Expat Life in the Maldives

It’s been 6 months since I moved here in the Maldives. Time really flies and the next thing I’ll know is that my 2 year-contract has reached its end.

I have written a few things about my snorkeling adventures here as well as my work life issues but I have not written anything about how life is here in the Maldives, for the expats like me I mean.

Since I am an expat living in the Maldives, I’ll take the liberty to tell you about the country, how is it to live here and a lot more. Of course, I won’t be able to elaborate everything in just one post. There will be more to follow.

Male
This is Male, the capital of Maldives

Maldives is a very beautiful place to live in and if I’d be given a chance [and money] to buy a small island here where I could build a small house, I’ll do that. Even though the Maldives is slowly sinking and might be wiped out in 20 years’ time or so, I’d still want to live [peacefully] here  – if given a chance.

Just for your info, Maldives is the lowest country on Earth. The islands are not more than 1.8 meters above sea level.  No hills, no mountains. And also, just for your info, in case you are still clueless as to where Maldives is, this country is located in the Indian Ocean, near Sri Lanka and India.

The Maldives is made up of more than 1000 islands [not so surprising to me though as I came from a country made up of more than 7000 islands, LOL], with around 200 inhabited islands and some 100 islands developed into hotels and resorts.

Most of the time, there’s only one resort per island as the islands are pretty small. Like in this island where I live and work (or work and live), I can walk around the whole island in about 15 minutes. That’s if I walk at a slow pace.

Can you imagine working and living in an island as small as this? Would you be able to survive here?

 

20161002_103319
This is the island where I work and live. I took this photo while on board a seaplane.

People like me, who loves to swim, walk by the beach, sit down and read books or listen to the waves might survive here. But youngsters, shopaholics and party animals – this is not the place for you.

A lot of people have asked me the same question of shock especially upon learning that I lived in Dubai for 10 years prior to moving here, how can you survive this lifestyle?

From a busy, crowded, cosmopolitan life to a very quiet, relaxed and isolated life is a huge change.

It was a bit of a shock for me initially. I can’t go out and eat in fast food chains, I can’t even buy the brand of coffee that I want or the brand of shampoo or soap that I want. There’s a small shop here in our island, and it’s like what you see is what you get. I feel happy whenever I see chocolates and chips, regardless of the brand. Whenever the stock of Milo or coke is over, we have to wait till the stock comes before we can buy and drink some again. Completely shocking, right? But so far I have adjusted and I learned to be happy and contented with what I see, though whenever I get a chance to go out of the island, I hoard important personal stuff and ensure that my supply will last for at least 3 months.

Well, I hope I didn’t bore you to death with this post. And if you will be given a chance to live here, do you think you’d be able to survive this lifestyle?

Author: aysabaw

Hi there! My name is Aysa! I am currently based in the Maldives, a free diver, a frustrated artist and writer and a lover of palm trees and ocean breeze.

75 thoughts on “Expat Life in the Maldives”

  1. Loved your post. It’s a place I would love to live in 🙂 I like peace, beach, sound of the waves. However,donno how long is want to live there. It is surely in my list of places I would like to visit. So, hopefully id soon go to Maldives for holidays if not live 🙂 who knows if I like it and am fortunate enough to get a job I’d like to live there 🙂

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    1. Hey thanks for reading. Well, visiting the Maldives for a holiday is a must…though coming here for a holiday and for work are two different things…but who knows? You might end up falling in love with the Maldives like me and end up getting a job here as well?

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    1. Yun na yung resort Madam Ji….resort at bahay naming staff nasa isla na yan….todo na yan lahat lahat na hehehe…
      Tralala lang din pero hindi bundok hahahaha…oo sa tingin ko yakang yaka mo tumira dito hehehe

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  3. Wow, this is really interesting. Thank you for introducing and sharing so much about Madives to us and hopefully there will be more information about Maldives soon. I don’t mind working and living in that beautiful island where you currently staying at, since I’m not used to a bustling City as well. I remember your previous article where you have shared about how it difficult it was when you have just arrived in Maldives. The food, lifestyle and almost everything and eventually you have adjusted. You’re giving me so much excitement to visit Maldives soon, hopefully!

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    1. Hope you can really visit soon and I know for sure, you will fall in love with the place and you might not want to leave.

      But, when you live & work in a place like this, you won’t be able to climb mountains or do your solo backpacking trips ha ha

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    1. Ha ha ha…feeling ko lang bawal ko banggitin ang pangalan ng resort hahaha….baka matanggal ako ng di oras lol…marami rami pa akong ipopost haha…..punta ka na din dito for a holiday…pag may long weekend kayo dyan…may connecting flight naman EK at QR to Male

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      1. Ganun ba! Parang napaka-exclusive naman ng resort na yan. Research muna ako kung saan maganda hahaha. Actually I’m checking Kandooma but not sure kasi wala pa akong date. Full na 2017. How I wish maraming paid vacation hahaha.

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  5. Wow! You made it sound so serene… Would love to visit there. Im not really a beach person, but i like the solidarity, serenity and peace. Who doesn’t, right? LOL!

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      1. I’d probably do.. before I can think about going insane because of solidarity and boredom. I still need human interaction, TV, internet, fast food, and convenience stores… 🙂 hahahaha!

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          3. Went also swimming at the beach recently, and saw some fishes at the beach…

            sabi ng kasama ko… “What? there are fishes in the ocean? Really!”- namumuro na yung friend kong yun… hahahaha!

            Liked by 1 person

  7. Informative post. Though it’s kind of scary that the islands are sinking, most likely as the oceans are rising due to warming. 15-minute to walk around the island? That’s a small island you’re living in. I imagine drawings of stranded people in an island with just a single coconut tree on it. Though I’m sure you’re amenities is more than just a single coconut tree (if there’s coconut there?).

    I wonder how far is next big island? Can you swim to it? Or boat ride?

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    1. Thanks po. It is actually scary and we can’t do much about global warming. Ha ha but we have more than 1 coconut tree….

      We have local islands nearby…some 10 to 15mins boat ride…though these islands are pretty small too…population is less than 1000

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  8. Omg. it’s been awhile since I haven’t been blogging in wordpress and I miss reading your posts. I’m also quite surprised that you are already living in Maldives. I envy you! Huhu. But God bless you always! 🙂

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  11. Nice post. It’s good that you like our country even though it is so much different to many other places. I am assuming you are working in a resort island thereby limited access to a wide variety of shopping.
    I believe Male’, the capital is well stocked in terms of whatever one wishes to buy (of course except alcohol). But anyways, it’s a unique place and it’s has its quirks but overall is beautiful.
    And on that note about us sinking in about 20 years – I think that is a bit overated – I don’t blame you for that info though …. It’s something that gets used quite often these days.
    Sure global warming and sea level rising is there. These talks have been there for years and years … Maybe eventually we will sink, but give it another 100 years at least 😀

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Hello….I really like Maldives…honestly…will you guys allow me to migrate? Ha ha…

      Yeah I’m really quite far from Male…40mins by seaplane and it is really inconvenient for me to go to Male because staff will always be a chance passenger on seaplanes…sometimes we get stuck in Male for 3 days and its not really great…but anyway…there will always be a challenge everywhere…

      And sorry about the 20years sinking time…i am sure i have read it somewhere ha ha..but don’t get me wrong…nothing negative on my post….😂😂😂😂

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  14. Maldives is very famous and expensive similar to Tahiti I guess. It is my hubby’s dream to go there so many years ago while we are still in NZ but up to now as expats in ME still not happening… yet haha! I was surprised that you moved there now to compare the lively Dubai. To answer your question… Maldives may be so beautiful and peaceful I think I cannot live on an island for a long time. I salute your braveness and positivity.

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    1. Thanks for reading and hope you would be able to visit Maldives too. I guess I have adopted to the island life as if you ask me if I would like to go back to Dubai again, my answer will be no 🙂

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  15. With all the seafood, why not?
    I like the way how they market this place. Napaka grandiose tingnan regardless sa liit ng area.
    Anyways, one of my officemate went here last month. Woah! Drooling. Na miss ko yung dagat, white sand seafood. Jusko!

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