MALÉ, Oct 11 — With over a hundred world-class resorts that each occupies an island of its own, fringed by fine sand beaches and encircled by stunning clear waters, Maldives is a veritable paradise that elicits appreciative ooh’s and ahh’s from even the most jaded of travellers. 

Visitors fly in to Malé International Airport on Hulhule Island before being whisked off by speedboats, seaplanes or domestic flights to their chosen resorts, which can lie anything between 10 minutes to more than an hour away. 

The seaplanes only operate during the day so depending on your arrival and departure time, you may need a layover at Malé, the capital of Maldives that’s just seven minutes from the airport. 

Maldivin culture is similar to Indian and Sri Lankan in many ways, from food to traditional costumes.

A tiny strip of just 5.8 square kilometres and housing about a third of the country’s population, Malé doesn’t fit the usual imagery that one associates with this archipelago: In place of picturesque villas and sun-drenched beaches are shiny concrete buildings that could belong to any metropolitan. Indeed, Malé actually has a skyline, albeit a much lower one compared to most other cities.

Even more surprising is the sight of a Ferrari or its likes parked by the side of the neatly paved road, on an island that takes no more than 20 minutes of non-stop walking to get from one end to the other. 

Maldives even has its own motor racing event, the Piston Cup, which began in 2013 and takes place on the nearby reclaimed island of Hulhumalé.

While the pace on Malé is markedly faster than that of the other islands, it is still a fairly languid place filled with friendly locals. Here are five ways to while away your time on this capital island:

1. Fish for the freshest

Fisherman transporting their catches to the Malé Fish Market.

Tourism aside, fishing is the country’s main source of economy. In the late afternoons, fishing boats pull up to the jetties to unload their catch, which are then transported to the nearby Malé Fish Market. 

There’s always a festive atmosphere in and around the market, and you can watch fishmongers make light work of turning whole fishes into neat slabs of white meat. 

Tuna is the most commonly available fish here, and is popularly cooked in curry.

A variety of seafood is sold here, with tuna being the most popular as it features heavily in local cuisine. Similar to Indian and Sri Lankan food, curries are a big part of the Maldivian diet and you will always find mas riha (tuna curry) on the menus of local eateries. 

2. Sample island produce

Browse the Local Market to sample island produce brought in from the other atolls.

A short walk from the Fish Market is the Local Market, where you can see and sample the fresh produce that’s brought in from the other atolls. Bananas can always be found in abundance along with other tropical fruits, and you can snack on nuts, homemade sweets, pickles and vegetable chips. 

Betel leaves, for wrapping areca nuts in and chewed as after-meal mints.

For a true Maldivian treat, try areca nuts, which locals like to chew as an after-meal mint and also for health reasons including preventing tooth decay and alleviating digestive problems. 

The nuts are usually wrapped in betel leaves, cloves, cardamom and lime. Pop the little package into your mouth and chew to release all the essences and juices. 

3. Stroll the colourful streets

What Malé lacks in big attractions, it makes up for with colours. As you walk away from the markets and towards the other end of the island, you will find yourself along one of only two main streets: Majeedhee Magu and Chaandhanee Magu. 

The streets are filled with colourful, nondescript buildings.

The shops and buildings are a mixed bag of nondescript styles, alternating between low concrete boxes painted in bold hues, and glass-and-steel towers. 

Most souvenir shops are located on the northern end of Chaandhanee Magu, once nicknamed Singapore Bazaar as they mostly sold products imported from our neighbour. 

The waterfront is where all the water vessels to Malé dock, from tourist speedboats to fishing dhoni.

The bestselling items among tourists are the thudu kuna, Maldivian mats woven from natural fibres and featuring geometric patterns. Miniature versions of the traditional fishing boats, the dhoni, are also popular.

The minaret at Huruku MIskiiy, like the rest of the mosque, was constructed from coral stones.

4. Immerse in Maldivian culture and history

One of the most significant landmarks in Malé is Hukuru Miskiiy (Old Friday Mosque), which dates back more than four centuries. Its walls are often a talking point, constructed from coral stones and bearing Arabic scripts. 

The mosque is open to Muslims to perform their prayers, whereas non-Muslim visitors need to obtain permission from the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. 

You can, however, try asking the staff when you’re there if they would let you in for a look. As long as you’re decently covered up, they will usually say yes. 

While Hukuru Miskiiy is the oldest mosque, the largest mosque in Maldives is the Grand Friday Mosque, adjacent to the Islamic Centre. With a capacity for up to 5,000 people, it is also the biggest mosque in South-east Asia.

The Islamic Centre, adjacent to the Grand Friday Mosque.

Another spot worth stopping by the National Museum of Maldives, which once occupied a wooden building in the Maldivian Royal Palace but relocated to its current premises five years ago. Among the displays are carved wooden pieces that commemorate the conversion of Maldives to Islam in 1153. 

You will also pass the Mulee-Agee, the official residence of the President where guests have included Queen Elizabeth II. Built in 1906 and modelled after colonial-era bungalows in Ceylon, it sports a distinctive pink roof.

5. Dine on royal grounds

The courtyard at Royal Garden Cafe.

Originally named Esjehi Ganduvaru and built as a palace in the 1870s, what is one of the last remaining examples of a nobleman’s house is now the Royal Garden Cafe. 

The menu is a smörgåsbord of  local and Western cuisines, but it is their Asian offerings that often fare the best. Chicken satay and fried rice are among their recommended dishes. 

Dine indoors, where dark wood panelling and warm lighting create a cosy, homey atmosphere or ask for a table at the courtyard and enjoy the serene surrounds.

Vivian Chong is a freelance writer-editor who can have her bags packed at a moment’s notice and ready for the next adventure. Read more of her travel stories at http://thisbunnyhops.com