Yesterday and today, we visited the Maldives, the smallest country in Asia by land area. It covers just 298 square kilometers (115 sq mi) but is spread across approximately 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 sq mi) of ocean, making it one of the world's most geographically dispersed nations. Additionally, with a population of 510,000, the Maldives is the second least populous country in Asia. However, due to its small land area, it is also one of the most densely populated in the world.
We anchored in Malé, the capital with a population of 211,000 within an area of just 8.30 square kilometers (3.20 sq mi). This makes Malé one of the most densely populated cities in the world. 
I usually don’t share pictures from the internet, but our lecturer provided this aerial view of Malé, which offers a great perspective on the city.
I had planned a walking tour of Malé, but it was canceled due to Ramadan, so on the first day, I explored the pedestrian-only area on my own. On the second day, my friend Jackie and I took a taxi, and the driver gave us a tour of Malé, pointing out various neighborhoods and notable buildings. The entire ride, including stops for pictures, took only an hour.
The streets were extremely narrow, lined with hundreds of parked scooters.
While I was walking, I came across the Sultan’s garden, a lovely spot to take a break from the heat and humidity.
The first picture is the first mosque built in the Maldives from coral reef; the second picture is the Old Friday Mosque.
Jackie and me with our ship in the background.
Government buildings we drove by.
I couldn’t resist stopping at the souvenir shops—the people were so friendly!
The palace is located in a gated community, but I love that they painted an image of what it looks like.
Our taxi driver took us to the local port, which is off-limits to tourists. Our guide explained that the Maldives consists of 1,190 islands, with 202 inhabited by Maldivian people. Additionally, around 400 islands are dedicated to tourism, each hosting a single resort. The Maldives is a prime destination for diving and snorkeling, boasting a rich and diverse marine ecosystem. This port plays a vital role in daily life, serving as a hub where boats from the various islands arrive in Malé to collect food and other essential supplies needed for survival.
Life in the Maldives is deeply tied to the sea, with people constantly traveling between islands on boats of all sizes, just as we rely on paved roads for transportation. No matter where you are in Malé, you can see boats and ships docked along the shore or moving in and out of the harbor. It’s a very interesting city!
P.S. If you're wondering where the Maldives is, here’s a map.
This featured blog entry was written by Susan.Mercer from the blog Cruise Around the World with Susan.
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