Lifestyle
A Cinema in Paradise at Soneva Jani
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The newest Soneva property, Soneva Jani, seeks to inspire a lifetime of rare experiences thanks to its truly unforgettable Cinema Paradiso. In creating the first overwater silent cinema in the Maldives, Soneva Jani continues to embody Soneva’s ethos of intelligent luxury by ensuring that even its cinema is in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem.
With a screen floating on the crystal clear lagoon, guests are provided with Bluetooth headphones to enjoy a selection of films without disturbing the island’s nesting wildlife. Twice a week Soneva Jani screens classic movies as well as family friendly favourites without disrupting the tranquillity of the bay.
The stunning setting of the silent cinema is enriched by the comfortable loungers complete with pillows and blankets, that encourage guests to spend a relaxing evening under the stars. Guests are also invited to indulge on fresh popcorn as well as sweet treats from Soneva’s signature So Cool chocolate and ice cream rooms.
Those seeking a more sophisticated treat can liaise with Soneva’s Chef to create a bespoke dining menu to accompany the evening’s film. Or, for a truly exceptional experience, guests can arrange private screenings of their favourite film.
The cinema is located on the south end of the main Medhufaru Island. Guests can reach the cinema by a solar paneled boat from the jetty from the overwater villas, or by a cycle, buggy or walk across the island.
Soneva Jani is the latest luxury resort from Soneva in the Maldives and comprises 24 water villas and one island villa. Every water villa has a private pool and opens to its own stretch of lagoon, with some villas featuring slides going directly from the top deck into the lagoon below. Like all other Soneva properties, the spacious villas feature beautifully designed interiors by Eva Shivdasani, one of Soneva’s co-founders, and are made from the highest quality sustainable materials.
Entertainment
Alex Turnbull: Music, film, culture at Patina Maldives
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Some encounters change us. Some stories stay with us long after the credits roll, long after the music fades, long after we leave the space where it all happened. This is one of those weekends.
For three days, Patina Maldives becomes a crossroads of music, film, and artistic legacy—woven together by the hands of Alex Turnbull, a man who has spent his life standing at the very heart of underground culture.
A DJ, drummer, filmmaker, and guardian of the avant-garde, Turnbull has lived at the pulse point of transformation. As a founding member of 23 Skidoo, he shaped the sounds that shaped generations. As a producer and remixer, he worked with icons like Sade, Seal, and Neneh Cherry, turning their music into something new, something unexpected, something entirely his own. As a founding member of the International Stüssy Tribe, he helped define the intersection of fashion, music, and rebellion.
And now, here he is. On an island where the tides move with a rhythm of their own, bringing us something rare—something impossible to categorise but impossible to forget.
A DJ set beneath the Maldivian stars, where the past and present fold into each other, where basslines meet the night air, and where we all just for a moment, lose ourselves.
A Stüssy archive pop-up, offering a glimpse into a world where fashion was once a revolution.
A screening of Kim Lim: The Space Between, a film about art, identity, and the spaces that exist between the two. This is Turnbull’s most personal project yet, a tribute to his mother, to creativity, to the quiet power of reinvention.
For three nights, the lines between artist and audience, past and future, reality and dream will blur. Because this is what culture does. It moves. It connects. It asks us to pay attention.
And so we will.
Culture
Cruise liner makes first stop at HDh. Makunudhoo
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A cruise liner docked at HDh. Makunudhoo for the first time Monday, marking a new tourism milestone for the island. Passengers from the MS Hebridean Sky were welcomed by the island’s residents with cultural displays reflecting Maldivian heritage.
According to the Makunudhoo Island Council, 94 tourists disembarked from the vessel. The islanders gathered at the harbour in traditional attire to greet them.
As part of the visit, the tourists were divided into groups, each guided by local residents dressed in traditional clothing. They were taken on a tour of the island, visiting historical and significant sites. A festival was also held at the harbour, where islanders demonstrated traditional crafts, sports, and dances. A marketplace was set up as part of the event, where visitors could purchase local products.
The tourists, who arrived in the morning, departed at 1pm. Before leaving, they donated sports equipment to the island’s school.
“They were pleased with the welcome and the opportunity to explore the island,” said Auzam Adam, President of the Makunudhoo Council.
The MS Hebridean Sky visited Makunudhoo after stops at islands in Addu and Alif Alif Atoll. The vessel is now en route to another country.
Fashion
Aquazzura collaborates with JOALI Maldives to launch Maldives’ first-ever limited-edition capsule collection
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Italian luxury fashion brand Aquazzura has partnered with JOALI Maldives, located on the Muravandhoo island in northern Maldives, to launch a special limited-edition tropical capsule collection. Inspired by the lush, art-immersive island, together the brands collaborated on a beautiful sandal and matching clutch. The capsule collection is available in the island’s boutique, Maison de JOALI.
Crafted in Italy, Aquazzura’s first Maldives collaboration was inspired by the brand’s founder and creative director Edgardo Osorio’s love of the sun, sea and passion for diving. The collection consists of a sandal slide and matching clutch in white leather, with a refined beaded embroidered motif depicting pristine blue water and cerulean sky with coconut palms. Fresh and casual but refined and bold, those wearing the items will be transported on an exotic journey. JOALI clutch features the spectacular arrival jetty at JOALI Maldives, inspired by the ocean’s ebb and flow to set the tone for an enchanting stay in the Maldives.
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The turquoise colour of the sea surrounding JOALI ties to the inspiration behind Aquazzura, ‘Aqua’ blue, and the philosophy of sharing infinite joy with the world has created a remarkable synergy, reflected in this one-of-a-kind capsule collection. Praising the partnership, Edgardo Osorio, the founder and creative director of Aquazzura, complements, “I began diving in the Maldives a few years ago and was immediately captivated by the vibrant nature and stunning colours of its coral reefs. During a recent visit to JOALI Maldives, I was enchanted by the resort’s beautiful architecture, exceptional service, and wellness rituals. As a devoted admirer of the sun and the sea, I collaborated with JOALI Maldives to create something special, culminating in the exclusive launch of the first Aquazzura pop-up collection in the Maldives.”
Discover Aquazzura Casa collection at JOALI Maldives for a limited time only from 20th December 2024. The Secret Garden line showcases an enchanting tableware selection of botanical elements in lush, verdant tones inspired by 18th-century Chinese porcelain. Combined with a carefully crafted menu by Michelin-starred Chef Theodor Falser, guests will be able to enjoy a perfect evening at the resort’s restaurant Bellinis with authentic Italian flavours.
JOALI Maldives has villas from $2,928 per night based on two persons sharing a Water Villa with Pool on B&B basis. For further details and booking, please visit joali.com.
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