Blogs from Male Atoll, Maldives, Asia

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Asia » Maldives » Male Atoll March 20th 2024

It's been five long years since my last opportunity to add to the visited countries tally. After such a long time without a new travel experience, I got to thinking the chosen destination deserves to be somewhere special. So then, which country remains at the top of the bucket list? It proved to be a bit of a no brainer, and the winner is... the Maldives! From extensive experience flying here and there during my travels, it was a pleasure to fly out from Sydney with Singapore airlines again after so many years. I'm pleased to say that the service is still superb, this is without doubt one of the best airlines in the world. The flights took off on schedule; the food and drinks and attention to detail of the cabin crew first class, with ... read more
Drone shot of Gulhi
Beautiful sunset
Sandbank

Asia » Maldives » Male Atoll June 28th 2022

Tuesday June 28/ Wednesday June 29 – What am I doing? Who does this? Buying a ticket to the Maldives on Saturday and leaving Tuesday. Nuts! But here goes. I woke up at 5am and was out the door at 6am for a tram to the train station and then the train to Zurich airport, putting me there at 8am, three hours before my flight. The line was ENORMOUS but I noticed there was a separate line for “verified to fly”. I had filled this out online the night before, not realizing I had a choice, but so glad I did as there were only a couple people ahead of me. After getting to the gate, I had some time to get online and organize myself a little for the trip. I’d had very little time ... read more
Airport Ferry dock
Male
Main square

Asia » Maldives » Male Atoll February 6th 2018

His name is Kokko. I told him my cat has the same name, Coco. I learned later that our young Maldivian guide’s nickname means “little brother.” His formal name is “Ibrahim Abdul Sattar.” He is also more charming than my cat, and a lot less furry. And unlike my cat who barely shares the house with me, Kokko enjoys sharing his country with travelers from around the world. As I frequently discover in my travels, everyone is special in some way. Kokko is no exception. He is working on a project—but more about that later. When I arrived in the capital city of Male with my traveling companion, chaos seemed to reign on the busy streets. Everyone seemed to be moving something—crates of fruit, boxes, carts, fish, and motor bikes, which crawl like hordes of ants ... read more
Practicing her motoring
Use to be the tallest building in Male at 13 stories
Red snapper

Asia » Maldives » Male Atoll December 7th 2017

I'm just a month late on blogging...What an amazing achievement! Sorry, before going further, on more time to my readers...as we are now firmly in 2018...Happy New Year! There are good deals...and there are better deals....and there are actually deals I work on....this is it...this is the deal! First visit to Maldives for me was back in 1998. I stay on my own at Club Med. That island doesn't exist anymore...it has been "engulfed" by the reclaim land to expand the airport island into a new city. I arrived on a one-way ticket...as from Vietnam at the time...two one ways were cheaper than a return...go figure out! I used to work for Club Med while at University...yes I did both at same time...study...party...work...graduate...all this with the honors...they call it multi-tasking...nothing new. At the time, the boss ... read more
I first dived this site 14 years ago...
how do you qualify this kind of welcome?!?
Happy couple!

Asia » Maldives » Male Atoll April 30th 2017

DAY1: Our solid 10 hour sleep was disrupted by a 7am knock at the door - "breakfast Mr Duncan!" Omelete and baked beans followed by fresh fruit. The maldivians present their silverware at room temperature, which took a bit of getting used to but the scran was good. Jailbreak, AKA Jails - was cranking out head high sets. Only 10-15 guys out workin 2 sections - waves galore. I stopped counting at zero - well this is a blog not a brag. Besides i kept losing my count and it was interferring with my concentration. We'd agreed to just 'go easy' on the first session so maybe 60-90 mins max would get the release the cobwebs. So, 2 1/2 hours later we returned to shore to a warm welcome from the midday sun. Andy was by ... read more
Ma bitch waxin ma board
Pasty white man
My boardies say "surf anything" - refund please!

Asia » Maldives » Male Atoll April 29th 2017

Day zero: What time shall we set off? Well, having trusted Ross to take care of the flights he settled on a 930pm departure from heathrow airport, london. 930pm on the friday of a bank holiday weekend. Given the journey time would normally be 3 1/2 hours, there was no counting for bank holiday traffic and potential motorway closures so we debated the departure time, wrestling between "in case there's a nuclear explosion time", or "mentally stable time". We accounted for the Trump factor and settled on the former after multiple attempts to persuade my driver it was the right thing to do. It was worth it - even despite having to endure a journey of countless " this is the earliest i've ever travelled for a flight ever!" statements. Gifted with that and other ... read more
Touchdown in Male
Kicking back at heathrow
Heathrow lounge

Asia » Maldives » Male Atoll January 21st 2017

Out last two days on the Maldives and not a lot to do. Friday is a day of rest so we did, lazing about until mid day before walking through town and stopping off in the park to use up a bit more time while waiting for the ferry to start running. We went over to Male again and had a wander along the Sea front there really isn't a lot to do or see here apart from boats! So it was back to the Sea House to watch the fish again. Then ferry back and walked back to the hotel. We ate at the hotel's Indian Durbar restaurant again as the food was so good the night before and that was another day done. Our final day in the Maldives and ferries etc were back ... read more
Male
Male and the Sea House Restaurant
Villingili

Asia » Maldives » Male Atoll January 16th 2017

Before moving onto the Maldives we had a final night at the Go! Hotel in Manila and I had no intention of going anywhere, I know I'm a wuss but we were staying in a really poor area and I can't shake the whole kidnapping thing from my brain despite Suzanne and David having used public transport and wandering around and being fine. Anyway fate in the form of Howard intervened and some how our only charging lead for his tablet, my phone and kindle managed to get left back in Puerto Princessa and having already 'lost' the camera we need my phone to work if only to take photos, so we had to go out after all. The lady on reception didn't help my nerves when she said we absolutely shouldn't go out to the ... read more
Ahoy there
Leaving Male
On the way to Dhiffushi

Asia » Maldives » Male Atoll April 6th 2016

Yet again I found myself sleeping at the Bandaranayake International Airport in Colombo. This time, however, it was more than unexpected. I had been on a China Eastern aircraft for the past three hours, but we didn't actually move anywhere. Initially we didn't even know what the problem was, but I surmised that it had to do with the air conditioning system because we were all boiling on board. The passenger sitting next to me was named Nuzz. He was from south India and going on a small trip with his girlfriend. We chatted for quite a while and he asked me many questions about my home and my travels. He was particularly impressed that I was traveling alone, but I assured him that I do it all the time. The captain finally announced on the ... read more
Sitting in Front
Male
Pickup




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