Often described as 'one of the wonders of the world', the islands of the Maldives have to be seen to be believed.
It's a country made up of more than 1,000 islands, unique atolls formed from the coral barrier reefs that surround each one, encircled by the most magnificent white sands and lapped by crystal clear lagoons that are brimming with marine life.
The Maldives has been populated for the past 3,000 years and its people are a mixture of travellers who settled there from all over the world. Its fascinating culture combines African music with South Asian cuisine and many traditions are directly related to the seas its people have depended on for centuries.
Geography
The Republic of Maldives lies south of India and west of Sri Lanka, on the equator, and its 1,190 coral islands form a collection of 26 major atolls that stretch 820km north to south, and 120km east to west, deep in the Indian Ocean. Just over 200 islands are inhabited and 87 are dedicated to exclusive resorts. It's a nation with less than one per cent land mass over 99 per cent sea with no island longer than about 7km or higher than 1.3m above water level.
Language
Dhivehi is the most common language in the Maldives, but English is also widely spoken and there is little problem with visitors making themselves understood. A variety of languages are spoken by the resort island staff including English, French, German, Italian and even some Japanese.
Climate
The Maldives sits in the calm equatorial belt and the temperature remains at a steady 30 degrees Centigrade, with sunshine all year round. The driest months are from December to April, and the sun is at its hottest from February to April and coolest in December. The most humid months run from May to November.
Health
No vaccinations are required unless visitors are travelling from areas where yellow fever is endemic, in which case proof of yellow fever vaccination is required. Almost all resort islands have a resident doctor and decompression chambers are within easy reach for diving emergencies.
Spas
Travellers seeking a pampering break can be spoiled in the Maldives, home to numerous excellent spas. Some are owned and managed by resorts, others are well known spa chains operating within the hotels. There are a huge number of services on offer, often combining traditional Asian therapies with classic European spa techniques.
Shopping
The place to shop on the Maldives is Male.
* Majeedhee Magu, the main road on the island, for well-stocked shops selling just about everything including clothing, jewellery, cosmetics, watches, electronics and more, open until 11pm.
* Local market on the northern waterfront for stalls selling fruit, vegetables, homemade sweets, pickles and dried fish.
* Chaandhanee Magu, the second main road on the island, for souvenir shops, many selling items from Singapore.
Dress code
The Maldives is Muslim and, while the dress code is European-style on the resort islands (although topless bathing is strictly forbidden), women would be advised to dress moderately while walking in Male.
Money matters
The Maldivian currency is the rufiyaa, which is divided into 100 laarees. The US dollar is the most commonly used foreign currency and resort islands accept most hard currency cash, as well as travellers' cheques. The majority of resorts are authorised money changers and credit cards are widely accepted in hotels and most restaurants, including American Express, Visa, Master Card, Diners Club and Euro Card.
Most banks are in Male and open from 8am to 1.30pm Sunday to Thursday, or 9.30 to 12.30pm during Ramazan (Ramadan).
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://come-and-read.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
