14.- Feb 18: MALDIVES

MALE: The City of Male is the capital of the country. A tiny island of one square mile on Male Atoll. With bustling population of 60,000 people, half of the Maldives population.
City of contrast: high- rise, high-tech business districts with buildings in all kind of colors and shapes side by side with charming, low residential and commercial quarters.
A thousand tiny islands spread over 26 tropical atolls straddling he Equator in the hearth of the Indian Ocean

The Maldives offer some of the world’s most exotic islands getaways with a balmy climate and stunning beaches. 87 of the atolls have been transformed into intimate resorts for rest and relaxation.

The three-story ISLAMIC CENTER IS Male’s most famous architectural landmark.

It’s FRIDAY MOSQUE accommodate more than 5,000 worshipers. Built in the 1990's.

Male: For a tiny Island, the preferred personal transportation is the Vespa and other motor bikes.

The old cemetery (circa 1675): The tombs, For women have a rounded shape at the top.
For men, are bigger, with a crown at the top. For children they are smaller.

At the "Local fish market": The fisherman display their catch of the day and sell it directly to the consumers, after long negotiations about the price and they get a ticket.

The ticket is presented to one of the guys that cut and file the fish on the spot.