Things we noticed about the Maldives

• It is one of the most beautiful places we have ever been
• The marine life is thriving
• Coral bleaching is evident but for the first time ever, we did see some brightly-coloured coral
• Maldivians follow the Finnish curriculum and all high school students complete the British system exit exam
• There is so much plastic visible in and on the ocean...so sad
• People are friendly
• Lots of plastic waste washes up on shore
• The weather is always the same.  June and July have a bit more rain but even this is spotty
• Thoddoo garbage is burned on the island
•  Big conical shells in the ocean have creatures that are poisonous
• Male garbage is sent to an uninhabited island and burned
• There is no recycling in the Maldives
• Maldivians are proud people
• Fish is so so fresh
• We saw the largest bats ever.  They looked like hawks and we saw them during the day!
• Cars drive on the left side of the road
• Dhivehi is the main language and is a unique language that is a combination of North African Arabic, Portuguese  and Sri Lankan heritage.  It is a beautiful script and is read right to left.
• Swings in the ocean are fantastic
• No paved roads in Thoddoo but normal roads in Male
• Foreigners can't own land
• There are lots and lots of palm trees
• Papayas weigh down the branches of the tree as there are so many on a single tree
• Cell phones are widely used on Thoddoo by kids and adults
• Male has a great basketball and beach volleyball courts
• Football (soccer) is very popular in the Maldives