The Maldives: More Than Paradise — What Joy Really Looks Like
When was the last time you chose joy—not as a reward after the grind, but simply because you were alive?
Don’t wait joy can be found in the smallest of places.
For years, joy was a distant promise, a rare prize tucked away behind hard days and long nights: suffer, endure, survive was the unspoken motto—and for two weeks a year - enjoy. The Maldives lived in that “one day” bucket list space for us—a shimmering dream far beyond reach, a secret hope we tucked away like a fragile treasure for 20 years.
Until one day, the truth hit like a wave: if we keep waiting for the perfect moment to live our dreams and choose joy, we may never choose it at all. So we booked the trip. The Maldives. The farthest place we’d ever been from home. Not because we’d earned it, but because we were done saving joy for later.
And here’s the twist: yes, it was paradise. But what the island truly showed us was this—joy doesn’t have to wait. It doesn’t have to be grand. It just has to be chosen.
Joy doesn’t have to be grand, it just has to be chosen
The Story Begins
Maadhoo Island, Ozen Life — even the name sounded like a promise. Sure, we came for the turquoise waters and those iconic overwater villas—pinch-me moments at every turn. Because we don’t do anything halfway, we decided to raise the stakes: film a DJ set while we were at it -’Chasing paradise’ and I’d practiced daily for months—because if you’re schlepping DJ decks across two flights and a speedboat, they’d better survive and sound incredible. No pressure at all.
Trial, Error, and Belly Laughs
When we finally booked the real deal, we knew we had to up the ante—because apparently, “easy” is not in our vocabulary. Not just film and produce a DJ set—oh no—we also decided to create an immersive travel film. Why? Because when we were caring for Mum, time alone was a rare luxury—snatched between chaos. Every weekend, we carved out one sacred hour to watch a Maldives videos. Door closed, volume up—I know, fully grown adults pretending we were on a paradise island. But those stolen moments became a lifeline, a burst of joy and pleasure while our lives were stuck in survival mode. So we agreed we would film it all, but not in your usual glossy highlight reel (though, spoiler alert, it is stunning), but a full-on sensory journey: we wanted the viewer to feel like they were taking barefoot strolls down the jetty, sitting in hammock swings, having poolside daydreams.
Did we know what we were doing? Absolutely not. But figuring it out together became its own kind of magic—a beautiful, messy dance of trial, error, teamwork... and a lot of belly laughs. Mostly from the amused onlookers.
For example, picture this: I’m casually enjoying lunch, trying to look normal, while Craig executes what can only be described as a ninja walk along a slippery sea wall—all in pursuit of the perfect shot. The whole restaurant is watching, the staff are (unsuccessfully) biting back laughter as he tiptoes like a cat burglar who’s just spotted a rare bird.
Or the time he accidentally became the star of the beach filming—playing “random kitesurfer” in the background, much to the security team’s amusement and every visitor with a camera. They all probably had bets going on how long before he face-planted in the sand. I have to say they were sadly disappointed.
And then there was the moment the manager strolled past, catching us mid-filming on the beach — butts in the air, utterly obsessed with the secret life of… hermit crabs. Yep. Tiny, shell-dwelling hermit crabs had us so captivated we forgot how ridiculous we must have looked to everyone else.
We became that couple — the ones who film everything. And you know what? We loved it. We’ve never really had a “thing” together, and now we do.
And here’s the wild twist: leaning all the way into our weirdness opened a door we never expected. The hotel loved our energy so much, they handed us all of their professional footage to use and co-create the film with us. How cool is that?
Bottom line: Joy has a way of hiding in the small, silly, unapologetic moments when you let yourself be fully seen. That’s where the real magic starts.
The Realisation
Arriving at Ozen Life, Maadhoo was like stepping on the speedboat straight into a screensaver—turquoise waters so clear you’d swear you’d clicked on paradise.exe. But it wasn’t just the eye candy that struck us. The island came with one non-negotiable rule: slow down. No doom-scrolling. Just the endless hum of waves playing nature’s playlist and palm leaves swaying like they owned the place.
We surrendered—because, honestly, what else could we do? Tiny moments took over: sand slipping between our toes, the sun warming our faces with quiet patience, and a horizon so impossibly wide it made us take deep, unnecessary breaths just to fill the space.
If the Maldives has ever whispered its siren song to your soul, here’s what you need to know:
Maadhoo was more than just a getaway. It’s a sanctuary of breathtaking wonder, a place where every moment feels like a delicate work of art, crafted with reverence and intention. Imagine surrendering to a world where time slows to a sacred rhythm, your rhythm, and you are cradled in indulgent luxury so profound it reads like a tender love letter to your entire being.
This was no ordinary escape. It was a luminous journey into serenity and awe—a place where every detail is designed not just to pamper, but to awaken the deepest parts of you. To restore your essence, ignite your inspiration, and lift your spirit into radiant light.
But hang on, joy, is not just about ticking off bucket lists or booking wildly expensive adventures. Real joy comes from slowing down enough to feel it — to notice the tiny grains of sand slipping through your fingers, to soak in the warmth of the sun without rushing on to the next thing. It’s stepping out of the endless noise and frenzy and allowing yourself to simply be—messy, imperfect, fully present. Because real joy hides in those small, quiet moments when you stop performing and start listening to the subtle whispers of your own heart.
Real joy hides in the small quiet moments
When Joy Takes Over
Speaking of childlike joy, we went full-on nerd mode with the villa’s floor-to-reef viewing windows. Picture us: sprinting from one window to the next like kids on the ultimate underwater bingo hunt—spotting Blue Marlin, sharks, and enough fish to fill a marine biology textbook. Hours flat on our bellies, eyes glued to the rainbow parade below. Honestly, our inner five-year-olds were so hyped, I’m pretty sure they started drafting plans to move in permanently.
Sunrise became our new best friend. Every morning, bleary-eyed, we’d haul ourselves out of bed to chase that perfect golden light. But the Indian Ocean had a wicked sense of humour. There I was, sitting on the sand filming, cameras chilling beside me, when suddenly—rogue wave incoming! Like a ninja, I’d grab the gear, hoist it high above my head, while the ocean decided to baptise my entire lower half. Soaked, half-submerged, and trying not to scream, all while Craig laughed so hard he literally couldn’t come rescue me. Wet-arse heroics aren’t as funny when you’re the one getting drenched and it seems to be becoming a bit of a theme!
But honestly? This is what joy looks like—imperfect, wild, and unforgettable no matter where you are.
A Turning Point
Aside the filming and vacationing we were also there to keep a promise to my Mum. We were there to scatter Mum’s ashes into the Indian Ocean—the final goodbye. We’d already held releasing ceremonies returning her to back to Earth, Air, and Fire. Now it was the final element, water’s turn. Honestly? I was dreading it.
But she had the most perfect send-off. We found delicate tropical flowers—using them as tiny boats cradling her ashes—and gently set them adrift into the shimmering teal ocean. It was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed: raw, sacred, heartbreakingly poignant.
But here’s the thing about joy and grief—they aren’t opposites so much as dance partners, tangled up together. When grief runs deep, joy doesn’t vanish; it just waits for its moment, sometimes sneaking in when you least expect it. The more grief you carry, the more room there is for joy to rise and meet it. The challenge is giving both a seat at the table, letting them coexist without guilt or shame. Sometimes the deepest sorrow opens space for the wildest laughter. And sometimes, dancing with both is the bravest, most beautiful thing you can do.
Sometimes the deepest sorrow opens the widest space for joy and laughter.
After her release, something inside both of us shifted. Like the final page of a well-loved book, we knew we’d reached the true end of our journey with her—a bittersweet closing chapter. That very night, she came to me in my dreams. First, I saw a Queen in a flowing teal dress, dancing with effortless grace and joy. Then, slowly, the Queen transformed into Mum herself. I laughed softly, watching her twirl and sparkle—so alive, so radiant. It was as if she was saying, “I’m free. Now go on, live your life.”
And then—almost as if the ocean itself was in on the secret—the very next day, the currents shifted completely. Instead of drifting away from the villa, the waves began to flow gently back toward us, as if the sea was offering a quiet nod of approval.
The locals whispered they’d been waiting eighteen months for this moment, calling it a powerful turning point—a release, a return of energy flowing back into the land and the people.
And in that mysterious, unexplainable way, it felt like a synchronicity—a gentle cosmic nudge reminding us: it’s time for the energy to come home to you.
Grief and joy aren’t enemies, they dance together
The Final Plot Twist
On the flight home, I held Mum’s memorial stone—shaped from her ashes—the last tangible piece of her I thought I’d carry with me forever. It rested quietly in a small pouch beside our headphones, a sacred vessel of memory and love.
But somewhere between Malé and Dubai, that pouch vanished. Lost. Gone without a trace. At first, I was shattered—the last physical piece of her, the thing I thought would anchor me, was suddenly gone.
Then, slowly, a new understanding settled in. She had chosen freedom. That tiny stone, once heavy with meaning, was now soaring free across the skies, untethered and wild—just like her spirit. A silent traveler riding the clouds, whispering that holding on too tightly only keeps us both grounded.
She was asking me to let her go—to stop carrying the weight—and instead, to live: fully, wildly, joyously. All I needed was an unmistakable nudge in that direction—and that’s exactly what I got.
In that unexpected loss, I found release. The dance of grief and joy keeps turning, swirling free—and that’s exactly where true healing begins.
Holding on too tightly keeps us grounded, but letting go lets us soar
What the Maldives Taught Us About Joy
If this trip taught us anything (besides how to drench our shorts in turquoise water), it’s this: stop waiting for “one day.” That mythical “perfect moment”—the dream trip, the life-changing breakthrough—they’re lovely to imagine.
But joy? Joy isn’t hiding on mountaintops or postcard-perfect beaches. You don’t have to go anywhere special because it’s always quietly waiting in the messy, beautiful in-betweens.
Yes, the Maldives is breathtaking. But the real lesson wasn’t in the flawless views or the luxury—it was in the island’s soft, sandy whisper: Slow down. Breathe. Just be. Joy lives in the slowing down.
Whether it’s watching storms gather like nature’s own theatre, or lying on the villa floor mesmerised by fish darting like flashes of silver light—those small, imperfect moments? That’s where joy truly blooms.
Vacations feel magical because they slow you down long enough to notice. But here’s the truth: you don’t need a plane ticket or an overwater villa to find that kind of joy. Sometimes it’s as simple as carving out one sacred breath—one quiet second to really notice you’re alive.
Maybe it’s sitting on a park bench pretending to read while secretly people-watching, or sipping your morning coffee without the usual scroll through your phone.
Joy isn’t something to save up for like a holiday. It’s a tiny, steady pulse beneath the noise, always waiting for you to listen. The secret? Sprinkle a little “vacation mode” into everyday life.
Joy isn’t reserved for mountaintops or postcard-perfect beaches. It’s quietly waiting in the messy, beautiful in-betweens.
The Challenge: Find Joy in the Smallest Moments
We know this trip was our bucket-list dream come true. But the real plot twist? It transformed how we see every little moment in our everyday lives. Joy isn’t something to save up for like a holiday. It’s a tiny, steady pulse beneath the noise, always waiting for you to listen. The secret? Sprinkle a little “vacation mode” into your everyday life.
You don’t need turquoise water or an overwater villa. You just need to slow down enough to notice. Linger an extra minute over your morning coffee. Watch the rain roll across your window like it’s nature’s theatre. Take the long route home and actually look at the sky.
So here’s our challenge to you: this week, create one tiny vacation moment just for yourself. One small, silly, gloriously pointless moment to slow down and invite in joy. No matter how tiny or ridiculous it feels — it matters. Because sometimes, those seemingly insignificant moments are the ones that make life truly worth living.
Here are 7 simple ways to invite “vacation moments” into your everyday:
1️⃣ Savour your morning ritual. Pretend your coffee or tea is served at a beach café. Drink it slowly, no phone.
2️⃣ Watch the sky. Sunrise, sunset, clouds, or rain — pause for 2 minutes and let nature be the show.
3️⃣ Bring water into your day. A mindful shower or a foot soak can feel like your own spa.
4️⃣ Create a soundtrack. Play the music you’d put on in a hammock or a road trip — let it shift the mood.
5️⃣ Change your scenery. Walk a different route, sit in a park, or move your chair by a window.
6️⃣ Eat with intention. Light a candle, use the good plates, and savour food like it’s an experience.
7️⃣ Do absolutely nothing. Five minutes of stillness — no scrolling, no to-do list. Just breathe and be.
Want to feel joy in motion?
If your soul is craving a little stillness wrapped in sound, our Glastonbury film — ‘Gratitude’ — might be the pause you need. It’s a sunrise chill live DJ set captured on the summer solstice, where music meets myth and the hill breathes its ancient magic.
Walk the spiral path in soft morning light, soar with the skies as day and night trade places, watch the phoenix rise over the town as darkness settles, and see the festival shimmer like starlight behind the Tor. It’s a love letter to slowing down, to imperfect beauty, and to the quiet hum of something greater moving through us all.
And if you fancy a smile, you can read the funny little story behind that trip right here.
Coming soon: Two more immersive films!
A live chill, summer vibes DJ set capturing the shimmering 360 degree blue magic of The Maldives
A relaxing Maldives immersive travel adventure scored with original music we’ve created just for you.
Next stops:
Gower, Wales — Feel the thrill of flying over Worm’s Head, drifting across endless sunflower fields, and soaking in the raw power of waves crashing against rugged cliffs. The wild beauty and magic of this coastal landscape, captured like never before.
Ibiza — The White Island like you’ve never seen it. Prepare to be swept away by crystal-clear waters, secret coves, and the mystical energy of Es Vedrà — the island’s legendary guardian rock. We’re capturing fiery sunsets, the heartbeat of Ibiza’s iconic nightlife, and quiet, dreamlike moments — all woven into an immersive film with original music created especially for this journey.
This isn’t just travel — it’s a soul-led journey into magic, mystery, and movement.
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Because joy is waiting. Let’s find it together.