S.L.O.W. L.I.F.E. at Soneva Gili

Retreats sitting amongst the stunning turquoise lagoon at Soneva Gili

On a generous invitation by Soneva Gili, I wandered out of the hustle and the bustle of the city to experience the "Intelligent Luxury.” As I hopped onto Soneva Gilis’ beautifully customized speedboat, friendly crew passed refreshing cool towels and informed that it was time to slip off our shoes. After bagging our shoes and cruising for 20 minutes, we were welcomed by a swaying palm tree on a sandbank, set in the vast lagoon of stunning turquoise and shades of blues that seem to spread all the way to horizon.

Aisha and the hosts graciously welcomed me, all wearing no shoes and I thought to myself, “Here is a company truly embodying its’ - no news/no shoes expression.” Equipped with a map, I set out on barefoot, to discover the hidden spoils amongst the islands robust tropical vegetation. The warm powdery sand felt so soothing and therapeutic! My first discovery was Soneva’s garden, grown with organic compost in an effort to reduce food transportation energy, and caters fresh greens and vegetables to the Soneva kitchens. A Pavilion set amidst the garden served as a romantic dining venue for the couples seeking exclusive dining options.

My focus then landed on the gargantuan wooden igloo - the roof to the underground wine cellar. Curiosity lead me passed a restaurant host who shared a warm smile as I descended into the cool temperatures of the wine cellar, housing over 200 Wine labels from around the world. Then an excitement find; a cheese and deli meats locker and a gourmet home-made chocolate vault all within this subterranean wine depository. Being a chocolate aficionado, I sneaked a taste of the Pastry Chefs mango ginger truffle – an exquisitely rich chocolaty delight!

By now, I have adjusted to the ‘slow life’ on this island and in this Zen-like state; I strolled through pathways until I stumbled upon a golf cart. I hopped on and Mr. Friday drove me through the islands’ naturally formed pathways to Sense by the Sea – a restaurant offering Peruvian-Japanese fusions in a breathtaking setting. At distance, I spotted the Soneva’s infamous rustic wooden retreats sitting within the lagoon and was intrigued to explore one.

This Villa seemed even more spacious than it looked from the outside; bedroom opened to the left of the living room and the bathroom on the right with access to the Water Garden – for private dips in the lagoon. The mini bar took an entire wall and stocked amenities to survive through a week. I could easily spend a whole day napping on the rooftop sun bed or lounging on the hammock over the lagoon.

Next stop was the overwater Main Bar, offering a salad bar fresh from the garden, an action station, a well stocked bar and guests. Did I say GUESTS? Up until now, I had only encountered Soneva hosts but no other vacationers giving me a true sense of ‘Robinson Crusoe’ feel.

Shiyam, the restaurant host led me to a comfy booth with over sized turquoise cushions, and served a chilled bottled of Soneva’s mineral water – an eco-friendly on-site bottling initiative pioneered by the Six Senses. Aisha and Lalla joined me and were eager to share the SLOW LIFE philosophy, from Soneva’s carbon offsetting program, waste management initiatives to the community service based projects run by Soneva Gili. Truly a green resort!

But then it was time to head back to my daily frenzies in Malé. I took one last glimpse at the mesmerizing natural beauty and the vast turquoise lagoon as the boat sped past the one palm island.

Till next time, yours truly,

unwind® specialist

PS:

• SLOW LIFE: Sustainable * Local * Organic * Wholesome * Learning* Inspiring * Fun * Experiences


• Flickr links are photos taken by past guests of Soneva Gili