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The Local Market
The Local Market, just a block away from the Male Fish Market on the northern waterfront, is divided into small stalls. Each stall displays a variety of local produce mainly from the atolls.
Here you will find different kinds of local vegetables, fruits and yams, packets of sweetmeat, nuts and breadfruit chips, bottles of home made sweets and pickles and bunches of bananas hanging on coir ropes from ceiling beams. The atmosphere here is peaceful compared to the hectic activity in the rest of this neighborhood. Another building just next-door sells smoked and dried fish.
Majeedhee Magu
Majeedhee Magu, situated at the main road on the island, has along its sides various shops selling goods from the smallest commodities to virtually everything you could think of.
The shops are well stocked with garments, perfumes and cosmetics, jewellery, handbags, watches or electronics and much more. All shops are open until 11.00 in the night, except for prayer times, when they are closed for 15 minutes.
Chaandanee Magu, Male'
Male' is the busiest place for shopping, variety of goods are available in this center of commercial activity. Most souvenir shops line at the northern end of Chaandanee Magu, earlier known as the Singapore Bazaar for its many imports from Singapore.
These shops are stocked with an ample supply of gifts, curios or souvenir items. Best buys include the thudu kuna the Maldivian mat woven with local natural fibers. Attractive too are the wooden miniature dhonis. When shopping for souvenirs, do keep in mind that export of products made of turtle shell, black coral, pearl oyster shell and red coral is prohibited. Handicrafts
Traditional Maldivian handicraft includes mat weaving, embroidery for
traditional dresses, coir making and lacquer work.
Each of these skills is usually confined to certain atolls or islands:
The island Gadhdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll is renown for its fine hand-woven mats made of dried hau used for prayer mats and decoration. The finest lacquer work is said to be found on Thulaadhoo, in Baa Atoll. Wooden pots, boxes and vases of all shapes and sizes display beautiful abstract patterns in red, black and yellow. Ribudhoo in Dhaalu Atoll is famous for its goldsmiths while Hulhudeli in the same Atoll is well known for its silversmiths.
The arrival of Tourism has increased the collection and sale of sea jewellery, such as coral, mother-of-pearl, black coral, seashell and turtle-shell.
Due to their endangered status and environmental considerations sea turtle and black coral products have been made illegal for export. |
