.....Of Buggalows, ....in the 19th Century (small Traders boats plying between Ceylon & Maldives..).....& of Sea Planes & Safari Cruises of our Times

...François Pyrard de Laval (ca. 1578 – ca. 1623), a French Navigator Shipwrecked in the Maldives isles, gives a first hand account of the Isles to the Western Press...a treacherous sea dotted with Equally treacherous Reefs of a countless group of Islands....later a host many visitors frm Ceylon, India & Europe donned the mantle of a blue moon  revered Guest, in these pearls of The Indian Ocean....generating accounts of authentic nature....those were the halcyon days of Sultans :an Aristocracy & the creation of the Thana Script of Modern Day Dhivehi Language for :Dhivehi Rajje(Kingdom of the Dhivehis)a quietly, tucked away kingdom in The Indian Ocean, on the Chagos ridge frm Chagos(Diego Garcia)archipelago to our own Laccadives...insulated by the Coral reefs as natural Defense frm marauders.....not too many could....a short stint of British rule & even shorter Portuguese...the Arabs thou transited on their voyages to far east and left their tell tale signature on the Faith & exposure to the Islamic World, frm a quiet Budhhist past...the aborigines slowly being touched & exposed to outer influence : Africa, Mid East, India & Ceylon...by & large the old customs & traditions r intact....a free spirited community...& quite uninhibited I believe....the Dhivehi Language is interesting & simple with an admixture of Arabic, Sanskrit, Pali...Our own Minicoy dialect is the same....nd many words & their pronunciation is close to Bengali...like Furothoma(Prothom), Balis(Pillow), Atah(Custard apple), Mas(Machh), Kalo(Black), Tirish(Thirty), Naeyee(not there)...I like the word & Song dance programme of "Hithu Vindhu"  , Hithu means Heart & Vindhu is Pulse...despite being Insular for a long period of time...the language , the Culture flourished.....Art is one aspect, is seen to be believed....The National Art Gallery hosting many an Exhibition of fine paintings & miniature depiction....& incredible is a Dhivehi Signature...it is as if Calligraphy at its best....the younger generation hv  caught up well with the Rest of the Globe,loves Bollywood & Hollywood, sing very well & Play instruments at ease... utilizing significantly the Communication Revolution...Sometimes in addition to their Local Numbers ,The Elderly wil listen to old Lata-Rafi & Mukesh numbers & in some Taxis perchance a sr driver will hook on to Hindi, melodious, Oldies....The locals & The expats are like "Cog & Wheel", keeping the Economy of the Tiny Nation Moving....the recently Ushered Democracy :Birth Pangs, hiccoughs notwithstanding is in the process of Evolution , as is it , elsewhere....yet must Congratulate the system here for managing, Efficiently, commendably, a Logistically Difficult Island nation at The Equator with far flung Atolls & their respective Units of an Island....The Pearl In the Indian Ocean...!!!!