INTO THE BLUE

Sometimes, a journey will take you closer to yourself, as you travel further away.

- Ambika Muttoo

A part of getting older, which no one tells you about, is becoming more fearful. Not in the traditional sense. We’re not talking about spiders or heights. Once you’ve lived long enough, survived a few broken hearts and gone through the rodeo of time, you’re far more patient and also tougher. No, this fear runs deeper. It’s about losing a part of yourself. Not youth, but all the elements of being “young.” Spontaneity, collagen and brashness. Simply put, one asks: am I getting boring? That’s the question I was determined to answer “no” to, as I turned 40.

The antithesis of this sedate existence I was dreading meant going on a quest of adventure. I wanted to marvel at something – perhaps myself too, but my body needs a certain thread count and will not compromise. I also only had an extended weekend off – I’m a busy girl – so this delightful birthday would have to be close to the subcontinent. Enter, stage left: the Maldives. Just over two hours away from Mumbai with a visa-on-arrival facility – all signs pointed to this island nation. Home to some of the world’s most stunning resorts, resting on water that twinkles a hundred different shades of blue, drenched in sunlight… I imagined turning 40 here, armed with cocktails, would go down rather well.