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Introduction
The Maldives (in divehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ Dhivehi Raa'je), officially the Republic of Maldives (ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމުހޫރިއްޔާ Dhivehi Raajje Jumhooriyyaa) is an island country located in the Indian Ocean. The territory is in the middle of the ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka and 450 km from the India. Composed of more than 1,200 islands, the archipelago is organized around 26 atolls.
Understand
The Maldives is a sovereign island country located southwest of India and Sri Lanka. The country has the peculiarity of being the lowest in the world.
History
After being a sultanate under Dutch and British protection, the Maldives gained independence from the British in 1965 and became a republic in 1968. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ruled the country with an iron fist and did not hesitate to imprison dissidents. He was reelected five times in more or less rigged elections. Resistance to his rule culminated in violent riots in 2003 and 2004. To everyone's surprise, free and fair elections were held in 2008, and Maumoon acknowledged the defeat of opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, "Anni". However, by December 2011, the tables had turned. Most of Nasheed's allies had left their government and there were increasing protests against the government. Nasheed resigned in 2012 under murky circumstances and then lost a controversial 2013 election to Maumoon's half-brother, Abdulla Yameen. whose administration has stifled political freedom and imprisoned opposition figures. Nasheed was granted asylum in the UK, but hopes for democracy in the Maldives have been crushed. During his rule, Yameen would withdraw the Maldives from the Commonwealth and shift his foreign policy away from the Maldives' traditional ally, India, and align himself more closely with China in exchange for Chinese investment. The December 26, 2004 tsunami caused extensive damage to the nations. Maldives: Out of a population of just 290,000, more than a third were directly affected by the tsunami and more than 15,000 people were left homeless. The economic damage alone exceeded 62% of GDP or $ 470 million. The immediate response from donors and international agencies mobilized more than $ 400 million in post-disaster aid, much of which was used to help displaced people rebuild their homes and wave-damaged infrastructure. As of December 24, 2010, six years after the tsunami, the number of people living in temporary shelters had decreased from 15,000 to 1,600. In the 2018 elections, Yameen was defeated by opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Despite fears that he would refuse to resign, Yameen publicly admitted the election shortly thereafter and handed over power peacefully to his successor on November 17, 2018. Solih has vowed to roll back some of Yameen's excesses, with plans to rejoin the Commonwealth. as if to reestablish closer ties with India.
Economy
Tourism, the largest industry in the Maldives, accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange earnings. More than 90% of the government's tax revenue comes from import duties and taxes related to tourism. More than 1.7 million tourists visited the islands in 2019. Fishing is the second leading sector. The Government of Maldives initiated an economic reform program in 1989 by eliminating import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and industry continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of arable land and a shortage of domestic labor. Most of the staple foods must be imported. Industry, consisting mainly of shipping, shipbuilding and handicrafts, accounts for around 18% of GDP. The Maldivian authorities are concerned about the impact of erosion and global warming in their lowland country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.
Culture
The Maldivians are fully Sunni Muslim and the local culture is a mix of Sinhalese, South Indian and Arab influences. While alcohol, pork, dogs, and public observance of non-Muslim religions are prohibited on inhabited islands.
Please note that the weekend in Maldives runs from Friday to Saturday, during which time banks, government offices, and many shops are closed. However, you won't notice this in the resorts, except that lunch times can be changed for Friday prayers. The view of Bathala from a boat.
Weather
The Maldives are tropical, with lots of sun and temperatures between 26.4 ° C (79.52 ° F) and 31.5 ° C (88.7 ° F) throughout the year. However, rainfall increases considerably during the southwest monsoon from April to October, particularly from June to November.
Read
- Maldives: Islamic Republic, Tropical Autocracy by JJ Robinson, a journalist who lived in the Maldives during some of the political unrest of the 21st century. As well as an interesting look at what life is like for foreigners in Male and behind-the-scenes staff at resorts, the book offers a detailed and surprisingly readable account of the complex political crises the country experienced between 2008 and 2015.
Regions
The Maldives are an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands made up of 26 atolls, or atholhu in Dhivehi, the source of the English word. These are not individual islands, but giant ring-shaped coral formations hundreds of kilometers wide that have fragmented into countless islands. There are 200 inhabited islands and 154 islands with resorts.
Naming atolls is complex, as atolls have traditional long Dhivehi names like Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi and quick codenames like Baa which refers to administrative regions and may consist of more than one geographic atoll. Code names are the letters of the Dhivehi alphabet, but being easier for non-Maldivians to remember and pronounce, code names are popular in the travel industry and are therefore used here as well. Of the 21 administrative atoll groups, only (parts of) 10 are open to tourism, and from north to south these are: The twenty atolls of the Maldives
| Lhaviyani(Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi) |
| Raa(Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi) |
| Baa(Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi) |
| Kaafu(North and South Male Atoll) | Site of the capital Male and the airport, home to most of the Maldives resorts. |
| Alifu(Ari) | West of Kaafu, the second most popular group. |
| Vaavu(Felidhu) |
| Meemu (Mulak) |
| Faafu | (Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi) |
| Dhaalu | (Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi) |
| Seenu(Addu) | The southernmost atoll, the second largest in population and site of the Gan International Airport. |
The other atolls are Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Noonu, Haa Dhaalu, Laamu, Njyavinani, Shaviyani, and Thaa.
Cities
- Male - the capital and most populated city
- Addu - second largest city in population
- Fuvahmulah - third largest city in population
- Kulhudhuffushi - fourth largest city in population
Other destinations
- Kuredu - one of the inhabited islands of the atollLhaviyani [
- Mathiveri - island belonging to North Ari atoll
- Rasdhoo : small inhabited island and capital of North Ari Atoll
- Thoddoo : an isolated inhabited island that administratively belongs to the North Ari Atoll. It is also the largest watermelon producer in the Maldives.
- Ukulhas - small 1 km long island of the Alif Alif Atoll
To get
Entry requirements
The Maldives has an extraordinarily simple visa policy: all the world You get a free 30-day visa upon arrival, provided you have a passport valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry, a prepaid hotel or accommodation reservation, a departure ticket, and proof of sufficient funds ( US $ 100 $ 50 per day). Check the Maldives immigration website for more details.
It is forbidden to import explosives, weapons, firearms, ammunition, pornographic material, materials considered contrary to Islam, including 'idols for worship' and Bibles, pork and pork products and alcohol into the Maldives, and all luggage is subject to X-ray on arrival. Is prohibited export sand, seashells or coral . All dogs are prohibited in the Maldives. Please refer to the Maldives Customs Service website for details.
By plane
Virtually all visitors arrive at the Velana International Airport (MLEIATA), located on Hulhulé Island right next to the capital, Malé. The airport has a wide range of flights to China, India, Sri Lanka, Dubai and the main airports in Southeast Asia, as well as an increasing number of charter flights from Europe. Many flights stop in Colombo (Sri Lanka) on the way.
Gan airport (GANIATA), on the South Addu Atoll, also serves an international flight to Milan several times a week.
Departure taxes are included in your ticket.
British Airways now fly direct from London Gatwick to Malé during the winter (October to March). There are no direct flights from London Heathrow, however it is possible to get an indirect flight via India or the United Arab Emirates for example.
Singapore Airlines flies daily direct from Singapore to Male, with night schedules.
Boat
There are no regular passenger boats to the Maldives. Even yachts are often kept out of the way, as navigating the reefs is dangerous and permits are expensive. Dogs they are banned in the Maldives. Even if they remain in their boat, the authorities may be extremely You are vague about this commitment, and this can put your dog's life at risk, in case the officials you are dealing with are not sympathetic to your situation. Be sensible and not the lead to any port in Maldives.
Travel
There are four main ways to get around the Maldives: National Flight, ship, seaplane Y private yacht (liveaboard). Boats are the Maldivian equivalent of a car, while seaplanes and private yachts (liveaboards) are mainly reserved for tourists.
Seaplanes prefer not to operate at night, so if you arrive at the airport after dark and are heading to a distant resort, you may need to spend the night in Malé, Hulhumalé, or at the airport hotel in Hulhulé. Private transfers, while expensive, can be opted for resort transfers, rather than spending the whole night in Malé city. Private transfers can cost between US $ 500-800. On the way back, there can also be a significant gap between the time your transfer arrives and the departure of your flight. Check with your resort or travel agent.
By plane
No point in the Maldives is more than 90 minutes by plane from Malé, and visitors from the farthest resorts use air taxi services. There are four main operators: Air blanket, Flyme operates regular flights from Male to Maamigili, Dharavandhoo and Hanimaadhoo, Trans Maldivian Airways It flies DHC-6 Twin Otter seaplanes carrying around 15 passengers. The company schedules most planes at 6 p.m. the previous day. Delays are frequent, it is not uncommon to wait 5 hours in the TMA room. Seaplane scheduled at night is at high risk of being canceled as delays pile up and the sky gets darker, in such cases TMA will have you take a combination of domestic flight and ship, which could cause you to arrive to their destination long after dinner time.
Regular services between the islands are provided by the maldives, which flies from Malé to Gan, Maafaru, Thimarafushi, Dharavandhoo, Funadhoo, Fuvahmulah, Hanimaadhoo, Ifuru, Kaadedhdhoo, Kadhdhoo, kooddoo, Kudahuvadhoo and Kulhudhuffushi. Travel permits are no longer required.
Boat
Taxis generally take tourists to and from the islands of the North and South Male atolls. They come in different shapes and sizes depending on the quality of the resort you are staying in, and the Four Seasons has a large enclosed motor cruise with drinks and food, while the smaller resorts have fishing boats. sideways dhoni open.
The public ferries of dhoni and cargo ships are available for the more independent and budget conscious. The main operator is MTCC, which lists hours and rates on its website.
The previous system of requiring written invitations and Inter-Atoll Travel Permits (IATP) for those wishing to visit other islands has been abolished, now you can travel wherever you want. IATP still required if you want to dock your own yacht, see customs for more details.
To buy
Money
| Maldivian Rufiyaa Exchange Rates As of January 2020:
Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available at XE.com |
The local currency is rufiyaa from Maldives, indicated by the symbol " Rf "or "MFR" (ISO code: MVR ). It is divided into 100 laari. However, by law, resorts value services in US dollars and require payment in hard currency (or credit card), so there is no need to exchange money if you are spending all your time in the resorts. Most hotels have a shop, but this is limited to diving and vacation essentials (sunscreen, sarongs, disposable cameras, etc.). Some excursions from the resorts will take you to local islands where there are handicraft items to buy, but these are generally made outside the Maldives and sold at significant profit margins.
If you are heading to the city of Male or the other inhabited atolls, changing some rufiyaa will be useful. The coins, in particular, are quite attractive and make an interesting souvenir in their own right, but the smaller denominations are rarely used or seen. The rufiyaa is pegged to the US dollar within a 20% band, but it is practically 15: 1. US dollars are almost universally accepted - stores generally change them to 15: 1 or 10: 1.
Tips
Tipping is not mandatory in the Maldives, as a 10% service charge is added to everything, although it is not certain that the money will be transferred to the staff.
Over the years, the tipping culture has changed in the Maldives, mainly due to foreign visitors giving different amounts of cash as tips.
Costs
Maldives is expensive for those with comfort and service oriented tourism in mind. Resorts have a monopoly on services for their guests and charge accordingly: for mid-range resorts, € 942 (US $ 1000) per week per couple is a conservative budget for food, drinks and excursions, in addition to the cost of flights. and accommodation. Virtually anything, including hotel rooms if booked locally, has a 10% "service charge" added, but tips are expected as well.
For an adventurous traveler who has time, the Maldives can be a very affordable and rewarding experience, with prices comparable to Malaysia. Several inhabited islands have guesthouses with typical prices of € 25-40 per room. On more remote islands, it is possible to rent rooms in villages for even less. The food is cheap and the fish curry is delicious. Public ferries will take you between different islands on the same atoll for a few US dollars (although for less obvious locations, there will generally be 1 ferry per day and there will be no ferries on Fridays). For transfers to remote atolls, you can negotiate with cargo ships, which would often carry people for € 14-38, depending on the destination. Cargo ships do not have schedules and depart when loaded. 1 boat can be expected in 1-3 days for each atoll.
It is important to note that staying on inhabited islands implies respecting strict Muslim rules which include no alcohol, modest dress, reserved behavior. However, the locals are very welcoming and the experience can be much more profound and rewarding than staying in resorts.
Eat and drink
To eat
All resorts are self-contained, so they have at least one restaurant, generally serving the kind of cuisine their guests expect (i.e. modern European or generic Asian). Breakfast is almost always included, and most resorts offer the option of half pension, which means you get a buffet dinner and full board, which means you get a buffet lunch and dinner. These can limit the damage compared to a la carte orders, but your options are often very limited and drinks are often not covered, not even water. If you plan to drink a lot, it may be worth going with all inclusive, but even this usually restricts you to house drinks.
The only other place to find food is the city of Male. This comes in two forms. Or small restaurants aimed at tourists (of which there are a couple of good Thai restaurants), which are often expensive, or small cafes called hotaa, which sell local Maldivian food at prices as low as Rf20 (US $ 6) for a full meal.
Maldivian cuisine
A typical Maldivian food: cakes masroshi, fish curry more riha, paaparu, grilled fish, rice and sweet black tea.
Maldivian food mainly revolves around the fish (more), in particular the tuna (kandu more), and draws heavily on South Indian tradition, especially Kerala. Dishes are typically hot, spicy, and coconut flavored, but use very few vegetables. A traditional meal consists of rice, a clear fish broth called garudhiya and garnishes of lemon, chili and onion. The curries known as riha are also popular and rice is often complemented with roshi , unleavened bread similar to roti indian, and paaparu , the Maldivian version of crispy Indian poppadums. Some other common dishes include:
- more huni - flaked smoked fish with grated coconuts and onions, the most common breakfast in the Maldives
- fihunu more - grilled fish bathed with chili
- bambukeylu hiti - breadfruit curry
The sandwiches called hedhikaa, almost always based on fish and fried, can be found in any restaurant in the Maldives.
- bajiya - puff pastry filled with fish, coconut and onion
- gulha - puff pastry balls stuffed with smoked fish
- keemia - fried fish rolls
- kulhi borkibaa - spicy fish cake
- masroshi - more huni wrapped in bread roshi and baked
- theluli more - fried fish with chilli and garlic
To drink
As the Maldives are Muslim, alcohol is prohibited in the local population. However, almost all the resorts, the ships that live on board and the Hulhulé Island Hotel (on the same island as the airport) are licensed to serve it, usually with a marked profit margin.
Tap water in resorts may or may not be drinkable - check with management. Bottled water is exorbitantly priced, typically US $ 5 / bottle.
external links
Wikipedia has an article on Maldives.w: Maldives
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Maldives. Commons
