Maldives > Enjoying paradise

It was warm in the room last night. Even though the veranda doors were open, it felt oppressively hot. The nighttime temperature stays around 27 degrees Celsius. When I wake up, I grab my book and lie down on the sunbed outside. There’s no one on the beach or in the water yet. After a dip in the sea and a shower, I go to breakfast. The cleaning staff are already waiting impatiently to clean the room. It’s nice that they do this twice a day. Because the weather looks a bit more threatening today, the breakfast tables are set indoors. An extensive buffet is available. I spend the rest of the morning relaxing on the terrace.

Maldives - The paradisiacal beach in the Maldives

Although it’s cloudier than yesterday, the sun shines through enough. Just around noon, the sky darkens. The wind picks up, and I quickly bring the towels and cushions inside. Just in time. A massive downpour hits. The wind drives the rain against the windows. So this is what it can be like in the Maldives. Less than ten minutes later, it’s dry again. After lunch, I take a walk around the island. Along the beach are the beach bungalows. I estimate that most of the bungalows on the north side are occupied, but those in the south are not. In total, I guess there are around 350 villas on the island. The houses are nicely hidden among the palm trees. In the center are the main reception, a few restaurants, and some shops. There are also sports facilities, including a tennis court, a gym, and a dive school. On my way back, a boy in a golf cart stops. Does he need to give me a ride back to my villa? It’s a nice service, but I politely decline. I walk back to my villa. In the afternoon, the sky clouds over a bit. The sun hides behind a layer of clouds. Perhaps this isn’t too bad, because I notice that I’ve gotten quite sunburned today. Since you can still burn even when it’s cloudy, I quickly put on a shirt. At half past six, I walk to the Seafood Restaurant. Small sharks are fed here. I see numerous sharks, just over a meter long, swimming under the jetty. The chef comes out with fish. They aren’t dangerous to people, he assures me, as he throws the tuna into the water. The animals jostle for this treat. In the evening, after dinner, I head to the bar. There’s a disco. I’m actually surprised at how many people have gathered. About twenty are dancing on the floor. I join in. At eleven o’clock, plastic sheets are lowered, and it seems like the bar is closing. A heavy rainstorm is passing through. Once it’s dry again, I return to my villa.