Maldives - This is living

Want to know what paradise looks like? This is a photo from our lanai at sunset. Oh yeah baby - This was the life. We arrived in Male after an 8hr. layover in Columbo, Sri Lanka. We got off the plane, picked up our luggage and was escorted directly to the speed boat taking us to The Four Seasons at Kuda Huraa. About 1/2hr. Later, we arrived at our island. We were escorted to the open air reception area where Sophia received a backpack with a starfish, stuffed dolphin, crayons and coloring book. We were all given welcome drinks and they checked us in while we were sitting on the couch there. After we finished our juices, we were escorted to a golf cart which drove us to our bungalow. Sophia was loving all the attention to be sure!

We got there checked in and were in awe, then shortly thereafter, fell asleep. The next morning was pretty much spent the same every day. We got up, went to breakfast, came back and went and sat on the beach in front of our bungalow or hung out on the lanai and played in our splash pool. Then it was either going to lunch or ordering lunch in the bungalow. It cost about the same either way.

In the afternoons we would hang out in the room watching kids videos we borrowed from the hotel or we would take Sophia to Kudamas - Kid's club. There she played with toys, painted, colored, played in the sand some more, got her nails done by a lady at the spa. She also got to go to a touch tank where she touched a pincushion starfish and a sea cucumber that spit water. She thought that was hilarious, but wasn't so much into touching them.

A couple of the afternoons she got to feed the fish off of the main jetty. She saw a huge jack fish and lots of damsel fish. She loved throwing the tuna in and watching all of the fish scramble to get it. It was fun for us to watch her! She didn't like it when we were on the beach and small fish would be near or when we had a baby ray swimming along our beach! Daddy and I thought it was pretty cool! Daddy even had his first snorkeling adventures. I think it's something we may try to do more of!

One evening we went to the crab races. There are quite a few hermit crabs on the island so you always had to check the shells you picked up on the beach to make sure it wasn't some one's home. Both Sophia and I got surprised at different times! Anyway - they caught some, put numbers on the shells and drew circles in the sand. Sophia won 2 of 3 and won a drink. She got - guess what - apple juice!!! There's a close up picture of one of the winning crabs. Mine never even left it's shell. I got the dud!!!

We also took a dolphin cruise. W went to a talk about spinner dolphins and whales. Sophia was pseudo interested but really enjoyed the boat ride and watching the dolphins jump up and spin around. It was definitely worth the money to do this. We were there during the season when the dolphins were most active and got to go on a calm night so there was a lot of activity.

So in summary - would be want to come back here? Most definitely! My advice - try to get here at least once in your life as it was a truly relaxing trip!