Light-colored clothes under the mid-day heat is still most sensible. Photos by Todd Balazovic / China Daily

Lee Hannon goes on adventure to an Indian Ocean paradise, Maldives, where he is given the royal treatment.

Literary glib has long perpetuated the myth that the idyllic paradise of Maldives is like a real-life Robinson Crusoe adventure.

Cast away on a remote tropical island, consumed only by one’s inner thoughts, taciturnity and a quest for a moral meaning in life, the use of Daniel Defoe’s novel has long been a crime of travel writers, twisted by knaves and repeated by fools.

But in reality, Crusoe's adventure in the famous 18th-century classic could be no further from the serenity offered by this string of pearls scattered across the deep blue Indian Ocean.

Turquoise reefs, vivid corals in deep crystal waters that wash up against tiny white sandy beaches, Maldives offers the very essence of a tranquil haven.

Approximately 1,190 islands spread over 20 atolls, stretching around 820 km from north to south and 130 km at its widest, the highest point is just 2.3 meters above sea level.

It is far from the marooned isolation and the prison suffered by Crusoe, in fact, the only thing one has to surrender to is the decadent five-star service that has made these shores a must for Europeans travelers for years and now a major tourist draw for the Chinese market.

The latest luxury resort to open in this geographical marvel is the Dusit Thani on Mudhdhoo Island in Baa Atoll.

The resort occupies about 186,000 square meters and boasts the largest outdoor pool in the country, surrounded by 100 villas, many with ocean views that sprawl out from the island like a crab's claw.

The hotel chain, known throughout Thailand for graceful hospitality, has now expanded the unparalleled luxury into Maldives and has its eyes set on China's booming luxury travel business.

China leapfrogged the United Kingdom in 2010 to become the No 1 source of arrivals for the country's pillar travel industry. China made up 22.2 percent of all arrivals to the island nation this year - up 14.5 percent from last year.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily in early October, Maldivian President Mohammed Waheed Hassan said the number of Chinese tourists visiting Maldives is rising, and they have quickly become the biggest spenders of all tourists to the Indian Ocean country.

"Most resorts in Maldives were developed for European tourists ... With more Chinese tourists coming, I think we can also create resorts that are better suited to, and cater to, the needs of Chinese travelers, with more Chinese restaurants, shopping, with gaming."

Around seven hours of flying from China's major hubs, the Dusit Thani is about 35 minutes by seaplane from the capital Male.

If there is any comparison to be drawn to Crusoe's fictitious experience, it is the sense of adventure instilled by taking a flight in the twin-prop plane and gazing over miles of undisturbed ocean.

While Maldives was once known for snagging wayward travelers in its labyrinth of atolls, the dozens of travelers taking the journey daily to its outlying areas guarantee that anyone lost can easily be found.

Flying is by far the easiest method of travel between the islands, but for those looking to travel by water - a lifestyle that's clearly been adopted by the locals for centuries - speedboats are also available to ferry passengers between resorts and the capital.

Joining a group of overtly jolly travel agents, we boarded our own speedboat ride between the Dusit Thani's floating airport terminal to the resort's main jetty, where dozens of smiling staff members waited to greet the newly arrived swaying castaways.

With a staff number of more than 400 and one of the country's most advanced water filtration systems able to purify ocean water before being bottled on site, Dusit Thani acts as its own colony.

And on that colony, the guest is king.

The ocean villas come complete with their own pool, where the water appears to cascade from the opulent huts-on-sticks-in-the-sea, which glow in a rainbow of soft corals, pastel shades of blue, yellow, green and mustard.

Snorkeling is an absolute must and more like a real-life Disney adventure with blasts of color from fish including snapper, small-toothed emperor, coral rock cod, moon fusiliers and broad-striped fusiliers, moon wrasse and lizardfish.

A baby shark passes between my feet, offering a clear reminder that the deeper ocean has a lot more menacing creatures.

After diving through the depths of brightly colored sponge and rocks, it is easy to acclimate to life on terra firma in the modern sophistication and technology offered in this decadent castaways' dream.

The villas may have roofs covered with palm tree leaves, but inside they are decked out with ultra-modern amenities, including complimentary Wi-Fi, 46" plasma TV screens and Bose surround-sound systems, plus in-villa wine coolers.

Fusing a fine selection of restaurants with uncompromising service and spectacular views, the dining experience on the island is something to be marveled at.

With The Market serving essentials like steak burgers, pasta and grilled vegetables, much of the Dusit Thani's gourmet food is toted to the island from various producers from across the globe.

But most memorable are the glorious sunsets experienced sitting in the signature Benjarong restaurant, which serves the resort's famous Thai recipes or The Sea Grill, which strikes a more local chord with stellar seafood.

After snorkeling or hitting the jet skis, retreat from the midday heat to enjoy a poolside Long Island cocktail at Sand Bar. And the Sala Bar is perfect for watching the sunset or star-gazing and comes with its own telescope.

It is impossible not to lower the blood pressure of even the most stressed-out in a place like this, and if you need some extra relaxation, The Dusit's spa is six tree-top treatment pods elevated in a coconut grove.

Hedonism aside, Maldives boasts a unique ecosystem that would put any self-respecting marine biologist under the sea.

Sites like the Hanifaru Huraa, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and a popular feeding area for manta rays and whale sharks, create a travel destination that offers more than just beaches and long drinks.

And while wearing a body wetsuit with full facial mask in a pool surrounded by ocean may seem a little weird to most, so does the idea this is somehow a Robinson Crusoe experience. It is not a question of whether they will come back to rescue you, but how quickly you become stranded with a sizable bill.

Contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn.

An orange parakeet adds vivid color to the greenery.

From an aerial view, the island and its atoll form a pendant against the deep blue of the Indian Ocean.