Joanna James
The Maldives, an archipelago made up of 26 atolls, is cherished by tourists. Nurtured by the Indian Ocean and dotted with palm trees, the Maldives is a tropical haven for those who love sunshine.
The first thing anyone needs to know about the Maldives is that it is a conservative country. With that understanding, a tourist could avoid a lot of trouble. There's a set of rules you must follow; however, they don't apply when you are at Maldives villas. Beaches are the main attraction here, and almost every activity is linked to the beach or the sea. The Maldives accommodation tends to be on the pricey side, but there's a wide range of options to choose from. The likes of Grand Park Kodhipparu are the kind of accommodation you are likely to find here.
The state religion is Islam, and other faiths aren't tolerated here. Keeping texts that belong to other religions in your possession means trouble. Your luggage will be screened at the airport to make sure you don't have any.
Tourists are allowed to consume alcohol as long as they remain within the resort premises. You are not allowed to drink or be drunk in public. If you get caught, it could mean jail time. What's more, you are not allowed to bring any alcohol into the country.
Tourists are advised to dress modestly while in the Maldives. You can wear comfortable clothes when at the resort, but when heading out, make sure you wear something that covers your shoulders and knees. Being clad in one's swimsuit at public beaches isn't allowed. You can be in your swimsuit at the resort's beach; however, topless bathing isn't allowed anywhere in the country.
If you are visiting during the holy month, you need to take special care not to offend the locals. Make sure you don't eat or drink anything when in public. While it isn't prohibited by law, you'll risk offending the locals' sensibilities if you consume food around them.
Aside from the terrorist bombing in 2007, there hasn't been any other incident of significance. In Male, however, there's a bit of civil rest, and tourists are advised to check the current state before visiting Male. You need to listen to the news and local reports regularly to be aware of what's going on in the country.
Tourists aren't exactly encouraged to visit non-resort islands. This is partly because the government wants to monitor the income derived from tourism. The other reason is that the government doesn't want locals mingling with the tourists; this is because they fear that foreigners might influence the locals' conservative beliefs. If you must visit the non-resort islands, an island-hopping tour is recommended. A licensed tour guide will accompany you on the tour and keep you from encountering any troublesome situations.
In the Maldives, transport is done by either ferry, seaplane, or domestic flight. There really isn't anything you need to worry about; however, you need to be a little alert when travelling by boat. Some boats are in disrepair. There aren't any specific instructions you should follow when getting around in the Maldives, but you should always trust your gut feeling.
Theft is a reported crime here. If you leave something on the beach, you might not find it when you come back. So, don't leave your valuables anywhere unattended. Use the safety deposit box provided to you by the hotel to store your valuables.
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.
