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2003-09-26 India-Pakistan

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Posted by Fred Pruitt 2003-09-26 11:27|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Maldivian authorities have stressed the unrest was unrelated to the re-election bid of al-Gayoom

It was, ummm....sunspots. Or swamp gas. Or bad conch chowder. Definitely the chowder.

Posted by Seafarious 2003-9-26 11:33:21 AM|| 2003-9-26 11:33:21 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 "the most expensive tourist destination in the Indian Ocean"???

when they have to fly you to Sri Lanka for treatment and to get away from the violence, you know it's nasty. Why the F*&k would someone pay big money to go there? Masochist ToursÂ©?

Posted by Frank G 2003-9-26 11:35:56 AM|| 2003-9-26 11:35:56 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Frank,
Miles and miles of untainted Indian Ocean beaches, few people, few tourists, lots of scuba and free-diving, great fishing, no smog (very,very few vehicles), and a relaxed life. Of course, there's also little industry (other than tourism and fishing), goods are expensive, and even most foods westerners prefer have to be brought in by ship or aircraft. This is another former British colony that never did progress beyond the "native industries" stage. Unfortunately, there isn't much of a market for straw hats, straw mats, and (expensive) raw fish in the rest of the world. The big reason, however, that it's so expensive is that it's 1000 miles or more out in the Indian Ocean from ANYWHERE. It's not like it's on the way to somewhere else - it's the proverbial "end of the road". Great place to be if you want to give up civilization, otherwise it's just another dead backwater.

Posted by Old Patriot 2003-9-26 1:18:43 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm] 2003-9-26 1:18:43 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Have to agree with OP here, it's one of the most isolated spots in the world. The only ones that match or exceed it for sheer "WAAAAY the f**k out there" quality are Easter Island, Clipperton Island, Kergulen Island (owned by the French, curiously enough), and Antactica.

As OP noted, unless you're either a "I hate Civilization and want to get away from it all" type, or an Arthur C. Clarke type, you don't want to live there.

(Arthur lives in Sri Lanka, but has enough money from his books and enough of a reputation with international literary circles, he was able to move there and build what amounts to a private enclave of high-tech civilization, importing whatever he might need. And he STILL gets to enjoy the "rural lifestyle", without giving up any luxuries, the lucky bastard. ^_^ )

Ed Becerra

Posted by Ed Becerra 2003-9-26 2:31:13 PM|| 2003-9-26 2:31:13 PM|| Front Page Top

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