"Paradise or Not?" a Maldives Travel Page by Laurina

I've lived in Male' for a couple of months now. A friend's first reaction to the news of my moving here was: great for two weeks but after two weeks of lying in the sun you will be so bored in this small island nation. Well, that is not true! how can one be bored of tropical paradise? which at the same time also offers so much more to someone working in development: the other side of paradise. Ok, I'm being a bit vague here, but the Maldives is essentially a complex tiny and unique island nature with friendly and kind people that also exhibits similar social issues and challenges as most other countries. For example, drug use is increasing drastically amongst young people. Bet most tourists don't know about that! It is becoming a growing concern of the government and it is steadily acknowledging the seriousness of the problem...I work hard during the week and, well, I can't say I play hard on the weekends. Rather I pick and choose carefulyl which resorts I want to explore and I go there for rrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeesssst and relaxation. There is nothing like lying under a palm tree with the breeze caressing your ears gently on your own what seems to be deserted beach. It is truly paradise. You don't need to medidate or to yoga -just go to a maldivian resort to relax.

Having said that, I hear it is quite expensive for tourists. As expats working in male with a work visa we get special deals. Thank goodness, staying on Male' for two long (only 2X1km in size) tends to become quite claustrophobic and you do need to get OUT once a week or once in a while. Many of us also pop over to Colombo, Sri Lanka for the weekend, though I still have to find hte time to do this!

I have no idea how these pages will take shape, but now that I do have a digital camera (something I did not have while living in Pakistan and Palestine) you should be seeing a lot more!