Shanghai, Singapore, Maldives

Oct 29-Nov 7, 2010
AC115 YYZ-YVR, AC25 YVR-PVG, Nov 1 SQ831 PVG-SIN, Nov 2 SQ452 SIN-MLE, Nov 5 SQ451 MLE-SIN, SQ830 SIN-PVG, Nov 7 AC88 PVG-YYZ

The Maldives is one of those places that you see in photos and decide that you must get there at some point in your life.  With Tom's frequent travels to Indianapolis, he had developed status at the Hilton chain and opened up new resort opportunities for our travels.  The Conrad Maldives is an incredible hotel and certainly not a place that we would pay cash for a room, but with hotel points it is much more attainable.  Once we decided to go there, there is the challenge of finding your way to the middle of the Indian Ocean.  Singapore Airlines flies there frequently and I managed to find a routing from Shanghai through Singapore that worked.  As we paid for separate AC tickets to Shanghai before picking up free tickets to the Maldives, we needed to stop over in both directions.  Other than a bit of time in Chinese immigration purgatory to explain our visa-free arrival, I didn't regret having more time in Shanghai.  The pollution was horrible, but it was very interesting to see how much had changed in the two short years since our last visit.  Singapore had also changed a lot since our last extended trip in 2004.  When we finally arrived in Male, the capital of Maldives, it felt like we must have reached the end of the world.  We stayed overnight before catching our seaplane to the resort.  We upgraded to an incredible overwater villa with incredible luxury inside, including the ability to slide open the doors and walk out to the Indian Ocean below us.  Although our time there was short, I was grateful for the opportunity and am sad that the country is at such great risk from global warming and rising sea levels.    

Oct 29
Fly to Vancouver

Olympic flame fountain is now fully complete

Oct 30-31
Fly from Vancouver to Shanghai. 

Nov 1
In Shanghai

Early morning tai chi on Nanjing Road

Funky tram on Nanjing Road

Looking back at Pudong across the Huangpu from boardwalk along the Bund

Shanghai Custom House along The Bund

Looking up at the Park Hyatt at the top of the World Financial Center

The Jin Mao tower (across the road) and the Grand Hyatt

Although the Shanghai Expo officially ended on the Oct. 31 the mascot was still around

After an afternoon flight to Singapore we find the Fountain of Wealth

The new Sands hotel, casino and shopping complex is very impressive

After the rain stops a great view of the downtown skyline

Nov 2
Day in Singapore before evening flight to Male

Masjid Sultan Mosque

War Memorial Park

Sands Casino by day

Singapore Convention Center

Looking back at the convention center from Boat Quay  

The skyline after our lunch in Boat Quay

Nov 3
After a late arrival in Male we start the day in the capital

Looking back at the capital from our water taxi to the airport

Boarding our Sea Plane to the Conrad

The boardwalk to our “Deluxe Overwater Spa Villa”

Bridge connecting the two resort islands

One of our island friends

The boardwalk to our “Deluxe Overwater Spa Villa”

Looking at our collection of villas from the other island

One of the regular sea planes from the bar patio

A very large dextrose fruit bat.  A little too creepy for me. 

One of the bats in flight with their claws visible before we head out to dinner in the spa

Nov 4
Our one full day on the resort

Sunrise from the boardwalk

Pelican under our walkway

Our overwater neighbours

Our villa

Relaxing on a lounge chair in the wading area of the pool

A snack in the Ithaa undersea restaurant (more affordable than lunch or dinner)

Although the sun was bright we had a great view of the reef from the restaurant

Landing seaplane

We end the evening with a sunset cruise

Sunset, before a dinner in the wine bar

Nov 5
Last day on the island and overnight flight to Singapore

Close-up of a fruit bat

Our return plane was painted for the Conrad

A last look at our room’sbackyard hot tub and shallow waters

A look back at the resort as we fly back to Male

Nov 6
Depart Singapore for evening in Shanghai

Shanghai Tower

Looking across the Huangpu River at Pudong

The bund

A different perspective, including our hotel

Nanjing Road at night

Nov 7
Day in Shanghai before afternoon flight home

China World’s Fair pavilion  

Now-empty flag poles at the now closed fair

Nov 7
Back home to Toronto