It’s been a while, but guess who’s back with a daily travel diary recounting our epic surf escapades in the Maldives.

Nearly a year has passed since we took a speedboat from Male to Himafuji Island in late May. While lots of people think the Maldives are all about fancy 5-star getaways. But hold on…! The Maldives aren‘t just a playground for luxury resorts. Beyond the glitz there are secret islands where locals call home, and the waves are calling surfers to cozy guesthouses, just like the hidden gem of Himafushi Island.

Upon our arrival in the afternoon, we settled into our accommodation at the Natrual Surf House and afterwards we headed to catch the first waves at the Jailbreaks surf spot near our guesthouse. A 15-minute stroll brought us to Jailbreaks, where the warm Indian Ocean waters (30 degrees water temperature) and the afternoon heat posed a refreshing challenge. The spot earned its name from its view of a nearby prison.

Returning to the guesthouse in the evening, we found our companions again out with the boat for the third and final surf session of the day, which lasted from 4:00-6:00 p.m. That’s why we decided to made our way to the local Bikini Beach, the only area, separated by screen walls, where tourists can sunbathe in bikinis, respecting the Maldivian Muslim culture.

During dinner, we got to know all the other residents of the guesthouse, who were all very nice and funny. After sharing dinner, we retired early, still exhausted from the 14 hours flight and today’s adventures.

Himafushi revealed its unique charm, reflected in its special patina and distinctive restaurants and stores. This made it a pleasant experience for us.

Unaware that our morning should start before 5:00 a.m. due to the nearby village mosque, we were awakened by the call to prayer broadcasted through a loudspeaker with a Muslim chant. Anyways, it was actually ok. We had to get up anyway at 5:30 because the first boat surf session started from 6:00-8:00 a.m., and we wanted being part of it.

Stay tuned for the next chapter, where I will share our surfing adventures at different spots the following day.

Love,

Katy

Analog pics by Daniell Bohnhof

Text by Katrin Bohnhof