Hello readers~ We originally planned this honeymoon trip in 2020 and then covid happened. Nevertheless, we had a great time in Maldives despite being postponed for 3 years lol. And we are glad that we did it because the island is really spectacular. Since this trip is a honeymoon trip, so there will be not many itineraries to share as we just want to chill here. We purposely chose Maldives as our honeymoon destination as we don't want to plan and just stay at the resort doing nothing. Hahaha well, not really nothing lah. Continue reading to find out what we did in the Maldives.
About Maldives
The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an archipelagic state in South Asia, situated in the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres from the Asian continent's mainland.
So why the Maldives is so famous? The Maldives is famous for several reasons, including its vibrant culture, pristine beaches, sprawling greenery, and fascinating landmarks. Apart from the numerous enchanting landmarks, Maldives is also famous for water sports and other adventure activities. When we are planning for our honeymoon, we can't decide whether we want to choose Europe countries or Maldives. A honeymoon is all about relaxing and enjoying our moments. If we travel to Europe, for sure we gonna visit several countries, hunting for good food, luxury shopping etc. Hence, eventually, we decided to have a chilling trip to Maldives first. Europe trip? Maybe next year.
Food
5.8 Undersea Restaurant
Experience the Maldives' trendiest restaurant and the world's largest underwater dining venue and sample the many flavours of exquisite cuisine at 5.8 Undersea Restaurant at your favourite time of the day. Hurawalhi's iconic fine dining restaurant serves a combination of gracious location and inventive dishes for lunch and dinner.
The spectacular 5.8 dazzles and delights diners with a multi-course tasting extravaganza, garnished with a state-of-the-art location. 5.8 is as much a fine dining culinary delight as it is an extraordinary design masterpiece paired, you can sate your appetite and dive into the pleasure of having a view that but a few restaurants in the world afford.
The space inside 5.8 has been designed for intimate conversations, accommodating no more than 10 couples. So make sure to make a reservation before you pay a visit. Menus are indicative and can vary based on the season and the chef's current culinary inspiration.
To start our meal, I ordered a champagne while hubby order a white wine to pair our meals.
Both of us chose different menus, I will talk about it later.
This is a complimentary bread for us. To be honest, it was a little bit dry. I expect it will be flaky but turns out it's not.
5-Course Lunch Menu
Steamed Alaskan King Crab
Served with apple and celeriac puree, saffron mirror, and salmon roe.
This is refreshing. I like the puree. It definitely freshens my palette.
Maldivian Yellow Fin Tuna Tartar
Served with smoked sour cream, pickled rose apple, beluga caviar and lemon balm.
This is one of my favourite dishes. The pickled rose apple gel surprised me. I don't even know that's an apple gel because the colour doesn't look like it. The sweetness of apple gel and sour cream blended well with the tuna.
Glacier 51 Patagonian Toothfish
Served with diamond clam, sea grapes, oyster mushroom, oceanic foam, candied kombu and Ikura beurre blanc.
A small bit of toothfish. Like the sea grapes and oceanic foam. The texture of the fish was good.
Canadian Lobster
Served with saffron bisque emulsion, squid ink ‘rouille’, passion fruit, carrot and ginger puree, and kaffir lime powder.
Frankly, as a fan of lobster, I'm a little bit disappointed with the portion of the protein. But since it is fine dining, I can't complain much lol. The lobster taste food with the puree. I don't understand the lime powder though.
Golden Gem
Served with strawberry and white chocolate mousse, mixed berry compote, truffle ice cream, golden chocolate sphere, caramel and chocolate sauce.
We love the dessert! Especially when they pour the hot caramel in front of us, the chocolate aroma was so strong! The mixed berry compote and truffle ice cream balance the chocolate sweetness.
Seafood-free Lunch Menu (hubby's selection)
Served with foie Gras Terrine
apricot, dry figs, and pistachios, served with fermented plum, and confit lemon.
Miyazaki Wagyu Canneloni A4 MBS9
Served with a trio of seaweed, shallots, and capers, served with sour cream and tonburi caviar.
Sounds fancy but my hubby doesn't find it special.
Raw Celeriac Ribbons
Served with brown onion foam, potato velouté, shaved truffle and almonds.
Hubby said it basically tastes like raw potato lol.
Marga Lamb Saddle
Served with sweet potato puree, spicy red cabbage pickles, asparagus and dukkah, and lamb jus with fresh mint.
Finally, something that hubby liked. He thought the lamb was tender and tasty.
Besides the same golden gem dessert, they also served us a special dessert to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It consists of chocolate truffle, macarons, strawberries, crime brulee and cookie crumbles. How sweet of them.
Overall, we had a pleasant meal here. It is also one of the reasons why we stay at this resort. We thought the food quality can be improved but the underwater interior is stunning.
Cost : 500 USD | 2 pax
Kashibo Restaurant and Bar
A sizzling fusion of Asian cuisine and incredible views.
The contemporary Kashibo Restaurant (Kashibo is Dhivehi for sea urchin) hits the spot with a picture-perfect setting and a divine dining menu in equal measure. Indulge in highlights of Asian street food and pamper your palate with everything you love about Chinese, Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese cuisine, among others, and enjoy a range of seafood staples and vegetarian dishes.
Complimentary Bread
(from the left) Paprika bread, garlic and sesame, squid ink served with sour cream.
I like this starter. My favourite is garlic and sesame.
Yellow Fin Poke Bowl | 26 USD
Japanese rice, marinated Maldivian tuna, salmon, edamame, wakame salad, diced cucumber, papaya, toasted sesame, togarashi mayonnaise.
Ordered this for my lunch. It was my first time eating brown tuna (I always eat the red ones) and it was my first time eating a poke bowl mixed with papaya lol. But overall the food is good though.
Braised Short Rib with Stir-Fried Broccoli | 32 USD
Sesame oil, oyster sauce, egg fried rice.
Hubby ordered this. He said the braised short ribs are tender. Egg-fried rice is good.
Nasi Goreng | 34 USD
Jasmine rice, fried egg, prawn, calamari, sweet soy, peanut, prawn cracker, sambal, chicken satay.
Consider the most expensive fried rice that I ate. The rice is a bit wet to me.
Pad Thai Prawn | 36 USD
Stir-fried rice noodles, vegetables, tofu, peanut, scrambled egg, and bean sprouts.
Hubby said not bad. They gave a lot of prawns in this dish.
An Asian cocktail menu of the world-class standard will be vying for your attention with the unmissable shochu cocktails that you can sip on while reclining in the shade during the day's hottest hours or when the night falls and lights illuminate the ocean and reef sharks and rays make an appearance.
From its staggering sea view by day to the romantic flickering of candlelight by night, Kashibo's atmosphere is the perfect pairing to its extensive selection of aromas from around Asia.
Canneli Restaurant
The tantalising aromas. The sizzling of the food. The atmosphere. Canneli will impress you with all of these, and spice things up with a themed evening, allowing you to sample various international cuisine during your stay. The restaurant is a melting pot of flavours and people, creating a contemporary and relaxed dining experience. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all culinary occasions where one can take delight in mouth-watering creations prepared with only the finest of ingredients.
Canneli, which stands for "yellowfin tuna" in Dhivehi, has both indoor and outdoor seating options, the latter being especially charming at breakfast when occasional black/white tip sharks may pass by in the distance. Well, we saw that a couple of times.
J.F.K - Junk Food Kitchen | Coco Bar
You can enjoy all your favourite holiday diet staples with Hurawalhi's known and loved unique spin at J.F.K. restaurant inside Coco Bar. Don't go past this spot-on dining experience of upscale fast food that vegans, as well as meat lovers, will enjoy.
From live entertainment to an extensive menu of wines, cocktails, shishas and snacks, this is the realization of perfection. Add to the mix an infinity pool, and beach just steps away, and it becomes clear why you are bound to return to Coco every day.
Find your holiday bliss at Coco Bar, at which the otherworldly beauty of Hurawalhi and the mandatory relaxation are a matter of fact. Snag a spot on the al fresco deck to admire views of the infinity pool and the beach and sample the haute cocktails that are one of the hallmarks of Coco Bar.
Here are the foods that we ordered :
The Boss Wagyu Beef Burger | 36 USD
Served with wagyu beef burger, caramelized onions, crunchy baby cos lettuce,
streaky bacon, truffle cheddar, and homemade smoked bbq sauce.
The Cod Father | 28 USD
Served with rice flour battered reef fish, pickled relish, sweet chilli aioli,
grilled onion, and squid ink bun. The portion was too big, I can't even finish them.
Chocolate Paradise | 16 USD
Kahlua, Crème De Cacao White, Banana, Whipped Cream,
Vanilla Bean Infused Brown Sugar. Love this! I can drink this all day.
Budweiser Beer - Czech Republic 33 CL | 12 USD
Of course, my hubby is a beer person.
Hotel
Hurawalhi Island Resort
 |
| ( Image source : Hurawalhi ) |
Set on an enchanting private island in the pristine Lhaviyani Atoll in the Maldives. Hurawalhi Island Resort is much like your relationship: it is a perfect match of serenity and excitement, comfort and adventure; it stirs up your every atom with an intricate blend of intimacy and thrill.
It is at Hurawalhi that you can fill your days with an unsparing amount of extraordinary, your mind with wonder, and your heart with romance. The 90-villa, the adults-only luxury resort is as brilliant as the ocean that laps against its beaches and is more magnificent than any island you have visited.
You can swoon over photos of the Maldives, but nothing will prepare you for the beautiful blend of barefoot bliss and contemporary design found at Hurawalhi.
Feel free to relax on this net and take tons of photos with it.
There is also a staircase which links to the sea. Just make sure you're earing your fin or your feet might injured due to the sharp corals.
Enjoying my bubble bath outside. Don't forget to put down the curtain when you get up. Or else, those people who are snorkelling outside your room can see you naked lol.
During nighttime, the sky is full of stars. We basically just lying on these chairs, looking at the stars and chit-chatting. That was a lovely moment. We chat about how far we had come.
At Hurawalhi, you can just be in the moment, be who you are, embrace genuine connections and cherish inner balance unimpeded by outside demands.
We made beautiful memories here and we definitely will revisit this resort.
Cost : 1,000 USD per night
Kuredu Island Resort & Spa
Guess what, we are the only Chinese here hahaha! After staying here for 2 days, we can confirm we are the only Chinese tourists here. Most of them are Westerners here. We have no idea why. Anyway, the buffet here does impress us because basically, we eat buffet here all the time but their menu was always different.
We did snorkelling here but remember to snorkel in the safe area only. We saw some big sharks and stingrays in the non-safety zone and we couldn't imagine what if they are just in front of us what should we do.
Cost : 400 USD per night
Transport
Seaplane | Speed Boat
Our first seaplane experience. Thought it will be fun but in reality, all the seats are really tight. We felt a little bit stuffy when we were on board.
However, if you're a seaplane enthusiast, then Maldives is an excellent destination for you. Seaplanes are a popular mode of transportation in the Maldives because of the country's unique geography, which consists of over 1,000 islands scattered across the Indian Ocean. Many of these islands do not have airports or landing strips, so seaplanes are an essential mode of transportation for tourists and locals alike.
From the Male airport, it took like 5 minutes to the platform. From the platform to our resort, it took about 40 minutes to ride.
Overall, a seaplane experience in the Maldives is a must-do for any traveller visiting the country. Whether you're looking for a convenient mode of transportation or an exciting sightseeing adventure.
Cost :
From Male Airport to Kuredu - 380 USD (2 pax)
Speed boat to Hurawalhi + Seaplane to Male Airport - 530 USD (2 pax)
Activities
Sunset Cruise
A sunset cruise in the Maldives is a popular activity for tourists visiting the beautiful island nation. During a sunset cruise, you'll typically board a boat and enjoy a relaxing trip around the waters surrounding the islands, taking in the stunning views of the sunset over the Indian Ocean.
Sunset cruises in the Maldives are typically offered by resorts and tour operators and can be booked in advance or on the spot. The best time to go on a sunset cruise is during the dry season (December to April) when the weather is sunny and clear.
Overall, a sunset cruise in the Maldives is a beautiful and peaceful way to end your day on the islands and a great way to experience the natural beauty of the Maldives.
Cost : 110 USD | 2 pax
Snorkelling
Snorkelling is a popular water activity that involves swimming on or near the surface of the water while wearing a mask and a snorkel tube, which allows you to breathe while your face is submerged. Snorkelling is a great way to explore the underwater world and observe marine life without the need for scuba diving equipment or certification.
To go snorkelling, you'll need to have some basic equipment, including a mask, snorkel tube, and fins. A good snorkelling mask should fit your face well, create a seal around your nose and mouth, and allow you to see clearly underwater. Fins help you move through the water more efficiently and make it easier to swim against currents. We should some of the tourists brought their own snorkel set with them. Since both of us don't have, we just rent them from the shop.
When snorkelling, it's important to follow some safety guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. A brief snorkelling story of mine, I'm not used to the movement of fins and I thought I'm a great swimmer (in the swimming pool), so what I did was removed the fins and swim in the ocean. At that moment, I completely regret it. When the waves get stronger, no matter how hard I swim, it seems like I'm moving so slowly. At that time, I thought I'm gonna dragged further by the ocean. Fortunately, I managed to swim back to the beach when the waves got weaker. Thus, please don't repeat my mistake and wear fins when you gonna swim in the sea.
Snorkel set rental : 26 USD | 2 pax
Dolphin Safari
We booked a dolphin safari before the evening. Not just we saw a dozen of dolphins, but we also saw some pilot whales! This is the first time spotted the pilot whales. Fyi, pilot whales are in fact one of the largest members of the dolphin family, but they are treated as whales by the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992. They were named pilot whales because it was thought that each pod followed a "pilot" in the group.
Cost : 143 USD | 2 pax
Swimming
Maldives is a chilling island. Why? Because most of the time you are just chilling. Nothing much that you can do hahaha. The pool view in Hurawalhi was so amazing. We like to enjoy the sunset view from the bar.
Doing nothing, just sunbathing my butt here. lol. My butt and legs got tanned after this though.
Me, enjoying the sea breeze before I get up and enjoy my early dinner.
The pool view is not just pretty during day time, it is gorgeous at night as well. The colourful light of the swimming pool with the views of the reflective stars was spectacular. They also have some dance performances at the bar if you would like to watch them (free of charge).
Basically, this honeymoon trip to Maldives was a fun and relaxing trip. Once we saw the beautiful ocean in the Maldives, I guess me and my husband would be picky about the sea views because the ocean views in the Maldives are the best so far that we have ever seen lol. Hubby loves this country so much (even though he got serious sunburn lol) but he said he will definitely revisit this place. Maybe during our 10 years wedding anniversary or something hahaha. Okie dokie~ Don't forget to check out my Honeymoon Trip to Maldives travel vlog below. Hopefully, you guys enjoy reading this post. Kthxbye.
#ShiniInMaldives
For more photos, kindly search the hashtags #ShiniInMaldives or #KenShiInMaldives on Instagram. You may find more details on the personal experience there as well.
0 comments