The Maldives
Well folks, it’s been quite a while since I last posted. We’ve been spending our time outfitting our new apartment with additional furnishings. Our new blinds & curtains will be installed today, which will really transform the place. I get my official Emirates ID today as well, something you need for almost anything important here. Enough on the domestic stuff. Many exciting posts to follow in the days ahead . . . .
On Saturday, we travel to the Maldives!
They are only a 4 hour flight from Dubai. The Maldives are an archipelago of 1192 islands in the Indian Ocean, located 500 miles southwest of Sri Lanka. They occupy an area 510 miles north to south, and 80 miles east to west. These islands are part of 26 atolls, sunken peaks to ancient volcanoes (hence their circular shape). There are 544,000 people who reside on 200 of the islands. Of the 35,000 square miles of land, only 115 square miles are actually inhabited. Understandably, with its signature over-the-water bungalow villas, tourism accounts for 90% of their GDP. Home to some of the best snorkeling/scuba diving in the world, the Maldivian reefs account for 5% of those on the planet and contain over 1000 fish species, as well as an extensive population of sea turtles and manta rays.
We are staying on Hurawalhi Island, part of the Lhaviyani atoll, a 40 minute (92 mile) sea plane flight from the capital of Malé. Hurawalhi occupies 16 acres with surrounding lagoon and house reef. It boasts the world’s largest all glass undersea restaurant (wait a second . . . is this in Dubai?!). Needless to say, I will be taking a lot of photos and posting daily. So, stay tuned! In the meantime, some pics of the Maldives . . .
The Maldivian flag. They’ve been an independent country since 1965.
An interesting side note: Arguably the most famous atoll in the world, Bikini Atoll is located in the Marshall Islands. It is the site of 28 US nuclear tests from 1946 to 1958. Five days after the first test, French designer Louis Réard introduced a new swimsuit named after the ill fated atoll. Apparently, it was a real bombshell! Believe it or not, Bikini Atoll still exists today, despite having the nuclear shit kicked out of it 28 times. However, it is uninhabitable due radiation levels).
Love the turtle! And the restaurant looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat turtle photo won an award a year or two ago - best comedic wildlife photo
DeleteWill you see Sponge Bob and his friends when you dine under the sea?
DeleteYes, at Bikini Bottom!
DeleteWow very impressive. Looking forward to the pictures. Is that also where they tested the bomb on naval ships and if so can you give on them?
ReplyDeleteMake that "Dive on them"
DeleteNot sure about the ships. Regardless, the radiation would prohibit diving (for the next 300”yrs)
Delete3000yrs I meant to say. On the pictures, I’m psyched to use the new Nikon Z but I realized that I totally screwed myself by posting all of those professional photos. Stay tuned for amateur hour!
DeleteHello Greg, have you ever counted the number of miles that separate you from Maine. Make the most of the trips. Know that every day I look at your blok. How lucky you are, it is andré who says it. I hope to receive many pictures where are you?
ReplyDeleteThere are 7000 miles to my airport in Boston. We fly over Maine and can sometimes identify the coastline, depending upon my location on the plane. So, our home in Maine is roughly 6800 miles from Dubai, as the Boeing 777 flies. Evening in Dubai now and we leave for the airport at 1:30am. Need to get to the Maldives early to maximize our first day!
DeleteFYI. - planning on taking more French classes in January. I’ve also learned to create the é (so I can now spell your name correctly!)
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