Best of the Maldives: Cocoon Body Steam – Soneva Fushi

Soneva Soul - Cocoon Body Steam

The costume awards for “Innovation” and “Wellness” goes to Soneva Fushi’s Cocoon Body Steam:

  • ·This innovative treatment balances 02 and C02 and was developed by Anders Olsson, the founder of Conscious Breathing. It improves vagal tone, increases oxygenation of all tissues, and is applicable for chronic pain recovery, energy and treating inflammation.”

Best of the Maldives: Stem Cell Treatment – Soneva Fushi

Soneva Soul - stem cell therapy

Stem cells are truly amazing components of the human body. They are undifferentiated cells that can turn into wide range of cell types (or they can just replicate indefinitely to produce more of the same stem cell). As a result of these distinctive characteristics, they are seen as the original human cell from which the human organised has evolved. A friend of mine recently had a life saving stem cell transplant where his faulty immune system was destroyed by the doctors and then they introduced the right stem cells to grow him whole new, healthy immune system (forgive the over-simplification).

Soneva Fushi has brought the scientific magic of stem cells to the Maldives offers the first ever stem cell treatments for a range of skin care procedures – Soneva Soul – First And Only Stem Cell Centre In Maldives (maldives-times.com):

  • “By importing stem cells with prescription, Soneva Soul has eminent its collection of bespoke health and wellness services. Operating with the essential approvals from the Maldives Food and Drug Authority and maintenance world-class standards, the resort is now competent to provide targeted treatment and protocols by the power and probable of stem cells. The stem cells used in their treatment are complete by Sweden-based Cellcolabs, a biotech company that’s devoted to growing global access to stem cell treatments. Built on two decades of study at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, they specialize in the high-class manufacture of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).”

The treatments are from Sweden-based Cellcolabs, a biotech company that’s devoted to growing global access to stem cell treatments. Built on two decades of study at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, they specialize in the high-class manufacture of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The procedures include:

  • Ntra-Articular Orthopedic Injetions to assist damaged tissue repair
  • Topical injections with Micro-Needling to promote skin renewal
  • IV system Stem Cell to reduce swelling and aid tissue recovery
  • Intradermal Injections for a range of cosmetic treatments

Best of the Maldives: Mosquito Control – Soneva Fushi

Soneva Fushi - mosquito control

The most common response to the question of “which species on the planet would you like to get rid of” is “mosquitos”. The are a very problematic creature transmitting many (sometimes deadly) diseases while very few species depend on eating them. I’ve never experienced many “mossies” during my many stays, but the tropical environments are common breeding grounds for them, visitors sometimes get bothered by them and the country has had reports of dengue fever in the past.

A typical measure is fumigation which some resorts do in the late afternoon and early evening, but this process can be noisy and irritating as well as contain troublesome chemicals. As CNN reports in its article “A paradise island vacation with no mosquito bites – and no chemicals”, Soneva Fushi has introduced an innovative technology to keep the numbers down in the least intrusive and more environmentally friendly way:

  • |Soneva first employed the Biogents system in 2019, using two different types of traps – more than 500 in total positioned around the island. The first type, called the BG-GAT, is a passive trap meant for tiger mosquitoes that have already bitten someone and are searching for a place to lay eggs, according to Oines. The second type, the BG-Mosquitaire CO2, is meant to attract mosquitoes searching for blood, which it does by using carbon dioxide created through yeast and sugar fermentation, plus lactic acid, which mimics human skin. Beyond just using the traps, the resort has educated staffers on mosquito ecology. Now, the Soneva team does inspections of the property to identify and reduce things like tarps, fallen coconut shells and anything else that could hold stagnant water, which is necessary for the bugs to breed… The resort said it recorded a dramatic decrease in the island’s mosquito population by upwards of 98% in the first year.

Best of the Maldives: Book Tuk Tuk – Soneva Fushi

Soneva Fushi - book Tuk Tuk

Bringing a carefully selected range of books to your remote paradise isn’t enough for Soneva Fushi as now the latest “barefoot bookseller” Georgie Polhill will bring a selection of books straight to your villa with her own custom tuk tuk:

  • “Soneva Fushi has welcomed the Maldives’ first Book Tuk Tuk to the shores of the Baa Atoll to bring the expertise of the Barefoot Bookseller and the joy of reading straight to guests, wherever they are on the island. From any of the resort’s multiple dining destinations to the comfort of an in-villa sun lounger, guests can call their Barefoot Butlers and have the Book Tuk Tuk brought straight to their door.”

Uber Books!

 

Best of the Maldives: Kids VR – Soneva Fushi

Soneva Jani - kids VR

If you can’t get the people to paradise, bring paradise to the people. COVID’s travel restrictions spurred the development and adoption of many innovations to bridge the new distances imposed between us. Soneva Fushi introduced the especially immersive (and high tech) virtual reality electronic escape:

  • “Soneva Fushi, the original barefoot luxury resort in the Maldives, has an exclusive Virtual Reality (VR) experience to overcome restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience brings an enchanting insight into island life into viewers’ homes. A curated experience with discovery at its heart, the VR series shares Soneva’s SLOW LIFE ethos and champions the beautiful Maldives archipelago as a bucket-list destination.”

Best of the Maldives: Waste Art – Soneva Fushi

Soneva Fushi - waste art

One person’s trash is another’s person’s treasure, but Soneva Fushi’sMaker Place” works to turn all their trash into everyone’s treasure:

  • “Soneva Fushi, the Maldives’ original barefoot luxury resort, has revealed a ground-breaking new addition to its portfolio of sustainable innovations. Makers’ Place is a fully carbon-neutral island studio that recycles waste plastic and aluminum into works of art, as well as practical objects and building materials. The Makers’ Place studio was built in collaboration with British artist Alexander James Hamilton, an advocate for sustainability and founder of the Distil Ennui Studio™, whose practice spans sculpture, painting, photography, film, lighting and installation.”

One of the advantages of their rustic chic aesthetic is that adapting bits and bobs of all types works in easily.

Best of the Maldives: TEDx – Soneva Fushi

Soneva Fushi - TEDxBaaAtoll

Resorts have long offered presentations to their guests often on marine biology and sometimes on Maldivian culture, and some have extended these to featured guest presenters on topics as diverse as cuisine and wellness. Soneva Fushi features a distinctively rich slate of guest artists and authorities. It’s website presently features 36 upcoming special guests! But it has hit a new high water mark producing the first event TEDx event in the Maldives.

TED is the now famous conference on “Technology, Entertainment, Design” renowned for exceptionally high quality presentations (all strictly limited to 18 minutes) by some of the most renowned and talented experts and speakers in the world. The TEDx events are smaller conferences run around the world “organized by passionate individuals who seek to uncover new ideas and to share the latest research in their local areas that spark conversations in their communities.”

TEDxBaaAtoll could also be TED’s first ever TED event on a beach! Certainly first on loungers. Titled “TEDxBaaAtoll: SLOW LIFE” . “SLOW LIFE” is Soneva’s acronymic mission statement described by them as our core purpose and stands for Sustainable – Local – Organic – Wellness Learning – Inspiring – Fun – Experiences…It is about reconnecting with oneself and the natural world.” The event synopsis describes the event as…:

  • focusing on ways to find a deeper purpose beyond the superficial: reconnecting with the earth to live in harmony with the natural environment; working hand-in-hand with communities to make the world a better place; and nurturing our physical and mental wellbeing to be the very best we can be

Here was the line-up of special speakers and subjects:

  • Aishath Adnan – “I saw none, so I built one: women in the tech community”: An active advocate for women in tech, she also co-founded the non-profit organisation Women in Tech Maldives.
  • Aki Allahgholi – “Time for Corals”: founded Coralive.org in 2016 to fully serve an eco-minded holistic approach to restore and protect a healthy ocean. He described the pragmatic approach to reef regeneration of experimenting in many ways and see what works.
  • Akib Jahir – “Zero Mosquito, Zero Fogging”: Passionate entomologist, avid mosquito hunter pioneering the way towards an integrated method sustainable mosquito management. Described a mosquito trap to 113k mosquitos in the first month. Only 5% of food supply to predators (birds, bats, dragonflies) who eat them.
  • Bruce Bromley – “Why every CFO should also be Chief Sustainability Officer” – Trustee for the Soneva Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation focused on mitigating the impacts of climate charge. Makes coherent argument that a good CFO is focused on “resource allocation” to build value for the future so that a sustainability mindset drive understanding, appreciating, and investing in all resources – financial, natural, human, social. I particularly applauded his exhortation to shift from thinking of “waste” as a “bye-product” [sic] to “waste as an asset” (and Soneva has been pioneering in this area with extensive recycling initiatives.
  • Carissa Nimah – “Do Job Titles Matter”: Worked for some of the world’s top luxury brands, and is personally motivated by creativity, purpose and ethical business. “Corporate and conventional job titles have lost their meaning in today’s work places.” Couldn’t agree more. My reports would ask me what their title was and I often responded that they could call themselves the “Grand Poobah of Whatever” as far as I was concerned.
  • Hussain ‘Sendi’ Rasheed – “Why Seaweed is not a weed” – Region’s first ever PADI-certified Course Director, he also pioneered many of the country’s diving standards, and is researching the benefits of using the ocean’s resources sustainably through his farming. A local diving veteran who shared his perspectives from over three decades of exploring the Maldives reefs.
  • Malsa Maaz – “The human story behind the glass cabinet”: Cultural anthropologist passionate about Maldivian culture exploring the coconut culture of the Maldives. “Coconut is our national tree. The tree of life…What can you do with a coconut tree? Everything.” Also, brilliant trivia question fun fact: Dhivehi is one of the only languages in the world that doesn’t have a word for “city”, “village” or “town” (but there is a word for every single part of the coconut tree and every part of the coconut fruit). A great sales pitch for “Cultural Anthropology” – “It is an amazing feeling to know who you are. It is an amazing feeling to know where you come from.”
  • Saazu Saeed – “Nothing else matters but the Ocean”: Advocate for ocean conservation and women in surfing. A colourfully immersive depiction of the feeling of the water.
  • Yala Shameem – “The future of school”: Youth activist for environmental conservation and the phasing out of single-use plastics.

Best of the Maldives: Culinary Zip Line – Soneva Fushi

Soneva Fushi takes a great concept, takes it just that little bit further, and makes it their own. (thanks Paola) I’ve long been waiting for a zip line in the Maldives. So guests could fly across the canopy. But instead of “Flying Foxes”, they present “Flying Sauces”:

  • “We’re delighted to introduce Flying Sauces, our exhilarating new culinary concept at Soneva Fushi. This first-of-its-kind dining destination is set to become a true bucketlist experience for gastronomes and thrill-seekers alike, combining the adrenaline-fuelled excitement of a zipline with an exquisite gourmet menu. The 200-metre zipline route glides through the leafy jungle from The Den to our treetop dining platform, which towers 12 metres above the ground and commands spectacular views across the ocean. Serving breakfast, high tea and dinner with optional wine pairing, Chef Rasal’s seasonal menu is inspired by our idyllic island setting, with dishes crafted from organic ingredients freshly picked from our gardens or caught by local fisherman in our nearby waters.”

Best of the Maldives: Largest Coral Regeneration – Soneva Fushi

Soneva - reef regeneration

The big focus for Soneva Fushi’s marine biologists is big indeed…the world largest coral nursery:

  • Partnership with Coralive and Ark2030 aims to propagate 50,000 coral fragments every year. Soneva has launched an ambitious programme to restore coral reef systems and create a coral hub for the Maldives. A partnership between the Soneva Foundation, the Swiss environmental organisation Coralive and the global ecosystem restoration organisation Ark2030, the project aims to protect and regenerate this vital marine habitat, which has been decimated by rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, El Niño events and ocean pollution…’When finished, the coral farm at Soneva Fushi will be 1 hectare in size – one of the largest coral farms in the world – and in the ensuing years it is our goal to cultivate 1 hectare of coral each year at each of our resorts. This is the scale that is needed to have a meaningful impact and it also represents a huge opportunity for the Maldives to become a global leader in an activity that will likely have considerable future demand,’ said Sonu Shivdasani, CEO and Co-Founder of Soneva’.”

  

Best of the Maldives: Wood Ends – Soneva Fushi

Soneva Fushi - wodd ends 2

Soneva Fushi has pioneered the design style of Swiss Family Robinson chic in the Maldives, but perhaps the acme of this arboreal aesthetic is its Villa 37. While the rough trunks are standard elements throughout Soneva, Villa 37 take the timber to a new dimension with a tapestry of cross sections forming the ceiling and various highlights.

Soneva Fushi - wood ends 3

Soneva Fushi - wood ends 1