Maldives is an enchanting island paradise comprising of more than 1190 small islands. Out of these only 200 are inhabited by humans. Maldives has a rich marine life which makes it a 'must see' destination for each and every person interested in marine life. These groups of coral islands create a magnificent landscape which is only seen in dreams.

There are a lot of activities which can be experienced in Maldives, 10 of the best are as –

1) Visit to Male – Male is the capital of Maldives and has the highest population of the state. It is 1.77 sq.kms and has a lot of tourist attractions including historical museum of Maldives and the various monuments. Try to indulge in the local fish market or the fruits market in Male. Then there is the firewood market to have a look at. Another great attraction is the Masjid-al-sultan Mohammed Thakurufaanu-Al-Azzam which boasts of a capacity of 5000 worshippers at a time. The pristine beach at Male is a perfect spot to spend your evenings for a stroll.

2) Beaches – The beaches of Maldives are one of the best in the world and one can just laze out in any of them, have a sunbath with the wind slowly caressing you body. These virgin beaches have white sand and clear water with equally beautiful landscapes. The famous beaches can be named are Cocoa Island, Nikka and Banyan Tree islands. They are a photographer's dream with their astonishing landscapes.

3) Water Sports - There are various water sports that one can enjoy for a trip to Maldives. These may include windsurfing, catamaran rides, speed boating or water skiing and of course the main attraction in water sport, Scuba diving and snorkeling.

4) Snorkeling - Snorkeling is one of the most favorite water sports in Maldives and every tourist who visits Maldives goes for a snorkeling experience. There are various resorts which arrange for snorkeling trips for their visitors and also rent out the equipments necessary for the trip. Maldives offer a wide and beautiful underwater world which consists of an array of colorful fishes and coral reefs.

5) Fishing – Fishing is the main occupation of the inhabitants of Maldives and it is now becoming a very popular activity among tourists. People who love fishing can embark on a fishing expedition arranged by the resort or the local fishermen. The main fishes found are tuna, groupers, barracudas, sailfish and marlin, among others.

6) Submarine Diving – This is another activity conducted by Maldives which attract a number of tourists. For this, one has to board the 'Whale Submarine' which then goes below the water at a depth of 150 metres. Here, one can see the rich treasures of underwater life of Maldives which includes whale shark, giant grouper, reef sharks and many kinds of turtles among others. There are a number of colorful fishes to watch. This trip is absolutely safe and the submarine has a capacity of 50 persons.

7) Night Diving – Night scuba diving is another experience that Maldives has to offer to enthusiastic tourists. If one has previous experience of scuba diving, then this is a very enthralling experience for them. Night safaris are organized by various resorts and one can enjoy the silent and clear waters in starry moonlight. This is truly an out of world experience. Many of the fishes that you don't see in daylight can be seen in the dark. These may include the mantas, clown triggerfish, leaf fish and grey reef sharks.

8) Underwater Photography – If you are a photography enthusiastic, Maldives offer the underwater photography experience to you. Underwater cameras are rented out by different resorts for their visitors as well as lectures are arranged on how to use these cameras. Even trips are arranged for this particular activity where one can get really magnificent photographs under the water.

9) Cruises – Local cruises are available in Maldives to explore the various islands of the state. These cruises are consists of various other activities like snorkeling, fishing and scuba diving. All the ships are very comfortable and have air-conditioned cabins with local cuisine.

10) Cuisine – The trip to Maldives is not complete without tasting the local cuisine and Maldives offer a variety of these cuisines. Fish lovers are given a treat and one can have a number of recipes like tuna, barracudas or trevallies. These recipes are prepared in local spices which have an array of flavors from sweet, mild to spicy. Local fruits also make up a large part of the Maldivian food.

BU TINAH ISLAND, a place where nature is still undisturbed, an island where one can find animals which are near to extinction and a place with wonders you have never seen before.

 

Located just about 130 km west of Abu Dhabi is this miracle of an island. A horse-shoe shaped land formation makes up the whole of Bu Tinah Island. It has an area of 4,000 sq.km.

 

So what makes Bu Tinah island a special place to visit ?

Bu Tinah’s specialty is that it is the home to some of the most endangered species of animals and birds who visit this small island every year. The most frequently seen are the Dugongs. In fact, this island has the highest density of Dugongs per sq.mtr. and the second largest in the world. The dugongs are large marine mammals that are on the verge of extinction. These animals love the undisturbed natural habitat of Bu Tinah and are often see on its beaches. Along with these dugongs, there are also a number of bird species which are seen in Bu Tinah which they use as a migratory stopover. Some of these species are the Bridled and while-cheeked Tern stopover, the western-reef Heron, the asprey and the endangered Socotra Cormorant along with the ever present flamingoes. In all, about 20,000 to 25,000 birds make their annual retreat through this island paradise.

 

Another feature of Bu Tinah island is the long stretch of almost 7-metre high mangrove trees. These make the island a very attractive place to see. Along with these, the island has a diverse species of Dolphins which include the Indo-pacific humpback, bottlenose and the common dolphins and some endangered species of turtles like the hawksbills and greens. Around 600 Hawksbill are born each year on the beaches of Bu Tinah.

 

Bu Tinah also has a beautiful array of colorful coral reefs which add to its beauty along with a vast marine life and numerous species of fishes in its waters. These coral reefs survive even in harsh conditions such as the salinity of the Gulf waters. As many as 16 species of coral reefs are found in healthy conditions on the island. There are around 3 species of sea-grass and 21 species of marine algae in Bu Tinah.

 

This island paradise is, in fact, a part of the Marwah Marine Biosphere Reserve (MMBR). This is a UNESCO recognized site from 2001. It can be defined as a site vital for the harmonious relationship between nature and human activities. This island provides scientists vital information regarding climatic changes and ecosystem as a whole. This island is closed to visitors so as to keep its natural surroundings undisturbed. Fishing and turtle egg collection is also banned. These steps are taken to keep Bu Tinah as eco-friendly as possible and to preserve its varied marine and ecological importance from human impact.

 

Now the good news is that Bu Tinah Island has been short listed to 28 finalists among 447 sites as the new 7 wonders of the world. This is to be declared on November 11, 2011. The EAD or Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi has encouraged people to vote for this magnificent island to be one of the ‘NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD.’

 

So the next time you visit Abu Dhabi, take a short break and make sure to visit this wonderful island.

 

 

Koh Lan is famous coral island in Thailand. It is 7 kms away from Pattaya City. Koh Lan is very attractive tourist spot. Every year millions of tourists visit this island and spend their holidays with lots of fun and joy. Koh Lan is famous for parasailing, under water diving, snorkelling, scuba and massage. Its fine white sand attracts a lot. People bath in sea and relax for a while under the umbrella. Koh Lan is island which is rich in marine animals. People mainly live on sea food. This island is mostly known for sun-bath and massage. Thai massage is an ancient theraphy for mental and body relaxation. It regulates proper blood circulation in the body. Koh Lan came into existence after 1960 A.D. when few americans discovered Pattaya city. These americans came to Thailand for purpose of research and discovery. They found Pattaya to be an attractive tourist's place for spending holidays. Later, they discovered coral island in Indian Ocean which was just few kilometers away from Pattaya. That's how, Koh Lan was discovered and it came into existence. When we talk about Koh Lan, Pattaya city automatically comes with it. Pattaya was a small village. The main occupation of villagers was fishing. Presently, it has been developed into city where population is more than 1 million. It is governed by a Mayor. Pattaya has wonderful hotels, superb dining, water sports, elephant riding, aerial sports, cabarets, fishing and shooting firearms. Pattaya's cabaret dance "The Alcazar Show" is famous all over the world. Rather than this, Pattaya is also known for its famous thai food and drinks. Many peddalers cook fish on road sides and earn their living. Pattaya city is city of joy. Koh Lan is heart of the city. Other than Koh Lan,there are hundreds of islands in Thailand. However, Koh Lan is mostly preferred by children.  

The sailor

A sailor is one who knows how to work in a sailing ship nowadays there are not sailing ships left, for their place has been taken by steam –ships. And an sailors would say that the crews who work on steamships are not sailors at all, and know nothing about seamanship, or the management of ships.

 Before steams were invited, all ocean ships were sailing ships; that is, they were moved by the wind blowing were ships and schooners three-masted vessels; then two masted ships, called schooners and brings. In the navy largest were called men of war; smaller but faster vessels were cruisers, and there were many more.

 These ships differed not only in size and the number of their masts, but also in the number and shape of their sails, and their ropes-that their rigging. And it took long experience for a sailors to know all these points, the names and uses of the hundreds of different ropes, and the dozens of different sails and how furl and unfurl them, and when.

 The sailor too, had to know the sings of the weather so that the he might know when –storms were coming; and he had to study the charts and to know where it was safe to go-though this part of the work was the job of the captain and offices more than that of the common sailors. Nowadays the chief workers on a steamer are the engineers; the `sailors; have no rigging or sails to attend to, and so are not sailors in the old sense, though there are still ships in use.

 A sailor’s life is a hard rough one; and it is dangerous. We landsmen have little idea what it must be to climb the tall masts in a storm to furl the sails, when the ship is rolling and pitching like a mad thing, the wind is icy cold, the rain is pouring down, and it is pitch dark. And sailors are always in danger of shipwreck or sinking in a storm, of fire, or of dying of thirst in calm.

 Yet the sailor is a brave and jolly fellow. He often grumbles; but he loves the sea-life so much that he will not leave it. He sings lovely.