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First: my English is
not the very best...it's the first time I try to translate my experiences
into English... Sorry - foto albums are in German ...
- to german version
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On tuesday, 11th of
april 2006, we started with the LTU at a quarter to midnight from Frankfurt
Airport. We looked forward to a nearly 10 hour-flight, and our destination's
name was Dhiggiri in Vaavu res. Felidhu Atholl at Maldives. For this holiday
my husband had to stay at home - and we started for a mother-and-daughter
vacation.
Underwater-pictures we shoot with my small camera Canon Ixus "i" in underwater-housing untill 3 m. Photos and videoclips out of water we have mostly have taken with a Canon PowerShot G3 and a Sony Mavica CD 500.
In the airplane
passenger seats are tight by tight like every time; I call it "home for
rabbits or chicken"..;-)) However, we started just right in time. The flight
from Frankfurt to Male takes 30 minutes less then the flight from
Duesseldorf, where I live nearby.
Dhiggiri, I read,
was opened first time as Tourist Resort in 1982. The distance between Hulule
Airport and Dhiggiri is approximately 70 km und you will reach Dhiggiri by
Maldivian Airtaxi in nearly 30 minutes. Our Airtaxi, however, has started to
Eiladhoo at first, dropped off all other passengers, and only my daugther an
I flew to lovely Dhiggiri island. For this reason our flight took approx 50
minutes. - Dhiggiri' is about 330 meters long (including the sands) and 150
meters wide at the maximum. There are about 47 rooms - 22 water and 25
beach-bungalows (2 with an open bathroom). First, we wanted to stay in a
beach-bungalow, but we only could get an over water bungalow. We didn't
regret it any time!
Our airtaxi has
landed rigorously, but with precise parking on the landing platform. We left
the small airplaine und changed for the dhoni, which carried us to the
island. On board Madi (= Madeleine) was welcomed us. She is the boss for
accommodation and care for the guests. To say it directly: for ourselves,
Madi is the Queen of the island. She has been always on hand for us, helped
us when we had an injury and was at our side with her advice and help. We
believe, it's due to her that Dhiggiri's flair is extreme enjoyable. You
just feel like at home.
Dhiggiri is a pure
without-shoes-island and all-inclusive island. At reception, restaurant and
bar - all have sandy soil. At some places, the sand ist rude, at other
places fine, nearly like flour. You can walk crossover just like you want -
without ways and railings. There are lots of palm trees, but also mangroves,
wild hibiscus and other trees and shrubs. One of them smelt really wonderful
sweet...
We felt very fine in
our over water bungalow. It had a functional and pleasant outfit, containing
a big bathroom with shower, toilet, washing stand, and for our used towels
we found a basket in the bath-room, if we would like to get the towels
cleaned. In addition to this the bungalow was equipped with a wardrobe for
clothes, a writing-table, a small table, two chairs and a big bed. There
wass also a fan at the ceiling and a air condition.. Outside we have had a
patio with two wooden deck-chairs, a small table and a hand shower. Who
needs soft blankets to lie on has to carry it from home. We were really glad
about the ladder with direct access to the water. Used beach-towels could be
changed into fresh once (a day?) at the reception.. The bungalow was cleaned
twice a day. Last but not least I want to mention the fresh water bowl for
cleaning the feet before entering the bungalow.
In the restaurant
they try to place the guests with same languages at big tables together. Who
wants to get a table to sit alone - no problem. We had a table for ourselves
and we liked it.. The guests came from Italy (about 50%), but most of them
stayed only one week. The other visitors came from Switzerland, Austria,
Germany and England.
Cooking was, so we
find out, absolutely excellent. The buffet contains not even the whole mass
like in other resorts, but it was at all okay and tasty. I believe it's the
best way for environmental protection because there are not too much food
waste to dispose. Pastry, remaining from breakfast and dinner, will be
placed in the bar for snacks. It's ideal!
Breakfast 8:00 -
10:00 am. You will find toast and croissants, sweet and salty pastry,
butter, marmelade, yoghurt and flakes, cheese and sausage, just for you
finished fried egg and omelette and of coursce fresh and conserved fruits.
Coffee, tea, milk and fruit juices are for self-service.
Dinner 12:00 - 2:00
pm: it's a buffet with lots of salads, curries, 2 species of fish, meat,
vegetables, several rice and well tasty pasta (?). For dessert you can take
fresh fruits or sweet desserts an puddings, if you like growing at your hips
;-))
Evening dinner 8:00
- 10:00 pm: starter will be served, 2nd course is in self-service (soup,
pasta, several rice, curries, salads). 3rd course will be served. You will
have two choices - fish or meat (beef, lamb or chicken). We mostly preferred
fish and lamb. Sweet desserts and fresh fruits are in self service. Vine and
water will be served, beer, lemonade and so on is in self service.
We have often read
in the internet about cold meals. We were unable to understand. And -by the
way- you have temperatures about 30° - is it really neccessary to get
steaming hot food???
At friday, there was
a Maldivian dinner and evening with meals from countries nearby, like Sri
Lanka, India and a little bit of Maldives. Later at night outside the bar
were some "boduberu" - is specially Maldivian and means "big drum". This was
demonstrated by the Maldivian staff of the restaurant - it was very
exciting. The other evening animation at the bar was done by Daniel, very
kindly and retiringly. At Dhiggiri Diving Center was presented once a week
with video, slide show and interviews of the diving base staff, followed by
a demonstration of the Spa, shown by two people and last but not least a
fashion parade with sarongs and clothes from the shop, presented by young
and old, haevy and small guests. A very nice evening! Music entertainment
was done by Romy from Italy - we loved his music really very much!
The whole staff from
restarant, bar, reception, and the room boys have been -without exception-
very kindly and gentle and tried to anticipate every wish from you.. All are
very quick and gracefully. In the bar, I told the waiter, I need two glasses
of water because I have to take medicine with a lot of water. From this
evening, when he saw me sitting in or outside the bar - he came directly
with two glasses of water. All of them like little jokes; and, of course,
they are glad to receive a tip.
Two trips were
inclusive: a sunset-cruise by Dhoni and an trip to an Maldivian island,
called fisherman-island. Here you have the possibility to buy presents,
clothes, souvenirs and others. For this trip it is recommended to wear
shoes, maybe Flip-Flops. For paying in the shops don't forget to deal!
(Anm.: falls du hier das
Handeln um den Preis meinst!)
Miriam (I believe,
she is not longer there) presented snorkeling safaris for $ 11. She always
knew very nice snorkeling places, but we didn't have lots of fun, because
the Italians did highspeed-snorkeling and we are smooth snorkeling types...!
Dhiggiri beaches are
most beautiful. They will be cleaned every day by Maldivian women.
Because we have had
direct access to the sea from our bungalow we went snorkeling every day,
sometimes twice a day at the eastern side of Dhiggiri house coral reef. We
take station at the eastern buoy and went to the sands, to one of the
stonewalls, higgledy-piggledy or back to our bungalow. This part of the
coral reef ist beautiful! The corals starts to grow and to reflourish, and
there are lots of colorful fishes, shells, starfishes and others - view the
album! The western side of the riff is nearly dead, unfortunately.
My daughter was
diving four times together with Ali,the leader of Dhiggiri Diving Center.
She was really delighted - she told, that she has seen much more at Dhiggiri
coral reef and also more beautiful fishes and so on like within their eight
divings at Velidhu...
Once I said, I'll
never go twice to the same island, Dhiggiri is the exception. I tell you -
we already booked for April 2007 - my husband, my daughter and myself. It
was to nice!
Please visit
Dhiggiris own website:
http://www.dhiggiriresort.com
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our dearest
friends at Dhiggiri: |
