Local traditions and culture in Maldives

4 more images

If you are ever in the fortunate position to be invited to a private home in the Maldives – lose the shoes! Yep, you must remove your shoes outside to show respect to your host(s) and their home.

4 more images

The Maldives is an Islamic country and they do fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. It is the 9th month of a lunar calendar, which means it changes every year. If your tour organised has not let you know, please check the link below. Staff will fast during the day, so please be considerate. If you don’t have to; do not drink or eat in front of the nice folks who work in your resort. At the very least is shows respect.

4 more images

When is the best time to come here? Well, it all depends. If you want it to be hot – it’s hot. Every day of the year. In fact the Maldives sits on the equator. Then you have seasons. The dry season is always fully booked and expensive. The wet season is cheaper and you can get some ‘bargains’. The dry season is between December and April with February and March the driest months of the year. Not to hard to guess that this the ‘High’ tourist season. The wet season runs between April and October and also gets high winds. The best months for diving are in November and April.
Having said that – this is the tropics. You could get drenched in the middle of the dry season and have sunny weeks during the wet. Expect perfection and you just wasted an expensive journey here. I always recommend going in the first or last month of the wet season. Its cheaper and you still get loads of good days.
For the record I went the first week of June and had one washed out day.

4 more images

The Maldives were originally settled by Buddhists from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) around the year 400 AD. Later they began to trade with Arab traders who left a lasting influence. The last Buddhist king of the Maldives converted to Islam in the year 1153. Portuguese Capt. Lourenço de Almeida arrived in 1507 and began the Portuguese colonisation of the islands. From 1645 – 1796 it became a Dutch protectorate. From 1796 – 1965 it then became a British protectorate. On 26 Jul 1965 it finally gained Independence, but as a Sultanate. In March 1968 a national referendum was held and the Sultanate was abolished and the Maldives became a republic.

4 more images

In my travels across the world I have found that the ‘Thumbs Up’ sign is the only universally optimistic and non-insulting hand gesture there is. Unfortunately in diving – it means GOING UP! And some divers may think you want them to surface. Start practicing the ‘OK’ hand symbol. Except in Brazil. They will hurt you if you do that.

2 more images

One of the excursion during stay in Maldives is a visit to the local village. The local villages are islands where only local people live and usually there's no resorts on them.
It is a nice visit, as you can see how they live and you may meet also their children that are so cute! Also you can shop for souvenirs in their local stores where souvenirs cost a lot less then on your resort!
During our stay in Vilu Reef resort we have gone for a visit of a village on the island called Meedoo.

The Geckos are small reptiles, who are everywhere on the island.
They are named Hoanu, in the local speech.
If you have not a room with climate installation, you can see on the ceiling and on the walls, many Geckos that try to find insects.
The more Geckos are in rooms, the fewer insects there are.

4 more images

Every day about 10 pm, the sharks are fed.
The young sharks get their lining from the keepers and from the tourists.
It is like a small spectacle for the curious gazes.
The tourists have the possibility to support this activity, in which they help the keepers.
This happens every evening, by the terrace of Thai restaurant Sun Star.