Maldives – What Five Days in Paradise Looks Like

I hate it when my husband’s right. Fortunately he’s kind enough to refrain from the litany of “I told you so’s” afterwards, but I can tell that’s what he’s thinking from the obvious glint in his eyes.

He was right about the Maldives. Long story short: He wanted to go. I was skeptical. We went anyways.

And it was nothing short of amazing.

I won’t bore you with the details or logistics as many very capable bloggers have already done extensive trip reports about accommodations, transportation and food options available at the various resorts.

Instead, I want to answer the question that I posed to Jimmy at the outset of the trip – What are we going to do with five whole days on a secluded island in the middle of the Indian Ocean?

And, more importantly, what makes it so special to warrant flying more than halfway around the world when beautiful Maui is just a hop and a skip away from the U.S. mainland?

After Jimmy booked the trip, I did my research and pored through countless trip reports, trying to figure out what the hype was all about. My conclusion? It was expensive, hard to get to and relatively exclusive, the hallmarks of so called “aspirational” travel. Not terribly winning arguments for me.

Some experiences, however, simply cannot be anticipated through online research and the Maldives is such a place. Yes, the sea plane ride is fun and makes you feel like a guest arriving on Fantasy Island, the villas are well-appointed and comfortable, the people are lovely and the food is good. These are the details that my mind recalls, but they are not the ones that my heart remembers.

I remember waking up early and stumbling out of our beach villa before dawn only to be floating minutes later in the unbelievably warm blue waters of the Indian Ocean and watching the most spectacular sunrise of my life.

I remember coaxing myself to remain calm and breathe naturally with each stroke as I swam out to explore the house reef just 50 yards from shore and opening my eyes to the an unimaginably colorful and vibrant underwater world of fish and coral.

And most of all, I remember feeling an incredible sense of peace and gratitude wash over me as I gazed out into the endless blue sea, thankful for the moment and not wishing to be anywhere else.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again- as in travel, so in life – arrive with nothing more than the intention to embrace whatever awaits you at your destination and you’ll simply be delighted.