This is a quote from the diary of Mr. W. Erdmann, who sailed for a 1000 days with his family throughout the South Sea.

Dear friends of the Maldives,

what else is there to add to this? This is, what the Maledives are, in the true sense of the word. About 1.196 lush green tropical islands of various size, like drops and drolets placed into the beautiful turquois blue of the Indian Ocean. Already a beautiful sight looking down from the airplane. The unique colorfulness of the coral formations, surrounded by white beaches and turquoise clored lagunes - is like a mosaic of light and color of beguiling beauty. The seemingly countless islands cover over 820 km (about 450 nautical miles) in a north-south direction like a string of pearls - practically cutting acrosss the equator line.

Only 198 islands are inhabited, 90 more have become holiday resorts, so-called Tourist-Resorts. The aproximately 300.000 muslim inhabitants (2005) are taditionally known as very hospitable. About 63.000 of them live in the capital Male, which is a very small island itself (1.8 by 1.2 km - 11 by 7.5 miles). Even the international airport is on a small island that looks almost like an aircraft carrier. From the landings there Dhonis (maldivian boats) or speedboats take you to your holiday resort or to Male. Tourist-Resorts which are further away can be reached by waterplanes - so called Air-Taxis. The length of the passage or of the flight depends on how far away your destination is or what the location of your resort is.

I wish you a safe journay and a relaxing holiday in the Maldives.

Warm regards, Honorary Consul General

Dipl. Ing. Gottfried Mücke