Today, we are sailing the Laccadive Sea, which stretches between Sri Lanka and the Maldives at the tip of India’s southern point. The sea is a popular region for pearl fishing, and large sections of its waters, islands, and coasts are protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Tim and I began our morning with a lecture by Dr. Babcock about the “Pearls of the Indian Ocean,” which focused on the Maldives, our next port. The population of the Maldives originally came from both Sri Lanka and India, and the country soon became a melting pot.
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| Maldives: Pearls of the Indian Ocean |
Interactions with traders, especially Arab traders, brought an interchange of ideas, culture, language, and especially religion, and today, the state religion of the Maldives is Islam, and its citizens are 100 percent Muslim.
Like many countries in this region, the Maldives was settled by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British, although the Maldives was never a formal colony. After World War II, there was a move for independence, and the Maldives became a republic in 1968. Since the 1970s, the country has become a tourist destination, primarily known for its pristine beaches.
We also attended an interesting lecture by Richard Lovelock entitled “Cruise Safari: Indian Ocean,” where he wowed us with his incredible wildlife photos and gave us an introduction to the species we hope to see in the next few weeks.
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| Cruise Safari: Sri Lanka - Cape Town |
Lunch today featured another special event, a Flambé Station. Although there were no actual flames, since they are generally not allowed on cruise ships, the Crêpes Suzette were still delicious.
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| Flambé Station with Chefs Prasad and Tony |
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