"We are lucky to have Vilimale"

Me in Vilimale today morning.

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Today morning me and some relatives went to Vilimale, taking advantage of the current school holidays, in taking a break away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city of Male' where I live.

Formerly known as Vilingili before the government turned it into a suburb of the capital Male' by allowing people to settle, Vilimale used to be a prison island and also a resort island. Considered part of the "Greater Male' Area", alongside Male' and Hulhumale, in the near future, Vilimale is to be linked with Male' via a bridge that will also link Gulhifalhu and Thilamale.

There were some picnickers on the beach today morning, some cooking and some playing dodge ball. Some were swimming in the pristine lagoon. 

The beach itself was clean due to a years-long campaign by "Save the Beach" NGO (non-governmental organisation), and it was heartening to see many dustbins installed at regular intervals, with signboards appealing to people not to litter.

"We are lucky to have Vilimale", commented one of my relatives.

Of course, Male's other suburb is there - Hulhumale, an artificial island about 10 minutes from Male', completely reclaimed from the lagoon of Hulhule where Velana International Airport is located. Hulhumale has a long stretch of beach enjoyed by picnickers.

Another picnic island, Kuda Giri, has been reclaimed from Emboodhoo lagoon, just 15 minutes from Male', to serve as a picnic spot for Male's residents - after Kuda Bandos and Feydhoofinolhu in North Male' atoll were turned into resorts.

"Vilimale is different, in that it is a natural island," my relative elaborated, when I pointed out that Hulhumale and Kuda Giri also serve as picnic spots.

Indeed, there are signs of native island experience still available in Vilimale. We circumnavigated the island and noticed that artificial constructs still left a lot of space for plants and shrubs to grow adjoining the beach, such as kuredhi, magoo, and shade giving trees such as nika, hirundhu and dhiggaa. And at the harbour, anglers were feeding stray cats and crows, after a good catch of handhi and other assorted fish.

Some inhabited islands of Maldives have already lost their natural vegetation once they ushered in local tourism and agriculture, transforming them into boutique hotels.

Fortunately, Vilimale may be insulated from such a fate. Even now only bicycles and electric scooters are allowed, making the island virtually an island with no "heavy duty" vehicles, although the government is now set to allow buggies to operate. It is not clear yet if Vilimale will remain the quiet place it is currently once it becomes linked with the bridge that India is now constructing to link with Male'. Would all types of vehicles be allowed to stop or drive through Vilimale once the bridge is open?

We went to Vilimale via a ferry boat which took only 5 minutes. To the Vilimale ferry terminal in Male', we took a mini-bus of the Raajje Transport Link (RTL), a network run by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) under which the government is trying to ambitiously create a more "connected nation".

By installing the RTL app, we can not only see the bus route but also check the progress of the bus on the route, together with its arrival time at our desired bus stop. Thus we caught the bus back home with more than enough time allowing us to enjoy a buffet breakfast at the Indian Thali restaurant in the south west harbour of Male'.

I realized that technology need not ruin our life, and that with proper management, it can enhance the "paradise" island experience of Maldives for natives, expatriates and tourists alike.