1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #594 - Male, Maldives

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #594

 

- Male, Maldives

 

(Male, the capital city of the nation of 400,000 people spread over 1200 islands, is a hive of activity. As expected, the fishing industry around the harbour is buzzing - with blue and yellow-fin tuna being brought in by the boatfuls, as seen at the fresh market here. We came at a time when elections were happening, with political flags gracing many buildings. Though an emergency decree was issued by the ruling government in February, life was moving on as normal now in September. To get from the airport to our hotel, it requires a ferry ride across the sea, with the ferry moored right from the airport itself - so unreal) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #593 - Sunset Experience, Maldives

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #593

 

- Sunset experience, Maldives

 

(There is something about sunsets that draw me into them. The sunsets here in Maldives have to be one of the most spectacular sunsets in the world. The swaying palm trees must have something to do with making it special. All 5 nights here were closed out by this beautiful curtain of orange and red - we were just so lucky. Watch the hyperlapse vdo below)

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour 592 - Dinner-for-2 by the sea, Maldives

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #592

 

- Dinner-for-2 by the sea, Maldives

 

(Dinner for 2 by the sea? On the beach? And why not? We had the most romantic dinner ever here at Pearl Sands Resort. The sea was calm, and with a magnificent setting sunset, it became a whole experience! The chef served us a delicious seafood platter to enhance our experience. Up above, the Milky Way galaxy was visible. What a gorgeous way to have a dinner with your loved one!)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #591 - Coral Reefs and Snorkelling, Maldives

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #591

 

- Coral reefs and snorkelling, Maldives

 

(The coral reefs here are legendary, and when we took our first deep-sea snorkelling, just 20mins away from our Huraa Island, we were totally dazzled by the variety of fish here. Our adventure was capped by a beautiful eagle ray, which glided by as we snorkelled in this turquoise waters. The house reef, just steps away from our hotel room isn't too bad either, with stingrays, eels and an octopus on show. For the first time, I was comfortable with a mask over my face - and now, to see even more underwater worlds)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #590 - Pearl Sands Resort, Maldives

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #590

 

- Pearl Sands Resort, Huraa Island, Maldives

 

(Maldives, at last! Had always wanted to be here - those dreamy blue waters, white sands resort islands that magazines write about. After 4hrs flight, an overnight in Male and another 90min by speedboat, we are here at Pearl Sands Resort on Huraa Island. Perfect setting - palm trees, white sands and blue waters. Across from our resort is Club Med, with their water-villas, making our views even more relaxing. Let's chill..)

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #589 - Elsamere, Lake Naivasha, Kenya

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #589

 

- Elsamere, Lake Naivasha, Kenya 

 

(We literally stumbled onto this historical treasure - Elsamere, the home of Joy Adamson, the author of 'Born Free' about that famous lioness, Elsa. We didn't know that our home for 2 nights was going to be this famous cottage, which has been kept the way it was since 1980, when she died. All her drawings and paintings were still hung here, with the furniture and fireplace kept as it was then. Wild animals roam free here because it is right beside Lake Naivasha, including hippos. We were kept on our toes both nights, with guards accompanying us to our cottage unit for safety reasons - concerns heightened by the death of a China tourist caused by a charging hippo just 2 nights before, on another location near this lake. We had a bellyache full of laughter, acting silly each night as we hear the hippo stories from Sam, the CEO of this fascinating cottage)