SHOPPING
Garments to Electronics
Shopping is the favorite activity for the locals especially
in the evenings, when it is cooler. The Majeedhee Magu,
which is the main road on the island, has along its sides
various shops selling goods from the smallest commodities
to virtually everything you could think of. The shops are
well stocked with garments, perfumes and cosmetics, jewelry,
watches or electronics, to name just a few. Many find it
a pleasant experience to join the throngs of shoppers on
the main shopping streets in the evenings. All shops are
open until 11.00 in the night, except for prayer times,
when they are closed for 15 minutes.
Fish products
Canned fish produced at the canning plant in Felivaru, Lhaviyani
Atoll is available in a number of shops in Male’. Tuna
used for canning are caught by the traditional pole and line
method, as are all fish caught in the Maldives, and therefore
are ‘dolphin friendly’. Vacuum packed smoked fish
and chipped dried fish are also available in many super markets
around Male’. These genuine Maldivian products would
make excellent gifts for a friend. Or just take some home
and try them out yourself.
The Local Market
The Local Market, just a block away from the Male’
Fish Market on the northern waterfront, is divided into
small stalls. Here the pace is slower and the atmosphere
peaceful, compared to the hectic activity in the rest of
this neighborhood. Each stall is filled with a variety of
local produce mainly from the atolls. Here you will find
different kinds of local vegetables, fruits and yams, packets
of sweetmeat, nuts and breadfruit chips, bottles of home
made sweets and pickles and bunches of bananas hanging on
coir ropes from ceiling beams. Another building just next
door sells smoked and dried fish
Souvenirs
It is not difficult to find your way around Male’, especially
if you carry a map with you. After all it is only two square
kilometers. The main street Majeedhee Magu, runs right across
the island from east to west. Chaandhanee Magu on the other
hand runs from north to south. Most souvenir shops line the
northern end of Chaandanee Magu, earlier known as the Singapore
Bazaar for its many imports from Singapore. Guides and vendors
speaking in English and other foreign languages patiently
wait to serve the visitors. These shops are stocked with an
ample supply of gifts and souvenir items. Best buys include
the ‘thudu kuna’ the Maldivian mat woven with
local natural fibers. Attractive too are the wooden miniature
‘dhonis’. When shopping for souvenirs, do keep
in mind that export of products made of turtle shell, black
coral, pearl oyster shell and red coral is prohibited. |
