We finally reached our 100th country! And let me tell you, out of all 100 countries that we have visited, the Maldives tops the list, definitely. Throughout all the four days we were here, a smile was permanently plastered across my face. Pristine beaches, powder blue skies, turquoise waters, post-card perfect palm trees, and Pintrest-worthy overwater bungalows are just some of the reasons I was in pure paradise. The people were kind and out of their way to show their hospitality. Everything was really perfect, if that's possible. The pictures really speak for themselves:
Unfortunately not all things about the Maldives are as sunny as the beaches. For starters, there may not even BE a country known as the Maldives in a couple decades – the islands are getting submerged. The Maldives is the world’s lowest country with an average ground elevation of 4 feet 11 inches above sea level. It also has the lowest natural high point in the world at 7 feet 10 inches. Due to global warming and rising sea levels, the country is actually going completely underwater. There's little the Maldivians can do now to save their fate, the solution remains with the biggest offenders: China, India and the United States. However, the country has pledged to be carbon-neutral by 2019 and has urged many other countries to follow in their footsteps.

In terms of poverty and quality of life, the Maldives has reached its Millennium Development Goal of having less than 1% of the population live under the poverty line. While geography - e.g., poor access to some inhabited islands - is a key cause for poverty, starvation is practically non-existent. Luckily, both HIV and malaria have been eradicated. However, the country does have some income and gender equality imbalances. For example, the income of those living in the capital, Malé, is 75% higher than that of those living in other islands. Also, households with a greater proportion of females have lower income levels because there is such a low female labor participation rate. One in three women, ages 15-39, in the Maldives has been a victim to domestic violence.
Unfortunately, the Maldivian educational system leaves a lot to be desired. The capital, Malé, is home to the only schools for 11th and 12th graders in the country. The rest of the islands offer education up to and through 10th grade. There are a few vocational schools for learning trade but no higher education. In the last decade though, grants from the World Bank have helped progress both public and private schools.
The political scene is messy but typical. External forces ruled the Maldives three times – the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British. The country was a British protectorate from 1887 until gaining independence in 1965. Then in 1968, it became a republic with a president and an authoritative government. The first president, Ibrahim Nasir, was succeeded by Maumoon Gayoom, who served a total of six terms becoming the longest serving leader in Asia by the end of his presidency! Under his control, torture and imprisonment of his regime's opponents was common. After a political prisoner, Naseem, was found by the public to have been tortured to death, a series of political revolutions took place in order to establish more freedom and improve human rights. In 2008, one of the main rebel leaders, Mohamed Nasheed, formed the Maldivian Democratic Party and eventually became president. This is the first time multiple parties were allowed to operate. Nasheed worked tirelessly towards establishing a free society with a focus towards saving the Maldives from the rising sea levels. For a good story, watch The Island President. When Nasheed tried to prosecute a judge Nasheed speculated was in corruption cahoots with the old regime, Gayoom sympathizers went to work and made him resign at gun point. No one knows what exactly happened but President Nasheed stepped down in 2012 and the new president has not announced a new date for elections. Where else have we witnessed this recently?
While the country may have a struggling social and political scene, the sheer beauty of the islands is sure to captivate locals and visitors alike. This beautiful country will always have a special place in my heart.
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