Life in Male', Maldives

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...