Have you bought your hands on “Double Eleven”? On the same day 54 years ago, the world’s largest coral island country, the Republic of Maldives, was officially declared to be established. As sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, the Maldives has repeatedly been named one of the world’s 10 disappearing beauties.
Although many people choose to enjoy the holiday life on the most luxurious private island, it is recommended that you slow down and explore the local culture of this unique island. You can add the capital Male to your destination list, enjoy the local drum performance, and taste the Maldivian A healthy breakfast of mas humi, perhaps just strolling through the whitewashed streets can soothe your impatience. How about getting rid of shopping carts and credit card bills today, and go to the Indian Ocean to see the sea, coral reefs and whale sharks!
Maldives MALDIVES
Located in the Indian Ocean to the southwest of Sri Lanka, the Maldives is famous for countless paradise islands with silky white sands, swaying palm trees and unbelievably clear waters.
Some unrivaled islands are also finally open to self-guided travelers, which means that in addition to those luxury resorts, you can also create unlimited itineraries for yourself, take public ferries to shuttle between islands, and blend in with devout and friendly local residents.
Swim with whale sharks
If swimming with whale sharks is on your travel bucket list, you’re in luck — whale sharks are frequent visitors to Maldivian waters. May to December is the best time to dive or snorkel to see whale sharks.
Whale sharks are most likely to be seen in the south of Ari Atoll and when the currents between the atolls are strongest during the full moon. The world’s largest fish swims around the outer reef year-round, and hammerhead sharks also frequent the northern part of Ari Atoll.
Ari Atoll is the first choice for marine life lovers. Friends who like diving should not miss Hammerhead Point, which is a relatively difficult diving point on the outer reef, often surrounded by hammerhead sharks, manta rays and other large fish. The water depth outside the reef drops steeply by more than 200 meters, and the sea water is particularly clear.
From May to September, whale shark followers can go to Dhidhdhoo Beyru in the southwest of the atoll to cruise. Even if it is not in the right season, you can see whale sharks. When the full moon comes, the ocean currents become faster and the number of whale sharks also increases.
Most resorts and guest houses offer whale watching dive trips; choose a reputable operator, put the needs of the whales first, and remember, if you are lucky enough to spot a gentle giant, keep them at a good distance .
The Maldives Whale Shark Research Program (MWSRP) is an excellent UK charity that has been monitoring whale sharks for over a decade.
Based on Dhigurah Island in the South Male Atoll, the results of the study confirm that the Maldives has a stable population of juvenile sharks, and that the waters are frequented by more than 200 whale sharks, so this ongoing research is valuable, although we do not know much about the behavior of whale sharks， Still little is known.
Visit the capital Male
Most people visiting the Maldives avoid Male’ entirely, perhaps because it’s the polar opposite of the typical tropical island aesthetic—the capital, Male’, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, covering just 3.2 square miles. More than 200,000 people were squeezed in. But as long as you stick around a little longer, you’ll be amply rewarded.
relaxed teahouses where you can chat with regular customers and share delicious “short eats” are the highlights of this unusual capital city – think To experience the full Maldives, Male is the perfect addition to your resort.
Old Friday Mosque
Intricately decorated and chiseled with verses from the Qur’an on top of a beautiful building made of coral stone. This is the oldest mosque in the Maldives, dating back to 1656.
Visitors wishing to enter must obtain official permission from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. However, most of the employees in the mosque are officials of this department, and if you are respectful and well-dressed, they will usually let you through immediately. The interior of the mosque is magnificent and gorgeous, and is famous for its exquisite lacquer and wood carvings. A long panel carved in the 13th century records the historical process of the initial spread of Islam in the Maldives.
National Museum
Built with Chinese aid, the museum houses a variety of historical artifacts, each well-preserved and clearly marked, so that visitors can better understand the remarkable history of these isolated islands.
The museum also exhibits locally unearthed Chinese porcelain and coins of the Ming Dynasty, which is also the evidence that Zheng He led the merchant fleet to the country of Liushan twice (the Maldives was called “Liushan country” or “Yuyang country” in Chinese history).
When you come here, you will also encounter an impressive exhibit of marine life – a 6-meter-long, extremely rare skeleton of Langman’s beaked whale, which has not yet been seen in the sea Pass. five mosques
Grand Friday Mosque & Islamic Centre
This modern golden-roofed building stands out on the skyline of Male, and has become a landmark building in the city. It is also the largest mosque in the country, opposite the headquarters of the National Security Agency. When you sail into Male Bay by boat, you can see the golden dome of the mosque shining in the sun. In fact, its gold color is the color of oxidized aluminum.
Fish Market
Tourists should not miss the fish market, although the disgusting smell may make you hard to accept the buckets of fish guts or the practice of disemboweling fish in broad daylight, this is the soul of Male.
Watching the fishermen bring their day’s catch from the neighboring fishing port to the fish market is a lot of fun, especially with the huge tuna, octopus and grouper easily visible.
take a scuba dive
The clear blue waters are a hallmark of the Maldives, and scuba divers come from all over the world for the chance to see hawksbill turtles, loggerhead turtles, manta rays, whitetip sharks and more.
Diving is not difficult, but requires a certain amount of knowledge and caution. Diving doesn’t require you to be very strong or physically fit, but your oxygen tank will last longer if you can do it with minimal energy expenditure.
There is a range of courses to choose from in the Maldives, from introductory diving courses in the pool or lagoon, to open water diving courses that will award you a qualification that is recognized worldwide.
When you complete an open water course, you receive a certificate that is recognized by dive operators around the world. Qualifications in the Maldives are usually issued by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors International (PADI), the largest and most prestigious professional body.
Enjoy the big drum performance
Whether you’re staying at a resort or a resident island, a highlight of any cultural trip to the Maldives should include a dance and drum performance called the Big Drum (Dhivehi, meaning “bodu beru”). This is the most famous form of traditional music and dance in the Maldives.
This traditional performance is all performed by men, and the scene is shocking and eye-opening. Some resorts, though, can come across as contrived and underwhelming. The drum beats become more and more dense, and people dance to it, culminating in an unbelievable rhythm, and some dancers will enter a trance state.
Local rock bands often play in bars and even incorporate bass drum elements into their music, and when performing to local audiences, they also use a lot of percussion instruments and perform extended bass drum solos.
Live in a natural ecological resort
The Maldives is the lowest country in the world, making it particularly vulnerable to climate change. Given the environmental impact of flying to these remote islands, it’s important to choose a hotel that prioritizes sustainability.
That doesn’t mean you have to give up that luxurious overwater villa you’ve always dreamed of, though—some of the most luxurious resorts are ahead of their time when it comes to environmental initiatives.
Soneva Fushi, for example, is carbon neutral and has one of the largest solar power plants in the Maldives.
The hotel is 90% waste-free, and you can also participate in a glass blowing workshop to upcycle discarded beverage bottles from the restaurant. This is a good place to be ecologically oriented and seek to return to nature.
The Gili Lankanfushi Hotel is also very eye-catching: all buildings are built with natural materials, and most of the wood is imported from sustainable forests elsewhere in Asia. It is indeed one of the most environmentally conscious resorts in the Maldives.
Marine biologists are running a major coral restoration project at Gili Lankanfushi, and if you earn an international diving certification, you can also take part in “diving with debris” – the underwater equivalent of cleaning a beach.
Try the food of the Maldives
Coconuts, sweet potatoes, mangoes, papayas and pineapples are just a few of the things that can be grown in the Maldives. Another indigenous product is fish and seafood, which explains the simplicity of Maldives cuisine since ancient times.
Your gourmet experience in the Maldives depends on the resort hotel you live in. You can discuss and order haute cuisine on the menu with the chef in advance, or you can enjoy the sausage and mash buffet in the public restaurant. But in either case, there will be a certain disconnect with local life, so when visiting Male or the inhabited islands, use this opportunity to try real Maldivian cuisine.
Breakfast for Maldivians is mas humi, a healthy dish of tuna, onion, coconut and chilli, cooled and served with roshi (unleavened bread similar to chapati) and tea.
At teahouses, snacks range from fihunu mas (fish fillets coated with chilli), gulha (fried dough stuffed with fish and chilli), keemia (fried fish rolls) and kuli boakiba (spicy fish cakes).
If you’re still craving a delicacy beloved by the Maldivians, try miruhulee boava. This dish is rare in Male and resorts, but if you are lucky enough to visit the inhabited islands in the atoll, you can often taste this dish.
Octopus tendons are split open, cleaned, and stewed in a delicious sauce made with curry gravy, cloves, garlic, chili, onion, pepper and coconut oil.
Experience local island life
Spending time at a luxury resort is bliss, but that only gets you to the bliss of a private island. To experience authentic Maldivian culture, you need to visit a so-called ‘local island’ such as Huraa, Hithadhoo or Maafushi.
Charming and friendly, Maafushi (1,200 inhabitants) is the largest island in South Male Atoll and the heart of self-guided Maldives travel. During the peak tourist season, the number of foreign tourists on the island is comparable to the number of local residents. Therefore, it has become the inhabited island with the strongest international atmosphere and the most advanced ideology in the Maldives.
You can stay in family-run hotels, buy fresh mahi-mahi directly from the fishermen, and wander the whitewashed streets as prayers call the crowds to the mosque. Remember, the Maldives is a Muslim country; bikinis and swimming trunks are acceptable in many hotels, but modest attire is the norm elsewhere.
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