Best of the Maldives: Observatory Bar – Anantara Kihavah

I am tasting stars” – Dom Perignon

Now you can taste Dom Perignon among the stars. On Anantara Kihavah’s new rooftop observatory and bar:

  • Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas has taken the wraps off its new SKY overwater observatory, which combines a luxury cocktail bar, a resident story-telling ‘Sky Guru’ and its very own telescope.”

Kihavah has extended the ultimate bottom-to-top vista to the heavens now including the most exquisite wines to accompany every concourse.  And even if you have cloudy night, you can enjoy your sparkling wines under a sparkling firmament in the bar with a luminous ceiling display of constellations (see photo at bottom).

Anantara Kihavah - observatory

Potions in Paradise

Olga ST (Russia) – JA Manafaru

Raise a glass to National Beverage Day. The fashionista set enjoy a pose with a glass of bubbly or a tropical cocktail, but that is just the tip of the thila for imbibing beauties…

  1. Olga ST (Russia) – JA Manafaru [ABOVE]
  2. Belle Lucia (Australia) – Cocoon
    Belle Lucia (Australia) - Cocoon
      
  3. Olesya Malinskaya (Russia) – Velaa
    Olesya Malinskaya (Russia) – One & Only Reethi Rah 2

       
  4. Katrina (Russia) – Kihaa
    Katrina (Russia) - Kihaa
       
  5. No A (Thailand) – Centara Ras Fushi
    No A (Thailand) - Centara Ras Fushi
      
  6. Mali Kosinska (Russia) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
    Mali Kosinska (Russia) - Sun Siyam Irufushi
       
  7. Shannon More (New Zealand) – Kanuhura
    Shannon More (New Zealand) - Kanuhura
     
  8. Eva Gutowski and Belle Lucia (USA – Australia) – LUX South Ari Atoll
    Eva Gutowski and Belle Lucia (USA - Australia) - LUX South Ari Atoll
       
  9. Ayla Marie Woodruff (USA) – Park Hyatt Hadahaa
    Ayla Marie Woodruff (USA) - Park Hyatt Hadahaa
      
  10. Yulia Rybakova (Russia) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
    Yulia Rybakova (Russia) - Sun Siyam Irufushi
       
  11. Xenia Van Der Woodsen (Germany) – One & Only Reethi Rah
    Xenia Van Der Woodsen (Germany) – One & Only Reethi Rah
       
  12. Anya Denisik (Belarus) – Kurumba
    Anya Denisik (Belarus) - Kurumba
       
  13. Jacqueline Fernandez (Sri Lanka) – Conrad Rangali
    Jacqueline Fernandez (Sri Lanka) – Conrad Rangali
       
  14. Jamie Chua (Singapore) – Maalifushi
    Jamie Chua (Singapore) - Maalifushi
       
  15. Baby Akiyo (Malaysia) – Club Med Kani
    Baby Akiyo (Malaysia) - Club Med Kani
       
  16. Faya Nillson (Sweden) – W Maldives
    Faya Nillson (Sweden) – W Retreat
       
  17. Lauryn Goodman (United Kingdom) – Sun Aqua Vilu Reef
    Lauryn Goodman (United Kingdom) - Sun Aqua Vilu Reef  
  18. Karina Irby (Australia) – Adaaran Hudhuranfushi
    Karina Irby (Australia) – Adaaran Hudhuranfushi

      
  19. Yulia Schastlivaya (Russia) – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru
    Yulia Schastlivaya (Russia) - Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru
       
  20. Or Daniel (Israel) – One & Only Reethi Rah
    Or Daniel (Israel) - One & Only Reethi Rah
       
  21. Poppy Delevingne (United Kingdom) – Finolhu
    Poppy Delevingne (United Kingdom) - Finolhu
      
  22. Diana Dryn (Ukraine) – LUX South Ari Atoll
    Diana Dryn (Ukraine) - LUX South Ari Atoll
      
  23. Marissa Cox (France) – Halaveli
    Marissa Cox (France) - Halaveli
      
  24. Beatrice Ong (Singapore) – Olhuveli
    Beatrice Ong (Singapore) - Olhuveli
      
  25. Pamela Reif (Germany) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
    Pamela Reif (Germany) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
       
  26. Anna Sharapova (Russia) – One & Only Reethi Rah
    Anna Sharapova (Russia) – One & Only Reethi Rah
       
  27. Reham al Nahii (Jordan) – Conrad Rangali
    Reham al Nahii (Jordan) – Conrad Rangali
       
  28. Tatjana Kreuzmayr (Austria) – Summer Island
    Tatjana Kreuzmayr (Austria) – Summer Island
       
  29. Jessica Lee Buchanan (South Africa) – NIYAMA
    Jessica Lee Buchanan (South Africa) – NIYAMA
      
  30. Henna Advani (Singapore) – Six Senses Laamu
    Henna Advani (Singapore) – Six Senses Laamu
       
  31. Belinda Morgan (Australia) – Club Med Kani
    Belinda Morgan (Australia) – Club Med Kani
      
  32. Mai Morishita (Japan) – Oblu by Atmosphere
    Mai Morishita (Japan) – Oblu by Atmosphere
      

Best of the Maldives: Football Camp – Amilla Fushi

Amilla Fushi - football

More “fullback” than full bodied”, Amilla Fushi introduced its own training programme for guests (who are a bit too young to sample the wine cellar) of a football training camp:

  • Designed and developed by former professional football players, Jason and Glen Trifiro, FUTBOLTEC focuses on the techniques of young footballers in a professional and enjoyable learning environment. Sign up your kids for an exclusive 3-day football camp and let them participate on a field where players have the freedom to play and creativity is the most important thing. Choose from Junior camp for players aged 5-11 years old or Senior camp for players aged 12-16 years old. Each player will receive 9 hours of experienced coaching, training shirt, shorts, socks and training equipment.”

Best of the Maldives: Sommelier Certification – One & Only Reethi Rah

One an Only Reethi Rah - sommelier training

May Day, May Day…I need help…with my wine choice! May Day today is better known as a celebration of workers. Each year this day, I highlight an initiative that a resort is making in its people. This year is One & Only Reethi Rah who certify all their sommeliers through the internationally recognizes WSET standard:

  • “This is a professional course and there is different levels, starting at Introduction Level 1 to advanced Level 4. All our sommeliers are certified thru this global group as well as about 20 other F&B staff members with more being certified next year.”

Raise a glass to all the resort workers who help make the Maldives even more of an experience of paradise. At Reethi Rah, “S.O.S.” stands for “Sommeliers Outstanding Service”.

One and Only Reethi Rah - WSET

Best of the Maldives: Ballet Instruction – Shangri-La Villingili

Shangri-La Villingili - ballet 1

Dance is for everyone. Whether just swaying to the romantic ballads at the resort disco or practicing more classical form with Shangri-La Villingili’s innovative ballet programme.

  • “Reveal the ballerina in you or just discover a new dance fitness routine with our Ballet Master. The celebrated ballerina, Karis Scarlette, a former performer of the Royal Ballet in London and a qualified teacher from the Royal Opera House, will be our Master in Residence, passing on the joy of ballet through inspiring and fun ballet classes for all ages.”

Instruction possibilities include:

  • Ballet Fitness – 60 mins – Complimentary
  • Mini Ballet – 30 mins, parents to be on hand to assist with little ones. Timings: 8 a.m. or 5 p.m.
  • One-to-One Private Session – 60 min – $200 per person / 90 mins – $300 per person
  • Private Sunset Guided Meditation & Stretching by the Beach – 30 mins – $150 for two guests

Shangri-La Villingili - ballet 2

Shangri-La Villingili - ballet 3

Best of the Maldives: Underwater Sculpture Gallery – Sirru Fen Fushi

Sirru Fen Fushi - sculpture 1

International Sculpture Day today. And new resort Sirru Fen Fushi is launching a world class sculpture exhibit with the most distinctively Maldivian twist – it is underwater.

  • “The sculptural installation on Sirru Fen Fushi will offer visitors a unique, cultural eco-art attraction whilst creating the foundations of an artificial reef to enhance the underwater ecosystem. The centre piece will be the Coral Cube, the worlds first semi submerged art space, a portal to the underwater realm offering visitors ephemeral encounters with the natural beauty beneath the water’s surface, delivering an other worldly experience that illustrates the connectivity of man with nature, a hybrid organic form in harmony with its surroundings, a seamless link between the land and the ocean, combining two disparate wonders, one created by man and one designed by nature.”

This creative installation is another gratifying “Finally Seen” for me as I first suggested such an exhibition 4 years ago with Part 4 of my “Not Seen Yet” series (#7).

Sirru Fen Fushi - sculpture 3

Sirru Fen Fushi - sculpture 2

Arbor Day by the Harbour

Madeline Joy Relph, Natalie Roser, Brooke Hogan (Australia) - Four Seasons Kuda Huraa

I think that I shall never see. A poem lovely as a tree.” – Joyce Kilmer 

Arbor Day today celebrates the noble tree. I’ve often described the Maldives as a that iconic image of a plot of sand in the middle of the ocean with a palm tree on it. So a trees are, at least in some caricatured sense, the most important (if not only) thing on these isolated parcels of paradise. And if there is one group of tree huggers drawn to these swaying shades, it’s the fashionista photoshoot set.

  1. Madeline Joy Relph, Natalie Roser, Brooke Hogan (Australia) – Four Seasons Kuda Huraa  [ABOVE]
  2. Mary Kareva (Russia) – Kuredu
    Mary Kareva (Russia) – Kuredu
  3. Tia Lineker (United Kingdom) – LUX South Ari Atoll
    Tia Lineker (United Kingdom) - LUX South Ari Atoll
  4. Sipos Szilvia (Hungary) – Cheval Blanc Randheli
    Sipos Szilvia (Hungary) - Cheval Blanc Randheli
  5. Valeria Orsini (Columbia) – Reethi Faru
    Valeria Orsini (Columbia) - Reethi Faru 2
  6. Alvi Lalli (Ukraine) – Anantara Veli
    Alvi Lalli (Ukraine) - Anantara Veli
  7. Kim JuanBandos
    Kim Juan - Bandos
  8. Paula Manzanal (Peru) – Reethi Faru
    Paula Manzanal (Peru) - Reethi Faru
  9. Karina Malina (Russia) – Fihalhohi
    Karina Malina (Russia) - Fihalhohi
  10. Jessica Immobile (Italy) – Constance Halaveli
    Jessica Immobile (Italy) - Constance Halaveli
  11. Tippawan Tanchai (Thailand) – Atmosphere Kanifushi
    Tippawan Tanchai (Thailand) - Atmosphere Kanifushi
  12. Frugina (Hungary) – Vilamendhoo
    Frugina (Hungary) - Meeru
  13. Anelia Moor (United Kingdom)
    Anelia Moor (United Kingdom)
  14. Anyuta Rai (Russia) – Hurawalhi
    Anyuta Rai (Russia) - Hurawalhi
  15. Lya Dionisova (Russia) – Cocoon
    Lya Dionisova (Russia) - Cocoon
  16. Karolina Varab (Lithuania – United Kingdom) – W Maldives
    Karolina Varab (Lithuania – United Kingdom) - W Maldives
  17. Barbara Fumagalli (Italy) – Ayada
    Barbara Fumagalli (Italy) - Ayada
  18. Katrin Amaure (Austria) – Furaveri
    Katrin Amaure (Austria) – Furaveri 2
  19. Alexandra Bring (Sweden) – Vilu Reef
    Alexandra Bring (Sweden) - Vilu Reef
  20. Yulia Rybakova (Russia) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
    Yulia Rybakova (Russia) - Sun Siyam Irufushi
  21. Valentina Vignali (Italy) – Cocoon
    Valentina Vignali (Italy) - Cocoon
  22. Emma Rose (Australia) – Ayada
    Emma Rose (Australia) - Ayada
  23. Ployly Yada (Thailand) – Club Med Finolhu Villas
    Ployly Yada (Thailand) - Club Med Finolhu Villas
  24. Liliana Montoya (USA) – AaaVeee
    Liliana Montoya (USA) - AaaVeee
  25. Anna Ioannova (Russia) – Felidhoo
    Anna Ioannova (Russia) - Felidhoo
  26. Radmila Sadykova (Russia) – Fotteyo Kandu
    Radmila Sadykova (Russia) - Fotteyo Kandu
  27. Irina Popova (Russia) – Fotteyo Kandu
    Irina Popova (Russia) - Fotteyo Kandu
  28. Sonia Eryka (Indonesia) – Centara Ras Fushi
    Sonia Eryka (Indonesia) - Centara Ras Fushi
  29. Fleur De Lis (Russia) – Kihaad
    Fleur De Lis (Russia) – Kihaad
  30. Adriana Jennings (Australia) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
    Adriana Jennings (Australia) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
  31. Ilenia Vallejo (Spain) – Baros
    Ilenia Vallejo (Spain) - Baros
  32. Jasminne Majid (Bulgaria) – Anantara Dhigu
    Jasminne Majid (Bulgaria) - Anantara Dhigu
  33. Martyna Rybka (Poland) – Kuredu
    Martyna Rybka (Poland) - Kuredu
  34. Ksenia Tsaritsina (Russia) – Conrad Rangali
    Ksenia Tsaritsina (Russia) – Conrad Rangali
  35. Mariel Chjen (Germany) – Kuredu
    Mariel Chjen (Germany) - Kuredu
  36. Raminta Bielskyte (Lithuania) – Meedhupparu
    Raminta Bielskyte (Lithuania)
  37. Polina Gagarina (Poland) – Jumeirah Vittaveli
    Polina Gagarina (Poland) – Jumeirah Vittaveli
  38. Marianna Mäkelä (Finland0 – Summer Island
    Marianna Mäkelä (Finland0 - Summer Island
  39. April Love Geary (USA) – Amila Fushi
    April Love Geary (USA) – Amila Fushi
  40. Athina Oikonomakou (Greece) – Ayada
    Athina Oikonomakou (Greece) - Ayada
  41. Josephine Skriver (Denmark)
    Josephine Skriver (Denmark)
  42. Nina Moorena (France)
    Nina Moorena (France)
  43. Sana Lantana (USA) – AaaVeee
    Sana Lantana (USA) – AaaVeee 2
  44. Gizel (Brazil) – Angsana Velavaru
    Gizel (Brazil) – Angsana Velavaru
  45. Renee Somerfield (Australia) – Six Senses Laamu
    Renee Somerfield (Australia) – Six Senses Laamu
  46. Alessandra Ambrosio (Brazil) – Shangri-La Vilingili
    Alessandra Ambrosio (Brazil) - Shangri-La Vilingili
  47. Elizaveta Vladimirova (Russia)
    Elizaveta Vladimirova (Russia)
  48. Xenia Deli (Moldova) – Six Senses Laamu
    Xenia Deli (Moldova) – Six Senses Laamu
  49. Nika Andryskova (Russia) – Amari Havodda
    Nika Andryskova (Russia) - Amari Havodda 2
  50. Carrie Santana da Silva (United Kingdom) – Velassaru
    Carrie Santana da Silva (United Kingdom) – Velassaru
  51. Olesya Malinskaya (Russia) – One & Only Reethi Rah
    Olesya Malinskaya (Russia) – One & Only Reethi Rah
  52. Charlotte Crosby (United Kingdom) – Kandima
    Charlotte Crosby (United Kingdom) - Kandima
  53. Kimberley Wallis (USA) – Bandos
    Kimberley Wallis (USA) – Bandos
  54. Liz Hurley (United Kingdom) – Huvafenfushi
    Liz Hurley (United Kingdom) – Huvafenfushi
  55. Pla Komaratat (Thailand) – Coco Palm Bodu Hithi
    Pla Komaratat (Thailand)
  56. Nicole Chen (Malaysia) – Hulhumale
    Nicole Chen (Malaysia) - Hulhumale
  57. Yulia Schastlivaya (Russia) – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru
    Yulia Schastlivaya (Russia) - Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru
  58. Nelli Chernova (Russia) – Irufushi
    Nelli Chernova (Russia) - Irufushi
  59. Natasha Jeanvie (Russia) – Meedhupparu
    Natasha Jeanvie (Russia) – Meedhupparu
  60. Jigenmg (Japan) – W Maldives
    Jigenmg (Japan) – W Retreat
  61. Twinkle Mukherjee (India) – Sun Siyam Irufushi
    Twinkle Mukherjee (India) - Sun Siyam Irufushi
  62. Uliana Berdysheva (Russia) – Sun Island
    Uliana Berdysheva (Russia) – Sun Island
  63. Valentina Braun
    Valentina Braun - 2
  64. Yanita Yancheva (Bulgaria) – Anantara Veli
    Yanita Yancheva (Bulgaria) – Anantara Veli
  65. Nikki Phillips (New Zealand) – Club Med Finolhu Villas
    Nikki Phillips (New Zealand) – Club Med Finolhu Villas
  66. Sabrynette Loana (Romania) – Cheval Blanc Randheli
    Sabrynette Loana (Romania) - Cheval Blanc Randheli
  67. Julia Dybowska (Poland) – JA Manafaru
    Julia Dybowska (Poland) – JA Manafaru 2

Best of the Maldives: Guest Contract – Medhufushi

Medhufushi - guest contract

The first principle to saving the planet is personal responsibility and no resort fosters more than Medhufushi with their inspired guest “contract” of “behaviour rules”. When I coached rowing at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, the programme introduced a very similar contract for all the athletes to sign. It put down on paper important responsibilities and forced everyone to give it more than a fleeting consideration as they were putting their signatures on it.

One of the biggest obstacles to a more sustainable lifestyle is people simply not knowing the adverse impacts some seemingly innocuous activity can have. One of the most prominent examples is STANDING ON THE CORAL. To the uninformed, lots of coral can appear like simply underwater rocks. But despite their stony exoskeleton, they are indeed living animals (not even plants) and standing on them hurts them and can kill them.

Even if you aren’t checking into Medhufushi, their guest rules is a handy guide to do’s and don’ts anywhere in the Maldives:

Dear guest, please acknowledge the following rules. It is for your own safety and enjoyment, and they will help Medhufushi Resort to preserve its natural beauty. Any failure in following these guidelines will incur in a fine of 300 USD.

  1. Do not touch or chase the animals, including marine creatures such as sngrays, turtles and crabs.
  2. Do not feed the animals, including fish and sharks. (There is a fish feeding session organized by the hotel for all guests at 21:00hrs every evening)
  3. It is not permied to catch, kill and eat animals.
  4. Do not pick up coral or shells. Do not damage them.
  5. Do not cook any kind of food in the room kindly contact the Front Desk for any special requests.
  6. During snorkeling excursion, please, Do not stand or walk on the coral it is a delicate living creature that takes several hundreds of years to grow and it is the very foundaon of the beauty.
  7. There is no lifeguard on duty, snorkeling and swimming is at your own risk. Please make sure you are using the proper safety equipment.
  8. Each accompanying parent is deemed responsible for the safety and behavior of their children.

Best of the Maldives: Artificial Reefs – Summer Island

Summer Island - rope reefs

Earth Day today. Time to give back to the planet that gives us all so much. In the Maldives, probably the biggest initiative to strengthen the planet are the reef building initiatives to restore coral stressed by rising sea temperatures as well as outbreaks of COTS. Dozens of resorts invest in these reef regeneration projects, but I’ve never seen so many different approaches than Summer Island.

I’ve already written about their submerged Underwater Objects as well as their Coral Pops. They have also built a series of artificial reefs, the most recent being 15m x 2m x 4m constructed out of limestone rocks. Their latest innovation is a series of Coral Ropes. These serve as a coral nursery to incubate coral growth. Less than 2.5% die, and the ones that live are transplanted to the new artificial reefs:

  • “Three pipes are completely winded in rope (needed over 500 meters) and 2 in fishing nets that were removed from the surrounding reefs. The plateau is hovering (we placed buoys inside the pipes) and it’s 6 meters long & 2 meters wide. The pipes are full of Durban dancing shrimps, Bruun’s cleaning partner shrimps and banded boxer shrimps. In between the ropes we already fixed a lot of coral fragments that are all alive AND growing ! Basically a home for a lot of life and we made it hovering so that if there were any crowns of thorns, the corals won’t be eaten by these damn creatures ! Underneath are limestone rocks where lion fish and octopii are hiding.”

Reef Madness!

Summer Island - artificial reef