COVER STORY | THE MALDIVES adds laughter to the proceedings . Learning to eat traditionally with your fingers is another excellent icebreaker !
In the early days , the spoken language in the Maldives was Sanskrit which was practiced by Buddhist priests using Brahmi scripts for written communication .
When the Maldives converted to Islam , the language was transformed into a new form of letters combining Arabic and Sanskrit .
The letters were initially written from left to right . However , the Islamic revolution changed the script from right to left , and through time , the language was transformed into new characters .
The modern-day language used in the Maldives is Dhivehi Thaana which uses 24 different letters and is spoken across all local islands , albeit there are local dialects when you move further north or south .
English is also widely spoken and taught in schools , and I have to admit this has been detrimental to my learning of Dhivehi . While I can manage a few words and understand a little more than I can speak , I am embarrassed to confess that after almost 10 years here , I cannot hold a day-to-day conversation .
One of the great things about staying on a local island is that you can see firsthand how locals go about their daily lives . The Maldives is a Muslim country therefore , there is a call to prayer from the mosque 5 times a day . This compelling and melodic sound can be pretty mesmerizing , particularly at sunrise and sunset . Where I live , it often sounds like the imam is standing in my living room ; other days , I do not notice it as it is a normal part of my day .
Dining on a local island pretty much guarantees freshly cooked food daily . Tuna and reef fish will generally form some part of a meal , especially if there has been a good catch that day by the local fishermen . Add to this chicken , beef , noodles , rice , salad , fresh papaya , watermelon , banana , and mango , and you have a veritable feast !
The Maldives ’ traditional cuisine is mainly based on tuna . A very
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