Flickr Maldives meetup. Please contribute a suggestion.

If you are from Maldives... or in Maldives currently, why not join in the discussion.
http://flickr.com/groups/flickrmaldives/discuss/72157594396536308/

Nattu is sending invitations to the group. But anybody is free to be self invited.

Storm on the way

http://earthchangestv.com/gallery/Storm-Photos/4_G

Scene in front of water sports centre in Villigili island, where young enthusiasts visit and enjoy. Partly for entertainment and partly... to escape the over crowdedness of the neighbouring capital island.
But alas, good times don't always last that long, do they.
Six years on and this area has been dredged and converted into a harbour accomodating boats, And in the process, ruined the only piece of natural beach available for residents of these two islands.
Recreation facilities are put on hold for the time being.
Photo from 1999.

Are rulers... descendants from Hell?

Ordinary Bahrainis are using Google Earth to spy on the palaces, yachts, former national parks and waterfront properties (90% of the country) owned by the royal family and their cronies, while the rest of the country lives in squalor...

“Some of the palaces take up more space than three or four villages nearby and block access to the sea for fishermen. People knew this already. But they never saw it. All they saw were the surrounding walls,”

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/11/26/bahrainis_use_google.html

Familiar?

Do you want to play?

Too late.
Probably you must have already been brain washed by religion to participate in such a free game. Because religion itself teaches hypocrisy. Of mistrust of people. And hate. The moment religion comes into play, the whole play get spoilt with all sorts of rules. Sad.

Do you see the victorious v finger or the pack of paparazzi.
A bunch of photographers assemble to capture this group after a sports event featuring school children. When the photographer next to you has the same view as yours... the view automatically becomes, boring.
I am here sneaking behind the chief guest. Also one priority at this point: To stay hidden from rest of the cameras. And possibly not appearing on tonight's TV news.

Rebuilding Titanic

More like a Titanic repairing job.
These 4 men teams are brave and highly versatile. They are boat repairmen on call. Always mobile and ready to take over a job, irrespective of size or location. Spotted near an abandoned boatyard close to my home, today's' job is however not a one day job. Not from the massive hole they seem patching up.

Crowded

The capital island is a heavily congested city.
Not without cause. One third of the Country's population has scrambled to this tiny island in search of opportunity. Jobs, education and facilities are all centered around this island, roughly a square mile in size. What's a square mile? I don't know - it takes me half an hour to go around the island on a bike. Less if I am driving.
Maldives has a population of some 300,000 people and 1,200 islands. So what's with the fuss with this 1 island?

Thanks Sophie... for blogging my "ruthless democracy" photo.

http://sophiesfavoritephotos.blogspot.com/

The chaotic desktop.
Hehe. I amuse myself laughing at the amount of clutter that gets accumulated at my desktop. Flickr, diary and a handful of other non interesting job related stuff. I keep promising that I will cleanup. Eventually.

Kirsten Dunst is Marie Antoinette

Read it here.
http://iamfashion.blogspot.com/2006/11/marie-antoinette.html#comments

Bracing for some tough times ahead, friends.
I am keeping myself up to date through various news sources. Will keep you informed as and when appropriate.

Maldives in the headlines . . .

Indian Express
Concern in Delhi as Maldives braces for massive anti-govt protests on Friday
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/16223.html

Reuters
Maldives outlaws opposition protest, arrests dozens
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL13548.htm

Subcontinent South Blog
Maldives Boat Crisis Update
http://subcontinentsouth.blogspot.com/index.html

Reporters without borders
Government gets tough again in run-up to opposition rally
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19610

ACHR WEEKLY REVIEW
Intervene for reform in Maldives
http://www.achrweb.org/Review/2006/140-06.htm

Source:
http://www.dhivehiobserver.com/

The rocky road report

Not exactly a report but . . .
Nor is it a road. During extreme low tides... around some islands, the protective reef is exposed (dead in this island) and curious people wander on and about. The reef.

The lens lady.

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A guy walks into a bar ...

http://www.flickr.com/groups/central/discuss/72157594354344785/

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Big brother.

Landmark Buildings Series. Before and after...

State Trading Organistation STO.

Pencil Carving Gallery

http://www.infofreako.com/jad/pencil/0list-e.html

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From a surfing trip to Colas point (Thulusdhoo). Photo from 1999.
Iteniary: 5.00 AM. Wakeup and gathering at HQ. Followed by a 2 hour trip on a hired slow moving boat. Light breakfast on board. Arrive at point around 9.00AM. Followed by 3 hours' surfing. (Yawn.) Visit to island. Lunch at the local Cafe. Exploring and making friends. (Dont recall seeing any girls.) Meet a bunch of island surfers. Visit historic places. 3.00 PM. Departure back to main island.

Outdoor event at the local school, in the late afternoon of a sunny day.
An impromptu stage is setup in the courtyard and children take turns to present themselves for the judges, seated in the front. For this event children are dressed up in traditional Maldivian clothing, complete with adorning headgear.

Farewell October.

Urban expansion

Spy camera at the hair dresser

I like to start my day with something colourful.
These are small flowers I find so often in gardens. Their colours range from pinks, yellows and this one in white. But almost always have an extra shiny effect on them.
Oh. And just seen the notice that Blogger has an updated version that I must remember to upgrade to. News from Blogger Buzz.

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A school.
Bet you already noticed that from the signboard. Schools must be the most utilized of places in this space tight capital island. Schools operate officially in two separate shifts. Morning and afternoons. And evenings, whenever there is a need. There always is a need. Halls and or courtyards are often let out to private parties for carrying out various functions... from get togethers, workshops, exhibitions to weddings. (Decorations with baloons underway outside...) And oh, nowadays the rave is for political party gatherings.

Doodling with light. An experimental photo... shot from the harbour. Where reflections of streetlights up overhead play magic with the ripples of the water.

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High-Speed Photography
http://www.durmphoto.com/High-Speed1.V.html

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50 Amazing but useless facts!
http://www.world-english.org/facts.htm