Six Senses

Pool at Reveries

 Dessert!

Sunset! 

 Africa is not for sissies!

 Sick Luc with happy us on the way to Six Senses

Six Senses from the sea 

 Sundeck area

 Water rooms

The most beautiful toilets -  check fish whilst sitting!

Our second last day took us to the 5star Six Senses Resort to see how the rich holiday. It was indeed a day for the rich. The boatride there was $150 for the 5 of us. Every price at the resort was double ours, which was double of what you pay in the shop!

It was a difficult day for Luc. He woke up vomiting and feeling very sick. We managed to get medication from Wolfgang and the hotel, but he struggles to keep it in. He survives the boat trip and when we get to the resort he falls down on the first couch and sleeps most of the day.

The resort is huge with 96 rooms but the layout is very cleverly done. Three "lines" of water rooms and then some beach rooms. We end up in the water chill area, which is a sundeck built over the crystal clear water with hammock beds floating over the water. The setting is stunning! The house reef is about 50 meters swim and is one of the most beautiful reefs we have seen so far. We see many parrot fish, a tune, a turtle and even a small barracuda.

Bonnie orders a Pina Colada without knowing the price - a staggering $ 18 plus 18% taxes and service charge.  Coke comes at $5 plus charges. During lunch we have the most expensive pizza and hamburger. R 250 each!

We wanted to get some Tshirts but at R 500 a shirt,I think I am going to print my own Maldive shirts when I am back in SA!

The snorkeling is so nice that we struggle to get the men out of the water for the boat trip back. There is a stunning sunset on the way back and we take some nice photos.

Great disappointed when we are downloading photos. Somehow we manage to delete most of the photos on our camera whist downloading them. SO we have a few photos of our trip to Six Senses.

We go to bed planning our next trip here. Luc has decided that he wants to stay in Six Senses - at the cheapest rate of R 8000 a night for a room (Bed & Bfast) I don't think this is going to happen!

We have a last dinner together joined by Harv and Jude. We laugh a lot at all Harv's stories.

TYRONE'S CORNER
Luc and Bonnie tries the icecream corner at Six Senses ($5 a scoop!!). Then we discover that all the toppings are free of charge. So Bonnie gets Tyrone to order another scoop and then instructs him to load the bowl with the free Smarties. The little spoon is too small and Tyrone puts his whole hand into the jar! It is hysterical! He puts so much in the bowl that Bonnie cannot finish it!

More photos:

 Icecream shop at Male Domestic Lounge

Male Airport

Day ? - stopped counting

We are now truly Island people. We have no idea what the date is or what day of the holiday it is. All disappeared into a blur of great diving and sun and sea. All I can say is that yesterday we attempted to dive the channel, but our luck was out as the current was going the wrong way. We ended up doing a late afternoon deep dive which was great.

This morning we tried again and what a stunning dive. Saw Manta (first time in months they have seen), sharks, eels, turtles etc. Luc was with the group higher up. Shame - his first current dive - was a bit challenging.

We are teasing him now because there is a beautiful Ukrainian girl at the hotel. She is 25 but looks 14. He cannot keep his eyes off her!!

Yesterday when we went diving, Luc was invited by one of the staff members on a scooter trip through the village. He had a ball!!

Day 5 - more diving

 Local transport

 "Tiny"????

Hey, my boy!

 Green is the in colour for bicycles

 Blue door family

Pre-election fun on Laamu

Yet another early morning. The plan was to do two deep drift dives. This morning it is Callie who cannot equalise and there will be no deep diving for today. Jude takes Luc and myself out to two stunning sites. Our dives are relatively shallow to allow for Luc’s 12 meter max.  The first dive has fantastic fish and I use the opportunity to film the diving. Decide to leave the camera on the boat for the second dive. Big mistake. We see White Tip Reef shark and a very nosy Spotted Eagle Ray, who keeps on coming back for Luc! Perhaps because they are the same size! Stunning dive yet again. We are so amazed by the number of different fish all around.

Luc is exhausted. He is not used to the repetitive diving and he sleeps most of the travel on the boat. I am very impressed with his skills both as diver and creating a new underwater sign language. Jude kills herself laughing when Luc tries to explain to me that I need to go down to the sand to find shark teeth. Of course, mother understands nothing of what he is trying to say!!

We go back to our Green Coffee Shop, this time with Bonnie and Tyrone. Once again we make the stop at the corner cafe to get a big supply of Milo and Cokes – keeping in mind the spicy food. We tried to order less spicy food, but alas it is all smiles and no comprehension. This time we get a huge plate of bananas and this should have served as a warning of things to come! There is no NOT spicy in this town. The tears run from Luc’s eyes as he tries to eat the noodles helped on by some bananas!

The Polish group of two couples also venture into the restaurant and decide to follow suit. We say nothing, but enjoy their pain and discomfort when they launch into their plates of noodles. At least they can take a joke and end up laughing about it!

After lunch Callie and Luc take me for a stroll through the little village. It is very 3rd world. They are very excited about one of the little shops and the collection of cheap imported Chinese plakkies they are selling! They even have Facebook ones!!! What a great gift! We are also a bit disappointed at the lack of curios for sale - there is absolutely nothing here! 

We have heard that the ex-president is in town. It turns out that he is staying at Reveries and Tyrone (with no clue of who he was, pushed his party out of the way to get to the other side of reception). This president was the first elected in the democratic elections in 2008. He was ousted with a military coup in 2012 by the old president. It seems that he started doing many positive things, but democracy can be difficult when the country is still ruled by old money and people with serious connections.  Well, there is an election this year again and many hope that he will win again.

Dinner is a beach barbeque.  Tyrone and Luc seat themselves at the only table with chairs – to be moved off promptly as this is for the president! Tonight’s menu includes rice, pasta (as every night!), vegetable curry and a huge sailfish! Luc immediately decides that he is not eating that fish! It turns out to be very nice.

We hit the bed not too late and decide to watch an episode of Bones. Please note that there are about 5 TV channels that work.  The local TV channel, Al Jazeera, some or other Chinese channel, a French channel  and Fashion TV! We are astounded by this – TV channels are banned except Fashion TV (which has an age restriction in my house!).

Shame – Luc is so tired, he falls asleep half way through Bones!

TYRONE’S CORNER:

Tyrone dumped about 3 spoons of what he thought was salt on his spicy noodles – turns out it is sugar! Well, he says it made the burn more acceptable!

Day 4 - Private Island

 On the boat

 The island

 The island

The dirty island....

 Our local chef, snorkel master, skipper....

 The heap of junk we cleaned up...

Luc and Mom

No diving today due to the dive centre being closed as the support staff has to go to mosque. So we booked a day trip to a “private” island called Boikaffushi. Set off at nine on a small speed boat with Luc’s new friend as the skipper. It is a 30 minute ride and we are all happy for the sunshine that is finally here. From a distance the island looks idyllic with it’s variations of blue water and white palm lined beaches.  Looks like we are going to really have the island to ourselves.

However, greatly disappointed when we set foot on the stunning white sand. The beach is littered with plastic bottles and junk.  Due to this we decide to camp out right at the tip – where the beach is clean – but with no shade. We quickly discover that the sun is no friend! It gets so hot on the sand that we all make a run for the water. Which at 30 degrees is not any colder! Bonnie and Tyrone spends the morning tanning IN the water. I join Luc on a snorkelling expedition. The snorkelling is fantastic! A stunning reef with lots of fish. Luc surprises me by diving down to about 4 meters and swimming around like a fish.

After too much sun we all move to the shade. Lunch is served – grilled snapper, fried rice, chicken sausages and salad (and French fries for Tyrone!).   Luc, Tyrone and Callie ventures into the water for some more snorkelling and I go for a long float in the sea. We are astounded by the warm, calm water. We all agree that we can definitely live on this island!

The environmentally  conscience Strydom family decides to do something about the junk on the beach and collects all the plastic and burn it in a huge bonfire. A choice between bit of chemicals floating in the air than plastic killing sea life and ruining the visit of the next group.

We are very sad when we finally leave – became quite taken on the idea of living on a private island.  

TYRONE'S CORNER:

Warm coconut!

Day 3 - More diving and some local food

 Bonnie and Tyrone

 Luc enjoying the milk mocha coffee

 The local "coffee shop"

 Luc with his catch - a small tuna!

 Chilling out on our own private beach

 Local village

Dive briefing by Jude

Palm trees

Luc sets the alarm for 6 because he wanted to go to the gym. Forgot that we are still on South African time and last night at 12 we were still wide awake! Needless to say that Luc did not get up for gym, and also nearly missed the diving because he could not wake up! We had an early breakfast and then straight into diving. This time we left on a local dive boat.  “Local” because it is one of those flat bottom wooden boats. The trip took about 45 minutes during which Jude told us all about life on the Maldives. Many social problems like drug usage under the younger people. Also, massive environmental problems. We say this when walking 50 meters down the beach from our pristine private beach. Lots of junk from baby stroller to plastic shoes!

The diving however turned out as good as they all say. The first dive took us to a pinnacle at about 3 meters sloping down to 28 meters. Jude and Luc stayed at the top whilst the two of us ventured down. Callie decided that he wanted to do some sand diving and swam into the blue over a sand bank! This was the ideal situation for the remoras to “attack”. They kept on sucking to my bare legs and became a real bother. I first blasted them with my octo and then ended up diving above Callie, holding onto his cylinder so that they can stay away from me.  On our way back, we were rewarded by a visit from a very shy Eagle Ray. Also saw two turtles and another shy reef shark.

The second dive was just as stunning. We are amazed by the variety of fish on the stunning reef. Lots of anemones and their little friends. Many schools of fish, including some beautiful see-through trumpet fish. Once again, two turtles, this time not so shy. We are happy to be left alone to dive on our own and also to log 60 minute dives.

Back at the resort we quickly have a bath and decide to try out the “coffee shop” recommended by Jude. It is extremely local and basic and as we enter a group of young men jump up from their table and quickly clean up for us! Callie orders some sort of round tuna fish cake. We also order a plate of fried rice and fried noodles – with chicken which comes at the same price as “without chicken”! At only R 30 a plate this is definitely the best bargain on the island. We however forgot about the preference for hot food – and did not ask for them to be light on the “heat”.  The food was great – but hot! We were very thankful for the tins of Milo and Mocca Milk Coffee we got at the shop next door. We immediately stopped there again to get some more Milo to cool off the burn! Also got some nice vanilla waffles and fruit juice.

An old local man starts chatting to Luc in the shop and shows him the dried fish. Luc cannot shake his head enough! The old man follows us outside and “invites” Callie and Luc to go with him.  Apparently they had a real adventure. He took them to his house, the mosque, his brothers house and the local shops in his road. They came back with some nice berries and no photos!

We chill out on the beach and afterwards I join Luc in the gym for a long workout. I am amazed by the energy of the little boy – must be all the milk coffee drinks he had! We go for a swim with Bonnie and Tyrone in the hotel pool – and also get attacked by many mosquitos.

Luc and one of the waiters are now best buddies and cannot stop playing pool. We realise what a heart for people Luc has. He wants to help everyone! Nearly dinner time – so logging off now!

TYRONE'S CORNER:
Tyrone managed to put on a doggie pleading face and scored a plate of french fries!!!

Reveries Diving Village

The Reveries Village is a government pilot project. Situated on a local island - this is the only place currently in the Maldives where you can stay in a local village. A few challenges - no booze allowed and no bikinis - unless you go to their private beach. But if you cross the road to the beach - you must be properly dressed! Stunning beach, great rooms and the best of all - the cheapest resort to stay in the Maldives.


Maldives,[8] officially the Republic of the Maldives[nb 1] and also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean consisting of a double chain of twenty-six atolls, orientated north-south, that lie between Minicoy Island (the southernmost part of Lakshadweep, India) and the Chagos Archipelago. The chains stand in the Laccadive Sea, about 700 kilometres (430 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 kilometres (250 mi) south-west of India.
For the majority of its history, the Maldives has been a free nation, despite three instances during which it was ruled by outside forces. In the mid-fifteenth century, for fifteen years, the Maldives was dominated by the Portuguese Empire. In the mid-seventeenth century, the Dutch Empire (Malabar) dominated Maldives for four months. Finally, in the late nineteenth century, on the brink of war, the Maldives became a British protectorate from 1887 until 1965. The Dutch referred to the islands as the "Maldivische Eilanden" (pronounced [mɑlˈdivisə ˈɛi̯lɑndə(n)]),[citation needed] while the British anglicised the local name for the islands first to the "Maldive Islands" and later to the "Maldives". The islands gained independence from the British in 1965 and became a republic in 1968 ruled by a president and an authoritarian government.
The Maldives archipelago is located on top of the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean. Maldives also form a terrestrial ecoregion together with the Chagos and the Lakshadweep.[9] The Maldives atolls encompass a territory spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi), making the country one of the world's most geographically dispersed. Its population of 328,536 (2012) inhabits 192 of its 1,192 islands.[10] In 2006, Maldives' capital and largest city Malé, located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll, had a population of 103,693.[11][12] Malé is one of the Maldives' administrative divisions and, traditionally, it was the "King's Island" where the ancient Maldive royal dynasties were enthroned.
The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. With an average ground level of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the planet's lowest country.[13] It is also the country with the lowest natural highest point in the world, at 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in).[13] Forecasts of Maldives' inundation are a great concern for the Maldivian people.

Day two - Diving the house reef

Breakfast!

Washing gear

 Jet lag after the dive!

Pool

Pool 2!

We could not wake up this morning - Callie had to pull the two of us out of bed for breakfast at 9. No sign of Bonnie and Tyrone!  After the quick breakfast we stroll over to the dive center  We are lazy and the bodies tired after the long travel. The diving guys are great - Kiwi dive master (owner) who knows all about rugby with French assistant! 

He does a proper briefing, especially for Luc who has not dived since the Mauritius trip. It is a 200m walk/swim to the house reef. We go down to 3 meters and do some basic skills before starting the dive. It is really very pretty with beautful coral and lots of little fish. The highlight of the day is the pipefish on the sand and the leaf fish at the end. Luc does very well - great on air consumption and we end up doing a 75 minute dive.

I must add that when carrying the dive equipment I could feel 50 creeping up!  With the orientation dive behind us we can now focus on some more serious diving!

We hit the bed when we get back to the hotel. Still very tired. Luc decides to go to the gym - ends up in the garden with Bonnie and Tyron drinking defac coffee and eating sweats!  Luc ventures into the village with Bonnie and Tyrone. One dollar for a Coke at the hotel and .80 cents for one in the village (and they are not the big cans we are used too!).

Luc makes friends with one of the young men working as a waiter and they play a few pool games. I still plan to go to the gym - but to find the energy!!! Perhaps tomorrow!!

TYRONE'S CORNER
This section is dedicated to the strange and weird eating habits of Tyrone.  Dinner tonight - pasta on white bread!