Maldive Islands

Maldive Islands 2007

1,190 small coral islands in the Indian Ocean

by NEJIMA Susumu

I have been visiting South Asian countries since 1984.

In Pakistan for 4 years, in India 6 months and in Bangladesh 10 days!!.

In 2007, I visited another South Asian coutnry, the Maldives.

Male seen from a boat to Hulele, the airport Island Male is the capital of Maldives. From political, economic and cultural points of view, it is the most important center in the country.
	Main Square with the national flag Male is so densely populated. The 2000 census tells the population is 74,000. It seems, however, about 100,000 people are in this small 2×1km island!! Main Square provides one of the very few open spaces in Male.
Grand Friday Mosque (with Islamic Center) This is the Islamic headquaters of the Maldives. All Maldivians are Muslims, belonging to the Sunni sect. Knowledgeagle scholars who have studied in Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, or Pakistan are woriking here.