Back here again for my 4th stay. Late check-in around 9.30pm after a 4 hour flight from Male. Have completed an online check-in but it still takes a good 10 minutes to get the key at reception. All good as I am upgraded to a Deluxe King room with terrace/balcony on the 16th (top) floor. The view from up here is gorgeous, especially at night with the streets lit up for the Indian Deepavali festival. Only problem is the noise from the festivities below. But by midnight the noise subsides a bit.

The bed is super comfy and I manage to sleep a good 6 hours before the alarm wakes me up at 7am. After a quick shower I make it to the 8th floor for complimentary full buffet breakfast (as a Diamond Hhonors member). The selection has improved and they now offer plain yogurt which is perfect with my fiber-loaded cereal, nuts and seeds, fresh fruit, and Bircher muesli mix I make, which I enjoy with a double-espresso and cooked-to-order fried egg. There are about 6 staff looking somewhat bored with yawns here and there and one even leaning against the wall. Not a good look but there are hardly any guests at the early hour I am there.

I go back to my room, brush my teeth, and I am out the door in a flash and make my way to work.