One great part about writing a bi-weekly beach blog is that twice a week I have a license to daydream. Because let’s face it: as a 37 year old mom looking for work in this economy there is very little chance of me getting to the Maldives anytime soon. And yet. And yet today I am there: on that technicolor beach best reserved for superlatives, and guess what? I’m not wearing any sunblock either. I mean, if this is my daydream then I don’t have to. There is no such thing as spf or melanoma. That electric bill I have to pay is continents away and while I may be writing this wearing a goopy green face that is of no matter; I can almost feel the sun. Close your eyes and come with me, to the Maldives, Veligandu Island. Why not?

Nestled in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Veligandu Island is 80km of paradise, just one idyllic atoll of the many that make up the island chain of the Republic of Maldives. Located 700km southwest of Sri Lanka, Veligandu is easily accessible from the capital city airport of Male, a short 15 minute flight over a breathtaking smattering of sugar-coated islands. But those are logistics and logistics don’t belong here in my daydream. Here we must speak only of the beauty and tranquility of this small dot of perfection.

Boasting perhaps the finest diving in the Maldives, the waters off Veligandu are vibrantly alive with colorful fish and coral. The sand is pure white with a slight gold tinge. Palm trees fringe the sand providing ample shade in the topical heat. (Of course now my face mask is drying, flakes of green mud floating onto the keyboard like dandruff. Ah, reality, and so I must wake up from this dream…) But not before telling you that the accommodations on this island are first class–overwater bungalows complete with air-conditioning and gracious service. A girl can dream…

Photo credits in order of appearance: Maldives Travel Page, Tekdiver on Flickr.