Visit the Maldives

THE MALDIVES
A piece of Paradise

The Maldives is a dream destination famous for its beautiful white beaches and breathtaking underwater scenery. And is it any wonder why? Having recently travelled there, this is one destination where one could honestly say that the scenery is EXACTLY as it appears in the brochure.

The Maldives in a unique nation, with 1190 islands spreading across the Indian Ocean and circled into 26 natural atolls. The Maldives holds rich cultural traditions, pageants, feasts and festivals, a history of kings and queens and their very own language and script "Dhivehi." The language displays similarities to several other languages such as Sri Lanka, North India and South east Asia and contains many Hindi, English and Arabic Words.English is widely understood within the Maldives and is taught in Schools as a main subject.

Male is the capital of the Maldives. It is a small capital in size, but is truly the heart of the nation and the centre of government and commerce. The city is very crowded and in my visit was constantly buzzing with the sounds of activities on the streets. In the shops you can bargain for "touristy treats" such as hand-painted t-shirts, locally made jewellery and woodcarvings. In the markets you can sample Maldivian versions of "fast food". This island possesses exotic charm and a very relaxed atmosphere. The Museum with its wide range of historic relics and the 400-year-old mosque, the "Hukuru Miskiiy" with some of the finest coral carvings gives an insight into the country's unique history. The schools are single-sexed. There are a handful of schools where both boys and girls attend, yet classes are still held as single-sex.

The Maldives boasts a colourful and fascinating underwater world that has gained it a reputation as one of the best diving destinations in the world. With hundreds of breathtaking dive sites and perfect conditions throughout the year and a visibility every photographer dreams of, those who want to experience Scuba Diving for the first time, this is the place to do it. And for those who already dive, then don't miss the glory of the Maldives waters.

With sand that feels like flour, sun that warms, not burns as well as the most gentle of breezes, The Maldives truly is a piece of paradise. Taking a dip in the ocean is like having a luke warm bath and the clarity of the water is so clear that snorkelling and swimming is even more of a delight.

The Maldives is heaven on earth.

http://www.visitmaldives.com
http://www.maldives.com

MALDIVES FAST FACTS

Official Name: Republic of Maldives

Commonly Name: The Maldives

Location: Indian Ocean

Area: 90,000 km ( of which about 10% is only land)

Number of islands:1190 (approx.)

Population: 270,101 (census 2000)

Capital: Male'

National Symbols:The National Emblem
The National Emblem comprises a Coconut Palm, a Crescent and Star, two National Flags and the traditional Title of the State.

The National Flag
The National Flag comprises a green rectangle with a red border and a white Crescent in the centre. National Tree: Coconut Palm

National Flower: The pink rose
Official Language: Dhivehi

Second Language: English

Religion: Islam (100% Sunni Muslim)

Government: Democratic

Head of State: The President

Head of Government:The President

Time difference: +5hrs GMT

Currency: Rufiyaa(Notes) and Laari (Coins)

Airports: International: 1 (Male' International Airport, located in the island of Hulhule) / Domestic: 4

Climate: Tropical

Average Temperatures: 30.7 degrees Celsius (Max) 25.7 degrees Celsius (Min)

Average Rainfall:1868.9 mm


- Michelle Palmer