Maldives (Dharavandhoo/Kamadhoo) - Week of February 15, 2026

Hello my friends! Welcome to my 68th weekly blog post! So amazingly wonderful to have you join in the last week's adventures. 

How was your past week? What are you most grateful for in the past week? How have you displayed your gratitude? 

I regretfully missed acknowledging last week that Ramadan, the holiest month of the year for Muslims, started the evening of February 18. And to think I am in a Muslim country. Sometimes the obvious fails to be obvious to me!

I've also been remiss in updating on the weather in Maldives. In summary, it's dry season so it's hot in the day (low 30's C [90F]/feels like low 40's C [108F]) and warm with a breeze in the evening. There is the occasional rain shower. And that's the weather! The UV index is a showstopper. It's typically 10 or 11 - extreme so staying out of the sun and/or wear adequate sunscreen (that is eco-friendly, reef-safe) is a must. 

Found in my room after breakfast on 2nd morning
Example of island vibe I'm experiencing!

My adventure to become a travel writer has a new wrinkle. The travel column idea has lost its appeal, at least temporarily. Mike, the assistant editor, has suggested drafting an article to have something tangible to discuss. My good friend Dave has also reminded me of the article's need to be relevant to paper's readers. This 'wrinkle' has been a godsend. I'm investing time to draft the article for audience relevance and alignment with the newspaper's mission statement. I'm planning to have a draft ready by the end of next week!

I learned I had a gap in my marine life knowledge base - surprise, surprise! Seeing whale sharks and manta rays in the open sea is an important reason people visit Maldives. The best time of year to see these megafauna is May to November when the plankton blooms. This abundance of nutrients attracts enormous numbers of manta rays and whale sharks to feeding areas. Check out this website for more info on when and where you have the best opportunity seeing your desired sea creatures!

Interesting discovery this week about Maldives tourism - thanks to fellow tourist Kevin from South Africa. The idea of having tourists staying on local islands started in 2008. The resort island concept was launched in 1972 with a makeshift resort being created. The country exceeded the 2 million tourists visiting in a single year milestone in 2024. Remarkable growth over the last 54 years. 

May the universe bring endless blessings and moments of magic 🦄  to you and your loved ones in the week ahead. 🙏

Travel Administration

A quick update on the big savings my new Canadian credit card (Bank of Nova Scotia) is making in my travel. I got the card because it waives foreign exchange transaction fees. I figure I am now saving about 2% on my credit card transactions. The added bonus is a more favorable exchange rate on foreign transactions as well. I'd encourage you to look into the credit card you use when traveling. For example, I know United Airlines in the USA offers a credit card with a similar benefit. 

Small irony in the journey to acquire this new credit card. Wanting to be proactive while I was in Canada, I applied for the credit card which was summarily declined due to my credit score (interesting twist!).  A few weeks later the same bank that declined my credit card application presents a pre-approved credit card offer, for the same card, in my online banking account. I accepted the offer with the card being delivered just prior to my January 26 departure. Many thanks to the universe for its benevolence in watching over me with this Canadian bank! 🙏

Travel Update

Kamadhoo is my final island destination in Maldives. I extended my stay by two nights at the hotel I'm staying at. The hotel room is very comfortable, the hotel staff are amazing and the hotel is convenient to the tourist beach. I'll take the speedboat to Velana International Airport near Male next Thursday morning. May the sea gods bless my journey with calmer seas!

Anyone interested in joining me in visiting Egypt? It's on my travel radar for early September. I'm going to see the pyramids as my last stop before returning to Canada on September 13. Fingers crossed the Middle East is calm in early September! I can get a reasonably priced flight on Turkish Airlines from Cairo to Toronto. 

I created the draft travel itinerary below to guide my travels until mid-September, my target time to return to Canada. The dates and visit duration in each country is subject to change as my journey unfolds. Stay tuned!

Travel Maps

This week's travel was easy peazy - one local ferry ride wth two stops. Ticket price - 20 MVR (~$2 CDN). The ferry's primary objective was delivering cargo to the various islands. 

Maldives:  January 28 to February 26, 2026

Dharavandhoo

This is the first island I've visited where bikini beach is on the island's north side due to the airport occupying the island's entire southside. The beach also lacked shower and toilet facilities that I was spoiled with on Hangnaameedhoo. Every island appears to have developed their respective tourist capabilities with different intentions. 

This is one of the key islands (Baa Atoll) you visit if you want to see whale sharks and manta rays. The hotel owner was pointing out the area to the island's northwest, just beyond the harbour, where the megafauna congregate annually between May and November to feed on the blooming plankton.

About the Island

Another island in the midst of a construction boom. The buildings, for the most part, were well maintained. The island had a hospital with dialysis unit and an emergency department. The island also had at least one beautiful park with an area for kids to play in. 

Airport

This is the first, and only island, I'll visit that has an airport. I think there is up to two flights on specific days arriving at the airport - early morning and around 6 pm. There's an air-conditioned bus to shuttle passengers the two minute drive from the airport to the jetty. A resort speedboat is typically waiting for guests to arrive by bus. All very luxurious. 

Airport entrance

Control tower

Imagine the runway running the island's length

Evening flight taxiing to airport

Walking Highlights

Local beach

Laneway

Laneway

Laneway

Unloading imported rocks to finish the breakwater

Scaffolding like the 
Leaning Tower of Pisa

Laneway/minaret under construction

Laneway

Rocks unloaded, barge is gone!

Trash being burned illegally while I was
enjoying the 

Rocks unloaded, barge is gone!

Fishing

I spent about an hour one afternoon watching this man catch fish with this pole and hook. He would toss the line out, pull the hook towards hem and deposit the unfortunate fish into the white styrofoam box in front of him. My challenge was trying to catch the entire fishing equipment, along with the fish, in one photo. He was just so fast and fluid in his fishing routine!

Beach

Bikini Beach was a series of four artificial 'pools' that were created along the island's north side using rocks as a breakwater and a small opening for water to flow in and out. There were several hotels adjacent to the beaches which made them appear more like private beaches. There was one 'pool' to the west end that was 'unrestricted'; it lacked beach loungers and toilet/shower facilities. An odd setup overall.

One of the beach 'pools'

Dharavandhoo Fishing Club (DFC)

Introducing the island's only local food restaurant where I enjoyed my daily lunch and dinner. It was the only restaurant, out of the island's three restaurants, that overlooked the sea. My initial impression of the restaurant was that it was some sort of an exclusive establishment given its name and appearance. Thank goodness the hotel staff corrected me! Great food and service at a reasonable price!

Entrance

Outdoor dining - usually in evening when it's cooler

Wheelchair accessible

Service counter

Eating area

Games and cards on rack to the right

Butter chicken - yummy!

Delicious Mutton Biryani.
The sauces and salad were equally amazing!

Cake for dessert - courtesy of the restaurant!

Friends

I'm periodically reminded that I use the word 'friend' more broadly than many people. I figure that if we have a conversation, we've opened the door to great possibilities. The universe will guide us as to the depth and breadth of friendship we have as well as its timing. 

Sarita

This amazing young woman from Itahari, Nepal was my culinary guide for my meals at the DFC. She helped me avoid the unpleasantness associated with ordering spicy food. It is very humbling to learn how much effort she invested on her own to learn English. She was also kind enough to help me with my Nepali pronunciation as I prepare for my time in Nepal. Sarita is back in Nepal in December 2026 after her two year contract wraps up. Dining was simply delightful!

I'm unlikely to visit Itahari while in Nepal after reading about the city. The city is an important commercial centre at the intersection of major roads between China and India. Perhaps I'll learn more that changes my impression. 

Asmii

I was blessed with meeting a second Nepali woman working at my hotel. My 22 year old friend had a wonderful command of English which she learned from Tik Tok, YouTube and other social media. Mind blowing what she has accomplished in learning English including correct grammar (albeit my grammar maybe faulty!). More humbling! Our main contact was at breakfast which she was responsible for serving me. What an amazing guest service experience! 

Asmii also mentioned that she and her older sister had a cafe, Chiya Mandi, in Kathmandu. I have a new Kathmandu destination to visit next month. I'm unsure just when I'll visit as I only have an afternoon during my initial Kathmandu visit on March 12. I have plans to meet up with Mark and his wife Ruth in preparation for our multiple day trek to Nepali villages that afternoon. I do know the cafe is about 5 km from my hotel. 

I'll be coordinating my cafe visit with Asmii's assistance!

Cafe address

Cafe artwork by Asmii
and her sister!

Juliana

I met Juliana, a fellow hotel guest from Colombia, at breakfast on her last day at the hotel. She's created a lasting impression through her presence and conversation at breakfast. Juliana was so relaxed and casual you'd swear we were old friends getting reacquainted. The only time I had seen her, without knowing who she was, was at DFC the prior evening. And our most engaging conversation then ensued.

She was a medical doctor who initialled thought she would continue her studies in Spain to become a cardiologist (another six years of studies after her initial 5.5 years of study!). She was also contemplating palliative care or pain control as areas of specialization. BTW - I think she had said she had been an engineer before entering medicine. Wow! Talk about a high achiever blessed with so much success. Her next destination was Colombia to enjoy a good cup of coffee with her parents and chart the path for her future studies. 

I have an invitation to connect with Juliana (we exchanged WhatsApp info) if I visit Colombia. I've now met at least four people in the last year that are associated with Colombia. I have a sense the universe is guiding me to add Colombia to my future travels. 

And as a parting gift, Juliana shared that she had left a bag of Colombian coffee beans at the hotel if I wanted a good cup of coffee. The hotel happened to have a coffee machine that ground beans and prepared the coffee. When I sent the two photos below to Juliana to thank her for the amazing coffee I was now drinking, her response was 'David, I brought this with so much love, thinking of all the people could enjoy the coffee as much as I do!' I am blessed to continue meeting the most extraordinarily beautiful people in my travels. 

My first cup of real amazing
coffee in a month!

Colombian coffee beans in 
Maldives. How blessed I am!

Fauna

Seems I've lost my preoccupation with flowers and plants temporarily.

Black area is a school of fish

They periodically leap out of the water

More leaping for the camera!

Lizard on the move

The biggest bat I've ever seen!

Sunsets

This is the first island where I'm watching the sunset from a non-beach location. Sunset point is on the island's southwest tip where an sunset observer sits on the rock breakwater to watch the sun set! I'm grateful for the gift of witnessing the daily sunset, just a little less comfortable with how the gift on this island is wrapped!

Sunday, February 15

Monday, February 16

Tuesday, February 17

Wednesday, February 18

Kamadhoo

The 75 minute (Rf20/$2 Cdn) public ferry ride to Kamadhoo was thankfully uneventful. This island is surrounded by a number of resort islands including Four Seasons which I think may influence the local island accommodations. For fun, take a minute click on the link to check out the Four Seasons accommodation and facilities. Eye opening and jaw dropping simultaneously! 

My hotel room, is by far, the best hotel room at a comparable price for my time in Maldives. I have face cloths for the first time! Everything about the room is a little or a lot better than the other four accommodations. The staff are amazing and the owner is a delight to speak with. The island has a good 'vibe', hard to describe in more detail. As I mentioned above, I've decided to make this island my last stay before flying to Colombo on Thursday. I'm comfortable so I'm happy staying put. 

Harbour

This island distinguishes itself with a beautiful little harbour and wide open sandy space with coconut trees to welcome you. Most islands leave a far less welcoming first impression. 

Wide open sandy space. Two local restaurants are 
in the back.

Swarn by Hawks Hotel - on harbour

Wings by Hawks Hotel

Mini petrol station

Huge outdoor stage by harbour

Around the Island

Rear view of my hotel - Ithaa Inn

Yes, more construction

Laneway looking towards harbrou

Laneway looking to east side

Laneway

Laneway

Laneway leading to west side

Football field

Looking south

Cher Hotel - Thai owners/Thai restaurant

First building I've seen with steel 
beam construction

This future hotel looks imposing and
totally out of place.

How concrete is mixed on this island!

Bikini Beach

Walkway to beach

Walkway to hotels

Love to watch people posing in front of 
heart shaped mirror

Four Seasons island in right background

Beautiful sandy beach - looking east

Beautiful sandy beach - looking west

Seaplane landing platform at this island

Sunsets

I'm blessed to be back on a sandy beach to watch the sunset. Fascinating how the sunset changes with each island. 

Thursday, February 19

Friday, February 20

Above Four Seasons island resort

Meanwhile, in the ESE sky

Saturday, February 21

Overcast most of the day

Sky comes to life after sunset

Next Week

I have a two hour speedboat ride on Thursday morning to Velana International Airport to catch my afternoon flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. I'm blessed to have lunch plans on Saturday with Lakshi and her family. Lakshi is my Sri Lankan saviour from 2023 adventure when she was so amazingly kind to receive replacement credit/banking cards after I was pickpocketed in Bangkok. She also went out of her way to deliver the cards to my hotel! How much more blessed can I be??? How do I know Lakshi? She is the younger sister of my most kind, thoughtful and humble friend Sajee who I met through a project at RPRA in Toronto.