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With a gentle breeze blowing in her hair and powder-fine sand beneath her feet, Farzana Ali jetted off to the Maldives to find out what R&R really means.
The Maldives are a collection of picture perfect atolls that won't be there in 50 years due to global warming. Or so they say. Of course, the impending doom is not so near and everyone in the Maldives will argue that it's not true.
Well, they would say that, even though the country is known for having the lowest, highest point in the world. But with crystal clear turquoise waters and Christian Dior face powder like sand, it's certainly difficult for me to worry about that right now.
The Maldives is comprised of a collection of twenty-six atolls, with 1192 islands, but only 250 are inhabited. Of those, approximately half are occupied by locals, while the rest are resorts - indicating the importance of tourism to this island nation scattered in the Indian Ocean, seven hundred kilometres south-west of Sri Lanka.
The capital Male, is located in the middle of the atolls and is where the majority of the Maldivians live. Should you wish to explore Male, it'll be the only place on your trip that you'll encounter ordinary locals and the culture of the Maldives.
Because, you certainly won't see any hint of that in your tropical hideaway. Apart from staff - who are comprised from a mix of Maldivian locals, Sri Lankans, Thai, Indians and some Europeans - the rest of which ever island resort you're staying at will be occupied by other tourists.
And most resorts in these cluster island retreats will make sure that you don't see them often, which explains why it's favoured so heavily by honeymooners.
Once you reach the small, but bustling, airport you'll be transferred by seaplane or sea boat to your resort. As we were staying at the Anantara Dhigu, it was a 35 minutes speedboat for us.
Looking out across the water as we sliced across the ocean's surface we could hardly believe that this piece of paradise is only a four hour flight away from Dubai.
Arriving at the welcome jetty to the beat of drums, you feel as if you're stepping into a postcard. And that feeling remains with you until you step off the same jetty when you leave.
Located on the South Male Atoll, the Anatarara Dhigu resort is part of complex that includes two sister resorts. While Dhigu is aimed at honeymooners, it's also family friendly and welcomes groups and older couples. The atmosphere on the island is sleepily relaxed.
