With fall in full swing, I couldn't help but reminisce about our trip to MLE in August. In doing so, I realized that I did not finish the TR. That said, for the benefit of all those considering the trip, here is the final installment to Barry Lincoln's Maldives TR...
20160802_140059 by
Barry Lincoln, on Flickr
Waking up on our last day at the Conrad was a bittersweet event. We enjoyed the view, sites and sounds for one last time on this trip.
Conrad Rangali Premier Water Villa by
Barry Lincoln, on Flickr
Conrad Rangali Premier Water Villa by
Barry Lincoln, on Flickr
Since our return flight from MLE on EY was scheduled at 7:40pm, we asked for the latest seaplane transfer and were ultimately advised that our transfer would leave at about 5:30pm Conrad time (4:30pm MLE time). Having the better part of our day ahead of us, we took full advantage of our Premier Villa's infinity pool one last time and also spent some more time snorkeling in the Indian Ocean.
As we has some issues we had with our original room a few days earlier, we had been comped a meal at either Vilu or Mandhoo. Given our food restrictions, we weren't sure how we could take advantage of this offer but eventually settled on our chef's offer to cook us up some salmon and double-wrapped baked potato using the new pan/utensils/flatware and silverware he had procured for us.
After cleaning ourselves up and packing up, we took a buggy over to Vilu for lunch. It was a truly beautiful setting for our last meal on the trip... While our Pom meals were great, lunch really hit the spot.
20160802_143334 by
Barry Lincoln, on Flickr
With a couple of hours before our transfer, we made our way to the beach for some final R&R before the 24 hour trip home...
IMG_0268 by
Barry Lincoln, on Flickr
After settling our final bill and tipping our hostess and chef, we made our way to the seaplane platform to wait for our transfer. While waiting, we befirended a family from Los Angeles who had been staying on an adjacent resort. Earlier that morning, they took a boat over to Ithaa for lunch and were transiting back to Los Angeles via Dubai on EK. They spent 2 weeks in Zambia on a safari and decided to relax in the Maldives on the way back home to LA...
(Despite leaving the Conrad, we were excited/anxious to experience the Apartments on our EY flight back to NYC. Having never flown real F before, we were super excited for the experience.)
This picture was taken on takeoff from Conrad... not the best quality....
Conrad Rangali Maldives (TMA Seaplane) by
Barry Lincoln, on Flickr
For some reason that I don't remember, we had to make a mad dash from the seaplane transfer to the main terminal at MLE to catch our EY flight to AUH. Conrad staff shlepped our luggage the entire way and escorted us through airport security at the entrance to the airport, then on to the relatively primitive check-in desk where we got our boarding passes. The boarding process was near complete as we boarded and took our seats in J. Within an hour or so of departing, we were provided with a Hermolis meal which we thoroughly enjoyed. I imagine that the rest of the flight to AUH was uneventful as we passed out and woke up on final approach to AUH.
Last part of the installment will focus on the EY-F experience back to JFK....