Many people used to think that happiness — in this life, on this earth — used to be a privilege exclusively reserved for the gods and the fortunate few. Today, I profess that not only is happiness considered possible for anyone to attain, it is expected — simply because we owe it to ourselves.
Truth is, I believe this happiness is not just inside us, but also out there. In fact, this ideal concept of a much-coveted paradise has beguiled man since time immemorial. Plato imagined the Blessed Isles, a place where happiness emanated from the warm Mediterranean waters. Studies show that until the 18th century, some people claimed that the biblical paradise, the Garden of Eden, was actually an ethereal sanctuary situated ironically at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in what is now modern-day Iraq!
My last article about the elegant Hotel Venezia in Legazpi, Albay elicited raves from travel aficionados but the greatest reaction came from two-time CMMA awardee and STAR Allure columnist Bum Tenorio, my best friend and traveling companion for 14 years.
Being the “Will and Grace” of the Philippines, we are the real-life Pinoy counterparts to the American sitcom’s reel-life characters. Through each adventure, memorable and punctuated with wit and humor, we have explored exotic destinations around the globe. Upon seeing my recent acquisition of a larger-than-life-sized atlas with red and white dots indicating places I’ve visited or have yet to visit, Bum was quick to quip: “Why don’t you put big, bright, yellow dots on the places we have explored together like Tibet, Yangtze River, South Africa” and much more? Bum and I almost visited the Maldives together a few months back but he had received an invitation to fly to Santiago de Compostela in Spain for a pilgrimage, so we went off to our respective destinations.
So off to the Maldives I went. Our Singapore Airlines plane gracefully taxied on the runway of the Male International Airport, capital of the Republic of Maldives, just a comfortable three-hour flight from Singapore. The very first glimpse you get of indulgent island living are the fascinating atoll formations that resemble strings of pearls scattered over the deep-blue Indian Ocean. A 15-minute speedboat ride whisks you off to the fabulous Sheraton Maldives Full Moon & Spa, located on the North Male Atoll, one of the many low-lying coral sanctuaries that the Maldives is famous for.
Approaching the spectacular island that Robinson Crusoe might have loved to inhabit, my heart skipped a beat as time and tide aligned and I imagined giant manta rays converging in a dramatic coral-reef ballet, playfully performing a welcome dance for mesmerized guests. The vast ocean floor is so shallow that it mirrors the eclectic fish and the scrub colored coral caps set in absurdly bright turquoise shadows. Such postcard-perfect scenes may grow on you gradually and make you feel at home. Or they may enchant you in seconds as you set foot on this idyllic nirvana. Either way, there will be a feeling of bliss and contentment, an inexplicable liaison, like reuniting with a long-lost love the way it was destined to be.
I whispered a prayer of thanks to the good Lord for my travel blessings as I stepped into the bucolic lobby of the Sheraton Full Moon Resort where marketing and communications manager Cyrus Im and his gracious staff welcomed our jovial group with their fragrant leis, charming folk songs and refreshing tropical drinks.
Following an aesthetic refurbishment and re-branding initiative, the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa was recently launched as an exciting and luxury holiday destination located on its own prime location. Did you know that every resort in the Maldives occupies its own island and in every resort island that is developed, the building area should not exceed 20 percent of the total land area of the island?
“We are very excited to add this jewel to our Sheraton resort collection,” said Brian Segrave, general manager of Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa. “From the pristine reefs, to the wide range of activities available, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa offers a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience for couples and families alike, certainly a great place to connect with themselves and with nature.”
It was serendipity at its finest as a glowing full moon hovered above the delightful resort that has a total of 156 beautifully appointed rooms. Each one features the well-known Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds, my favorite Sheraton bathroom amenities — Shine by Blisslabs — among other top-of-the-line features. The resort also offers five unique room configurations to accommodate honeymooners, families or groups of adventure enthusiasts in search of tropical inspiration.
The Water Villa brings romance to the air: creatively set on stilts over the sapphire-hued lagoon with direct sea access, private terrace and scenic ocean views. The spacious Beachfront Cottage is ideal for families traveling with children as each ground floor cottage has lush greenery and overlooks the azure sea as well. The bathroom facility, very child-friendly, features a delightful al fresco garden shower and a charming terrace.
Hotel manager Justin Malcolm said diving enthusiasts will surely enjoy their date with the denizens of the deep as the resort has easy access to over 40 world-class dive sites around the Maldives. Others can immerse themselves in the spectacular marine ecosystem at the world-famous Banana Reef, which is just five minutes away. The shipwreck of the Maldives Victory as well as Manta Point are both just a 20-minute boat ride away. Other favorite spots include Emboodhoo Express also known as Shark Point, HP Reefs, Okobe Thila and Nassimo Thila. In Maldivian waters, be prepared to encounter spotted eagle rays, stingrays, hawks bill and green turtles, Napoleon wrasses, lionfish, moray eels and many other fascinating marine species.
There is an exciting array of indoor and outdoor recreational activities for everyone, including a fitness center, freshwater swimming pool, children’s splash pool, floodlit tennis courts, a range of water sports and daily excursions for guests to enjoy. You must try the sunset dolphin cruise, where spectacular interaction with friendly dolphins is a treat.
For dining preferences, you are spoiled for choices at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa’s seven distinct restaurants and bars with a wide selection of culinary choices. New executive chef Mark Leslie, who hails from Africa, has a passion for extraordinary gourmet experiences. He was Nelson Mandela’s personal cook. (Incidentally, Bum and I visited Nelson Mandela’s home in Soweto in South Africa and his cell in Roben Island a few years back.) The chef has already created private-island dining at the resort for stars including Alicia Keys who has reportedly extended her stay twice.
Recently taking center stage in this magnificent Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is the new gathering place — Link@Sheraton. This is a branded Sheraton experience with complimentary touch-screen computers, Wi-Fi, a mini library and a large screen TV to watch a game with family and friends. The recent unveiling of the world’s first Shine Spa for Sheraton, which is housed on its own island, is also a new addition to look forward to. GM Segrave enthused, “We are very proud to open the world’s first Shine Spa for Sheraton in this unspoiled paradise.” The spa surely brightens both your look and your mood. Try their signature treatments like the Silk Route Collection inspired by the Orient, Thailand, India, the Middle East and Mediterranean or the Ocean Massage that resembles the fluid and flowing motion of waves inciting relaxation and rejuvenation to the body, mind and soul.
Back in our wing of our home in Makati, Bum and I prepare for our next wanderlust adventures — there is Mauritius, Vanuatu, Nairobi and Antarctica. Perhaps one day, we will find the lost city of Atlantis or find the elixir of youth in the isles of Greece. Wherever it may be, one thing is for sure, the exploits of the Pinoy “Will and Grace” are perennially propelled by the belief that “you must embrace the present, launch yourself on every wave as each new adventure captures the jewel of travel allure.”
* * *
Singapore Airlines flies daily to Male. Please call 756-8888.
For more information, call Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa at (960)6642010 email HYPERLINK sheraton.maldives@sheraton.com or visit their website www.sheraton.com/maldivesfullmoon.
E-mail the author miladay.star@gmail.com.