Ellaidhoo Island, Maldives 22nd December 2022

Merry Christmas to you all!

We arrived in the Maldives on 17th December and spent a couple of nights in Male, the capital of the Maldives before getting a speedboat to the island resort of Ellaidhoo.  We chose this resort as it has a reputation for an exceptional house reef.  There is a sea wall to protect the island from rising sea levels, beyond which is the reef.  We are staying in an over-water villa with a large wooden deck looking towards the sunset and a couple of islands far in the distance.  Last night we attended a cocktail party/presentation (we think the cocktails were a carrot to encourage people to attend) where they explained that the resort is now completely plastic-free, is reducing their carbon footprint and has an organic garden. 

Every evening fish are fed with the fish-heads and tails left over from the restaurant buffet which brings in, amongst others, sharks (black tip, white tip and nursing), rays and assorted fish of various sizes and colours, plus an ever-hopeful heron.  Tonight while we were watching, a large bat flew in as can be seen from the photo.

We weren't expecting much acknowledgement of Christmas but the island is decorated with fairy lights, Christmas trees (the one in the photo is made from coconuts) and Christmas music in the restaurant.  Paul particularly was trying to ignore Christmas this year!