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A word for travellers to Maldives by Mohamed Saeed Moosa Wajdi Haveeru 9 January 2003 translated by Maldives Culture editors
Today I would like to say a few helpful words to the foreign tourists who visit Maldives. At the same time, I would like show them the right path. Some people will get angry about this. But it must be remembered that wrath is bad for one's health.
In every country, sandals and shoes have distinctive features. In some offices, it may be permitted to attend without wearing shoes, but some people consider this as uncivilised behaviour. Such people do not consider it uncivilised to wear shiny shoes and sign the attendance register at the office, and then spend the day elsewhere. When entering a mosque, leaving shoes and sandals outside is a habit of Maldivians. It is also becoming common to steal the shoes of those who are praying inside. If a law is made, requiring shoes to be left outside the office, then we would see the 'mosque' problem of losing shoes, just as other things go missing in the offices. Tourists! When you take off your shoes as you enter the Islamic Centre, you must keep in mind that the shoes may go missing when they are left outside. Among those who steal shoes are legitimate foreign workers and illegitimate foreign workers. When they commit such these acts, it is Maldives that gets a bad name. If a powerful Maldivian is found to be wearing a pair of stolen shoes, consider it an honest mistake. (Even when granting a free kick, consideration should be given to whether the rules were broken intentionally or unintentionally. Though it is the referee who makes the final decision.) Beloved tourists! Be careful and keep an eye on your shoes and sandals. The increase in people from neighbouring countries has meant an increase in the use of the shoes and sandals. In the past, Maldivians wore shoes and took them off. Now we have a growing incidence of stealing shoes, beating people with shoes, throwing shoes, kissing shoes and running with shoes under one's arms.
Beloved sweet tourists! When you come to Maldives, you will see welcoming notes, booklets, and posters around the place. Everything they say may not be completely true, but people made good profits printing them. The printery may even have sent a bill for five thousand posters though only a thousand were actually printed. Of course, spreading untrue stories, and sending false bills, can happen anywhere. Tourists! It is not wise to find local lovers and try to marry them while holidaying in Maldives. It was all right in the days of Ibn Batutta (14th century), but not now. Although a girl may have reached puberty, she can only marry when she is 18 years of age. Even if the parents of the girl want to marry her off, marriage can only solemnised a week after the filing of the marriage forms. Dream on, tourists! Even if Maldivian girls give their hearts to you, please don't give your hearts to them. Comforting the heart is not a habit among Maldivians, they prefer to go to places like Bangkok, India, Sri Lanka and Singapore for such treatment. Beloved tourists! Although Maldives has been inhabited for many hundreds of years, there is no point in visiting the country to see historic sites and places. The monarchy that was here since antiquity, has became a republic and the colourful remains of that monarchy have disappeared into the sand. It was during the monarchy that historic sites were built. Along with the monarchy, those buildings were levelled, and only very few sites remain in Malé. Additional things, like china imported from overseas, and other bits and pieces, can be found in the museum. Foreigners are better than Maldivians at discussing and writing about the history and culture of Maldives. Foreigners take the photos and write many books for tourists. It is foreigners who sometimes guide the tourists in Maldives. It seems they are more interested in promoting tourism in their own countries than in Maldives. Sometimes, the way they behave gives the impression they are agents sent here from their countries. Keep your hopes up, tourists! Don't think all those who serve you in the resorts are Maldivians. In some resorts, there are Bengali mosque keepers, and foreigners working as room boys. Sometimes you may have to complain about the standard of service, and the higher authority that you may have to face, will be a foreigner at the general manager level. 'I feel sad about that,' the person may say. 'but we are providing service according to the instructions from the management.' Beloved tourists! The tourism industry may get a bad name, the Maldives also may get a bad name, due to the foreigners who work in this industry, and who may hurt the feelings of the tourists. But please remember! Though there are Maldivians working in tourism industry, the foreign workers can be counted in the thousands. Beloved tourists! Many of you want to see up close the varieties of sharks that live in Maldive waters. If you find it difficult to dive, or if you are afraid of seeing a live shark, then pay a visit to the beach of an island like Kulhudhuffushi where there is a wide range of shark fishing. None of these sharks will bite. Beloved tourists! When you buy for your friends a fish made of wood as a momento of Maldives, ask if it was made in Maldives. Most of the things for sale in shops are made overseas. Tourism is a business, and just as the Borah merchants once had control over trade in Maldives, foreign influence is very strong now. Beloved tourists! Even when there is occasional dissatisfaction, couples should spend their life together. If you encounter some minor problems, please do not turn your back on Maldives, we want you to return! Please don't listen to troublemakers!  |
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Maldives Culture is an independent internet magazine of Maldivian cultural issues.
Editors and translators: Michael O'Shea and Fareesha Abdulla, Australia
We invite contributions from Maldivians and others interested in Maldives.
Contributions and comments - mc_editors@hotmail.com
