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	Maldives

Beach in the Maldives

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Sun, sand and sea, a thousand ‘Robinson Crusoe’ islands, massive lagoons with different depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise, dazzling underwater coral gardens; a perfect natural combination for the ideal tropical holiday destination. However there is more to the Maldives than just that.

The Maldives is a cluster of 1190 islands spread over 26 atolls, located on the equator, southwest of Sri Lanka . The capital of the country is Malé, which has a population of 75000.

When to go?

- Weather: Maldives weather is generally warm and humid. Sun shines all year through. Average temperature around 29 - 32 degrees Celsius. The best time to go is between November and April. The rainy season is from May to August.

- Climate: The Maldives have a hot tropical climate. There are two monsoons, the southwest from May to October and the northeast from November to April. Generally the southwest brings more wind and rain in June and July. The temperature rarely falls below 25°C (77°F). The best time to visit is November to April.

Clothing

What to wear and when: Official regulations do not allow public nudity anywhere in the Maldives . Even on a privately booked safari vessel, decent bikinis and swimming trucks are needed.
Wear decent swimwear. Avoid offending one's fellow holidaymakers. At in-house restaurants, bars and the like, use casual tropical wear. Light cotton worn with light sandals work beautifully.
When visiting inhabited islands. Please wear garments that cover your body from the torso to the knees. If you plan to make any formal visits locally, wear formal.

Important travel notes

- Airport: the International Airport into the Maldives is Malé (MLE).

- Credit cards: The most commonly used credit cards are American Express, Visa, Master Card, Diners Club, JCB and Euro Card.

- Currency & Exchange: the Maldives Rufiyaa (MVR). On 04/04/2007, 1 EUR = 17 MVR. A Rufiya is equal to 100 laarees (coins). The Rufiyaa comes in the following denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500. The American Dollar is the most common foreign currency. Payments in the resorts can be made in most hard currencies in cash, traveller's cheques or credit cards.

- Customs: Non-Islamic religious materials, including religious statues, are prohibited, but Bibles for personal use are permitted. Pornographic materials are banned and pork products are restricted. Dogs may not be brought into the country and many hotels and resorts do not allow pets. The import of alcohol into the Maldives is strictly prohibited, although alcoholic beverages are legally available at tourist resorts. Liquor purchased in-flight or at duty frees elsewhere will be held in Customs bond for collection upon departure.

- Electricity: 220-40V, 50 Hz.

- Mobile phone: Mobile Phones work on the GSM European standard; make sure you have made the necessary 'roaming' arrangements before you leave home.

- Internet Access: most resorts offer Internet facilities and there are many Internet cafes in Malé.

- Language: Dhivehi is the language of the Maldives, but English is also widely spoken by Maldivians. Resorts have employees that speak most languages including English, German, French, Italian and Japanese.

- Passport and Visa: A valid passport and an onward or return ticket entitle the visitor to a free visit visa on arrival, valid for 30 days for those staying in a resort hotel. A local sponsor can also aid in extending the stay. An airport departure tax of USD 10 has to be paid on leaving the country.

- Telephone: The country code for the Maldives is 960.

- Time: GMT/UTC +5.

- Tipping is discouraged in the Maldives. Unofficially, if the service is good - and it usually is - it's quite customary to tip room staff and waiters in your resort. US$10 per week is a suitable amount. A few resorts add a 10% service charge, in which case there's no need to tip. Bargaining is limited to tourist shops in and around Singapore Bazaar in Male้ and at island village souvenir shops where prices are not fixed.

Transport in the Maldives

The Maldives cannot survive without boats and there are many. Let us first look at a few.
The star performer is the traditional and ubiquitous dhoni. Each traditional dhoni is a unique vessel hand-built by a master craftsman even though a mass-produced fiberglass version has recently been introduced. Built of strong wooden planks, shaped round a strong wooden frame, the dhoni is built to sail in all seas. They are used fishing vessels and as inter-island ferries throughout the Maldives . Traditionally sporting a versatile lateen sail, the dhoni has also married well with the marine diesel engine and has become the workhouse of even the tourism industry.
Then there is the powerboat. In a country where the international airport is on an island all by itself, where the entire tourist resorts are on separate islands, the speedboat reigns King. It also performs well in recreation.
Getting around in the Maldives is not restricted to a boat though. Sea planes offer an even faster and scenic alternative.
On some of the bigger islands, especially on the capital island of Male ' the latest sports cars compete with motorcycles, scooters and the sedate taxi. And it is quite probable that the world record for bicycle=per-capita is held by the Maldives !

Do not miss!

Officially, Malé comprises Malé Island, the international airport island of Hulhulé and the Satellite island of Villingili . It is Malé Island that you must visit.
Malé provides employment for about 75000 people, roughly a quarter of the population of the entire country, on about two square Kilometers of land on which there is no natural source of fresh water! Yet, Malé manages is amazingly green, peaceful, clean and even graceful.
As you approach Malé from the north, the first note the number of cargo vessels anchored in the outer harbor. The Maldives imports just about all its basic life requirements. The inner harbor is chock full of speedboats and traditional dhoni. Note the abundance of high-rise buildings in the amazingly green landscape.
There is much to see on Malé. If you are interested in buildings, ask your guide for the Presidential Palace, the Islamic Center, old Friday Mosque and surrounding graveyard ( a must for the history/architecture buff!)
If you are interested in what infrastructure keeps Malé going, visit the Malé South West Harbor, the artificial breakwater on the southern and western shores, the STELCO power generating facility and the MWSC desalination and sewerage treatment facility. Prior arrangements need to be made to visit these sites.
If you want shopping, the Local Market, the fish market and the souvenir shops are a must. Ask your guide for other interests.