As the pilot taxied the small sea plane into the harbour for takeoff, I was fixated on his bare feet on the pedals.
The man at the controls was in a jovial mood and a wide grin lit up his face. He loved his job and he was going to ensure we loved the flight whether he wore shoes or not! I am not a great flier but I had to persevere if I wanted to arrive at the magical Angsana Velavaru and the Maldives overwater bungalow of my dreams.
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The perfection of the Maldives
I gazed down at the small island atolls that made up the spectacular Maldives as the small plane winged its way tirelessly over the never-ending blue water. The many colours of the water were exquisite, ranging from a light dreamy blue in the shallows to a rich sapphire blue in the deep. I was so mesmerised that suddenly the 45 minute flight was over and we were making our descent. My first water landing was fabulously exhilarating, with water spraying far and wide as we taxied in.
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Angsana Velavaru - arriving in paradise
We disembarked onto a pontoon where a small speed boat appeared and ferried us to the resort. Climbing the steps onto the jetty we were met by the manager and several staff members offering us a welcome drink and a cool towel to refresh ourselves.
After a general introduction to the resort and its many offerings, we were whisked away to our Maldives overwater bungalow, a long time bucket list adventure for me. A little known fact that these overwater bungalows are the only ones in the Maldives that are totally detached from the island. They stand alone; surrounded by nothing but aquamarine water, coral reefs and schools of jewel-like fish.
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The ultimate Maldives overwater bungalow
As we stepped up to our overwater bungalow, I felt an instant sense of calm. Although the resort was full, I could not see any other guests, and we could have been the only people for miles.
A massive wooden door served as the entry to our overwater bungalow. Inside the floor-to-ceiling windows let in an indulgence of light but also treated us to the breathtaking tropical view that would be our vista for the next week. The King sized bed faced the glass sliding doors, so it was obvious that we would be able to see magnificent sunrises in the morning if we chose to keep the curtains open.
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Further into our villa was the bathroom, and the water views continued all around. The high set bath was set by the window so even when bathing you, never had to tear your eyes from the heart stopping views.
On our private deck there was an infinity pool that beckoned to us with its spectacular outlook, and right next to it was an undercover hammock that stretched over the water; the perfect place to laze in the shade.
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Snorkelling heaven
We couldn't wait to jump in the lagoon that surrounded our villa, which was just a few easy steps off our Maldives overwater bungalow. With our snorkelling gear ready, we gently lowered ourselves into the water and started our exploration of our coral garden.
We didn't have to swim far before being surrounded by a whirlwind of multi-coloured fish. The inquisitive little beauties circled us, coming up for the occasional kiss and then silently moving on. As we swam further out, we came to the edge of the shallow reef. Here was a massive drop that disappeared into darkness, but on the way down the coral cascaded spectacularly into the abyss, with the colourful fish playing hide and seek in its shadows
Making our way back to our villa was invigorating, as the tide was changing and the pull of the current was exciting. Yes I am a swimmer, not a flier!
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Rooftop sun bathing
Towelling ourselves dry we ventured to the top floor of our villa which has a roof top Sala and sun bed. From here we could see far out to the horizon, with nothing but pristine water in sight. This would be a fabulous space to experience sunset, a 360 degree view of our surroundings. Spectacular!
Want to see more heavenly pictures?: 10 Reasons Why You'll Love Overwater Bungalows
If you're travelling with the family: Best Tahiti Overwater Bungalows and Resorts for Families
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Dreamy dining
We dressed and slowly walked the few metres to the restaurant and bar for a pre dinner drink before our meal. I sipped a cocktail and my husband savoured an ice cold beer in blissful serenity, interrupted only by a turtle swimming by. It’s a common sight, as rehabilitated turtles are released into the wild not far from where we were seated.
Our dinner was a fusion of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, and the menu was fabulous. Taking advantage of the fully-inclusive accommodation option meant that we could order anything from the menus at anytime, anywhere on the Island; just one less thing to worry about.
The end of our first day on this magical island was coming to close. I was so excited to think of the relaxing time my husband and I were about to have in the coming week in the luxury of our Maldives overwater bungalow.
To swim or not to swim? To spa or not to spa? To sail or not to sail? Decisions, decisions. How would we ever cope? We poured a lovely wine and pondered our “problems” as the sun set over the gorgeous lagoon.
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