Listly by Joanna James
The Maldives is a sought after travel destination and there is no surprise in this as it is one of the most stunning locations in the world with an array of different activities and attractions.
With a mere two meters above sea level, the Maldives is one of the lowest countries in the world and is also at risk of sinking when the sea levels rise due to global warming.
The Maldives was initially a Buddhist country after it was discovered by neighbouring Sri Lanka. However, in 1153 AD the country was converted to Islam and has been so since then.
The country is conservative so it is important to be mindful of your clothing, behaviour, and mannerism when you are in the Maldives. If you are staying at Atmosphere Kanifushi or any other private hotel or resort you can wear bathing suits and bikinis within the premises but at public pools, you will have to wear a coverup.
Bringing in alcohol to the Maldives is a punishable offense and it is important to keep this in mind when travelling to the islands. You will not be able to find any shops that sell alcohol in public shopping malls or supermarkets but hotels and resorts play by their own rules so they will have spirits and liquor on their menus.
Due to religious reasons, pork is not a meat option that will be found in the restaurants or shops in the country which are public places. You might be able to find pork available at some of the hotels and resorts that are located on individual islands.
If you are shopping then there are numerous shopping malls to get your hands on branded items but if you are looking for unique products you can find them at the different outdoor and night markets that take place daily.
Even if you are staying at a Maldives luxury resort or you are trying out food from a roadside street food cart you will absolutely love the dishes in the Maldives, Influenced by India, Sri Lanka, and Arabic countries the cuisine is absolutely enjoyable for all three meals.
Since the country is an Arabic country and Friday is dedicated to going to the mosque Friday and Saturday act as the weekend in the Maldives. When you are visiting public locations remember the weekend so you can avoid crowds.
There are so many different water sports you can try that you will not run out of outdoor activities in the Maldives. Diving, surfing, snorkelling, jet-skiing, parasailing, banana boat riding, boogie boarding are just a few of the water sports you can find in the different islands.
With a thousand different islands that form the country, it is an exciting activity that has developed over the years. The different atolls the islands belong to are popular for a variety of reasons so people are able to experience all of them when they go island hopping.