The Maldives was for a long time considered an ideal getaway for those dreaming about pristine waters, sandy beaches, and beautiful views fit to be included in the postcard. And for one traveler, this dream became true when they decided to travel to the country at the last minute without any thorough preparations.
There was one big problem, though – the weather forecast showed rain throughout the entire trip. However, despite the confusion, the trip began with a business-class flight from Malaysia. The ticket itself was around $300, which was just $100 more than the available economy fare. Even though the flight was delayed for around 45 minutes, the journey was pleasant and lasted four hours.
As soon as the traveler arrived, they were welcomed by the amazing turquoise waters and islands around the airport. They also enjoyed fast immigration processing, and holding a German passport allowed them to enter the country without a visa for 30 days.
The upcoming task was to reach the hotel. Rather than opting for a lavish stay in an expensive resort, the traveler went for more local diggings and chose to spend the night in Hulhumalé which is an island that is settled up near the airport. This artificially-built island was established due to the reason that Malé had become too congested for living.
After a brief taxi trip, the traveler reached the hotel located right on the coast and costing around $150 per day. Although this hotel was much simpler than flashy hotels in the Maldives, it provided visitors an attractive place on the beach.
Instead of opting for a flashy restaurant, the first explorations were made in terms of local food and customs. Walking around Hulhumalé, the visitor was able to spot out residential areas, small shops, parks, and food points.
One of the memorable stops was made at a family business site that sold Maldivian food of their own production. The options included pastries stuffed with vegetables, potatoes, fish, and eggs as well as several home-made cakes. The flavors of the dishes matched with those of Sri Lankan food.
A fresh coconut and local sweets contributed to the experience. Along with meeting friendly locals, the encounter made it possible to learn some words from Dhivehi.
At last, it was time to achieve the main objective of the journey – to see the Maldivian beach for the first time. After walking for some time, the traveller reached the coast, flanked by coconut trees and unbelievably clean waters.
The occasion was almost perfect, until a formidable wave at the beach wet the traveller’s only pair of shoes. As a result, the shoes were filled with seawater, sand, and salt.
Even though the incident was unfortunate, the experience will not be forgotten easily. The journey has produced many beautiful views, local food, and different cultural experiences.
What is more, it is just the beginning for the adventurer who is going to explore other islands of the Maldives within the next two or three weeks.
