Jul 29, 2003 06:28 PM
16633 Views
(Updated Jul 29, 2003 08:11 PM)
Maldives is a short hop step and jump from Chennai. You arrive at Hulele airport and then by a fast dhoni (motor boat) you go to the island resort of your choice. Taj Group of hotels have a resort or two. I would recommend a resort isle close to Male....either Baros/Bandos/Willingili. Of course the best is Club Med but very expensive...used to be. I was a guest of a dude who took me to Club Med for a day for free. Check with Mahindra Club Med.
The vacation for 5 days for two is not so pricey at all. But you should be a strong swimmer, capable of enjoying snorkelling in the coral reefs. Very few Indians can SCUBA DIVE. If u do not enjoy water sports don't go to Maldives. Push off to Malaysia/Bali/where u wanna go. Maldives is not for passive tourists.
Who can snorkel? Kids above 5 yrs, all ladies and gents. Who can Scuba Dive? SCUBA DIVING CERTIFICATION MANDATORY. You can learn to Scuba at the resort. Kids above 10 yrs and you and ur wife/girl frens.
Snorkelling kits available at Sports stores near Metro theater, Mumbai.
The infrastructure at Maldives for watersports is top class. Resorts , food, rooms super duper. We do not have that in A&N Islands or Lakshadweep.
The coral reefs are breath taking. You need not dive more than 30 feet to enjoy the sheer joys of marine life. Corals, multitudes of fishes, sting rays, sharks, morey eels, parrot fishes, hugh turtles to piggy back ride, the works. Name a marine species and it there in the reefs.
What you see in the National Geographic channel is what u get in the reefs of Male. Visibility is a cool 200 feet. Water always blue and clear.
Carry a Nikonos underwater camera or ur digi handycam with a waterproof housing and shoot to ur hearts content. Frens back home will be impressed with ur underwater photography. I used to be an ace underwater photographer in 1970/80. Did underwater shoot for Sanjay Khan's movie CHANDI SONA. The movie bombed at the box office. And I got paid less than I expected from the Khan. But hey, Sanjay was a host par excellent. Scotch on the rocks all nites after shooting at his abs fab home at Juhu. Visit his home, top class. He learned to Scuba during the shoot!
Sharks a plenty, very used to humans, no attacks recorded. (Please check this out with the local dive guide). Hey u can even feed these dumb sharks! Of course u will always have a diving guide with you. You will encounter friendly but hugh fishes (Groupers) out there, who u can pat like a dog. They will come to u, they are hugh, some weigh 300 lbs!
You can spear fish in the reefs (check with the local dive guide what u can do or cannot do) and have the hotel cook it for you. I used to hand pick lobsters everyday. Or go fishing in a boat. You CANNOT PICK A CORAL. Banned. You can buy corals in Male though.
Should u be tired, just sleep on a hammock with a magazine under a palm tree. Enjoy the sea breeze. You will get to see beautiful firang men and wimmen sunbathing. Please DONT STARE AT THEM! I did :) coz I was young then. In Seychelles, they are topless!.
Better still, enjoy the sounds of silence. No one will disturb u there. No Tv...nothing.
Most evenings the resort will fix a barbeque on the beach. Dancing, daroo a plenty. But NO BOOZE ALLOWED 8 HRS BEFORE DIVING. Else you will suffer from bends/nitrogen narcossis. I did grass one nite and was hullucinating underwater the next day! As I said, I was young in age then and not so mature.
Mumbai folks, take a few SCUBA lessons from Pralhad Kakkar (the bearded advt. guy who has a restaurant in Juhu) before you set off to Male. Then search the web for best deals. Else approach Taj Hotel at Gateway for reservations and bookings.
Male. An ideal place for the Bold, the Beautiful! And the Rich !!
