Visit Male capital of the Maldives
Since Sunday we have made you discover the Maldives, this corner of paradise.
The Maldives, as we have seen together, is a paradise for lovers, surfers, lovers of the seabed, but it is also a Male capital.
Male is a city and that’s saying something! It has more than 120,000 inhabitants in an area of less than 2 square kilometers, or just over half of Central Park. It is therefore one of the most densely populated capitals in the world, in a country with fewer than 550,000 inhabitants.
The seat of government, the nerve center and the only traffic jam in the whole country, Malé is a city struggling to grow. Currently, 30% of its area has already been reclaimed from the ocean and that is not the end of it. Located in the North Male Atoll, it can be easily visited in 1 day from the hotel islands located in the adjacent atolls.
Its main places of interest are:
– The large fish market, where you will find all the fruits of traditional fishing, because in the Maldives net fishing is prohibited. Very popular with tourists. From 3 p.m. the market comes alive. We cut the fish in front of your eyes, soul and sensitive nose, be warned.
– The great mosque in immaculate white marble surmounted by its large golden dome.
– The Sultan’s Park, which adjoins the Royal Palace, a vast wooded park, ideal for spending a quiet moment in the bustling capital.
Malé is an electric break in your trip to the Maldives.
The Male ‘Tour is unique. Male ‘must be among the smallest capitals in the world. Explore the streets of this small and unique island town on a tour led by experienced local tour guides. Watch fishermen unload their catch at the bustling local fish market or wander the aisles of colorful Maldivian consumer goods at the local market. Although Malé is not the shopping capital of the world, you will find many enthusiastic vendors eager to show you around their souvenir shops.
Visit a local island
Each resort offers one or more excursions to island villages. Depending on the distance from your hotel to the island to be discovered, the time varies, but generally allow a half-day visit.
Setting foot on a local island means stepping into the other side of the mirror and discovering the typical Maldivian way of life outside the capital.
I invite you to show great respect for the locals you meet. Only photograph them with their consent and do not enter their homes uninvited.
Most of the islands have a similar configuration: houses made of coral for the most traditional and raw concrete for the others. In the heart of the village there is invariably a mosque, usually closed to visitors, and a school open to the public. The literacy rate in the Maldives is close to 100% and children learn Dhivehi, the local language, but also English from an early age.
In the main street of the village, you can buy souvenirs like tea, spices or wooden carvings in the few shops which specially open their doors on your arrival. Don’t look for small restaurants or bistros to have a drink, there simply aren’t any.
Maldivians are very welcoming, do not hesitate to speak with them to get to know them better (in English, of course).
As the islands peak at less than one meter above sea level, this trip is an opportunity to see the effects of global warming for those on the front lines and also to talk to them about it. A very enriching experience.
Stay connected, from tomorrow we will take you to discover other places in Paradise
