Simply Abu Dhabi XI

2 7 4 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Tucked into the Shaviyani Atoll and seemingly free from any neighbours, my senses are firing on all cylinders as I am transported by golf buggy to the Viceroy. It takes a moment or two to absorb the sheer idyllic remoteness of the locale. It is a spectacular image of palm-fringed, pristine beaches with impossibly blue waters. After a warm welcome from General Manager Uday Rao and an ice-cold seasonal fruit juice I am escorted to my Maldivian home away from home. The Viceroy Maldives has 61 villas that encircle a shimmering lagoon, and the architecture is instantly impressive. It is strikingly contemporary and yet is clearly inspired by local cultural tradition. This is because the buildings evoke upside down ‘Dhonis’ – the traditional sea vessel of the region. There is a range of accommodation choices, all two-storeys and designed and built by a Maldivian firm with interiors that have reportedly surpassed expectations from multi-award winning design agency Yabu Pushelberg. There are Beach Villas that cloister around the water and are surrounded by lush greenery; Deluxe Beach Villas that nestle between the verdant gardens and the soft sand of the island’s edge and boast floor- to-ceiling windows and private plunge pools; Spacious Water