Home & Away with Robert Walshe
Weekend Hotspot – Hotel Jen Male Maldives
Male, the capital city of the Maldives, is the first point where travellers find themselves at the beginning or end of their holidays. Approximately one-third of the population live here so expect a busy, crowded place, in direct contrast to the surrounding resort islands. While skyscrapers dominate the Male skyline, you’ll also find shops and restaurants where you can catch a glimpse of what life is like
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for locals. One of the more interesting sights you’ll find if you have a stopover is the National Museum. The Maldives embraced Islam in the 12th century B.C. For eight hundred years afterwards, the archipelago nation was ruled as a sultanate. The Maldives National Museum in Male is housed in the only part of the sultan’s palace that is still standing. Exhibits include many of the sultan’s possessions, including clothing, furniture, thrones, armour and
Turkish Airlines Award Winning Dublin to Male Service.
photographs of the royal family. The Grand Friday Mosque, also known as the Hukuru Miskiiy, was built on the foundations of a much older temple that faced west to catch the rays of the setting sun. Directly in front of the Hukuru Miskiiy sits the Mulee-aage, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century as a home for the Sultan’s son. It is an attractive palace with wrought iron gates and a charming roof. Today, the Muleeaage houses the President’s offices. Male’s northern waterfront is the city’s commercial centre, and site of its famous fish market. The Esjehi Art Gallery is housed in one of the oldest buildings in Male, a 19th century nobleman’s palace. A number of restaurants and cafes dot the shorelines. Trip Advisor readers have ranked the “Sala Thai “restaurant as the number one spot to eat however it’s overpriced. Hotel Jen Male is placed in the historic area of city with Male International airport can reached in ten minutes by a speedboat taxi. Wooden and mirrored scrollwork define the hotel contemporary decor- while its 117 rooms are cool and air-conditioned-
Hotel Jen Male Maldives.
fitted with dark slatted wood and tiled floors. Enjoy sushi, fresh Maldivian tuna, grilled premium meats and ocean views at the rooftop “Azur Restaurant” while the all-day-dining at “Lime Restaurant” features an abundance of Southeast Asian flavours. While all resorts are licensed to serve alcohol in the Maldives the only place near Male where people can drink is at the Hulhule Island Hotel or airport hotel. Hotel Jen can also arrange for guests to do a daytrip to nearby islands for a scuba-diving excursionalternatively-the hotels rooftop infinity pool provides the ultimate resort-style getaway. www.hoteljen. com The Maldives are tropical, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures around 30°C throughout the year. However, rainfall increases con-
siderably during the April-October southwest monsoon, particularly from June to August. Turkish airlines offer super connections from Dublin to Male via Istanbul. On long-haul flights, first, business & economy class passenger’s feast on authentic Turkish and international dishes and the “in flight” experience leaves other carriers trailing far behind. The CIPR business lounge for passengers connecting at Istanbul to Male will leave you breathless and for me is the finest of its kind in the world. For best fares visit www. turkishairlines.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio in Northern Ireland. He is also Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com