Friendships - The Maldives
the adventures
"Let's go discover the 'real' Maldives!"
I have always desired to visit the 'Garland of Islands'. With more than 1,000 islands spread across a geographical area of around 90,000 sq km, the largely Muslim Maldives are among the most dispersed countries in the world.
And, with an average ground level elevation of less than 1.5 metres above sea level, the Maldives are the planet's lowest country. The islands are therefore extremely vulnerable to tsunamis, flooding and other challenges associated with rising sea levels. Like several other countries, the Maldives were heavily impacted by the Asian Tsunami of 2004.
In exploring the different parts of this very dispersed island nation and forming personal relationships with the local communities, we have been able to start building trust, gain better insights into Maldivian culture, and also understand how to help the communities be better prepared.
Equally important, our adventures among the rustic island communities have allowed us to authentically experience and understand the 'real' Maldives, beyond the popular perception of the Maldives as a collection of picture-perfect (and expensive) island resorts in the sun.
