Friendships - The Maldives (I)
the adventure
"What a Robinson Crusoe experience!"
The invitation to this Robinson Crusoe adventure came from a friend who ran a boutique tour business in the Maldives. He was planning to explore a chain of small remote islands in the South-Western region, and invited a few of us to come along. Some of the islands were populated by poor Maldivian communities, while the other islands were largely uninhabited.
So, this Robinson Crusoe-ish island trekking adventure would involve trekking on foot, wading, swimming, boating, fishing and camping across the island chain. Most importantly, we would be visiting these island communities in order to befriend them.
What a memorable and interesting adventure this turned out to be! We spent most of our time ashore, wading and trekking from island to island, discovering a great deal about the local environment, the people's culture and how to live off the land. A local fishing boat followed us at sea, providing logistics support. From time to time, we would return to the boat to, what else, fish for food!
In the evenings, we would usually pick an uninhabited island, set up our camping tents, gather firewood, and cook our catch of the day. Sometimes, it rained heavily; other times, we bore the full-on blaze of the sun.
As we visited and mingled with the many small island communities, we began to discover that life in the 'real' Maldives presented a vastly different picture from what we would normally see in resort brochures and glossy adverts. Real Maldivian life can be difficult and harsh, with prospects for the future poor and job opportunities scarce. The family fabric is also tenuous - it is not uncommon for husbands to be working and living for long periods on one island, while their wives and children live on another, and their respective extended families on yet other islands. As such, the Maldivians experience very high divorce rates.
This Robinson Crusoe adventure across the islands enabled us to experience many authentic elements of the Maldives, allowing us a glimpse into actual local Maldivian life and struggles, as well as the blemishes and natural beauty of the Maldives. We'll be back!
