More pics from the Maldives trip - for the record

 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.
 Maldives aero will fly you to the remotest corners of the archipelago - for a hefty fee.
 A view of the plane's small but powerful engines from the window.
 My pre-booked Maldivian airlines ticket to Kadhdhoo Airport (KDO) in Gan Island.
 I could only capture a hazy picture of the plane after it landed at Kadhdhoo Airport on Gan Island. The plane first few south to Kaadedhdhoo Airport and then north to Kadhdhoo Airport leaving me a bit confused.
 Beautiful seashore at Gan Island when the sea was relatively calm.
 The beach a bit later in the evening.
 Gently lapping waves on the powdery white beach.
 Clean waters inviting you to take a dip on a balmy hot day.
 Preparing to go island hopping.  Two Bangladeshi skippers.
 Me getting ready to board the boat. The Russian guest and Thai host waiting on the boat in the background.
 One more for the record. ;)
 The water is azure and amazingly crystal clear.
 Receding into a sapphire and azure in the distance.
 On the island hopping trip. The Russian lady at the stern looking out into the sea. She's an expert swimmer and can swim for hours despite her weight. ;)
 Me posing with the lunch packs and the towels to prevent sunstroke and exposure to humid sea air.
 The Thai host's cute bamboo cap can be seen next to the lunch boxes.
 Yes, and she catches bait for the fish. She's happy about it, but unfortunately it doesn't work out for the fish.
 Back on the island.
 Very few roads, very few vehicles; Gan Island is the biggest but the least populated.
View of the road leading towards the wharf.
 A pic in the evening on the sea shore.
 Relaxing on a  bamboo structure near the beach.
 A view of the resort from the boat. The Russian lady is relaxing and quite enjoying herself, on a wooden deck.
 This sign reminded me of the strange scripts we used to see near some hotels back in Trivandrum for Maldivian guests.
A crab who doesn't seem to like the sea water but his life depends very much on it.
 My instructor night snorkeling, on the look out for white turtles.
 He seems pretty comfortable in the night with just his snorkeling gear and a water proof torch. I unfortunately didn't succeed at the night snorkeling very much.
 Returning back to base, lights of  a resort flashing in the distance.
 Our Maldivian captain shows me how to fish.
 He catches a whopper.
 And I catch one too..
 Trying my luck not expecting to catch any with my fishing line.
 But yes, I get another one!
 On the way back. Happy after the adrenaline rush...
 The sea is getting rough and there are clouds in the distance.
 The wharf at Huraa Island.
 Wharf at Huraa.
 Docked boats at the wharf.
 The sand is powdery and white as snow. Just beyond the wharf.
 Streets on Huraa Island. No tarred roads, powdery white sand all over the road.
 I stayed close to the village mosque. Quaint place. The island has a decent population.
 Boats leaving the wharf.
 A ship off the beach.
 Boats docked at the wharf.
 Going off for the snorkeling trip.
 Mohammed is a snorkeling instructor and multi-utility man.
 We push off toward the deep sea where the corals are.
  A resort far away in the background away from the boat.
 Another view of the resort.
 The resort at close quarters.

 A snap of the resort, a Maldivian sea-plane far up in the sky above.
 The water is so mesmerizing and clear!
 We pull away from the shore.
 The sea is at times a brilliant sapphire.
 At times a bright emerald.
 On returning.
 The resort at Gan Island. The sea is close by and you can hear the waves.
 Another view.
Me with the Maldivian resort owner Adam, he's a Muslim  of course, despite his name.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ferry to Huraa and the Deep Blue Sea

Image
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 ...
Keep reading

Close encounter with Davy Jones Locker

Image
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...
Keep reading

Huraa Island in Gaafu Atoll

Image
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...
Keep reading