Day Four; Sea, Sun and Snorkeling!
It is amazing
to see schools of bright fish swimming through corals and reefs in clear waters
on National Geographic but to feel a big gray fish swim underneath your legs or
couple dozen tiny fish fluttering their little fins in front of your eyes is
something else! A rare blend of anticipation and happiness that defines all the
first experiences! That is how I was feeling when I opened my eyes underwater!
A whole new world!
It is a
sunny day! A day to soak in waters, take pictures, wander, and explore!
Everyone is out today. On such a gleaming day when pools are abuzz and people
are cheery, all I can think is our upcoming PCR which is scheduled at 3:30.
Besides, our snorkeling trip is looming in the air as well. Kids are excited while I am praying to get over with it safely!
We collect snorkeling
gears from sports center and walk towards the boat. There are few other
families and couple of men. Our coach from yesterday ‘Attu’ is there, he
welcomes us aboard and introduce himself and another guy standing next to him
with similar features and hair. Surprisingly, their names are rhyming too, ‘Mattu’
this is the name of new guy. They are Maldivians, I am not sure whether they
are brothers or not! He explains the procedure. Once we reach the designated
spot, we will be snorkeling for half an hour. The beast way is to swim alongside
the reef, opposite the current for a while and then swim back towards the boat.
Once he is done explaining we take stairs to the upper deck.
It is a splendid sunny day; air is rushing
past while we are taking in the view of our resort for the first time. It
appears like a tropical oasis from far. A groove of lush palm trees surrounded
by glistening waters!
We are here
for reef snorkeling today. Maldives is a snorkeling haven with it is unique
array of house reefs and extraordinary myriad of marine life. There is nowhere
better for house reefs than the Maldives as the Maldivian islands instead of
rocks are made up of the tips of coral formations that have grown tall enough to
break the surface of the water.
We have
arrived. Everyone is putting on their fins and goggles. One by one they slowly
descending into the water through the steps. Waves are sparkling under the
lucid sun. People swimming here and there, dispersing the quiet of sea, are
presenting a picturesque view.
I am the only one in family with bare minimal
swimming skills. It is our first-time snorkeling; and first time in the deep sea
too! I look at the heaving waves and decide it is better to stay on the boat so
Aleem can take care of kids. It is our first time in the deep sea too. Or
should I say ‘theirs’ as I am sitting on the swaying boat while my family with
rest of others including a toddler as well, are floating in Indian Ocean.
I cannot perceive
from above how kids are doing there. Whether they are struggling or having fun.
Currents are strong and I want them to come back. None of them, apart from
Aaminah is wearing life jacket.
A tall European guy is the first one to get back
on the boat, lamenting that ‘coral is dead’! I am trying to absorb what does he
mean by this when Aleem and Aaminah steps inside the boat holding their fins,
trying to catch the breath. I wrap her in a towel while Aleem strikes conversation
with the tall guy. He is a seasoned diver. He tells us how he has been training
his kids while they were babies, in the bathtub. He offers Aleem his life
jacket, suggesting that it helps you have a better snorkeling experience as you
are not struggling with the currents. So, after wearing the life jacket once
again he steps into the water. While we are having this conversation, someone
dives right into the sea from the deck to get his early dose of thrill !
Time is up,
people are coming back. Kids are tired and exhilarated! It is not easy to swim
that long in the sea when you do not have any prior experience. Yet they are exhilarated,
daringly declining the need of life jackets for next time.
My kids unanimously
declare it as a fun experience, eagerly looking forward to going on the next
one while admitting that a little practice can make it better. So, we decide to
get snorkeling gears from the sports center and practice in the waters next to
our room. But now is the time to get some breakfast as all of us are super hungry.
Since we
came to Maldives, it is first sunny day. Kids are splashing in the pool with
moms and dads, couples are sunbathing or enjoying hand in hand walk along the
beach, whispering and laughing, girls are flaunting quirky costumes and sun
kissed cheeks while boys are trying to capture Instagram worthy shots of them!
Now and then, some surfers pass by, carrying their surfing boards in hand, sporting
tanned muscular biceps.
It is a bright,
cheerful morning! Everyone is out to get every bit of sunshine, but Aleem
declares it the worst time to go to the sea, claiming that it is perfect recipe
for sunburn. So, there is nothing scheduled till 3:30 which is our appointment
for PCR.
Finally,
second PCR is done, we still have ten minutes to garb some ice cream. It is our
fourth day here if we include the day we came to Maldives, and it has become
sort of a ritual for us to go to the café and relish their delicious gelatos. It
is happy hour from 3 to 4 where you can get, buy one get one deal, and we do
not want to miss this delicious deal. I am totally hooked at their coconut flavor
which reminds me one of my favorite childhood ice cream Polka, back in nineties.
On our way
back, I see a banana boat which is towed to a speed boat carrying three kids, our
kids’ age group, while parents are sitting inside the boat. I think it would be
a fun activity for kids, so we register our names for tomorrow morning.
We are
morning persons; we cherish early morning routine and the barakah it brings to
the time! Recently I met a doctor in Riyadh who starts his clinic right after
Fajar and by 2:30 he is back home with his family. He said that this routine
enables him to be available to his kids for studies and rest of the activities.
Sun is
losing its vigor, now is the time to practice little snorkeling. I lower my
head underwater holding hem of Aleem’s costume, floating behind him, trying to
avoid being kicked by the fins, what follows is at least to me a complete
surprise! It is my first snorkeling experience, and I am astounded at the sheer
beauty of nature hidden underneath water, few steps away from our rooms. An extravaganza
of pelagic life!
It is near sunset,
and we think to go back to rooms. Changing into fresh clothes is also a process
as no one is ready to take quick shower, so everyone must take turns if they
want to enjoy relaxing warm bath in aesthetically designed washrooms of the
resort.
My pick for the
dinner is Nachos upon which I set my eyes since yesterday when I saw Fatima
devouring them. Warm, crisp tortillas with fresh guacamole, light sour cream, salsa,
and right amount of cheddar cheese a perfect treat to pallet!
Star of the
show is fresh coconut juice, a surprise present from gracious Mr. Siwa! On our
very first day I enquired him about fresh coconut juice which is not part of
the drink’s menu. He said he will try to do something about it and here it is,
a delicious, tender, juicy coconut with rejuvenating water and melt in mouth
fruity bits!
What a
delectable, wholesome end to a bright day!
Out of the water into the PCRs
Day One; "This is where I want to stay!"
Day Three; Sea, Sun and Snorkeling
