by Greek contributor Dimitrios Machairidis
Photo credit: Courtesy of Kandolhu Resort
“Simplicity is the luxury in Kandolhu Resort. A no-frills approach to how we do things reigns here from design to service. Villas’ design is minimal and contemporary, neutral in color, with many shades of wood that help the villas integrate into the natural beauty of Kandolhu Island. Our service approach is simple and amicable. When interacting with guests our team members address them on a first name basis, building a friendly and good-humored rapport. Our luxury means feeling comfortable in your villa, having everything at your disposal, being served by genuine staff efficiently and with a smile, surrounded by the coral reefs in front of the beach, under the sun,” explained Marc Leblanc, the Canadian manager of Kandolhu Resort in the Maldives.
With 1,192 islands grouped in 26 atolls the archipelago of the Maldives at the south of the Indian subcontinent is considered the jewel of the Indian Ocean. Being for centuries one of the many British Empire’s colonies, the Maldives gained its independence in 1965. From an anemic economy based on fishing and poor infrastructure, the Maldives quickly shifted to the tourist industry. Thanks to Giorgio Corbin, an Italian boho tourist and visionaire travel agent, the Island of Kurumba was the first to be transformed into a resort in 1972. Today more than 75 resort islands welcome annually more than ten million tourists from all over the world. Sea planes and yachts connect the islands with the busy international airport of the Maldives next to Male, the capital, which is expanding along the ocean front.
Sailing around Kandolhu Resort Photo credit: Dimitrio Machairidia
The boho chic resort on the tiny island of Kandolhu in the North Ari Atoll, is among the most luxurious resorts in the Maldives. “The majority of our guests come to Kandolhu to relax, recharge and reconnect with their partners and families. We are fortunate enough to have a house reef circling our island and accessible on many fronts. The entirety can be swum in about an hour, and the variety of the marine life is one of the best in the Maldives. A wide array of activities are available for guests, however we find that most tend to lounge by their villas and beach during the day, incorporating one or two snorkeling outings. They are here to escape from their busy lives to a far-flung remote area. The 4 individual restaurants catering to the 30 villas of Kandolhu is the highest restaurant to room ratio in the Maldives. Eating and drinking selection is easily adapted and customized to guests’ preferences and desires,” remarked Marc LeBlanc.
Facing the Indian Ocean Photo credit: Dimitrios Machairidis
Maldives is the lowest place on earth, no more than 7 ft 10 in. above sea level. The islands are tiny and covered with fine white sand. Kandolhu covers an area of just 656 by 490 ft. “In such a small piece of real estate, there is limited room to build an array of facilities, which I feel is a continuing theme in the Maldives. Everyone is trying to do the ‘new this’, the ‘new that’, which hasn’t been done before. We are thankful to not participate in such a race! These are not the things which guests seek when they come to Kandolhu. You must feel the sense that you are truly on one of the smallest islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, which you are!” explained LeBlanc.
A tourist arrives on a tiny island resort in the middle of the ocean either for relaxation or enjoyment. This is the design concept of the architect Sappé who created the Kandolhu Resort. Known in the Maldives as Sappé, Mohamed Shafeeq is a famous architect based in Singapore. His portfolio includes stylish resorts in the Seychelles, Mauritius, Dubai, India and the Philippines. In Kandolhu, Sappé integrated the physical structures into the natural beauty of this perfectly round island. The villas incorporate many types and shades of wood into the interior design, with a calming and neutral effect throughout. Designing the thatched roofs, which are common in the Maldives, Sappé was inspired by the ubiquitous shape of the Maldivian Dhoni wooden sailboats. The thatched roofs in Kandolhu give the impression of upside down Dhoni sailboats put on top of the villas. This takes the design of these thatched roofs one step further. Products and amenities in the villas are high quality and geared for residences from prominent European brands. “I feel this gives an interesting physical texture, but not overbearing, when our guest is nestled amongst the palms and foliage,” added Marc.
The restaurants of the Kandolhu Resort, Market, Olive, Sea Grill and the Vilu Bar, lead from one to the other to form a continuous food hall. Sappé designed gorgeous curvatures with modern and classical touches; titanium cement finishes, sandstone inlays, mosaic and granite counters, intricate decorative rafters in the ceilings and a floating staircase. In the Sea Grill restaurant stands the highlight of the Kandolhu decoration: the use of reclaimed coral, purchased from a crumbling house on a local island, an ode to the old ways of housing construction in the Maldives. White-washed and held together by splattered white concrete, it looks amazing and gives off a Mediterranean vibe.
The view from the Market Restaurant at the Indian Ocean
“Every restaurant has its own atmosphere. Manger frais is the rule in Knadolhu. Everything is fresh. The vegetables come at the table directly from the gardens of our resort. The fish and the seafood are furbished from our fishermen.” explained the French Chef Farina who runs the four restaurants of Kandolhu from his hi-tech kitchen. In the restaurants of Kandolhu there are no napkins. The management reminds the guests leaving Kandolhu for the airport to take all used batteries with them. Kandolhu is a 100% Eco-friendly resort.
The Market & Olive Restaurant
The color combination of Kandolhu consists of the blue of the sea and the sky, the white of the restaurants, the pavilions and the villas and the green of nature. Viewing this from a seaplane is incredible. “As soon as you land in the Maldives, you see these three colors everywhere. The many different hues of blue emanating from the water and the depths of islands and atolls are the signature of Kandolhu. Hopping in the water and seeing the many types of fish and their vibrant and colorful markings, proves to be a beautiful contrast with Kandolhu” said LeBlanc.
Marc LeBlanc
How easily can a manager from icy Canada adapt to the tropical climate of the Maldives? “I live and work in one of the most breathtaking places in the world. However, first and foremost, this lifestyle is not for everyone and can be extremely difficult for some. Access to normal-day amenities and activities are non-existent and you are removed from your family and friends. If you get beyond this, it is smooth sailing and you begin to appreciate where you are and why you are here. Due to the nature of guests’ trips and the length of their visits, working in resorts is different to urban or gateway hotels. Having guests stay lengthy periods of time allows you to build relationships with them. Personally, I enjoy working in the tropics to keep warm, as I’m from Canada!” said Marc bursting into laughter.
The trip to Kandolhu Eesort www.kandolhu.com in Maldives was a kind invitation by Exotic Tours, a travel agency based in Athens, Greece www.exotictours.gr
