Maldives resort feature quite a menagerie of friendly furry friends…bunnies, flying foxes, cats (no dogs though, not allowed in the Muslim country). They wander freely and spoiled with attention from guests and resort staff alike. But Oaga pampers its felines with their very own luxury villas in the design style of the hooman ones!
Delicacies, entertainment, culture…all the evening possibilities on a resort rolled into a single event. Dinner theatre is a great way to spice up your meal and to enjoy some theatrics in a most leisurely manner. Oaga premiered its first dinner theatre spectacle telling the story of star-crossed lovers Dhon Hiyala and Alifulhu’ (Oaga likes the romantic genre – Best of the Maldives: Pool Channel – Oaga – Maldives Complete Blog)
A common FAQ is about the “nightlife” and “entertainment” on offer by the resort. I guess all that relaxation from lounging in the sun and soaking up the indolent poolside vibes during the day can generate some pent up energy for the evening. All too often, the “disco” or “dance floor” is a small square of by the beach bar and near a DJ deck. But Oaga has created a vibrant night spot that would stand out in the London club scene. Lights, ample space, lounging beds, great DJ, great sound systems all on a destination-distinctive sand-floor (for really kicking your shoes off).
Another “Finally Seen”, this one over a decade since I declared it in #5 Haven’t Seen post (#8) in 2014. And not only does Oaga feature craft beer on the resort, it does so at its own special pool bar where they also have beer tastings that are included in the AI package.
Exploration doesn’t have to be limited to just underwater adventures or tropical excursions. People can expand their horizons by trying a new activity or even delving into a new skill. Many people find holidays a great chance to try something new away from the pressures and stresses of daily life. Oaga offers a range of classes for guests looking to explore their musical side at their Ka Studio which includes guitar, ukulele, and bodu beru.
In a refreshing break from the pervasive bikinis and palm trees on the #maldives Instagram feed, Oaga featured a series of Dhivehi useful and interesting phrases (with both Dhivehi writing and western forms) on their feed. A couple of Dhivehi dictionaries are on the web, but this collection of sayings is the closest things to a phrasebook I have come across:
The outdoor net hamocks, “jolai”, are quite common in Maldives resorts, but . Oaga has the most colourful versions I have had the pleasure to lounge in (see below). And the indoor traditional seating platforms I have never even seen before (see above). They have one in every villa for people to chill, maybe play a board game, etc.
Happy staff make happy customers and I applaud a range of efforts by resorts to make the staff area as appealing as the rest of the island. Oaga invests so much into making its staff area and restaurant top notch that it is completely open to guests who are welcome to eat there with the staff if they like. They call it their “Open Community” concept. They take as much pride in the staff chef Aboo (see photo below) as they do any of chefs at their guest F&B outlets. Lori and I had a delightful lunch and were very welcomed by the staff taking their own midday refreshment there.
With the post, I’ve added the new tag of “Staff Area”.
It’s great to have expansive floor-to-ceiling windows to bring as much of the outdoor paradise into your villa, but with most beaches being open to all, you then become a bit of a fishbowl to the guests passing by. You had to decide whether to opt for view or privacy with your curtains.
Oaga has provided the ideal best-of-both solution with reflective glass on their villa windows allowing you to look out and no one else to look in. The glass also reduces the glare and heat from the glasshouse windows into your villa. And if you want to get a front and back bathing suit shot for Instagram, you can do that too.
I’ve long been a fan of local artists providing the colour and panache to the Maldives resorts. The local artist community is thriving in recent years with more and more properties embracing their inspired work. But Oaga has gone well beyond just commissioning some lovely pieces to hang on the villa walls, and has set loose an platoon of palette wielders to provide every nook and cranny of the island with vibrant designs and decoration in the form of dramatic and gigantic murals.
I’ve already shared Oaga’s pool mural. The rooms have murals especially the Bodu Haruge Beach Villas with Private Pool have their own special storied behind them:
Here is a sampling of the many I came across during our stay…
