Writing this with bandaids everywhere and profusely bleeding cuts
Dhivehi is the native language here
waking up, going to breakfast but first covering ourselves in SPF 50+ sport waterproof titanium plutonium kryptonite sunscreen and 40% DEET YUM!!!
Breakfast - not at all like breakfast that we're used to; lots of tuna, curry, chicken; all very good, just not "normal" breakfast food
Walking around the island - crossing the gate into the Muslim native parts; have to wear sarongs/gypsy pants and shoulder-covering tops; island was beautiful - water is amazing, lots of rocky droppings, crabs and little fish; saw a baby barracuda very very very very close to shore (swimming in about 1 foot of water)
Hopping around on rocks, seeing a dead black tip reef shark!!!! very close to shore, walked over to it, about 1 meter long; saw its right pectoral fin jutting out of the water
Continued walking around, learned about the atolls, the island, and the surrounding area; talking about shark biology/anatomy; walking through the main street - shops open at night, after the sun sets; little convenience stores, a souvenir shop, cafes, eateries
Getting back from the walk, reading the paper on whale shark behavior in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Maldives in general; learned about whale sharks from Jim and Katie
Lunch at the canteen - holy crap tuna everywhere; every combination of tuna, chilis, and coconut in every form; blocks of tuna cooked with chilis in coconut water, coconut-chili tuna rice, chili curried tuna balls, tuna stews, etc.; other foods too (must remember to take a picture)
After lunch, suited up and went snorkeling; had no fins so thought it would be harder but had no trouble keeping up; was smashed upon the rocks quite a bit though - lots of cuts and scrapes to show for it; aside from the bloodshed, perfectly fine!
Saw a moral eel! lots of fish (duh) and four baby black tip reef sharks!!! about a foot long, darting around the mangroves for protection; also saw some eagle rays
Climbed out, rinsed off, went to canteen for a snack; crackers, eggy bread (like thin pieces of french toast) and two kinds of tuna balls (chunky tuna balls and curry tuna balls) yum
Went back to bungalows, given demonstrations on how to use camera equipment, data collection, etc.; had rest of time off, walked to far side of island to watch sunset, so many hermit crabs everywhere!!! took some pictures
Dinner - tuna, chicken curry, rice; most meals have the same gist; after dinner, wrapped a sarong around and went star gazing at the jetty; saw lots of crabs/hermit crabs scuttling about on the sand; saw batfish, trumpetfish, and squid floating about the jetty! very cool
Stars very clear and bright but patches of cloud started rolling in; could easily see big dipper; walked back, had an AWESOME shower, went to bed
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