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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 14, 2019 18:38:11 GMT
The fact that most accommodations were so primitive back in the 1980's when I went there made it even better. I too get bored after just a few days with nothing to do, but I shifted into a zen attitude very quickly and started feeling more like Robinson Crusoe except for the awful meals out of British tins. Believe me, tinned roast beef with tinned green beans and carrots is not exactly what most of us are hoping for in an island paradise, but back in those days they thought "we have to give European food to Europeans because they can't eat anything else."
Since this was about 30 years ago now, I don't know when they finally understood that they were on the wrong track. Back when I went to the Maldives, there were 42,000 tourists a year. Now there are 800,000.
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Post by mossie on Aug 14, 2019 19:18:53 GMT
If you thought those tinned meals were awful, you ain't seen nothing yet. Just try dehydrated potato, or better, cabbage, let alone Australian rabbit out of 5 gallon drums, which were all served up in the tropical paradise known as the Suez Canal Zone
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Post by lugg on Aug 14, 2019 19:25:32 GMT
Back when I went to the Maldives, there were 42,000 tourists a year. Now there are 800,000. All of whom leave at least a footprint - some much more than others. Not only is the coral having to deal with global warming but some visitors stand all over it, some in ignorance, some, to be frank, just don't care. And then we have the development of more and more resorts / the opening up of non resort islands. The airport has been expanded to cope ; causing destruction to the local and wider area. I try to do my bit when I visit taking as little as possible in the way of plastics etc. and always bringing more home than I took in the first place. But the bottom line is its such a fine balance of nature and I don't know if I can justify going again.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 14, 2019 19:42:01 GMT
Frankly, I don't think that the Maldives can be saved. It is too late.
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Post by lugg on Aug 14, 2019 19:48:42 GMT
Sadly I agree K2
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Post by amboseli on Aug 14, 2019 22:00:23 GMT
The coral bleaching was a big issue way back in 2001, too (El Niño).
The 'airport' at the time was just a big wooden shack. It seems to have changed quite a bit!
The resort I had booked was on the bigger island Kuramathi (Rasdhoo Atoll), far away from Malé and renowned for its excellent dive spots with big marine life. My husband was an avid scuba diver in those days. Diving in Furanafushi was a big disappointment for him. Not any better than diving in the Red Sea in Egypt and Jordan where we used to go previously.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 15, 2019 1:22:10 GMT
Lugg, those two pictures together are absolutely heartbreaking -- sickening, even. I may have told this before, but in the early 70's we drove to Key West. All the way across all those bridges you could look out of the window of the car and see marine life in the sparkling blue water. In the early 90s I visited the Keys again, this time in a trawler. The water was grayish and not clear and the single sighting of sea life was one hammerhead shark. As far as I know, nothing is being done to help the Keys. Do you know of any push to try to save the Maldives? who wants to see more fish pictues Hey! What am I, chopped liver?!  (  ) |
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Post by lugg on Aug 16, 2019 18:30:19 GMT
There are certainly some local efforts Bixa. There is some understanding that the reefs protect the islands from erosion and flooding. For e.g. there is a research programme that surveys coral and tries to make recommendations for the future ( partly funded by the US)and other NGO led projects. The last major bleaching prior to 2016 occurred in 1998 and the corals had partially recovered depending on their type and various other factors. What is clear is that this recovery is influenced by several factors which include water quality, invasive species such as COTs ( crown of thorns) and the reef fish life that control invasion by algae etc. Maldivians have traditionally not eaten reef fish , don't use massive trawling nets and line fish tuna. Plus the population has been low in comparison to the area it covers. Of course with increasing population, including more ex pats and the increase in the number of hotels and the opening up of domestic island to tourists all cause impact and stress on the reefs. Some resorts are now becoming more ecologically aware , try to educate guests , reduce plastic use etc. and try to educate the islanders in the vicinity. Other potential stressors such as the chemicals in sun screen are not as widely considered or promoted as ( for example) they have been in parts of Mexico. Then there is at times disregard - the major extension to the international airport has received justified criticism for the negative environmental impact it has created. Ironically one of the main drivers was to accommodate the behemoth A380 which is now likely to become obsolete anyway . But that is just one airport -There is also some building of airports across the atolls on domestic atolls. I think at least 3 others planned/ in development. www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/03/maldives-plan-to-embrace-mass-tourism-sparks-criticism-and-outrageBut it is much more of a global concern and the speed of climate change can ultimately only be reduced by global action. That is also very sad re the Keys Bixa. |
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 16, 2019 18:43:50 GMT
In 2008, the Maldivian government already had plans to purchase land in India, Sri Lanka and Australia to relocate the population if necessary. The current regime prefers to stand its ground and build up the islands as necessary. But if the atolls crumble away because they are dead, they might have to return to the other plan. Same thing in Kiribati and some of the Pacific countries.
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Post by lugg on Aug 21, 2019 13:16:07 GMT
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Post by lugg on Aug 21, 2019 13:18:51 GMT
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Post by mossie on Aug 21, 2019 14:48:50 GMT
Some super fishy shots. I assume that is a bat next to last, when I first saw it I took it to be a little dog, Of the type one sees Belgian ladies keeping in their jackets and feeding them at the table.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 21, 2019 16:16:34 GMT
Oh, Lugg!!! Thank you so much for coming through with these magnificent pictures. I was positively crushed earlier in the thread when you suggested that we might not want to see them. If one picture is worth a thousand words, any one of your pictures perfectly explain your love of the area. Just wow. No need to restrain yourself here in a forum that was created in order to give free rein to pictorial exposition.
Love your videos -- the music in the whale shark one is perfect. Also love those two great shots of the dolphins in action. I don't even know what to say about all the underwater photos, with their perfect clarity and color. You must be quite a snorkeler to get those pictures in the water the way you do. Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be more beauty, you unveiled the land and land creatures pictures. They're all stellar and informative, but the striding crane with the perfectly placed bands of blue is a money shot if I ever saw one!
I just enjoyed this so much -- thank you!
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Post by amboseli on Aug 21, 2019 16:46:45 GMT
Wow, such amazing photos! Thanks for sharing.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 21, 2019 17:50:03 GMT
Your photos are lovely lugg...the fruit bat is my favourite tho....
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Post by lugg on Aug 21, 2019 18:41:24 GMT
Thank you all for your lovely comments , much appreciated and I am so glad I have not bored you all too much with more fishes Yes Mossie - true does look like a dog ... it's a fruit bat which are also known as Flying Foxes ;I have so many failed close up photos ; this is my best yet but my camera was really beyond its max zoom. |
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 21, 2019 18:47:04 GMT
Totally wonderful additions. I loved the bat the moment I saw it. I want some in my attic.
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Post by lugg on Aug 22, 2019 20:10:51 GMT
Thank you K2. Haha - I think the city of Sydney would be willing to offload some. |
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Post by lugg on Jul 22, 2023 19:27:39 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 22, 2023 19:41:16 GMT
I agree that the old "airport shack" was wonderful. It really made you feel tht you had arrived in an island paradise.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 24, 2023 3:33:49 GMT
Gosh, four years since you last visited. The modernization is galloping along. Ditto what Kerouac said about the airplane shack.  I can't wait for all those "boring" pictures and the "off the cuff" narration, so go to town with 'em, Lugg, please! Meanwhile, I am dazzled by that fabulous shot looking from under the wing across the water with all the drops on the window. |
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Post by lugg on Jul 24, 2023 20:00:18 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jul 24, 2023 20:35:55 GMT
What drop-dead gorgeous views! Wow! I can see why you love it there.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 24, 2023 20:45:42 GMT
One of the first articles I ever read about the Maldives talked about "gin clear water" and that has definitely not changed.
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Post by bjd on Jul 25, 2023 5:53:58 GMT
Postcard worthy photos, Lugg. I can understand that you would go there to dive.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 25, 2023 21:21:24 GMT
Lugg, your gorgeous photographs really show the Maldives as an earthly paradise. Honestly, just looking at them brings on a calm feeling, so being there must be heaven. Besides being a fabulous place to dive, to some people go just to soak up the beauty and the atmosphere?
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Post by lugg on Jul 26, 2023 19:23:17 GMT
I can understand that you would go there to dive. I just snorkel Bjd - found diving too claustrophobic |
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Post by lugg on Jul 26, 2023 19:29:59 GMT
to some people go just to soak up the beauty and the atmosphere? Yes they do Bixa - I never understood that in the past but now I do quite understand it. But there is another side; the hotels that cater for the celebrities , the party seekers , those of high maintenance, the instagrammers / influencers ( Lol) , the white night lovers , the US and other (sorry that is not meant to appear offensive) chain hotels etc. ....all of which I avoid . Really there is a plethora of shite (imo) resorts that have no care for the environment at all . But I guess we each have our own needs/ expectations . |
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Post by lugg on Jul 26, 2023 19:31:16 GMT
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Post by lugg on Jul 26, 2023 19:32:39 GMT
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