In winter, you don't want anything so much as to wait for summer as soon as possible. We propose to speed up the course of events a little and rush towards the sun itself. This is exactly what our art director Olya Zibereva did: she took a ticket to the Maldives!
Despite the fatigue after the long flight, my first desire at Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa is to grab a camera. Well, it is simply impossible to resist and not capture - the landscapes opening up in front of you. I could not believe that I would spend a whole week on this paradise island, surrounded by a turquoise ocean, with a white sandy beach. The hotel is located on one of the largest Maldives atolls - Addu, by the way, the only one lying south of the equator.
I lived in a villa on stilts right in the lagoon. A huge bedroom, dressing room, bathtub and even an outdoor shower - everything is here! Every morning I started with a cup of coffee on my own terrace, looking at the ocean, sunbathed and bathed in the afternoon, admired the stunning sunsets in the evening, and after sunset I watched the stars … I have never seen such a number of them! I advise you to download the application Night Sky - "doing astronomy" with it is much more interesting.
Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa has several restaurants serving Indian, Oriental and Mediterranean cuisines, each with the freshest seafood, tender steaks, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
It is convenient to ride a bike around the island (it is parked by the villa) or call a buggy, or you can (if you, like me, count steps) walk.
And don't think the Maldives is just a beach holiday. Water sports, yoga, fishing and (attention!) Lunch at the equator - that's what I did in a week. Perhaps your results will be even better: the landscapes here are truly inspiring!
More things to do in the Maldives
Try "Kanda Boli" ("seashell") - a relaxing massage with cowrie shells with coconut oil.
Go on a morning fishing trip, the chef will prepare your catch for lunch. For example, from the tuna I caught, three dishes turned out.
Play golf on the Maldives' only seven and a half hectare nine-hole course.
Go on a yacht trip to meet a large flock of dolphins, snorkel and admire the beauty of the reefs and ocean inhabitants.
Help save a coral reef and plant your own coral.
