KANIFUSHI

It was probably going to be my last picnic in Maldives. That it was going to be an overnight trip was an added attraction. We had been to several uninhabited islands before for picnics, but this was going to be special. It was November 2009; the end of the Academic year and our work for the year was almost over. It was time to enjoy. We got on the boat at about 4pm carrying with us food, water, a tent and generator.



We reached Kanifushi in the evening and it was getting dark. There was a shed where we stored all the materials we brought. The Maldivians started putting up the tent; they knew how to do it better than us. There was something wrong with the generator and we could not use it to light the lamps we brought. It did not matter, since it was a full moon night.



We started walking around the island in groups, exploring the place. Some were in their underwear, enjoying the freedom of being in an uninhabited island. Moreover, it was dark. Kanifushi is one long island. In some places it is just a narrow strip of land with the sea on both sides. When the water level rises, it becomes three small islands, but we can still move from one island to the other walking through knee deep waters. We picked up a few coral pieces, they looked beautiful. Some went fishing. Maldivians love to fish and never have a meal without fish. Near the shore, we saw something amazing. Hundreds of tiny specks of light were being washed ashore. It was some organism that produces light, like the firefly. They remained bright only for a few seconds.



We started walking back to the tent, where a few were preparing dinner. It was roshi, baked beans and coffee. After dinner, we started a fire and used it to grill the fish that was caught. Fishing requires patience and some were still at it. Some of the caught fish were covered with aluminium foil and thrown into the fire. It was removed a few minutes later and found to be cooked.Water level started rising at night and the tent had to be removed and pitched further away from the shore. Most of us did not sleep that night, though some did lie down in the tent. There was singing and dancing around the fireplace.
Early morning, we started going around the island again and now we could see Kanifushi in daylight.It was really beautiful.No wonder Tourists pay large sums to rent the island.Some of us went swimming, others played football.We had to leave after breakfast. After working for eight years in Maldives, I had resigned and this was my perfect farewell to Maldives.