Maldives

Sunset's Almost Paradise
Original text by Yulia Sapthani, executive summary by Darmansjah

Maldives, to gain further insight in the southern islands of Asia, making the natural beauty and richness of the sea as a tourist attraction. Since the 1970s, tourism became the country's main source of income.

Maldives is a country that was never absent is called when the world is talking about global warming. The natural beauty of the island nation located in the south Asian region could face lost in the sea.

  Snorkeling is one of the activities yagn Maldives into a tourist attraction. In the clear waters of the Maldives, divers can see variety of marine life.

That afternoon ferry from the pier on the island of Male to the island Hulhumale packed with passengers. This ship is carrying most of the passengers who reside in Hulhumale and work in Male.

FGR. Water sports activities become one of the marketability of the Maldives tourism. To that end, every resort in the Maldives provides a variety of water sports equipment, either for rental or Free of charge

Arriving at Hulmuhale, some passengers chose to ride public buses, through the streets paved and well-organized residential neighborhoods, to where they tiggal. Part of another using personal bike since morning parked at the dock yard.

Every day, most of the population who live in this Hulhumale have to cross the ocean for 20 minutes by ferry to Male for the activity.They trade, traditional markets and shopping at the mall, or work in the office.

Male is the capital of the Maldives which is also the name of the island. The island is dense with office buildings, markets, schools, malls, to the football stadium, to be the center of various activities of the population.

The island Hulhumale is focused as a residence, of course with a variety of complementary facilities, such as hospitals, small supermarkets, schools, recreation parks and beaches, refueling, and power plants.

In addition to its function, Male and Humamale have other differences. Male is old island which be formed naturally. While Hulhumale is an artificial island, which is man-made island.

Island area of ​​2 square kilometers was reclaimed from October 1997. Based on data from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the island is expected to become home to 60,000 people.

Currently, Hulhumale already home to about 3,000 people. Some of them fled from the old island were destroyed by the tsunami in 2004. one of them is Ahmad, who worked as a bus driver.

"We moved here because of the tsunami. Initially living in camps, "said Ahmad, who is now living in apartments built by the government.

Hulhumale is made and focused as island for shelter. In addition to hundreds of apartment units with a variety of classes that have been standing, in one part of the island there is land on which houses will be built by building a thousand homes.

Threat of Drowning

This program can help residents of the island is prone to sink to move to an artificial island. But this only applies to short-term.

Although composed of many islands, with the number of 1900's pieces, the islands in this country is threatened "lost" because of global warming makes the sea level continues to rise. Moreover, the land surface in the Maldives as high as coconut trees to the highest point.

Be aware of changing conditions that threaten the natural habitat, the population of Maldives has a high concern for the environment. "In ancient times, parents may not pay much attention to environmental conditions. But, now, all understand the importance of protecting the environment, especially marine, "said Ivan, the tour guide.

In primary school, for example, there is the curriculum of marine sustainability protecting, including diving lessons. "Fishermen also may not use destructive fishing reefs. Fish must be lured one on one, "said Ivan, when the show busy fish market in Male.

Environmental care activities are also often involves tourists who stay at the resort. In the Kurumba resort, for example, there are monthly activities of the resort clean of trash. This activity involves the hotel staff and guests.

Trash and garbage are collected daily from various places on an island, named Thilafushi, to then be processed by type.

Not surprisingly, the waters of the Maldives looks so clean, from the beach to the sea. Biotanical beauty can be enjoyed, even, from sea level.

Concern over the preservation of the Maldives population of this neighborhood, not only influential to their lives. A total of 600,000 tourists who come each year, could also feel the comfort.