Chapter 2: THE paradise

Where we at?

Europe, Africa, and middle-east conquered. Now, I am still waiting for the one thing I wanted from this trip. To witness white shores.. and beyond. Visions of palm trees and cloudless sky started to be crystal clear in our minds. But where does one go when in search of such beaches. 

The Maldives!!! 

So after some heavily influenced decision making from a source I am not going to mention here. So that my sister and especially her husband won't feel guilty. We booked a flight to Male.

Flight from Abu Dhabi to Male!

Well, we finally made it to the Maldives! The postcard-perfect paradise of turquoise waters, sandy toes, and the type of sunsets that look like they've been run through a dozen Instagram filters. We spent a week hopping around these islands, filling our days with everything from reef snorkeling to chasing elusive ferries. And while it’s safe to say the Maldives lived up to the hype, it also had a few surprises (and laughs) in store for us! 

Island Hopping… or Not?

The second we stepped outside from the terminal I knew it was not a mistake to come here. Our adventure began with a simple plan: hop from male to Thulusdhoo to Dhigurah, our ultimate destination where we’d read we could snorkel alongside whale sharks. However, “simple” took a back seat when we learned the ferry to Dhigurah ran once a day, every other day. Just once. And yes, in classic fashion, the ferry was a no show. Or we missed it.

Somehow, the island vibe lulled us into believing we had all the time in the world until—spoiler alert—we didn’t. So Dhigurah had to wait. But hey, we went with the flow and decided that it just meant more time to dive into what the other islands had to offer.

Ferry to Thulusdhoo.

Thulusdhoo and Coke

Thulusdhoo is the Maldives' refreshingly unpolished gem. Sure, there’s no overwater bungalow in sight, but you do get a Coca-Cola factory on the beach (yes, really) and waves so good they named one “Cokes.”

In Thulusdhoo our accommodation was this tiny super cozy apartment with turquoise coloured doors. I must say the owner was really great and sooo funny. He also told us that we have any friends visiting the island we should contact him and he will make life a lot easier and cheaper for them.

Surfers love it, and the snorkeling? Just the usual Maldives lineup of colorful fish and indifferent sea turtles. We did neither. The vibe here is all about kicking back. Think guesthouses over resorts, beach cafes instead of fancy dining, and locals who’ll know your name by sunset. If you’re after a paradise with a little grit and some soda fizz, Thulusdhoo’s got you covered.

Ah, Maafushi, the Maldives’ not-so-secret party island.

If you’re after paradise with a touch of liveliness (and, maybe a few extra tourists), Maafushi’s ready to welcome you with open arms. In Maafushi we stayed at a 4-star hotel. It was alright. They gave us some juice at the reception when we first got there. That juice, in my opinion was the best part of the hotel.

This little island traded in secluded luxury for budget-friendly guesthouses, endless souvenir shops, and a vibe that says, "Why go private when you can go public?" It’s got all the essentials: beach cafes, dive shops, and more group tours than you can count. If you’re looking for paradise with a touch of nightlife and don’t mind sharing your sunset views, Maafushi’s got you covered. Seriously though. Maafushi is a beautiful island and it's easy to find. But please keep in mind that it was not our first choice.

Maafushi Tomi style

Enter Sharks and Snorkeling Shenanigans.

One of the highlights of the trip was, hands down, our shark snorkeling tour. Let me tell you, swimming with sharks is one of those experiences that you talk up big beforehand, with lots of “Oh yeah, I’ve always wanted to do that!” But then, as you’re in the water, staring at a creature twice Laura's size, with 1000 sharp teeth… it suddenly becomes a lot more real.

These sharks, we were assured, were “totally harmless” and “not really interested in humans.” And you know what? After a few awkward flails we relaxed enough to actually enjoy it. Surrounded by these sleek, mesmerizing sharks, we felt like tiny fish in their underwater universe, peaceful, stunning, and humbling all at once.

The snorkeling, too, was like a dream. Every dip was like flipping the pages of a nature documentary: you could see enormous hungry looking fish around you and coral gardens that were as alive with colour as they were with life. You could even find Nemo and all his colourful friends. It was truly breathtaking.

Sunsets to Remember (and photoshoots...)

It’s said that no two Maldivian sunsets are the same, and I can confirm that we now have hundreds of photos to prove it. From blazing oranges to soft pastel pinks, we were treated to an array of twilight displays that left us in awe every single night. In Thulusdhoo, we watched as the sun seemed to melt into the Indian Ocean, casting golden shimmers across the waves. We took so so many photos that by the time we hit Maafushi, I was a professional photographer in my mind. Laura might disagree, but hey it's my blog so what the hell.

Usually the best part of traveling

Now let’s talk food. Maldivian cuisine is fresh, flavorful, and, as we discovered, can be as fiery as the sunsets. Our go-to snack became noodles and rice (Surprise) with different toppings. Simple, but the kind of thing you find yourself craving at odd hours. Local food was okay, not great. A bit spicy for my taste and Laura did not even finish her maldivean breakfast which was spicy tuna mush and some kind of tortilla.

Local breakfast.

(Laura wanted me to add that she did not finish her breakfast not because it was too spicy, but because it simply tasted bad. And she can handle spicy food)

Overall the food for decent and not too expensive.

Island Vibes and Lessons Learned

As our week came to an end, we reflected on the quirks of island life. First and foremost, ferries wait for no one. Second, sharks are cooler (and slightly more intimidating) than we thought. And third, paradise is even better when you’re willing to laugh off a missed ferry or a sunset hiding behind clouds.

While we didn’t quite hit every island on our list, we’re leaving the Maldives with memories that we’ll be reliving for a lifetime. Dhigurah may have escaped us this time, but that only means we’ll just have to come back. In the end, isn’t that what travel’s all about?

Here are some memories I wanna share

Sunset on sunset beach