A 16-Year-Old's Maldivian Travel Diary!

Since it was evening by the time we reached, we didn’t do much that day. From the airport, we took the boat to  Adaaran Prestige Vadoo located on the South Male Atoll, which was going to be our home for the following 3 days. The resort received us with fresh coconut water and garlands. In our room, they had readied tropical fruits, snacks and a bottle of champagne. The bathroom had glass flooring and the suite included a private pool. They surely knew how to spoil the guests. We headed for dinner that night and that was the very moment when I ate and fell in love with this little country and its culture.

As the weather gods were a little unkind the first day, we couldn’t go anywhere, owing to the heavy rains. As it cleared up by the afternoon, I decided to explore the resort. I must’ve taken two rounds of the entire island before it started to rain again. Later on when the sun shone for a while, we went for a swim. Dinner was one meal I used eagerly waited for, because the chefs used to whip up a new menu every day and never failed to delight. Being a huge meat lover, I had the most satisfying experience across the three days we were there.

Maldivian Food is Underrated

No one really talks about Maldivian food. It’s always about the beaches. Maldivian food also incorporates a Sri Lankan influence. I had the opportunity to try various types of curries the place had to offer. Amongst other dishes, I tried Bis Keemiya which is a pastry stuffed with tuna and is an absolute delight for fish lovers. Hedhikaa is a snack that is more of a Maldivian samosa. Sai, which also rhymes with chai, is indeed a Maldivian tea. I discovered that coconut was an integral part of their dishes. Not fond of seafood? Do not worry, they offer various international cuisines as well.

Snorkelling from the Comfort of Our Suites

We also went snorkelling from the comfort of our own suite. You might ask how? Every room had stairs leading directly to the ocean. I grazed my knees multiple times against the reefs but it was worth it. It was beautiful to watch little fishes swim hither and thither only to be carried off balance by each wave. I learnt two lessons that day - Firstly, just like those fishes, when you are thrown off track, get up and go at it again, and secondly, it is possible for us to co-exist as those fishes do.

After hours of snorkelling, I fell asleep and woke up only to find that my parents had left for lunch. Despite my familiarity with the ways at the resort, I managed to wander about farther and farther away but not in the direction of the restaurant. When one of the staff members saw that I had crossed the same place, at least three times, he found himself asking me if I was lost by any chance and if I needed them  to call my parents. Embarrassed, I just asked him for directions and went my way. We spent our evenings in the lounge while my parents thoroughly enjoyed the happy hour with complimentary spiced popcorn that I must add were absolutely delicious.

Finally, the Sun showed up!

The anger of the weather gods must have subsided fully by the third day because it was sunny and we could enjoy everything to the maximum. After another round of snorkelling, we put on our swimwear, wore flip-flops and lathered ourselves in sunscreen to visit the beach. I was apprehensive about stepping into the water owing to the huge stingrays I’d seen lurking by the pillars as I was walking across the deck which connected the suites to the main island. I did walk a little into the ocean and then ran back when I confused a rock for a stingray. We sunbathed, clicked more and more pictures and even bought little snow globes with sand and shells in them.

The trip also substituted as a fashion show for me as I had brought along all those skimpy clothes you usually wouldn’t wear on normal days, and changed outfits whenever I had a chance. 

I saw sunsets, the likes of which I had never seen before. The soft hues of pink and purple leaking into the sky while isolated clouds floated along and the waves splashed against the pillars that upheld the deck, all in a rhythmical manner. During the days, the sunlight would dance on the lush green trees enveloping the internal pathways on the island, giving the much-desired golden hour glow in the evenings.

The staff was quite homely and looked like Indians that led my father to confuse a native Maldivian for an Indian and almost addressing him like an Indian. Three days weren’t enough to explore everything the country had to offer but I did enjoy myself thoroughly. Within the blink of an eye, the holiday was over and I again back to the monotonous city life, admiring our pictures from the trip. My advice for anyone travelling here post COVID-19 would be to have enough days on hand to go visit Male, try dolphin watching and scuba diving. Also, go during the Indian winter season. This was my most luxurious beach holiday and it was worth every penny!