When it comes to holidays few are comparable with the Maldives.
My first encounter was 3 years ago.
In early 2007, having just returned from a fabulous 3 week stay in Australia. I was chatting to my youngest sister, who had just returned from her third holiday on Meeru, an Island in the North Atoll of the Maldives. Dont ask me what an Atoll is! She was hoping to rebook for the following year. A boring beach holiday, I thought to myself. Oh well what the heck, what have I got to lose, apart from £1300, which was the price for a weeks all inclusive. At least it would be a week away from the boring hum drum of daily life, and then I could say I've tried it, but not for me........
Over a year later 6 of us descended on Gatwick Airport. My two sisters had been before and felt it was THE only place to holiday. Yeah, yeah the world is a big place...
For the other 3 of us this was an adventure into the unknown, and were they really right that we didn't need anything to put round our shoulders at night, what if it does get a bit nippy? Glad I'd hidden a wrap at the bottom of my suitcase.
After 3 hours in an airport lounge and a 10 hr economy flight we arrived in paradise??? This was Male, the capital and only airport for the Maldives.
It resembled a shack,and we were tired. The heat hit us like a humid wall and I wanted to rip off my jeans. Was this it? It was awful.
Customs seemed to last forever, it was packed, I think every arrival from all over the world had come at once .We slowly moved up the queue, kicking our suitcases in front of us. Desperate for sleep and a change of clothes.
Finally through we had to register our arrival and book for our boat transfer.
We sat round a table, holiday reps would call out Island names. Nope not ours, nor that one, nor the next etc. Mee.......its us.......duparru, oh not us and thus it went on , Finally Meeru.......hooray.
We grabbed our cases and boarded the run down speed boat, still not overly impressed, but the water was turquoise.
The seating was some of the most uncomfortable I've felt, but with heads flopping forward we all fell asleep.
An hour later we arrived, much to the annoyance of my youngest sister it was gently raining. She wanted us to see it in its full glory. The rain could not spoil it though, white coral sands, turquoise waters and palm trees. It was paradise. We were led to their reception area, offered cool flannels and a refreshing cocktail, bliss. Keys in hand and AI bands on we went to our villas. Small wooden huts, sleeping 2 or 3. Less than aminute from the beach.
The whole Island is only 1 mile by half a mile. No cars, bare feet,wearing nothing but a bikini all day, a million miles from the hectic pace of British life. Your only worry, which bikini to wear and what factor sun cream to use.
That first day I learnt to snorkel, took a bit of practice to get the mask on properly so it didn't leak! Being able to breathe with your head under water strange, but a feeling I would become accustomed to throughout the week.
The food was amazing and self service, so as much or as little as you like, and drinks on the all inclusive....
During the week it was my Birthday. What a day our table was decorated in an amazing way and I treated myself to a scuba diving lesson, which took all day including an open water dive and was talked in to completing a second day to achieve my padi.
That night on returning to our rooms, we found the bed decorated with hibiscus flowers. My sister then came round with a small cake that had been left in her room, for me, along with a small card. A birthday I will never forget.
The week was amazing. Customer services were marvellous. Nothing seemed too much for them and younever tire from the words 'you want dreenk'.
Leaving was very hard, a week just wasn't long enough, but I could now snorkel, and had achieved my padi. I'd seen some spectacular sights, swam with sharks (albeit reef sharks of about six inches) and been waited on all week.
As we boarded the speed boat I could feel myself welling up. It had been nothing short of amazing.
