Onward journey

The human spirit is forever in an zealous search for peace, solitude and a chance to get away from all pressures of life that mark the 21^st century living. As a leading subscriber of this search I boarded Air SriLanka bound for the paradise islands of the Maldives, a fifty-five minute plane ride from Colombo. I needed a bathtub to rinse the stains of corporate stress off my soul. The quality of the in-flight services was truly commendable and a delectable light breakfast was served. Forty minutes into the flight the Boeing 737 descended in altitude over the azure Indian Ocean seas, and the coral islands came into view in all their regal splendor. Stretches of green sparking waters surrounded a multitude of tiny islands topped by dense greenery and speckled with maroon rooftops of resort bungalows. Hundreds of white trails sliced the serene seas as speedboats ferried tourists engaged in island hopping. The visual grandeur unfolding in front of my eyes was a milestone in my travel memories.

Arriving at the Maldives

As the plane prepared for landing, one cannot help feeling it is landing on the sea itself. Male International Airport is situated in an island just big enough for it, and after deplaning I was huddled into a waiting resort yacht after walking approximately 250 meters. The transition from air to sea in such a short time and distance was amusing. The 15 minutes boat ride from the airport to Kurumba Village allowed me to get a side view of an airplane landing on the narrow island. Most islands here are about a couple of feet above sea level.

Kurumba Village

The island resort of Kurumba is surrounded by a low wall made of coral rocks secured by a metal mesh, thus keeping the choppy seas away and the inner perimeter calm enough to enjoy a swim in the shallow green waters. The seabed inside this perimeter is covered with hard calcium coral pieces, so a bruised knee or elbow is expected when swimming. As I was huddled into a lounge to complete check-in formalities, I quickly caught sight of some spectacular scenery of beaches, varied fauna, green and turquoise blue seas, coconut grooves and a looming tropical storm on the horizon. As I traveled off-season, this was expected. Rain and wind lashed the islands for the next couple of hours, which I chose to spend in my cottage luxuriating in the bathtub of a partially open-air bathroom that had a banana plant right in the middle. I noticed several signs of the islands’ history as the cable TV showed many French channels. As the rain subsided I ventured out to discover what my island had in store for me. My first stop was at The Vihamana, a multi-cuisine breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet restaurant boasting of a mind-boggling variety of food from around the world, managed by a cheerful and friendly German lady. I hogged on shrimp, fish, fresh salads, Mediterranean chicken and fresh fruits before dragging my beach chair into the sea and settling into the late afternoon tropical sun with a chilled Corona. A brief fifteen minute walk along the beach brought me back to where I started from. Over the next two days I took glass-bottom boat rides, made a trip to the capital Island of Male, snorkeled and lazed in the majestic swimming pool. For the diehard shoppers there are markets where the omnipresent coconut tree is reflected through a variety of local handicrafts using various parts of this tree, from dhonis to bracelets. Photo albums made of coconut coir make a heavy presence and are priced anywhere from $20 to $45. Active nightlife options included a band that sang in six languages at The Beach Bar (they sang an excellent selection of alternative rock). Holding a bottle of Corona while standing on the deck overlooking the seas at midnight is a surreal experience, as little sharks swim around the wooden poles of the deck. The soothing sound of the sea caressing the sands is meditative, a perfect complement to the crisp night breeze and starry night sky.

The orphic spirit of the Islands

The Republic of Maldives consists of 1190 coral islands, 200 of which are inhabited. The Kurumba Village occupies the entire island it is situated on. There was an inexplicable desire to be lost in the islands’ charms whiled I lived there. The fresh food, courteous people and existential lifestyle is addictive, without any mention to what I felt when I surrendered to the magic hands of the masseuses. In fact, the elements of the islands act to gently massage the frayed human spirit and provided solace to the stressed mind. As Leonardo DiCaprio rightly states in his movie The Beach, I truly lived in a parallel universe for those few days. I surprised myself when I discovered I spent most of my time lazing on the beaches, feet tucked into white sand, listening to the waves and the seagulls, not really rushing to be out there doing everything the paradise islands had to offer. I promptly labeled that “the Maldives effect”.

The sound of goodbye

They say the sound of goodbye is louder than any drumbeat, and could not be more true than when I realized it was time to leave. I packed my bags and left Room 217, my home for the last few days. After an easy check out and tearful farewell to the friendly staff of Kurumba Village, I boarded the yacht back to Male International Airport. As the Air SriLanka jet thundered down the runaway, I caught my last glimpses of one of the most beautiful places left on Earth. A place where the sun met the sea, a place where there was still hope to get away from it all.

Appendix

For more information on vacationing in the Maldives, please visit:

www.visitmaldives.com - Maldives Tourism Promotion Board

www.hello-maldives.com - Web site of Hello Maldives Publication

For more information on Kurumba Village please visit: