| Maldives - beautiful and tranquil honeymoon destination |
 Experience the tranquility of the Maldives sun, sand and sea, a thousand Robinson Crusoe islands, massive lagoons with different depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise, a perfect natural combination for the ideal tropical honeymoon destination. However there is more to the Maldives than just that.The Republic of Maldives lies 220 miles off the south west of India. The 1,190 string of coral atolls or islands of the Maldives is also a major destination for scuba divers, who come for the fabulous reefs and the wealth of marine life. There are a number of luxury resorts and the islands are internationally recognised as a model for sustainable, eco-friendly tourist development. Where to Stay
Approx flight time Around 10 hours flight time from London Visa requirements Required, granted on arrival. An official license is required for import of alcohol. Alcohol is available in all the resorts and not sold / available in Male’. Health risks Polio Tetanus Typhoid Hepatitis A Recommended. Rabies, Dipheria, Hepatitis B Sometimes Recommended Getting there Several airlines fly to the Maldives and these include Emirates, Sri Lankan Airlines, AIR 2000 and Monarch. Best time to go Generally warm and humid. Sun shines all year through. Average temperature around 29 - 32 degrees Celsius. The warm tropical climate results in relatively minor variations in daily temperature throughout the year. The hottest month on average is April and the coolest, December. What to wear Not much! Be prepared to discard foot wear when arriving on the resort islands as many resorts are entirely sand floored. In Male’, the capital island and other inhabited islands it is recommended that women wear modest clothing without baring too much. Things to do Not only do you discover aspects of the planet denied to most people, but you make a lot of good friends as well! The Maldives is famed for its rare underwater beauty. The profusion of psychedelic colours and the abundance and variety of life underwater have fascinated divers and swimmers since Maldives was discovered as a diving destination. The highest level of visibility that one could expect- sometimes exceeding 50 metres - and warm temperatures throughout the year makes diving in the Maldives a delight you would want to experience over and over again. The Maldives has some of the best dive sites in the world and many visit the Maldives repeatedly for the sole purpose of diving. All resorts in the Maldives have professional dive schools with multi-lingual instructors and conduct courses for beginners as well as the advanced. Culture A proud history and rich culture evolved from the first settlers who were from various parts of the world travelling the seas in ancient times.  The Maldives has been a melting pot of different cultures as people from different parts of the world came here and settled down. Some of the local music and dance for instance resemble African influences, with hand beating of drums and songs in a language that is not known to any but certainly represents that of East African countries. As one would expect there is a great South Asian influence in some of the music and dancing and especially in the traditional food of the Maldivians. However many of the South Asian customs especially with regard to women - for instance the Sub Continent’s tradition of secluding women from public view - are not tenets of life here. In fact women play a major role in society.Religion Since Maldives embraced Islam in 1153, Island has been central to the life of Maldivians. The main events and festivals of Maldivian life follow the Muslim Calendar. Language Dhivehi is the language spoken in all parts of the Maldives. English is widely spoken by Maldivians and visitors can easily make themselves understood getting around the capital island. In the resorts, a variety of languages are spoken by the staff. Currency The Maldivian currency is the Rufiyaa and Laaree. One Rufiyaa is equivalent to 100 laarees. Payments in the resorts and hotels can be made in most hard currency in cash, travellers’ cheques or credit cards. Commonly used credit cards are American Express, Visa, Master Card, Diners Club, JCB and Euro Card. Local Time GMT + 5 hours Electricity The electric system is 230-240 Volts –AC Shopping Shopping is the favourite activity for the locals especially in the evenings, when it is cooler. The Majeedhee Magu, which is the main road on Male island, has along its sides various shops selling goods from the smallest commodities to virtually everything you could think of. The shops are well stocked, best buys include the ‘thudu kuna’ the Maldivian mat woven with local natural fibers. Attractive too are the wooden miniature ‘dhonis’.Many find it a pleasant experience to join the throngs of shoppers on the main shopping streets in the evenings. All shops are open until 11.00 in the night, except for prayer times, when they are closed for 15 minutes. However as many resorts are too far for a day trip by boat, you may not be able to travel to the main island. Then again you are on your Honeymoon and shopping might not be on your list of priorities! |