Profiles

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Mohamed Rasheed was born and raised in Hithadhoo in Seenu Atoll and he currently heads reservations at Embudu Village. His journey is one of simplicity, without tangents or digressions. He completed his O’ Levels in 1995 at the Southern Secondary School, and, after taking a three month break in his home island, came to Male’ to seek employment. “I was unable to find a job in Male’ though,” he says. “But I had some friends who worked here [at Embudu] and so I came here on their recommendation.” He began work in February 1996 and has stayed with the resort since, making him one of its longest serving employees.

Vakarufalhi Island Resort is a place of subdued luxury in the Maldives’ South Ari Atoll. Set on a mere three and a half hectare island it comprises of 79 villas and a beautiful turquoise lagoon. The reception area is open and very welcoming with its soft sandy floor. You can choose to stay in one of the Garden villas, set along the beach in lush greenery, or several categories of generous-sized and tastefully furnished Water Villas, with amazing uninterrupted Indian ocean views.

The World-renowned Spanish Brand “Sosa” is one of the leading manufacturers that brought an innovative revolution for modern gastronomy. The Sosa Ingredients S.L company started in the late 60’s as a biscuit manufacturer, evolved introducing ingredients for ice-cream production an

Nidro Supply Pvt. Ltd is a family owned business that has been involved in resort supplies for the last 40 years. “The first resorts were Farukolhufushi Island and Furana Island”, says the company’s Managing Director Dawn S. Austin while describing the charming story behind how it all began

Mohamed Waheed, a smiling, swarthy man in his 60s, sits with a cup of coffee and begins to reveal how he got into the diving business. He hails from Haa Alif Haorafushi, and came to Male’ after completing his schooling on the island. “In those days we were taught in Dhivehi, we weren’t taught English,” he recalls. “You basically had to memorise lessons and recite them to your teacher.” He was fifteen when he came to Male’, and his arrival happened to coincide with Vihamanaafushi’s (now Kurumba) recruitment drive. There, he initially worked as a room boy. “The salary of a room boy at the time was 60 Rufiyaa,” Waheed says. “But then I caught the eye of one of the two owners of the resort, Kerafaa Ahmed Naseem, who told me to transfer to the engine room where I could get a considerable raise, to 160 Rufiyaa a month. That was how much a government secretary earned.”

Indy Dodanwala, the present General Manager of Adaaran Prestige Vadoo found his calling in the hospitality industry after traveling half way across the world. He hails from Kandy, Sri Lanka and is a citizen of the United States of America. “I grew up in Sri Lanka,” he says. “I completed my high school there and left the country when I was 19 years old.” Young and possessing an adventurous spirit, he travelled around Canada for two years. “The Canadian Government had a programme at that time where they issued visitor visas,” he says.

The vessel offers cruises across atolls in the country, where guests can stop and explore inhabited islands, mingle with locals and try some authentic local fare

“I was born in Gdh. Thinadhoo and I grew up there,” said Ahmed Hussain, a slight man with mirthful eyes and a long serving staff at Paradise Island Resort.

Ali Mohamed Fulhu sat beside me in a hushed meeting room at Paradise Island Resort where he has worked for the past 23 years.