Travelogue ~ Maldives

I've been posted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for my Clinical Skills Foundation Programme. It's very tiring every day, clerking and learning. But I must say I love the ward experience and walking around talking to real patients. It's not easy, but I like it. Gonna be pretty busy for these few weeks!

Birthday trip for my 21st was to the Maldives! We stayed at Vilamendhoo Resort for 4 days, 3 nights. It was totally not cheap at all, but the trip was so worth it. Chose the "Full Board" package which only included the room and the meals (3 a day, buffet style). Air tickets were redeemed from award points so it helped alleviate the cost a little, but the Maldivian tax is still pretty high. We still needed to buy the sea plane tickets though. Took a sea plane (Maldivian Air Taxi) from the capital of Male for 25-30 mins before we landed at our resort. What a view from the top, and an unforgettable flight.

I recommend going in the off season, which is late April till... I forgot when, haha just avoid peak seasons. Booked the hotel through Agoda.com again for promotions. 

Stayed in the Deluxe Water Villa that came with our own sun deck and jacuzzi. The view was amazing. I really love Maldives cause you're pretty much secluded on an island, surrounded by gorgeous blue sea water and corals/reefs. We have our very own private access to the ocean down below where the water level reaches about slightly above knee level. Vilamendhoo is a top dive central with world famous dive spots like 7th Heaven and the Whale Shark National Park.

My brother and I completed our Advanced Open Water Diver course over at the dive centre on the island (run by Euro Divers Maldives). The dives were amazing. The variety of reefs and marine wildlife over there probably justified the exorbitant cost that we paid for the course. It would probably be less than half the cost we paid over there to do the course in Singapore. For our last dive, we took the boat out for an hour's drive away to the Whale Shark National Park. I am very happy to say that we saw 3 whale sharks while snorkelling and 1 while diving. Lucky, lucky day! They are very gentle non-man-eaters, so it's not a problem swimming near them, just don't touch them or swim in front of them.

Well, don't bother with all the super pretty clothes. There's just sun, sand and sea everywhere. I was in my swimwear all the time... Haha. The sun was extremely strong, so I slapped on protective tanning lotion in the day. I still ended up being sunburnt pretty badly though. Oh well, at least I achieved my goal of being tanner!

I think the pictures can speak for themselves.