Dentist - Ugh

Last night I developed a tooth problem & had to go to a dentist today - 1 ferry from hotel to airport ($80 RT), 1 ferry from airport to Male ($2 RT) & cab fare from ferry to dentist office ($6 RT). Fortunately the dentist was only $25 & my tooth is fine now! Above pic is of Male - capital of the Maldives. Interestingly the city occupies/covers an entire atoll - not much to it & above pic is the entire city atoll!
Male was deserted & mosy shops closed because it's Ramadan. But I DID find a grocery store where I stocked-up on mango/banana juice <- bottled water is $5 at hotel! Btw - so-so dinner buffet is over $70!
With tooth "fixed" I can now do some diving!

Maldives

I arrived at my hotel in the Republic of Maldives late last night. For decades I have wanted to visit the Maldives which is: the smallest Asian country in both population & size (pop < 400K, total land mass = 115 sq miles comprised of 1200 islets of which < 200 are inhabited); ex-British colony (1965 independence); located in the Laccadive Sea; 99% Muslim: noted for its diving; and the lowest country on earth (average elevation is < 5 feet above sea level - highest elevation is 7' above sea level). The last fact is the main reason I wanted to come here - because of global warming & resulting rise in sea levels it has been predicted that this country won't exist in 20-50 years!
All resort hotels are located on their own private atolls. I am staying at the Sheraton Full Moon Bay - located on a an atoll about .5 mi x < .25 mi - see. HERE.. Everything is incredibly expensive here - buffet breakfast is $30, $10 for a milkshake & boat ferry to Male city (< 2 miles away) is $40 ea way! But the property is beautiful as pics in above link shows!. Above pic is of me on 1 of 3 small beaches on the Sheraton atoll - it has been cloudy all day so this is the best for today. White sand & turquoise waters are great!