The Maldives … Hudhuranfushi …

Thu, 15th November – Thu, 29th November: Hudhuranfushi, Maldives

We leave Sri Lanka behind us at 3.30 am this morning (yawn!) and have yet another good flight; this time with Sri Lankan Airways. After a 1 1/2 hour flight we arrive at Male, the islands’ capital, and are soon ushered to the jetty to await our connecting speedboat to the island of Hudhuranfushi.

The speedboat ride takes us about 1/2 hour and I think the ‘captain’ of this small vessel delights in bumping his guests across the waves! We finally arrive at our island at 11.30am to pure sun, sea and sand. It really is amazing and we can’t wait to investigate this little bit of paradise. We have been to many lovely places during our lives but never a place like this.

Our room is not ready until 1.00pm and, after completing the necessary paperwork, we start to have a look around. It is whilst doing this that we notice a promotion for an upgrade to the Ocean Villas for a limited time only. We take a buggy ride out to the Ocean Villas to have a look around and it’s a ‘done deal’ – we sign on the dotted line straight away. They are awesome and something we have not experienced before and we grin from ear to ear as we retrieve our ‘all inclusive’ bands and proceed to lunch whilst our room is cleaned 🙂

Overlooking the reef, Ocean Villa 820 comes complete with Butler, WiFi, Breakfast Room, Bar and buggy transport to and from the mainland where the Sunset Restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner for the Ocean Villa guests, is located. Mr and Mrs Pitkin are in their element and are very much excited about their first three nights in this beautiful place, lol.

On the island are the Beach Villas, Garden Villas and standard accommodation (basic but ideal for surfers). The beach is made up of the most beautiful white sand with tropical vegetation adorning the edges. The island has exclusive Ocean Villa Restaurants, a spa, a main restaurant, various bars, a swimming pool bar and sporting facilities including water sports and diving venues.

Days 1-3: Thu, 15th Nov – Sat, 17th Nov: Ocean Villa, Room 820 …
Our first three days are spent in the seclusion of the Ocean Villa, enjoying the ambiance of this place out on the water; from snorkelling off our deck to romantic dinners/breakfasts in the restaurants set aside exclusively for Ocean Villa guests. On our first morning, we decide to attempt our first snorkel experience by swimming over to the island; our objective was to swim over and back again and access the Villa up the steps to our deck!! However, on crossing we venture onto the island to explore. Before you know it, we enjoy an afternoon meeting other guests in the swimming pool bar!!!!! It’s so nice that the time flies and it’s not long before I am feeling the effects of the sun and need to head back. However, as we had snorkelled across from our Villa, we soon learn that we are unable to return that way as the tide has now gone out. After cutting ourselves on the coral in our attempt to do so, we shamefully wade backwards through the sea to the beach and return via the bridge a little worse for wear. We have learnt a big lesson today 😦 and can only laugh about it much later but, at the time it did not seem funny as we were burnt, cut, did untold damage to the coral (shamefully 😦 ) and had to ask the Butler to let us into the Villa.

Days 4-12: Sun, 18th Nov – Thu, 29th Nov: Beach Villa, Room 189 ..
We had a great time up in the Ocean Villa (and of course the exclusivity it offered lol) and the 18th saw our move to the Beach Villa. Again, this was great in itself but we now have to pay for our wifi and ‘slum’ it with the majority of the island’s guests in the main restaurant, pmsl!!!!!!! On the plus side, as the name suggests, it’s right on the beach … we just step out our front door and the beach and sea are our front yard … it’s blissful and I, personally, love it.

We continue to spend our days snorkelling the different areas of the reef and encounter many many types of colourful fish, black tipped reef sharks, eels, rays and the coral is abundant with life – we are in awe of it all as we experience this wonderment for the very first time 🙂 In the evenings, we meet for dinner and lounge around in the bars either watching the entertainment or sharing a drink or two with the various folk that we’ve met.

As the days go by, we start to think about what trips / activities we would like to participate in and Neil decides he’d like to take a refresher dive at the PADI Centre here and I decide to take the Open Water Diving Course. However, I am unable to do so as I need a doctor to confirm that it’s okay for me to dive as I admitted that I have to use an inhaler once in a blue moon. Very frustrated but hey ho, that’s life!

Wed, 21st Nov: The arrival of Mr and Mrs Wilde … and ‘Mum’ …
Neil goes off to his refresher dive today at the House Reef (35min / 19 mtrs) and Mr and Mrs Wilde arrive later EEEEEKKKK! so I try to spend some time catching up with the blog, and I think my body welcomes a bit of time out of the heat and sunshine – never happy are we??????

Carina, John and Karen safely arrive and it’s lovely to see some familiar faces. A big hug via Carina from Dad tugs at the heart strings and is gratefully received. After they have completed the necessary paperwork, we spend the next few hours with them drinking and having a right good catch up 🙂

As dusk falls we decide that its time they should get to their rooms … but we stop again at the beach bar on the way, ‘cos we can’ !!!! They finally make it to their rooms at 6.30pm, lol, and are well impressed – we are all on the same stretch of beach which is great and meet up for dinner and a very entertaining evening is had. The Wildes seem to have brought a bunch of nutters with them, pmsl, and it turns out to be our latest and best evening yet as we ‘people watch’ the floor show that unfolds before us – ssssooooooo funnnnnyyyyyyy!

Neil presents me with some good news as we retire this evening. He so enjoyed his refresher dive today that he wishes he could have shared it with me. Somebody recommended that he contact our Doctor’s surgery to enquire whether they could complete the form required which will allow me to do the PADI course. Low and behold they only completed the form and faxed it back today … happy days; I will enrol in the morning and hopefully we can do a dive together before we leave here. Neil never ceases to amaze me … happy dayzzzzz 😀

Thu, 22nd Nov: Neil’s first diving trip …
9.00am sees Neil arrive for his first dive (40 mins / 20 mtrs) from a boat which takes him out to Kani Corner. It is also his EANx Dive which he has been recommended to do. This uses enriched air which is more beneficial when diving and, in addition, Neil will do the necessary studying required to get this certification. I join the divers on the boat and watch as they prepare for their dive … Neil does really well but is a little nervous but soon overcomes this when his new friend, a lovely guy called Philip, helps him out in setting up his equipment. He soon looks like a pro as he gets his gear on at the dive site and jumps overboard.

Before we leave the Dive Point, I complete the paperwork necessary to start my course tomorrow and, inwardly excited but outwardly nervous, I arrange to meet the instructor at 9.00am armed with water and a towel!

Neil and John enjoy some snorkelling before we all head off for lunch followed by a quick tour to the surfer’s end of the island. Us girls head off to do our own thing as Neil and John enjoy exploring another snorkelling site. It’s so tranquil here and all you have to think about is what to do next … …

Conscious of the fact that we have only one week left here now, and 3/4 mornings will be taken up by my PADI Course – we are already aware that this part of our journey is nearly over 😦

Fri, 23rd Nov: Karen’s Birthday … day 1 of my PADI Course … Neil’s ‘Deep Dive’
I take my first theory dive at the Jetty followed by my first Open Water Dive at the House Reef (bottom time 30 mins / 12 mtrs) and I loved it. I felt like a kid in a candy shop as I saw eagle rays, a black tip reef shark, moray eels and beautiful coloured fish, much brighter and larger than those seen whilst snorkelling. There are too many to be able to name but Muaz pointed out Oriental Sweet Lips and Blue Striped Snappers. Muaz also touched plants and coral where they would react to his touch by either retracting or changing colour. This dive really opened up a whole new world to me.

Whilst on the island, Neil is keen to progress his diving skills and today he completes his first Deep Training Dive. The boat takes him out to Palm Reef where his bottom time is 30 mins at 28 metres.

We meet up with the Wildes later that evening to celebrate Karen’s birthday … it is a lovely evening which I am sure she enjoyed. Afra, our waiter, did a great job in decorating our table for dinner and Karen really appreciated it.

Sat, 24th Nov: Studying, Studying, Studying … well, trying to …
The day is spent chilling, reading (studying) and completing my ‘exam’. This sounds awful when you’re supposed to be on your holidays but it was the most tranquil setting in which to learn!

Sun, 25th Nov: PADI DAY 2 …
Following my second theory dive at the Jettty, my Open Water Dive 2 again takes place on the House Reef (47 mins / 12 mtrs). Muaz says he never tires of diving the same places as each time it is so different and I experience this today. I am rewarded with many great sightings including the green turtle (a.maz.ing), anemones, fish – clown, lion, banner, fuseliers, scorpion, and a christmas tree worm.

Neil’s diving takes him out to a reef called the Colosseum today (bottom time 42 mins / 25 mtrs) aptly named for obvious reasons and, again he says the underwater scenery is stunning.

Mon, 26th Nov: PADI Final Day … and Enriched Air Nitrox Qualification (EANx) …
Theory 3 Dive at the Jetty precedes today’s Open Water Dive 3 at the House Reef (35 mins / 18 mtrs) and rewards me with sights of the green turtle, workes bilk turtles, lion fish, honeycombed moray eel and parrot fish.

Neil’s diving today takes him out to Manta Point (bottom time 39 mins / 25 mtrs). Manta Point is a famous cleaning station where huge Mantas, up to 20m in diameter, often come to be cleaned by the hundreds of fish swimming on the reef. However, despite the dive and the area being superb no Manta was to be found during his time there today.

Tue, 27th Nov:
my ‘Graduation Dive’ & EANxQualification … and, oh yeh, that Fashion Show; pmsl …

My Open Water Dive 4 and EANx dive takes place with Neil as well – our first dive together today and its awesome. We take the boat out to the Aquarium – aptly named as you feel as though you are literally a part of an actual aquarium! It’s absolutely stunning and very special as my first dive out at sea 😀 I buddy up with Muaz, my instructor, and Neil buddies up with Phil. Muaz guides us around the reef and we are rewarded with an abundance of colourful, spectacular aquatic life including two white tipped reef shark, moray eels, turtles, rays, fish (including Nemo, yay!) plants and coral.

Neil’s dive took him to 22 mtrs and I was only allowed to go to 18 mtrs – our bottom time was 51 mins. FAB! A fitting end to a fantastic holiday leaving us prepared to venture the diving opportunities in the future. We’ve both achieved so much here and in a beautiful location … Great Barrier Reef here we come 😀

Sitting in the bar that afternoon, Neil and I are ‘talked’ into taking part in a fashion show for one of the local shops. We pick our outfits and need to be back to get ready later that evening. We walk away wondering what we have let ourselves in for … … alcohol obviously plays its part; lol.

What an hilarious evening we have 😀 Firstly, we join the gang for a surprise dinner together for Kelly and Jay as they got engaged last night!!!!!! Afra does himself proud and decorates the table beautifully. Kelly and Jay are surprised by the gesture and we think they are pleased to have somebody to celebrate with until they get home 😀

The bar is packed for the entertainment and Neil and I, along with other guests, proceed to change and prepare. Neil and I plan our routine – we are to walk up the catwalk, occasionally stopping to pose (yeh baby!), plant our hats on some poor person, pick them up and carry on to the final line up!!!!! Well, that’s the plan anyway and we ‘rehearse’ as much as we can in the short time we have. AND, in Theresa style that all goes out of the window when the music starts and its our turn … pmsl … an adrenalin rush takes over and I do my own thing, dragging my Nemo under my arm !!!!! I can’t even see where Neil is and the cheering just spurs me on; lol lol lol !!!!! Carina is in charge of the camera and is our official photographer – I’ll let the pics speak for themselves.

After all the fun and frolics, we come away with two gift certificates – YAY! I get an individual first place and we come second in the couples competition. However, the couple that win hand us their gift certificate – they did an awesome Gangnam Style dance and say they have already had the trip which they have won. How lovely – we are high as kites as we change and head back to the ‘gang’ (Michelle n Philip; Kelly n Jay; Carina, John n Karen) for the remainder of the evening – and, to top it off Kelly n Jay got engaged!!!!!!!!

Wed, 28th Nov: Gift Voucher 1 – Massage 🙂 …
The first thing we do today is pack our belongings in readiness for tomorrow’s onward journey. We then relax for our last day here … catching up with a certain few people and staff to give thanks (and tips!). We also take advantage of the massage voucher – Neil opting for an ‘all over’ and I try a Shiatsu. Again, Neil relaxes sooo much he falls asleep, something I just can’t do no matter how relaxed I get.

Thu, 29th Nov: Gift Voucher 2; Lover’s Boat Ride on the Dhondi … and from Paradise to Perth (via Bangkok) …
It’s going to be a long day – we have to check out at mid-day for our flight at 5.00 pm and leave the island at 1.30pm. We take our Dhondi Ride around the island before getting our luggage together and waiting in reception until our time comes to leave.

Our remaining friends on the island, old and new, sit with us whilst we await our departure 😦 and it’s an emotional one – I, for one, will never get used to them!!!!! However, we are soon on the speedboat (in the rain – we seem to have left the island at exactly the right time, lol) making our way back to Male.

Goodbye Maldives … hope to see you again in the future!