Sunday, August 26, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
In the Maldives
Touchdown in the Maldives on Wednesday the 15th evening at around midnight Maldivian time. The airport is an island on its own and waiting to greet me were Scubazoo crew Owen and Samantha. Already there was a luxury speedboat waiting to take us to the resort - the kind that they use to ferry actual guests. The water surrounding the airport was already crystal clear with fish swimming around doing what they do. Was a shame that the flight wasn't in the daytime. No doubt the arial view would have been spectacular and worthy of some airborne shots from the plane. Nevertheless, the landscape, even at night, is quite amazing. No signs of hilltops anywhere on the horizon. It's said that the highest point in Maldivian territory is only 5 metres above sea level.
As soon as we reached the resort, I unloaded my dive gear at the office and headed straight for the house that I am now living in, which is another island just a stone's throw away from the resort island.....literally! There's a shallow channel that separates the two islets with only about 30m of water between them. The island that we live on is called Buda Huraa and is where most of the male resort staff live, and is a whole community in itself with shops, a school, mosque, restaurants and other things. Only thing is that NO alcohol is allowed on the island.
After a good night's sleep, I headed over to the resort to get all the formalities sorted and was given uniforms. That afternoon, Sam and I went for a dive at Lankan - a cleaning station for Mantas where I've been told, up to 30 mantas can be seen at a time visiting the little rock that they station themselves on to be cleaned by cleaner fish everyday. Saw my first 2 Maldivian mantas on that dive and was blown away by how close they come to the divers. Keeping the camera viewfinder to my mask was a little difficult because I was so in awe of them that I felt like just sitting back and enjoying the view. It wasn't exactly in the same abundance that I've been told, but still a jawdropping experience nonetheless.
Still getting settled in and I'm sure in a couple weeks, I'll get into the swing of things. Still a little paranoid of protocol we must take note of since we ARE in a 6 star resort. So I'm just taking a back seat and making sure I'm observing what's the resort's way of interaction. Some of the vocabulary that's used in the resort takes a little of getting used to. For example, when asking about laundry, one of the laundry staff says to me, "let me have your soiled uniform". I don't think I've ever heard of anyone using the word "Soiled" for laundry. Everyone I know says "Dirty Laundry". I guess soiled is a more 'professional' term for dirty. Little things like that was kinda bizarre for me. But I guess, it wouldn't be 6 star service if they just said "Give me your dirty jocks!"
The staff cafe is not bad either. There's a smoking area and non-smoking area for the resort staff. Indoor or outdoor. Hot or cold meals. Coffee or tea. Juice or water. Soy sauce or Tabasco. Mains and dessert. Self service of course with a buffet style selection of curries, plain or briyani rice, vegetables, pastas, cakes and custards. Pretty impressive considering its a staff cafe. Twice a week, we're allowed to have meals at the resort restaurant, where on Friday, we had a delicious seafood buffet with unlimited salmon/tuna sashimi, lobster/vegetable tempura, sushi, desserts, etc. Of course I gorged myself on the desserts more than the seafood. All in all, a very nice meal with 6 star service.
Overall, I'm very impressed. Of course, I say this with all the enthusiasm in the world, but who knows...one can get bored after some time. But at the moment, things are super. Will take some photos around the resort to share when I have the time.
As soon as we reached the resort, I unloaded my dive gear at the office and headed straight for the house that I am now living in, which is another island just a stone's throw away from the resort island.....literally! There's a shallow channel that separates the two islets with only about 30m of water between them. The island that we live on is called Buda Huraa and is where most of the male resort staff live, and is a whole community in itself with shops, a school, mosque, restaurants and other things. Only thing is that NO alcohol is allowed on the island.
After a good night's sleep, I headed over to the resort to get all the formalities sorted and was given uniforms. That afternoon, Sam and I went for a dive at Lankan - a cleaning station for Mantas where I've been told, up to 30 mantas can be seen at a time visiting the little rock that they station themselves on to be cleaned by cleaner fish everyday. Saw my first 2 Maldivian mantas on that dive and was blown away by how close they come to the divers. Keeping the camera viewfinder to my mask was a little difficult because I was so in awe of them that I felt like just sitting back and enjoying the view. It wasn't exactly in the same abundance that I've been told, but still a jawdropping experience nonetheless.
Still getting settled in and I'm sure in a couple weeks, I'll get into the swing of things. Still a little paranoid of protocol we must take note of since we ARE in a 6 star resort. So I'm just taking a back seat and making sure I'm observing what's the resort's way of interaction. Some of the vocabulary that's used in the resort takes a little of getting used to. For example, when asking about laundry, one of the laundry staff says to me, "let me have your soiled uniform". I don't think I've ever heard of anyone using the word "Soiled" for laundry. Everyone I know says "Dirty Laundry". I guess soiled is a more 'professional' term for dirty. Little things like that was kinda bizarre for me. But I guess, it wouldn't be 6 star service if they just said "Give me your dirty jocks!"
The staff cafe is not bad either. There's a smoking area and non-smoking area for the resort staff. Indoor or outdoor. Hot or cold meals. Coffee or tea. Juice or water. Soy sauce or Tabasco. Mains and dessert. Self service of course with a buffet style selection of curries, plain or briyani rice, vegetables, pastas, cakes and custards. Pretty impressive considering its a staff cafe. Twice a week, we're allowed to have meals at the resort restaurant, where on Friday, we had a delicious seafood buffet with unlimited salmon/tuna sashimi, lobster/vegetable tempura, sushi, desserts, etc. Of course I gorged myself on the desserts more than the seafood. All in all, a very nice meal with 6 star service.
Overall, I'm very impressed. Of course, I say this with all the enthusiasm in the world, but who knows...one can get bored after some time. But at the moment, things are super. Will take some photos around the resort to share when I have the time.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Home!
After 6 weeks at Seaventures, I'm now back home in KL, albeit not enjoying the air with a poor pollution index number. Suddenly got a bout of hayfever with a runny nose, blocked sinuses and a heavy head after enjoying my time without the smog. Good to see the ol folks, motorhead brother & his very random girlfriend, the furry ones at home, and the buddies. Will be home for a week and a bit, after which I'll be shipped off to the MALDIVES. Thanks Scubazoo! Will be great to meet up with the rest of the team there and experience diving of a different kind.
In the meantime, today's stay at home day to take on the role of maid. Home is exactly the way i left it 6 weeks ago - so some cleaning and organising is in order. I'll save you from having to look at pics of heap of mess. A couple loads (probably more) of laundry is also on the agenda today since handwashing was never my thing on the rig. And later some quality time with the furry monster - Jiggles the bottomless lab - oh how I missed you.
Photo courtesy of Chingz
In the meantime, today's stay at home day to take on the role of maid. Home is exactly the way i left it 6 weeks ago - so some cleaning and organising is in order. I'll save you from having to look at pics of heap of mess. A couple loads (probably more) of laundry is also on the agenda today since handwashing was never my thing on the rig. And later some quality time with the furry monster - Jiggles the bottomless lab - oh how I missed you.
Photo courtesy of Chingz
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