Friend of a Friend

Again, we are up early for a morning snorkel before breakfast. Unfortunately this snorkel isn’t as exciting as their others. Teddie hasn’t been to this spot for a few years and in that time it has changed. A vibrant coral that was a hot bed for turtles has now become rather desolate. The reef has died and there is not a turtle in sight. It’s a shame and we can tell Teddie really takes it to heart. We ask him if he thinks it’s global warming but he says a number of things can cause this: something as simple as a change in current patterns. I get the feeling he is down-playing the role of tourism and global warming and the effects it has had on the natural beauty that he so clearly loves.

After a quick rinse we are once again stuffing our faces with a gorgeous breakfast after having been declaring how unhungry we all were not 10 minutes earlier. While we eat we start to head to our next spot – another island, Maafushi, the most developed and busiest island we have seen since flying into Male airport, located on the main island in the Maldives. On this island is a friend of Mel, Kyron, Ollie and Jason, having come from the same tour in Sri Lanka as them, waiting to meet us as our boat pulls in to the docks.

After a quick orientation from Teddie we spend a couple of hours wandering the island. After a visit to a couple more souvenir shops, I am starting to suspect the main attraction of these shops for the group is the AC. We, once again, stop for ice cream. We go to a gelato spot recommended by Teddie; it does not disappoint! I buy Jason his, a way of paying back for the the Sri Lankan rupees and SIM card he has given me for my next trip. After a quick rush back to the docks after realising we only have two minutes until our designated meet up time, we make Teddie wait as we get a stranger to get a couple of snaps of us all posing around the big Maafushi sight that welcomes all those entering at the port.

Egg throwing
(click on the top right hand icon)

After what was a rather tiring battle with the currents we climb back onto the boat and we take off for our final sleeping spot of the tour. Once we arrive we chill for a bit and just before sunset I ask Teddie if we can go for a final snorkel and, like the amazing host he is, he obliges. The group jets over to a near by reef for a quick snorkel while Teddie stays on the speed boat fishing. While we drift along with the current on our final snorkel we spot another turtle. Having improved my free diving immensely, I am able to get right down to see him. As we approach the boat we also see some scuba divers who we assume are training, as a few of them are gripping hold of the instructor for dear life.

Once back on the boat and dried off, we meet around the table for our final dinner and are given a selection of Maldivian delicacies. They are amazing! I ask Teddie to use my iPad to get up some YouTube videos of traditional Maldivian music. Music has been a big part of our trip with us all using Kyron and Mel’s speaker to blast out tunes while on the boat. We were in fact suppose to see a live show of the traditional Bodu Beru drummers and dancers but unfortunately the island where the show takes place has recently had a member die and they understandably do not entertain during periods of mourning. Nonetheless it is nice to see and hear the traditional music as Teddie shows us a range of different songs and performances, one of which the main singer is a local celebrity and former class mate of Teddie’s. Although that shouldn’t really surprise the group – Teddie seems to know everyone we meet!

After our bellies and ears are full on Maldivian food and music the group heads to the front of the boat to sit and watch our final sunset together. It is the first night we have had a fully clear skyline to watch the sun quickly lower below the horizon. I suggest a game of Monopoly the card game My competitive streak is still bitter about my losses the first night. After making sure we have dropped the wind breakers to protect the cards. We play several games. My competitive side is satiated after I win two games on the trot – even if it was more luck than judgment. So ends my final full day in the Maldives as I head into my cabin for what will be my best night’s sleep of the tour.

I am now sitting in the airport after a final breakfast and heartfelt goodbyes to the crew and my new friends. My plane having been pushed back from 1:45pm to 3:45pm, I decide to enjoy reminiscing by finalising these last blogs for this leg of the trip, before I head to Sri Lanka for the next step in my adventure.

Until then…

Just time for a group shot

Displaying our professional diving techniques

The sun sets on the Maldives
– what an experience!

After we are ferried back to our boat I decide to go for a quick dip while we await take off – after all the temperatures have been consistently 29 degrees or higher all week and I could with burning a few extra calories after all this amazing food! While I am doing a couple of laps of our boat some w@nker who has rented a jet ski decides to show off by lapping around us dangerously close and way too fast. This annoys Teddie tremendously who ushers me close to the boat after the show offs second lap. What I hadn’t noticed was that Teddie had helped himself to a couple of eggs from the kitchen and was hoping this guy would come back for a another lap. Which of course he does! Unfortunately Teddie’s aim isn’t as skilled as his snorkelling – as he lets go of the egg it hits the roof of the boat above him covering himself and me floating below in egg! Luckily it seems that the jerks rental time is up. With him gone, Mel and Ollie join me in the water. This quickly evolves into a hilarious competition to see who is able to shoot their body the furthest out of the water, Mel wins by a large margin!