How to Live like a local in the Maldives
The sparkling turquoise lagoons and the immaculate beaches are what comes to anyone's mind when they think of the Maldives. However, there is a whole other side to this scenic archipelago that deserved to be explored. The inhabited islands of this small island nation offer much more than a beach getaway; it is a place to experience the true island life, and live like a true local in the Maldives. Here are some tips on how you can spend your days like an authentic islander in this archipelago.
Adapt to the Maldives ways of travelling
To travel between islands in the true islander's fashion, one needs to understand the topography of the Maldives. The Republic of Maldives is known to be one of the most widely dispersed archipelagos in the world. Its islands are set pretty far apart from each other that one has to use the public transport of this country to travel between them. The locals are known to use boats and ferries to travel. The time would depend on where you're headed. If you're travelling between neighbouring islands, these journeys can take just a few to fifteen minutes; however, if you're travelling to a far-fetched island, then it can take around half a day to get there. For quick transfers, seaplanes and speedboats are the most common options, though they can come with a hefty price tag.
Be conservative and spontaneous
The Maldives is a country of Islamic faith, which brings along a host of restrictions with which you must comply if you want to holiday in the country. If you are going to a local island beach, then you must respect them by not wearing bikinis and over-revealing clothes. Even if you are going for a swim, you should be dressed and covered modestly to keep from offending the local community, and this applies to both men and women. However, many popular properties such as Faarufushi Maldives offer you the luxury of dressing any way you'd want to and relax to your heart's content without worrying about offending their culture. The islands in the Maldives have a much slower pace in life than your usual bustling lifestyles with strict schedules. This means that you can be as spontaneous as you'd like and change your plans during the middle of the day. Many would be surprised at the myriad of activities they might get done within one day. Rise and shine like in true Maldivian fashion and set about your day by heading out to dive with manta rays, which is one of the best activities to do in Maldives. And if you change your mind, you can just relax on a sandbank and delight yourself in heavenly barbequed seafood in the Maldives.
Hang out near the houses in the local islands
One of the best reasons to explore the local islands of the Maldives is that it gives you the opportunity of witnessing the local architecture. Most of the houses are located near beaches and is painted in such vivid colours that they contrast with the beachscape in an eye-catching manner. Being in these picturesque locations would feel as if you'd just stepped inside a pretty picture postcard. The Maldivians have built places in which you can hang out in front of their houses. The long hammocks that extend all the way from tall treetops are all you'd need to relax while munching on some local delights.
Chat with the locals
The Maldivians are rather friendly and quite carefree, and even their children seem excited to meet you. They might even offer you seashells and other pretty things from nature and communicate in their own manner. The friendly local families would offer you to show around, possibly take you around a fishing village where their livelihoods revolve. How wonderful would it be to dine with one of these families in true island style and taste Mas Roshi or Bis Keemiya, straight from the local cuisine! It would truly be the highlight of experiencing the culture and living like a local in the Maldives.
Comments
Post a Comment