My journey to the »Sunny Side of Life« started in September 2012, when I realized my life was nothing but bright. After spending weeks in hospital, because of food poisoning in Morocco and after being described as a »Person that never learned anything« and »A Little girl that knows nothing about humility« by one of the most honest and shining lady I ever worked for, a woman I admired (still admire) the most… I realized I am not speaking with my own voice nor walking the talk anymore.
So I wrote in the Google search engine: »Teaching yoga by the seaside«, »Yoga teacher wanted«, »Teaching yoga in paradise« and guess what – got a job in 48 hours. Seriously, the one with a contract and all assistance to move to Maldives, as I just became a »Yoga Instructor and Fitness Supervisor« in one of the resorts in Maldives.
Though this article could be two times richer and longer about describing »The Worst Things That Happened To Me While Living in Paradise,« there was a lesson learned while living abroad; things are as they are. You can paint them shinny or you can spit on them and wrap them with all the negative vibes. I rather choose the first one. So here are 10 things I personally believe are the best about living and working in the middle of the Indian Ocean:
1. Barefoot 24/7
On all 1,190 islands in Maldives there will always be sand beneath your feet (or between your teeth, inside your buttocks or in your ears – you choose). That is why it is called the best holiday destination in the world and that is why I was always walking around barefoot.
Few people did not quite agree with me: lovely Thai spa manager always worried I will ruined my French pedicure, human resources manager was running behind me with her extra pair of flip-flops and our resort manager and security manager agreed on that I will definitely kick into some horrible thing under the sand. Guess what, I stayed barefoot and defended my naked feet by providing them a list of »Why you should go barefoot benefits« that are scientifically proven. Ha, into your toes, managers.
Maldives – A Paradise for those who love going barefoot.
2. No Traffic Jams
Like none, at all. Also no traffic lights, no roundabout, no angry people inside their cars (read boats), no narrow streets (read channels). Just a freaking ocean highway full of amazing scenery and fresh air. Cheers to dhonis, boats and captains!
Traffic report for today: no traffic jams and there is a scenery you will drop your head back, please enjoy the ride.
3. Vitamin D for Free
If you live in any of the countries where solariums/sun studios are being fully booked, you will understand me from beneath your skin. In Maldives there is sunshine almost everyday and there are plenty of opportunities to move your body – a perfect combination for a production of Vitamin D, yes, for free. (Except if you are a guest and you payed 2000 USD/night to stay in a resort – I believe Vitamin D production is fully inclusive in your deal). 🙂
This is how most of my off days looked like.
4. Easy money , saving money (this one is for those working in Maldives)
If you are not online shopping addict or a person that has a huge urge to travel every few months (like me), then there is a high possibility you might save quite a lot of money. Reason 1: there are no shopping malls close by, reason 2: there is no wage tax – so no money will be cut from your salary, reason 3: accommodation and food is (almost everywhere in Maldives) provided by your employee, reason 4: you will not have to pay for your next summer holidays as you will be fed up with sun, sand and summer.
It was not a 5* hotel room accommodation, but I had my vision board and a sunny view – and that is pretty much like a cool thing.
5. Only amazing people visit Maldives
I met some of the most famous and popular artists, actors, coaches, formula drivers, singers, performers, sport stars and did yoga with them – trust me, they are 10 times more amazing than on the TV or anywhere online. This being said, I count myself as the luckiest person on the planet as each and every person I met in Maldives and did yoga (or massage or fitness training) with, was so unique and great I cannot describe. So many lovely couples – just married ones or those being together for more than 30 years, so many great families, so many amazing women, so many cute teenage girls. This is an Ode to all of you, yoginis and yogis I met!
Quite a fascinating yoga room, wouldn’t you agree?
6. Complimentary sunrises and sunsets
Did you ever wonder why so many people want to spend their honeymoon in Maldives? I believe it is because of sunrises and sunsets as they are so magical and powerful you will quite hardly forget them.
A pretty scenery at 6 AM, while getting ready for my morning yoga class on the beach.
7. Picnic islands
It is somehow logically accepted that if you live and work in Maldives, sooner or later someone will take you to a picnic island. Picnic island is a synonym for an uninhabited island where you have fun! My favorite one was the one where I was the only girl with some great, funny and happy Maldivian/Indian/Srilankan/Bangladesh colleagues. They made me feel like I was their princess and they even made a special vegetarian sandwich just for me.
Playing volleyball, hanging out with my friends and swimming in the crystal clear water – cool day for an off day.
8. Lifetime friends from every continent
There were 32 different nationalities on the island I worked. There were guests from all over the world. There were millions of fish beneath us. There were billions of stars above us. Trust me, you will make REAL friends on a 300 metres long island, for sure.
With my beautiful Thai, Indo and Persian ladies that always made me smile.
9. Hydration was my motivation
In Maldives you will have food and drink (all at the same time) above your head almost all the time. As long as you are mindful where you are standing (though in most of the resorts they will have professional palm tree climbers to cut down coconuts) and as long as you make some friends with those who know how to cut coconut – you will be widely provided with the most hidratating drink on the planet.
There are usually only 10-20% of women working in resorts in Maldives, so you can relax as 80% of men will always be happy to prepare a fresh kurumba for you.
10. Rainy days are happy days!
Those only visiting Maldives will probably not agree with me, but if you work in Maldives for more than a year, any weather change means something exciting. Clouds? Great! Wind? Wuhu, let’s go windsurfing! Rain? Amazing, spa center will be fully booked and that means lots of work, or in other words – amazing people are on the way to be taken care of.
I swear I did not just sit on it, I actually tried windsurfing and felt on my buttocks – directly onto an edgy coral reef – oh my, luckily there are always resort doctors on the sandbank to take care of people who don’t know how to windsurf haha.
To conclude this story… Did this little girl learned anything about humility? Hm, not exactly (yet).
But hell oh boy, she learned about herself and most importantly, found her own voice again. There are no big crowds to follow her, no fans to admire her, but she knows how to listen herself again, she knows how to ride her own »boat« again and she is not afraid to drown in the sea of emotions ever again.
She was surrounded with water from all 360°
for 539 days.
She knows how to swim.
With the flow.
Again.
Life is better in bikinis.
thank you and best of luck for ur career.
It’s always good to hear nice things about my country from foreigners.
Very good read.
Sidhrath, thank you. All the best to you too.
Hi, it was so nice to read your article. I was surfing about how to live and work to being happy in an island . And I found it, thanks. Because a few days if im Lucky, I will be working in Maldives .thank you and have a nice day. Godbless
I like you article, it’s important that people understand there is something special going on in the Maldives. That said, if you are based in Male, life is a lot different to what you describe! Can forget about barefoot, people treating you like a princess etc. my experience is that the whole process is schizophrenic.
Hi Doc, yes, I know – Capital is totally different story, but I was just writing from my own experience. As I also wrote, there could be a list about Worst Stuff that happened to me in Maldives 2-times longer – but I just choosed to focus on good things there. Thanks for the comment and take care!
Too right, are you still there? which resort?
Hi James, no I am not on the sunny side anymore 🙂 Now I am in Germany. Thanks for the comment, take care.
hi Sandra did u remember me ?
Hi Nowfal, of course I do! All good!
Awesome and absolutely Great article!
Hi,
I am Ritesh from Mumbai, what should be the salary of a yoga & pilates teacher who stay in maldives. and how much one can save.
Ritesh
Dear Ritesh Patel, the amount of salary is decided by the resort you work for and I believe it depends on your knowledge, experiences etc. But I know you can save a lot of money, cause you have nowhere to spend it hihi 🙂 All the best with your cycling and yoga! Sandra
Hi Sandra
thanks a lot to share your experience with your article.
I am just having thought about Maldives cause i will most probably move (if lucky enough to get the position) at Anantara Dhigu resort.
i have spent my last 6 years in Dubai and i am willing to know if i will adapt myself to the quite Maldive life.
Now a part working probably 6 days a week i would like to know from you how to spend days off and if its easy to do short escape from Maldive to neighbor country.
How is the life between colleagues ? i mean the is a specific area where all hotel staff leave together?
looking forward to hear from you.
have a great day
Hallo Sandra,
Ich arbeitete ein Jahr nach Paradise Island im Wassersport.
Ich hatte da eine wundervolle Zeit und viele haben es geschafft.
Aber ich vermisste Niederlande immer noch sehr, natur, grün, Wald, Autofahren.
Sind Sie noch in Deutschland oder arbeiten wieder im Ausland?
Liebe Grüße, Windsurf- und Wassersport instructeur; “Mister Wim.”
Also habe ich es genannt .. Wim van Essen
Hey, great writing! As a Travel Blog & the sunny side of Maldives! I love it!
Hi Sandra great blog and information 🙂 thanks for that…i am also thinking to move to maldives and work there but on local island…
But until then it has to be checked a lot of things..
Greetings from Cologne 😉
hi sandra,nice to hear from you,had been looking for some genuine feed back before I shift to Maldives for work .have a lot of caribbean experience, just looking for the right opportunities.
hi can you help me to get a job there at Maldives
Hi everybody , iam from Egypt and working all the the with hotels here in hurghada city red sea with watersport and I have my own business here but I would like to come to Maldives to work first to see how is this business going there then start my business with water sport , so want get information and I idea please.
Can i com to maldvise and play football pls i need an answer
i am looking to move there, is it a challenge to do? with children?? thanks!
How easy is it to get a job in maldives, are there job opportunities and how long will it takes and how is the pay
Thank you for sharing, it;s so inspiring. I was working in the island as well, small island at Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Indonesia for 3 years. Nice life and balance between works and fun things. I try to looking for another opportunity to working at Maldives very soon. Read you article, it’s really helpfull. Good luck for your journey!.
Hi, been reading your post about maldives. I recently get the opportunity of applying there in a construction company and have been receiving responses from them. However, I want to know more about the country and the locals. Like how do they treat expats in their country? and the working condition of course. I will be more than happy to receive a response from people experiencing the country as of the moment. Thank you!
Very nice this Blog
I like to vist maldives,
wish to be there…all you listed pleases me..#am so loving it!!
How long did you live there and what reasons led you to choose to leave and move to Germany?
Hi Sandra, Love your post and its fyn and luvly to hear though there might b some heedlums BT the brighter part is d focus…