Gililankanfushi
With 26 atolls and over 11oo islands, the Maldives scatter across the Indian Ocean like cabochon gems flung upon a blue sea. Sweeping in for a landing after a long flight, the view from above enchants.
One cannot help but think of bubbles. I think of blood cells, actually, and find over the course of ten days that the analogy is not so far off. While each island looks isolated, like a closed system, these beautiful reef and sand girt isles are constantly changing shape, appearing and disappearing, living, dying and breathing, as ocean and its inhabitants wash in and out. I travelled to four different atolls, traversing the surprisingly large distances in between by seaplane and speedboat. I was there to visit hotels, feel out the islands’ personalities, speak to marine biologists and discuss the many creative sustainability initiatives that makes this nation of islands so interesting.
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- growing orchids at One&Only Reethi Rah
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- dining at Cheval Blanc Randheli
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- Ithaa underwater restaurant, Conrad Rengali
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- Amilla Fushi
Coco Chanel, an Olive Ridley turtle, in rehab. She lost a flipper to a ghost net dumped by fishermen in the ocean
