Extra Haven Male

... a small bar conveniently located at the tip of the island. As part of our package, drinks were free at this bar, the restaurant, and the pool bar. We took full advantage of the included food and drink. The island had only a single pool, but it was hardly worth swimming in, considering the fishtank-clear ocean surrounding the island. The best part of the pool was the swim-up bar along one side where we would float and ...

... As planned we headed straight for the Silver Sands but the plane had been late and we only reached there around nine o'clock but they still served us. It was reasonable if expensive and very small portions. We even stayed a second night but gave the dining room a miss. Having been forced to spend some left over Maldives currency we decided the wine we'd bought duty free had to be drunk before we moved on.

... delfinerna drog vidare fick vi snabbt hoppa upp i båten och så följde han efter dom och så fick vi hoppa ner igen. Det var en adrenalinkick utan dess like och jag som inte är överförtjust i djupa vatten glömde alla tankar på vad som kunde finnas där nere under oss. Kaitlin hade frågat personalen hur det var med hajattacker. Dom svarade att det inte hände så ofta. Inte så ofta??! Det är inte ett sånt svar man vill ha liksom. På samma resa såg vi mantor och snorklade vid ett ...

... Our bungalow was right on the beach, with a view of palmtrees, sand and ocean when we woke up. The highlight though was our outdoor shower (picture on the right). I mean, that was just absolutely fantastic, taking a shower with the moon above and in balmy 25 degree weather. For a while we considered what it would take to build such thing back in Atlanta, but decided not to pursue it due to fear of bugs ...

... buoyancy dive, which we all did successfully, without any major dramas. The buoyancy dive was in order to assist us getting us up to the next grade of diving, vital ...

... me at my next spot. So, so wonderful to meet friendly, sincere people without any ulterior motives. It is easy to forget how foreign or unlikely this experience would be for me in the states. I think it would be fine in the states, but I , and most, are usually so guarded or insulated (ipods, etc..) that we never engage like this. Hard to explain, but it is these interactions that truly recharge my spirit and my hope and fascination in humanity. Really, people ARE good, they ...

... was fun. We then went and had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant that once on a lake front. We ate outdoors with our own fire pit and had lots of fun. The boys came up with names for all of us which we still giggle about...Fatty Daddy, Annie fanny, drama grandma, smelly Ellie, saucy rossy, wingy singhy (that is Shiv as his middle name is Singh), and John is Moe. Christmas was magical. We began the day with all 6 of us doing a ...

... local papers have been reporting news of a pandemic in Trivandrum, the latest death toll stands at 75. I've been unable to look at or smell Indian food without retching. It's a struggle to find anything to eat that isn't either spicy or fried. A few meals have simply been plain, white rice with mineral water. I had thought the fruit juices delicious until we realized it is supplemented with sugar and, more importantly ...

... Friday prayer - no women to be seen (but delicious smells coming from within many households and laundry being put out to dry), the smell of the fish market on many days from our apartment, the enchanting sounds almost every hour of praying echoeing across the entire island. All these and more are the sights, sounds and smells of Male. Add to that the oppressive heat and garbage strewn about (with the resulting smell) and you have a ...

... be ready? Oh, I don't know. Life. life. life.... so many turns. Well my friends... the next time I write, I will be in EUROPE!!! I can hardly believe that in 4 days time I will be off to Paris to finally reunite with my sweet Nicole for 3 more months of adventure. This feels like the beginning of the last leg though, and it wont be long until I begin to have reunions with all of you as well. I am most excited. Please write me! missing all of you big hugs. me