Maldives > Rain in the Maldives

During the night, it rains quite heavily. Rain is not unusual in the Maldives. On average, there is 200 mm of rainfall per month. Only in the first months of the year is it drier. Most showers are intense but short-lived, after which the sun returns. This morning it is heavily overcast. It is drizzling, and there is a breeze.

Maldives - Even in the Maldives it can rain

During breakfast, all the open doors are suddenly closed. I don’t immediately understand why, until I see the raincloud approaching over the sea. I watch it come as a single line. Soon the rain is pounding down on the restaurant. I pour myself another cup of tea and wait for it to clear. I had actually planned to go snorkeling this morning—a boat trip to one of the coral spots. Around the Paradise Resort itself, there isn’t much coral to see. The tour only goes ahead with at least six participants, and until yesterday there were only two. Because four more people signed up for tomorrow, I decide to do the snorkeling trip then. Strange that there is so little interest here—maybe they just made it too expensive. Given the weather, it actually works out well that it doesn’t go ahead today. Snorkeling is more fun in good weather. I take my book and lie down on the bed. Nothing to do—just relaxing. Outside, occasional heavy showers pass over. It’s a wild, stormy day in the Maldives. In the afternoon, though it is still cloudy but dry, I try the outdoor pool. I let warm water fill the bath, turn on some music, and grab a beer from the minibar. As I relax in the bath on the veranda, it slowly becomes dusk. Wonderful! After dinner in the evening, I head to the central bar again. Tonight there is 80s and 90s disco. On the dance floor, there are many Indian families and hardly any Europeans. It is striking, in fact, that during my three days on the island I have not met a single Dutch person, whereas normally I encounter fellow countrymen in every corner of the world.