REMOTE ISLAND ABANDONED LUXURY RESORT - sailing the Maldives

Hi, welcome back if you’ve been watching our lives we’ve just done a series of lives in real time I know it’s confusing for everybody. The lives are real-time but we are going back 1 month in the Maldives and we’re going to explore a ghost Resort.

Since I was a young girl, I have dreamed of staying in one of those stilted overwater Bungalows on the ocean; it’s epitome of luxury accommodation in a tropical setting. And while we’re in the Maldives, Rob said Rachel your anniversary is coming up? Well our anniversary is coming up, the Maldives is for anniversaries and honeymoons he said the sky is the limit Rachel you pick it. No I’ll pick it. You stay there enjoy yourself.

The Abandoned Zali Resort on Douni Island

And this is where he bought me. He said you can have your pick, a Billers. This is the ghost Resort of Zali on Dooni Island. Was supposed to have its grand opening in 2011 and they just ran out of money. They walked away from the place; they did try and sell it in 2017. They tried to sell it with a $50 million price tag. It’s got a 50-year lease, it’s got all this accommodation but most of it is falling apart.

Yes we’re looking over the water yes we’ve got a fantastic view. But you really got to be careful where you put your feet or you’ll be going in that water quicker than you say Jack Robinson. The concrete’s pretty good it’s holding you up Rachel, it’s holding up my weight and let’s sign something Bab.

Exploring the Resort

What do you think this was well, you know, party. The design makes you think of modern restaurant but I’m thinking reception first sort of could have been a reception yeah yeah because it’s not near any views really um but it would have been quite lush, plush and even lush as well.

I mean look at this yeah. Well they probably wouldn’t had those growing through there. And God girl hey see what these are oh my goodness are precious plants Nony! These are nones berries growing, they’re too green to pick unfortunately thank goodness.

The Beauty and the Wastage

Listen that is the sound of hermit crabs climbing over leaves. Look at them there, actually hundreds of them they’re all around on this path this must be the Super Highway of hermit crabs.

You know the joinery here is exquisite. These these lars are not cheap in the sliding doors out there just look at this, these windows with these Lees and the Joiner is really is top notch first class.

That’s what you get for over $1000 a night a lot of the Maldives is more than that yeah come on in why don’t you thank you love the entrance. We call it the cat flap, pet Jackson would be proud of that.

The Resort Inspire

Look at that pretty impressive, pretty impressive it would be very nice. Yeah they all have their own swimming pool similar to her view R, it is very similar to our view we don’t have to pay that much every night sat Doani Adu.

Resort Inspire Details

That’s the island that we’re on, a stunning new resort in the Maldives which delivers five-star deluxe service on what can only be described as a tropical paradise. That it is very paradisical.

The Resort Inspire Facilities

Locationally, the resort inspire is a 50-minute scenic flight located on Shivani atoll north of Mali. Zali is the ideal location for unwinding and enjoying the natural beauty of this exotic island while the natural beauty has crept into the resort with its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters.

Accommodation, guests have the choice of 100 luxury villas and suites all with private plunge pools with contemporary yet distinctly Maldives design. Bungalows range in size from 220 square M to an impressive 512 m which I think is that bigger than our house. I think it might be each includes state-of-the-art in room entertainment system including TV LCD DVD wireless internet access and personal wine seller for those guests who prefer to relax indoors.

Why Relax Indoors?

If you want to relax indoors, why did you bother coming here? is what I would say to that okay. These are the facilities, spa bar swimming pool fitness center library boutique island clinic tennis court water sports dive center board games excursions in villa dining twice daily housekeeping turn down service DVD and CD 24h reception Airline ticketing Wi-Fi internet technology service do on call gift shops and currency exchange marvelous right?

Leaving by the Gift Shop

Should we leave by the gift shop yeah, plunge pool I reckon if you were a guest on this island you’d you’d want to walk the whole thing and check out all different villas. Yeah and I would I would but I don’t think it caters for people like that well if they if they’re uh offering a you don’t have to leave your room package yeah.

Temptation of the Other Side

I mean it’s lovely every once in a while to go somewhere and just not have to think about anything yeah sure everything’s done for you. We go camping, I’m rushing around after your right I know well I know goes that saying to look goes that saying but um yeah.

The Wastage of a Dream

I just wonder if they ever would like a taste of the other side of life if you always have luxury wouldn’t you like to just do something basic for a while no I don’t y. If you live in a lap of luxury what do you camping or resort yeah oh I’d like a bit of both don’t want to camp all the time but would be nice to do.

Societal Perspective on Luxury Living

I don’t know if you could do it. You know, if you’re used to being waited on hand or foot foot I’m sure there’s some people who couldn’t do it not that I watched the Kardashians but I think it was a meme or something trying to cut a cucumber she didn’t know how to use a knife what yeah.

Connecting with Nature

I definitely not a good cutter so don’t zoom in on me I’m not professional whato that’s what having everything done for you turned you into. You know, ultimately the people that prep would come here uh high flying business people working flat out nine you know yeah but sit in your room and just 70, 80 hour weeks and just going to go blah yeah.

A Special Evening

That’s they get sick too yeah but go blah on the beach don’t go blah in front of a TV screen. As luck would have it, the following evening we got a taste of what the saali resort could or should have offered when with the aid of our new sailing buddies Willie and Cindy from Sailing SV Paso.

Meeting New Friends

We were accepted as guests of Ray Resort for drinks at their pool bar, an honor rarely extended to non-residents or grotty yotes sipping cocktails. As we watch the sunset behind our boats we reflected on how we feel we have won the lottery.

The Perfect Home

We may not be living in the lap of luxury but most days we get million dollar views not from an overwater Bungalow but from our very own floating home. We were caught up in the light brought out with the waves pulled up with the stars where we always thought we’d stay young and so alive.