MALDIVES
MALDIVI
The Maldives, (known as the Maldivian Islands), officially the Republic of Maldives, is an archipelagic country, located southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometers from the continental part of Asia. The chain of 26 Maldivian atolls stretches across the equator, from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.
The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia. Its land area is only 298 square kilometers, but it is spread over approximately 90,000 square kilometers of sea, making it one of the most extensive sovereign states in the world. With a population of 515,132 according to the 2022 census, it is the second least populated country in Asia and ninth in size, but also one of the most densely populated countries. The Maldives has an average land elevation of about 1.5 meters above sea level, and the highest natural point is only 2.4 meters, making it the country with the lowest elevation in the world. Some sources state that the highest point, Villingili Peak, is 5.1 meters high.
Malé is the capital and the most populous city, traditionally called the 'King's Island,' where ancient royal dynasties ruled from its central location. The Maldives have been inhabited for over 2,500 years. Documented contact with the outside world began around 947 AD, when Arab travelers started visiting the islands.
Maldivi, (poznati kao Maldivska ostrva), zvanično Republika Maldivi, su arhipelagska zemlja, smeštena jugozapadno od Šri Lanke i Indije, oko 750 kilometara od kopnenog dela azijskog kontinenta. Lanac od 26 atola Maldiva prostire se preko ekvatora, od atola Ihavandhippolhu na severu do atola Addu na jugu.
Maldivi su najmanja zemlja u Aziji. Njena površina kopna iznosi samo 298 kvadratnih kilometara, ali je to raspoređeno na otprilike 90.000 kvadratnih kilometara mora, što je čini jednom od najprostranijih suverenih država na svetu. Sa populacijom od 515.132 prema popisu iz 2022. godine, to je druga najmanje naseljena zemlja u Aziji i deveta po veličini, ali takođe jedna od najgušće naseljenih zemalja. Maldivi imaju prosečnu nadmorsku visinu terena od oko 1,5 metara iznad nivoa mora, a najviša prirodna tačka je samo 2,4 metra, što ih čini zemljom sa najnižom nadmorskom visinom na svetu. Neki izvori navode da je najviša tačka, planina Villingili, visoka 5,1 metar.
Malé je glavni grad i najnaseljeniji grad, tradicionalno nazivan „Ostrvo kralja“, gde su drevne kraljevske dinastije vladale sa njegove centralne lokacije. Maldivi su nastanjeni više od 2.500 godina. Dokumentovani kontakt sa spoljnim svetom počeo je oko 947. godine nove ere, kada su arapski putnici počeli da posećuju ostrva.
The impression is that everything is subordinated to tourism.
The airport is literally on the seashore so that the runway is on one side of the airport building and the marina on the other side. Passengers, after passing through passport and customs control, enter directly into speedboats to reach their destination, that is, one of the many atolls.
Utisak je da je sve podredjneno turizmu.
Aerodorom je bukvlno na samoj obali mora tako da je pista sa jedne strane aerodromske zgrade a marina sa druge strane. Putnici, po prolasku pasoske i carinske kontrole, ulaze direktno u glisere da bi stigli na svoju destinaciju tj jedan od mnostva atola.
South Malé Atoll, Adaaran Club Rannalhi
We arrived at South Malé Atoll first by plane from Colombo (Sri Lanka) to Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and then by speedboat, about 45 minutes ride.
South Malé Atoll, Adaaran Club Rannalhi
Na South Malé Atoll smo stigli prvo avionom iz Colomba (Sri Lanka) do Malea, glavnog grada Maldiva, a, onda gliserom, oko 45 mnuta voznje.
The first impressions, based on the pictures, that is, before we arrived at the atoll, did not inspire confidence in me. It irresistibly reminded me of Fiji and the island Beachcomber. That day (26.02.2023), we almost died at sea while approaching the island. The storm began about halfway to the island (which is 14 km away from the main island), and we, the four of us and the boatman, were in a small fishing boat without life jackets.
And here you can get by speedboat after exactly 45 minutes of travel. And the island is identical to Beachcomber Island; low, with palms and sandy beaches all around. The arrival seemed much more “tame”; without storms and rough seas but with at least a decent marina, so the disembarkation was on a wooden dock (boardwalk) and not like in Fiji, at Beachcomber Island where we had to transfer to another boat in the sea and then, upon reaching the shallows, get into the water and, through the water, arrive at the shore.
I often wonder what would happen if a large wave came, considering that the highest point of the island/atoll is about 2 meters above sea level.
Prvi utisci, na osnovu slika tj pre nego sto smo stigli na atol, nisu mi ulivali poverenje. Neodoljivo me podsecalo na Fiji i ostvro Beachcomber. Toga dana (26.02.2023), umalo nismo poginuli na moru pri dolasku do ostrva. Oluja je pocela na otprilike pola puta do ostrva (koje je udaljeno 14km od glavnog ostrva) a, mi, nas cetvoro i camdzija, u malom ribarskom camcu bez pojaseva za spasavanje.
I ovde se stize gliserom posle tacno 45minuta voznje. A ostvro je identicno ostvru Beachcomber; nisko, palme i pescane plaze okolo. Dolazak je delovao mnogo “pitomije”; bez oluje i uzburkanog mora ali i sa koliko-toliko pristojnom marinom tako da je iskrcavanje bilo na drveni dok (boardwalk) a ne kao na Fijiju, kod Beachcomber ostvra gde smo morali na moru da presedamo na drugi camac i onda da, po prispecu u plicak, silzimo u vodu i tako, kroz vodu, dodjemo do obale.
Cesto se pitam sta bi se desilo ako naidje veliki talas obzirom da je najvisa tacka ostrva/atola oko 2m nadmorske visine.
The atoll is approximately 100 x 300 meters in size. Around the entire perimeter, there is a sandy beach covered with white, fine sand, just like the rest of the island, so there is no grass. The sea is clear and transparent. 24 bungalows (with 4 units each) are arranged across the island, parallel to the sea, and each is 10-15 meters away from the water. There are also 13 stilt houses, bungalows above the water.
Peace and quiet. Ideal for rest. Even in the evening, when there is music in the bar, it cannot be heard in the bungalows (at least I didn’t hear it).
I got a little bored. I always went somewhere to see something. I am interested in history, architecture, culture... Here, apart from palm trees, sand, and sun, there is nothing. Actually, there is; bungalows/palisade houses as well as villas on “dry land.” That could be considered “architecture.” The rest = zero.
Maybe that’s a good thing. The last time I went to the sea just to enjoy myself and get bored was 35-40 years ago.
Atol je velicine otprilike 100 x 300m. Po citavom obodu je pescana plaza pokrivena belim, sitnim peskom kao usotalom i citavo ostrvo, tako da nema trave.
More je cisto i bistro. 24 bungalova (sa po 4 jedinice) je rasporedjeno po ostrvu, paralelno sa morem i svaki je udaljen od vode 10-15m. Ima i 13 sojenica, bungalova iznad vode.
Mir je i tisina. Idealno za odmor. Cak i uvece, kada je u baru muzika, to se ne cuje u bungalovima (bar je ja nisam cuo).
Malo sam se i dosadjivao. Uvek sam isao negde da bih nesto video. Interesuje me je istorija, arhitektura, kultura... Ovde sem palmi, peska i sunca nema nicega. Ustvari ima; bungalovi/sojenice kao i vile na “suvom”. To bi moglo da se podvede pod “arhitekturu”. Ostalo = nula.
Mozda je to i dobro. Zadnji put kada sam isao na more da bih samo uzivao i dosadjivao se bilo je pre 35-40 godina.
To kill boredom and fill the time between bathing, sleeping, and killing time in the restaurant or bar (where everything is free, including drinks), some activities are planned, but it’s all minimal.
The island has accommodation for 244 guests, but it doesn’t seem like all capacities are filled.
There are no crowds in restaurants and bars, and on the beach, there are few visitors; we practically swim alone in the sea. It’s as if everyone has their own private beach because the bungalows are practically on the shore, that is, about ten meters from the water.
Da bi se ubila dosada i potpunilo vreme izmedju kupanja, spavanja i ubijanja vremena u restoranu ili baru (gde je sve besplatno, ukljucujuci i pice), predvidjene su neke aktivnosti ali sve je to minimalno.
Ostrvo ima smestaj za 244 gosta ali ne izgleda da su svi kapaciteti popunjeni.
Nema guzve u restoranima i barovima a na plazi, ima malo kupaca; prakticno se sami brckamo u moru. Kao da svako ima svoju privatnu plazu jer su bungalovi prakticno na obali tj na desetak metara od vode.