I arrived back at my gorgeous over water villa just as the sun began to set. I have seen many beautiful sunsets in my life – but this one in particular was pretty damn spectacular. I loved the way the rays seemed to be erupting from behind the darkness of the clouds.
Sunsets are wonderful times to take photographs. The lighting is natural and soft. Colours may be less vivid, but in losing this vividness, seem to gain a richness and depth of colour that was not otherwise apparent.
The water was so clear and so beautiful! I wanted desperately to jump in for a swim, but knew I had to head to dinner not too long later and didn’t want to go with sopping wet hair – so I settled for dipping a few toes in; at least until the next morning.
After a short ten or so minutes, the sunset had pulled away some of its burnt orange hue and threw in splashes of mauve and lilac for good measure – with pretty stunning results.
All too soon the light had faded completely. However this did signal the impending arrival of dinner, for which Kate and I had a reservation at Tai – the premier restaurant at Maalifushi. Tai is located a short walk from anywhere on the island, and visually, to say the walk isn’t half bad is a bit of an understatement!
When we arrived at the restaurant we had planned to grab a pre dinner drink, but before Kate and I could settle in at the bar, some unexpected visitors had shown up to distract us!
Many little fishies, several sting rays and two nurse sharks had come to the party! I had never seen a sting ray outside of an aquarium before so I was pretty in awe of the whole situation. The way they could glide so effortlessly through the water was pretty breathtaking to watch.
Once I had seen my temporary fill of these graceful ocean creatures it was time to get that long awaited drink. I did not know it at the time, but this would be the first of many amazing encounters with wildlife in the Maldives.
The cocktail list at Tai was extensive and also unique. You will not find your standard cocktails here, instead expect a variety of Maalifushi specialties designed to give you a truly new and unique experience. This smoked lavender cocktail was like nothing I had ever tasted, in the best possible way.
Tai is an example of resorts doing fine dining right. The food here is undoubtedly world class, as fresh as possible and positively inspired. Tai aspires to be one of the best restaurants in all of the Maldives, and is succeeding. With tables overlooking the water, staff willing to go the extra mile, and food you will think back on fondly, a meal here is nothing short of utterly wonderful.
After thoroughly gorging on some of the best sashimi I have ever had, it was time to take my full and sore tummy back to the villa to swim off some of my gluttony.
I had good intentions about staying up and having a good solid swim. I really needed it after overeating at dinner, but once arriving back at the villa I found that it had undergone a lovely “turn down” service and the bed just looked far too inviting!
I got as far as changing into my bathers and dipping my body into our pool for about five minutes, but sleep was calling to me. It had been a big day and like many animals after devouring a big meal – I needed to go into short term hibernation.
An early morning turned out to have been a great decision too. By hitting the hay early, we were able to get up nice and early to welcome the sun to a brand new day – and it was worth the early rise.
T H E L O W D O W N
Getting to Male: There are many different routes flying into Male, flights with Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur are some of the cheapest
Maldivian: This is one of two seaplane companies flying to destinations in the Maldives
Getting to Maalifushi: Access is by seaplane only, a return trip from Male airport will set you back around $600 USD.
Maalifushi by COMO: One of the most luxurious resorts in all of the Maldives, rooms start at approx $1000 USD per night for a garden room, water villas start at $1700 USD per night up to $2800 (seasonally dependent)
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 with 12-40mm M.Zuiko Pro Lens
Threads: My purple wrap maxi dress and blue bikini top are both by aussie label Tigerlily Swimwear
Remember: An appetite for the ages and as many memory cards as you can carry!
Don’t forget to add me on Snapchat and Instagram – @wwellend – for more foolishness and travel adventures!
Oh wow it looks so amazing!
It really is an incredible place!
I want to stay there! The colour of the sky is stunning.
Add it to the bucket list! The skies, the water, the villas – the whole place is pure perfection!
Absolutely magical. Makes me want to be back there. 🙂
Should go back someday soon! 🙂
Oh, I’d LOVE to! 🙂
Really magnificent. What a lovely place!
Thank you – it really is magical 🙂
Stunning. If I ever win the lottery I’ll have to fly in 🙂
I will cross my fingers you win the lotto 🙂
the foods look amazing!
It really was! I wish I could relive the entire meal all over again!
Stunning, stunning, stunning! All of it!
Thank you thank you! Glad you are enjoying 🙂 it is a rather impressive place!
I’m speechless.
In a good way.
Awesome 🙂 The Maldives does tend to have that effect on people!
Fantastic, beautiful are two great words to describe the photos – wow!!! You always look so wonderful too. ❤️👍🏻
Thank you so much John – I think being so happy from all my travels helps a bit with that 🙂
Nice crepuscular rays in your second photo.
I probably would have a shot of the 18 yr Glenlivet. We might tour that place next fall.
I think my Dad has been to Glenlivet distillery before! It is a good drop that one 🙂
What a beautiful experience! Thank you for sharing.
It is my pleasure – thank you for reading 🙂
That looks amazing! You have to stop posting so many great places because my travel list is getting too long.
I am sorry but to that I cannot oblige 😉 your travel list is going to keep getting longer haha
Your days in paradise are addicting reads, and would be very addicting places to stay.
They really really are – if only I could win the lottery and move into one of these places permanently!
Stunning…
Thank you 🙂
Wonderful
Thank you 🙂
Very nice! This is surely included in my bucketlist
Awesome to hear! 🙂
Hi Ellen! I so love your blog that’s why I nominated you. You can check it here — https://joygeneroso.wordpress.com/2016/05/25/liebster-award/ <3
Thankyou so much- I will definitely check it out!
What a great trip! I hear the Maldives are a prime scuba diving location…🐠
They are! I didn’t scuba as I am not certified – but I did have the most amazing snorkelling of my life! Will be posting about it in the next few posts 🙂
Hard to beat a tropical sunset. –Curt
I wholeheartedly agree!
Beautiful photos!
Thank you 🙂
Thanks for following me! I came over to check out your writing and photos. Amazing! I plan to sail through the Maldives in a year or so. Will require a photographer; haha… keep it up.
Feel free to bring me along! Ha