When it comes to luxury escapes from Singapore, Maldives definitely tops the chart. So, where is Maldives? That was the question that came to my mind when I first saw the picture of the turquoise sea and white sandy beach featured in a travel magazine.
Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, situated in the Arabian Sea. It is made up of many islands or atolls that stretches from Ihavandhippolhu atoll in the North to the Addu City in the South. Male is the capital and the most populated city, traditionally called the "King's Island" for its central location.
When we first flew into the Maldives territory, I was blown away with the different layers of blue. From the air, the view of the Maldivian atolls in various shapes was spectacular.
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| Male City |
Like any other island airport, Male airport is small. Surprisingly, the runway is able to accommodate both domestic and international carriers. As soon as we landed, we could hear the blasting sound of the airplanes taking off.
Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by the staff from The Residence who then assisted us to exchange our domestic flight boarding passes and led us to the waiting lounge for some refreshments.
Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by the staff from The Residence who then assisted us to exchange our domestic flight boarding passes and led us to the waiting lounge for some refreshments.
The Residence Maldives, nestled on Falhumaafushi, a pristine island in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll. To reach the resort, we have to board a 1 hr domestic plane, followed by a 20 mins speedboat. While the distance to the resort may be daunting for those who have flown over 10 hrs flight to Male, the resort is definitely worth a visit. The connecting services offered by The Residence is seamless. We were well taken care of and the transit made comfortable via The Residence shuttle bus and the luxury speedboat.
As we docked at The Residence, it was drizzling and hence we were chauffeured via the buggy directly to our villa. Check-in was thus done impeccably in our villa.
Our Villa: We stayed in a one bedroom pool water villa, neatly divided into 3 segments comprising of a spacious living room, bedroom and bathroom. What really excites me is the bathtub that faces the sea and of course the the views of a wide open horizon that looks out to more shades of blue and nothing else. It is beyond inviting. The deck is very spacious and we have direct access to the lagoon and house reef. The staff did a wonderful job of introducing our villa features as well as the resort amenities and activities. I would also love to commend on the impeccable services of the staff that tended to our requests and made our room spotlessly clean every day. Overall, we feel so homely at the Residence.
We spent a total of 4 days 3 nights at the resort and frankly speaking, it was a tad too short for the resort has got much more activities to offer than just a luxury venue for rest an relax. Activities offered by the resort are plenty and includes: Complimentary Sun-rise and sun-set yoga, complimentary kayaking, snorkeling and diving tour, sun-set dolphin cruise and rejuvenating spa by Clarin, complimentary transport to cast-away island. The resort even provided complimentary bikes to get around the island. If you do not know how to cycle, fret not, you can always call their buggies to pick you up.
The Yoga experience...
On the first morning, we woke up at 5am for the sunrise yoga. The air was cool and refreshing, a luxury for our lungs as we inhaled and exhaled while meditating at the deck facing the sea. As we did our yoga poses rhythmically to the gentle flapping waves, the sky got brighter and finally, the big red yolk surfaced and rose from the sea to the sky. The yoga experience was liberating although my legs ached since it was ages I did any stretching.
Walking around the resort...
Everyday at The Residence is a treat for the senses. The sandy path to the breakfast or dinner is rhythmically swept, in the same swirly pattern, by a platoon of Maldivian gardeners. Just walking around the resort, there are plenty of young reef-tip sharks and mantra rays to be spotted in the warm shallows. Other creatures include crabs (lots of them) and even octopus. Such sightings become so routine, we soon forget how extraordinary they really are. Sadly, we didn't get to see any sea turtles.
Sunset Dolphin Cruise...
The sunset dolphin cruise is highly recommended and far exceeded my expectation. Instead of haunting down the dolphins in a speed boat, we boarded a traditional boat and got ourselves seated at the front deck with an unobstructed view of the sea as the guide searched fro the dolphins. In a while, we spotted so many dolphins that flipped and turned and even tossed themselves out of the water. We were really blessed to be able to spot these dolphins and witnessed the most beautiful Maldivian sunset. Lastly, we ended our trip with a glass of champagne.
Snorkeling as if in a sea-aquarium...
The crystal clear water is perfect for snorkeling especially in the morning where the visibility is so clear that we thought we were snorkeling in a sea aquarium. The fishes were plenty, especially the colourful fishes like Nemo and Dory. We even spotted reef-tip shark that swam very fast in the water. The water temperature was so comfortably warm and hence allowed me to stay in the sea for ages. However, we were almost sun-burnt for having snorkel too long. Hence, it is vital to apply as many layers of sunblock as possible.
Castaway Island...
The castaway Island was actually a small island or a sandbank that was acquired as part of the resort's property and opened to all resort guests upon reservations. Located just 5 mins away from the resort, we were ferried to the island in a stylish speedboat from the beach bar. As we approached the island, the water became sparkly green. Oh my, the sea looked so inviting and I couldn't wait to have a splash.
Guests can also pre-order a picnic box from the resort to be taken to the island. It was very thoughtful of the staff to prepare the cabanas to shelter us from the scorching sun. The view from the island is pretty nice as we were surrounded with nothing but a vast horizon of the sea. We stayed on the island for approx 2 hrs, busily cam-whoring and spent some time snorkeling before returning to the resort.
Dinning...
Breakfast at the dinning room was fabulous with a variety of choices. I especially like the cheese omelette and banana chocolate crepes served hot at the respective food stations. The shrimp dumpling "Har Gao" were lauded for its chewy soft skin and freshness of the prawns. Lastly, the variety of croissants and fruit tarts really made my day.
For dinner, we had fine dinning at the Falhumaa. The prices were certainly not cheap but I do appreciate the high quality dinning standards. The interior of the restaurant was tastefully decorated as well and diners have the option of choosing to dine outdoor and enjoy the windy breeze. We chose indoor as outside was pitch dark except for the humming of the sea breeze along with the flapping waves. We had mushroom risotto where the presentation and taste was perfect.
We had high-tea at the Falhumaa on the last day and the in contrast to the pitch black night view, the evening view was fantastic. We could see the crashing waves and even spotted various sea creatures in the crystal clear water. Having high-tea with a paranormal view is awesome. However, the high-tea snacks are not to be missed cause they tasted real good.
On the 3rd night, we were invited to a cocktail party, attended by all the guests and staff. Just as the party was about to start, something caught our eyes in the water. It was a group of mantra rays that swam to the shore. All the guests were so excited and rushed to the bridge to catch a glimpse of this unique creature. The mantra ray was huge.
Other than the free flow of cocktails and bite size snacks, we have the opportunity to admire the beautiful sunset and to mingle with the other guests and the resort staff. It was a lovely evening and the casual chats with the staff really made our stay feels homely.
After the cocktail session, we had our dinner at the seafood grill bar located at the beach. Seafood were very fresh and I loved the lobster. However, I personally think that the service was a bit slow and the grill was not well-handled and hence spoil the freshness of the seafood. The ambiance was however good as we enjoyed the candle-lit seafood dinner by the beach. Coincidentally, that day was earth day and to commemorate this event, the resort lit up the 60th number using candles. How creative was that!
Kayaking and relaxing at the main pool....
Kayaking on the crystal clear water is a must and what's more if it is complimentary. We could easily spend our day kayaking and lazing by the main pool. That's the ideal beach life.
On the day of our departure, we requested for a late check-out and the resort acceded to our request. The staff then arranged us to change our room to a beach villa and hence we got the opportunity to view the interior of the beach villa. Well, actually not much difference except that the villa has direct access to the beach. The sea view is equally stunning though.
Overall, we had a luxury retreat at the Residence and we definitely enjoyed every moments at this place. The sun-set views were the most amazing that I've seen and so are the people at the Residence who made us feel so homely. I just want to say that this place is perfect not just for the honeymooners but also for families and friends. Definitely hope to return again if my wallet allows!
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| Indoor and outdoor shower is simply perfect! |
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| Our lovely pool perfect for a plunge |
We spent a total of 4 days 3 nights at the resort and frankly speaking, it was a tad too short for the resort has got much more activities to offer than just a luxury venue for rest an relax. Activities offered by the resort are plenty and includes: Complimentary Sun-rise and sun-set yoga, complimentary kayaking, snorkeling and diving tour, sun-set dolphin cruise and rejuvenating spa by Clarin, complimentary transport to cast-away island. The resort even provided complimentary bikes to get around the island. If you do not know how to cycle, fret not, you can always call their buggies to pick you up.
The Yoga experience...
On the first morning, we woke up at 5am for the sunrise yoga. The air was cool and refreshing, a luxury for our lungs as we inhaled and exhaled while meditating at the deck facing the sea. As we did our yoga poses rhythmically to the gentle flapping waves, the sky got brighter and finally, the big red yolk surfaced and rose from the sea to the sky. The yoga experience was liberating although my legs ached since it was ages I did any stretching.
Walking around the resort...
Everyday at The Residence is a treat for the senses. The sandy path to the breakfast or dinner is rhythmically swept, in the same swirly pattern, by a platoon of Maldivian gardeners. Just walking around the resort, there are plenty of young reef-tip sharks and mantra rays to be spotted in the warm shallows. Other creatures include crabs (lots of them) and even octopus. Such sightings become so routine, we soon forget how extraordinary they really are. Sadly, we didn't get to see any sea turtles.
Sunset Dolphin Cruise...
The sunset dolphin cruise is highly recommended and far exceeded my expectation. Instead of haunting down the dolphins in a speed boat, we boarded a traditional boat and got ourselves seated at the front deck with an unobstructed view of the sea as the guide searched fro the dolphins. In a while, we spotted so many dolphins that flipped and turned and even tossed themselves out of the water. We were really blessed to be able to spot these dolphins and witnessed the most beautiful Maldivian sunset. Lastly, we ended our trip with a glass of champagne.
Snorkeling as if in a sea-aquarium...
The crystal clear water is perfect for snorkeling especially in the morning where the visibility is so clear that we thought we were snorkeling in a sea aquarium. The fishes were plenty, especially the colourful fishes like Nemo and Dory. We even spotted reef-tip shark that swam very fast in the water. The water temperature was so comfortably warm and hence allowed me to stay in the sea for ages. However, we were almost sun-burnt for having snorkel too long. Hence, it is vital to apply as many layers of sunblock as possible.
Castaway Island...
The castaway Island was actually a small island or a sandbank that was acquired as part of the resort's property and opened to all resort guests upon reservations. Located just 5 mins away from the resort, we were ferried to the island in a stylish speedboat from the beach bar. As we approached the island, the water became sparkly green. Oh my, the sea looked so inviting and I couldn't wait to have a splash.
Guests can also pre-order a picnic box from the resort to be taken to the island. It was very thoughtful of the staff to prepare the cabanas to shelter us from the scorching sun. The view from the island is pretty nice as we were surrounded with nothing but a vast horizon of the sea. We stayed on the island for approx 2 hrs, busily cam-whoring and spent some time snorkeling before returning to the resort.
Dinning...
Breakfast at the dinning room was fabulous with a variety of choices. I especially like the cheese omelette and banana chocolate crepes served hot at the respective food stations. The shrimp dumpling "Har Gao" were lauded for its chewy soft skin and freshness of the prawns. Lastly, the variety of croissants and fruit tarts really made my day.
For dinner, we had fine dinning at the Falhumaa. The prices were certainly not cheap but I do appreciate the high quality dinning standards. The interior of the restaurant was tastefully decorated as well and diners have the option of choosing to dine outdoor and enjoy the windy breeze. We chose indoor as outside was pitch dark except for the humming of the sea breeze along with the flapping waves. We had mushroom risotto where the presentation and taste was perfect.
We had high-tea at the Falhumaa on the last day and the in contrast to the pitch black night view, the evening view was fantastic. We could see the crashing waves and even spotted various sea creatures in the crystal clear water. Having high-tea with a paranormal view is awesome. However, the high-tea snacks are not to be missed cause they tasted real good.
On the 3rd night, we were invited to a cocktail party, attended by all the guests and staff. Just as the party was about to start, something caught our eyes in the water. It was a group of mantra rays that swam to the shore. All the guests were so excited and rushed to the bridge to catch a glimpse of this unique creature. The mantra ray was huge.
Other than the free flow of cocktails and bite size snacks, we have the opportunity to admire the beautiful sunset and to mingle with the other guests and the resort staff. It was a lovely evening and the casual chats with the staff really made our stay feels homely.
After the cocktail session, we had our dinner at the seafood grill bar located at the beach. Seafood were very fresh and I loved the lobster. However, I personally think that the service was a bit slow and the grill was not well-handled and hence spoil the freshness of the seafood. The ambiance was however good as we enjoyed the candle-lit seafood dinner by the beach. Coincidentally, that day was earth day and to commemorate this event, the resort lit up the 60th number using candles. How creative was that!
Kayaking and relaxing at the main pool....
Kayaking on the crystal clear water is a must and what's more if it is complimentary. We could easily spend our day kayaking and lazing by the main pool. That's the ideal beach life.
On the day of our departure, we requested for a late check-out and the resort acceded to our request. The staff then arranged us to change our room to a beach villa and hence we got the opportunity to view the interior of the beach villa. Well, actually not much difference except that the villa has direct access to the beach. The sea view is equally stunning though.
Overall, we had a luxury retreat at the Residence and we definitely enjoyed every moments at this place. The sun-set views were the most amazing that I've seen and so are the people at the Residence who made us feel so homely. I just want to say that this place is perfect not just for the honeymooners but also for families and friends. Definitely hope to return again if my wallet allows!
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