Best of the Maldives: Sake – One & Only Reethi Rah

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One and Only Reethi Rah sake

Possibly your vegetarian fare includes lots of rice. And maybe that rice is just a bit fermented. In fact, maybe it’s sake. Yes, that counts for international Vegetarian Day today. But if that seems a bit of a stretch, then you can just raise your ochoko and toast world Sake Day.

For the finest sake in the Maldives, One & Only Reethi Rah offers a broad selection of the finest labels presented by Yoshina (above). But it also features its very own special “house” sake. The ‘Junmai Dai-Gingo’ (see above) uses long process where 7 different blends of rice polished to a small pin point.

(“Kanpai” – traditional Japanese toast meaning “Dry the glass”)

One and Only Reethi Rah sake bottle

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Best of the Maldives: Vegetarian – Atmosphere Kanifushi

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Atmosphere Kanifushi - vegetarian restaurant

Book your tables now for tomorrow’s World Vegetarian Day. And the hot table in the Maldives is at Atmosphere Kanifushi’s “Just Veg” restaurant. Pretty much all Maldivian restaurants in the Maldives have vegetarian options (especially with its India proximity), but “Just Veg” is the only all vegetarian restaurant in the Maldives.

“A pure Vegetarian restaurant, a FIRST in the Maldives, serving delightful vegetarian cuisine from the Mediterranean, Arabic, Indian regions along with a special menu specifically for Jain Cuisine. JUST VEG redefines contemporary non-meat cuisine by experimenting with original and surprising flavor combinations. It aims to elevate 100% meat-free cookery to a new high, which will delight the discerning palates of all tastes, whether it is a devout vegetarian or a committed carnivore!”

In fact, tomorrow, Just veg will be celebrating the World Vegetarian day with an in-residence Michelin Star Guest Chef – Mr.Fabrizio Marino, one of the very few Vegetarian Michelin Star Chefs in the world.

 

Atmosphere Kanifushi - Just Veg

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Best of the Maldives: Coconut Cappuccino – Kurumba

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Kurumba - Coconut Cappuchino

 

 

International Coffee Day today. And in the United Nations of coffee styles, Kurumba presents the most Maldivian.

When we first started coming to the Maldives in the 90s, about the only thing we missed was a good cup of coffee (or latte or cappuccino) in the morning. Fast forward a decade, and the La Spaziales have arrived and you can get any pet percolation you desire including all forms of add-ins, milk froth and strengths. And in the Maldives, the most topical tropical variation is the perfectly paradise essence of coconut. So it didn’t come to much of a surprise to us that the epicentre of all things coconut in the Maldives, Kurumba, featured just such a coffee creation on its breakfast menu – the Coconut Cappuccino (see above).

A touch of cocoa and think breakfast mocha Bounty bar. Make mine a double-shot, skinny, extra Kurumba latte grande with cinnamon sprinkled on top!

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Best of the Maldives: Beach Bootcamp – Jumeirah Dhevanafushi

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Jumeirah Dhevanafushi - bootcamp

National Fitness Day today in both the USA and the UK. A chance for us to work on shaping up those body shapes for our own beach photoshoots.

On the Maldives Complete Profile pages, I try to limit the material to the key things people are interested in. One of these is a picture of the Fitness Centre. A good number of folks on the Maldives TripAdvisor Forum are always when people ask about the gym or workout facilities. Why on Earth would you want to do anything with the word “work” associated with it in the indolent Maldives??

Well, on my holidays in the Maldives, workouts were one of my top priorities. Unlike when I am at home, in the Maldives, I am rested and eating well. So my body is ready for some good exercise. As a more restless individual, it gives me something to do. The climate and surroundings are idyllic which are much more invigorating for a good session than trying to motivate oneself to go out in the chilly, damp of England. The whole time can be a bit of a physical bootcamp to re-boot the body.

Like everything in the Maldives, there is usually a “Beach” version. And Jumeirah Dhevanafushi offers a superlative Beach Bootcamp. It was started by Elmer who also pioneered Zumba in the Maldives. It was a “Tabata Bootcamp” developed by the Japanese to train their Olympic athletes. A high intensity interval workout like circuit training. 20 seconds of working out followed by 10 seconds rest for 8 rounds making a 4 minute segment. I sampled it when I visited the resort (see above and directly below) and it was as challenging as any hour long session I had ever done.

The bootcamp is now offered by physical instructor Tanya Shapoval (who also guide the yoga practice – see below). Incidentally, just started practicing yoga regularly myself (ouch!).

Be fit everyone!

Jumeirah Dhevanafushi - bootcamp 2

Jumeirah Dhevanafushi - Tanya yoga

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Best of the Maldives: Beach Rugby – JA Manafaru

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JA Manafaru - beach rugby 3

It’s not just the men who get to enjoy head-turning beauties this week, but the women get treated to fine specimens themselves with the opening of the Rugby World Cup (as a lady friend of mine commented “Us ladies had to pause and rewind a few times when watching the match last night. Those Fijian giants, those tight shorts…”).
Rugby is a sport where the “small island states” (eg. Samoa, Fiji, Tonga) stand shoulder to shoulder with the big guys. In fact, even many of the traditional powerhouses in the sport are themselves island nations – New Zealand, Australia, England, Japan.

I’m not sure that the Maldives will be fielding a national team anytime soon, but JA Manufaru resort has hosted its own beach rugby games with staff and guests. In fact, a prominent England player joined in the fun when he visited the resort a while back.  Front Office Manager Ahmed Ashfaq explained, “Some of our managers were interested in playing beach rugby including myself.  We had a group of people who used to play twice a week every day. The idea of playing a friendly match came up with in the group.  The two teams were the’ Manafaru Barbarians’ were a team selected by general manager and ‘Ball Crusher’ is from F&B team.|”  The Barbarians won by a score of 11-7.

For those of you who have no idea what the pictures are all about, I have attached at bottom a link to a helpful instructional primer video done in the spirit of London Fashion Week going on now (see bottom…so to speak).

 

JA Manafaru - beach rugby 5

JA Manafaru - beach rugby 4

JA MAnafaru - Beach Rugby 2

JA Manafaru - beach rugby 1

Rules of Rugby

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Best of the Maldives: Buggy – Hideaway Beach, Sun Siyam Irufushi

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Sun Siyam Irufushi - buggy

The fanciest wheels in the world will be on display starting today at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the largest auto show in the world. But for the most rad roadsters in the Maldives, the show is at Hideaway Beach and Sun Siyam Irufushi. They both are bringing a bit of rad styling to the paths of the Maldives.

Pimp my ride!

Hideaway Beach - buggy

And now at Amilla Fushi too (thanks Paola)

Amilla Fushi - buggy

 

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Best of the Maldives: Canopied Kids Pool – JA Manafaru

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JA Manafaru - kids pool

JA Manafaru’s kids pool is the other extreme to Huvafenfushi’s “Lonu Veyo” pool. While Huva’s is open on all side, this pool is obviously (like all kids clubs) enclosed to keep them from wandering off. But it’s not just 360 degree surround. It’s protection extends above too with an overhead canopy.

A brilliant touch to a kid’s pool. Kids can play all day in the pool. That means constant reapplying of sub block as it constantly gets washed off. The canopy provides a bit extra sun protection for their tender skin not to mention glare shielding for their eyes. Nothing ruins a sunny holiday much more than a sun burn. Some resorts actually have enclosed areas for their water play areas with full roofs. They have their benefits but do lose a bit of the warmth and brightness of the tropical outdoors.

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Best of the Maldives: Ocean Pool – Huvafenfushi

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Huvafenfushi - ocean pool 1

For the real aquaphiles, here is a big serving of water in…well, water. 

The Maldives for me has always been about the water.  A country that is 99% ocean and provides a more diverse seascape than just about anywhere on the planet.  Pools provide a salt-free, sand-free place to chillax.  Many resorts now put their pools right at water’s edge and they all pools are now “infinity”.  This means you can soak up the ocean view while you soak in the pool.  But Huvafenfushi offers a pool that takes the aquatic immersion a step further.  It’s circular pool set in the lagoon at the end of a jetty offers a 360 degree ocean surround to your dip. 

An almost Magritte-esque island of water in the water (“ceci n’est pas une isle”).

Huvafenfushi - ocean pool 2

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Best of the Maldives: Energized Water – Soneva Fushi

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Soneva Fushi energized water pitcher

Soneva Fushi serves up a brand new age type of “energy drink”…with the only ingredient being water. And the impact of a bit of holistic energising. The water is served with a glass stirrer which contains different crystals each imparting a different energy type on the liquid.

  • Wellness – Rose quartz, Rock crystal, Amethyst
  • Harmony – Rose quartz
  • Regeneration – Emerald, Rock Crystal

Soneva describes that the energy enhancement “Maintains the balance between body and soul. Water enhances a feeling of overall well-being.”

This post has also energised me to add a new blog category tag of “Water”.

Soneva Fushi energized water

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