Maldives and Doha

Maldives has become a favoured destination in recent times for me - this was my third visit after all! Would I enjoy it as much as the last two times, and what to do with the opportunity to visit somewhere on the way there? We had previously enjoyed stopovers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman, and found that Doha in Qatar was an ideal stopover on the way to the Maldives. November is a great time to visit the Middle East for the weather. It is still hot but not like the summer, so we were eager to arrive to feel the sun on our already winter acclimatised skin.

For those that are familiar with Dubai, Doha does have a different feel to it. Although there is a very modern side the older parts of it are memorable, especially Souk Waqif which is great for wandering and getting lost in, and discovering some traditional treasures. Then when it gets too hot, take a well-earned break with an extremely refreshing iced lemon and mint drink. One of the parts of the Souk that is unusual from our western perspective is the Falcon market, as you get the flavour of a traditional Arabian past time just from a visit here at the right time. The Dhow boats in the marina near the architecturally stunning museum of Islamic art (designed by I.M Pei of Louvre fame) also give you the feeling of a bygone age. Its location also benefits from one of the best skyscraper viewing points that I’ve had the pleasure of visiting.

With my skyscraper fix sated it was off to the Maldives for a complete change of scenery. This time we had two islands to visit, and the first involved a seaplane flight to get to the resort. I have tried various forms of transport before, from a tuk tuk in Thailand to a bullet train in Japan but this was a first for me and an unforgettable experience. The first thing I noticed was the smoothness of the take-off and landing. Even more impressive is the view you get - as seaplanes fly at a much lower altitude than the usual commercial aircraft! As is traditional in the Maldives the welcome is warm, as is the sea and this is one of the main things you are here for. The marine life is worth exploring and there are few places better for relaxing with a little bit of luxury! This resort had a grand collection of restaurants including dining in the canopy and an underwater restaurant, and both definitely had the wow factor.

We didn’t want to leave but at least we were going to our second island of the trip and not flying home just yet. First that unforgettable seaplane back to the airport, followed by an equally noisy and equally glamorous speedboat ride. This was a smaller island than the first we visited but the attractions were nonetheless spectacular. The view from our overwater bungalow was outstanding and the marine life at this resort was just awesome, from the daily feeding of the stingrays where these graceful creatures eat from your hands, to the small sharks you can see as you dine in the overwater restaurant. This particular resort is renowned for being a trend setter and you get that feeling from the saltwater flotation pool, and the occasional visit of big name DJs.

Once again the Maldives has been even better than we remembered, and a holiday destination that is hard to beat. If you’re interested in making some memories of your own in the Maldives, call me to discuss your next holiday.