After snorkel-frolicking with sea turtles, acquiring a middle ear injury and gaining a bit of a tan (more like a sunburn) it was time to walk around and explore the tiny island in the Thaa Atoll on which the incredible Maalifushi by COMO resides.
Immediately after walking outside the far from confining confines of our over water villa, the views were truly astonishing.
Despite having many villas and cottages at Maalifushi, clever design means that the place never feels full – even when it is at capacity. Kate and I had this entire jetty completely to ourselves!
Honestly – I could barely believe my eyes. Places that look like this just don’t exist in real life, and if they do, the reality is never quite like the photographs – but holy moly – the Maldives is one total banger of an exception.
Every single one of the photos in this post are completely unedited – they are a true to life reflection of exactly what this paradise looks like.
In such a beautiful place, it only made sense that I should don a beautiful dress and get some travel snaps in one of the most beautiful pockets of the planet.
At the beginning of the afternoon the beautiful Kate was hesitant to be my model, but after not too long she relaxed and took to it like a duck to water – with some pretty beautiful results.
It took quite a while for me to be prepared to leave the end of the jetty. We had only walked five metres from our lodgings, but can you blame me for not wanting to leave?
Does it really get much better than this?
Eventually though, the high humidity and blazing sun demanded that I find a little patch of shade for a short term reprieve. My skin is maybe one shade darker now than it was 12 months ago – but it is still pretty intensely pale and this definitely impacts how long I can afford to spend in the sun!
As we made our way back from the edge of the jetty to the island we came across a couple of Maalifushi employees. They were working hard, but that didn’t stop them from being incredibly smiley and happy! Although, in such a beautiful place, I imagine it isn’t hard to love your job!
Immediately after stepping off of the jetty my wish for shade came true!
Walking around the island, I loved admiring the perfectly white sand – and the many incredible sea shells nestled within it. It is strictly illegal to export any shells from the Maldives, and if you are caught trying to exit the country with them, you can be punished quite harshly. I wish I could’ve taken a little shell souvenir home, but like one Mister Maurice Moss, I don’t think I’d flourish in a prison environment. So I took pictures and admired these little beauties with my eyes and my camera lens, but not with my hands, and certainly with no sticky fingers.
After a bit more walking on the beach and recovering with another installment of the never ending saga ‘pale girl searches for shade’, the light changed and the water suddenly appeared completely different.
By this point in the afternoon I had become a sweaty mess from the tropical Maldivian weather and a poolside cocktail sounded like just the ticket.
So I drank my amazing and refreshing cocktail and cooled off, expecting to float around for a few hours without interruption.
Mother nature however had different ideas. I had clung to the burner phone the entire stay at Maalifushi – the little phone that would ring if any whale sharks were spotted nearby.
Now this phone may not have even rung for a second and the whale sharks may have proved elusive, but spotting an enormous pod of dolphins not far from your infinity pool is nothing to sneeze at and was an alternative Maldivian wildlife spot that I was certainly not going to say no to.
Once the dolphins had disappeared and the sun was fading, venturing out to watch the sunset seemed like a lovely idea.
Once again, the place certainly did not disappoint.
Then it was back to the villa to get ready for our last Maalifushi dinner, but who were we to turn down one last infinity pool swim?
Dinner was another ridiculously incredible feast, I just about unhinged my jaw and inhaled my seafood linguine!
The next morning it was with heavy hearts that it was time to leave the wonderful Maalifushi. As sad as I was to leave this little slice of luxury, my adventures in the Maldives were still far from over, so I couldn’t be too unhappy as I made my way to another island – this time much further North.
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 stunning wrap maxi and cute as a button bikini top are both by Aussie label Tigerlily Swimwear
Remember: I have said it before and I will say it again – don’t skimp on the sunscreen!
Don’t forget to add me on Snapchat and Instagram – @wwellend – for more foolishness and travel adventures!