I could have kept the good memories of a vacation I yearn for a long time only to myself but my friends keep on asking to write about it and they were demanding. What the heck? I’m selfish, I’m lazy to write and those memories I could keep to my grave. But unfortunately I gave up, I realize I don’t have the patience to endure the torture of telling it over and over again at least it’s better to just refer them to my blog.
It was a last-minute decision and did the last-minute cancellation to the supposed White Christmas and good decision though otherwise I could have been among the thousands stranded and celebrated Christmas in the airport, never mind if I paid a bit higher for my airfare and accommodation for deciding and confirming late and not to mention going to two different countries before reaching my destination which also means transferring to three planes just to reach Maldives on time before Christmas which is also the peak season there.
After flying three different time zones, I arrived at Male International Airport – sick, tired, drained and stripped of all excitement and wondered If I did the right choice for it’s an impulse decision when my friend pop up the idea and I was just curious then in going to a country who have more water area as compared to land. It doubles my disappointment that there are no good restaurant at the airport and going to Male to find one means a speed boat ride. Yes, it’s a big surprise that the airport is an island used exclusively as an airport or shall I say an islet and I’m pretty sure a considerable part of the land is reclaimed. God knows while in a plane how I mindset my self to eat a hearty hot noodle soup after puking and everything will be back to normal and now it would never be.
I almost forgot I still need to ride the pricey sea plane going to the resort and the weird thing you are check in many times for the flight schedule are always canceled and move, have I known that I have to wait for more than three hours I have opted to ride a boat I could have save more money. The tiring three hours prolong the agony as proof to the long wait someone had a stroke bang her head in the floor and the gory sight didn’t even push my adrenalin. Tired, sleepy and hungry my patience wears out and I used my last energy to go to the counter and complain for the delay with my joining brows and angry voice I face the staff whose English I barely understand and simply said I’m on next flight and input my name in the system. No wonder flight schedule are always canceled or shall I say it pays to be mean, I should have done it earlier.
Airborne I started to feel better, I guess I’m overwhelmed by the sight of the sparsely scattered tiny islands amidst the blue Indian Ocean that immaculately blend the clear azure summer sky of Maldives and every ill feeling I had just turned to oblivion. Enthralled of nature’s beauty I almost failed to capture the moment nor notice the unshod pilot maneuvering towards touchdown which is another surprise- the deep blue sea and we disembark on a little floating wooden plank. While waiting for our boat to fetch us and hoping that the sharks are overfed, I witnessed again another bewitching nature’s spectacle the gradual setting of the sun and the skies changing hue from blue to crimson, truly it is a soothing sight.
Our boat dock a few meters from Sun Island Resorts reception hall it’s safer to use meter than kilometer in order not to deter the countless couch potato I know but think of it as a little sacrifice for the reward of a clean beach besides nobody wants to swim on a stinky oily water. However, the walk on the foot bridge during twilight is a wonderful experience you just need to open your senses and appreciate the zephyr caress, the pleasing sound of the sea, the rustic smell, the soft glow of light, the hypnotic sight of various species of fish swimming in the sparkling clear water and wait I almost forgot the scantily clad chic that frolic like a nymph.
Upon seeing the Reception Hall, I woke up from a trance, hasten my walk and back to my senses, though I appreciate the hot towel and fresh coconut juice given at the 
reception the long wait to process the paper work that lasted for more than an hour is too much to handle for those who traveled half the world where the only relief they could think is a decent hot shower and a fresh clothes. But still I’m grateful to the friendly staff who have a contagious smile and who could resist they are offering me a room upgrade with no extra cost, discount coupons to the spa, various shops and restaurants for a simple reason that I’ll keep to myself.
After I freshen myself I took a nap and get ready for the Christmas Dinner. Oh my! I’m frustrated!Plead guilty to gluttony and wish I have more stomach to taste all the food. That’s it! I only did the tasting for there are many varieties of food I could imagine except for pork which is understandable being a Muslim country, crabs and lobsters which I thought I just missed to see in a very huge banquet that just by looking you’ll get tired. I like some of the food and some I don’t like and many I missed to taste which is a big frustration for an eat all you can aficionado. I just concede on my limitation and took pictures instead but I ended the night happy as a clam and good thing that the cottage is very far so I could walk and felt less guilty for eating a week worth of calories for just one dinner.
The resort is a humble temporary abode for those who long for a real R and R yet the amenities are complete to indulge on some stuff you enjoy in a big city. For a foodie, they offer a variety of restaurants that captures the different international taste to suit your palate and they even have a pizza delivery. For sport enthusiast, aside from the obvious different water sports they pride on various venue they have, like a mini golf course, soccer field, basketball, volleyball and tennis court and they also have for indoor sports like badminton, squash and table tennis not to mention a very nice gym for weight and cardio exercise which I didn’t bother to use for the island has a nice jogging and bike path around it. For gamers, they have a nice video machines with decent games on it or if you want you could just bring your gadgets and enjoy the free wi-fi to download your games. For clubbers, they have pool tables, a wide choice of drinks and a dance floor, though the sounds are off to my taste not unless you are from the disco era and like to hear a Brother Louie song. For water lover, you could do scuba, snorkel or simply dip or chill on a huge infinity pool but who cares for it when you are on the middle of a very clean, crystal blue water where swimming with the fish is a better option than settling on a man-made pool.
The cottage is okay with all its basic amenities with a little extra on a roomy washroom, a coffee maker, dryer and plenty of intercom but too bad the toiletries are on an attached dispenser and not on those branded bottles which I love to keep as souvenir or perhaps they were able to read the looters’ mind. They have a good channel options on cable television. A soft mattress for a comfortable sleep. Aside from the regular towel they also give a fresh beach towel twice a day and no need to ask for they regularly deliver it early morning and late afternoon. You are also provided your own sun decked to work on your perfect tan. It couldn’t have been a perfect getaway but not with those insects that either crawl or fly inside your cottage, though it’s expected because it’s a tropical country and insects attract to light but at least they could have done something to solve it, so I can’t recommend it to people suffering from entomophobia for I’m sure they will be traumatized though they are tolerable and you could always call the staff to exterminate it.
Four days are over and now I’m packing my things towards another destination for the New Year and now I’m back to the airport I don’t like and discover another funny thing, they don’t allow you to get inside two hours from your flight departure because it’s too small that the number of people inside are controlled. That means I have the option to endure the summer heat outside or go to Male Island to explore but I never risk it to chance for I’m on a very tight schedule and the frequency of the boats are unreliable. Good thing I found the US$5 baggage storage fee expensive for I was force to look for alternative and discover the air-conditioned Ice Cream Parlor who have an ice cream of the same price but with a wi-fi and a comfortable lounge chair. While eating my ice cream and did the recap of the past days I realized that I should have bought wine at the duty-free for they are far cheaper as compared to the resort but that if I know that they don’t collect corkage fee but it’s okay because I made the right choice by not converting my US Dollar to Maldivian Rupee for the currency used in the resort is USD plus I was able to bought souvenir items at the resort whose price are cheaper as compared at the airport.
My Christmas vacation ended and my doubts are cleared. I made the right choice and had a great laid back Christmas in Maldives. A paradise for those who seek privacy. A refuge for those weary soul who wants to be rejuvenated. A place to slow down from the fast pace lifestyle. A haven for people who loves the sun, the beach and nature. As the plane takeoff, I took the last glimpse and wish that I could go back again for a different reason.
