Male in the Maldives

There are 1192 islands comprising this country of 300,000 inhabitants, mostly living on the island of Male. These islands are all near sea level, the highest point being 93" high!

You can only live here if you are Muslim, this religion having eased out all others since the fourteen century. The Muslim cultural centre and main mosque dominate the cityscape. Sharia law rules. If an inhabitant is known to reject Islam he/she is taken into an intense four week teaching (brainwashing)! If still not convinced he/she is voted off the island!

Many of the locals are fishers, catching large numbers of a variety of fish. Interisland boats go constantly, bringing fruit and vegetables for the markets. Liquor is impossible to find but tobacco smoke is everywhere. The snorkeling on some of the adjacent islands was amazing but we will send those pics on a separate blog post.