What to bring with the Maldives?

Tourists go to the Maldives to lie on soft sand, bask on a warm shore, take a dip in the azure water, dive, or even play a wedding . But any category of holidaymakers want to bring with them a "piece of Maldives", which will for many years recall the paradise of rest . And, of course, do not forget about the souvenirs, which are waiting for the numerous friends, relatives and colleagues who remained at home. So, we learn what you can bring with the Maldives yourself or as a gift, except for traditional magnets.

What souvenirs bring from the Maldives?

The list of top 10 souvenirs that can only be bought in the Maldives includes:

1. Cotton clothing with national patterns. It may be T-shirts, trousers, T-shirts or traditional Maldivian sarongo.
2. Wood products. Basically, wood is used for coconut palms or mango trees. Among such goods are statuettes, dishes, vases, kitchen utensils.
3. Mats "kajan" , made by hand from palm fiber, cane or coconut copra.
4. Figures from corals , ornaments from shells and bottles with coral sand.
5. Products from coconuts. These are utensils, mortars, canes, caskets, miniature handbags. Coconut oil is also popular.
6. Shark teeth and even whole jaws of these predators.
7. All sorts of items from mother-of-pearl - from the stands under the hot to the decorations for the interior.
8. Souvenirs in the form of miniature boat-dhoni - traditional transport in the Maldives .
9. Photo frames of bamboo and palm leaves, postcards and albums with views of the Maldives.
10. Equipment for diving and snorkeling - it can be bought here at very competitive prices.

But, whatever you decide to bring home from the Maldives, remember that your best memories will always be your best souvenir of remembrance.

Shopping in the Maldives

The main features of the local shopping are as follows:

1. The choice of shops in the cities is very small. Most of the outlets are located in the capital - Male . If you want to buy something more exotic, you will have to walk around the islands of the archipelago.
2. It makes sense to buy only those goods that are manufactured in the Maldives, and not imported here from another country. The latter can be found in large numbers on the streets of the Singapore Bazaar (Singapore Bazaar).
3. The goods of everyday use are cheaper to buy in metropolitan shops (for example, the supermarket People's Choice or Fantasy).
4. It's best to go for souvenirs on Sunday. But Friday and Saturday are the official weekend in the Maldives, so many shops may not work. Also, for shopping trips, consider the time: 5 times a day during the Muslim prayer all the outlets are closed. In general, they work all day: usually from 8-9 am and 10-11 pm.
5. Price lists on goods you will not find. Be vigilant: sellers say the price (usually inflated by several times), based on the appearance of the buyer. Bargaining is not forbidden, but even encouraged.
6. All local traders speak English, and some also French and German.
7. However, the prices for many souvenirs from the Maldives are quite high - they are produced and painted manually, often in a single copy.
8. Be prepared for the fact that local traders sell everything to tourists without mentioning that some items are prohibited from exporting from the territory of the Maldives. This should also be known, so as not to waste money.

What can not be exported outside the state?

The list of such items is as follows:

• black and red corals and articles made of them;
• the shell of a sea turtle and souvenirs from it;
• pearls and pearl jewelry;
• some species of sea shells;
• marine life in a live or mummified form;
• Any items found on the ocean floor.