Our 02:35 connecting flight to Male was delayed by 30 minutes although in reality we took off at 04:10 and again the cabin was sprayed by the flight attendants before we took off in accordance with Maldivian legislation. Bizarrely our flight to Colombo via Male, not previously mentioned, transpired to be a flight to Male, via Colombo, so we sat on tarmac in Sri Lanka for about an hour while the airport cleaning staff rushed about tidying the plane for the next leg of its journey. After Male it would link back to Dubai and then eventually link back round to Colombo and Male again and so on and so on. We arrived in Male at 11:35 local time, 06:35 GMT and were greeted with a warm welcome. After exchanging some travellers cheques Ian made a huge effort to secure some accommodation for the coming fifteen days. He did remarkably well and 3 hours into negotiations with a couple of chaps from Sunny Maldives who were loitering at the airport, we finally nervously booked a seven day safari boat package, comprising of full board accommodation with two dives each day [Editors Note: it later transpired that nobody dives on the day of departure so we have fourteen dives through the week but we have to do them over six days], then four days on a resort island on full board basis followed by another four days on a different resort island on half board basis. It wasn't cheap but it was only fractionally over our budgeted figure. It was a sweltering 29 degrees at the airport and very humid.
On the flight out of Dubai I had another unlucky experience with the male passenger behind me who, like the female on the previous flight, insisted on forcefully shoving my chair into the upright position when I attempted to recline it. Given that I have the right to recline my chair, it was safe to do so and not during taxi, take off, landing or while a meal was being served and it was gone 04:00 I was not pleased! Again, being British I put up with it and took advantage when he got out of his seat, opened the overhead compartment and dropped his bag on top of my head. No, no, it's all right mate, don't apologise. Idiot. And during the final leg of the flight from Colombo to Male I was minding my own business when the flight attendant whisked away the rest of my breakfast as I was just about to finish up... And I am so tired of airline food today! It gave me stomach ache by the time we finally landed as the airlines provide you with so much 'food' throughout their flights while you sit in one position very inactive and it just seems to build up in your stomach without actually getting digested. Well, that's how I feel anyway.
We now find ourselves living in absolute luxury and being treated like royalty aboard the Blue Shark Two operated by Blue K Safari [Editors Note: the link is for Japanese readers only although the picture is good for those of you whose Japanese isn't up to scratch!]. Ian and I have been given the room at the bow which is beautiful with wood panelling throughout and our own ensuite shower room with an excellent hot shower. The only comment we have is that the boat was only completed this summer and has been in operation since September 2002 therefore the wood has a very new aroma which is a little hard to bear when you first walk into the room! The boat is very well furnished. Our hosts are a combination of Japanese and Maldivians and therefore English is not the spoken language aboard the boat. Seven of the guests are Japanese and eighth guest, Tomer, is Israeli. He sounded like the Ali G character Borak, which is meant as a compliment Tomer if you're reading this!
I think we're are in for a treat aboard the Blue Shark Two and I'm sure the diving will be excellent.
Copyright 2002 Helen Fuller. All rights reserved.