Maldives with Constance Hotels Part 1: Moofushi

Three flights later, including a seaplane, we landed somewhere in the Indian Ocean, in some far flung edge of the planet, in a group of scattered islands called the Maldives. It's the kind of place you might have dreamt about during one of those rare dreams, the ones you can fly, where you conjure up crystal clear turquoise waters and whiter than white sandy beaches lined with palm trees. Well, I can attest that paradise is alive and well, not far from Sri Lanka. If I'm honest the Maldives was never top of my travel list as it always felt so unattainable; a place dedicated solely to honeymooners or a once in a life-time destination to celebrate something truly special. Now back in Paris, it feels like a dream, albeit a real one.

The first destination of our four day foray in the Maldives, was the brilliantly-named Moofushi Resort, otherwise known as 'the jewel island' to the locals. I stepped off the seaplane and straight into the warm welcome of the staff and assistant resort manager, Srikanth. Having not slept (I’m not really a plane sleeper and I can’t resist watching the films, much to my own detriment), I was pretty dazed and practically running on empty, but anticipation, excitement and curiosity gave me enough fuel to see me through the rest of the day. Unfortunately the weather, although warm and humid, was a bit rainy and grey, but thankfully it didn’t mar the beauty of this incredible place, just prevented me from taking copious amounts of photos and forcing me to live in the moment. No bad thing, when I often see the world through a lens.

Moofushi has a slightly rustic, tree-house vibe to it. Upon arrival, the staff actively encourage you to remove your shoes and spend your stay barefoot. It’s luxurious, but less flashy - more cosy and relaxed than you might expect a 5 star resort to be, but in a good way. During the course of two days, we explored the island, were treated to a massage, snorkelling and went diving. Beautiful reefs surround the island, so it's paradise for snorkelers and sea babies, and it also happens to have the best (award-winning) diving school in the Maldives. The centre is run by fellow Brit, Miles who very kindly offered us the first stage of the PADI course and held my hand throughout. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, not only for the experience, but also to help quell my fear of the sea! I’ve been scared of waves and what lies below since a child and I'll try anything that might help (within reason - think I'll leave those caged shark dives to those braver than I!) After sampling the island's activities during the day - including a massage in the island's spa, a tour of the island and more snorkelling, in the evenings we dined at both island restaurants. Manta, the resort’s main eatery that also provides breakfast and lunch during the day, hosts a different themed cuisine every evening. Fortuitously we arrived the day they were cooking Mexican - if you follow my IG Stories or Snapchat, you’ll know this is a favourite. The following evening we dined in the Moofushi’s a la carte restaurant Alizee. With tables that line the beach, accompanied by live music and a delicious menu to match, it was more than dreamy. There's nothing like dining under the stars and listening to waves gently lap against the shore. Sigh...