KANDOOMA RESORT - MALDIVES

This is an ariel view (from Jess' post card) of our island, Kandooma, situated 35 km south of the capital, Male. It is named after the Kandoo tree, found in abundance on the 13-hectre island. It is managed by the HPL Hotels & Resorts Group based in Singapore, plus interest from the Holiday Inn Group as well from its name. Check out http://www.kandooma-maldives.com/ for details.

How about a few fun facts about the Maldives :

* right on the equator, southwest of Sri Lanka
* comprise of 1190 isalnds to form an archipelago or 26 atolls
* 202 inhabited, 87 are resorts & tourism is 20% GDP
* average temperature between 29-32 & it is warm, humid with sunshine year round
* economy grows at 10% per annum in the past 20 years - hard to beat!
* 98% functional literacy, following the British system
* total population 369,000 per 2007 census
* islands were inhabited as early as 3000 years ago by seafaring traders
* 'Dhivehi' is spoken all over the country, so is English

We have only been here for one day but the the genuine disposition and warm friendliness of the Maldivians are simply admirable.