Heaven on Earth

We spent two weeks in the tropical oasis of the Maldives. The water was so blue our eyes could hardly comprehend it, and the sand was so soft it felt like velvet on our feet. We were swept up into a place where time moves without a hurried care, and the sounds of the waves lapping the water’s edge lulled us into a peaceful state. There are over 400 inhabited islands, and we got to stay on and explore five of them, each so small you could walk across in just minutes. Each island had its own character, with sand-covered pathways snaking in and around dwellings and shops, and underwater worlds with endless things to see and explore. Each island had a mosque with daily prayer, a designated place where you could wear a swimsuit, no alcohol, 24/7 80 degree sunny days and at least one soccer field…usually busy with locals and full of life. Through it all, the hospitality of the Maldivian people was constant and made the Maldives feel like a slice of heaven on earth.Read more