Maldives - A little piece of heaven on earth.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!
One of the most romantic destinations to spend Valentine’s Day is in Maldives. A nation with 26 atolls situated southwest off the coast of India, Maldives is a little piece of heaven on earth.

I visited Maldives in 2007 and it has remained one of the most beautiful places I have been to. We landed on Hulhule Island at night and took a speedboat to our resort - the Full Moon Maldives.

The accommodation was magnificent. The Indian Ocean was, quite literally, at our doorstep. Maldives, considered the smallest county in Asia, is the lowest laying country on Earth. Located on the Equator, it never fails to see the Sun throughout the year. From our room, we woke up to a beautiful sunrise every morning. On our 3rd day, playful dolphins ventured into the calm and shallow waters right outside our doorstep!

The view from our room

There’s plenty to do in Maldives. You can island hop to the Maldivian capital, Male. Male is the heart of all commercial activities in the country. Many government buildings and agencies are located on the waterfront. The local and fish markets are always bustling with activity. Experience the local Maldivian lifestyle with day trips to villages like Himmafushi, on the Kaafu atoll.

In such azure waters, snorkeling and scuba diving is a must. We snorkeled next to stingrays, turtles and schools of fishes. Don’t fret about not having a scuba license - The dive schools provide an introductory “Discovery Scuba” course for first-timers. You can also choose from a variety of water sports that include windsurfing and wakeboarding.

Clear waters

Another sport I would recommend is fishing. Board a boat with your local guide who will hand you a spool of nylon and some bait. Cast your line and within seconds, and a fish will be tugging at your line. The average size of each catch was a foot long! The best part – you get to eat what you catch!

Our catch and dinner

Lying on the patio reading a book in the glorious sun, followed by a relaxing spa treatment and scrumptious fresh seafood for dinner is an ideal way to spend a day in this sun-kissed paradise too.

Despite being blessed by such natural beauty, Maldives faces an unusual future. 80% of its 1200 islands sit just above sea level. With the projected rise in sea level, scientists estimate that in a 100 years, Maldives will be submerged by the very sea that brings it life. The country’s 390,000 citizens would be forced to evacuate. This is a place that I would definitely want to revisit before its beauty is stripped by time and tide.

Your Travel Beacon,
Cindy