Honeymooning at the Maldives, November 2013
This post has been written for the theme “26 Places, 26 Memories” for the #AtoZChallenge.
V FOR VELASSARU, MALDIVES:
Velassaru is an island resort in the Maldives, a South-East Asian country that consists of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, which are a conglomerate of over 1000 tiny islands. Male is the capital, and many of the islands are owned and run by luxury hotel chains. Maldives thrives on tourism, with millions of people visiting these resort islands every year. The incessant rise in sea level will lead to Maldives disappearing soon; so, I recommend a visit as soon as possible!
My husband and I had a mini-moon (honeymoon happened later in Italy) in the Maldives in November 2013, right after we were married. We chose the Velassaru resort, located on its own island, after reading good reviews. It was a short speed boat ride from the mainland, and offered fantastic packages.
Our luxurious water-villa had its own infinity pool, and the secluded environment made us feel romantically marooned on an island. The fantastic staff and delicious food served in the multiple restaurants, were the cherry on top. There are many memorable moments from this vacation but here’s one that really stands out.
VALIANT VENTURES IN VELASSARU, MALDIVES:
With a mortal fear of water, it’s just my luck that I’m married to a water baby. Where my husband loves being in the water and all possible kinds of water sports; I tremble at the thought of standing knee-deep in the shallow end of a swimming pool.
However, in that newly-married phase, we were in a phase of discovery, attempting to please and adapt to each other. Bored after his solo snorkel on the first day; he convinced me to get on a jet-ski with him. I assented, attempting to be braver than I felt. He reassured me that he’d ridden jet-skis on many occasions, and nothing untoward would happen.
Barely two minutes into our designated 30-minute slot, the jet-ski upended and we went headfirst into the Indian Ocean. All I remember is an immense feeling of shock, and the moment spent completely under water that seemed to stretch to eternity. Our life-jackets buoyed us out of the water pretty soon, but I was in the throngs of a major panic attack. Despite being out of the water, I felt I couldn’t breathe, and I was crying uncontrollably. My husband quickly climbed back on to the vehicle while attempting to keep me calm and pull me back up as well. Help arrived swiftly and I finally breathed a sigh of relief once on firm ground.
When I’d calmed down, my husband asked me if I wanted to return to the mainland while he completed the round. It was a defining moment for me. If I’d turned back then, I knew I’d never beat my terrible fear. Surprising even myself, I said, “Let’s go on, I trust you.” The rest of the ride passed without incident. Surrounded by the vast Indian ocean, I clung on to the love of my life, while he drove the jet-ski surely but slowly.
Having bravely faced my fears that day, I signed off water sports after that. There’s no need to prove my undying love anymore, you see 😉
Come back tomorrow for the letter W and another story!
Minutes before the fateful jet-ski ride
The stunning Velassaru Resort, Maldives
Honeymooning at Velassaru Resort, Maldives, November 2013
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*The copyright in all pictures belongs to nooranandchawla.
**This is not a sponsored post, but it contains an affiliate link. If you book a stay using my link, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
A for Amritsar, B for Bhopal, C for Cambodia, D for Delhi, E for England, F for France, G for Gwalior, H for Hemkund Sahib, I for Italy, J for Jim Corbett National Park, K for Kamakhya Devi Temple, L for London, M for Munich, N for Naples, O for Odisha, P for Prague, Q for Qila Mehrangarh Jodhpur, R for Rishikesh, S for Singapore, T for Tarifa in Spain, U for Udhampur in Jammu & Kashmir