Siyam Olhuveli is not just covered with vegetation on some of its pathways, but also on its dedicated “Plant Based Bliss” buffet section. Not just a few token mushroom and tofu dishes laid on with some salads, but an extensive array of cooked and prepared plant-based dishes for guests. In fact, all of the Siyam properties have a group-wide objective of 30% of all menu being plant-based
The inspired resorts are the ones who make the ordinary extraordinary. Siyam World is quite an extensive property and they have laid on a buggy service that operates constantly to make it easier for guests to get from one place or another without have to fatigue their legs or endure an too much time in an overly toasty sunny day. Most resorts put a bench or a simple bus shelter to mark the buggy stops, but Siyam World has designed an colorful collection all inspired by famous cities around the world:
Not only does it add a striking aesthetic to this otherwise boring spot, but the very distinctive decors really help you to remember which stop you want to go or return to (especially helpful after an evening of pina coladas)
Siyam World’s buggy stop reduce the “pedestrian” at their resorts in more way than one.
As we are halfway through the 12 days of Christmas, its famous musical namesake mentions 184 birds including goose, calling birds, French hens, swans an of course the eponymous partridge…but no ducks. But the place you will find an even more extensive collection of ducks is at Siyam World’s animal sanctuary. In fact, Siyam World is a haven for injured and otherwise vulnerable individuals as a bit of a ‘duck rescue’ (see photo below).
Fun Fact – The word for such a group of ducks varies depending on their activity:
The Maldives is not only one of the best places in the world to snorkel, but at Siyam World it is now definitely, verifiably the biggest place in the world to snorkel:
Happy Thanksgiving! Not a turkey’s favourite day, but not a problem for the gobblers at Siyam World who live the pampered free range life not just with a home on the animal sanctuary, but also able to wander freely around the island (we stumbled upon them at the spa one day – photo at bottom).
On most islands, landscaping staff will readily find a coconut for you direct from the trees, and some resorts have special stands to serve up free coconut, but at Siyam World guest get their coconut the Maldivian way. Coconut stands are the equivalent of the “water cooler” on local islands where locals gather to chat and hang out. Not only does Siyam World have a typical coconut stand, but they also recruited an actual coconut seller from a nearby island who was lured out of retirement to take his trade to the resort.
Lori loves her Mashuni on our Maldives trips. But having it every day on our visits can get a bit samey (though different properties and chefs can have fairly different styles of preparation). So she was delighted to come across Pumpkin Mashuni at Sun Siyam Olhuveli (but it turns out that al the Siyam properties serve it). Something to use those leftover jack-o-lanterns for.
One of the great joys of working on Maldives Complete is the escapism to paradise that it provides me while hunkering down in the grey days of England. And as the days are growing shorter and the winds colder, Sun Siyam brought an evening of Maldivian sunshine to London to announce its brand revamp on the occasion of its 35 year anniversary:
The positioning makes a lot of sense for a successful player in the Maldives market. If you grow with your success, you have to add new islands as the diminutive land masses contain what you can add to existing properties. If you add new islands, then you risk having your properties competing with each other. So you have to have some differentiation so people can choose your brand for its brand values and reputation (eg. the signature experiences), but choose specific variations based on more targeted price points or vibe.
The London event featured more than just the sunny warmth of Maldivian festivity, but a few special guests. First was Dolores Semeraro, serving as vibrant emcee for the evening, who was one of the first people we met in the Maldives when she was running marketing for LUX South Ari Atoll in 2012. She and her husband, Dominik Ruhl, are part of the early pioneers in the Maldives travel sector and are now leading experts on the sector who have helped me with Maldives Complete on many occasions.
Also, gracing the stage was Aston Merrygold, of the band JLS and “Strictly Come Dancing” fame. A real class act, he and his family are fans of the Siyam resorts. He did more than a token set, but played multiple sets and spend time in between talking with the guests (who took many selfies), and even performed his signature backflip on stage.
One of the dividends of the new sea plane terminal is a huge amount of space allocated to resort transfer lounges. Siyam’s lounge for its Siyam World and Sun Siyam Irufushi properties was distinctive for its relaxation optimisation. Just the ticket after a long-haul, often red-eye flight. It wasn’t the only massage-on-arrival we had come across, but it was certainly the best (Lori didn’t want to leave the lounge when our seaplane departure was called). And while I sipped my coffee latte, I had a prime corner window seat with an expansive view of the seaport. The lounge also had an exterior terrace if you wanted to getting started on soaking up the tropical sun.
Romantic pictures of Siyam World’s white horses ambling on the equally brilliant white sands of the resort beaches have filled social media. But equally impressive is the operation behind the scenes that cares for these horses with a service and comfort rivalling the resort guests themselves.
For starters, each of the 11 horses (including 3 ponies) has its own personal caretaker. I toured their farm which included state of the art sables as well as an extensive set of paddocks and exercise areas. Kanbula, who Lori had the pleasure to ride, had a baby herself a few weeks ago who was being trained in one. The horse farm has its own veterinary clinic with its own dedicated veterinarian, Dr. Nora.
The horses are a mix of Arabian and Indian (working horses) bloodlines so they are well suited to heat of the tropics. This breed is used to competing in 20-60km races across the desert. The horses have access to the paddock early in the morning and later in the day when it is cooler as well.
The horse riding is not a touristy gimmick, but rather a true passion project of the owner. The state of the art facility is typical of many such features in the Maldives where the owner has shared their enthusiasm not just for this amazing destination, but for particular interests they have and which gives the property a touch of the distinction and personality.
