Zhuldyz Berdaly doubles as astronomer and Barefoot Bookseller. Photo / Soneva Fushi Maldives
Can you describe a typical day in your life on the island – from your first coffee to your last swim?
My day begins quietly, with a coffee and the soft rhythm of the island waking up around me. There’s a natural calm here that shapes everything that follows.
One of my favourite parts of the day is the morning reading session for children in the breakfast area. I arrive with my small book-filled tuk-tuk – we call it the “Book Tuk”. It’s a simple but joyful moment, watching children get lost in imaginary worlds, right by the ocean.
Soneva Fushi’s water retreats rise over one of the Maldives’ most storied reefs. Photo / Soneva Fushi Maldives
The rest of the day flows with helping guests discover books suited to their tastes and sharing conversations that often go beyond reading.
As evening arrives, my focus gently shifts. As the resident astronomer, I guide guests across the night sky, pointing out constellations, planets and distant galaxies. It feels like a continuation of storytelling, just written in stars instead of pages.
Somewhere in between, or at the end of the day, there is always time for a swim. Often at sunset, when the island feels so peaceful.
What is your favourite aspect of working in the Maldives?
What I value most is balance. During the day, I’m surrounded by people, stories and conversation. At night, everything becomes quieter, and the focus turns upward, to something vast and humbling.
The Maldives have a way of slowing you down while making you more aware. You notice small details, and you feel more present. Being able to share both books and the night sky with guests makes those moments even more meaningful.
A private slide into the Indian Ocean is among Soneva Fushi’s signature draws. Photo / Soneva Fushi Maldives
How has living and working in such an idealised place changed you – personally or professionally?
Living here has made me more mindful, in both subtle and lasting ways.
Professionally, I’ve learned that my role is not just about selling books or explaining astronomy – it’s about creating moments people remember. Whether it’s a child discovering a story or a guest seeing Saturn for the first time, those experiences stay with them.
Personally, I’ve become calmer and more appreciative of simplicity. Life here shows you that fulfilment doesn’t necessarily come from doing more, but from being more present.
Curated titles at the Barefoot Bookseller reflect the resort’s love of ideas. Photo / Soneva Fushi Maldives
Do the Maldives live up to everything most of us imagine about them, ie pure paradise?
In many ways, yes, but not in a purely visual sense. The beauty is undeniable, but what makes it feel like paradise is something deeper. It’s the stillness, the rhythm, and the connection to nature. It’s starting your day slowly and ending it under a sky full of stars.
It’s not just a place you visit – it’s a place you experience.
The Barefoot Bookseller outlet pairs driftwood design with an eclectic collection. Photo / Soneva Fushi Maldives
When you’re off the clock, how do you make the most of your surroundings?
I try to keep things simple. Swimming is something I always return to, it’s both grounding and refreshing.
I enjoy quiet walks, reading, and spending time outdoors. Often, it’s just about pausing: watching the sunset or the sky transition into night.
Here, the simplest moments feel the most complete.
If someone could step into your life for a day here, what would you make sure they experienced to truly understand the magic of Soneva Fushi?
I would begin with the morning reading session, bringing them to the breakfast area with the Book Tuk, so they could feel that sense of lightness and joy.
Then I’d let them move through the day without urgency – barefoot, present, and connected to their surroundings.
And in the evening, I would take them to observe the night sky through a telescope. That moment often changes perspective; it invites a sense of scale and wonder that’s hard to describe.
Because the magic of this place lives in those contrasts: stories in your hands during the day, and stories written across the sky at night.
Zhuldyz Berdaly is the Barefoot Bookseller and astronomer at Soneva Fushi, Maldives – soneva.com/resorts/soneva-fushi