Sunset Water Villa, Sun Aqua Vilu Reef, Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives

Sometimes we need to be analytical in checking the room rates of most resorts, especially for Maldives.  Apart from checking on the websites, we had better check on the other travellers' photos and videos postings.  Beside this, checking on the room rate either it's half board, full board, all-inclusive....etc. is very essential to save your money.  Some resorts may be an all-inclusive basis regardless of whatever room you book.  If you don't drink, that means your room cost is in a "communism" manner to "share" with the others.  So whenever possible, I wouldn't choose those resorts on all-inclusive, unless it's inevitable.  Then you have to check on the price difference of half board and full board.  For instance, this resort charges BB at US$400 net for a water villa, AI at US$900.  In this connection, if you don't drink, the price difference would be US$500 for 2x2 lunch and dinner meals (4 meals in total) plus drinks.  That means each meal is about US$90 if you drink water and soft drinks to go with your meals. However, the lunch cost is just US$55 and dinner US$65.  That means 2x2 meals is US$240.  Plus drinks, that will be US$260.  As for me, I just take water, it would be even less at US$256 for a whole day.  So the price difference is US$250 for alcohols.  Even if you drink, if a beer is US$5 and a bottle of wine is US$30-40.  You have to take 4 cans of beer and 5 bottles of wine to offset this AI cost.  Also, I don't recommend doing so because you would get dehydrated easily if you go out for sun-bathing and also a high risk for snorkelling.  Ends up your holiday is a dreamy world of light, wind and sound.   Then why flying over hours to come here and spend US$900 for a day of this mood.

Back to the room, it's quite on a fancy colour and light tune.  Very spacious (95 sq. m.) with a large sun deck with a jacuzzi on the corner.  So US$400 net for the room (remarks, Maldives Gov't tax has gone up to 12% from 7%.  Total tax is 10% (service charge) plus 12% (GT) and also US$8 per person as green tax).  The original room rate is about US$320.

From Male Airport to Sun Aqua Vilu Reef.

Photo 1/2: Male Int'l Airport has renamed itself from Ibrahim Nasir Airport to Valena Airport from 1/1/17.  Besides the renaming, large area of reclamation and the airport modernization with a new terminal connected to the seaplane docking area.  The bridge linking Male Airport and the Capital city is taking shape and so soon the development will bloom this capital city. 

Photo 3: landing Sun Aqua Vilu Reef.

Photo 4-7: boat ride from the seaplane docking buoy.  

Photo 8-10: arriving at the resort and the young coconut welcome drink.

The waiting lounge of Sun Aqua Vilu Reef, Maldives

This resort group is originated from Sri Lanka.  Seems like quite many Sri Lankan hotel groups expand their business to Maldives.  The group took over two former resorts Vilu Reef and Iru Fushi (formerly run by Hilton).  This lounge is situated in Terminal A of the Seaplane docking bay, taking 2nd floor of the terminal, with an open balcony and a panoramic window to the docking bay.

鴨鴨漫游日記 章節一 (Roaming holiday with Yellow Duck, part 1)

Left Toys R us of Central World.  Yellow Duck swam across Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and finally reaching Laccadive Sea to the Dhaalu Atoll (140 km south west of Male City).  There it found a resort on the outskirt of Dhaalu Atoll, called Sun Aqua Vilu Reef.  Had some relaxing time on the sand bank, the pool and checked in a water villa.....

Three wheel trolley noodles, Siam Square, Bangkok

Siam Square has changed a lot over the past 10 years.  Some shops gone and some shops landed.  Went in this shop for something quick in between afternoon tea time and dinner.  Tried a bowl of noodle soup and a herbal jelly.  Both weren't bad though not the best.

Grilled eel on rice by the Grill Tokyo, Siam Paragon BKK

Over the past 10 years, I seldom took grilled eel rice in HK and BKK because I got quite frustrated with the quality of the so-called grilled eel which were just burnt by gas gun or boiled first and then slightly burnt and yet those aren't some bigger eel with a strong aroma of eel.

Finally we tried a real good one or genuine grilled eel rice from the Grill Tokyo.  When you opened the box, the aroma filled all around, making you get a quick bite of it.  So irresistible!

Another good place to chill, at 1823 by Ronnefeldt, Gaysorn, BKK

Last time we tried their tea set and got so much impressed that we felt like for a second try.  Not only their tea set but also the tart and other pastries are not to be missed.  The only flaw is their mocha drink, very thin with chocolate (but they claimed 72% dark choco. being used) and light espresso, almost just 1/3 of the mocha thickness of Starbucks.  Next time just get a tea or other drinks.

Tsujiri, Emquartier, BKK

Tried the branch in Taipei but that could be the second ice cream I threw into the litter bin (the first one is TWG ice cream).  So I gave it a second chance and tried this new branch in Emquartier.  Found out this shop might be only good at green tea, but not ice cream.  I took this green tea frappe with ice cream on top.  I took a sip of the green tea frappe and found it not too bad but the ice cream isn't too appealing.

4F, My Kitchen, Siam Discovery, BKK

It's getting so boring for me to try this kind of touch screen menu, and also really not so useful.  First, if the shops want to have this kind of touch screen menu order, simply don't think about some low grade devices that I really got mad at the touch screen.  Second. should be more user-friendly with some easy icons for asking for the food in some preference like "less salty, sweet"...etc.  Third, don't let the kids touch it as their parents may bear with 10 coke, 20 ice cream, 30 fried...etc.

First class on Cathay Dragon, HK to Phuket.

Dragon Air has been retrofitting its first class to the CX's long haul business class seat.  BA is also having the same first class seat.  To me, they should have distinguished the first class seats with more seat features like a lamp or more storage...etc.  The breakfast meal has improved a bit.  At least the dim sum isn't either too hard or too mashy.  I don't mind the dim sums having some oil coating on it to be kept moist, in considering the dryness of the cabin over 30k feet high.