Laamu, Maldives

Maldives has always been a place I've dreamt of going to ever since I was in high school and when I was in uni & completed my diving courses, it became more and more attractive.. And finally, after years of waiting, we've finally made our way there!

We've made a booking since late last year and was initially meant to stay at a liveabroad safari for a week and then at a resort, but due to circumstances from this year we've decided to skip the liveaboard. 

 The beautiful villa and waters

We've made our booking with Six Senses which is located at Laamu Atoll, about an hour flight south of Male and another 20 minutes by speedboat. 

We arrived late into Male as our flight was also delayed for an hour by the very inefficient Malaysian Airlines (the flight was delayed by an hour, and yet the airline did not make any announcement of a delay. When we asked what the delay was, we were told 'Ground checks are still going on'. Fair enough.... until I see the two pilots walking in 30 minutes late into the gate!!!. So much for ground checks still ongoing). We only decided to take MAS because I could book the flights as a single booking for Syd-Kul-Mle-Kul-Syd... How I wish I went with a different airline! Okay, shall return to the happy bits of the trip...

So anyway, we arrived late into Male but still made it to the connecting flight *woo hoo*. Was exhausted when we arrived at the hotel - they gave us a very quick rundown of the resort and took us to our rooms immediately after that. 

 

Can't resist taking a picture of the cute basins!

(Made with two suitcases externally)  - so cute!!!

Our beloved bed for the week

 And then we woke up to this!!

The view from bed

 

 The most amazing shade of blue 

 

  Our villa

 

Outdoor shower - so open, yet so private

View from the outdoor rainshower

 

Stairway to the upper deck

View from the upper deck 1

View from the upper deck 2

Our lower deck - spent hours on the daybed!

Some hotel reads 

Green book for local animals/insects etc

Blue book for marine life 

Both surprisingly interesting reads! 

We stayed in villa no 9 in Jetty A which is closest to the main area but still private enough. Many from trip advisor had actually recommended to stay in Jetty C which is furthest away for privacy.

Walkway to the villas

And our villa

Each villa comes with 2 bicycles which was a pretty nice touch. An old school type, with a little basket at the front - so cute! What I loved about it was the memories it brought back for me... It was ages ago that I last rode on a bicycle, more ever one that looked like that. It was the most amazing feeling!

 Our two bicycles *love*

 The 'cycle parking'

It's only about a minute's ride from our villa to the main area, but it was always a ride that I looked forward to daily. The ride on the wooden platform, into the little 'jungle' before you reach the bicycle parking area. There were definitely times when I was pretty worried that the wind would push me and I would fall into the water, but still.. the amazing feeling when the seabreeze blows when you're on the bike.... Amazing!

Off we went for our breakfast at Longitude Restaurant - the only restaurant that served breakfast. Buffet style as expected, with free glasses of freshly made juice (of different mixes)

 

 Longitude Restaurant

 Private dining area at Longitude Restaurant

Tables with privacy in the restaurant

There are different seating areas in the restaurant.. all providing amazing views. On the last day we were there, I saw flying fishes from where we were seated!

At Six Senses, every guest is allocated to a GEM (guest experience maker) which I think is a very personalized touch from the hotel. The GEM would see to your every need, from making bookings for activities & restaurants, recommendations, all the villa needs and even getting medications from the doctor if you need any! Our GEM was Regina, a Russian girl who was most helpful and pleasant. 

After lunch, off we went to Chill Bar's deck - where daybeds and hammocks are made available for snorkelers and guests wanting to sunbath. Free towels, mask and snorkels available! (mask and snorkels to be taken from the dive centre)

Chill bar - check out the waters!

 The amazing deck

Daybeds to laze on, and if it gets too hot :

off to the over-the-water-hammocks you go!

We spent an hour or so snorkeling and then lazing on the daybed before heading back to our room - but not before we went to the dive centre : Ocean Dimensions of course! We weren't really planning on diving initially when we booked the resort but since we cancelled our liveaboard, we HAVE to do some diving. After all, we're in Maldives!

Sunset

Our villa faced the sunset but we only managed to look at it on our first day. The other days were either too cloudy or raining.

And soon it was dinner time!

We decided to have the grilled lobster dinner at Chill Bar which was the special of the day.

 Bread rolls are amazing! 

The olive spreads is a must try!

Selection of appetizers - 7 types!

And then the main lobster, grilled tuna and selection of desserts as well! *sorry, no pictures!* 

The servings were so huge we couldn't finish them.. and lobsters - nothing like what we get at home. They were really really big - we had trouble finishing ours.

And then it was time for bed before we heading for the dives!

Signing in from Maruhabaa!

Sitting in the reception hall of our hotel, awaiting our boat for transfer back to the local airport towards Male... 

The view is stunning with the breathtaking different shades of ocean blue, the little crabs greeting us in the morning at our villa, the cooling sea breeze - we're so so sad to leave this place :(

Be back with more photos soon!

Missing you

I've known you all my life,
From the very first day.
You were my very first friend, my first brother.

I've been told you were very protective of me then,
Everyone needing to ask for permission before picking me up.
The times as children when we played together - running at the 'padang'
Cycling on our bikes around the neighbourhood pretending it was an adventure
Running out of the house to the 'roti'-man and grabbing a few buns to only quickly run back home so that mom couldn't make us return the buns.

The countless time you've sent and picked us up from schools,
The many times you've picked me up in the middle of the night from anywhere.
The little and big drives we've taken around near home or far away,
The long drives to find what I love to eat - the  Assam Laksa & Pork Noodles.
The times when they would just be waiting at home for me, all from your indirect expressions of love & care.
The times that you would complain about my requests and giving me a hard time,
But often giving in at the end,
Is how I've realized how much you loved us, but just didn't know how to express it in words.

I can't help tearing each time I think of you, and of your little family,
The two very adorable and very young girls,
And your wonderful wife.
While you were often stubborn, you looked after both mum & dad more than the two of us,
Taking them on holidays and so forth,
You were the one who was home with them while we were away. 
You were never good with words,
But I could see how much you cared.

I can remember the time you've visited Melbourne with A&A,
How happy and excited I was then.
Not only was it you, but also Bernard also came along.
To our first (and now our only) sibling outing together.
The visits to the zoo, the chocolates, the shopping, the food.
How much you loved Pancake Parlour and the distortion mirror.


I miss having my big brother around,
To make me feel safe,
To have someone to call if I ever needed any help,
Or just plainly, someone to have a drink with.

 
My first year home for Chinese New Year in ages and yet, this is how it ended.
Just the day before you left, we were playing gin rummy
You, Bernard, Mummy and me,
All full of laughter and joy.

Things moved on so quickly from there.
One moment we were chatting happily, and the next time I saw you was in the hospital.
Perhaps I was naive or I just didn't want to accept it,
Never did I thought at those time you'll be sleeping on...
Although the many times the doctors have spoken to us, I never lost hope.
Until the time I saw and heard it ... from 80 to 60 to 40... and then there was none.
How did it happen?
Just 10 days ago we had our family dinner
Just 9  days ago we had our reunion dinner
Just days ago, we had laughters, cookies and red packets all around
Just 2 days ago we were playing gin rummy,
And then it was nothing.
There was nothing anymore.


It's been 2 months since you've left us but it hasn't really gotten any easier.
I still tear when I think of you and your kids,
I can't do a consult in the trauma centre without taking a break, without shedding a tear.
Some days I do better, and some days I don't.

When I see other kids with their father, I think of your children
Wondering what the future holds for them.
I will do my best to look after them as my own,
To provide them with as much love as I could.
But it will never replace a Father's love.

I will not take life for granted.
For it has shown me how fragile it can be.

To my older brother,
Who is also a son,
A husband,
A father and,
Friends to many.
We miss you very very dearly.
May you find your peace in the ever after.
Maybe some day we'll meet again, in a world much more wonderful
Filled with only love, joy and happiness. 

To you, my much loved and missed brother

Lake Macquarie, Swansea

Welcome 2013!

2012 has been a really busy year for us, with the moving, new jobs and 2 weddings. I didn't really have time to travel, and even less time to blog about the trips. And the trips are more R&R rather than the sight seeing ones.. so there will be a change in the way the trips are told.

We did however start the year (or rather, the end of 2012) with a trip to the north of Sydney, at Lake Macquarie in Swansea. It's about 1.5 hour from Sydney and a pretty easy drive up the freeway.

We initially thought about heading to Noosa but it was too expensive as we didn't plan much ahead so we decided to go to Lake Macquarie as it was much more affordable. And of course, much less of a hectic trip.

Day 1

 

 Caves Beach Spa Suite

We stayed at Caves Beach Hotel which is a relatively new hotel in the area. The place was really nice - it had a bar, a lounge, a restaurant and a cafe all in the one spot and yet the rooms/suites were far enough to be quiet and private.

 Our room 

Open concept bathroom 

Love the double basins! :D

 

 The tub is just behind the wooden frame

*This is the absolute best thing!*

 View from our balcony 

Looking right onto the beach

The good thing about being in this suite is that it is only catered for adults and strictly no children allowes. So there's not much noise on the deck and one can really sit and enjoy the view and breeze for hours with a good book! Families with children can book at the villas located just behind the suites.

Quick walk to the beach before dinner!

 Loving the feeling of water rushing through my feet

We made a last minute reservation at Milano's at Pelican which was only 10 minutes drive from the hotel. Didn't look up any recommendations, was just the spur-of-the-moment decision and it turned out to be a good one. 

The restaurant is just by the lake, and we had a sunset view which made the dining experience all the more enjoyable. The food was also pretty good and an excellent service to complete.

 His entree terrine

 My quail starters - really yum!

 The pork belly with scallop

 His main 

And the wonderful sunset!

The restaurant also has a seafood platter but one will need to give them at least 24hours notice so that they would be able to pick out the best fresh seafood from the Sydney Fish Market... perhaps it's worth a try.

The whole dining experience was one of the nicest we've ever had and I would recommend everyone to head that direction if they were in town.

Day 2

We had a relatively lazy day on day two, heading out to Belmont for the walk around the lake and then settled for some pizza by the beach. 

The lake is really clean, and the water was quite clear. There was plenty of people out fishing, kayaking, jet-skiing.. it looked really enjoyable and we wanted to do those things too, but we didn't manage to find anywhere that rented the equipments out (minus the fishing... plenty of places to rent a boat for fishing)

 The clear waters

We did go on one of the walking trails in hope of seeing the waters from a cliff/hillside, but it was not that nice and after walking for about 45 minutes, we headed back. No pictures from that hike... it was too .... boring.

We were quite tired after the walk so we headed back to the hotel for a quick rest and then went down to the beach to look at the caves at the beach. We could only go during low tide as these caves are partially or fully submerged under the water at high tide. 

 One of the many sea caves..

 I love the beachhhhh!!!

Day 3

We got a walking trail guide from the tourist information centre in Swansea the day before and there's about 20 walking trails in Swansea and we went to Watagan National Park for the Gap Creek Falls. I was so excited about going to see a waterfall. The last one that I've been to was in New Zealand and it was beautiful.

 But oh my... after hiking up and down many rocks, what a disappointment!! The waterfall is definitely the saddest one I've ever seen. There was barely any water... it definitely wasn't falling... it's probably best described as water-drip.

What a sad day.....

 

 Probably the saddest waterfall in the country...

Feeling so disappointed, sad and tired we decided to head back to the hotel for a rest before our New Year Eve's dinner.  

*there is another trail recommended called the Boarding Dam Walk which had quite a pretty mini waterfall on a picture, but after this disappointment, I couldn't be bothered going on another hike. Maybe someone heading there can let me know if it was nice*.

 

 Something to make us feel better

And then we were off to our dinner! I made a booking at the hotel's C Restaurant about 2 weeks earlier. The dinner was $90ppax for a 3 course meal and a firework to complete which was a pretty good deal in my opinion. 

 His main

My main - really good piece of steak!!

His - Pannacota *oh so good!*

Just before the mains, we had the fireworks which was really quite nice. The restaurant was nice enough to keep our mains till we got back to our table which kept the food warm. The area for the fireworks wasn't too crowded and it was just outside the restaurant so we were really close and had a fantastic view~ Wasn't the biggest and grandest firework show but I really enjoyed it. A good end to 2012 and a great start to 2013.

Happy New Year everyone!

May more trips come my way!!