Serendiva transit hotel, Colombo Airport, Sri Lanka

Witnessed the changes of this airport transit hotel over the past 3 years.  The rooms were quite run down with a very thin bed sheet as a quilt, worn blanket and poor air-conditioning.  Gradually this hotel has been expanding to take over the next door spa and having more newer rooms.  The hotel reception has also become more professional and efficient.  The advantage of staying at this transit hotel is that you don't bother with going in and out of the airport.  That would have cost you 1 to 1.5 hours extra.  So if you pay US$80 for a 7 hour stay.  It's a good alternate choice, and that you can fly in Maldives in early morning around 8-9am.  If you fly in Maldive in night time, you still have to find an overnight hotel stay near Male Airport.  This way you just switch this overnight stay to Colombo airport.

感激她，給我禰補這份遺憾的投影

人生總免有一些遺憾。 常希望帶爸媽祖母一塊來看看這裡，無邊無際海天一色，島嶼如花環漂放在這大遍蔚藍海洋上。

這天我慶幸能帶著友人一家大小，一行八人來到這裡。恰巧她們也是來自水上家庭。到埗後，看見他們對這裡的驚訝與讚嘆，對著水裡品種繁多的魚，娓娓道來魚的名字，甚至意外地再看到一些在香港已不再有的魚， 這時惦記她們的母親教道她們如何分辨魚的種類，也令我知道有種魚叫"學浸" (形似"竹簽"魚）。

她們想念母親，我亦想起爸爸看到這些魚，一定很雀躍，媽會著令他萬事小心，那祖母會否怕著坐這水上飛機，我會緊握她的手，尤如當天她緊握著我手在船跳船的不畏懼。

感謝我的好友，給我禰補這份遺憾的投影。 

惜取少年時

Baan Huraa, Thai restaurant, Anantara Veli, Maldives

Wondered if this place would be another tourist Thai restaurant or even worse as the Thai restaurant of Dusit Thani Maldives.  Luckily my worry was unnecessary.  First the Miang Kamg was so nice that I took 5-6 of them.  When the dishes were served, we were offered complimentary 3 different types of rice.  We had pineapple fried rice, green curry,  som tam, mixed veggie, spring rolls, pepper beef slices...  All these were so good to go with the rices.  

The beach, Anantara Dhigu, Maldives

Kids-friendly with Anantara Dhigu, Maldives

We can see how some successful brands earned their names with their targets on the kids and students.  So this time this resort has made all the meals free for the kids during the entire stay.  Even though there is just only one kid in our group, we feel happy, and so for the kid, that they get free meals.  Of course, there is no free lunch in this world and the cost is absorbed in the room charge.  At least, it gave the impression it's a very kid-friendly resort.  Most of all, the staff have been very kind and generous to offer the kids whatever they can accommodate.

Anantara Veli, South Male Atoll, Maldives

After checking around this place, I'd definitely not choose this resort simply because there isn't much to see on the surrounding water and yet the frequent shuttle boats can be quite bothering if you stay near the pier area.  Also, the water villas are too congested to each other, unless you choose those villas at higher grade but it's double expensive that it's not worth it.

Shuttle boat ride from Anantara Dhigu to Anantara Veli, Maldives

This resort is on the west side of the other 2 sister island resorts (Anantara Veli & Naladu - the former one is an adult resort and the latter one is a high end secluded one).  There is a shuttle boat running between the 2 Anantara resorts but they don't allow the kids to go to Veli during off-meal time (i.e. they can only allow kids to go to Veli during lunch and dinner time.  

It's good that I can take the opportunity to check out Veli since I have got this one my travel list.  After getting to have this site visit, I'd remove this from my travel list.   When the boat approached the Veli's pier, I realised those cheaper villas are very close to the pier and yet the water is quite muddy.

Sunrise beach villa, Anantara Dhigu, South Male Atoll, Maldives

Booked this resort due to its family-friendly policy as we were in a group from 4 to 72.  It also offered a special room rate with complimentary speed boat transfer (valued at US$250 per person).  Though the room rate is about US$420 net incl. breakfast.  If we stay here for 2 nights.  That means each person pays US$170 for 2 nights on twin sharing basis.  The room itself is not bad, but the only minus is the oversized bath tub.  As the water is very scarce, it shouldn't be that big and yet the water flow is so slow that it takes more than 3 hours to fill it up.