Indian Ocean Lockdown Part I

Vaadhoo Gaafu Dhaalu

On March 8, 2020 I arrived in the Maldives en route to the southern islands of the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.

In 2019, I went around the world to determine where I want to spend the next years, and decided on the Indochina & South Asia region. I had just solidified my apartment and extended non-tourist VISA in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Now to complete the plan, I needed to successfully jump to a tropical ocean surfing destination in the region. Originally, I had planned on Indonesia and had decided upon the further east reaches of Sumba. However, due to the then growing concerns of the international alarm sounding off on the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided on a return to the Maldives, which seemed like a safer gamble.

Southern Atoll Mysteries

Getting to Vaadhoo from Malé was more pricey than getting to Malé from Cambodia. Although it\’s a shorter distance, it is very remote.

On this first leg of my adventure, I didn\’t score the surf I was hoping for, but the feeling of being on the edge of the earth made the experience quite intriguing.

Edge of Earth

The day-time sun is hot enough to keep one seeking out the shade. The full-moon vibrations both serene and intense.

Wildlife and raw color of nature is etched in my mind along with a deep curiosity of the few who\’ve wandered these latitudes throughout the centuries. There are some old-world sites that even the locals have little information about.