Photo of the week: Paradise found – in the Maldives

Photos:  1) My daughter enjoyed getting a henna treatment on her hand; 2,3) Island views; 4) clean turquoise water; 5) pool; 6) view from the sea plane; 7) our outdoor shower; 8 )  Hotel lobby; 9) sea plane

To celebrate our “big” birthdays this year, we splurged on a trip to the Maldives, which offer a unique – and divine – vacation experience. A trip to this lovely country begins with a flight into Male, the capital, where one then boards a speed boat, or in our case a sea plane, to his resort island. There is an immediate sense of peace and seclusion as one exits the plane and enters into an island paradise with turquoise seas, white sand and a bounty of tropical fish.

Each resort occupies its own island; we chose the Conrad Hotel, located on Rangali Island, which offered, as cliché as it sounds, a little piece of heaven on earth (as well as a fabuouls kids’ club).  The islands are small – a walk around the perimeter of ours took about thirty minutes – and one’s feet offer the primary mode of transport. There are no motorized vehicles beyond some electric golf carts for those who are feeling lazy.  My husband and daughter revelled in the fact that they did not have to put on footwear of any kind for seven days and nights.

The Maldives vacation was everything I dreamed it would be – spectacularly beautiful and relatively untouched by man. The snorkeling was the best we had ever experienced. A short swim from shore revealed a myriad of tropical fish, big and small. Our Lonely Planet told us that three quarters of the world’s reef fish could be found in the Maldives - and we believed it.  The highlight was a large sea turtle that we followed as he lumbered along the reef’s edge. The snorkeling was so accessible that even the children – we were there with another family – were able to participate.

Breakfast was included with the price of the room, and it was delicious. The resort also offered a number of other – expensive – dining choices, including an underwater restaurant, where one could view the tropical fish from below. The night we ate there a large ray graced us with his presence.

The downside of the holiday is the cost, which is high, and getting there. From Beijing, we flew 5 hours to Kuala Lumpur, where we caught another flight into Male, arriving in the evening. The sea planes only depart during daylight hours so we spent the night in the capital before heading out in the morning. All in all, it was about 24 hours of travel. Nevertheless, for beach lovers – or those seeking a temporary respite from the craziness of lif e – this is a place that should not be missed.

See more lovely photos at DeliciousBaby’s Photo Friday!