This is the story of the endless possibilities when you're willing to put your life on hold.

"No news, no shoes" can be a tall order for most of us. Unless, of course, the order was issued with the most sincere smile upon a boat floating in the crystalline turquoise Indian Ocean. Then, maybe, we'd be open to

discussion.

For those who are ready to leave their Blackberries behind, Six Senses Resorts offer two gems in the Maldives: Soneva Fushi and Soneva GilL The first, a veritable Robinson Crusoesque barefooton- the-island experience. The latter a dream of being adrift on the ocean and feeling like you own the waters.

Soneva Fushi resort is set on a 100 acre island within the furthest atoll from Male, the capital of Maldives. The 25 min seaplane ride shows you breathtaking views of ocean dotted with coral reefs. Your arrival at the jetty is greeted by your personal Guest Relations Officer (GRO) who will assistyou throughout your stay. "No news, no shoes" is the motto here. Everyone heading to the resort would have obligingly slipped off their shoesor sandals by now, each toting a resort shoe bag bearing their motto. Guestsfrom the 65 villas roam around and cycle barefoot on the soft white sand.

Created in 1995 by husband and wife team, Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, the resort seamlesslyblends luxurious living with cutting edge eco-friendly concepts that haswon it raves and awards in the industry. In fact, at the 16th Annual Travel Awards 2005, Six Senses Resort sand Spaswas awarded Most Environmentally Friendly Travel Company of the Year.Together with its accoladesfrom Conde Nast

Traveler, SixSenseshas become synonymous with "Intelligent Luxury". Eachvilla in Soneva Fushicomes with your very own patch of the pristine beach, shielded by vegetation that grows abundant on this island. Perfect for that tan-line-free bake you've always wanted. The villa is a modern-day Robinson Crusoeshack, except it's huge. The bathroom opens to your own little pond and gurgling waterfall. Eva, the creative director whose attention to every detail brought simple sophistication to the interiors, has made sure there are hooks where they need to be, and the rooms reflect the warmth of the region with citrus hues and plush upholstery.

Eco-conscioustypes can take heart in knowing that the pampering experience of having your own deluxe rustic villa with a small team of three staff members assigned to cater to your needs during your stay, does not exclude your own efforts at preserving the Maldivian environment. You're encouraged to help savewater and electricity by minimizing unnecessarylaundry. Put a ceramic sun design on your bed to signal housekeeping not to change the sheets; or put only the towels you want changed into the laundry basket. You can, if you want to, bring your discarded batteries and plastic waste home sincethe island does not have facilities to dispose of them, and would we want to dump the waste into the clean waters? After all, the owners made sure that while building this resort, they kept the disturbance to the island's natural features to a bare minimum. Only two trees were cut down on this lush island while building the resort around it.

For the seasoned resort goer, Soneva Fushi is much more than an exemplary sustainable village (the happy and proudto- be-here service staff come from the area and have formed a community that brings south Asian hospitality up a notch) for the eco-consciousjet set.

The island boasts world-class luxury in its design, cuisine and service.The staff knows when to be scarcebut manages to turn up whenever a need arises.

The team assigned exclusively to your villa gets to know your preferences within your weeklong stay.

Gourmands will relish the Mediterrasian cuisine. The main restaurant offers sumptuous breakfast and dinner spreads with continental and local options. Some nights here, it's a buffet with all the barbequed lobsters you can eat; other nights, there's a local musical performance while you order a la carte. But nothing beats having the in-villa barbeque, with a candlelit table, torches set up around you, a chef and a waiter at your service. The food is cooked while you wine and dine slowly on your personal villa-front beach.

And one night a week, you can choose to be whisked off to a gorgeous sand bank five minutes away by boat and share cocktails with other guests, hosted by the resort managers. That's when you and the other privileged guests mingle while the sun setsand watch the stars dot the sky like you've never seen before.

Tucked deep in the foresty island isthe resort's own organic garden. Basil, lettuce and flowers are grown to provide the greens for your meals.

That's why you can almost taste the iron in the super-fresh salads. Lunch in the organic garden isan exquisite selection of saladsand wok-fried greens just plucked from the grounds, while the food iscooked before you.

And if all the gourmet indulgences, private beach tanning and spa-ing isn't enough, take a 6am fishing expedition where you savour a delicious breakfast while fishing in the first light of dawn. Or try a desert island picnic with your partner. The crew will take you to a lush island 15 minutes from the resort and set up a spread with veggie rolls, meats-on-sticks and sushi. You can just chill till sunset. Or get a superb couples massage in a champa (a Maldivian open thatched hut) and doze off to the sound of the sea. Every activity has the Six Senses' signature luxe touch on it. After all, how often can one say,an hour after lunch,

"Honey, care to join me for a snorkel and tan out in the back yard?"

The first all-over-water resort built in 2002 in the Maldives, Soneva Gili is a six-star resort that offers a sexy exile from city life. Consistently rated as one of the top resorts in the world by Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler, its most recent coup was the new Private Reserve, which at 1400sq m, is considered one the largest over-water Presidential Suite in the world. The same eco-friendly philosophy abounds in Soneva Gili. Following the tsunami damages, the company took time with restoration and additional development, resolutely committed to preserving its environment by sourcing timber only from certified renewable forests. The resort's 44 water villas and its new Private Reserve reopened in June 2005.

The spacious villa has wraparound ocean views and is designed like a house with a living area, bedroom and long, open-air bathroom complete with your own private steps leading down to your own private little section of the sea.

You'll see crabs clinging to the algae-covered steps and fish swimming around the stilts. With the lights on at night, it's almost unearthly. A floating sundeck leads to the sea, reaching only up to waist level. A more private tanning area isthe rooftop terrace, the best spot for a meal in your villa. In the day, just fling the glass doors wide open and do nothing.

Guests spend the afternoons kayaking and visiting the sand banks. Catamarans are also a popular choice. There is a weekly cocktail party on the main island for those who wish to socialise.

Health tonics are all the rage in this resort; the more exotic, the better. Down them before and after your scuba excursion. To preserve marine life, jetskis are not an option in this resort.

Truly, the best of Soneva Gili is experienced when you order the in-room breakfast. Ingredients are brought to you by the staff in a boat named "Ever Soneva So Tasty". The chef cooks up a storm right before your eyes,with the kitchen facilities outside the living room. Then spend the rest of the day in their award-winning spa that is built on the water with glass floor-panels beneath the massage tables Gustin caseyou open your eyes).Smelling and hearing the ocean while the knots in your body are being kneaded and coaxed away, you've never been pampered like this before. But this is what you put your life on hold for: To be utterly and completely spoiled.