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A
new-age paradise in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a
holiday destination synonymous with true luxury and rejuvenation.
Each island appears as a picture-perfect representation of heaven
on earth; yet some travellers may ask what, other than relaxing,
can you do on one dedicated island. We speak to Marko Muthig,
Director of Sales & Marketing at the Banyan Tree and Angsana
resorts in the Maldives.

How would you describe the Maldives in three
words? Paradise on Earth.

What makes the Maldives unique and worth
visiting? The Maldives have the most amazing marine life,
this is a diver’s paradise – and even if you ‘just’ want to
snorkel, you can discover a lot. This paired with fantastic island
resorts, barefoot luxury as well as friendly and welcoming people
makes the Maldives very unique and absolutely worth visiting a few
times in your life!

Where would you go for a local breakfast (and what would
you order that is typically Maldivian)? If you feel like
having a typical ‘Mas Huna’ (Maldivian Tuna with coconut), which is
a traditional Maldivian dish for breakfast, the perfect place to go
to is our staff canteen at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru. The majority of
our employees in the resorts are Maldivians and we have very
specialised chefs, who prepare this traditional dish every
morning.

What would you recommend as a morning activity?
A morning dive down to our very own shipwreck in front of Angsana
Ihuru, or visit our baby turtles at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and
watch them being fed, or a relaxing sunrise yoga followed by a
de-stress massage at Banyan Tree Spa Vabbinfaru – what is a better
way to start the day?

Where would you go for lunch and why? If you
ever feel like exploring the main island of Male, I would recommend
‘Sala Thai’ – which offers the best Thai food outside of Thailand
in a wonderful ambience – a peaceful and delicious haven right in
the heart of the bustling capital of the Maldives.

What would you do in the afternoon? I would
recommend a ride on our catamaran, sailing around the islands for
the afternoon, searching for dolphins, swimming with whale sharks
and discovering deserted islands.

Where would you go to watch the sunset? My
favourite spot to watch the sunset is on the roof top of one of our
Dhoni’s, (a traditional Maldivian boat), with a glass of champagne
in hand – of course, sitting on the white-washed sandy beach does
the trick as well!

What would you recommend for dinner? There are
ample of possibilities at our resorts for dining, however, my
recommendation would be to have a traditional barbecue just for two
on the beach with the freshest seafood right from the ocean –
delicious!

After dinner? Stargazing on our private beach,
enjoy a nightcap at our bar, watch the reef sharks search for food
from our arrival jetty or spend time telling your loved ones back
home how you’ve discovered Paradise on Earth …