Joanna James
Maldives is one of the most visited places in the world. However, if you visit this country, you should know about the nightlife scene here. Here are some of the things you didn't know about drinking and partying in Maldives.
In Maldives, rainfall is the only source of freshwater that is naturally available. The collected water is stored in aquifers which are located under each island. Saving water is a part of the culture of Maldives. However, any 3 and 4 star resort in Maldives would give each guest two bottles of water everyday. Taking water from the inhabited island is a punishable offense in the Maldivian archipelago. What's more is that each resort is given a desalination plant so they can supply enough water for the guests visiting. Locals are surprised how the foreigners use water because for them, it is almost as thrice as they use.
The legal drinking age is 18 in Maldives. However, as Maldives is an Islamic country, alcohol is banned for locals. However, all resorts and liveaboards are given permission to serve liquor throughout the day and the price of alcohol is pretty high. For Maldivian locals, fermented coconut toddy is the closest replacement for alcohol. The toddy is taken from the palm trees and it is a sweet drink with a pungent smell. There is a toddy man for every village. This can be made slightly alcoholic by letting the sugar ferment. This toddy is called 'raa' and if you are planning on staying in an inhabited island, this might be the only drink you will be offered.
Even though alcohol is banned, non-alcoholic beer is extremely popular among locals, especially in Male and the islands where there so many foreigners. Soft drinks such as Coca-cola is much cheaper in the stores in Maldives. Tea and milk with 'hakuru' (sugar) are available in shops. These are the only beverages that can be found outside resorts. Everywhere except the resorts and liveaboards are free of liquor. Contraband alcohol can be found in some of the islands but it is of very bad quality and not a bright idea altogether.
Any resort the likes of Kurumba Maldives can provide its visitors with unlimited liquor. You can hit the bars at any time of the day and you can get as many drinks as you like. However, the alcohol is priced at premiums and it's often higher than the normal price. You can get yourself discounts if you have an all-inclusive package.
The nightlife in Maldives is not very significant. There aren't many independent clubs you can visit but, some of the resorts have clubs in them. They too are high-end clubs and you will be paying premium prices for everything. Those who visit Maldives search for exotic beaches to spend their vacation with romance and relaxation and nightclubs are not very popular among the tourists. That is one of the reasons not to have any clubs here and of course, the strict religious background.
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.
