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

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!

The day I returned from Huraa Island and en route to Gan Island I was received by my Maldivian contact, 'Murray', at the domestic airport at HulhulMale Island, next to the International airport. He was bursting with excitement when he told me "one of the ministers in your state has died and there is a bit of excitement in your country". I was nonplussed since I was not up to date with the news and he was indeed familiar with Indian politics than most Maldivians being a businessman himself; but I learnt the details later. The unforgettable Tamilnadu Chief, Ms. Jayalalitha, had just passed away creating a political vacuum and political intrigues had already started playing up in this influential southern state, which would lead several months later to historic events that would change the dynamics of Tamilnadu politics for ever. "I told him that it was not my state but a neighboring state - Tamilnadu, and we do have some issues with them, in fact". "Yea...

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...

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...