m w
s
maLDIVES 04-09 OCTOBER
10/2015 3.2000째 N, 73.2200째 E
m w
s
1,192 Coral Islands
MalĂŠ Capital of Maldives
15 RYF = 1 usd Currency
@ASTOLDBYSIRI
The name Maldives may derive from Tamil maalai (garland) and theevu (island) or Maala Divaina (“Necklace Islands”) in Sinhala. The Maldivian economy is dominated by tourism and fishing. It is located southwest of India and Sri Lanka in the Laccadive Sea. Maldives consists of 1,192 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, along the north-south direction, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres, making this one of the world’s most dispersed countries. The capital and largest city is Malé, traditionally called the “King’s Island”. The Maldivian ethnic identity is a blend of the cultures reflecting the peoples who settled on the islands, reinforced by religion and language. They are linguistically and ethnically related to the people in the Indian subcontinent. They are ethnically known as Dhivehis. Some social stratification exists on the islands. It is not rigid, since rank is based on varied factors, including occupation, wealth, Islamic virtue, and family ties. Instead of a complex caste system, there was merely a distinction between noble and common people in the Maldives. Members of the social elite are concentrated in Malé. Historically linked with the Indian subcontinent, the Maldives is a Muslim-majority country. From the mid-sixteenth century, it was dominated by colonial powers: Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain. The islands gained independence from the British Empire in 1965, becoming a republic in 1968 and is ruled by a president and authoritarian government. According to former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, the Maldives are ranked the third most endangered nation due to flooding from climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2007 report predicted the upper limit of the sea level rises will be 59 centimetres by 2100, which means that most of the republic’s 200 inhabited islands may need to be abandoned. Other environmental issues include bad waste disposal and beach theft. Although the Maldives are kept relatively pristine and little litter can be found on the islands, no good waste disposal sites exist. Most trash from Male and other resorts is simply dumped at Thilafushi - an artificial island created as a municipal landfill situated to the west of Malé. Thanks, Wikipedia ® (2015)
3.2000° N, 73.2200° E
s
m w
s
m w
I CAME TO MALDOVES WITH THE MENTAL IMAGE OF GLORIOUS SUN, SEA AND ENDLESS BEACHES. LIKE MANY VISITORS BEFORE ME, I WAS BRIMMING WITH EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS TROPICAL PARADISE. we Visted Malé, Hulhumalé, Villingili and Embudu island. THE SCENERY DID NOT DISAPPOINT, IT WAS ALL VERY AWE-INSPIRING.
m w
s
We visited a handful of islands outside the capital, MalĂŠ which was barely scratching the surface as the Maldives has an immense number of islands. Each of which were unique and were characteristic of different spatial and atmospheric qualities. Almost every
@ASTOLDBYSIRI
other day we would take the ferry boats from one island to the next. Even the airport is situated on an island by itself and a short distance away from MalĂŠ. The views from the ferries are enchanting, the shades of blue from the ocean are just so pleasing to the
eyes. I particularly loved the daily drama that unfolded in the sky, in the form of clouds. I am not familiar with the scientific names but every possible type of cloud imaginable dotted the Maldivian sky. On the last day, I was fortunate enough to witness a huge
rainbow in the horizon. It was so vivid in color and it really took my breath away. The beaches are spans of unparalleled beauty. I was fortunate to have to opportunity to stroll along the fringe of the islands of HulhumalĂŠ and Villingili.
3.2000° N, 73.2200° E
s
m w
m w
s
@ASTOLDBYSIRI
We snorkelled on Embudu Island on the second last day of the trip. It was a truly fascinating experience! The most amazing moment was when I snorkelled to the edge of a shallow reef. Looking down at the deep and sudden drop into the blue depths made me feel like the
smallest speck in this universe. It was a little scary, but also very amazing. I did not remember to bring an underwater camera to photograph the corals and underwater life, alas such a pity! It felt like a scene out of a National Geographic documentary.
3.2000째 N, 73.2200째 E
s
m w
Special thanks to @RUSTYSTUFF who made this trip happen, and saving me from the corals and Mako sharks. A SWM PUBLICATION