Another ray in paradise
calories I burned by snorkelling. Island life means there’s plenty of fresh fish to dive into – whether that be freshly caught lobsters, oysters or reef fish. But the Maldivian tuna curry reels me in with its coriander seed fragrance and aromatic flavours of hot chilli, pandan leaves and coconut flesh.
Ending the night with something sweet, I embrace the tropical atmosphere with a refreshing bowl of lychee sorbet and a sauvignon blanc.
Just relax
With last night’s wine lingering on my lips, downtime is needed.
I cycle along to the AVI Spa, which is located right on the coastline so you can hear waves crashing as you relax.
One of the treatment options on offer is chakra psychic healing with Rajeshwari Amol Nerurkar – a Certified Reiki Master – so I book in.
Before I know it, I’m half naked and lying under a crisp sheet with a cool flannel across my eyes.
Unlike a bog-standard massage you’d get on a romantic holiday, this involves no oils and very little touching. Rajeshwari hovers her palms over my body ominously. And initially, I feel absolutely nothing.
It’s not until she places stones on my torso and bangs on three singing bowls, that my skin starts to tingle. Then for the psychic part. Unlike talking therapy, psychic reiki masters make evaluations based on how you react to the treatment.
My body language dictates I’m a control freak with a lot of frustration.
I have no idea whether my chakras were aligned by the end – but I’m so chilled out that I don’t really care.
Fin-credible!
There are plenty of ways to ride the
Indian Ocean waves, from paddleboarding to jet-skiing and wakeboarding.
But to celebrate the end of an incredible trip, I decide to go the luxury route by heading out on a sunset cruise.
Waiters hand out drinks and canapés including caviarladen sushi, peppery wontons and zesty lemon tarts.
But before I’ve even had a chance to take a bite, a pod of spinner dolphins joins us.
Dozens of the playful creatures race the yacht, weaving, bobbing and putting on a spectacular show.
The crew claps and cheers as dolphins leap out of the water, living up to their spinner name by twirling and lapping up all the attention.
Our champagne glasses remain completely untouched as we take it all in.
Then the dolphins give us a final wave, flipping their tails as we toast an incredible trip.