Breeze_Issue_001_ChildrenOfTheSea

MALE’ GUIDE
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The Islamic Centre
Just around the bend from the shopping
district is the main mosque of the
capital, and indeed, the biggest of its
kind anywhere on the archipelago.
Its official name, Masjid-al-Sultan
Muhammad Thakurufaan al-Auzam
is a bit of a mouthful (Muhammad
Thakurufaan is believed
to be chief among those who
liberated the Maldives from the
Portuguese in the 16th Century).
The majestic golden dome and minaret
mould Malé’s skyline; they are readily
apparent as you approach the city.
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Dhivehi Malaafaiy
Located close to Sultan Park, on Rah
Dhebai Magu, Dhivehi Malaafaiy is a restaurant
specialising in Maldivian cuisine. It is a great
place to unwind, smoke a shisha and check out
a wealth of uniquely Maldivian dishes. Try
garudhiya and bai, a local staple consisting of
steamed rice, fish broth, homemade chili paste,
lime and onions. Alternatively, you can go for
kukulhu musamma, a delectable dry chicken
curry, moderately spicy but edible and enjoyable
even for those with a western palate.
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Friday Mosque and Minaret
Just up the road from the Islamic Centre
is another mosque, but not just any mosque, it is
the most important heritage site of the country.
Constructed in the mid-17th century, the Friday
Mosque has been in continuous use ever since.
The mosque is built mainly out of coral stone
and features intricate coral carvings, a pinnacle
of Maldivian craftsmanship. Its interior displays
fine lacquer calligraphy and decoration, among
the best in the country. The local carpenters who
carried out the roofing and other woodwork have
their graves in the eastern part of the mosque.
The minaret is believed to be constructed in the
fashion of those in Mecca at the time. It was built
on the orders of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar. The
Friday Mosque complex has been on UNESCO’s
tentative World Heritage List since 2008.
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Sultan Park
The biggest park in the capital and
once part of the palace grounds; it is an excellent
place to seek shade and sip a cold drink amid
the tall trees, rarities in the concrete choked
city. A banyan tree close to the museum seems
to intrigue tourists. The park is also home to the
National Library and the museum.
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The National Museum
The musuem was first opened in the
fifties by the then Prime Minister Mohamed
Amin Didi. The current museum building, a gift
from the Chinese Government, is housed in
Sultan Park. It features Islamic objects
and various royal artefacts, including
sunshades, thrones and slippers
worn by Maldivian royalty. The museum
is also home to a fragment of
moon rock from the US’s Apollo missions
to the moon. There is a cover
charge of 20 Rufiyaa per adult, but it
is totally worth the money.
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Carnival Area
Further up, in the eastern part of the
island, there is another place for local fare, especially
breakfast and ‘short eats’, finger food
consisting of fish balls and samosa-like snacks
called bajiyaa, to be had in the evenings. They
also provide some local interpretations of international
fare; check out the ever-popular nasi
goreng.
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Artificial Beach Area
This is the only ‘beach’ to be
found in the city, it is a place to cool
off and enjoy some food. No bikinis,
but you can catch the rays in
shorts and a tank top. Surrounding
the horse-shoe shaped beach
are various restaurants that serve
foreign cuisines including Indian,
Thai and Italian.
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Raalhugandu
This area on the eastern edge of the
city is where the cool kids hang out,
catching the waves or contemplating
the sea over cigarettes
and energy drinks. Obviously
a place for surfing, and getting
to know the genial folk
of the local surf community.
www.cococollection.com
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