london/maldives 2025 day six

I had the weirdest dream about one of my exes—Connor. A restauranteur, Chinese, and someone I hadn’t seen or spoken to in ages. So why the hell was he haunting my subconscious? For fuck’s sake, of all people. But there he was.

In the dream, he wasn’t just Connor the businessman; he was a deranged sadist, running some dark, twisted operation in Northern California. And yet, despite the cruelty, the violence, the fear he instilled in others, he had a soft spot for me. He adored me. No matter what I needed, especially money, he was there, slipping crisp bills into my hands as if it was nothing.

The dream unfolded in Chicago, where my former roommate, Yummy, somehow found me. Her eyes were wild with urgency as she confessed the worst betrayal—she had been working with the authorities, snitching, tracking my movements so they could take down Connor. They had everything: drones, small jets, men in suits tailing my every step.

I tried to protect him, to throw them off his scent, but Connor had his own network, his own Triad enforcers who moved like shadows, ensuring his safety. He didn’t trust easily, and as we stood together in the dim glow of a cityscape, he turned to me and asked, What is she to you?

“Nothing,” I replied without hesitation.

Because that’s exactly what she had become. We hadn’t spoken since I left Texas, and she had long since broken any sense of loyalty when she turned informant. Not to mention, she still owed me thousands of dollars I knew I’d never see again.

And just like that, the dream ended. Weird, right?
Now in reality, the last sunrise over paradise.

A golden masterpiece painting the sky, the kind of view that makes you want to bottle up time and keep it forever.

I woke up at 0500, feeling well-rested for the first time in a while. The motion sickness from yesterday had knocked me down, but today? Today, I felt good.

The view from our breakfast dining room.

Breakfast was a spread of indulgence—beef siu mai (because why not?), crispy hash browns, posh rice, veggie noodles, chicken sausage, and chia pudding.

Not pictured: a latte, no foam.

And to top it off, passion fruit and rambutan—sweet, tropical, and utterly addicting. I could get used to this.

The only downside? The mosquito bites. They had gone after my wrists like they were a delicacy, and thanks to the sunburn, the swelling was so bad I couldn’t even wear my watch anymore.

After breakfast, we retreated to the villa for a lazy, much needed 45-minute nap. Because we could. And honestly, because we had nothing major planned for the day.

When I woke up, we stepped out back and slipped into the ocean. The water was warm, the waves gentle. It was one of those perfect moments where you just exist—no thoughts, no worries, just floating in serenity.

Later, we made our way to the infinity pool, stretching out under the sun, letting time slip away as we talked and soaked in the beauty around us.

We had reservations for high tea which was at Falhumaa again.

This place still blows my mind. A restaurant in the middle of the ocean, no side rails, just open water stretching endlessly. It feels unreal.

The spread was exquisite—delicate finger sandwiches with smoked salmon, crispy egg rolls, flaky samosas, and an array of pastries that looked too perfect to eat. I, of course, opted for coffee instead of tea. No surprises there.

We lingered for hours, talking, laughing, and taking it all in. The sun began its slow descent as we made our way back to the villa, the sky melting into hues of gold and light blue.

The sun was setting as we headed back to our respective villas till dinner at Li Bai.

I used the downtime to catch up on blogs, leave comments, and check my work email—just a small step back into reality before losing myself in the evening’s plans.

Li Bai had been nearly impossible to get into, but we managed to secure a reservation, and I was beyond excited.

I was still full from high tea, but since we had the all-inclusive deal, there were four courses ahead of me.

I started with the barbecued sliced duck, served with fresh mango and drizzled in lemon sauce—a perfect blend of sweet, citrusy, and savory.

Next came the fried rice noodles with beef and bell peppers in black bean sauce. Comforting, rich, and just the right amount of heat in the dish.

Then, mapo tofu with beef—silky, spicy, and deeply satisfying. I could eat tofu every day and never get bored.

I hadn’t planned on dessert, but somehow, I still found myself ordering plain vanilla ice cream. Simple, yes. Boring? Maybe. But it hit the spot in the best way.

With our bellies full, we took the buggy back to the villa, the night air warm against my skin.

A shower. Packing up my suitcase. And then, sleep—deep, unbothered, the kind that only comes after days spent under the sun, in the ocean, and eating food that feeds the soul.

Good night, Dhigurah.

This place has been nothing short of idyllic. I’ll miss everything about it. Well… almost everything. The mosquitoes? They can fuck right off.