The pool outside of the hotel room reflects the sky. [Photo by Zhao Xu and Feng Tianyi/China Daily]

Spectacular and Spartan

Unlike many other resort islands in the Maldives－Full Moon, for example－Vommuli does not offer a tropical feast for the eye (Think of palm trees covered by thick carpet of green mold and vibrantly colored flower gardens.) Rather, Vommuli's beauty is more of a Spartan type－a few palm trees dot the pristine seashore while black birds measure the spotless beach with confident strides. With no weeds or other extraneous flora, the green plants growing out of the white sand evoke a lotus pond in winter.

The view is spectacular in a soothing if not slightly singular way. While the color is saturated, the layout is spare. The whole scene reminds me of a Mondrian painting, with the reds and yellows exchanged for blues and whites. And it helps to declutter one's mind, in a way that Chinese freehand painting can do for a viewer.