Travel Archives - Page 12 of 15 - Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel

September 26, 2015 2 Mins Read

Hello Male (Maldives)

Male is the tiny capital city of the Maldives. There are around 150,000 people on an island of almost 6 square kilometers. They are about 3 hours ahead of SA time and use both the Maldivian Rufiyaa and US Dollar as currency.

When I first said I wanted to stop over in Male to see the capital city of the Maldives, I got the dirtiest looks imaginable from my husband. Nothing about the city looks appealing on the internet and it doesn’t really have any major amazing buildings either. Not really a place for tourists – unless you are in it to get to know more about the people living in that country (that would be me).

The city is tiny with tiny streets that are lined with thousands of scooters – and the odd car between. It is a miracle that that there are any cars on the island, because our hotel was only about 1.5km from the harbour and it took more than an hour to drive with a mini microbus!

We took a nap on arrival and then went for a little walk in town. What was really noticeable was that people were just standing around on the street, sitting on scooters and we didn’t cross paths with another westerner. Shops and houses were squashed next to each other into little pigeonholes along narrow winding roads.

No matter where you walked from, you could reach the ocean within 30 minutes! The most surprising part, the dolosse that kept the coastline intact… a design from South Africa 🙂

During our 1 day, 1 night stay the city celebrated 50 years of independence. Male was decorated in white, green and red. That night fireworks lighted the sky. It was beautiful.

September 17, 2015 2 Mins Read

Picnic on a small island in the middle of a big blue ocean

It has been a month since we arrived back from the amazing Maldives – and I have major withdrawal symptoms.

I am still flipping through the photos regularly and can remember every second of our time spent in paradise. One of my favourite outings was definitely to a “picnic island”. These islands are usually uninhabited but with some facilities for tourists. The cost of such and excursion can range to about R1500 for 2 people and it includes a water, food and transport.

When we arrived at the picnic island, I was off the boat like the Flash and ready to get into the water. We were in a group of about 12 people, so the island was really private. The word idyllic comes to mind when I talk about an island where there is very few people.

The island guides were really friendly and while we enjoyed some snorkeling they were fishing for lunch and unpacking the prepared dishes.

After about 3 hours of snorkeling, swimming and tanning lunch was served, fresh from the sea – and land. I have never had fish like the ones they served on this island, but it was soooooo delicious. They even gave us a little fish that was about 5cm long and it was really crunchy and salty – I didn’t eat the head).

The full meal was a nicely balanced meal – and I had seconds!

My view on going to faraway places is that if you go somewhere, you might as well spend a little more and explore a little more.

September 2, 2015 2 Mins Read

Maldives is for everyone

I am having serious withdrawal symptoms from being on the beach. I am <<this close>> to packing my bags and move to Ballito (since I can’t afford to move anywhere outside Africa with the weak Rand)!

When I originally planned the Maldives holiday I had to stay within a budget. This meant that I couldn’t just use a travel agent and book a packaged deal. I really had to work for this amazing holiday…and I loved every moment of planning.

During the research phase I looked for accommodation that wasn’t in a resort, affordable and amazing. The answer that kept on popping up was Maafusi Island. What makes this island so unique is that it is currently the only non-resort island that you as a westerner can stay on.

Accommodation on Maafusi Island range from backpacker cheap and no meals included to full-board 4 star (didn’t see any 5 star). Even with the horrible Rand/Dollar exchange rate the rates of 3 and 4 star full-board accommodation compared well with prices I would pay in South Africa.

The only thing you need to know is that you will look far and wide for alcoholic beverages on this island… and that you can only swim in a bikini at designated bikini beaches.

We stayed at the Kaani Beach Hotel for 5 nights in the end and loved every minute of our stay. The hotel had a sea view and was only a minute’s walk from the swimming beach. The food was great, the rooms clean and the staff super friendly. The 5 nights, with all meals worked out to under R12,000 (and that included a 10% tip and all taxes)!

If (or rather when) I go to the Maldives again I would most probably stay on Maafusi again. I would recommend this island above a resort stay, else you might as well just stay at home and lock the doors and not experience the cultures and people of countries you visit.

Future posts you can look forward to:

Picnic Island excursion
Exploring Male, Maldives

September 2, 2015 2 Mins Read

Roundup of Tech Talk and Durban’s Big Win

Spring day finally arrived and it was the coldest Joburg day.

Have you ever tried going to work make-up free? For the past 3 weeks I have gone to work without make-up. Sometimes I would put on some mascara more. I can now get ready for work in 15 minutes! In the beginning I felt a little self-conscious but I have noticed that my skin has become quite a bit softer.

Durban, jou doring!

Durban has been confirmed as the host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games! That makes Durban the first African country to host the games. So very proud of my other home town for bringing the Commonwealth Games to Africa.

The start of the games is set to coincide with the birthday of former President Nelson Mandela (18 July 2022). The Commonwealth Games lasts 12 days.

So what does this mean for Durban?

The usage of 2010 infrastructure
All the upgrades to the piers and waterfronts will pay off
Much needed tourism influx

A little tech talk

Tell me you noticed the Google logo change this morning when you opened your browser. The logo change is quite a huge update after 16 years, don’t you agree?

Google went through a restructuring recently and the new logo is in line with Alphabet, the parent company. The logo is still just a wordmark, more modern, playful and sans serif (no squiglies).

I am looking forward to see how all the google icons will change on my phone.

Other Google logos that you may have loved, the Google Doodles:

August 30, 2015 2 Mins Read

Dancing my way to the next holiday

This weekend was really busy. I scored an invite to the Discovery Vitality Party to launch the new dance class at Virgin Active and also did a 2 hour stint at the Getaway Show.

Discovery Vitality Party

Saturday morning Miss B and I hit the road to Virgin Active in Strathavon, Johannesburg, to attend the Discovery Vitality “Party”. The hour spent at the new dance class might have been one of the classes that I burnt through the most energy ever, but it was so much fun and the instructor was great. The only problem is that the Virgin Active that I attend, Lonehill, doesn’t yet have the class…

The class consisted of high intensity dance moves led by an instructor that promise to burn up to 400 calories per session. If you want to try it out, check the Virgin Active timetables for your club.

Getaway Show 2015

I never really go to holiday expos as a rule, but since my mom is visiting she wanted to check out some camping gear – old school style.

I got some info for Lesotho and the Western Cape. Hubby and I are off to Cape Town for Vday weekend next year and I really want to take him skiing next winter…and since the Rand is so pathetic, Europe may be out of reach for the foreseeable future.

One thing happened that really had me seeing red. As we queued to get in a guy lit up his cigarette and I snapped. In no uncertain terms I told him to put it out as it was unlawful to smoke at the entrance to any building. The guy even tried to argue! I had to repeat my request a few times and finally when he stormed off some of the people in our immediate vicinity thanked me.

Here is a request for TicketPro Dome – please put up NO SMOKING signage! Where are the designated smoking areas anyway?

August 24, 2015 2 Mins Read

The Maldives on a budget – how we did it

Remember the days where you longingly looked at pictures of the Maldives sighing at the hefty price tag that would go with a holiday like that? I did the same. Really. Then when I started doing research on where to stay I stumbled upon info that suggested that resort stay is not the only way you can explore this magical beach destination.

My interest was piqued. I was hooked.

I excitedly told my husband that we will be going to the Maldives and I’m not hallucinating and definitely not delusional. We can afford it. We just have to compromise a little (or so I thought).

I booked at the lovely Kaani Beach Hotel on Maafushi Island for 5 nights and even with the weak Rand, it still sort of worked out the same as our usual Ballito holiday accommodation. To top it off, it included 3 meals a day and soft drinks. Once you have covered your bed, food and drink – the only thing you have to worry about is flying there.

Yes, the hotel didn’t have bells and whistles, but it was clean, comfortable and perfectly located a minute from the beach. The best part about our stay here, the staff. The staff was so friendly and they took an interest in you, greeted you by name and didn’t all even wear shoes. It was so homely, but yet private.

The food was really amazing and sometimes even a little too much, but I ate it ALL!

The beach on Maafushi Island was nothing to sneeze at. The sand was a soft, powdery white and the water gorgeously blue.

I know you have seen me writing about BIKINI BEACHES and wondering what I’m on about. Maafushi Island is a mixed use island with local inhabitants and now (for the past 2 years) tourists. Since the Maldives is quite religious, tourists have to abide by some simple rules to experience this paradise. On a bikini beach you can swim in normal swimwear, any other beach you have to cover shoulders to knees.

Bikini beaches are usually behind fences and open beaches (non bikini) out in the open. Resort islands (1 hotel on the island) usually means all bikinis and no cover ups.

I definitely miss this amazing view from our room at Kaani Beach Hotel!

August 12, 2015 1 Min Read

The in-laws are coming…

I have nothing against my in-laws, but I really dislike having houseguests – especially if I am working fulltime and then go home to find people that I still need to keep company.

They are arriving today, literally a day after we came back from the Maldives. Seriously.

This is my plan for relaxing and not showing any frown lines while they visit:

Use my Mowana Spa sugar rubs – because I roll that way
Stay away from coffee, because I become much shorter fused than usual on the good stuff
Let my husband do all the cooking, because it is his parents after all
Feign tiredness early at night to make a getaway and get to bed by 8
Hide cat cookies on the coach they sit, they dislike cats and my cats love cookies
Have a secret stash of chocolates in my bedside drawer and regularly treat myself for good behaviour
Drink more wine
“Work late” and go shopping instead

August 11, 2015 2 Mins Read

Essential Travel Tips

Keen to travel but hate the queues to get on the plane and wait for your food, here are my top 10 travel tips every new traveler should know.

Choose a seat towards the back of the plane, you are almost guaranteed to board first as most international flights first board older people, families with children, first and business class passengers.
Book in and choose your seats online from 72 hours prior to your flight.
Book your meal before the flight. Special request meals are always served before regular meals.
If you are traveling with someone and both love to sit on isle seats book on either side of a middle row or on two isle seats separated by an isle. The book a middle row trick sometimes even gets a 3 seat coach for the 2 of you – not many people like to sit in the middle of 2 strangers.
Take a sleep mask, not all airlines give these anymore.
You do need to phone your bank’s credit card line to let them know that you will be using your card overseas – else they may try to phone to confirm if it was you spending money overseas. Failing to reach you, your card may be deactivated.
Always check when you book your holiday/flights with a credit card if you can’t get free travel insurance. FNB offers this service with TIC.
Take your facial cream in your hand luggage – you will thank me later.
Catching multiple flights with different airlines? Rather take hand luggage if you know you won’t have a lot of time in the airport to wait for the luggage conveyor to spit out your suitcase, go through customs and security, check in and go through customs and security again.
Always keep your passport on you. The hassle is not worth the 10 minutes of comfort. Seriously.

Traveling by plane is not for the impatient. Sitting around at airports aren’t fun. Getting to your destination and experiencing all the sights and sounds makes it all worth the hassle.

August 4, 2015 1 Min Read

Paradise Found – Maldives

We have now been in the Maldives for 4.5 days… I think. I kind of lost track of time a few days ago.

I am so relaxed and tanned. The best part is we are here until the 9th!

I never thought I would come to the #Maldives. Looking at the travel packages offered, I could not justify my love for travel with the price tag of a Maldives resort.

Then this year I got free tickets to fly to Singapore and next minute I knew I was eyeing the Maldives and started to do some research. I was surprised at the prices of the non resort hotels and right then I knew that was the place I would drag my husband to.

We were stuck in airports and planned for close to 19 hours, but it was worth it. This was what people made me believe Thailand would be like…. They lied. Paradise is not in Thailand, it is in the Maldives.

Do yourself a favour and use booking.com and skyscanner.net to check for cheaper flights and accommodation in the Maldives.

August 2, 2015 2 Mins Read

Exploring Beautiful Maldives

I am happy as can be on Maafushi Island in the Maldives. The sand is white, the water breathtakingly blue and the hotel amazing.

Maafushi Island

I chose to stay on Maafushi Island because I am not a fly 10000km and lock myself away from experiences kind of traveller. I like to see how the locals live, observe their customs, talk to the people and just generally inquisitive.

So back to the island. It has only been 2 years since tourists could stay on an island inhabited by locals. Maafushi was a test island and it seemed to take off in a big way as quite a few hotels have popped up. Previously you could visit for a day.

There is only 1 beach where you can swim in a bikini. Anywhere else you have to cover up. In my opinion, a small price to pay for paradise.

Kaani Beach Hotel

I booked with Kaani because they offered a sea view room right next to the bikini beach and their rates really reasonable. We booked for full-board which means you get all meals at the hotel included in your rate.

I am loving the staff. They are all so friendly and ready to help with anything. James (Ahmed) welcomed us at the pier and makes time to chat to us everytime he sees us. Then there is Amix at reception that is so full of energy that I can’t believe he can sit still long enough to think. Panda with the “many girlfriends” and all the other guys and ladies that makes this hotel really welcoming.

There is one thing that makes this hotel even more unique… Shoes are optional for everyone. It is an island hotel and this something that just makes it stand out.

I think I will be going home with a few extra kilograms thanks to the restaurant and kitchen staff. Every meal I have had was just delicious and it makes it hard to stop eating.

That is all for my first post all the way from the beautiful Maldives. Follow me on Instagram.com/susanndeysel for some awesome pics. Seriously…my Maldives pics are awesome!