Joanna James
Maldives is one of the most visited tourist locations in the world, and apart from its obvious natural attractions, Maldives also has a rich culture and traditions that most of us don't know of.
Though it thrives in tourism, Maldives is one of the poorest developing countries in the world and its extremely low elevation levels make it an easy target for global warming.
The Republic of Maldives is an archipelago of 26 atolls that houses 1,190 islands and the two closest countries to Maldives are Sri Lanka and India. Male is the capital of Maldives and almost all the islands are close to the atoll enclosure reefs and some of the islands are still in the process of becoming one.
The climate is tropical and mostly warm with yearly monsoons that bring dry winds and rainfall. Not much can be grown on these islands due to the alkalinity levels in the soil but some vegetables, fruits, and trees do survive.
Narrow streets and houses made from thatched palm can be found around the islands, and the richer build their houses with crushed corals and tiled roofs. Resorts and Maldives 5 star hotels can be easily found on almost every island, like the Adaaran Prestige Vadoo and a few others.
The land in Male is owned by the state and is given free to the island origin families to build houses while the land in the other tourist islands is mostly leased out.
The major source of income for the country is tourism and fishing follows closely after. Frozen food, dried tuna, canned fish, shark fins and fish meals are the main exports and the countries who bought from Maldives were the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore and the United States.
Maldivians are taught to respect the elders and the educated, and they live with an Islamic code of conduct with close ties to family.
Maldives has schools, both for Divehi and English, but if you want a higher education like a college degree, you have to go abroad as there are no universities yet.
Islam is the national religion and the only religion in fact. No other religions are allowed and every Maldivian belongs to the Sunni sector. Citizenship in Maldives requires that you be a Muslim and most of the national holidays in the islands are based on the Islamic calendar too. The people believe in an afterlife, hell, and heaven and strictly adhere to the rules of the religion to avoid being unfaithful.
The infant mortality rates have reduced dramatically due to the improved healthcare systems in the country and the life expectancy has increased from 61 to 71 in the past 20 years.
Narrow streets and houses made from thatched palm can be found around the islands, and the richer build their houses with crushed corals and tiled roofs. Resorts and Maldives 5 star hotels can be easily found on almost every island, like the Adaaran Prestige Vadoo and a few others.
The land in Male is owned by the state and is given free to the island origin families to build houses while the land in the other tourist islands is mostly leased out.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
