Maldives > Nice relaxing

The rhythm is starting to feel familiar: sleeping in, opening the doors to the terrace, taking a shower, and heading to the restaurant for breakfast. Afterwards, relaxing on a beach bed on the veranda. Today, however, I get up earlier and have breakfast sooner. At nine o’clock, I go to check whether snorkeling will go ahead. Although it is cloudy, it is dry. At the reception, I meet Zoobeen. He has his doubts. He walks outside with me and points to the dark clouds in the distance, where it is already raining.

Maldives - The terrace of the water villa

Another colleague is also pessimistic and advises calling the reception at 9:45. Somewhat disappointed, I walk back to my water villa. At 9:45, I call, and the receptionist asks me to wait a moment. When he returns to the line, he says that the trip has not been canceled. I had almost given up hope. Quickly, I gather my things, head to the snorkel rental, and carry all my equipment to the pier. There I meet Zoobeen again. He is surprised to see me with snorkeling gear. Faizen, the young man guiding the boat tour, also says the sea is too rough. “It’s like playing cricket in the dark—you can’t see anything,” he explains. He advises trying again tomorrow. The other participants are also rescheduled. I return my snorkeling equipment to the rental and the rental fee is canceled. I go for a swim in the sea near my water villa. I swim under the villa as well, emerging at the pier in front. I dry off again on the beach bed with a book in my hand. After lunch, I take a walk around the island. I walk past the beach bungalows on the other side of the island. Here too, very few bungalows are occupied. Despite the somewhat cloudy weather, it is very pleasant to be on Paradise Island. In the evening, during dinner, Richaad comes to say goodbye. He has been our host at the restaurant over the past few days. He tells me he comes from one of the islands near Malé. He has been working on the island for four years, and it feels like home. He works six days a week and has one day off. Because the restaurant is currently understaffed, he is working full-time and saving up his days off. After dinner, I repack my luggage in preparation for the return journey tomorrow.