My guide, Aslay, was from Dhaandhoo.  He explained that Dhandhoo was the third largest island in the Maldives, with 2,500 people.  I couldn’t verify that information anywhere online, and I don’t know if he was talking about third largest in terms of population or size.  But, that’s what he said and for the sake of this post, let’s say it’s true.

Even though Dhaandhoo is one of the largest, you can walk across it relatively easily within 20 minutes.  There are motorbikes on the island, but no cars.  The streets are actually crushed coral and sand. Most of the people on the island are fisherman, as that was the only industry available to them.  There are some shops on the island and one guesthouse.  Aslay is probably related to everyone on the island, and we visited his mothers house and his house.  Everywhere we stopped, someone was there to give us something to eat.

You’ll see many lounging chairs made of metal and netting. Aslay explained that mostly, in the afternoon, you’ll find women lounging in these chairs, watching the world go by. I never did see a woman lounging, but I did see a lot of lounge chairs.

The 2004 tsunami destroyed many of the houses in Dhaandhoo. Foreign aid and donors rebuilt most of the houses with aid money, which Aslay calls “tsunami houses”.  

Photo Journal

This is my photo journal of my trip to Dhaandhoo.  What life is like in the Maldives, outside the resorts.  

Share what the Real Maldives is like and pin it!

To see what life is like on the other side, in the resorts, see my post about Park Hyatt Hadahaa.

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

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