Personal Narrative: The Maldives

There are some experiences you only witness once in a lifetime. Absolute bliss is one of those experiences I expect to have on this holiday. I also dream of seeing a turtle, free and wild in the rainbow reefs of the Maldives. I can’t wait! There will be time to relax and time to catch up with family – my Grandparents, Cousins (Josie and Hesther), my Uncle Tony and Aunty Gretel, and of course me and my parents.

We got a sea plane in! The coolest thing I have ever done to date. As we are such a large group, we got one all to ourselves; it was great not having to worry about being too noisy or upsetting other travellers! Other than the sea plane, the only other vehicle by the island is the speed boat that also brings guests in. No cars, busses,

As the Maldives is the lowest, flattest nation in the world, you would understand the fact that there are no hills, and certainly no mountains, in sight! There are only 150 villas on the island, and they are all cream bungalows with wooden posts and thatched roofs. The villas are intertwined with trees as well as tropical vegetation, and are found on the beach-front (or, if you go for a water villa then you would be sitting on stilts over the lagoon).The other buildings are bigger – The main lobby, buffet, water-sports centre, spa and the other restaurants.

The buffet and main lobby buildings are held up just with wooden posts, absolutely no walls in sight! After breakfast this morning, I just walked out of the buffet, onto the terrace and took a few steps: soon enough I sank into the exquisitely powdery, cool, white sand and was on the beach! Oh! The beach! The sand felt like gossamer as it folded in around my feet. It was cool, but I knew that as the day went on, the sun would heat it up. My gaze left the sand and rose up to the sea; it was beautiful after about 13 hours of traveling, but

Now I can put it on paper: infinite stretches of ebbing, clear, azure waters. The whole island seems as if it is cocooned in a dreamy blanket. The waves, tipped with white foam, glitter under the light of the scorching sun. The waves lapped my bare feet and kissed the sand, keeping it wet and cool. There were no noisy kids and the whole island – all 0.21 square km of it – was tranquil and serene. Here, millions of miles away from home, I feel free.

There are bamboo grasses and bushes growing, as well as a few coconut trees (I do want to try fresh coconut milk!); the banyan tree is the tallest tree on the island. The coconut palm is the Maldives national symbol. The broad variety of vegetation gives a home to little creatures and birds. I see the occasional iguana lazing, or a gecko skittering away across the fallen leaves. The leaves of the palm trees are sharp and ridged. Amongst the palm trees are other exotic shrubs and flowers, but the main event is the