9.183

7 (Sat) July 2018

Grilled Y/F Tuna Steak

2.5

from The West Wing (WHERE)

in my room (Noomoo Hotel)

-Hulhumalé, Malé, Maldives-

solo

Summer Solo Vacation in the Maldives, Day 1.

In Male.  Here for my first liveaboard experience: diving from, eating on, and sleeping in – i.e., living aboard – a boat that takes me from site to site.  I join a group assembled by my dive teacher DV, comprising his students and friends.  For 7 days, we’ll be sailing through and diving amidst the central and northern atolls of the Maldives.

Flying in on AirAsia via Kuala Lumpur, I had an 8.5-hr layover in the airport. Having purchased a premium ticket package, I had access to the lounge.  Though technically not a “business class” lounge because the budget carrier doesn’t have business class, it was nicer than lounges in most airports, with decent food.

As always, I am grateful for and respectful of the opportunity to travel internationally, whether for fun or for work, especially via business class (see BEST IN FLIGHT), including airport lounge access (see in BEST IN LOUNGE).

We will board the boat tomorrow morning.

Tonight, we’re staying in town.

For dinner, I opted to stay in and order “room service” from the restaurant next door.  Being my first ever meal in the Maldives, I chose what appeared to be the most local item on the menu.  I’m assuming “Y/F” means “yellow fin.”

It was fine.

Maldives is strictly Muslim, so alcohol is tightly regulated.  No duty free liquor allowed, even bags are scanned/searched upon arrival at the airport for contraband.  Locally, booze is sold only in specially licensed hotels where only foreigners are permitted to stay.  Before agreeing to join this trip, I was assured that our boat has a fully stocked bar.

I went to sleep completely sober – can’t recall the last time that happened.