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Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Soneva Fushi Soul Festival is drawing alternative thinkers
If wellness festivals are the new music festivals, then Soul Festival at Soneva Fushi in the Maldives is like the VIP-est bit of Glastonbury. Not only can you see your heroes perform, but you can also hang out with them afterwards — for a whole five days. It's like boozing with Liam and Noel after the Oasis gig. And, just like Glastonbury, to score a pass you have to be either famous, loaded or a freeloader. I'm the only journalist to slip under the Soul Festival velvet rope and I'm pinching myself. Soneva Fushi is the castaway fantasy of its visionary owners, Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, who in 1995 pretty much invented the idea of barefoot luxury and the slogan 'No shoes, no news'. Since then, amid the hundreds of hotels that have sprung up on these pristine atolls, Fushiis still the place where movie stars, billionaire businessmen and their extended families merrily rub sun-kissed shoulders. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue The Shivdasanis have always invited extraordinary people to their island to share stories and experiences with guests: the astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the actor Stanley Tucci, the tennis player Jonas Bjorkman. But after Sonu was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2017, they zeroed in on wellbeing, turning the already expansive spa into a space for doctors to practise alternative and western medicine. Alongside ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, there are cutting-edge integrative medicine treatments, including auto-haemotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cryotherapy, prolotherapy and plasma therapy. The (sugar-free) icing on the (gluten-free) wellness cake is the yearly Soul Festival, when for five days in October this tiny paradise island vibrates with big brains and big ideas. The speakers are wildly varied; for the latest edition they included the dazzling Jamie Wheal, the Pulitzer-nominated author, founder of the Flow Genome project and one of the world's leading experts in human performance, who has worked with US Navy Seals, athletes and Silicon Valley folk. He was joined by Eric Edmeades, the so-called architect of transformation who educates with levity while leaping about the sandy stage; Dr Nasha Winters, the integrative oncology expert and author, who speaks about metabolic health; and Robin Lim, a midwife, who blows us away with her life's work of saving and birthing babies in areas affected by climate change. The big draw is Zach Bush, a specialist in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care, who talks about the interconnectedness between the soil and human microbiome, the failing of agriculture and how all these puzzle pieces will determine the future of humanity and the world. The conversation lasts long after the lecture's last clap. Over beach picnics, cocktail parties and sushi dinners, the island is abuzz with swapping and sharing, connecting and challenging, plotting and networking. It feels like the modern version of an ancient trading city, maybe Petra or Venice. But instead of frankincense or spice, the booty is hope and healing. The guests are a hotchpotch of festival junkies, a chapter of Young Presidents' Organisation members, wellbeing investors and inventors peddling wares that include controversial stem-cell therapy, nasal breathing contraptions and a sound-frequency healing bed. There are plenty of sideshows. There's Marcel Hof (Wim's brother) leading the celebrated breathwork-ice-bath combo, ayurvedic pulse diagnosis and gong baths among the wafting palms. And then there's Sanctum: the physical and mindful euphoric-movement system (now famous for getting this year's Davos stiffs to 'raise their vibration'). Its effects are spectacular. As we speed-boat at sunrise to a spit of sand in the sea, we slip on headphones that connect us to the founder Luuk Melisse, who delivers instructions to a soaring soundtrack. He plays us like a fiddle, physically, mentally and emotionally. By the end, some are whooping, others are sobbing. Everyone is feeling something. You can't not be affected by hanging out in this heightened environment. For some, the effects are extreme. Six months post-festival, one attendee tells me the Soul Festival was so inspiring it was like chucking a firework into her life; she has developed a new business, has written a book and explains how 'during that week, my life's purpose became crystal clear. It's like I'm living on psychedelics. Now I can see things.' • The Maldives resort that will challenge your idea of the fly and flop So be warned: unlike a thumping Glasto hangie, the aftershocks of Soul Festival might well change your life. The next Soneva Fushi Soul Festival is from October 9 to 13. Seven nights, from October 9 to 17, staying in a one-bedroom Family Villa Suite with pool, half-board, costs from £9,999pp, based on two sharing, with return seaplane transfers and Etihad flights from London, There's nothing that breaks the ice like crawling around in cold, wet January grass with your bum in the air like a baboon, alongside 15 perfect strangers, writes Alice B-B. I'm at the inaugural Emotional Health Retreat weekend created by Dr Tamsin Lewis, a psychiatrist and the founder of Wellgevity, a longevity-focused functional and integrative medicine service based in London. This primal movement is both ego-shedding and unexpectedly fun. We're on the lawns of a grand private house in Richmond (with ozone pool, sauna, steam and cold plunge), lent to Lewis by its philanthropically minded owner. It's a fat gaff that must have witnessed plenty of riotous behaviour over the years; it was originally Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's hunting lodge and, more recently, home to the Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood. Our leader is the charming and wildly energetic osteopath Boniface Verney-Carron. We follow him barefoot to encourage hormesis (what doesn't kill you makes you stronger), sniff the grass (to reconnect with nature and lower cortisol), run laps like loons (which gets the heart rate up), hold hands consciously (to properly connect with each other) and then enjoy feeling our heartbeat and breath (helping to connect with ourselves). • 44 health-boosting habits to feel better in 2025 We are living in an epidemic of loneliness and self-isolation, which Vivek Murthy, the former US surgeon general, says 'increases the risk for premature death'. Which is why, on these retreats, Lewis aims to create connectivity and eudaimonia. The latter is an internally driven sense of happiness resulting from an increase of oxytocin and serotonin (most commonly achieved through relating to others and nature — and the opposite of dopamine-chasing hedonism). Bioharmonising, this adaptable, balanced approach, is an alternative to the rigid, toxic biohacking popular with social media 'gurus'. Each retreat is focused on emotional health with a varying roster of therapists. This time there's Rob Rea, a breathwork coach to chief executives, founders, actors and the superyacht brigade, who leads the group in sessions accompanied by the pianist Rosey Chan. Joining him is the intimacy and relationship coach Chloe Mackintosh, who has our group staring into each other's eyes and practising consensual touch. It's a little confronting and my awkward self is hugely relieved to be partnered with my best girlfriend. Once we've gone beyond nervous giggling, her teaching is powerful and jolly useful. 'It's about increased eye contact, being better communicators whether that's for individuals, couples or teaching the art of relating within business,' she says. It's clear from the retreaters I chat to (some very broken, others dealing with relationship issues, others keen for increased intimacy) that this weekend has delivered — both as a reset and a springboard, serving up new tools, ideas and a new community (many of us swap details and make plans for further work with the therapists). 'Emotional health is the heartbeat of longevity,' Lewis says. 'With the right facilitators and environment it's like CTRL-ALT-DELETE for the nervous system — and the group setting magnifies it.' And what feels like a two-fingers-up to the biohacking bros, Lewis adds: 'Wellness is a skill, not a pill.' An emotional wellness retreat costs from £195 a day,
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Daily Mail
How safe is YOUR dream Maldives holiday? How swimmers have repeatedly been attacked by sharks in paradise islands' crystal clear waters
Smattered across the Indian Ocean and made up over 1,000 intricate coral islands that are each encircled by white sands and cobalt blue waters, its understandable that almost every one of us dreams of visiting the Maldives at least once in our lives. The Republic of Maldives is home to some of the clearest waters in the world, which themselves house jaw-dropping marine structures. Plunging into the seas around any of the Maldives' 26 atolls is a dream for any scuba diver, as they are home to countless animals that swim around the pristine seas. But, as with any complex ecosystem, the remote islands are home to terrifying predators whose only instincts are to kill and devour. Dozens of species of shark stalk the watery depths of the island. The apex predators ordinarily keep to themselves, preferring to hunt for smaller, easier, targets than human beings. They are often said to be more afraid of us, than we are of them. But since the powerful jaws make them dangerous, particularly to people choosing to dive and pose for pictures in shark hotspots, and as a result the Maldives has seen its fair share of human tragedy caused by the deadly beasts. From the death of a decorated young army officer, to influencers who found themselves on the wrong side of these predators, the sheer range of shark attacks on the Maldives is well-documented. Terrifying moment giant shark clamps its jaws around a diver's head Terrifying footage captured the moment a massive shark clamped its jaws around a diver's head in a surprise attack off a Maldivian island. The clip shows a swimmer innocently drifting in the blue waters, until out of nowhere, with shocking speed, the shadowy figure of an enormous shark appears behind them. In a heart-stopping moment, the shark swiftly opens its jaws before engulfing the diver's head. For a few seconds, the swimmer's head remains in the mouth of the predator as it shakes the sea explorer around in an attempt to gnaw off their head. The diver can be seen kicking their feet and spreading their arms, desperately trying to flee the hungry shark. Miraculously, the swimmer made a lucky escape as the beastly fish unlocked its jaws and swam away, freeing the diver of the chilling attack. The diver then scrambled away to the surface of the water, waving their hands at the brave cameraman in a warning for them to flee the scene too. Both swimmers could be seen quickly working their way up and out of the dangerous waters, before the hair-raising footage ends. Terrifying moment woman is savaged by a shark while snorkelling in the Maldives The dentist was left with several scars across her arm A dentist told of her terror when a shark sank its teeth into her during a luxury holiday in the Maldives. Ekaterina Alexandrova, 30, from Moscow, was bitten in the hand when she was snorkelling with a friend. She complained of 'insane pain' but was able to get back to her tour boat. The attack was by normally docile nurse sharks after she was told an excursion was 'safe'. 'I got lucky – I pushed [the attacking shark] away with my left hand, and it didn't manage to bite hard,' she said. 'Of course, I've had men tell me I'm a tasty pie and can make some, you know, bite,' she said. 'But I didn't think I was on the lunch menu of sharks in the Maldives. 'So it was certainly a shock and a huge surprise to me.' The dentist was filmed shaking from shock in a clinic afterwards as she was given stitches for the gash in her skin. She said: 'Just so you understand – I was in shock and just smiling stupidly. The pain, of course, was insane. I cried later.' Her friend Masha 'turned pale and almost fainted - the boat was covered in blood,' she said. Influencer is left covered in blood after being attacked by a shark Russian influencer and singer Nastya Vitonova was swimming off the coast of the paradise islands when a shark sunk its teeth into her hand. Footage shows a tearful Vitonova on an organised tour boat just moments after the horrific attack, as her hand gushes with blood while members of the boat crew hurriedly pour water over her wound. 'I got bitten by a shark,' she says in between sobs, while a female onboard the boat tells her: 'You're bleeding really badly.' 'I won't die of blood infection?', the panicked influencer asks. Another social media personality onboard the boat, Isabelle Zagfarova, tells her: 'No, no, no, with sharks, the most important thing is that they don't bite your finger off. 'You won't get a blood infection', she reassures her. In tears the shark victim - who has 780,000 TikTok followers - goes on to say: 'I'm having a panic attack. I'm scared.' Vitonova was later transported to the nearest island where she received medical treatment for her bite. In a separate clip she is heard asking: 'Are they going to stitch it up?'. She later spoke about the shark attack on social media, explaining how she had been swimming alongside the sea beasts - an activity that is popular among tourists in the Maldives. While most sharks on the island are considered to be friendly, some encounters with the animal can turn deadly. Describing how the sea creature suddenly chomped on her hand, she said it dug its sharp teeth into her for around two to three seconds. 'All the worst scenarios started running through my head', she recalled. 'I immediately swam to the boat and did everything with a cool head, despite the panic inside. 'I had a smile and laughter for the first five minutes, but it was hysteria and a defensive reaction.' She admitted: 'There was horror inside, I was shaking all over…. 'I realised that it was good that it all ended with just my hand. 'But then the realisation came, and finally the emotions came out. 'I started crying really hard, sometimes I couldn't breathe from the shock.' '[The shark] bit [my finger] to the bone, now there is a small bump at the site of the stitch. But it is healing', she said. Horrifying moment woman is attacked by a shark while diving This is the terrifying moment a woman was bitten by a shark while diving off a paradise island. Travel influencer Lilian Tagliari was swimming among a group of 50 nurse sharks in the Maldives early last month when one suddenly took a bite out of her right leg. Footage viewed more than 18 million times shows Lilian screaming in pain underwater. Blood can be seen coming from her leg with teeth marks clearly visible on her calf and shin. Lilian said she thought she was bitten because one of the sharks mistook her for a fish due to their 'bad eyesight'. She said: 'I would say [there was] probably around 50 sharks, and I've been swimming in this same spot for many years. 'The boats do throw fish where they are, and because nurse sharks have very bad eye sight, that one just thought my leg was a piece of fish. 'I did have to take antibiotics in case of any bacterial infection. I got a sore leg for a few days. 'We had with them for a good hour, then I decided to go back to our boat. Then the conditions got better and I thought "oh a few more dives won't hurt". 'As I came back up this shark decided to take a nibble. I thought "just my luck" because it happens so rarely.' Tragic young army officer perishes after shark attack A young Maldives National Defence Force officer tragically passed away after being attacked by a shark. Lance Corporal Mohamed Zaidhan, from the island of Ungoofaaru, had his shoulder mauled and dislocated by the beast while he was snorkelling. The 30-year-old was rushed to L. Gan Regional Hospital's intensive care unit. Local media reported he needed heavy blood transfusions due to the severity of his injuries, but tragically he succumbed to these wounds. He was later buried on his native island with military honours. A seven-gun salute was fired by fellow soldiers at the funeral, which was held at the Ungoofaaru Islamic Center after Asr prayer. MNDF officers met with the late soldier's family and offered their condolences. Heart-stopping moment shark clamps its teeth around tuna near an underwater photographer The hungry great white sharks were snapped by a British photographer as they fed on Tuna A bit close for comfort: The striking images were captured by London-born filmmaker and photographer Euan Rannachan with a Nikon D850 in a Aquatech water housing Stunning and terrifying in equal measure, dramatic images show two hungry great white sharks closing in for chunks of tuna just a few feet away from a British photographer. Captured by underwater snapper Euan Rannachan, 36, the striking images show a shark called Keyser Soze coming right up to the camera with its mouth wide open reaching out for its meal. And in footage reminiscent of Steven Spielberg's Jaws, a thrilling video was able to capture the fearsome shark Brutus going in for another chunk of tuna. The fearless London-born photographer was unflinching as he managed to dive and record the video at the same time. These stunning shots were captured at Guadalupe island off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. They were captured by filmmaker and photographer Euan with a Nikon D850 in a Aquatech water housing, which protects and secures camera and other equipment underwater. 'In the photos you can see a shark called Keyser Soze spinning around and going for a chunk of tuna at the surface just feet from me,' said Euan. 'In the video you can see Brutus going for another chunk of tuna. 'I was taking photos of this as well as running my GoPro.
CNN
07-05-2025
- Sport
- CNN
This nation is threatened by rising sea levels. It is raising awareness as it sets up its first soccer team
CNN — Between rising sea levels from the climate crisis, a history of nuclear testing causing radioactive pollution and population displacement, the Marshall Islands face numerous threats. Now, the country – made up of 29 atolls and five main islands in the North Pacific – is shining a light on the struggles it faces by turning to an unlikely source: Soccer. The Marshall Islands are seeking to become the last of the 193 United Nations member states to have a recognized international 11-a-side soccer team, with the aim of becoming a member of FIFA – world soccer's governing body – by 2030. To help the cause, the nation's soccer governing body has organized a four-team tournament taking place this summer in Springdale, Arkansas, home to the largest Marshallese community outside of the islands. But perhaps more important than the sporting benefits of the endeavor is the opportunity to raise awareness of the environmental battle the country faces as a result of climate change. To that end, the three British men behind the initiative – Matt Webb, Lloyd Owers and Justin Walley – have also created a new team kit. Designed with the colors of the Marshall Islands flag and emblazoned with images of the islands' flora and fauna, the number 1.5 takes pride of place in the center of the 'No-Home' shirt, a reference to the Paris climate agreement, in which countries agreed to make efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. A quote from Marshallese poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner is also etched onto the shirt: 'We deserve to thrive.' The message and the unique design were enough to make it a popular release. But it got even more attention when, with each photo post on social media of the new kit, parts of the shirt had disappeared; first a bit of a sleeve, next some from the midriff and then from the collar. The gradual loss of parts of the kit was used as a stark reminder of the creeping danger that rising sea levels present to the Marshall Islands. According to analysis by NASA, sea levels in the Marshall Islands have risen by 10 centimeters (almost 3.94 inches) over the last 30 years and could rise by 19 centimeters (roughly 7.48 inches) over the next 30 years, leading to an increase in flooding with 'worsening severity.' If no measures are taken, the islands are likely to face more than 100 days of flooding yearly by the end of the century. Webb, who works as the head of commercial for the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation, explains that while developing the soccer side was the main priority when they began their work, they are in the 'fortunate position' to be able to bring attention to an issue that perhaps would fall by the wayside. 'There is an obligation to talk about aspects such as climate change, nuclear legacy. We have this kind of duty of care to mention it at least. And we decided to use the shirt as a way to it,' Webb told CNN Sports. 'It's a celebration of a rich culture of the Marshall Islands and, potentially, what could be lost if action isn't taken. We appreciate that climate change can be polarizing to some people and it's maybe not something they want to focus on in sport. But for us, it would be amiss if we didn't kind of reference it at all. And using sport as well, we've got such a huge platform where other outlets might not necessarily be able to touch upon that.' The Marshall Islands are home to around 39,000 people and are on the opposite side of the world to the United Kingdom, where Webb and Owers live. But they stumbled across the country's sporting plight in an article in The Athletic in 2021. The Marshall Islands Soccer Federation was founded in 2020 by President Shem Livai because his son was an avid soccer fan, but there was no structure for kids to play. Webb immediately wanted to be involved. Webb and Owers both have experience in the Beautiful Game prior to this endeavor. Webb's day job is in marketing but he has previously been involved in soccer administration and founding clubs, while Owers has previously worked as a coach and helped in forming coaching programs for teams in the UK and abroad. Webb recalls finding Livai on social media and eventually his email before 'peppering' him with messages offering his services as a volunteer until Livai, as the Brit recounts, 'relented.' Owers was introduced by a mutual connection after which he was appointed technical director and the pair set about revamping the federation. Webb admits that they faced some skepticism from locals in the early months – ''What are you doing? You're saying you're Marshall Islands Soccer Federation, but you're doing this from the UK,'' he remembers being asked – but have since developed relationships and connections to establish their credibility as keen volunteers. While soccer is known as the global game, that is not the case on the Marshall Islands. Given its longstanding connections to the US – the republic is home to the US Army Garrison Kwajalein, which helps in ballistic missile testing and tracking – basketball and volleyball are the most popular sports there. While many of the youngsters on the island may be fans of soccer, Webb explains, the lack of accessibility to adequate facilities and coaching means few play it regularly. Webb and Owers set about using futsal – a scaled-down version of regular soccer played with five players on each team and on smaller pitches – to increase playing time, using the abundance of basketball courts as venues. But, due to the geographic make-up of the islands, space is at a premium when it comes to full-size 11-a-side pitches, which FIFA recommends have the dimensions of 105 meters (almost 344.5 feet) x 68 meters (almost 223.1 feet). 'It's a very low-lying island nation, which is built on top of essentially a coral reef. And when you're there, you can kind of really feel how close you are and how much your islands are related to the oceans,' Webb explains. 'You've got oceans on one side, and it's basically a circular lagoon on the inside as well. So there's points on your island where it's just one road separating the ocean to the lagoon. You feel really exposed at times.' The country did build a stadium for the Micronesian Games last summer, which gives the islands a useable pitch, but it still has no goals even now. They have focused on acquiring equipment, creating opportunities to play and providing coaches for the Marshallese people to get a taste of what the Beautiful Game can bring. While they are hoping that this next generation of soccer-mad youngsters will provide the bedrock for a blossoming Marshall Islands national team, their current crop of players is made up of young adults and expatriates from surrounding islands, such as Solomon Islands, Fiji and Kiribati. With the help of on-island coaches, the British volunteers were able to build a soccer system across the islands. They have seen buy-in across the generations as their reputations have grown. On top of the sporting benefits have been the human impact, which Webb describes as arguably the more 'rewarding' part of what they're doing. On Owers' most recent trip to the Marshall Islands, he led a group from the island of Majuro – the country's capital – to the island of Kwajalein. He was told by one of his players: 'This is the best weekend of my life.' Webb explains: 'We can take it for granted, the ability to move freely between places, but for some of these lads, it's the first time off island or traveling by plane and seeing new things and meeting new people. So there's that kind of personal impact you're having on people's lives.' Both Webb and Owers are unequivocal in their aim of having the Marshall Islands being involved in the qualification process for a FIFA World Cup. But to do that, there are certain criteria they must meet to be able to join a regional confederation. The first step on that journey is the four-team tournament in August in Arkansas, their first 11-a-side matches against other international teams. The 'Outrigger Cup' will see the Marshall Islands face the US Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Guam, all three of which are FIFA member nations. They have started a fundraiser for the tournament, which they see as an opportunity to bring Marshallese people together. 'We want to be in a position to allow every Marshallese person the opportunity to be a part of our project regardless of where they are in the world,' Owers said. 'Uniting everyone in a different place is another opportunity for us to do that. 'I think, as a byproduct of it, hopefully this then propels the project into something where we're in front of those confederations that we've applied for. They've got more awareness of what we're doing, and seeing the journey and the development of where we were, where we've gone, and then where we want to be, and hopefully using this as a bit of a platform to push on from that.' Webb reveals that they also have plans in future editions of the kit to address the nuclear legacy of the Marshall Islands; the US government conducted 67 nuclear tests there between 1946 and 1958 which 'left communities displaced and contributed to radioactive land and sea pollution,' per the UN. He talks about how much the islanders value community, which too is under threat, as more families emigrate to the US to avoid the impacts of climate change. But Webb believes soccer can help bring the Marshallese together. 'We want to unite people through a medium of sport, and hopefully raise awareness to those issues that people face on daily basis. If we can have any small part in helping that, then we will.'
