Our own little Story

Dear Ibrahim and Dhuhu, I promised to write you our Story cause I wrote my travel-diary during our stay. Hopefully I haven’t forgot anything. So here we go, I hope you like it: Where should we start? It was gorgeous through and through, just beautiful, I don’t think words can really describe this trip. We are rather backpackers, travel with a backpack, by car or in a rented camper, hike, fish passionately, cook for ourselves and have even taken a survival course so that we are prepared for emergencies. With my crazy travel ideas and allergies and intolerances, that makes a lot of sense too. So a vacation in a 5 star resort was not only utopian because of our style of living and traveling, but also financially. Because a few days cost quite a bit of money.

Now you are probably wondering how we ended up vacationing at Milaidhoo Island Resort in the Maldives. As crazy as it sounds, it’s true – I won this trip 3 years ago in the online sweepstakes of Elle. I often enter sweepstakes, after all, I then determine who gets my details. This sweepstakes was a honeymoon trip and ended just before my own wedding. So I thought to myself “oh one more time with the old last name.” Well, as my grandfather used to say, “How fate pees,” I got the news shortly after our wedding that I had won the trip. Since I was still working at the university in the Institute for Communication Networks, my colleagues first checked whether the e-mail was real, I was sure because I also had a message on the mailbox and as you have surely noticed – the message was of course real! So unbelievable and I cheered like crazy and would have loved to fly away immediately, but were pretty broke after our wedding and had also just paid for a property, which is why we wanted to postpone it for a year. Then came this stupid virus and that delayed it again, then the move and house construction and the illness of my husband cost us another year, but the resort and the travel agent Elegant Travel were more than understanding.

Finally, the period was fixed, the flights booked, that saved money partially changed and the seats (at his own expense with the help of Franziska from Elegant Travel) geupgradet on more legroom. My husband is almost 2m tall because you just need more space to travel comfortably. The special meals were also ordered by Franziska, that resort was also prepared for it. The flight went from Berlin via Istanbul to Male. In Male we were picked up directly by a staff member of the resort, the suitcases were taken off and already we were brought in another car to the lounge of Manta Air. So chic, not so on shi-shi, but tropical but elegant. Food and drinks were also available, which was very convenient for us because on the flights there was the special meal, but you never get full of it. After what felt like 2 minutes, we were also brought to the seaplane with a few other people and off we went.

In the middle of Baa Atoll there was a pontoon and exactly there our plane landed. An Australian family and we got off. The others already left with the speedboat when ours arrived and after a 10 minute ride we finally arrived at the resort. We were greeted by 5 people, totally sweet and all beaming with joy – just like us. We felt so special. There was a super yummy non-alcoholic cocktail and champagne to welcome us and we were able to sit on the Hollywood swing for a bit while we were told who was who and who was doing what and how the day was starting for us today. Most importantly for us was Roxy. She was our, butler sounds so negative, so she was our villa assistant. She first showed us around, explained everything and told us no matter what, we could approach her about anything. Throughout the entire time Roxy was just magical!!!

We were given Ocean Villa 109, WOW. Just wow. The style, the decor, the pool and most of all that view – gorgeous! It rained lightly in the evening and the next morning, but otherwise only sun and 29 degrees throughout. Even in 28m depth when diving were 29 degrees. What? I was diving and snorkeling several times every day, while my husband enjoyed the sun. Afterwards we finished the day in the pool. We only ate at the Ocean Restaurant where it was very very tasty. They took care of our intolerances and allergies and adjusted every meal we ordered accordingly. We have never experienced this before. A completely new and nice feeling to be able to eat carefree. The breakfast buffet was riiiiiiiesig and we got everything explained. Everything fresh and if there was something not there, they would make it without further ado. Alfey thank you for everything – especially the iced coffee with coconut milk!

On the international tourist day we had Aqua Yoga and in the evening a small cocktail reception. Shub was the yoga instructor and just mega!!! He is funny, professional and entertaining. I do yoga regularly and would love to have him as a trainer at home. It was so much fun. On our last day it rained and thundered so hard that the resort offered a spa workshop as an alternative. Apparently everyone was at morning yoga, which I had slept through, because at the workshop I was all alone and got a lot of new inspiration to release blockages and tensions, which I can pass on as a fitness trainer. The atmosphere was so relaxed and we had so much fun and laughter that it was even harder to say goodbye to each other. Shub If you are reading this: Love from the butterfly 😉

The reception was great organized, still romantic despite all the people and everything was very tasty. We also got our favorite drinks. Whiskey Sour and Gin Sour. The prize also included a spa treatment for both of us, but since my husband doesn’t like that I was able to get a small upgrade. The massage was soooooo relaxing, soothing and just what I needed after so many dives. Now let’s get to the diving. On my birthday I went diving twice with Ory (refresher and later normal) and the second time we went out alone with the boat. Under water I got a poster with “Happy Birthday” and as if all this was not already dreamlike, I got back on board a birthday cake including serenade and in the evening Ory sent me a video summary of this dive. Ory you are the best! She also sent me a video of the day’s snorkeling where you can also see the whale shark. On the third day I was diving with Taeem and we had a great time, the days after that we were in big groups.

On the last day I was snorkeling with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay. I could now list everything that is so great under water, but I must tell you: Go there, go diving and convince yourself of this fantastic underwater world. I have taken Ory very much to my heart and am glad that we still have contact. She taught me a lot of things I didn’t know (e.g. that each side of a turtle’s face is like a fingerprint). We went shopping every day in the boutique on the island. Necklace, anklet, cookbook, t-shirt and magnet found their way back home with us and these keepsakes will be cherished very much. Oh yes and the after sun cream including sunburn.

Roxy is really the best! She took care of everything, but always so discreetly that we were surprised every time. She not only prepared our villa with cake, fruit and champagne for our welcome, but also decorated it for my birthday, with cake. From leaves had been written on our bed “Happy Birthday Alina”. On another day everything was decorated and out of leaves was written “Happy Honeymoon” on our bed, the bathtub was set in and decorated, our favorite fruit was ready with champagne. We were treated to an In Villa Breakfast and even an In Villa Candle Light dinner. She is magical, totally lovely always beams and is so attentive. My husband even got a cream from the clinic because he burned so bad in the sun. We found her so great, which is why it was even harder for us to leave. Roxy thank you so much for everything!!!!

On the last day we said goodbye to everyone and I cried a lot because it was so great there. We felt so liberated and recharged so much strength in the five days that compensated for the last hard years. We highly recommend this resort with their lovely staff and will definitely be back! Roxy, Ory, Shub feel free to come visit us sometime! Please let’s keep in touch!

Love, Basti & Alina