Like a cluster of fairytale mushrooms rising out of the water, glittery with ocean dew; that twinkling sea so clear you can see the shadows of fish nudging about at the bottom, it's almost hard to believe that Sun Siyam resort is real. After 10 hours in the sky, leaving grey, drizzly London in the dark and arriving to the sight of over-water villas peeping out of gin-clear lagoons, landing in the Maldives feels something of a spectacle.
The celebrations began back at Heathrow, sipping champagne and ordering an afternoon tea hamper to my table in the Clubhouse Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 3. And, well, there was a good reason to celebrate: this trip marked one of Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flights from London to the Maldivian capital of Malé — currently flying from London Heathrow three times a week until March 29, with a daily service launching from October 27 — and it seemed even the onboard staff were in jubilation, “Well all I can say is WOW. This is somewhere special!” Amanda, the lead cabin crew member excitedly announced as we made our descent.
