Day 1 - Laamu Athol

Jippeeee!!! We are here!

Islands from the plane

 Bonnie and Tyrone being picked up!

Luc and Bonnie being refreshed

After 62 hours of travelling we finally made it to the Maldives. We left Cape Town at 3 on Sunday morning. Drove straight through to Jburg where we spent Sunday evening at the Pitzers. Used Monday for a quick meeting and also meeting up with friends and then off to the airport for our middle of the night flight. A bit of chaos during the boarding process - cannot understand why people push to get on a plane - it is not like the plane is going to leave without them! So our departure is delayed - a bit of a worry as we only have  a hour and a half to transfer to our Maldives flight in Dubai.

Bonnie and Tyrone also make the plane - after a hospital visit before they had to leave! (Not them!).

Our transfer time at Dubai Airport is cut short to an hour. Luc is very upset as he only has one mission - buying Dr "something" speakers! We run from one electronic shop to the next - our problem is solved because they do not have them! We get to the departure date at the final call - and Bonnie, Tyrone and Callie is not there! They made a stop at the Burger King!

Once again our flight is delayed - which cause a bit more stress as we are not sure what time we have to take the flight to Laamu Island - where we are staying.

Luckily we are met at Male Airport by a Bison Travel rep. Luckily - because the boarding is closed when we get to the counter. He quickly organises something and we rush through to the waiting area. The next plane is only at 12 at night!

Yet another delay and we depart 30 minutes later on a small 52 seater plane. Luc is amazed when he sees the airport with it's runway in the middle of the sea!

Finally we arrive at Kadhdhoo Airport. Our lift is a green jeep into which we pile all the bags (and just about fill it up!). Then we bundle ourselves into the front and as we are seated - we are told there is actually another vehicle too! We do the African thing and stick together - like sardines!!!

It is a quick 20 minutes through palm lined dirt streets and many converstations about what country the island reminds us - Mozambique, Seyschelles, Malawi etc.

We are met at Reveries Diving VIllage by a bunch of people. Some taking bags, some handing out freezing cold face cloths (great!!!), some handing out coconuts with straws and some just chatting.

It is the first tourist establishment on an inhabitit island - so no booze and no bikinis (on the road, but well on the resorts own private beach!).

The resort is a 4 storey high rise with beautifull little pool in the middle, lush green garden and it's own private beach. The rooms are also tastefully decorated and considering the price we are paying a great surprise.

Please note that my first quote for the 8 day trip was R 205 000 for the three of us. Here we are only paying R 1500 per day for3 with bed and breakfast.

Poor Bonnie has a challenge. Due to her operation last year she can only eat certain foods. But the management tries their best to accommodate.

Dinner is a small buffet consisting of great creamy salmon pasta, Cabbage salad, rice, fish (that tastes like chicken), curried beans and fritters. Very nice dessert - grated carrots in a custard/cumin dessert (reminds us a bit of Lokshen), plus a cakey thing which I did not try.

We meet the dive centre's staff and book our first dive. We are exhausted and fall asleep early.