Why a solo trip to the Maldives for Maja

Maja Salvador in the Maldives

By going on a solo trip to the Maldives earlier this month, Maja Salvador was able to tick two items off her bucket list of things to do before she turns 30.

The five-day vacation, the 29-year-old star said, was her reward to herself, after working hard and nonstop for the past year on “Wildflower,” the popular, campy soap opera she topbilled.

“I’m happy I was able to finally take a break. It was a much-needed breather from playing my characters, Lily Cruz and Ivy Aguas, who were both intense. I was able to let go of them,” Maja told reporters shortly after her recent contract signing as the new endorser of the makeup brand Blair Japan Cosmetics.

While she typically prefers being with friends or loved ones when traveling overseas, Maja said she wanted to be alone this time around, so she could just relax and not worry about anything else.

“I wanted to do things at my own pace. It was great because, usually, you have to be considerate of where your buddies want to go. I also didn’t have to impose what I wanted to do on others—when I didn’t feel like eating lunch, I skipped it; when I felt like going for a swim, I just went swimming,” she related.

The ABS-CBN talent said she was also able to meet new people, including a few Filipinos working in Malé, the capital city of the island country. “It’s true—there are Filipinos wherever you go. There were two kind women who saw me and offered to help me carry my luggage and catch a seaplane to the resort,” she recalled.

“I told them I could do it myself. But there was almost a tug-of-war over my luggage,” Maja said, laughing. “They told me they couldn’t bear seeing Lily Cruz doing things alone.”

The only downside, Maja said, laughing, is that there was no one to take photos of her. But with a little improvisation, Maja was still able to take eye-catching selfies that showed off her beach body, which had social media users talking.

“I haven’t done a photo shoot in a while … And you know how it is these days. Kahit sa Instagram lang, dapat laban pa rin!” Maja quipped. “If only they knew how crazy I looked while taking those photos! Most of the tourists there were lovers and families. Some were laughing at me, because I had to set my camera’s timer, run and then pose, for every shot.”

The trip has recharged Maja and she is now ready to go back to the grind. She’s set to do a movie with Zanjoe Marudo and bring her “Maja Onstage” concert to different cities in the Philippines.

The actress also plans to fly to Thailand in June to promote “Falling Into You,” her new single with Thai artist Tor; and her series “Bridges of Love” and “The Legal Wife,” which are airing there. “It’s nice to see that while Filipinos are crazy over Korean dramas, other countries are watching our own,” she said.

In fact, in a recent trip to Paris, she and best friend Enchong Dee were approached by a fan from Senegal, who’s a fan of their show, “Ina, Kapatid, Anak.” “While we were taking photos, this lady alighted from a bus, went to us and asked if we’re Margaux and Ethan (our characters). Being recognized by non-Pinoys abroad is a heartening experience,” she said.