The Maldives Diaries
Day1. Wednesday, December 20, 2007
Today's the big day. The day I go to the Maldives after a gap of 3 years !! It seemed unreal to imagine that in a few hours I'd be in a plane headed to Maldives, to home... and then in a ferry, heading towards Malé… with clear water around me, beautiful islands, and blue sky over my head..
I was also going to meet my internet contacts, my girlfriend, Thutha and Shau, and other interesting girls ..
As the plane closed in for landing, I caught sight of the capital city – Malé... I couldn't wait to deplane.
The Malé International Airport located on the Hulhulé Island was very efficient (in stark contrast to the CPWD monster back in Trivandrum. The young, pleasant, efficient employees mostly in their early twenties, in their smart uniforms were a welcome sight after the burly, pot-bellied, mustached grumpy immigration officials who felt dutybound to hold us up for at least 45 minutes, before letting us go)
We (Mom, me, my friend Fathuhu, and his v cute little sister Nasam) zoomed through all immigrations and customs and everything and in about 10 minutes flat, were out of the terminal.
It was a grand welcome by any standards. Mom's entire family – 12 adults and 6 kids were there. At least three cameras were rolling and flashing as I walked out and someone handed me a huge bouquet. A celebrity welcome! I'm sure even the high end European tourists would have been dissatisfied with the fickle reception given to them after seeing ours! :p
My Grandparents were leaving later that day on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca (and to be really honest, that explained the presence of the entire family)
And yeah, I had 3 little cousins on my arm all the way home.
As we went to Malé on a ferry, the sky scraper filled city caught my breath. Our house was on the 4th floor of a blue 10 storey building, near the artificial beach – and there was no elevator yet. And two of my aunts were cops, and two aunt's husbands were cops, and another one's boyfriend was a cop - total 5 cops!! Whatever happens, I should feel safe!
Lessons:- 1) There's no place like home!
2) I'm still the "Favorite cousin" despite a 3 years break from cousin-hood ;)
******************************************* Day 2. Thursday, December 21, 2006.
I got a Wataniya SIM card from Ibu (my mother's 16 year old brother, which technically makes him my uncle – but c'mon that's weird!)
It had no credit, so I had to message Thutha from Ibu's phone (And since then, ALL conversations between Thutha and me have been routed through Ibu)
She called back and asked me to report to her office. I did, and she introduced me to everyone there. Her computer was having trouble, it seemed. It was slow. I suggested she get a new computer, since the present one was on the verge of being called antique. She'd thought of the same thing, but her boss was too stingy.
Over coke and cookies, she asked me to give a "quotation to redesign the reception".
Hmph! I might have considered it, if only I could imagine her boss spending money on a reception when he wouldn't buy a measly computer. Thutha gifted me and Ibu two complimentary pens - which were officially termed "the Managers Pens" at home, and treated with great value - and there has been so many occasions where someone asked for "the manager's pen" when wanting to jot something down.
I went to a cyber and gave two of my internet contacts (Juney Juliet n Sexi Sana).They both called back later that night.
My girl called too, but I notice that she talks a lot more to Ibu than she does me. She told him she's too nervous, and afraid to talk to me!! Hmmmph!
Dinner was at Thutha's place. Her apartment is very tastefully decorated, and she showed us a her lovely fish tank. She also has 2 small turtles and is planning to buy a bird. Guess she likes wildlife (No, that's NOT why she likes me.. I think..) Dinner was great, and Thutha invited me to lunch the next day. Thanks!
My aunt, Xulfary, left tonight on duty to Dhoonidhoo Island, which houses a prison (She's a cop) I told her – very very dramatically – that I would MISS HER inconsolably – though she'd only gone for a couple of days...
Lessons:- 1) My girl speaks to Ibu for an hour for every 5 minutes she speaks to me. She IS Nervous!
2) Sexi Sana sounds sexy!
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Day 3. Friday, December 22 2006.
After Friday prayers at the lovely Shaheed Ali Mosque, I had started on my way to Thutha's place for lunch, but Ibu had a sudden urge to go to Dhonthi's (my lovely young aunt Arsi – who, btw, hates to be called aunt) place nearby, to get her camera.
Unfortunately for us, when we went there, she was tidying up her room, and spotted free labor in the form of me and Ibu. By the time we were done helping Dhonthi clean out her place and create some noise on (her husband) Aku's guitar and drums, it was past lunch time… ( and no, we didn't get the camera!)
Thutha told me to come to the office, which she opened for us to fix her computer. I couldn't format it, cuz there weren't any softwares in the office. (Computers are great, time saving, efficient devices that simplifies office activities manifold - BUT ONLY WHEN THEY WORK!)
Then she send us (me n Ibu) to her place, saying she'll be along. We sat outside in her drawing room, admiring her fish tank.
As time went by, we remembered we hadn't had lunch, and began getting hungry. Just as I was mentally debating whether to fry the fish, or just light a fire under the saline water tank, and make Garudhiya (Maldivian Fish Soup), Thutha walked in. Lucky fish!
Then, over Maldivian short-eats, we watched a Hindi movie, and talked to Thutha.
Of course, How can I mention Thutha and NOT mention her computer? Her co
