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Sri Lanka and Maldives – The art of doing…

The Colombo airport was much more modern and civilized than we had expected. I had thought that it would be similar to the Caracas airport in Venezuela, and we were all ready to face the hoards of “porters” trying to grab your bags. We were glad to spot a woman holding up a sign with our names on it, after we got our baggage cleared. She was the wife of our agent, and she also happened to be the ground crew for SriLanka Airlines. We followed her outside to the waiting area where we met up with her husband who had just started the Sunflower Tour Agency. We then started on our long 2 hour journey to the Bentota Beach Hotel, about 70 kms from the airport. Boy, was I glad we didn’t decide to get a car ourselves. The Sri Lanka folks are very aggressive drivers, but are also probably the best in the world. Our agent would pass every car in sight, even though we were mainly on two-lane roads. Sometimes, four cars would squeeze by each other! Unbelievable!

When we finally arrived at the Bentota Beach Hotel, I was completely beat and was red-hot with a fever from my cold. The hotel was actually built on an Old Dutch fort and was quite interesting indeed. We felt like we were entering a castle! The hotel lobby had these nice ceiling panels made with batik. That was a nice touch. Our room on the second floor had a fantastic view of the beach. Sri Lankan has lots of tall palm trees everywhere and it was nice to relax in-room with the windows open and feeling the sea breeze through the palm trees. The hotel service was great and room service even better. The tomato and cheese sandwiches were a highlight, as the cheese didn’t taste so funny, like the ones we had in Nepal (Yak cheese!).

After an uneventful and mostly unappetizing (maybe because I was ill) breakfast, we headed outside to check out the two baby elephants who were taking their daily morning baths. The elephants were lying in the shallow water, and these mahouts were riding on them, scrubbing them clean with fresh coconut husks. The elephants really looked like they were enjoying themselves. Since they were mostly submerged in the water, you could see their trunks sticking out of the water once in a while to get some air.

Throughout the hotel grounds, signs of topless women with a cross on top of them were posted on the palm trees. Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country, so nakedness is definitely a taboo. I bet the Europeans must not have been pleased with that.

The hotel had quite a large swimming pool with big rocks embedded at the bottom of the pool. We swam just a little and started sweating all over. Definitely not a refreshing swim. The Indian ocean was much better. The water was warm but not hot, and Robert and I spent quite a lot of time playing in the waves. The waves could get quite big at times. Robert would lie in the water and try to catch a wave. He got lots of sand in his shorts (hee hee!) I just stood in the water because I was chicken. It was great fun!

Dinners at the hotel were not bad. The Sri Lankan food was much better than the continental cuisine. Most of the guests at the hotel were tourists from Germany or other European countries. Some of these people really overdid it with the sun-tanning. There entire bodies, including their faces, were beet-red in colour! It was painful even to just look at them!

Robert bought me a beautiful Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond ring as my early birthday present. It was a good deal even though we just bought it at one of the jewellery stores at the hotel. As our Dutch friend Evelyn would say, the ring was “cheapy, cheapy”. Apparently, we were the first customer for May Day, so our jeweller wanted our business badly. It was funny, because he was taking a nap when we entered the store. I guess business was not good for him that day.

The next morning, we rented a boat to take us on a tour up the Bentota river. Our boatmen showed us water monitors (they were lying on tree limbs by the rivers edge) and various birds (eagles, cormorants, etc.) We also stopped by this little hut where two little girls came running to show us their “pets”, a mongoose and a baby alligator! The mongoose actually looked quite cute, but I didn’t want to pet it in case it bit me. I figured that if mongooses (or is that mongeese??) were tough enough to kill snakes, they couldn’t had been that domesticated! We bought a hand-painted wooden elephant as a souvenir of the trip. We later found out that the wooden elephant was missing its tusks… bummer!

When our agent picked us up to take us to the airport for the flight to Male (the capital of Maldives), he showed us all the wonderful sights along the west coast. On our way, we saw lots of white flags and white banners. SriLankan Airlines required us to check in 3 hours before flight time, so we had plenty of time to shop in the duty free area. The shopping was WONDERFUL at the Colombo airport! We bought lots of Ceylon tea (the Mango tea was especially delicious), and bought four kinds of cashew nuts. I also bought some cosmetics because the prices were really good. Now, THAT’S duty-free shopping! I was so happy shopping that before I knew it, it was time to board the aircraft. Bummer!

The Male airport was on a completely separate island from Male itself. It was very small, and was basically non-air-conditioned. We were met with a representative from Nika Hotel, and were quickly transferred to the Hummingbird helicopter waiting area. Nika Hotel is on Ari Atoll. It would take about 2 hours for speedboat transfer, so were lucky to get the helicopter transfer instead. The ride on the helicopter was very nice since we got to see all the beautiful islands below us. The Hummingbird helicopter service ran two different helicopters, an American one and a Russian one. Apparently, they had to hire a Bulgarian pilot to fly the Russian helicopter since all the controls were in Russian. After we arrived at the helicopter pad, we then took a 10 minute ride on the boat to get to the Nika Hotel. Boy, what a trip! I was completely exhausted when I got there. But at the reception, they had already laid out fresh pineapple and papaya together with two coconut welcome drinks for us. What a nice surprise! They even had nice cold towels for us…ahhhh…. this is the life!

Nika Hotel was situated on this small island covered with many fruit trees. It was named Nika after a rare tree in the middle of the island. The hotel was owned by Italians but was run by local Maldivians. The bungalows were shaped to look like coral shells. Very interesting indeed! The water around Nika was absolutely gorgeous in all different shades of blue! The only thing that I didn’t like about the island was that there was this one bat (at least I hoped that there was only one of them!) that would fly around the pathway at night! Gross! I could even tolerate the little lizards that would run around the island. They looked just like miniature iguanas. When they ran, their tails would swish around, making them look very comical!

We were assigned the Sultan room, and later found out that we got the best bungalow suite on the entire island. Nika Hotel had altogether about 26 bungalows, and each one got its own private beach, well, except for bungalow #1 (to the left of our bungalow). The two young Italian girls (I called them the Italian babes, they looked like twins) in Bungalow #1 were sunning themselves on our beach when we arrived! Imagine my surprise when I saw them right next to my bedroom window! So much for the private beach! Our “public relations” guy told us that their beach was being repaired, and so they were sharing our beach with us. But if we didn’t want to share, he would tell them not to go to our beach anymore. Well, I didn’t want to chase the two women off our beach, but I didn’t want to have them lying by my bedroom either! But I guess Robert and I grossed them out when they saw us lying around on our bed (with our towels) after our shower (we were so beat!) I guess the Italian babes got embarrassed and decided to find another beach themselves. We later found out that they decided to share the beach with some of their other Italian friends. Lucky us!

The Sultan bungalow had two large bedrooms complete with mosquito netting over the beds. The place was furnished with old Sri Lankan furniture, and the bathrooms were actually outdoors! There was even a second bathroom with an outdoor tub. Strange! Since parts of the bungalow were outdoors, there were quite a number of house lizards and ants running around, especially at night. One of the house lizards actually got into the toilet and was doing a backstroke in it. Yuk! The best part of the bungalow was definitely our bedroom as we overlook our private beach. It was really nice to hear the waves lapping away at night! Sort of like a lullaby! There were several ceiling fans throughout the bungalow, but we really wished that they had air conditioning during our first evening there. Somehow our part of the island had very little breeze at night… so that was a drag. On our first night, we kept on waking up every few hours because of the heat. We actually went and took cold showers to keep cool.

Dinner was served from 9pm to 10:30pm! Nika set its time 2 hours ahead of Male time, so I guess it wasn’t too late after all. Besides, there wasn’t too much to do after dark on the island anyway, except for swimming in the moonlight (which we did the first night…it was really nice!) The moon was glowing on the beautiful water, and I could actually see the sand underneath the water! Anyway, back to dinner. We got one of the best tables at the restaurant because we got the Sultan bungalow, and our waiter’s name was Hussein. He was a really nice Maldivian. Lunches and dinners were always a three course affair with tea or coffee at the end. Considering that they had to import mostly all of their foods, I would say that the food was quite excellent. We had excellent pastas with tomato sauces, and we had fresh fish every day. At night, they would usually serve some meat. We also had a Maldivian buffet (curry and rice mostly) one night. The hotel actually grew its own vegetables and fruits. One night, I ordered the lobster as a special meal. Our waiter made beautiful flowers with our paper napkins. It was so pretty!

Next to our tables were this one German couple who seemed to know EVERYONE. The wife had these incredibly long thin legs. I was so jealous. I told Robert that I would like to have her body but keep my face. He thought that I would look very strange indeed! The German husband had this very very dark tan! He must not had been worried about skin-cancer!

At the other table sat the Italian Doctor and her buddy. I had requested for some cough syrup when we got to the hotel, and ended up getting a quick checkup by the Italian Doctor. She couldn’t speak English well at all. It was my first checkup in Italian! That was funny. Apparently, the hotel always invited a Doctor to be on the island for medical emergencies.

From our dinner table, we could sometimes see the moon rising over the horizon at night. It was a really beautiful sight to see the moon rising over the clouds! Too bad we didn’t have a camera to capture it on film.

There was an open air aquarium not far from the restaurant. We would take our bread to go feed the turtles, fish, and sharks (they didn’t like bread) nearly everyday. It was really fun to see the turtles fighting for the bread! The German couple had this ritual where only one of them would go feed the turtles during every meal. Strange…

Sure seemed like everyone else smoked except for us. I guess it was because the hotel guests were mainly Italians and Germans, and that smoking was quite common in Europe. Oh well… We just made sure that we didn’t linger too long among the smokers. The main activities before and after dinner were to gather at the coffee-shop to have drinks. I particularly enjoyed our pre-dinner drinks since we could see the beautiful sunsets. Drinks were very expensive in the Maldives since the Government does not allow Moslems to drink. It was a major offense to smuggle in alcohol in the Maldives. Even our bartenders were not Maldivians. The Government would import Sri Lankans, etc. to act as bartenders. Robert’s favourite drink was the Coca Dorato, a very potent mixture of coconut, Rum, and Galliano. Since I had a bad cold, my favourite was Coke with Lime (they call them Limon over there). They would serve the drinks with finger sandwiches (tuna and tomato, or olive spread), green olives and fresh coconut. All very yummy! One night, I fed the tuna-fish sandwich to the cat “Lumpy”. This one white and gray cat would always show up at the coffee shop at night. He had one bad leg and would hobble around. I called him Lumpy (or Lumpaceous) because he had these scratches and scars all over his body. I guess it was tough to be an island kitty. Apparently, he was one of the five cats on the island. Lumpy was nice and friendly enough. He would always meow for attention, and loved getting petting from me. Robert tried petting him with his foot once, and Lumpy let out this awful meow after a while. He then kept staring at Robert’s foot while meowing in this awful tone. Robert was sure that Lumpy was going to attack his foot! It was so funny!

My favourite activity on the island was definitely snorkelling! We could actually snorkel right from our beach. There were an amazing number of fish on the coral about 30 yards from the beach. We even fed them once, and these neon colour fish were very aggressive and even bit our fingers to try to get at the bread. It was fun! There was a short “wall” or drop-off in the coral, where we could see large schools of fish swimming along the wall. I couldn’t believe all the marine life! Actually, before we discovered snorkelling right along the island, we went on this snorkelling trip to one of the outer reefs. The water was very choppy that day, and I was getting quite nauseas from the sea. Everybody else (there were only four of us) jumped into the sea from the boat, but I refused. So they got me this ladder which I hung on for dear life. I was so nauseas that I wasn’t sure what would be better. In the water or on the boat. Good thing I decided to go ahead with the snorkelling anyhow. We actually saw a manta-ray swim by. The ray was a very fast swimmer. Robert tried to catch up with him, but he just kind of “flew” away. The other German couple saw a small reef shark. One of the local Maldivians from our hotel snorkelled along with us. He used no flippers at all, just stuck a mask and snorkel on. All the Maldivian men wore these long sarongs. It was really funny to see him in the water with this sarong. When we swam back to the boat, we had to swim outside the reef area where there was this incredible wall. I didn’t have my contact lenses in, so I couldn’t see how deep the water was all of a sudden. All I knew was that the water turned a very intense shade of green. Robert said he looked and couldn’t see the bottom at all. Scary!

Since I caught this awful cold, we didn’t get to try any diving at all. But the snorkelling was just fine for me. I had never seen so many fish in my life. The best part was that I could go snorkelling any time in the day right from the beach, and then go into the bungalow for a shower before coming back out to the beach to lay around. Sometimes we could see the water turning dark from all the schools of fish. Many of them would actually jump out of the water, making splattering noises. That was very entertaining! Our beach always had one or two cranes that would stand there patiently waiting for an unsuspecting fish to swim by. Robert would always try to get close to them, but they were awfully shy. So he would start running after them. These poor cranes would let out these awful noises when they were terrorized by Robert.

Maldives was having its rainy season, but we were fortunate to have only periodic showers from time to time. Actually, we enjoyed the showers because it would bring some relief to the hot weather! One afternoon, there was a big storm outside, and we actually spotted two water spouts! Robert was really happy because he had never seen water spouts before.

Lots of people were learning diving, including the Italian Doctor. One night, a group went on a night-diving trip. While we were sipping our pre-dinner drinks, they put on all their gear and just kind of disappeared into the water. One of the Germans was kidding to the bartender, saying that he better sign for his check before he went diving, just in case he didn’t come back.

We arranged to be dropped off on a deserted island not far from the hotel. It was really strange to be there all by yourself. We spent the morning walking around the island, and Robert saw this black and white water snake in the water not far from where he was standing! Good thing I didn’t see it because I would definitely have freaked out! Robert even tried to take a picture of it, although it didn’t turn out very well. The snake was about 1 foot long. It was my understanding that all water snakes were very poisonous, although they didn’t usually attack unless they were provoked. Still, the thought of us lying there on the deserted island dying from the poisonous snake bite was not a good one! It was quite hot and sunny that day, so we did some snorkelling around the island. We saw these very cute clown-fish (orange and brown with white stripes) that hang out in the anemones. Anemones were something like living coral and were poisonous. The clown-fish would secrete this mucus so that the anemones would think that the clown-fish were actually part of the anemones. This way, the clown-fish would be protected from other predators. They were really very cute. When Robert waved in the water with his hand, they would hide in the anemones, and then peek to check whether he was gone!

We also went fishing twice. Robert caught this 40 lb grouper, a very fat fish with an awful looking mouth and teeth, and also this 80 lb (6 to 7 feet long) Blue Marlin (or Sailfish, with this very beautiful blue fin and a nose like a swordfish). I caught these two much smaller fish by comparison. Boring! I did nearly get pulled overboard by this other Blue Marlin. He actually bit the steel leader off and got away. That was quite exciting! The fishermen hardly spoke English, but they were all very nice. All the fishing was done with just a hook with fish as bait and a piece of fishing line. For the big fish (caught during Trawling Fishing), we had a big piece of rope attached to the fishing line. No fishing rods at all! It was really amazing to see one of the fishermen pull in this great big shark (about 9 to 10 feet, I would say) with his bare hands! He also caught another smaller reef shark (about 2 to 3 feet). We took a picture of him holding his trophy before he let the little shark back into the water. That shark went bounding all over the deck in a fury. Robert’s fisherman actually got on the bench to get away from the shark. It was so funny to see Robert’s grouper jumping around madly, splashing water onto one of our fishermen’s eyes. Everyone was laughing really hard. The Maldivians really keep their fishing boats very clean. They would clean and scrub with sea water every time a fish touched the deck. During our fishing trips, we also saw schools of dolphins playing in the water. They would gracefully jump in and out of the water. What a sight it was!

Apart from fishing, we spent some time playing “Travel Scrabble” and kayaking. As the slogan goes…”Maldives, the art of doing nothing!”, I figured that we did alright! We could sure get used to this life! It was really sad to leave the place, although I missed Tiggra and Teddy badly. I stared at the blue waters as we took our boat ride to the helicopter pad, and I saw this spotted ray go by. It was beautiful! On the way back to the Male airport, since there were only three passengers, Robert actually got invited to go sit in the helicopter cockpit. He took lots of nice pictures of the islands below, and spent some time talking to the Bulgarian pilot.

Time to go back to Colombo for one night before flying back to Singapore. The Male airport was FILLED with local Maldivians who were seeing their relatives off on their trip to Mecca (in Saudi Arabia to pay pilgrimage…this was supposed to be their journey of a lifetime). It was really funny to see a huge Boeing 747 being filled with these folks all dressed in white robes. Looked like a giant Toga party!

We stayed at the Cinnamon Grand in Colombo. It was quite nice and luxurious in comparison to the simple bungalows we were used to. We had asked for a suite, and it turned out to be two adjourning rooms! They took out the bed in the other room and put in sofas. So much for a suite! Apparently, the occupancy rate was so low there that they could afford to have these “suite” arrangements. Our room was quite nice as it overlooks the swimming pool. After another totally refreshing swim at the swimming pool, I went for a quick massage at the Health Club, while Robert read his newspaper (first time in over a week) by the pool. There were these big crows all standing around the pool, hoping to get a scrap of food. There were a lot of expatriate families around the pool area. Apparently, the hotel pools were one of the few hangout joints in Colombo.

For dinner, we tried out the local restaurant at the hotel called the “Ran Malu”. We ordered all Sri Lankan curries. Yummy! We really like Sri Lankan food. They even had a band playing Sri Lankan music (sounded like Mexican music to us though). The food prices in Sri Lanka were very reasonable. The entire dinner with drinks came to about US$30. Not bad!

Well, all in all, we had quite a wonderful time in Sri Lanka and Maldives. I really want to visit again. I will never forget the beautiful blue waters and sandy beaches….

–

Maldives

Cinnamon Island Alidhoo Resort | Maldives

Cinnamon Island Alidhoo		Rating :
	Location : Haa Alif Atoll Distance from airport: 120 km Transfer: 50 minutes by Seaplane 15 minutes by Speedboat No of rooms :99 Beach Villas [45] Ocean Villas [ 46] Duplex Beach Villas [7] Suite [1]

Embark on a voyage of discovery towards an island once uncharted now discovered. Take a 50-minute picturesque Islanad Aviation Domestic flight from Malé, due north, to the airfield of Hanimadoo … the treasure is within your grasp. Cast away the map … for it is no longer required. The secret unfolds in the course of a 15 minute speedboat ride through the widely undiscovered northern atoll of Haa Alifu … it is a perfectly ‘rounded’ island, spanning over 35 acres, with nature’s breathtaking ‘aquarium’ all around and a beautiful coral garden beneath.

Accommodation

Rooms at Cinnamon Island Alidhoo are designed to immerse you in your very own hideaway. Gaze out at azure waters. Wiggle your toes in the soft, white sand. Be warmed by the blessed sun. Prepare to lose yourself in an experience that is the epitome of luxury.

All rooms are set in villas facing the ocean or out over the waters of the lagoon. The property has been especially designed to blend harmoniously into the surrounding nature.

Services and amenities for all rooms and suites:

Air conditioning with individual temperature controls
In-room safe to provide security to your personal belongings
Open plan bathroom with shower area, vanity sinks and 24 hours hot and cold running water
Luxury bathroom amenities, hair dryer, bathrobes and bedroom slippers
Jacuzzi on the veranda
Spacious dressing and storage area
Minibar, tea, coffee and Espresso making facilities and bottled drinking water, for your convenience
IDD telephone and flat screen television with satellite TV to keep you in touch with the world outside
DVD/VCD player, for a “room theatre” experience
24-hour room supplementary
Thoughtful extras like weighing scales, iron and ironing board, digital alarm clock, sun umbrellas, rain jackets and a shoe shine set
Writing desk with ADSL connection and stationery folder
Wi-fi facilities
Verandah/easy chairs, sun loungers and a coffee table and dining on the terrace available on request
Complimentary local newspaper on request
A choice of pillow from our special pillow menu

Beach Villas [45]

Offer panoramic views of the ocean. Their tasteful interiors feature strong colours, noble timber floors and traditional Maldivian thatched roofs. The Beach Villas have a connecting lounge area and an open verandah With Jacuzzi.

Maximum Occupancy: 3 adults or 2 adults and one child under 12 years

Duplex Beach Villas [7]

Beautifully structured with two levels, all 7 Duplex Beach Villas are right on the sea front. High ceilings covered with Maldivian thatched roofs allow a smooth flow of cooling sea breezes. On the ground floor a comfortable lounge area invites you to make yourself at home while allowing your eyes to feast on the view of the ice-blue waters. At the upper level, a bedroom with attached bathroom and a timber decked balcony promise tranquil luxury. In-room spa treatments are available subject to prior reservation.

Maximum Occupancy: 3 adults or 2 adults and one child under 12 years

Ocean Villas [ 46]

Fool you into thinking you are on a yacht, spacious and luxurious as they are and built completely over the sea. Dangle your feet in the deep blue sea as you admire nature’s own aquarium below you. Let the naturally air-cooled winds soothe you as you train your sights on the horizon and the adjoining islands. Snooze off in the bedroom on the upper level. Soak in a hot tub in the open-plan bathroom or the Jacuzzi on the verandah.

In-villa spa treatments are available subject to prior reservation.

Maximum Occupancy: 3 adults or 2 adults and one child under 12 years

Note: Accommodation in a Duplex Ocean Villa for children under 12 is not recommended as a safety measure.

Cinnamon Suite

Far from the madding crowd. Set amidst lush tropical vegetation. With its own private plunge pool. Not just for Heads of Government. The Cinnamon Suite is the preferred luxury getaway for the rich and the famous. The entire villa is reminiscent of a village structure with thatched roofs and wide terraces overlooking the ocean. A large living room and dining room with lovely timber flooring are perfect for family meals and get-togethers. Both of the bedrooms have an attached toilet with a very spacious open plan bathroom, shower and Jacuzzi.

The Cinnamon Suite also has a pantry and butler’s quarters.

In-villa spa treatments are available subject to prior reservation.

Maximum Occupancy: 4 adults or 3 adults and 2 children under 12 years

Resort Facilities

A morning spent soaking up the sun. An afternoon in an underwater coral garden. A moonlight boat ride. An utterly indulgent day at the spa. Fishing the Maldivian way. Shopping for mementos or gifts. Fill your days with activities. Or actively pursue the art of doing nothing. Just let us know how you want to spend your holiday, and we’ll set it up for you.

Mandara Spa

Slow down … pause a while … take some time out for yourself. Invite bliss into your life. Turn your holiday into an out-of-body experience with the dreamlike paradise that is Mandara Spa. Loving care and lavish attention to the minutest of details create a world that is ideal for reflection and inspiration … a nurturing refuge dedicated solely to your well-being. So that you can shed your world-weariness and rekindle your vitality and zest for living.

All four Deluxe Spa Villas are surrounded by a tranquil lotus pond and one overlooking lush greenery. Their open air treatment areas together with Aromatherapy (herbal) steam showers and intimate bath tubs provide you with comfort and privacy. The exotic fragrance of pure essential oils and the gentle strains of soothing music bathe your senses, enhancing the languid tropical experience and lulling you into a state of absolute bliss.

The spa menu offers a range of therapies that marry the wisdom and traditions of ancient cultures with the latest spa science from ‘Elmis Spa – Therapy’ (Elemis Spa-therapy). All treatments have been thoughtfully created to provide a sensory adventure. For the ultimate indulgence, do try one of the deluxe combination packages or an “Absolute Escape”.

A spa boutique offering Mandara and Elemis products, manicure-pedicure and tranquil relaxation area above the reception rounds up the Mandara Spa experience.

Signature Services

In-villa dining and special celebrations. Afternoon high tea. Sunset mocktails on a sandbank. At Cinnamon Island Alidhoo, we endeavour to offer guests a wide range of signature dining, activity and service indulgences unique to Cinnamon hotels. Choose what you would like to do, decide where you want to do it and how you want the experience to be, and we will set it up for you.

Meridis Dive & Relax

An exquisite underwater world, complete with coral garden and ship wreck, awaits you at Cinnamon Island Alidhoo. A great array of small and big underwater creatures – manta rays, sharks, dolphins, turtles, napoleon fish – have made the Haa Alif Atoll their home, and Meridis Dive & Relax is your expert guide to it.

The PADI certified dive centre offers trial dives under the watchful supervision of a professionally qualified and experienced dive team. For those wishing to become more proficient, the entire range of dive courses are offered from scuba diver to assistant instructor. NITROX diving is available for free for all certified divers.

Meridis Dive & Relax also offers boat rentals and a wide range of water sport facilities, including snorkeling, sailing, water skiing and wind surfing.

Note: There is a fee for all motorized sports and sports with instructor.

Swimming Pool

Overlooking the magnificent ocean and the Duplex Ocean Villas, our uniquely designed swimming pool abuts the Waves restaurant and the Bliss Bar. Grab your swimsuit and jump right in. Or order a drink from the Decks Juice Bar nearby, and catch up on your reading or sunbathing

Barbecue nights by the poolside can be arranged on request.

Library

Order a tall drink from the Decks Juice Bar, select a thriller or romance from our collection of English, French or German novels, curl up in a deck chair or stretch out in a hammock (don’t forget to slather on the sunscreen) and get set for a day of reading. If you’d like to learn some more about the Maldives or the aqua-life you observed on your dive, we’ve even got encyclopedias for you to refer to.
Business Facilities

Away on an island surrounded by the ocean doesn’t mean you need to be out of touch with your office or your family. Our computer facilities and Internet access keep you connected, while every kind of secretarial assistance, from photocopying to typing and faxing is provided on request at a cost.

Sports

How about a game of beach volleyball? Or a friendly tennis or cricket match? Or some calorie burning badminton or table tennis? Or, if you prefer, a work out session in our very own gym. You don’t have to give up your sporting habits at Cinnamon Island Alidhoo! For those who would rather exercise their minds, there’s backgammon, scrabble and chess.
Alidhoo Kids Club

Picnics to nearby islands. Indoor games like scrabble, monopoly and backgammon. Outdoor games like tennis and badminton. Colouring books with felts, markers and crayons. Snorkeling trips and even a separate pool. The Alidhoo Kids Club, open exclusively to our guests between 4 and 15 years, ensures that your children will have the time of their lives while you relax in the sun, treat yourself at the Mandara Spa or take in a sunset cruise. Membership is free, all activities are supervised by a trained co-ordinator, and baby sitting services are also available.

Medical / Emergency assistance

fully qualified doctor is available on call for any emergency assistance and some of our staff has been trained to administer basic first aid. A defibrillator is available on site and in case of an emergency the nearest hospital is in Didhdhoo Island which is 20 minutes away from Alidhoo. The regional hospital which is at Kurundufushi is 45 minutes away by speed boat from Cinnamon Island. You are advised to carry along any prescription medicines you require.
Excursions

Wide-angle ocean views from the verandah of your villa are a fine thing. But to really appreciate the clear and tranquil waters of the Indian Ocean in which the Maldives are, you need to move out! We offer you a wide range of excursion options to make for most memorable holiday moments.

Traditional Maldivian Fishing Cruise
Breakfast Fishing on a Dhoni
Champagne Sunset Cruise
Sashimi Cruise
Picnics to the Sandbank
Big Game Fishing
Night Fishing
Private Boat Rental
Moonshine Glides
Island Hopping
Dolphins with Sundowners

Note – all excursions are subject to prior reservation and prevailing weather conditions.

Alidhoo Boutique

The Alidhoo Boutique offers you a wide range of superbly crafted souvenirs for friends and family back home. Choose from a range of Maldivian handicrafts, Sri Lankan wooden carvings, leather and textile items, and spices and knick knacks from neighboring villages. The boutique also has a premium line of bathing suits and beachwear, and daily vanity and sanitary items.
Sifani Jewelry Shop

Highly regarded Sifani offers a collection of premium quality jewellery with gem stones set in minimum 18k gold. Most of the gem stones come from Sri Lanka, a country that is famous for its sapphires (Ceylon Sapphire), topaz, quartz and tourmaline.

Honeymoon Services

Services include:

Floral arrangements in room on arrival
Cinnamon turn down service
In-villa spa treatment
Signature dining experience – the ‘Cinnamon Way’
Gift from the Management of Cinnamon alidhoo

Event planning

Exquisite views, superb cuisine, a wide range of activities, luxury combined with traditional hospitality and a relaxed approach to life that characterizes island lifestyles … all contribute to making Cinnamon Island Alidhoo a perfect venue for events.

Dining

From coastal treats to ambrosial cocktails, Cinnamon Island has an extensive list of culinary delights that are prepared ingeniously by our master chef and his team. Our menu even caters to the health-conscious by offering nutritious meals and low-calorie snacks. If you prefer a lighter meal you could order from a wide selection of salads, sandwiches and of course tempting desserts.

Restaurants & Bars

The Village
Bliss Bar
Decks Juice Bar
Waves
Blends

BOOK CINNAMON ISLAND/J ALIDHOO RESORT – HERE!

Maldives

W Retreat and Spa | North Ari Atoll |…

W Retreat & Spa – Maldives		Rating :
	Location : North Ari Atoll-Fesdu Island Distance from airport: 11 km Seaplane Transfer: 25 minutes No of rooms : 78

Castaway in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, W Retreat & Spa – Maldives lies delicately in the pristine beauty of Fesdu Island. With perfect weather and endless sunshine, W Maldives is an idyllic retreat and water sports playground. Beneath the surface manta rays mingle with sea turtles and starfish pose for perfect pictures.

Tucked away in the Maldivian atolls, W Retreat & Spa – Maldives is on Fesdu Island located in the middle of the North Ari Atoll, to the west of Malé, the capital of Maldives.


Standard Amenities for All Room Classes
DVD & CD Player DVD/CD Library 42″ Plasma TVs Broadband Internet Access In-room Safe Smoke Detectors 24-Hour In-retreat Dining Individual BBQ Stations Tea/Coffee Maker (On Request) Wine Fridge Munchie Box Mini-bar	Outdoor Rainforest Shower Make-up/Shaving Mirror Full Height Mirror Dual Vanity Basins Hairdryer Custom-made Furnishings Private Plunge Pools Shallow Pool Lounge Area Direct Lagoon Access Sun Lounges Individual Climate Control Outdoor Daybeds with Shade Curtains


In room Facilities (By Room Category)
Beach Oasis	Ocean Oasis
2 Mini-bars Beachfront Private Plunge Pool Two Daybeds BBQ Station	Custom-made Lounging Furniture Private Over-water Plunge Pool Sundeck State-of-the-art Sound System Signature W King Bed Shower with Glass Floor Lounge with Glass Floor

Seascape Escape	Ocean Haven
Master and Junior Suite Huge Sundeck Two Bedroom Over-water Villa 50″ Plasma TV BOSE® Hi-Fi Powder Room Two Bathrooms Refreshment Centre Indoor/Outdoor Lounge Lounge with Glass Floor 32″ LCD Screen BBQ Station	Panoramic Views of the Indian Ocean 50″ Plasma TVs Daybed Wraparound Sundeck Two Bathrooms BOSE® Hi-Fi Lounge with Glass Floor Lounging Couch Lounge Chairs Kitchenette Oversized Infinity-edge Plunge Pool Powder Room Two 32″ LCD TVs


DIVING WAVE water sports facility will outfit you. Unwind at Away® Spa. Go DOWN UNDER and get geared up with the latest diving equipment, then go on a reef or wreck tour. Get physical at Sweat® Fitness Centre or simply take in the tropical paradise where every effort has been made to preserve the natural beauty, marine life and delicate ecosystem. Down Under (Diving) Dive Sites Maaya Thila, Fish Head, Panettone, and Broken Rock, plus breathtaking house reefs & the resorts own Fesdu house wreck. Equipment Fully equipped with latest state-of-the-art equipment; Nitrox compressors, top-quality Scubapro diving gear, dolphin re-breathers, underwater scooters, high-end underwater photo & video equipment rental. Courses Open Water, Advanced Open Water, PADI rescue, Dive Master, Asst. Instructor. Specialty courses: wreck, shark, nitrox, manta ray awareness, underwater photography and DPV. Boats Our W dive limousine is super comfy with après-dive facilities and sundeck. Safety Your safety is paramount. A professionally staffed medical center with decompression chamber is 10 minutes away. Eco-Diving Who’s in the know? The W Marine Biology Station provides guest educational programs, presentations, guided trips and more. With entry in weekly “W snap shot competition.”, Star in and/or make your own underwater movie, Overnight trip on our own two-mast sailing ship to world-famous Hammerhead Shark Point, With silent dolphin re-breather to get just that little bit closer to the action. Discover diving with this certificate program. Explore with a Marine Biologist as your guide. A two tank wreck dive, at Fesdu and Halaveli wrecks.


Recreational Activities W Hotels The Store Find local crafts, fab jewelry, designer beach needs and more at W – The Store. WAVE Get geared up to explore the endless turquoise with kite surfing, water skiing, windsurfing, canoes, big game fishing, hand-line fishing, snorkeling, catamaran sailing or wake & knee boarding. ENERGY Hit Energy, our recreation center, for aqua aerobics, circuit training, pool games, beach games, billiards, table soccer, table tennis, and our weekly darts tournament. SWEAT FITNESS CENTRE Get pumped with extensive state-of-the-art Technogym cardio, strength and free-weight exercise facilities overlooking the beautiful blue expanses of the Indian Ocean. AWAY SPA Indulge in ultimate relaxation at the over-water Away® Spa. 66 square meters of indoor and outdoor treatment areas allow for total privacy and complete renewal. Dedicate some time to your well-being and comfort with a natural healing therapy performed in one of 4 luxurious treatment villas. Have a massage, wrap, or facial under the Dhow-inspired sunshade. Repose on the sun deck with an aphrodisiac nectar or blissful chocolate cookies. Stretch to the panoramic horizon with twice-daily yoga sessions in the pavilion. Relax on the wraparound sun deck with over-water bathing, outdoor rain forest shower and expansive day bed for sun-soaking, lounging and treatments. AROMATHERAPY MEETS CHEMISTRY The art and science of aromatherapy mingles with the latest advances in chemistry to produce our skin-care products, which are made in small batches on a frequent basis to ensure freshness, efficacy, and potency. THE PAVILLION Stretch to the clear blue skies and breathe in the fresh sea air. Yoga is practiced on the floating teak-lined platform surrounded by spectacular sea views. Popular Pavilion pastimes include painting, contemplation and revitalization. CELEBRATION PACKAGES Get all wrapped up in our delightfully intense super-spa experience. A series of experiences build on each other to reduce stress, heal the body, boost spirits and refresh your outlook, leaving you energized, balanced and harmonious. CREATIVE EXPRESSION Who feels artistic? Explore and express yourself with painting sessions. Each brush stroke brings with it intellectual, creative and spiritual development. SUNDÃRI Ayurvedic SUNDÃRI skin care products utilize the powerful regenerative properties of plants, herbs, roots and essential oils and floral extracts to improve the complexion and appearance of your skin. COMFORT ZONE Awarded “Best Spa Cosmetic Product” recently at the European Spa Exhibition in Monaco, [Comfort Zone] products offer safe and effective solutions to skin concerns based on phytotherapy, aromatherapy and advanced chemistry. SUNDÃRI and [COMFORT ZONE] cosmetics and skin care products. Our wraps and scrubs are designed to increase metabolism, detoxification, remineralization and hydration, stimulating your body’s systems. Enhance your experience with an après treatment steam, shower, bath or massage. Melt tired muscles with an over-water massage. Each of our massage techniques has its own virtue, its own response to your body’s needs and to your state of mind. Let yourself be soothed, nurtured and healed. Allow balance to be restored. Optimize your skin’s natural beauty with a perfectly personalized facial. Our signature Away/Harmony Facial goes beyond simple cleansing with pure precious essential oils, immense oxygenation and 40 minutes of facial acupressure and massage. Whatever/Whenever Service A luxury speedboat ride to a private beach with a sunset dinner for two? An elegant commitment ceremony on your very own island? Lessons in Diving? Our Whatever/Whenever team will deliver whatever you want, whenever you want it.


DINING Fulfill your epicurean desires at FIRE, the outdoor jungle barbeque with a serene, romantic and casual mood. Watch the sun go down at cocktail hour in SIP before going local – FISH features wild-caught fresh seafood prepared with an Asian flair. Swim up to the pool bar, for creative cocktails. Or head to KITCHEN – a modern interpretation of Bistro fare. Afterwards, hang out at the unique 15 Below bar spinning the latest vibes. Kitchen Cuisine Fresh-baked treats, gourmet pizzas and the freshest ingredients dished up with a hint of modern. Sip fine wine by the glass – The menu is extensive. Or order a bottle of your favorite vintage. Can’t finish the bottle? No worries, There’s a Wine Safe to keep it fresh. Environment A modern interpretation of the bistro, step into this casual and elegant indoor/outdoor space to dine under the clear blue skies, or opt for a spot under the shade of the roof. Who wants privacy? Slip into a semi-private dining niche to dine on delights and sip great vintages. WET Chill in the lounge seating with a slice of gourmet pizza, have a creative salad at a table on the sundeck by the pool, or repose with a cocktail in the Living Room – “Wet” serves up light meals and delicious drinks at all of these spaces. Cozy up for sublime sundaes, ice creams and other sweet treats. FISH What’s the catch of the day? The signature seafood restaurant serves fresh-caught fish from nearby reefs as well as the finest and freshest imports from around the world. Lounge and nibble on sushi or head to the over-water tables for two for endless views. Cuisine Simplicity is the key ingredient in FISH’s succulent dishes. Enjoy fresh-caught fish, perfectly prepared with a flirt of an Asian touch. Or opt for mouth-watering sushi and sashimi. Explore the extensive selection of wine and champagne by the glass or bottle, or indulge in creative and refreshing cocktails – both alcoholic and virgin. Who feels like an aperitif? Stop in at nearby lounge SIP for a pre-dinner drink. Environment Breathe in the island air and the unobstructed views of the tranquil ocean. Set off the coastline, FISH is the ideal spot to watch the sun set. Lounge on shaded day beds, sip Veuve Cliquot between bites of fine caviar. Dine at the over-water tables for two, where privacy, seclusion and flirtatious banter are the norm. Entertainment Get into the mood and chill out to the rhythms and beats mixed by world-famous DJs on the scene. 15 Below Stake out a lounge booth with cozy divans and perfect views of the action. Or slide up to the oval-shaped bar for drinks by the bottle or shaker. Lounge on a divan, savor light bites and enjoy prime peeps of the dance floor where beautiful people and projected images move to the DJ’s trance grooves. Care for a cocktail? More than 30 brands of vodka and a wide range of sprits and fruit juices mix and mingle into deliciousness. What’s your vintage? Browse through the extensive list of wine by the glass to find your favorite. Smoking Permitted in designated areas. SIP Ocean view atmosphere with indoor/outdoor seating. Opening hours 05:00 PM to 12:00 AM. FIREWhere can you dine under the stars? Head to FIRE, where gourmet delights are served in rustic and natural surroundings with the moon overhead and sand beneath your feet. Choose your grill: charcoal, tandoor oven, Mongolian BBQ, open spit-roaster – this outdoor jungle barbecue’s got them all. Pop off your Pradas, bare feet are encouraged and casual is cool. Cuisine Primal meets epicurean with spit-roasted whole suckling pig or lamb and BBQ-grilled marinated meat and seafood. Spice it up with Tandoor-cooked nan bread, chicken, fish or seafood accompanied by a variety of curries. Who’s feeling creative? Mix and match ingredients at the Mongolian BBQ where you choose your fave ingredients. Or opt for the à la carte sharing items like succulent whole fish, mezzeh and meat dishes. Environment White sand at your feet, a splash of stars above, tables nestled next to palm trees, FIRE is open-air dining caressed by the gentle winds of the Indian Ocean. What’s hot? A large torch takes center stage while smaller torches are scattered like stars to provide a fiery glow. Entertainment Chill to live acoustic music or thrill to a boduberu performance. Sip an exotic cocktail. Lose yourself. Smoking Permitted in designated areas. Compare and book hotels on Ari Atoll, Maldives – Click Here! Share your experiences – Write a review for this resort – Here!