Magnificent Maldives!

It is true what they say!… The Maldives is sheer bliss, exactly what you would ever imagine!

With turquoise, crystal-clear sea, a beautiful array of wildlife and stunning sunsets…this place is picture perfect!

Whilst exploring the Maldives I stayed on one of the smaller islands and I can tell you it is like stepping into a beautiful holiday magazine.

The Maldives boasts some of the most spectacular beaches in the world. The powdery white sand, the palm trees swaying in the breeze and the vibrancy of the colours around you is blissful. The sea truly is transparent… you can see the bottom of the ocean, like looking through a glass window.

Snorkeling in the Maldives ~

One activity which is truly breath-taking in the Maldives is snorkeling! With beautiful reefs surrounding each of the islands. There is just so much to see! You MUST take advantage of the opportunity to explore some of the most magnificent reefs.

It is impossible not to become fascinated by the beautiful array of fish, turtles, stingray and other marine life. The more I saw the more intrigued I was!

The local people working on the island shared their knowledge and passion of the marine life and highlighted their dedication to the environmental issues impacting the Maldives. It was fascinating to learn about the effect of global warming and coral bleaching.

Maldivian Cuisine ~

I had the opportunity to taste a mouth-watering range of Maldivian cuisine, otherwise known as Dhivehi cuisine. Each dish was bursting with warm spices and flavour . I would recommend tasting Maldivian curries if you stay here, they are simply delicious!

My favourite dish had to be the traditional curry, known locally as Mas Riha. A tuna and coconut based curry that was bursting with unique flavours. Many of the traditional Maldivian curries consist of coconut, fish and starch as core ingredients, with each element complimenting the overall textures and distinctive taste.

I enjoyed my curry with rice, accompanied by some freshly made paratha (unleavened flat bread). You can see paratha being freshly made in the picture below...it is simply delicious!

I also enjoyed the golden-brown vegetable pakora and island style potato tuna, tantalisingly tasty accompaniments to my Maldivian curry!

For dessert I had the unique experience of tasting Ice Kacang, known locally as air batu campur… a simple, yet delicious dessert consisting of shaved ice, generously topped with an eclectic mix of condiments!

Explore my Maldivian Cuisine Blog for more about the mouth-watering traditional dishes from the Maldives!

Hidden Gem Experience ~

The nature in the Maldives was truly inspiring...from witnessing the flying fox bats sweeping across the sunset sky, to admiring the menacing sharks, gliding purposefully through the night shadowed waters. It was fascinating to see the contrast in marine life from day to night.

A highlight of my trip to the Maldives was walking along the ocean in the evening and witnessing black tip and white tip reef sharks prowling the bays.

I also caught some glimpses of the much larger grey tip reef sharks. The experience of seeing wild sharks in their natural environment was breath-taking.

A little snippet of a black tip shark I caught on camera... beautiful!

I would also recommend taking the opportunity to go kayaking around the islands. It was a lot of fun and offered another beautiful perspective for exploring the marine life. You could appreciate the turquoise sea and outstanding views of the islands from the ocean. This was definitely a highlight for me!

Many of the island resorts offer a selection of free activities alongside paid excursions.

If you have a passion for snorkeling, an appreciation for stunning beaches and an appetite for flavoursome cuisine … Maldives is a MUST see destination!