All New – Taj Coral Reef Resort

	Environmentally friendly resort

Taj Coral Reef Resort on Hembadhu Island, the perfect hideaway, combining modern comforts with un-spoilt beauty. This environmentally friendly resort is a perfect diving destination with numerous diving sites and a house reef that includes a shipwreck. The resort is reputed to have the best Reef in the Atoll and Jiva for the ultimate Spa Experience.

Opening on 1 July 2009 – after considerable renovation in the 5 Star category

Factsheet

Maldives aims to become first carbon-neutral country

	“We're going to be looking at solar, wind and waves”

The Maldives – the island nation threatened by rising sea level as a result of global warming – is attempting to become the world's first carbon-neutral country.

The Independent has learnt that tomorrow President Mohammed Nasheed will reveal details of a plan to achieve full carbon neutrality within 10 years. In doing so, his country of islands in the Indian Ocean, will join a small group of nations racing to be first in what environmentalists have described as "the Carbon World Cup".

Five other countries – Costa Rica, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand and Monaco – have signed up to a UN-backed plan to become zero net emitters but none intend to achieve carbon neutrality as quickly as the Maldives, a nation of island atolls which is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels.

Earlier this week, Ahmed Shafeeq Ibrahim Moosa was appointed the country's new envoy for science and technology and is investigating ways to make the country carbon neutral. Mr Moosa, a former political activist and journalist, was appointed with a new Agricultural Minister, one of whose tasks is to reduce food imports.

Mr Moosa said: "Ten years – that's the target. We're going to be looking at solar, wind and waves and working out the best system for us. There will have to be a lot of education. People need to know everyone can do their bit. The Maldives is a small country with only 300,000 people. It will be achievable."

Local environmentalists welcomed the plan. Ali Rilwan, founder of Bluepeace, noted individual resorts were aiming at carbon neutrality, using solar panels to generate electricity and sea water for air-conditioning. "This is the sort of thing international donors are very interested in," he said.

Get body beautiful in the Maldives

	“I went to recover from my overindulgence”

Last year's growing sense of gloom was hard to escape and in the short days of winter it was tempting to stay home scoffing plates of food while the world fell apart outside. My motivation to keep fit hit an all-time low and, at 41, I had become as lazy as my teenage son. Things had become so bad that I could no longer pull my jeans up over my knees.

Most of the time, I consider myself a healthy person. I do yoga and the odd run and mostly eat well, yet none of this counted for much at my first appointment with Darina, the nutritionist at Reehti Rah in the Maldives.

We had discussed my eating habits and lifestyle for an hour, and she made it clear that I had been getting it all wrong - missing lunch to then fill up on a Starbucks hot chocolate at 4pm was not clever. Then Darina got out the scales and I realised that I had work to do.

Reethi Rah is a beautiful island resort where I went to recover from my overindulgence and weeks of feeling sluggish and lazy. The Maldives are popular with divers, but Reethi Rah offered me exactly what I needed: peace, quiet, health and fitness programmes, yoga, meditation and swimming pools to lounge around. Darina told me that I needed to eat three meals a day, with healthy snacks in between to keep hunger pangs at bay. That was easy - there are three restaurants serving mouth-watering, nutritionally balanced meals. They are even calorie-counted on the menus. My favourite was Tapasake, serving the freshest sushi I had yet tasted.

The treatments keep you in the right frame of mind for a detox. At the resort's award-winning spa I tried a Balinese massage with hot stones and followed that up with an appointment with Coco, the residential yoga teacher. I found her positive attitude and warm smile contagious; my worries faded away.

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Choose Iru Fushi Beach & Spa Resort For A Unique Piece of Paradise In The Maldives

	Unique in that the sprawling 52-acre island is encased by swathes of soft sand

The paradise islands in the Maldives are idyllic, so how do you decide which of the hundreds of luxury resorts to choose from? The recently opened Iru Fushi Beach & Spa Resort offers something truly special for families and couples alike and here are just some reasons why it excels above the rest.

Many luxury resort islands are rarely large enough to really escape and find a ribbon of sand just for you. However, Iru Fushi is unique in that the sprawling 52-acre island is encased by swathes of soft sand. Take a stroll around the private island and guests will find secret coves and deserted beaches free from crowds like it’s your own private beach. Discover your personal piece of paradise here at the private island resort Iru Fushi.

When spending a week or two on one island, it is important to pick a resort that supplies a good choice of dining options. If variety is the spice of life, then Iru Fushi offers a gastronomic feast with five restaurants specialising in cuisine from around the globe and additional, more intimate, dining experiences.

Whether you’re in the mood for a traditional Maldivian red snapper at the beach fronted Islanders Grill or a customised á la carte menu in the over-water wine cellar for special occasions, there is something to suit every discriminating taste.

With the economy in crisis, many people are finding their stress levels are invariably increasing and sleep levels are seemingly decreasing which is why some need a little nurture in the art of slumber and total relaxation. Entirely unique to the Maldives, Iru Fushi has devised a Sweet Dreams programme of luxury spa services that will ensure guests leave fully rested and revived. The programme incorporates a sleep spa complete with yoga classes, relaxing spa treatments, a pillow menu, soothing herbal baths for bed as well as a Sleep-All-Night-Cap.

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