| It was in the year 1977, I got my first | | | | from one end of the island to the other end, |
| passport after an NOC (No objection | | | | we could walk within 25 to 30 minutes) and we |
| certificate) issued by the Government of | | | | quickly reached the place where we had made |
| India for issuing me a passport, since I was | | | | arrangements for our stay. It was something |
| a Government employee . I was very | | | | like a group of rooms in a barrack in a |
| enthusiastic about my possible 'overseas | | | | Military camp. Each one had one room and an |
| travel' and started to make plans for a trip | | | | attached toilet. Never mind, we could not |
| to Maldives. I had another friend of mine, | | | | afford much and we were happy with what we |
| who also got his first passport , and was | | | | got. The owner was an elderly lady, who also |
| desperately banking upon me to make the tour | | | | stayed in one of the rooms, on the opposite |
| plan to accommodate him as well.Both of us | | | | side of our barrack, seperated by a paved |
| bought airline ticket from Trivandrum to | | | | verandah.We set out for 'sight-seeing' and |
| Maldives,(A group of islands in the Indian | | | | shopping. There are no animals and there are |
| ocean, southwest of India, approximately | | | | no birds in Maldives! Therefore , there was |
| 45minutes of flying time by a Boeing aircraft | | | | no 'sight seeing'. My friend, who was an |
| from Trivandrum.). Having successfully | | | | orthodox Hindu brahmin, insisted on buying an |
| arranged that, we collected the information | | | | electric stove to prepare the food for us. I |
| from one of my friends, who had been there to | | | | did not care much for all these, but said OK. |
| Maldives on several occasions on business | | | | We returned back. For the dinner, we had a |
| trips. He informed me that Maldives | | | | loaf of bread and vegetarian sandwich.Next |
| Government has approved the residents of the | | | | day, my friend 'prepared' lunch for both of |
| country to entertain tourists in their | | | | us. Though it was awful, I did not complain. |
| houses, and could collect rent for their stay | | | | There was a small plantain tree in the campus |
| and pay a small portion as tax to the | | | | and my friend, without any hesitation, cut |
| Government. My friend had also recommended me | | | | two leaves to be used as plates. We threw the |
| to one of his friends in Maldives, who could | | | | plantain leaves in the dustbin, which was |
| be my host. | | | | near the tree itself. We had planned to stay |
| | | | in Maldives for 3 days, and after that to fly |
| Having arranged that, we planned for the | | | | out to Sri-lanka.In the afternoon, my friend |
| travel and set out by train to reach | | | | suggested that he would prepare |
| Trivandrum from where we would catch a flight | | | | |
| to Maldives. Everything went off very | | | | 'tea' for us. I tried to stop him. But he |
| smoothly, and on the scheduled day of | | | | would not listen. He went ahead and prepared |
| departure, we went through the formalities of | | | | tea, by using the electric stove in the end |
| immigration and customs and boarded our | | | | of |
| flight.This was, incidentally, my first | | | | |
| experience in a transport aircraft and I was | | | | verandah. As he had finished his concoction, |
| thrilled ! I was looking out of the window ( | | | | he tripped the kettle and the tea spilled |
| I had requested for a window seat) and was | | | | over on the surface ! To add to the misery, |
| waiting impatiently for the aircraft to move | | | | the room on the opposite side opened and the |
| ! Now, suddenly , a thought struck my mind. I | | | | owner lady appeared ! I just pulled myself |
| was an obsessive believer in ' cheiromancy' | | | | inside my room and watched the proceedings. |
| and was an ardent reader of all related | | | | The lady was glaring at my friend and my |
| books. I had 'reached a degree of | | | | friend was looking at her foolishly. He ,then |
| proficiency' in the related subject, in my | | | | , gathered courage and asked the lady, ' do |
| own opinion. Now, I looked at my hand to | | | | you have a cleaning cloth ?'The lady did not |
| verify whether I had the 'travel line' | | | | appear to have understood his idea. She might |
| cutting across from the mount of Luna to | | | | have thought that this arrogant guy was |
| touch the Line of Life ! It was not there ! | | | | asking her to clean the spill ! She replied |
| In no uncertain terms, it clearly indicated | | | | back tersely, ' You dirty , you clean'. I |
| that I had no prospect of 'overseas' travel ! | | | | could not contain my laughter any more. After |
| Then, what could happen ? Will I ever land | | | | my friend cleaned up the area under her |
| into Maldives or crash into Indian Ocean? | | | | supervision, he went to throw the dirty cloth |
| While I was considering all these aspects and | | | | in the dust-bin. The owner lady followed him |
| analysed for a comfortable answer, the | | | | there also. She looked with disbelief the |
| aircraft started taxiing out. Within the next | | | | plantain tree without any leaves and the used |
| 10 minutes, we were airborne, and my thoughts | | | | up leaves inside the bin ! She questioned |
| had faded away, as we started cruising. | | | | him, ' who do this ?' My friend meekly |
| Within 40minutes, I could see the green coral | | | | replied ' we used it' and went ahead to |
| islands, below us, and was thrilled. The | | | | comfort her, ' Do you eat plantains ?' . |
| aircraft made a smooth landing at the island | | | | There was no reply. Who knows? For all you |
| airport of Maldives, called 'Hulule'. 'Hell | | | | know,the lady must have thought that my |
| with this palmistry', I thought. After | | | | friend was suggesting to her to eat the |
| quickly going through the formalities of | | | | plantain leaves from the dust bin !What an |
| immigration, health ( Pricked my fingers for | | | | arrogance ! She glared at him in anger, did |
| blood samples !) and customs, we were | | | | not say a word and walked away. my friend was |
| outside. There were ferry services to the | | | | very angry with me for my 'unfriendly' |
| Capital city 'Maldives', which was 10 minutes | | | | attitude of not helping him but enjoying the |
| distance by boat travel. The weather was good | | | | fun ! What could I do ? Every one has a |
| and I liked everything I saw. After a brief | | | | natural character. I could not change |
| travel by the boat, we landed up on the | | | | mine.After three days, we again returned back |
| shores of the city ' Maldives'. It is a 100% | | | | to Hulule Airport and reached Colombo ,in Sri |
| muslim country, has to import everything for | | | | Lanka, across the indian Ocean, with a flying |
| its sustenance and most of the male community | | | | distance of one hour and 15 minutes. I shall |
| are employees of some shipping organisation. | | | | share my experiences of Srilanka with you in |
| The only natural resources is the fish from | | | | my next news letter. |
| the sea.The city was very small, ( in fact, | | | | |