And Thank You For All The Fish.....

The average Maldivian is a mix of many bloods and races as the official guide book tells you. When you first look at a Maldivian what comes to mind is African Arab lineage. But you see a lot of other Maldivians with a blend of Chinese or Sinhalese features, others you would definitely identify as ethnocentric Tamil and about a few others you just cannot decide. This is not helped by the fact that affluent Maldivians are increasingly marrying Thai, European and other foreign nationals who come to settle for good, finding work and a good life in this tropical paradise. Nevertheless Maldives is 100% Muslim and they follow the Sharia law, though this is increasingly getting diluted by Western values. The language too is nothing similar to any other known language. Some Maldivian words are present in Hindi too - 'Majaa' for 'fun', for instance and many imported from Arabic. There are Arab, Sinhalese and Indian influences on the language as well. The script too, doesn't ...

I have always been warned to keep away from water and water bodies. I mean the kind where you jump to dip in. And I have been mostly obedient to that commandment, since I cannot swim. However being in Maldives and not developing kin to water was literally like being a fish out of water, pun intended. So at Huraa island, my last few hours before I would leave early next morning for the Maldivian capital, Male; I decided to make the most of it and go for the late night snorkeling adventure that the resort advertised. I had kept away from the evening's turtle watch and dolphin spotting rides, as I was sure that the dolphins and turtles followed different time tables than us human beings and it would be very difficult, neigh impossible to match ours with theirs. Maybe I was being pessimistic, but maybe I was right. Muhammad, the instructor, was not too enthusiastic in the beginning but regarded his duty to keep the customer happy. So we took out the flippers, the life vests, t...

The extremely colorful green, blue orange and multicolored angel fish unfortunately didn't make it to these photos. But they are there - right in and out of the corals!

View from the public ferry to Huraa Island, Gaafu Atoll.  From the public ferry again. These ferries are much cheaper and exotic than speedboats.  Ferry Jetty at Huraa Island, Gaafu Atoll  Beach house at Huraa Island  How many sea crabs can you spot on the rocks?  The idyllic Huraa Village on Huraa Island, very much populated by Maldivians.The roads, the beaches and even the sea bed is pure white clean flaky sand.  Many of the guesthouses here have these kind of expensive beach drives  View of the village mosque at Huraa not far from where I was staying  Beach at Huraa  On the way to a snorkelling trip at Huraa Island  Me with Mohammed, my snorkelling instructor and guide, The emerald waters behind me.  Way out to the sea  Mohammed and me out at sea for snorkelling  Beach houses on the seashore add an exotic look  Excited on my first trip out  View of a resort on Hu...

 On arrival at Male International Airport. The airport opens onto a wharf for speedboats and ferries.  My Maldivian friend, 'Murray' obliged to take my pic.  The speedboats ferry you to the capital or to other exotic resorts in distant corners of the Maldives archipelago. I couldn't resist taking a pic of this pretty seaplane that nests near the International Airport.  The main square in the capital.  The capital is full of people - locals and foreigners and there is hardly any vacant space except for the town square.  Villigilli island just a stone's throw away from the capital is old-town and pollution free.  I could see only cycles and electric powered vehicles on the nearly empty streets at Villingilli Island - good place for a picnic.  Speed boats leaving Male island with big international banks in the background. I couldn't resist taking a pic of this gently rocking boat on Villingilli island.  Maldive...