Much Ado About Addu!

I was thrilled to get to go back to Maldives this fall, visiting Addu City and the southernmost atolls of this archipelago nation, just south of the equator! Took some doing to get there, but wow, was it ever worth it! If you fly there, make sure to get either sunset or sunrise flights between Male and Addu City for some spectacular in-flight scenery, with more shades of orange in the sky above and of blue and green in the water below than you can imagine. Highlights were the relaxed pace of this place (compared to Male), staying at the lovely Pebbles Inn which was a great value for the quality provided, kayaking among the mangroves, riding a bike to and through the Addu Nature Park, visiting the informal Maldives museum in the home of native Mr. Fariq, dining on the delicious and varied food of Suvadive restaurant, and enjoying the hospitality of friendly locals. Addu is certainly off the beaten path, but that is part of what makes it special. It's uncrowded, beautiful, rich in history, and a great place to just get away from everything, worth every extra effort and expense to get there.