Life in Male', Maldives

This post is not about Maldives, it's about my feelings and what I've experienced during my early career years. Recently I’ve watched a documentary about one of the most famous pop idol group. The title is “They are also just Humans”. It shows what kind of hardships they are going through individually and as a group. The smiley faces which they show towards their fans are always covered with their painful tears, blood and sweat. At one point a member in the group mentioned during his interview that he used to be a carefree person when he was just a trainee, but soon after his debut he has felt that he is insecure and that feeling is consuming him slowly. When I watched that part, I also thought about myself. I’m not a celebrity, but that statement which he has made “the feeling of insecurity”, I think I also went through the same when I was in my twenties to early thirties. The singer which I have mentioned is only 22 years old and he is mentally suffering, even though he ...

                                                        Photo credit - Anushka Atapattu Since in my previous post I've talked about transport facilities in Male’, I thought of giving you in-depth view about the streets in Male’ city. Maldives, the city of Male’ has become my second home after living for almost 5 years. People around the world has this picture about Maldives as the paradise on earth. But if you peaked into the city of Male, the commercial hub of Maldives you will get the idea that this city is nothing like you normally see in photos of a magazine. Well I do not want to offend anyone, but for me it felt like a small hell.   The roads are so narrow and there are no proper pavements or sidewalks. Motorbikes are everywhere, cars and pickups also crowding the small roads.   Motorbike is the most common transport fa...

Even though Male’ is the commercial hub of Maldives, the island is only 1.7km long and 1.0km wide, which is very small. You can stroll around it in a relaxed couple of hours. For a such a small island, Male; is one of the extremely busy densest cities in the world. The city has narrow streets, colourful houses, graffiti and a strong communal feeling. In this busy, packed city if you are too lazy to walk around (or due to health issues) you can always find public transportations, taxis, pick-ups and motorbikes.  There are numerous taxies in the city which will offer you a few minutes of air-conditioned comfortable drive. The taxi drivers will always find any address in Male without any hassle. Even though Male’ city area is small, sometimes with traffic and small narrow roads, ride in a taxi will consume more time in reaching your destination. Many streets in Male’ are one way and others may be blocked by construction work and other vehicles, therefore taxies wi...

Nuts… do you need nuts…? If you hear these words after your meal or drink at a restaurant in Male’, don’t be surprised… They actually do serve you NuTs. “Foahh Kolheh” is the common local term referred to areca nuts & betels. Chewing areca nuts after a meal or in-between meals is a very common thing in Maldivian culture. In the eyes of an Asian and by being a Sri Lankan, I should not be surprised by the sight of chewing betel with areca nuts but it’s very uncommon culinary tradition to serve it at a restaurant. In Sri Lanka all our grandparents, great great grandparents used to chew betel after a meal or when they are relaxing during afternoon time. But with the time that tradition is slowly fading in Sri Lanka. Younger generation in Sri Lanka do consider chewing betel & areca nuts as a bad habit and do not find it as a pleasant sight.   Even though areca nuts and betel were eaten at houses in Sri Lanka, it was never served in a restaurant or a hotel. Th...

Coffee …. It is the most admirable drink among all Maldivians. In Maldives, coffee is basically a way of life, not just fuel to get you through the day. “Let’s go for a coffee”, “let’s discuss this over a coffee”, are the most common phrases used among Maldivians. Whatever the time you meet them, they are willing to have a coffee. Over a cup of good coffee, you can ask them to grant any of your wishes… believe me, they will. A friendly gathering, a tinder date or an official meeting can revolve around a cup of hot coffee. Maldivians will pay little bit more or even walk a bit further to get their favorite cup of coffee. Rather than having their morning coffee at home, they will walk to a close-by café. It’s a part of their morning routine, no matter where you work or what position you hold. This really amused me. Being a Sri Lankan who drinks tea (I do love tea no matter what), I find this coffee culture fascinating. No matter what, I cannot function without my morning tea...