Magical Maldives - March 2013

Sometime in my late twenties I spent a few months engrossed by that iconic computer game, Sim City. I worked out that the way to win accolades and parades as mayor was highly dependent on the number of parks I built in the suburbs. It was also, of course, highly desirable to keep industrial areas contained, and not too big, otherwise you ran the risk of hazardous pollution, and then no one wants to live in your city regardless of the numbers of parks.

Angaga Island lagoon, Maldives

It is a fascinating game and brought about an appreciation for what governments and councils need to consider. The spontaneous parades (come on, who doesn't love accolades?) were a great reminder that people just want to kick back sometimes.

In March 2013, we left our exemplary real life version of Sim City - otherwise known as Singapore - for a holiday that rates as one of our best ever.

We decided we were just going to have to suffer the hit the bank account was going to take and that it was high time we went to the Maldives. A four day holiday, without the kids this time - after all, it's expensive, don't you know. We went with another couple; good friends who were also keen to see if the Maldives were really as good as their reputation.

My preconceived idea of the Maldives was very limited - pristine tropical islands, barely above sea level. I wasn't entirely sure which ocean it was in and had no idea of the country or geography and how it works - only that it was a premium tourist destination.

Here's the first thing I learnt as we approached Male airport - the Maldives is a sprawling collection of tiny islands (atolls) in the middle of nowhere. The closer we got, the more clearly I understood how the Maldivians have applied Sim City to the pinpricks of atolls they call home.

The airport was on it's own atoll. The capital city, Male, is a 5 minute ferry ride away, and completely engulfs another island. Male is one of the most densely populated islands in the world. It was so strange to see this tiny, tiny island bursting with city scape, surrounded completely by water. There is no surrounding countryside to house sewerage works, power plants or other necessary infrastructure. On other atolls nearby we could see industrial plants.

Nothing looked safe from a tsunami. Just saying.

We were booked on a sea plane which would take us out to our resort. We were driven to the other side of airport island to the domestic terminal, where all the sea planes, and only sea planes, were moored. Totally cool. All the pilots wore the standard uniform of short white sleeved shirts, dark blue shorts and jandals (of any colour). They knew what they were about though. Ours was a full plane going to three different atolls. Flight time to our island in the centre of the South Ari Atoll was 25 minutes.

The sea-plane terminal of Male Airport

We stayed on Angaga Island which has just one resort on it. It couldn't have fit any more anyway. As it was, our room was out over the water.

Our first view of Angaga Island

On our way to our water bungalow rooms

Angaga Island Resort and Spa is an older resort I believe, but we loved it from the minute we saw it. You could walk around the island in ten minutes. The restaurant, cafe, tennis court, spa, dive centre, etc were on the island. Our rooms were built in the lagoon, accessible by a walkway. The walk to/from the rooms always involved stopping to point excitedly at the variety of tropical fish.

Remember how important it is to have lots of parks in your Sim City? Well, the Maldives has made the most of its remote, pristine atolls, each one a beautiful tropical 'park.'

I imagine every resort on any of the Maldivian atolls has the same abundance of fish, crystal clear water and pure white sand. And I hope they all have 'house reefs' as good as ours. Every day started with a game of tennis for us. Then there was at least one or two snorkelling excursions where you walk in from the beach and are treated to rays, turtles, small reef sharks and gorgeous corals all while swimming in one of the most beautiful and fully stocked aquariums imaginable.

Which is why we want to return with the kids. For the safest, most accessible and breathtaking snorkelling ever. The Maldivians are sensible in banning all spear fishing throughout their atoll country. Fishing is allowed, but not on the island reefs, I believe. We went fishing one night and were taken to a submerged reef about 20 minutes by boat from our island.

We know lots of people who've been to the Maldives and each of them, like us, speak highly of their holiday there. It's not cheap. But it's worth every cent. I suppose it costs a bit to get the necessary infrastructure required to each atoll.

We did notice there were no local women on our island. Receptionists, wait staff, housekeepers, etc were all male. The only women working on the island were foreigners. The women at the dive centre were German and the ladies at the spa were all from Bali. We assume this is because of Muslim societal rules. It was only back at Male airport that we saw women working.

There's not really much more I can say about the Maldives. If your idea of the perfect holiday is relaxing on white sands under palm trees with pristine snorkelling and swimming in warm water just a few steps away, then you will love the Maldives. Perhaps the only reason not to go immediately is if you have a long list of tropical destinations on your bucket list and need to save the best till last.

Different resorts will have different facilities. Ours did not have a swimming pool which may be preferred if you have small children. Our half board included breakfast and dinner buffets which were perfectly adequate.

I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story. Now, please excuse me while we go back to work to start saving again.