Finally I was heading towards my dream travel destination Maldives from Pune via kochi and what you desired so much may test you at different levels before you get that.
And it started with news that Kochi airport is closed for three days because of heavy rains from Thursday till sunday 3 pm and our Maldives flight was at 12.50 pm on Sunday.
We came to know this by Wednesday and by then all our hotel became non refundable by that time (and Maldives do have expensive ones specially sea view ones)
Still our main concern was how to reach there on planned date as everything was scheduled accordingly.
Then process started to call airlines and sync time as we had different airline from Pune to Kochi and then Kochi to Male. We literally had to do extensive brainstorming and research to put forward the possibility for flight diversions, alternative airport options, rescheduling and what not to ensure that out Maldives plan doesn't get affected and someone great said Fortune favours the bold and on Friday we got mail from airline that Maldives flight has been diverted from Trivandrum airport and it will operate on same time which was great relief and later we realised that Friday and Saturday this same flight got cancelled. Only airline operated the Sunday one. Can't thank God enough for same.
Then next challenge was how to reach Trivandrum from Pune as our Pune to Kochi flight was already cancelled. We called airline to check for diversion option and they denied couple of time and said that flights are full for these dates for Trivandrum and funnily airline guy said that madam I think only option for you to is to reach Trivandrum via road. Literally he said that and I felt like laughing and helpless at same time.
Then we did more research and found one flight which was available on airline website and we insisted to give us that which was via delhi but we had to reach Trivandrum anyhow. So we managed to get that flight and after 12 hour flight including layover, and we reached Trivandrum at 5 pm on Saturday.
Trivandrum airport is next to sea and the landing is literally sea view landing. It's enough to forget your tiring long day.
Then we stayed at Trivandrum overnight and booked homestay near airport. It was good to get rest before Maldives flight next day.
Our flight took off from Trivandrum at 12.55 pm and we landed at 2 pm. It was hardly an hour flight and the view from flight is insanely scenic and literally out of the world. 50 percent travel is above sea and as landing process starts, one can witness the landing views of lifetime. The turquoise green water with multiple islands. Hard to brief them in words. Pictures will say all.
Also while landing it feels there is water only all over for landing and suddenly land arrives and plane lands. This first impression is something to cheer forever.
Immigration was extremely smooth with almost no line and then we met our hotel guy at airport as one has to take speed boat rides to islands and speed boat has fixed departure time. Our shared speed boat ferry departure time was 5.15 pm and we were waiting at airport. There is food court next to airport which is good and has quite decent options to eat. Sitting area is next to jetty with quite a view, sea side food court made waiting time less boring and then time came for speed boat which turned out to be quite a horrific experience as it was final test before actual arrival to our destination island.
By 4.30 pm, weather suddenly changed and it started raining heavily like anything and we moved out in such rough weather to port and entered inside ferry and it was moving like anything. It was shaking because of waves and we thoght as soon as speed boat will start, it will be fine and we were so much wrong. It was total 45 minutes ferry ride and at starting 20 minutes was worst speedboat experience ever. For few it could be an experience though. Speed boat was literally jumping from top and landing on sea because of violent sea waves. High intensity waves was coming from all directions and our speed boat felt like paper boat between these forceful waves. Despite boat being covered from all side, water was coming inside because of waves force. We had no other but to be part of all this, an constant ferry roller coaster ferry ride.
Few travellers puked obviously and by chance I saw outside and observed huge height waves heading towards our boat and hit it, I dragged away from my seat and fell down..pheww..can't explain feelings inside my head that time. I stood up and went back to seat and constantly prayed that we all reach to our destination safely.
In between, ferry driver and team use to sail boat at mid islands for all of us to feel relieved for few minutes and again few use to head admist wild waves ever. Finally we managed to arrive at our island ie.. Mafushi Island.
And it stopped at other side of island port as the supposingly port which was our right stoppage had insane rough waves. And then finally we stepped outside and our Hotel staff came to pick up as we were at opposite side.
And he said, this is first time he came to pick this side as waves has been never been so wild so far and we were all silent and thanked God.
Then we checked in at our hotel named - Arena beach hotel which is said to have one of best view in Island and that's why we booked its sea view room , had welcome drink and headed to our room which we as at fifth floor and first view of room somehow managed to helped us to come out of little shocked.
Although it was almost 7 in evening and it became dark outside but it was a paranomic view of waves and there sound was literally ecohing in room enough to make us feel that we arrived and arrived with bang at the right place and everything seems worth.
Then we had complimentary buffet dinner at hotel which is at beach side restaurant and its outdoor area was closed due to rains still has an amazing island beach side vibes to its best, music and barbecue add up the ambiance and we found lots of Indians there although food has limited options for vegetarians but it was nice spread for non vegetarian for all meals.
And day come to an end on this mix note.
Mafushi is an Island which we chose for our Maldives trip. The island as its own charm has it has rich coral life, accombodates budget friendly Maldives experience and one can have great connect with Maldivian locals there.
Day started with amazing sea view from bed, just imagine waking up and experiencing paranomic turquoise blue sea water while still lazing at bed. All you can feel the immense calmness and the true purpose to be in lap of one of greatest beach destination in world.
Then, we went to have complimentary breakfast at beachside dining area of restaurant and it had amazing spread even for vegetarian food. We enjoyed breakfast and coffee at beachfront. Basically you are waking up, eating, relaxing, lazing, roaming and sleeping next to beach and that's what I guess Maldives is all about.
Our rest day just involved dipping inside water, relaxing at sunbeds for few hours sipping fresh mango juice, exploring cafe near hotel ( Suzi's cafe ) for lunch and then for couple of hours before dawn, we decided to simply be at room and sit at our balcony to absorb the best sea view experience we had so far. It truly left ever lasting impression on us. We had lot of fun photosessions as well which can justify such view.
Then post 7, we watched movie at TV from our collection and then went out and enjoyed last day dinner at Arena as next day we had to checkout and go to next hotel wondering weather next hotel can match up all this experience or not.
We checked out from Arena by 12 post breakfast and bid farewell to the best room view of our life so far.
Then we headed towards our next hotel - Kaani Granseaview. Its just 200 mtrs away from Arena. We got room as soon as we reached although checkin was 2 pm.
We again booked seaview room here which was at 4th floor and our first impression for just average. View was quite blocked by coconut tree and it was not as scenic as that of Arena. Then we asked for better view room and manager suggested room at first floor which had comparatively better view as sea was close, so we agreed and waited for one more hour as room was getting ready.
After this, we checked on, lazed around absorbing this quite scenic view from room and had lunch at - Mamma Mia pizza and paasta and back to room.
Then we moved out by 4 to play in water and relaxed at sunbeds till 7 in evening reading books and I switched to audio book for an hour.
Now Kaani's service is little unsatisfactory as we had to ask again and again for sunbeds as they have less sunbeds as compare to Arena. Also staff there is not too friendly but yes managable.
We didn't opted for complimentary dinner at Kaani as reviews were average for food and there dining restaurant area is bit dull and not as happening as that of Arena.
Basically Arena raised our expectations. May be if anyone directly stay at Kaani they will find view more scenic and food better but we always had something to compare.
We roamed at Island to find some good option for dinner and we found sun beach restaurant and there had veg curry, fish curry and rice and food was decent and price was also reasonable.
Then we continued our movie at room and slept with excitement for next day.
This was our last day day at Maldives as we were checking out next day. We had full day to make most out of it.
Now one can opt for multiple options of adventure activities, water sports and island tours conducted by Kaani and even other operators on Island.
We had our complimentary breakfast which had quite decently option. Then we simply opted to spend day walking around and exploring each and every side of island as we were not in much mood of specific activity.
So we started walking, then after 15 minutes it started raining heavily so we stopped at some point on shade, then again started walking, again it started raining after 15 minutes and it was heavy this time so we saw one homestay and we entered inside and stood there. Then person running homestay insisted us to sit inside and even brought coffee for us to sit and relax. Indeed it was a sweet gesture, we chatted with him and he was actively telling about his homestay and how it is oldest in Island. We liked chatting with owner and his friendliness.
Homestay Name - Arora Inn. And we found it is available n Airbnb as well and had good rating.
Then we moved out to further explore island when rain stopped and island has everything. It is small little complete world. It had lots of supermarkets and cafes, ration shops and sovenier shops, one hospital, one jail, one football ground and a beautiful Mosque.
Now Maldives being a Muslim country, they follow Islamic customs. So you won't get alcohol anywhere at Island. Only five stars and water villas offer them with special license at bars. So even carrying alcohol is strictly prohibited. To have drink at Mafushi, one has to go to floating bars in water. Even Kaani has floating bar called Kaani princess obviously with expensive food and drinks but they give complimentary ride till Kaani princess to guests staying in there hotel which can be counted as add on.
Now for tourist the beach where even we spent our maximum time and major hotels are located is Bikini Beach. Bikini is only allowed at beach. Otherwise you are supposed to dress decently at Island.
We also went on other side of island where locals come to enjoy there time. It was also very beautiful beach with bluish green water. At different points we found different shades of water in blue. We found almost five different shades of blue water
Then we stopped at restraunt - Stincray Beach Inn for lunch which was quite happening from inside. It had beautiful parrot pet and it's ambiance is pretty and even food is nice. We also tried new thing there called coolers in grape flavour.
We were done by 4 pm and again rest of day till dawn we enjoyed at Bikini beach like all days and dipped inside water which was fun this day as waves were calm. Earlier two days they were literally hitting with force.
And as expected we had to again and again ask from Kaani staff for beach towel and they said more half and hour and it never came. Still we ignored it, simply choosed to enjoy our rest of day at Sunbed with coconut water which was bydave yum and chilled till dawn. Then after some time, we moved out for dinner by 8 pm and headed to other beach restaurant close to Kaani. It had again good food although service was quite slow like literally it took one hour for our food.
But overall we found food good everywhere in this Island. Then we finished our movie and slept on time as we had morning ferry for 9.30 am for airport next day.
This was our departure day from Maldives and we woke up little early to spend some early morning time at beach and then had breakfast and left for pick point which was 15 minutes away from Kaani. Kaani staff helped us to carry luggage till drop point. Then our ferry left from port as I was bit scared because of arrival experience although weather was clear which was a big relief. The speed boat shared ferry first stop was Male city and then airport which was hardly 5 minutes from Male.
There are lot of buses also from Male to Airport. Lot of travellers stay first arrival day at Male as Island ferry time are fixed.
We waited for 3 hours at airport for our 3.15 pm and we arrived India by 5 pm at Cochin airport. We planned for one more day stay there and then flight back to home for Pune.
We checked in at hotel by 7 pm which was near very famous Lullu mall (India's biggest mall) in Cochin. It is nice hotel with spacious room at very economical price being centrally located. Shops, cafes , restraunts were at walking distance.
Then we went to nice cafe next to hotel for dinner as hotel didn't had its own kitchen so they only provide complimentary breakfast which they procure from third party ( aaloo poori, dosa and idli ) as options, choose any one per person. The cafe had really nice food with good quantity and day ended on this peaceful note.
We planned full day trip for popular waterfall in Kerala popularly known as Bahubali waterfall obviously with VFX.
We started by 11 pm and reached by 1 pm. It was a beautiful drive which loads of greenery around ressonating feel of true Kerala.
Then we first had some coffee at restraunt and entered inside waterfall gate. After 10 minutes walk, we reached at waterfall point and undoubtedly it was a huge waterfall. Although to go down at foot of waterfall was closed because of safety reasons due to to slippery rocks. I had experienced waterfall at its bottom point during last visit there few years back and it was amazing. You sit at Rock admist waterfall and water splashing on your face is so healing to soul and is like a therapy.
After waterfall, we went out for lunch at restaurant outside which had waterfall view. We had authentic south thali which has papar, sambar, rice and couple of sabjis and it was amazing.
Then we left for our hotel and on the way just twenty minutes from waterfall, there is river flowing and we sat at river with ice-cream and reached back hotel by 7 pm.
Then again we followed our tradition to watch movie together before sleeping.
This was our departure day back to our home but we had late night flight at 12.30 am. So that means we had whole day in front of us. So we checked out at 11 and left our luggage, and decided to spend whole day at Lulu Mall.
Mall is nice and big. Lots of brands and food outlets and cafe. We sipped coffee and then had lunch and then to pass more time, we went for movie ( Mission Mangal ) at PVR in mall and was happy to see people happily stand for national anthem in threatre as few people say that in South there is not much of nationalism but may be it's valid only for selective people.
Then after movie and quick munching the evening snacks and tea we moved to hotel back for luggage. The mall being at walking distance from hotel was a advantage.
Then we reached airport by 9 pm and had quite a time for flight so we went to longue and Cochin airport has good lounges. It was less crowded and had good dinner menu.
Also Cochin airport is quite amazing. It's made quite beautifully constructed and inside has nice statues of southindian dance forms which make airport quite authentic reflection South's culture beautifully.
Then we boarded flight and reached Pune by 2.30 am and like this our beautiful Maldives trip ended.
