Vanishing Islands-The Maldives.Elsie Gabriel

Vanishing Islands-The Maldives.

Elsie Gabriel

Waking up to the sun rising over the ocean just a few steps from your bed, is a perfect holiday every one dreams of, as crystal clear waters and rich marine life beckon you to the shores outside your doorstep. The room at Holiday Island  Maldives is so romantic and large, with a beautiful backyard right on the Indian ocean! A holiday dream truly come true.

Ofcourse when hubby dear makes the best morning cuppa for you, delivers it with smiles and adds a session of some photo shoots of you, it is the ultimate in luxury. Turning you into that model on the lost silver pristine beach you always wanted to be, well, I must have done something good in my last life to deserve this. Yes Maldives is heaven on earth!

Maldives, considered the smallest county in Asia, is the lowest laying country on Earth. Located on the Equator, it never fails to see the Sun throughout the year.

There is nothing to disturb your tranquility as you sway gently in a hammock. The soft sandy beaches are fringed with coconut palms and caressed by the clear blue waters of the ocean.

When the seaplane landed on this Island I was speechless! Azure water simply surrounds you, it is overwhelming alright. There can come no other feeling but that of gratitude for life and for God who created this awesome expanse of water when you take in the blue world.

The islands central facilities are surrounded by unbeatable powdery white sands of landscape gardens, an inviting retreat to come back to after an exhilarating active day out on the sea.

  For a long time, the Republic of Maldives was one of the best-kept secrets in the world; a beautiful string of low-lying coral islands in the Indian Ocean, a paradise for watersports enthusiasts and sun seekers alike. We of course experienced simply everything from night-fishing trips, island hopping, windsurfing and scuba-diving.

Many islands embrace enormous lagoons, where bright blue-green water laps gently. Yet, even in paradise, trouble can bubble beneath the surface. It is precisely because the Maldives are so low-lying (80% of the territory is less than 1m/3.3ft above sea level), so transparent and perfect for snorkelling, that their very existence is especially threatened by global warming.

Despite being blessed by such natural beauty, Maldives faces an unusual future. 80% of its 1200 islands sit just above sea level. With the projected rise in sea level, scientists estimate that in a 100 years, Maldives will be submerged by the very sea that brings it life.

From a wide array of water sports, tennis and scuba diving to the cultural shows and adventurous island hopping, there is always a choice for all ages, tastes and moods. The restaurants and entertaining main bar are famous for its high quality of service and variety of delightful food and refreshing drinks.

Travel-Most International airports are well connected to Maldives or via Sri Lanka.

How to Reach your island- Seaplane or Speedboat .

Transportation
Air
Internal air services are operated by Island Aviation Services.The transfer from the airport to the resort islands may be an optional extra on the tour. These services are also available for trips around the islands too.

Water
Visitors generally remain on their resort island for the duration of their stay, although island-hopping trips by ferries are widely available. Local charter boats are also easily available for hire. High-speed boats meet arrivals at the airport, supplied by the resort they are booked with, and boats are available for hire at the ferry counter near the jetty area.
Road
Travel on individual islands does not present any problem since few of them take longer than half an hour to cross on foot. In Malé, taxis are the main source of transport.