On my recent trip to the Maldives, I learned something truly fascinating: there are 12 ways to describe the word blue in the local language. And blue just happens to be my favourite colour.
I don’t know the actual words (and I did try to google them), but here is my interpretation of what I saw.
1. ‘I can see 12 shades of blue without trying too hard’ shade of blue. And if I take a deep breath, the world stands still.
It really was paradise at Lux Maldives
2. ‘I will never leave my room because I have a pool and the sea’ shade of blue. On one of the days, we were so lazy we ordered in breakfast and lunch, and I am not ashamed to admit it (says she who never orders room service, ever).
No need to go anywhere, when you have a room like this at Constance Halaveli.
3. ‘I am really tired from swimming, I will just rest for a couple of hours’ shade of blue. And I can just stare at the horizon. Or read a book.
I sat down for hours at Iru Fushi
4. ‘I will never go to a beach with other people’ shade of blue. And if I see someone else, I will wonder what they are doing there.
Not a soul, if I don’t want to see anyone – at Lux Maldives
5. ‘It is quite refreshing to see other colours rather than blue’ shade of blue. If you leave your room for a walk around the island.
Blue goes well with white sand. And green, at Constance Halaveli
6. ‘I have just realised that my clothes are also blue’ shade of blue. Seriously, 80% of the clothes I took were indeed blue. I kid you not.
Navy dress, a tan and a smile. Sunset happiness at Iru Fushi
7. ‘I will only drink juice if the colour matches with the rest’ shade of blue. And I cannot tell you how lovely this freshly squeezed papaya juice was.
How is that for the perfect colour combination? At Lux Maldives
8. ‘This is my type of airport’ shade of blue. No need for lounges and business class (who am I kidding?)
It was a little bit noisy, but oh so convenient. Arriving in style at Constance Halaveli
9. ‘If I stay in the water all day, my legs will finally get darker’ shade of blue. Because I was almost transparent when I arrived to the Maldives. Seriously.
Good to see some magic happening to my legs at Iru Fushi
10. ‘When the sun sets, it is time for a gin and tonic with a view’ shade of blue. One of my favourite moments of the day.
Only here I watch the sun set with intent – at Lux Maldives
11. ‘The clearest water in the world’ shade of blue.
And one cannot be happier either. At Constance Halaveli
12. ‘One can be really good at something’ shade of blue. I am almost an Olympic champion at ‘beaching’, I kid you not.
I am better at this than skiing. At Iru Fushi.
What is your favourite shade of blue?
xo
Mrs. O
Disclaimer: I was a guest of Lux Maldives, Constance Halaveli and Iru Fushi on my recent trip to the Maldives.
Petra Hermans
November 5, 2015 at 6:37 am
Thank you for sharing your wonderful life in a beautiful way!
You are very lucky to enjoy life the way you do.
“Blue” is also my favorite colour in this period of my life!
Petra Hermans, The Netherlands, Europe
@mrsoaroundworld
November 8, 2015 at 7:28 pm
Thank you so much for your very kind words 🙂
Janice Stringer
August 12, 2014 at 7:05 am
I took another peek at this post whilst here. It takes me to a happy place!
Janice Stringer recently posted..The Ease of Travelling Between London and Paris by Eurostar
@mrsoaroundworld
August 12, 2014 at 12:08 pm
So pleased to hear that 🙂 makes me very happy, Janice!
Grace @ Sandier Pastures
June 20, 2014 at 6:36 pm
Blue is my favorite color too! I already imagine myself in one of these blues next month on our trip and stay at Iru Fushi.
Grace @ Sandier Pastures recently posted..The longest and largest river in Japan and random foodie memories
@mrsoaroundworld
June 20, 2014 at 7:23 pm
Have a fab time!
WhatKateMadeNext
May 15, 2014 at 12:32 am
Mrs O, possibly we are soulmates- blue is also my favourite colour! On that basis, you should take me in the hydroplane next time… 🙂 x
WhatKateMadeNext recently posted..Recipes that recycle food
@mrsoaroundworld
May 15, 2014 at 11:14 am
hahah I can see where you are going with this 😉
Mike
May 6, 2014 at 9:52 pm
Indeed its always blue and remain blue forever.
@mrsoaroundworld
May 6, 2014 at 11:31 pm
Amen!
Janice Stringer
May 6, 2014 at 10:36 am
Hi there Mrs O,
As I sit here wearing my various shades of blue,I can honestly say that I am ‘green’ with envy as I look at your beautiful photographs of the Maldives. Did you try scuba diving to take a look at the blue from another perspective?
Janice Stringer recently posted..5 Top Tapas Dishes to Try
@mrsoaroundworld
May 6, 2014 at 4:28 pm
Janice hi! Sadly I didn’t – didn’t feel I had the time it really takes to learn. But I snorkelled!
Janice Stringer
May 6, 2014 at 4:36 pm
What were your favourite fishes and how close to the shore were they? I snorkeled in The Perhentians off Turtle Beach and the coral and marine life was completely amazing and the Maldives just looks so divine. You’re one lucky lady to have experienced such a beautiful stay! 🙂
Janice Stringer recently posted..5 Top Tapas Dishes to Try
@mrsoaroundworld
May 6, 2014 at 11:32 pm
We swam with a whale shark! Amazing!
Janice Stringer
May 7, 2014 at 1:16 pm
That must have been amazing. I can only imagine!
Janice Stringer recently posted..5 Top Tapas Dishes to Try
@mrsoaroundworld
May 8, 2014 at 9:43 am
It was very cool!
Bianca @itsallbee
May 1, 2014 at 8:46 am
Oh my goodness! I love all the pictures. I want to go to Maldives now. Looking at number 5 makes me feel as if I could hide behind those shrubs and take in the views forever.
Bianca @itsallbee recently posted..48 Hours in Milan | Visual Diary
@mrsoaroundworld
May 1, 2014 at 10:59 am
It is a lovely place and won’t disappoint, promise!
Andi of My Beautiful Adventures
April 24, 2014 at 2:56 pm
So beyond stunning!
@mrsoaroundworld
April 25, 2014 at 12:33 pm
It was indeed. No filters necessary.
Lindsay
April 22, 2014 at 4:11 pm
Lovely! Will you be doing any detailed reviews of the places you stayed? Very interested in knowing how you found Lux* to be, will be staying there in September.
@mrsoaroundworld
April 23, 2014 at 12:17 pm
Hi Lindsay, of course I will. Lux will be the first one next week
Elma in Tokyo
April 22, 2014 at 11:43 am
Looking forward to the reviews of the three places you stayed at!
I’m hoping (fingers crossed!) for a Maldivian Xmas and not sure where to stay… There are so many atols and not sure where to start 🙁
That or I could just take a year off from travelling and save up for the French Polynesia. But who can take a year off from plane hopping?!
@mrsoaroundworld
April 23, 2014 at 12:20 pm
The Maldives are fab! I already have 2 reviews from places I loved from my 2013 trip 😉 reviews coming up shortly and you are totally right, difficult to know where to start!
Travelingpanties
April 15, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Wow!! I want them all. What a drool-worthy post. Stunning!!!
Travelingpanties recently posted..Welcome Travelingpanties: A Review of the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London
@mrsoaroundworld
April 15, 2014 at 6:06 pm
It was a beautiful place. No filters necessary!
Monica Suma
April 14, 2014 at 5:08 pm
My favorite is the clearest water in the world blue. Wow, what a place. You and Mr O’Reilly must have had a fantastic time!
@mrsoaroundworld
April 15, 2014 at 12:02 am
We did indeed! Magic 🙂
Kae Lani | A Travel Broad
April 10, 2014 at 9:30 pm
No wonder they have so many words to describe blue — it’s paradise! Blue skies, blue waters… what’s a good word describing a blue cocktail? 😉
Kae Lani | A Travel Broad recently posted..Travel Porn: Berlin, Germany
@mrsoaroundworld
April 11, 2014 at 9:45 am
One I need to find out!
Mary Anne
April 10, 2014 at 9:27 pm
You’ve redefined the phrase “feeling blue”. Loved the article.
@mrsoaroundworld
April 11, 2014 at 9:46 am
Oh, I love that!
Mary Anne
April 14, 2014 at 1:58 pm
It’s true!
Tawny of Captain and Clark
April 10, 2014 at 4:04 am
Numbers 3,7,9, and 11 are a few of my favorite shades of blue. The water looked unbelievable clear. You have us seething with jealousy over here. Must.Get.There.
Tawny of Captain and Clark recently posted..Things to know before traveling to Iceland
@mrsoaroundworld
April 11, 2014 at 9:46 am
You will love it!
lola
April 9, 2014 at 6:42 pm
i love it “Olympic Champion” of beaching!! i wish i had a medal to put on this weekend while i try my best Olympic ability at beaching in Miami!! the photos are gorgeous.
lola recently posted..One Day Stay: Palm Springs, California
@mrsoaroundworld
April 9, 2014 at 10:36 pm
You are serious competition, I have to say!
Chinmoy Lad
April 9, 2014 at 5:06 pm
So much blue! It’s such a great colour – and the Maldives has plenty of it, which is why it’s one of my favourite places.
@mrsoaroundworld
April 9, 2014 at 10:36 pm
Any plans to go back?
Laura (@cocktailsandgelato.com)
April 9, 2014 at 3:11 am
Absolute heaven. It’s so beautiful it’s unreal. And peaceful. Just the never-ending blue horizon and a cocktail and that could be my happy place. . . Thanks for the gorgeous pics!
Laura (@cocktailsandgelato.com) recently posted..Maine Monday: Farm to Flanagan’s Table
@mrsoaroundworld
April 9, 2014 at 9:19 am
It was an amazing place. Loved every minute.
Kendra Granniss
April 8, 2014 at 8:03 pm
Number 7, please! Such gorgeous pics!
@mrsoaroundworld
April 8, 2014 at 11:19 pm
Thanks, Kendra!
the lazy travelers
April 8, 2014 at 3:11 pm
love them all, but the colors in that one with the papaya juice is PERFECTION.
the lazy travelers recently posted..parisian perfection on the île saint-louis
@mrsoaroundworld
April 8, 2014 at 11:18 pm
And it was delicious.
Becky Padmore
April 8, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Lucky you, looks gorgeous! 🙂
Becky Padmore recently posted..10 amazing places to visit in the Galapagos Islands
@mrsoaroundworld
April 8, 2014 at 11:18 pm
It was… so wonderful…
Leah
April 7, 2014 at 9:57 pm
They’re all splendid shades of blue, but I’d have to go with #4. I like an empty beach. A lot.
Leah recently posted..24 Hours in Munich, Germany
@mrsoaroundworld
April 7, 2014 at 11:22 pm
Love an empty beach!
Monica
April 7, 2014 at 9:14 pm
Oh my goodness. Jealous isn’t even the word. This looks incredible!
I love that photo of you floating in the sea. I think you have every shade of blue in there, including the shade of your bikini!
Monica recently posted..My secret to packing light
@mrsoaroundworld
April 7, 2014 at 11:22 pm
That is also my favourite – a repeat from last year, but I couldn’t help myself.
Jessica | A Passion and A Passport
April 7, 2014 at 5:01 pm
Lovely photos! They make me want to hop on a plane and head to the Maldives asap! Fingers crossed the water in Bora Bora is as blue as in your pictures! Going in July!
Jessica | A Passion and A Passport recently posted..F is for FLORIDA KEYS: Part of the #wanderlustseries
@mrsoaroundworld
April 7, 2014 at 5:37 pm
That is the whole idea! Bora Bora will be lovely. Great memories and promise that a lot of blue is to be found!
Stephanie
April 7, 2014 at 3:42 pm
Very very nice way to make us want to go there as soon as possible. Thank you for the dream.
Stephanie recently posted..Spotted – Thyme House boutique hotel and rentals
@mrsoaroundworld
April 7, 2014 at 3:53 pm
My pleasure. It was a stunning place indeed!
Michelle Chaplow
April 7, 2014 at 3:25 pm
BLUE- T- ful:)
@mrsoaroundworld
April 7, 2014 at 3:39 pm
awwwwww
Chinmoy Lad
April 7, 2014 at 2:51 pm
Fantastic blog, and and an even better trip by the looks of things Ana! Great work.
@mrsoaroundworld
April 7, 2014 at 2:56 pm
Thank you! Fab trip indeed 🙂
Karine
April 7, 2014 at 2:48 pm
Do I have to pick one shade ? So far all of them suits me really well 🙂
@mrsoaroundworld
April 7, 2014 at 2:56 pm
All of the above is the right answer 😉