Joali Being

Every so often in life you experience a holiday that can only be described as perfection, and from start to finish the JOALI BEING was one such time. You know before you even arrive from the level of personalised service offered from the reservations department and the sea plane terminal lounge staff, that this is going to be a very special trip. Arriving at the ‘ Gate Of Zero’ is no less impressive, to be met by your jadugar (more on that later) who showed us around the most meticulously crafted and pristine natural island my husband and I have ever seen. From the architecture to the gardens, decor and soft ambient lighting the resort has a real sense of place and seamlessly blends into the natural fabric of the island, To our dear jadugar Mode, you my friend are simply outstanding. You told us flat out on our arrival that you were here to create a personalised experience and you proved this time and time again over the course of our stay all without us even having to ask. You preempted every single detail and managed to strike the perfect balance of making us feel spoilt and pampered without ever being intrusive. We shared something with you about a recent tragic event in our lives and what you done thereafter was the most thoughtful, kind and wonderful gift we have ever received. We will forever treasure the amazing piece of artwork you created for us and to do this in your own time makes it all the more special. We honestly cannot remember a time in our lives that we have been so blown away with the genuine hospitality you have shown. The intricate hand drawn sand art each evening outside of our villa will forever stay in our memory. The small details meant the absolute world to us, when the world feels like it’s going backwards people like you are a shining light and a beacon of kindness. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, you should be so very proud of your achievements. The culinary offering from head chef Taylor and her entire team is pure brilliance. From the choice, quality and balance of flavours at breakfast to curating personalised meals based on our individual tastes, every single meal could grace the tables of any Michelin star restaurant in London and beyond. It goes without saying that the service in all outlets was exemplary but the stand out was ‘Flow’ restaurant, every single member of the team went above and beyond. A special shout-out to madam Devi, your big smile and fun character created such a relaxed atmosphere at every meal. Our spacious and very beautifully designed villa was kept spotless by the wonderful Anoof. It was cleaned twice daily and after both breakfast and dinner we would arrive back to an immaculate villa, Anoof would even perfectly lay out our snorkelling equipment ready for the next day - every single detail assured deep relaxation and well being. Our days were filled with activities from private Muay Thai to circuit training to deeply relaxing meditation and yoga classes. The entire team at ‘ Core’ were outstanding, Ismael, Gul, Brenda, Yehia and Veronica your energy was infectious, you encouraged us to do better which made each workout a joy ( and that is from someone who will do anything to avoid exercise ;) ) The afternoons would be spent in the stunning spa, always greeted with a big warm smile from our lovely Ukrainian friend Carina, followed by a herbal tea at the most incredibly designed tea house - how will we ever go back to normal life! Of course no mention of a trip to the Maldives would be complete without mentioning the marine life and here too Bodufushi island did not disappoint. The house reef is swarming with vast shoals of vibrant fish, not forgetting the huge resident turtle and eagle rays. My husband and I both agreed it was the best house reef we have encountered on our many trips to the Maldives. I encourage anyone looking for a ‘ once in a lifetime’ experience to strongly consider JOALI BEING. It is a truly unique concept set amongst one of the worlds most magical backdrops. Thank you to Jazlaan who runs a very tight but happy ship in the absence of the GM and the entire JB team - hopefully one day we can visit again 🤎