Rensil D'Silva: How to Make it in Bollywood Education in the Gulf ...

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ANNI V ERSARY
line fishing, stunning beaches
and fish-laden “house” reefs,
gourmet cuisine, eye-popping
stunning overwaters. Beach House boasts the Maldives’ only golf
simulator and offers martial arts instruction. The Shui Spa’s standout is
the Indian Marma Massage - the therapist balances himself holding two
A seaplane ride away is Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa
Giraavaru, where about the same number of rooms await on an island
four times Kuda Huraa’s size.
Anantara is actually is three
island resorts in one - Anantara,
Anantara Veli and Naladhu - and
spas, infinity pools, and modern
conveniences like wireless
Internet (even at sea with the
Four Seasons Explorer yacht).
Similarities aside, each
resort’s unique. Here’s a
sampling: The Beach House at
Manafaru Maldives is a reall
head-turner and the northernmost
resort. Only 11 percent of its 35
lush acres were developed with
68 designer villas including
Emirates Holidays Packages
Country Property Room type Duration
Nights
Maldives
Maldives
Anatara Resort
Taj Exotica Resort
& Spa
robes while delivering a ballet-like, strong massage using his feet. To
get here requires a 40-minute flight and 35-minute speedboat transfer
from Male (www.BeachHouseCollection.com; 960-332-0705).
The 96-room, 12-acre Four Seasons Kuda Huraa means “small
village,” but none of the Four Seasons world-famous luxury and service
are sacrificed just because you’re off the radar. The pool is classic Four
Seasons. The Island Spa lives up to its name, reached by quaint, small
dhoni (a traditional native, wooden boat). Overwater treatment rooms
include a view of the tropical fish from the massage table head cradles.
The signature treatment is the 2 1/2-hour Sea Escape. For sunset dinner
at The Reef, keep an eye out for the baby sharks and the resident fruit
bats. The Indian restaurant is a standout.
5 Star Deluxe
Sunrise beach
front Villa
5 Star lagoon
Villa
Dubai
AED
5 8,023
5 11,545
Maldives Taj Coral Reef 4 Star Beach Villa 5 8,095
Remarks
Valid until 19
Dec 09
Valid until 23
Dec 09
Valid until 23
Dec 09
Includes: Economy class airfare Dubai/Maldives/Dubai, 5 night’ accommodation with American
breakfast, transfers airport/hotel/airport by speed boat, room tax and service charges.
Said one vacationer: “I think the service and spa at Kuda Huraa and
Landaa are both exceptional...and everywhere we were, they knew us
(from before).” Guests at both properties often add on a three-, four- or
seven-night stay on the well-appointed 128-foot Four Seasons Explorer
yacht, perfect for avid divers and
snorkelers. A marine biologist offers
lectures and guided underwater tours
while the friendly staff meet every
need from welcome-back-aboard
drinks to nightly footage by
Scubazoo of the day’s dive/
snorkel/beach highlights. Guided
swims with massive whale sharks
and manta rays are worth the booking in themselves. The three-deck
catamaran has 11 cabins, one a suite, each featuring king beds (or two
twins), picture window, luxurious linens, and twice-daily service with
turn-down.
Once on board, lose the shoes. Cruise Director Jim Hancock
explains, “It’s a very casual ship. You won’t need them.” Explorer even
offers spa-at-sea treatments on the top deck behind a batik drape that
flutters in the ocean breeze. Simple-yet-elegant meals are served either
on deck, overlooking the turquoise sea, or in the dining room, just off
the well-appointed salon that also functions as movie theater, lecture
room and cocktail lounge.
The affable captain loves to join guests for dinner, as does the cruise
director, but you have to invite them -- the exact opposite of largeship
protocol. And you’ll be dining in a tropical setting that rivals Fiji
and Tahiti. (For all three, visit www.fourseasons.com, or call 800-819-
5053.)
excels in dining options. “Dine
by Design” lets you pick where
and when for a romantic meal,
such as a beachfront dinner with
The Maldives quickly melt away every malaise,
delivering not only mouth-gaping bands of
Indian Ocean but an extraordinary vacation for
honeymooners, romantics, luxe travelers, spa
connoisseurs, families, and especially divers.
heart-shaped palm fronds and
candlelight. The dining variety
- Italian, fusion, Thai - becomes
important on longer stays, which
is the norm here. There’s even
a “disappearing” dining venue:
when the tide rises the lagoon
lunch sand spit is covered in
water. The Thai cooking class is
a blast. There’s a wine guru and
the world’s first salt sommelier,
who offers a delightful tableside
presentation of salts, chutneys
and mustards. The breakfast dhoni
picnic and snorkel resulted in great
underwater footage swimming
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10 The International Indian
The International Indian 11