MALDIVES WAS GIVING MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY: SIX DAYS OF WORK, WAVES AND UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES.

From covering the South Asian Travel Awards 2026 to jet skiing across turquoise waters, surviving a zipline scare and taking my competitive spirit a little too far, what started as a work assignment in the Maldives turned into six days of unforgettable experiences, hilarious moments and memories I will be talking about for years.

When someone mentions the Maldives, the first things that usually come to mind are dreamy beaches, crystal-clear waters, luxurious resorts and those picture-perfect holiday photographs that make everyone scrolling through Instagram slightly jealous. It is the kind of destination that looks almost too beautiful to be real, where every corner seems ready for a travel reel and every sunset deserves its own photoshoot. But when I found out I would be travelling to the Maldives for work, I knew my experience would probably look a little different from the typical tropical getaway. In October 2026, I travelled to the Maldives to cover the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, alongside our Deputy Editor, Thasmina Sookoor, and my colleagues Pathum and Tharindu. Our Editor, Rishini Weeraratne, had made the arrangements for our four-member team to attend and cover the event. The assignment involved documenting industry discussions, attending the awards ceremony, creating content and meeting professionals from the regional travel and hospitality industry. It sounded like a straightforward work trip, but little did I know that the Maldives had a completely different storyline waiting for us. Between award ceremonies, unexpected shopping adventures, late-night workouts, jet skiing, ziplining, cycling disasters and competitive UNO sessions, our six-day trip became the perfect combination of work and absolute chaos. There were moments when we felt like serious journalists on an international assignment and others when we behaved like a group of friends who had been let loose on a tropical island. Somehow, both sides of the experience came together to create one of the most memorable journeys of my life.

TOUCHDOWN MALDIVES: WORK MODE ON, HOLIDAY MODE LOADING

Our Maldives adventure officially began when we arrived and checked into Huvan Beach Hotel in Hulhumalé. Although we were in another country, the hotel had a surprisingly familiar Sri Lankan atmosphere that immediately made us feel comfortable. The hospitality was warm, the staff were friendly and the beachfront location gave us a lovely introduction to the destination. After travelling and settling into our rooms, we were ready to explore our new surroundings and see what the island had to offer. Our first day was relatively relaxed, with no major adventures planned. We walked around the area, took in the atmosphere and enjoyed the excitement of being somewhere new. During one of our walks, we came across a parrot that turned out to be one of the most entertaining characters of the day.  When we greeted it with a cheerful "Hello,” it responded with a perfectly timed "Hello" of its own. Naturally, we decided to continue the conversation and asked, "How are you?” only for the parrot to repeat that too. Honestly, travelling all the way to the Maldives and having a conversation with a bird was not on my itinerary, but it was definitely a memorable start. Later that evening, we attended a dinner organised to connect with the SATA team and other professionals involved in the event.

It was an opportunity to meet people from different areas of the travel and hospitality industry, exchange ideas and get to know some of the faces behind the awards. The atmosphere was welcoming, and it was a great way to begin our professional assignment while adjusting to our surroundings. At that point, everything was going according to plan, although our more unpredictable adventures were just around the corner.

SATA 2026: BIG CONVERSATIONS AND A PROUD TEAM MOMENT

The following day was dedicated to SATA's Connect & Conversations programme, held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé. The event featured three panel discussions that brought together professionals from the travel and tourism industry to share their experiences, exchange perspectives and discuss developments across the region. For us, it was a day of listening carefully, documenting important conversations and capturing content that would help tell the story of the event to our readers back home. One of the happiest moments of the day came when Thasmina received a media appreciation certificate. Seeing our Deputy Editor being recognised was genuinely special because we know how much dedication goes into the work we do. Behind every published article, photograph, video interview, and social media post are hours of planning, coordination, editing and meeting deadlines, so watching her receive that recognition felt like a proud moment for the entire team. We were absolutely thrilled for her, and it added an extra layer of excitement to an already meaningful day. After spending the day in professional mode, however, we were ready for a little adventure of our own. Thasmina and I were still full of energy and wanted to explore the city, while Pathum and Tharindu seemed perfectly happy staying indoors. After a fair amount of persuasion, we eventually convinced everyone to come outside for a walk. Our original plan was to do some shopping, but as with many things on this trip, the evening developed a personality of its own.

MIDNIGHT WORKOUTS AND THE UNO PURCHASE WE NEVER REGRETTED

We wandered through the markets, explored the streets and looked around for interesting things to buy. Somewhere along the way, we ended up purchasing a Maldives-themed version of UNO called C-N-U-N-O. Of all the souvenirs we could have chosen, a card game somehow became one of our most important purchases. I was particularly determined to buy it, although I had no idea at the time just how much entertainment those cards would eventually provide during our island stay. As we continued walking, we came across a park that reminded me of the public parks in Colombo, complete with exercise equipment. The only difference was that it was approximately 11 p.m., a time when most sensible people would probably be relaxing or preparing for bed. But apparently, we were feeling unusually motivated, because we decided that the middle of the night was the perfect time for an impromptu workout. There we were, in another country, using park exercise equipment after a long day of industry discussions. It was completely random, slightly ridiculous and exactly the kind of unexpected moment that makes travelling with friends so much fun. The following day brought another shopping mission as we searched for chocolates, souvenirs and little gifts to take home to our families. The streets were busy; scooters seemed to be everywhere and there was plenty happening around us. Keeping our little group together, however, was proving surprisingly difficult because our male colleagues had a habit of disappearing while we were browsing. One moment everyone would be together, and the next we would be wondering where Pathum and Tharindu had gone.

We also discovered that our shopping schedule was not exactly ideal. We had started exploring at around 11 a.m., only to realise that many shops closed for the local midday break, generally between noon and 2 p.m. Our timing was definitely not giving, but we still managed to enjoy the outing and experience a little more of everyday life in Malé. Sometimes travelling is not about having everything perfectly organised, but about laughing at the unexpected situations that come your way.

THE SATA GALA: CELEBRATING SOUTH ASIAN EXCELLENCE

That evening, the SATA Gala and Awards Ceremony took centre stage, bringing together professionals from across the South Asian travel and hospitality industry for a grand celebration of excellence. The event was beautifully organised, with an atmosphere that reflected the importance of recognising outstanding achievements in tourism. From the arrangements to the overall presentation, it was clear that a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work had gone into making the evening a success. For our team, one of the most exciting parts of the ceremony was seeing so many Sri Lankans receive awards and recognition. Every time a Sri Lankan winner was announced, we were cheering with genuine excitement and pride. There is something incredibly special about watching people from your own country being celebrated on an international platform, particularly when you understand the effort and commitment behind their achievements. It was a proud moment for us as Sri Lankan journalists and a reminder of the talent within our country's tourism and hospitality industry. Throughout the evening, we were busy capturing photographs, filming content, meeting industry professionals and documenting the celebrations. The event was glamorous and exciting, but it was also a reminder that journalism involves plenty of work behind the scenes. By the time the ceremony ended, we were completely exhausted and ready to head straight to bed. We had no idea that the next part of our journey would bring an entirely different kind of excitement, with fewer formal events and significantly more adventures.

GURAIDHOO: THE MALDIVES I HAD BEEN DREAMING ABOUT

The following morning began with another challenge, packing our luggage all over again. After the busy gala night, Thasmina and I were operating on very limited energy, but we somehow managed to get everything organised before heading towards the boat that would take us to Guraidhoo. I made one very important request before the journey began, and that was to secure a window seat. Thankfully, I got one, and the approximately hour-long boat ride became an experience in itself. Watching the turquoise waters stretch out around us was absolutely beautiful. After spending our first few days attending events and exploring the busy streets of Malé, the journey felt like a refreshing change of pace. The further we travelled, the more excited I became about experiencing the peaceful island atmosphere that I had always associated with the Maldives. By the time we reached Guraidhoo, I was already convinced that this part of the trip would be something special. And honestly, Guraidhoo did not disappoint. The clear turquoise waters, sandy streets, peaceful surroundings and relaxed island atmosphere looked exactly like the Maldives I had imagined. Everything felt calm and beautiful, with the kind of tropical scenery that makes you want to take photographs every few minutes. After several busy days of covering events, arriving on the island felt like switching from deadline mode to holiday mode, even though we still had work to complete.

Our first priority after arriving, however, was not the beach, swimming or sightseeing. Instead, we went looking for pani puri, because apparently our food cravings were more urgent than our sightseeing plans. Of all the things we could have eaten on a beautiful Maldivian island, pani puri was what we wanted most, and it turned out to be delicious. Honestly, some food cravings are universal, and pani puri will always have a special place in our hearts, regardless of which country we happen to be visiting. We checked into H78 Guraidhoo, where comfortable accommodation, buffet meals and access to a variety of activities gave us the perfect base for our stay. Almost immediately, we began planning everything we wanted to experience during our time on the island. Swimming, cycling, jet skiing and other adventures quickly made their way onto our checklist, and we were determined to complete as many activities as possible. Our confidence was high, our excitement was even higher, and our energy levels were about to be seriously tested.

JET SKIING: MY FIRST RIDE TURNED INTO A RACE

The following morning, we started our day at the swimming pool before organising the rest of our activities. We had initially considered heading straight to the beach afterwards, but our plans changed as we worked out how to fit everything into the day. Jet skiing was next on the agenda, and since it was my first time trying it, I was both excited and slightly nervous about the experience. Our original idea was for the girls to share one jet ski while the boys took another. However, the instructor advised against pairing inexperienced riders together, so we changed our arrangements. I joined Pathum, while Thasmina paired up with Tharindu. It seemed like a sensible plan, although Pathum probably had no idea what he was getting himself into when he agreed to have me as his passenger. The moment we started moving across the water, my competitive side appeared. Instead of simply enjoying the ride, I kept encouraging Pathum to go faster and overtake the other jet ski. I was shouting instructions, cheering him on and behaving as though we had entered an international racing championship. Poor Pathum was probably more exhausted by my constant encouragement than by controlling the jet ski itself, but I was having the time of my life. The speed, the sea breeze and the feeling of travelling across the open water made the experience absolutely thrilling. There was something incredibly exciting about being surrounded by such beautiful scenery while trying an activity I had never experienced before. It quickly became one of my favourite moments of the trip, although I suspect Pathum might think twice before agreeing to another jet ski ride with me.

ZIPLINING: WHEN MY MAIN CHARACTER MOMENT BECAME A RESCUE MISSION

If jet skiing brought out my competitive personality, ziplining introduced me to an entirely different emotion: pure fear. Thasmina and I were both trying ziplining for the first time, and although we were excited about the experience, we were also incredibly nervous. At first, we were laughing and talking about how much fun it would be, but the closer we got to the launch point, the more we began questioning our decision. The zipline experience involved travelling from one island to another, with the ride lasting roughly a minute. We were told that the island-to-island attraction was unique in the Maldives, which made the opportunity feel even more special. A 360-degree camera was also there to capture the experience, so every reaction would be recorded. By the time we were suspended on the line and preparing to launch, our excitement had mixed with enough fear to make us seriously reconsider our life choices.

Once the ride began, the initial nervousness quickly turned into excitement. Moving above the water was thrilling, and the experience felt completely different from anything I had done before. For a brief moment, everything was going perfectly, and I was beginning to enjoy the adventure. Unfortunately, my zipline experience had an unexpected plot twist waiting near the end. While everyone else managed to reach the endpoint smoothly, I somehow stopped before reaching the platform. Yes, I was left suspended on the zipline, wondering why I was no longer moving and what exactly was supposed to happen next. My mind immediately went into panic mode, and for a moment, I genuinely thought my life was over. The dramatic thoughts were arriving faster than I could process them, and I was desperately hoping someone would come to my rescue. Thankfully, a staff member quickly helped me by using a hook to pull me safely towards the endpoint. What was supposed to be a simple one-minute ride had turned into a rather dramatic rescue situation, and I was incredibly relieved to reach the platform. Looking back, it was one of the funniest and most unforgettable moments of the trip, although I can assure you that it did not feel particularly funny while I was hanging there. At least I now have a zipline story that is slightly more interesting than simply saying I enjoyed the view.

KAYAKING, BEACH DAYS AND MY VERY RELAXED CONTRIBUTION

After the excitement of jet skiing and ziplining, kayaking sounded like a much more peaceful activity. Thasmina and I headed out together, ready to enjoy the water and take in the beautiful surroundings. In theory, kayaking is supposed to involve teamwork, with both people contributing to the paddling and helping the kayak move along. In reality, our experience was slightly different because I was feeling rather lazy. Thasmina ended up doing most of the paddling while I enjoyed the ride and admired the scenery. I would like to say that I was providing important moral support, although I am not entirely sure she would agree with that description. Nevertheless, the experience was relaxing and enjoyable, and it gave us another opportunity to appreciate the peaceful beauty of the island. We later spent more time at the beach, enjoying the swings, the water and the wonderful feeling of having nowhere else we needed to be at that particular moment.

CYCLING: MY COMPETITIVE SPIRIT HAD OTHER PLANS

If there was one activity that proved how competitive I could be, it was cycling. Thasmina and I had already completed around four or five rounds around the island when the boys decided they wanted to race us. We were already tired, but naturally, I was not about to turn down a challenge. The moment someone mentioned racing, my competitive personality took over, and suddenly I was determined to win at all costs. The funniest part was that the boys completed one round and announced that they were exhausted, while we had already managed several. Despite being tired ourselves, we continued with the challenge, and I became increasingly determined to reach the endpoint first. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of declaring that the person who reached the endpoint would be the winner instead of stopping when I had the opportunity. Somewhere along the way, things went wrong, and I fell off my bicycle, injuring both my hands. One minute I was feeling like a cycling champion, and the next I was dealing with the consequences of taking a friendly race far too seriously. It was painful and slightly embarrassing, but it also became another memorable story from our trip. Despite the fall, I still love cycling, although perhaps next time I should focus a little more on staying on the bicycle and a little less on winning.

WHALE WATCHING AND FACING MY OCEAN FEARS

Our stay also included a whale-watching trip, which was another experience we had been looking forward to. Before heading out, we had imagined seeing enormous whales moving through the ocean, just like the incredible scenes shown in wildlife documentaries. The actual sightings, however, were smaller than we had expected, so the experience turned out to be slightly different from what we had imagined. I also have a confession to make; I am a little frightened of whales. As much as I appreciate how magnificent these creatures are, the thought of encountering something enormous in the open ocean makes me nervous. So, while part of me was hoping for an unforgettable sighting, another part was quite relieved that we did not find ourselves too close to anything particularly intimidating. Either way, spending time on the water was an adventure worth experiencing, and it added another interesting chapter to our Maldives journey.

UNO NIGHTS, BEACH WALKS AND THE CAT SITUATION

Back at the hotel, we finally put our Maldives-themed UNO cards to good use. Since I had insisted on buying them, I was equally determined to make sure everyone joined me for a game. After days packed with activities, playing cards together became a fun way to relax and enjoy each other's company. There was plenty of laughter, a little competition and the kind of random conversations that make travelling with colleagues feel more like travelling with friends. Throughout our stay, however, the beach remained our favourite place. From the first day to the last, Thasmina and I found ourselves returning to the water whenever we had the opportunity. Sometimes we went swimming, sometimes we enjoyed peaceful walks and occasionally we simply sat back and appreciated the surroundings. The sound of the waves, the fresh air and the clear water created an atmosphere that was difficult to resist, especially after spending so much time working and moving between activities. Our hotel rooms were mostly places to sleep between adventures because we preferred spending as much time outdoors as possible. Even at night, we found ourselves heading back towards the beach, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and making the most of every moment. Those quiet walks were a reminder that not every memorable travel experience needs to involve speed, competition or dramatic incidents. Sometimes the simplest moments become the ones you remember most fondly. There was also a rather amusing situation involving a cat. I have never been particularly comfortable around cats, and my colleagues were fully aware of that. While three of them happily petted one, they decided to send me photographs to tease me. The cat seemed perfectly content with all the attention, while I was more than happy to maintain a safe distance. Even the island's feline residents somehow managed to become part of our ongoing entertainment.

THE FINAL MORNING: PACKING DRAMA AND ONE LAST AIRPORT ADVENTURE

By the final morning, packing had become an adventure of its own. After several days of activities, shopping and constantly moving around, organising my luggage felt like a serious challenge. Thankfully, Thasmina came to my rescue once again and helped me get everything together. I was incredibly grateful because, without her assistance, there was a very real possibility that I would have left half my belongings behind and returned to Sri Lanka with considerably less luggage than I had arrived with. Once we reached the airport, I discovered a play area and immediately decided that being an adult was not a good enough reason to ignore it. Since we had arrived early and had some time before our flight, I happily spent a while enjoying myself there.

Thasmina watched on as though she had brought a small child along on the trip rather than a colleague. Honestly, sometimes you just have to embrace your inner child, especially when you are trying to make the most of the final moments of an unforgettable journey. We eventually had a meal at KFC before preparing to board our flight home. And then came one final little victory that made me ridiculously happy. I finally got a window seat on the plane! After missing out on one earlier, I was delighted to settle in and enjoy the view from above as we travelled back to Sri Lanka. It might seem like a small thing, but after six days of unexpected adventures, it felt like the perfect ending to our Maldives story.

SIX DAYS, COUNTLESS MEMORIES AND A STORY WORTH TELLING

Looking back on our six days in the Maldives, it was not just the stunning scenery or exciting adventures that made the trip memorable, but the experiences we shared as a team. What began as a work assignment to cover SATA 2026 became an opportunity to connect with industry professionals, celebrate achievements in South Asian tourism and discover a side of the Maldives beyond its picture-perfect beaches. From cheering on Sri Lankan winners at the SATA Gala and exploring the streets of Malé to discovering the beauty of Guraidhoo, racing across turquoise waters on jet skis and surviving my unexpected zipline drama, every day brought a new story.  The cycling mishap, midnight workouts, pani puri cravings and competitive UNO sessions only added to the fun, turning even the most random moments into memories we will laugh about for years. More than anything, the trip reminded me that the best adventures are often about the people you share them with. Between deadlines, laughter, new experiences and a little chaos, we returned home with much more than photographs and stories to publish. The Maldives gave us unforgettable memories, plenty of stories to tell and a reminder that sometimes the best experiences are the ones you never see coming.