A Slice of Heaven

Taking flight from sorrow to find happiness on the island resort of Cheval Blanc Randheli.

- Hannah Choo

Anyone's first trip to the Maldives ought to be dreamy. You know, perpetual sunshine, incredible seafood and that first dip into the Indian Ocean met with a friendly dolphin, splashing around and breaking the early morning ocean calm. All in the company of your best friend, your other half, the love of your life. At least, that's what I wanted for myself. I have always associated the Maldives with endless romance and, if not, a way to heal from the loss of a relationship and channel all that grief into yoga. After all, sadness can sometimes benefit from space and perhaps, flexibility?

I encountered tremendous grief in July when my sweet dog of 14 years died in my arms. She was a half-whippet rescue that was black, beautiful and, like me, never warmed up too quickly to strangers. She lived to 14-and-a-half, a decent age to go for most dogs, but gone too soon. Sleepless nights and puffy eyes ensued and, a couple of weeks later, it felt like the right time to travel and be away from it all. I thought, if I were to make this great escape alone, it would ideally be somewhere with a beach, a nice pool, alcohol and an inviting breakfast buffet of all the delicious things I like to eat. If I were to recuperate somewhere solo, it may as well be paradise.

THE GREAT ESCAPE

It takes me just over four hours of direct flight time from Singapore to Malé, the tiny, sober metropolis of the Maldives. It's densely packed with mosques, lively markets, newly erected high-rises and a population of some 130,000 people; hardly the white-sand dream of laid-back holidaymakers, but a fascinating way to see the Maldivian way of life. It is the only concrete jungle among a cluster of 1,200 tropical islands, of which only 200 are inhabited. Also, 164 islands are developed as tourist resorts while the rest are used mostly for agricultural purposes.