Which way will the tide turn for this heaven on earth: Maldives?
Dec 26, 2019
As you prepare to land in Male, these 1200 or so scattered islands – sitting inside 20 atolls – commence their hypnotic spell!Having landed – one could be in the luxurious seclusion, as here! Thereby no connection with the local community. With a population of under 3000, Maafushi can be a wonderful exploration of local life. The economy is built largely around tourism. A speedboat from Male could reach you here in 30 minutes, on a calm sea.Stunning sunrises! The sun, wind and clouds orchestrate an amazing drama as they frolic with the white sands and the immense Indian Ocean. Azure is the peak performer. The best theatre seat – waterfront! All round the clock… Sunsets – no less theatrical! Fun watching distant vessels – on the horizon – gliding either way. A guaranteed unhindered 180 degrees view! And this could be an oil on canvas! Its own version of a marina! Rejoice in all forms of water sports – on and under the stunning aquatic surface. A rich bio-diversity beckons. Work of some creative spray artist! Male born Rippu – a talented self trained artist – operates from his shop cum studio in Maafushi. Apart from his interpretation of nature – acrylic on canvas – he focuses on recycling. So, it could be coconut shell, waste wood, corals, plastic, beach clean up material and even injection vials! ‘I only paint nature. That is what most moves here’, says he! No dogs allowed anywhere in the Maldives. Everyone loves cats. Wonder how and when these aliens landed?! While nature dominates and the locals are very involved – both global Climate Crisis and the lifestyle changes driven by tourism – pose a serious existential threat to all of Maldives. Growing construction, rising solid waste and plastic proliferation would only add to the woes.
Could the sun permanently set on this paradise? A dreadful thought. However, a harsh reality. The hastening sea level rise, at the current pace, could perhaps consume all of them ahead of 2100. Given that most islands are on an average only a meter or two above the sea surface.
The Diversity Blog 
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