Nala Nala Raajje (Beautiful Maldives) NOW ON LINE

The National Public Waste Awareness project I worked on in the Maldives is now up and running and the web link is www.erc.gov.mv\wasteaware

The first TV ad has been placed on the website under the audio/media section on the front page and the national radio program is up and running.

Sri Lankan Safari

I recently visited the beautiful and exotic country isle of Sri Lanka, as it was an extra long weekend in the Maldives for the end of Ramazan I had the chance to escape to the lush and fertile ancient land of Lanka. I had been on a trip previously just to Colombo and this time went further north and inland, ventured on an elephant safari in Kaudulla National Park, climbed Sigiriya Rock to view the ancient frescos, budhist monastry and palace, visted the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Kandy, enjoyed an Auryuvedic massage and swam under the stars in the 40 m pool at Thilanka a beautiful boutique hotel in an orchard setting, watched a wonderful local dance performance with walking on hot coals, meditated at the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga centre and visited Pinwalla elephant orphanage.


An elephant grazing by the side of the road



On safari searching for elephants



As the sun started to set a huge electrical storm rolled in and we left the park in haste as the sheets of lightning lit the sky around us

Turtlemania

Went for a dive on Grand Final Day - GO CATS! couldn't get the coverage in Male' and instead had a great time with the turtles.







Sea Stars

Sea Cucumber

Black Coral

Clown Fish - my favourites - still trying to find NEMO



Waste not want not!

A bit of a wreck!

Field trip to Huraa Island

Taking a Dhoni Ride to Huraa Island

My colleagues Elaine and Shazna from Live and Learn

The beach at Huraa

The main shopping strip on Huraa

A communal well

Rainwater Harvesting - Water tanks are now being distributed to all islands

Chillies drying in the sun, good reuse of materials

Used cooking oil containers - these are also reused for growing plants

A Vegie Garden at the Health Centre

A traditional wall made from coral, most buildings are now made from concrete

Art decorating the walls



A visit to the Waste Management Centre at Huraa Island


Plastics and Metals are separated and bagged for eventual collection


Outside the Waste Management Centre organic materials and other waste is burnt, there has been a push by the aid agencies to get the islands to separate organics and set up composting systems as well as shredding plant materials for mulch.



Rubbish bins outside Sunset restaurant, cigarette butts can be placed in them, the first I have seen these bins anywhere


Another bin outside a small island shop


A close by resort private island

Mangroves at Huraa - we had to get some pics for the Live & Learn Field Guides

Crabs - very difficult to photograph