The Maldives !!

One of the most popular holiday destinations, the Maldives are truly spectacular sights. Read on to find out more about the country and what it has to offer to the seekers of sun, sand and sea!

The Maldives are a set of islands dotted around the Indian Ocean; once known as Maldive Islands, they were first settled in the 5th century B.C. by seafarers from India and Sri Lanka. The religion of Islam was adopted by the island in 1153. Originally under security from what is now Sri Lanka, the Maldives came under British protection in 1887. The Maldives signed an independence agreement with Britain on July 26, 1965, and became a republic.

Over 200 of the islands are inhabited and if you want to stay on them, you can. You just can’t be picky about your hotels, because on these islands, there is usually just the one.

Travelling by plan into the airport of Male, it can take between 10 – 12 hours. Once you land, you will be transferred to your ‘Robinson Crusoe’ island by speedboat or seaplane, where you will be met and escorted to your hotel. Interestingly, they suggest you only take a handbag or rucksack with you on the island hops, as your heavier luggage will be transferred later, due to weight restrictions on sea planes.

Don’t forget to alter your watches and technology as the time is five hours faster over there! Also, do not take any food or drink with you, as these will be confiscated, due to threats to their eco-systems and hospitality. And if this happens, you can nearly miss your transport.

Temperatures barely drop below 30°C, yet if you plan to visit between May and October, you might need an umbrella, as the islands see the most rainfall during that period.

The islands are a place for holidaymakers to relax, but there are still activities to write home about. Snorkelling, diving and trips out on glass bottomed boats are incredibly popular to see the marine life. Evening cruises offer views of sunsets that you can’t get in England, as well as the chance to go dolphin watching.

The Dhoni cruises are also incredibly popular. Originally used as fishing boats, the dhonis became popular transport for the locals and many are not adverse to taking trippers out to see the marine life. Some are even kitted out to spend a few nights aboard them!

If you’re buying souvenirs, then the currency is the Rufiya. The best place to shop is on the capital of Male, which has high-rise tower blocks and neon signs. Nothing like those picturesque islands. Highlights of the city include the National Museum, the Grand Friday Mosque and the Tomb of Mohammed Thakurufaanu, the Maldives’ national hero.

You should see these sights while you can. Due to global warming and the shrinking of the polar ice caps, the Maldives are directly threatened, as none of its islands rises more than six feet above sea level. Many of the coastlines are eroding into nothingness even as you read this article.

Proverbs:

Ignorance is bliss		You can be happy when you do not know there are problems around you
Ignorance of the law excuses no man		Not knowing what you did was wrong does not excuse you from suffering the penalty
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery		When someone copies what you do, it means they really admire you or the way you do things
It is best to be on the safe side		Play safe, and be prepared for the worst to happen
It takes two to tango		It takes two individuals to do certain things
It's a blessing in disguise		When an opportunity arrives through a crisis etc.
It's better to give than to receive		Giving is more blessed than receiving
It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all		Do not be afraid to fall in love
Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today		What you early hope for does not seem to be happening
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step		To progress at anything, you first need to get started
Judge not, lest ye be judged		Do not judge others as you are not perfect yourself, so be merciful in the hope that others will show you mercy one day
Keep no more cats than will catch mice		Do not acquire more than what you need
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer		Keep track of what your enemies are up to for your own protection
Kill not the goose that laid the golden egg		Do not be so foolish as to destroy the source of your good fortune out of pride, greed, anger etc
Kill two birds with one stone		Complete two tasks with one action
Kindness begets kindness		When you are kind to people, they will be kind to you in return
Knowledge is power		The more you learn, the greater influence you have over others
Laugh and grow fat		Laughter creates a sense of well-being and happiness
Laughter is the best medicine		being cheerful is good for your total well-being

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people		Laughter is the best way to break the ice between strangers or enemies
Learn to walk before you run		Do not rush into things before you are ready
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone		You qualify to judge someone only if you yourself are faultless
Let the buyer beware		Always be aware of what you are getting yourself into
Let us go hand in hand, not one before another		Face problems together in unity, and not alone or in a spirit of enmity
Lightning never strikes twice in the same place		The same misfortune will probably not occur again in the same place or to the same people
Like cures like		People who have been through something are usually able to help others with the same problem
Little boys should be seen and not heard		Children should not interrupt when adults are talking
Little by little and bit by bit		If you persevere at something, you will gradually accomplish it
Little enemies and little wounds must not be despised		Do not ignore people you have angered or hurt, however small the slight or injury, as they can harm you one day if they choose to bear a grudge
Little strokes feel great oaks		Continuous effort, however small the mount, will help you achieve your greatest dreams and ambitions
Little things please little minds		Childish people are thrilled by childish, petty things
Live and learn		Learn as much as you can from life
Live and let live		Get on with your own affairs and let other get on with theirs
Long absent, soon forgotten		If you are away for too long, people may forget you
Look after the pence, and the pounds will look after themselves		Take care of the details and the bigger issues will be solved
Look on the bright side		Be positive

The World’s 10 Smallest Countries:

The world contains billions upon billions of people spread far and wide over this big green and blue orb, and just like the people themselves the countries can be rather strange and hold some very interesting facts. I often wonder what’s the largest, longest, lowest or most luxurious country in the world and what wonders does that particular country hold. Here we’re going to look at 10 of the world’s smallest countries but don’t be fooled by their size, these places hold some fascinating bits of information from the people to the landscape.

Grenada – 133 Square Mile

Grenada, or the Spice of the Caribbean, is the tenth smallest country in the world. As of January 1^st 2016, Grenada has a population of over 107,000 and compared to some of the countries to come, is a reasonably lower populated location measuring 133 sq. mile (344 sq. km). Grenada is known as the Spice of the Caribbean as its one of the largest producers of nutmeg and mace in the world, with inhabitants saying the smell wafts around the island. The most popular sport in the country is cricket.

Malta – 122 Square Mile

When compared to Grenada’s population of 107,000, Malta is practically a bustling empire, with over 419,500 people as of January 1^st 2016, this makes it one of Europe’s most populated countries. The republic of Malta is made of 3 separate parts; Gozo, Comino and Malta. According to a 2013 report by the UN, Malta is the 48^th happiest country in the world. Malta is home to Calypso cave, a cave that  overlooks Sandy Beach, Ramla Bay, this apparently features in Homers ‘The Odyssey’ as the location Calypso kept Odysseus locked up as a ‘prisoner of love’ for seven years, She guaranteed him immortality if he stayed with her but he ran away to his wife Penelope.

Maldives – 116 Square Mile

The Maldives is an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands grouped into 26 coral atolls, of which 200 are inhabited; this makes the Maldives the most dispersed country in Asia. The Maldives became an independent country in 1965 and as of the 1^st January 2016 the population was just under 367,000. Climate change is a serious issue when it comes to this area, in 2009 the then-president and 13 other officials sat at desks at the bottom of the sea dressed in full scuba gear to raise awareness about the potential dangers the islands face.

Saint Kitts and Nevis – 101 Square Mile

This two-island country is located in the Eastern Caribbean and as of the 1^st January 2016, the population is over 6 times less than the Maldives at 55,000 and is just 15 sq. miles smaller, this shows the sheer secluded nature of the beautiful place. There are some much respected figures who have at one stage called this island home, Alexander Hamilton one of the founding fathers of the US for example was born here.

Liechtenstein – 62 Square Mile

Liechtenstein is an incredibly interesting country with some very weird occurrences over its lifetime. As of January 2016, the population was just 37,000, that’s 10 times smaller than the Maldives. Found between Switzerland and Austria the country is an incredibly safe one, crime rate is drastically low with the last murder occurring in 1997! Lichtenstein have a weird history when it comes to the military as well, in March 2007 the country was accidentally invaded by the Swiss army when 170 armed soldiers wandered 1 mile across an unmarked border.

San Marino – 23.5 Square Mile

San Marino claim to be the oldest surviving sovereign state and with a population of around 32,000 people as of January 1^st 2016, it’s not hard to see that this is a fairly small country that’s actually quite densely populated when compared to Saint Kitts and Nevis which has an extra 77.5 square miles and only 13,000 more people! San Marino has a rather strange relationship with the US, in 1861 the San Marino government wrote to then-president Abraham Lincoln asking if he would like to form an alliance and in turn they would give him honorary San Marino citizenship, Lincoln accepted this offer. When it comes to sports though, and particularly that of football, San Marino aren’t that successful, after forming in 1990 their first international win didn’t come until 2004 when they beat Liechtenstein 1-0!

Tuvalu – 10 Square Mile

Tuvalu was previously known as the Ellice Islands (no not that Ellis Island) just off the North East of Australia. There is just one 1 hospital on the island for its population of just under 10,000 as of January 1^st2016, that’s 384 people per sq. km! The island is quite a low lying one with the highest point being just 16ft above sea-level. Tuvalu is a reasonably secluded location with only 2,000 visitors in 2010 and 65% of those were for business. However it does hold a rather strange caving system; in 1986, 2 scuba divers discovered underwater caves, this is of course not that strange but when they noticed dark patches similar to that of fire scorching, eyebrows were raised. It’s believed that many thousands of years ago the island was that much higher out of the sea compared to today, theoretically showing just how much sea-levels have varied.

Nauru – 8 Square Mile

Nauru is an island east of Australia, it’s the smallest island country and with a population of around 10,200 people as of January 1^st 2016, it’s obviously not that lowly-populated compared to earlier examples. The country, even though stunningly beautiful, has a real issue with unemployment, only 10% of the residents are apparently employed, all of them are by the government. The island has a serious problem with obesity, it’s often categorized as the most obese island nation, with 97% of men and 93% of women affected, due to this type 2 diabetes is also very prominent in Nauru, with 40% of people suffering.

Monaco – 0.75 Square Mile

Monaco are a very wealthy country as we are all aware; hosting Grand Prix’s and numerous other events. The country is bordered by France and its flag is very similar to that of Indonesia, the difference being that the Indonesian flag is wider. AS Monaco, the country’s major football club, play in the flag’s red and white and are called Les Rouge et Blanc or the red and whites. AS Monaco’s stadium Stade Louis II is able to fit over half of the country’s population, which as of January 1^st 2016 was over 37,500!

State of the Vatican City – 0.17 Square Miles

Located in Rome, Italy, the Vatican City is the home of the Pope and many other religious figures. With a population of just 800 and of those only 450 hold actual citizenship, many citizens actually live elsewhere. Its sovereignty was recognized by Italian government under Lateran Treaty on 11^th February 1929. The Vatican prints its own stamps, issues passports and number plates, mints its own euros and has its own flag and anthem, the one ability it does lack is that of taxation. The Swiss Guard protect the Vatican City, its main purpose is to protect the Pope and has been since 1506 when the then-Pope Julius II hired the Swiss as his own protectors.

So there we have it, whether you’re religious and view the State of the Vatican City simply for its significance in the church, or whether you merely love the sheer quirkiness of the isolated tiny country, I strongly believe everyone should visit just to say you’ve done so. Even when you disregard that of Vatican City, the other countries on this list are well worth a visit, be it for the beauty, the culture or for the smell (in Grenada’s case).

Facts About Zebras:

Zebras are one of the many beautiful creatures inhabiting Africa. Many people know them for their iconic stripes and the never ending riddle about them being black with white stripes or white with black stripes. Here are a handful of facts you might or might not know about these striped horses.

1. The zebra is actually mostly covered in white and striped with black or dark brown stripes, but underneath their coat is black skin.
2. There are different types of zebra, each with a different stripe pattern. The mountain zebra normally has vertical stripes on its neck and across its torso while horizontal strips cover their legs.
3. Zebras run in a zig-zag pattern when being chased by a predator to make it more difficult for the predator to run after them.
4. The pattern of a zebras stripes are different for each individual zebra, making them each as unique snowflakes!
5. The black & white striped pattern of their coats is a good bug repellant, keeping horseflies and other blood-suckers at bay.
6. A group of zebras is called a ‘zeal’.
7. The Native American culture refers to the zebra as a symbol of balance and sureness of path.
8. The Swahili name for the zebra is ‘Punda Milia’.
9. Romans used Grévy’s zebras to pull two wheeled carts for their circuses.
10. In Roman Circuses the zebra was usually called a ‘Tiger-Horse’ or a ‘Horse-Tiger’.
11. When faced by predators, zebras will form a semi-circle and bit, nip or attack the predators if they come to close to them. They will also encircle an injured family member to protect it from further attack if the need arises.
12. A mother zebra will keep her foal away from all other zebras for two or three days until the foal can recognize her scent, voice, and appearance.
13. Zebras form hierarchies with a Stallion (male) in the lead followed by his Harem (group of females) behind him.
14. When traveling with his harem, the stallion will lead them with his head low and his ears laid back.
15. Zebra’s bunch together to confuse colorblind predators, such as lions, which mistake the pattern as grass.
16. Zebras are one of the few mammals that we believe can see in color.
17. Zebras are actually pretty short and can be 3.5-5 feet tall.
18. The Grévy’s zebra is named after Jules Grévy, president of France (in 1882) who received a zebra as a present from the emperor of Abyssinia.
19. Another name for Grévy’s Zebras are Imperial Zebras.
20. A zebra can run up to 65 km/h or 40 mph.
21. To sleep, generally zebras don’t lie down – instead they usually sleep standing up.
22. Zebras can rotate their ears in almost any direction; this ability is used to communicate their mood with other zebras.
23. Zebras have one toe on each foot.
24. Zebras cannot see the colour orange.
25. A species of zebra is called ‘Asinus Burchelli’ after a conflict between William John Burchell and John Edward Gray sparked. Burchell brought specimens from Africa to The British Museum and the specimens died. Gray felt the need to Embarrass Burchell because of the incident; the name means “Burchelli’s Ass”.

Interesting Facts About Horses:

Horses are beautiful creatures to look at, and thousands of fanatics enjoy riding them or showing them every year. Here are some important (and some very interesting!) facts you might like to know about horses.

1. A male horse is called a stallion and a female horse is a mare. A male horse which has been castrated is known as a gelding.
2. Young horses have different names – a young male is called a colt and the young females are fillies.
3. Baby horses can walk and run after just a few hours of being born.
4. In total, there are 205 bones in the skeleton of a horse.
5. Horses which have been tamed usually live to be around 25 years old. However, the oldest domestic horse on record was Old Billy, who died at the age of 62.
6. When a horse is seen standing up, don’t assume it’s awake! These creatures can sleep either standing up or lying down.
7. A group of horses will not go to sleep at the same time – at least one of them will stay awake to look out for the others.
8. Horses are often seen in photographs ‘laughing’ or ‘smiling’, but this movement is actually to help them smell better.
9. They only eat plants, making them herbivores.
10. For a regular horse, their top speed is approximately 27 miles per hour, although the fastest horse ever recorded could reach 55 miles per hour!
11. There are an estimated 60 million horses in the world, combining wild and domesticated horses.
12. The eyes of a horse are bigger than those of any other land mammal, and the fact they are located on the side of their heads means they can see almost 360 degrees.
13. Experts used to believe that horses were completely colour-blind, although this has now been disproven. They can, however, see certain colors a lot clearer than others.
14. When a horse gallops, all four hooves are off the ground at one point.
15. A horse has huge teeth! The space occupied by the teeth is greater than that occupied by the brain.
16. Its brain only weighs around 22 ounces, making it just half the weight of a human brain.
17. Like humans, horses have different facial expressions to express their moods.
18. Unlike many other mammals, it is impossible for horses to vomit.
19. There are more than 300 different horse breeds in the world.
20. Rather than being measured in feet and inches, horses are measured in hands. A hand is equivalent to four inches. Ponies are horses which are under 14.2 hands high.
21. Sampson was a Shire horse and the tallest on record. He stood at a staggering 21.2 hands high.
22. By contrast, the smallest horse ever was a tiny 14-inch pony from New Hampshire. His name was Einstein.
23. Horses are big fans of water and will drink a minimum of 25 gallons every single day. In warmer countries, this amount is even higher.
24. While zebras and horses are often considered to be totally different animals, they can breed with each other to create ‘zebroids’. Zebras will also mate with donkeys and produce ‘zonkeys’.
25. In 2003, a horse was cloned for the first time. The cloning took place in Italy.
26. If you feel behind the ears of a horse and they appear to be cold, this means that the horse itself is feeling cold.
27. Horses have been used in the police force since the 17^th century, and although they became less popular with the introduction of the automobile in the early 20^th century, hundreds of horses are still used by the police today.
28. The Arab is thought to be the oldest surviving breed of horse. Experts believe they first appeared about 4,500 years ago.
29. In certain countries, including France, horse meat is considered an expensive delicacy. Although it is illegal in several other countries, the French enjoy eating horse heart and horse brains.
30. Studies showed that horses have excellent memories – possibly even better than that of an elephant!

Happy New Year :

Happy New Year 2017..!!

Wish you all a very happy new year. May this new year bring you all the good happiness you wish.