We have never had a family holiday abroad, it is something we keep looking at but I’m sure you are well aware, when it comes to having kids something else is always higher on the list of ‘must do’ before holidays even get a look in!
That doesn’t mean we don’t plan and have a dream board of what we would want from our ideal family weekend away!
Let me take you with us….*imagine the screen goes wavy and you are drawn into our little dream* … lol
We have arrived in the Maldives to a heat that surpasses the best attempt a British summer could even think of! The warmth hits as we step off the plane and that is always a sure fire sign that its going to be a good weekend! A taxi is waiting to take us to the Lux South Ari Atoll which are private villas with pavilions in their own little sections of the Indian Ocean. After checking into our villa we head out to the jetty.
The children, who are sitting eating ice cream, wait with us to board a small boat to take us to a private beached cove. With crystal blue water you can see the fish below through the glass bottom of the boat, coral and hidden cities below look up enticing us to dive down and visit. We approach the cove and a table is set out where we are served BBQ’d freshly caught fish, local grown fruits and hand squeezed lime margaritas!
The white sand is soft between our toes and we are the only family on the beach so the children have free reign to run and explore the caves and water. The sea is so clear that they can wander far out and see fish swimming round their feet and hear the call of tropical birds back on the shore. Mummy and Daddy take the opportunity to relax and enjoy some well deserved time together for the first time in 22 years!
As the night starts to set in candles are lit around the cove and you see sparkles in the water that look like little bright floating fire flies! (bio luminescence, it occurs when a micro-organism in sea water is disturbed by oxygen)
We all sit with full tummies and watch the sun set over the ocean before heading back to the mainland and the comfort of our beds. Freshly laundered crisp sheets and air conditioning are all we need right now.
After a full night uninterrupted sleep (…can you tell this is a dream vacation! lol) we head out to visit all the local mosques, markets and the capital city of Male while soaking up the scenery and talking about cultural differences with the children. Indulging in Mas huni (shredded smoked fish with grated coconuts and onions) while listening to the locals tell tales of giant fish and hidden cities! Donning sun hats and cream we head off to see if we can find local stalls across the islands selling dhoni crafts (miniature boats), woodcarvings and souvenirs made from shells – every child should bring home souvenirs from holidays!
In the afternoon the girls would be dressed in pretty blue beach dresses and the boys in blue check shorts while mummy and daddy renew their vows on the beach overlooking the ocean. A floral arch would be placed against the unforgettable backdrop of the Indian Ocean, flowers scattered in a makeshift pathway towards confirmation that we were soul mates when we first met and inseparable now we are a family. After saying our “I still do’s” we head back to the hotel for a change of clothes before Champagne and strawberries on the beach to celebrate 22 years together … watching the sun set and rise on our ideal family weekend away!
This post is my entry to the Joules Ideal Family Weekend Away competition.
XOXO
Debbie