Daily Life In The Maldives (16 Photos)

The Maldives Daily Life

Mention the Maldives and I’m sure most of us think tropical islands, palm trees, white sandy beaches, blue skies… an image that the tourist board of the smallest Asian country, in both population and area, doesn’t have to work hard or spend much money on.

But take off your tourist glasses and take a moment to look at life for the islanders themselves and how they live. This gallery takes us off the tourist trail and into the daily life of ordinary Maldivians.

Being the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in), the Maldives suffered serious damage following the 2004 tsunami.

Only nine islands were reported to have escaped any flooding while fifty-seven islands faced serious damage to critical infrastructure, fourteen islands had to be totally evacuated, and six islands were decimated. A further twenty-one resort islands were forced to close because of serious damage.

The government have set about buying new land in India, Sri Lanka, and Australia stating: “We do not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to be climate refugees living in tents for decades”.

The Maldives may be a life of luxury for holidaymakers but for locals on low wages coupled with an unbalanced high cost of living life is anything but luxurious.

Posted on September 9, 2010 | Filed Under Life