Disney’s “Little Mermaid” film in 1989. If you want to release your inner mermaid under da sea (sort of a reverse Ariel if you know what I mean, the Palm Beach is offering an aquatic photoshoot by one of the premier photographers of this style.

· “Imagine building a portfolio of one-of-a-kind underwater portraits in the serene, private setting of a Maldivian Atoll. A place where you’re photographing skilled underwater models against the backdrop of pristine coral reefs and large marine mammals while also funding local ocean conservation efforts…. Now you don’t have to just dream it; you can experience it. Professional underwater photographer Chiara Salomoni leads a once-in-a-lifetime 6 day, 5 night all-inclusive masterclass at the Palm Beach Island Resort in the Maldives on Lhaviyani Atoll, Nov 12th-17th, 2018. This customized workshop enables scuba-divers and photographers alike to gain technical mastery in every aspect of underwater portraiture, working in a variety of settings from pool to open-water shallows and even deep ocean scenes with marine mammals. Expert underwater models Christine Ren and Syrena, Singapore’s premier mermaid performer, will pose as the subjects and provide training on how to work safely with both non-models and models in the water. But the best part is 10% of the trip’s proceeds are reinvested locally into marine conservation projects. Travel somewhere beautiful, learn amazing new skills, and save the ocean – what’s not to love?”

That’s why is hotter, Under the water!