Maldives Part 2: Overwater Bungalow

Conrad Maldives
nice wood key card

The next morning we were moving to the overwater bungalow so we packed before going for another great breakfast, then I went to a free intro to meditation/yoga session at this gorgeous building over the water (see pics).

Intro to yoga and meditation class over the water

All of us after mediation yoga intro

Overwater
bungalow
wine cooler
at minibar

Masyh picked me up from meditation/yoga and took me to the new place. It was even better than the beach bungalow! The beach bungalow was much larger but nothing beats being over the water with a deck containing a private ocean entrance and an infinity pool with jets! The bathroom had a nice glass shower and a bathtub. They even put two candles and matches so you could have a nice relaxing soak. There was a wet bar area and this mini bar had a small wine fridge with a selection of wines that you could purchase. The view from the room out the giant sliding glass door was beautiful! There was a glass panel in the floor where you could see the water, but there was not coral around so not many fish. Otherwise, this place was absolutely perfect!

Overwater bungalow has a bar fridge area by the front door

Overwater bungalow Bedroom

Our new overwater bungalow

Overwater bungalow Bathroom part 2

Overwater bungalow Bathroom part 1

Overwater bungalow Walk in closet

Overwater bungalow Our new deck in the rain

Nat and I at Ufaa on the beach

For dinner we returned to Ufaa and were dismayed that we had forgotten our water. Rather than buy a $15 bottle of water we decided to each get a $12 shake, which were really good. This time we tried the wasabi prawns appetizer which Marilyn had recommended. For $26 it was a pretty good value as you got 13 large shrimp. We also got the pepper beef that many reviewers had suggested. It was pricey at $50 but totally worth it! The meat just melts in your mouth. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. We needed rice so we got the veggie fried rice for $21. Again, they brought us the 4 different flavored buns for our bread with the wonderful passionfruit dipping sauce. The next night we had some cup of noodles again, but the last night we returned to Ufaa. This time we remembered to bring our own water bottles and got all our favorites: pepper beef, the shrimp/scallop/squid stir fry, the wasabi prawns, and plain rice for $10 (you get about half as much rice as the fried rice but it was enough).

Second dinner at Ufaa smoothies, wasabi prawns, pepper beef, and veggie fried rice

Ufaa pepper beef, seafood stirfry, rice

Mantaray that we saw on whaleshark tour

Wednesday morning was our “swim with whalesharks” tour. There would be six of us heading out with our two guides in search of whalesharks. A storm was coming in so we waited to see if it would blow by or if our trip would be cancelled. The rain came down hard for about 10 minutes, then it lessened for a bit, and then we were clear to go. Because of the rough waters near us, we went to another area about 30 minutes away. There was an area where mantarays hang out so we hung out there and swam with some. It was hard work as the manta rays swim pretty fast and swimming is not my strong suit. I’d do much better to play poker with them, but sadly they do not play.

Whaleshark tour just starting out on the boat

After the manta rays we began our search for whale sharks. Boats cruised around all looking. If one finds one, they radio the others so while Natalie described it as looking for a needle in a haystack, there are many people looking. After searching awhile, our captain heard from another boat and whizzed off across the water. We passed a bunch of other boats who were slower than us and we cackled gleefully as we passed them, confident we were get to the whalesharks soon. But after about 20 minutes we began to wonder where we were going and how far we still had to go. Eventually we got there but the whaleshark had disappeared since it was about 30 minutes after the call.

My first view of the whale shark

We continued cruising and looking for needles in our new haystack. There were about 4 boats cruising back and forth in the area. After another 30-45 minutes we got word from a nearby boat and within a few minutes we were jumping in to be with a whale shark! We had to go in one by one as quickly as possible, but I tried to go too fast and slipped as I went in, losing both my fins as I hit the water. I found one fin and one of the guides got the other, brought it to me, and then helped speed up my swimming by pulling me along every once in awhile to keep up with her. We were behind the whale shark and swam behind him for awhile. It was majestic!

Whale shark good shot 2

Whale shark front view

He drifted along, swimming slowly with us so he wouldn’t leave us in the dust clearly interested enough in us to stick around. Others were along the side of him so I couldn’t go to side without tangling with other people. I tried once and another swimmer pulled the snorkel out of my mouth as he brought his arm around to swim. Eventually, he decided to show us just how fast he could swim (I think he was seeing if we could keep up with him…we couldn’t) and he took off. Our boat came over and picked us all up. At this point I was exhausted from swimming for several minutes so I gladly stayed on the boat as we whipped around for a second swim with the whaleshark who figured out we were slow and modulated his speed again for us.

me in boat

Unfortunately, the water got choppy and it was rockier sitting on the stationary boat than it was in the water and I started feeling motion sick while the others were swimming. After they got back on board another storm was coming in so we headed back. I sat in the very back so if I got sick I could aim off the back of the boat. That was also the place that was unprotected from water splashing so I got pummeled a bit to the amusement of my peers who tried to get me to move into the sheltered area. Instead I kept one eye slightly open to watch the horizon and the eye on the water side closed and clung tightly to the boat willing my stomach to stay settled. The storm had caught up with us and the waves had gotten bigger and rougher slamming the boat up and down as it cruised along.

nat on boat

Mentally I was fine, just counting the minutes until we got back. Then the boat stopped. There were no islands in sight and we were bobbing up and down in the waves. A fellow passenger said something about the boat breaking (not sure if he was serious or joking). From that point on I had a hard time keeping the “Gilligan’s Island” theme song from playing in my head. It kept coming back to the chorus “A three hour tour. A three hour tour.” After a few minutes, which felt much longer, they started the boat again and went more slowly along a different path. We found a nearby island and ducked behind it for a bit of shelter until the storm lessened some and then continued home. I was never so happy to see land! We all wobbled off the boat thrilled to have gotten back in one piece.

Our trusty crew

Sunset from our bungalow deck

Fresh mangosteens,
dragonfruit, and mango

The next morning’s breakfast was again excellent. This time one of the chef’s in the fruit and juice area asked if we liked mangosteens. I had no idea what they were so he had me try some. It was AMAZING! We got some that day and the next (last) day as well. If you ever have a chance to eat them, take it! Each fruit contains several little slices of heaven. See pics…they are in the half peel with white slices. The dragonfruit is red and the mango is also in the delicious bowls he made for us.

Buffet asian hot food

hot entrees at buffet

Natalie Monique and I at Ithaa upstairs

After breakfast was one of the highlights of Conrad Rangali, our champagne and canapes at Ithaa, their underwater restaurant. I had booked it way back in December when there were 3 of us coming so we had an extra ticket, which we used to take Monique with us. There are now a handful of underwater restaurants, but this was the very first. It is basically a huge tube of glass on the top and sides so you get a great view of the sealife. There were only 6 tables and we were all right next to the glass. There were tons of fish and numerous reef sharks. The champagne/fruit juice and canapes were really just the Conrad’s excuse to charge us all for the experience of being down there.

Shark swimming over us at Ithaa

Ithaa. our tiny snacks

Shark outside the underwater restaurant

Ithaa fish and sharks swimming

Nat and I in Ithaa

We took lots of pictures (so many more even than I’m showing here). Totally worthwhile! Pro tip: do the champagne hour for $85 instead of the lunch for $220 and definitely skip the $300 dinner. One guy we talked to was pretty pissed that he spent over $700 (with tax and fees) for a romantic dinner with his girlfriend and it was more of a group tour with dinner even if you are sitting at different tables. They gave explanations of the history and introduced plates to everyone as a group.

View of Ithaa from above ground

All of us arriving downstairs at Ithaa

Nat and I on main island after our champagne hour

bird having a drink in our pool

Back in our room we saw a heron on the deck, which was very cool! I thought he would fly off when I went to sit in the infinity pool, but instead he wandered over and then he drank from the pool right near to me! Then he walked over and pooped on our deck which we were much less happy about. After I got out, he pooped again. Then he pooped in the pool at which point I chased him off.

Bird hanging out with me in pool

bird charging me

He was not the only annoying bird we encountered. On the very cool boat rides between our overwater bungalow area across the water to the main island, the dock had a pair of birds that was nesting there. They dive bombed us whenever we got near but waving our hands at them kept them from getting too close. We learned to wait until the boat was almost there before rushing over to it.

taking the boat between islands

Nat and I pedal boating

Our last day we had our “last breakfast” and then tried out the pedal boats. Our seaplane flight was at 2:00 and they let us stay in our room until then, which was nice. Back at Male airport, we got Natalie’s Covid rapid test, which was only $15 compared to the $150 that Conrad Rangali would have charged for a PCR. Then we found the Priority Pass Lounge in the domestic terminal and hung out there until we could check in for our late night flights. It was very crowded with tour groups and many others. The food was mostly terrible (chewy sandwiches that had been sitting too long) until they served dinner, which was a hot buffet of delicious food. It was certainly worth more than what I paid for it ($0) as it was a comfortable place to sit for a few hours. Then we checked in and parted ways when first Natalie’s flight took her off to Doha and home and mine took me on to Singapore.

Launching the pedalboat

Lobby seating area while you wait for your golf cart ride

Conrad Rangali Maldives lobby

Infinity pool area on main island

Main area outside lobby where you catch boat, golf cart, or walk across to the other island

Seaplane docked at Conrad Maldives

All the seaplanes coming in for the day at the main airport at Male