How apt that we watched the sunset on our first day, and the sunrise on our last.

I normally like to sleep in but I decided we couldn’t leave without catching the sunrise at least once. So at 6 a.m. on our last day, I lumbered out of bed drowsily, washed up and prepared two cups of coffee before waking L up. He refused to get up because he felt exhausted from all that snorkelling (what poor excuse). Good thing I had my Kindle for company.

It stayed dark for a long time. I felt restless after awhile and started taking all sorts of self-shots with the timer function. Silhouette shots, sitting up, lying down, yoga poses… silly shots I wouldn’t show anyone. Then almost suddenly, the sky lit up.

Barely ten minutes later, the sky was filled with bright orange streaks. It was the most amazing sight, like there was an invisible giant hand gently colouring the clouds.

Shortly after, a neon orange ball peeked out from behind the clouds and made it’s way up into the sky. I took in the spectacle in awe, realising at that point, that I have never actually watched a sunrise properly (seeing the transition from total darkness to dawn).

L came out just in time to catch the sun ascending from the clouds. More self-timer shots followed.

After our last hearty breakfast in Maldives, we strolled to the end of the villa jetty and hung out there for a bit before heading back to our villa to pack up.

It was an absolutely unforgettable honeymoon, the most special (not to mention luxurious) trip we’ve gone on together. I read somewhere that if you’re going to the Maldives, it better be with someone you really like because there’s no one else to talk to – how very true. We spent all our time unwinding from the wedding stress, enjoying each other’s company, and returned completely recharged and rejuvenated. Just in time to celebrate Chinese New Year with our families too.

As much as we enjoyed ourselves though, it felt good to be home :)

This brings me to the end of my honeymoon travelogue. Hope you enjoyed the posts and photos as much as I did putting them together. Now get ready to be spammed with wedding updates!
 

Read the rest of my honeymoon travelogue:
Part 1 – Arriving in Malé and Ari Atoll
Part 2 – Living in Paradise
Part 3 – An In-Villa Sunset Dinner
Part 4 – Snorkeling 101
Part 5 – Ocean in the Day, Beach at Night
Part 6 – Eat, Laze, Snorkel, Rinse and Repeat
Part 7 – Sunrise and Goodbye

Read the rest of my honeymoon travelogue:
Part 1 – Arriving in Malé and Ari Atoll
Part 2 – Living in Paradise
Part 3 – An In-Villa Sunset Dinner
Part 4 – Snorkeling 101
Part 5 – Ocean in the Day, Beach at Night
Part 6 – Eat, Laze, Snorkel, Rinse and Repeat
Part 7 – Sunrise and Goodbye

Ah, so much relaxing to be done, we couldn’t wait to start our day…

This was quite an unforgettable day because I finally got the hang of snorkelling and had a lot of fun swimming alongside creatures of the sea. If I have one regret though, it would be that I never made enough effort to make sure we have an underwater camera. I did ask a few people and thought of enquiring at Funan but we had so many wedding errands to run I decided to let it go.

Not that having underwater photos would have contributed much to this post because nothing – and I mean nothing – can prepare you for when you actually get a glimpse of the ocean on your own. No amount of documentary series on National Geographic or encyclopaedia or photos can capture how positively mind-blowing it is to be coming face-to-face a parrotfish or seeing a baby shark gliding along amongst the corals right below you. I also witnessed fishes playing catch!

“Everything is JUST like in Finding Nemo!”

I know what I saw was merely a drop of the magnificence the marine life has to offer but it was hypnotic all the same. It’s no wonder people who’ve seen the ocean can’t get enough of it.

The sun was scorching so we made sure to return to the deck to slap on new layers of sunblock periodically. Somehow, I still managed get my butt burnt pretty badly because I missed the part out when putting on sunblock. I had trouble sitting the next day and still spot an invisible panty line today. Grrr. (Note to self: Please remember to apply sunblock on your butt.)

We wore our life jackets because the tide was quite low. Some of the corals were rather big and we were afraid the taller ones would graze our tummies.

When dusk fell, we took a slow walk to the main island for our dinner reservation by the beach.

We kicked off our slippers and dug our feet into the soft, cool sand as we ate by the shore. It was also breezy but unlike Singapore, the sea breeze didn’t make you feel all sticky and icky so we really enjoyed the romantic surroundings as we tucked into our steak and pork belly.

Didn’t manage to get nice photos of the food cos of the dim lighting but let’s just say we wolfed down every chunk of meat and every drop of gravy on our plate that evening.
 

Read the rest of my honeymoon travelogue:
Part 1 – Arriving in Malé and Ari Atoll
Part 2 – Living in Paradise
Part 3 – An In-Villa Sunset Dinner
Part 4 – Snorkeling 101
Part 5 – Ocean in the Day, Beach at Night
Part 6 – Eat, Laze, Snorkel, Rinse and Repeat
Part 7 – Sunrise and Goodbye

It was day two and by this time, we had stopped pinching ourselves to make sure we weren’t dreaming and accepted the incredible fact that we were actually really honeymooning on an exquisite island. It still felt very surreal waking up in the morning to find ourselves smack in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

I mentioned that during check-in, we were allocated a water villa in a more private zone. It was private alright, and pretty far out from the island too. We had to go to the main restaurant for breakfast and it was located on the island. L was prepared to walk but I wasn’t. I hoped that there would be a buggy to transport us and, just like magic, a buggy appeared and we were invited to hop on. Naise.

It was my first time snorkelling and I can’t say I had a lot of fun. I would get the hang of it eventually but my first half an hour was spent getting sand in my fins, sputtering and taking in small gulps of salty ocean water. Not exactly my idea of fun. It also felt very unnatural breathing through my mouth into a tube for extended periods and for some reason, my mask fogged up very often.

L taught me very gently and patiently until I managed to get it right long enough to see some lovely corals and fishes. Then we decided to call it a day.

We lazed by the pool again until dusk fell, then showered and walked half way out to Jing Restaurant for a fusion dinner.

And then, hand in hand, we made our way under the stars back to our villa to wind down with coffee and the telly.

What bliss :)
 

Read the rest of my honeymoon travelogue:
Part 1 – Arriving in Malé and Ari Atoll
Part 2 – Living in Paradise
Part 3 – An In-Villa Sunset Dinner
Part 4 – Snorkeling 101
Part 5 – Ocean in the Day, Beach at Night
Part 6 – Eat, Laze, Snorkel, Rinse and Repeat
Part 7 – Sunrise and Goodbye

After we checked into our water villa, unpacked and took a dip, we started feeling hungry. So we did what was most convenient – room service!

As we waited for our food to arrive, we sat on the deck, legs hanging above the shallow waters, and goofed around while the sun made its stealthy descent.

From where we were, we could see on the horizon, silhouettes of the dhonis (curved Maldivian boats), feel the cool ocean breeze, and hear the squawking of seagulls and soft lapping of waves.

We watched as the sky turned from orange-pink to a faded, pale yellow. Then, while it was still bright, we tucked into our dinner al fresco. There’s only so much I can rave on about a single sunset and the beauty that Maldives is (and I have officially run out of decent adjectives to do it justice) so even though it’s still inadequate, I’ll let the photos do the talking.

Read the rest of my honeymoon travelogue:
Part 1 – Arriving in Malé and Ari Atoll
Part 2 – Living in Paradise
Part 3 – An In-Villa Sunset Dinner
Part 4 – Snorkeling 101
Part 5 – Ocean in the Day, Beach at Night
Part 6 – Eat, Laze, Snorkel, Rinse and Repeat
Part 7 – Sunrise and Goodbye

Paradise has a name – it’s called Constance Halaveli.

When selecting our resort, we were more inclined to go for a boutique resort/chain instead of the big names because we felt we could pay a lot less for the same level of service. We still wanted the comfort and luxury so it meant we had to go with a resort which knew what it was doing, preferably not too old (grimy) and, most importantly, within our budget.

Constance Halaveli is run by Constance Hotels and Resorts, a boutique French chain made up of a group of seven luxury resorts and specialising in island locations like Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives and Madagascar. Located on the idyllic North Ari atoll, the resort island is shaped like a curved dhoni (Maldivian boat) and completely encircled by the Indian Ocean.

Through the recommendation of a friend, we liaised with a luxury resort specialist in Atoll Paradise, who gave us a few options which fit our criteria. It didn’t take much pondering for me to decide on Constance Halaveli. (L left it mostly up to me; he only needed to confirm that we would not have to pay for water and Wi-Fi and we were set.) A couple of days later, we transferred our deposit and booked ourselves a water villa with a sun deck and private pool for the duration of our honeymoon. I was one happy bunny.

Upon our arrival on the island by sea plane, we were escorted to a holding area, served ice-cold juices and given cold wet towels to freshen up. The resort staff knew we were on our honeymoon so they arranged for a villa in a more private zone. It was still occupied when we arrived so we hung out at the lounge (comfortably equipped with Wi-Fi, television, books and coffee machine) for an hour or so while waiting for our villa to be vacated and made up. Once it was ready, we hopped onto a buggy which transported us to our water villa.

The air-conditioned villa was simply furnished with wood and marble. It had a mini bar stocked with complimentary Nespresso capsules, free flow of bottled drinking water (tap water cannot be consumed), creamer, sugar, snacks, etc., and well-equipped with satellite television, coffee machine, wine fridge… the works. I liked that it had all the comforts without being ostentatious. We were also welcomed with a complimentary bottle of champagne and a plate of tropical fruits (which we had by the pool).

The television runs on Constance’s own system so you can conveniently check out the temperature, weather forecast, the spa and restaurant menus and their respective booking hotlines with the push of a remote control button.

We had a private plunge pool overlooking the crystal clear ocean, and a deck to go down to the ocean for snorkelling. There were also deck chairs and cushions for resting and tanning. This would be where we would spend most of our time.

I scampered around excitedly, exploring the villa and taking photos while the husband fiddled with the telly and Wi-Fi settings. Then we unpacked and started enjoying the pool!

When dusk fell, the villa would be prettily lit and extremely romantic. There were also night lights within the villa, thoughtfully placed, so that we need not feel around in the dark.

The resort’s service was very considerate and attentive throughout our stay. Everywhere we went on the island, we would be greeted politely by the resort staff. Whatever we needed in the villa only required a quick call and someone would appear at our doorstep, no questions asked. I really appreciated that they catered to our every whim without being intrusive. We didn’t have to think much or do anything ourselves except bask in the newly-wedded bliss and enjoy our surroundings because we were so well taken care of. It made our honeymoon all the more amazing.

If you’re planning a trip to the Maldives, do consider staying at the Constance Halaveli. There’s nothing but raving reviews on Tripadvisor so that says a lot.

Next up, the beautiful sunset…
 

Read the rest of my honeymoon travelogue:
Part 1 – Arriving in Malé and Ari Atoll
Part 2 – Living in Paradise
Part 3 – An In-Villa Sunset Dinner
Part 4 – Snorkeling 101
Part 5 – Ocean in the Day, Beach at Night
Part 6 – Eat, Laze, Snorkel, Rinse and Repeat
Part 7 – Sunrise and Goodbye

Maldives is truly enchanting, a place befitting of a honeymoon. It is exactly what the Internet and everyone says – a paradise for couples.

When we were deciding on a honeymoon destination, it wasn’t top on my list because I was getting more excited about Greece, Italy, Spain, New Zealand… and because I’m not exactly what you call a ‘sun and sea’ person. I do enjoy the beach, but it’s more the sitting under the shade, reading a book and people-watching part that I like, heh. Then we ran our options by a few friends and I began to skew more and more towards an island honeymoon. We agreed that for most countries, you can easily visit as a family (when you have kids) but for Maldives, though you can technically make a trip with kids and it will still be beautiful, you’re not going to be able to feel the same kind of romance as you do with a new spouse. And you would be too distracted caring for the kids to truly immerse yourself in the seclusion unique to Maldives, and enjoy your better half. I felt like Maldives was practically made for romance. Secondly, it’s also a great place to relax and recover from the wedding madness. After all the planning that goes into a wedding, the last thing you’ll want to do is to have to plan an itinerary, read maps, jostle with people on the subway, etc. So Maldives, it was.

Two days after the wedding, we took an evening flight to Malé. Our resort was located on another island, accessible only by sea plane which only operates during the day, so we put up for a night at the Hulhule Island Hotel (the airport hotel). It was a very basic, no-frills stay but we only needed a place to rest. The next morning, we woke up bright and early for breakfast, excited to embark on our honeymoon.

After checking out, we were transported to our resort’s lounge to check-in and chill out until it was time to board the sea plane to the North Ari Atoll, the island our resort would be on.

We were served lemon grass iced teas and given the Wi-Fi password to surf. I said hi to a few friends on Whatsapp and got replies like, ‘Happy honeymooning and go offline!’ and ‘What are you doing?! Disconnect and make babies!’. So I went on Facebook to say hi instead.

When it was time to board, we emerged from the lounge into the sunshine and the unmistakeable whirring of plane engines. We strutted up the board walk to our plane and found that our luggage were already on board. (We never had to carry or track our luggage. We would leave the lounge and they would be on the plane. Likewise, we would leave the plane and they would be in the villa. It was like this the entire trip.)

Our first sea plane ride was quite an unusual and unforgettable experience. Imagine sitting in a tiny plane bobbing on the ocean with ten other passengers, the cockpit door open, and the captain and co-pilot clad in berms and flip-flops. It was also very warm inside, the husband (!) perspired buckets. Guess we were flying the Maldivian way.

We disembarked to the pleasant, smiley faces of a row of resort staff, who were stationed to greet and escort us to the island (each couple/group was accompanied by a staff). Impeccable, dedicated service.

The view was breathtaking. It was exactly like the pictures, except that we were there in person, feeling the warmth of the sun on our necks, seeing the surface of the clear emerald waters glisten under the sunshine and hearing the sounds of the lapping waves. No world-renowned photographer can capture that.

It felt like a dream… and that dream was just beginning :)
 

Read the rest of my honeymoon travelogue:
Part 1 – Arriving in Malé and Ari Atoll
Part 2 – Living in Paradise
Part 3 – An In-Villa Sunset Dinner
Part 4 – Snorkeling 101
Part 5 – Ocean in the Day, Beach at Night
Part 6 – Eat, Laze, Snorkel, Rinse and Repeat
Part 7 – Sunrise and Goodbye

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone! We got back from our honeymoon late last night a shade (or two) darker, and just in time for the first day of celebrations :)

Our honeymoon was nothing short of amazing – just imagine six days of pure relaxation and utter bliss on a sunny, secluded island, surrounded by the vast ocean. Quite beyond words, really, but I will still make an attempt to document it once we are more or less done with visiting relatives and settled back into normal routine. In the meantime, here’s wishing you good health, happiness and all things prosperous in the year ahead!
 

Read my honeymoon travelogue:
Part 1 – Arriving in Malé and Ari Atoll
Part 2 – Living in Paradise
Part 3 – An In-Villa Sunset Dinner
Part 4 – Snorkeling 101
Part 5 – Ocean in the Day, Beach at Night
Part 6 – Eat, Laze, Snorkel, Rinse and Repeat
Part 7 – Sunrise and Goodbye