Thirumoolar Devar - An Intense Calm - Maldives Eco Surfing Chronicle

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Maldives Eco Surfing Chronicle

By ThiruMoolar Devar

By ThiruMoolar Devar

www.EarthAfloatPublishing.com

An Intense Calm - Maldives Eco Surfing Chronicles

Copyright 2020 by ThiruMoolar Devar

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

ISBN: 978-1-7353953-5-7 (Paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-7353953-3-3 (Kindle)

ISBN: 978-1-7353953-7-1 (ePub)

Nicolas Sanson 1600 - 1677 / Public domain

Table of Contents

Preface

Indian Ocean Quarantine Diary

Well, Ive arrived at the wrong place right at the wrong time before. In 2020 however, it seems that my arrival in the Maldives was at least the right place at the wrong time. And, it seems it was a year plus in the making.

I spent the entire 2019 on a clockwise trip around the world, to decide where I wanted to spend the next years, as I was to turn in July 2020 (Now, past tense, as I write this). By January 2020, I had decided to base out of Cambodia as a central spot to launch surf and explore missions to the Maldives, Indonesia, and the West Pacific.

In February, I set up my apartment and office in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In early March, I paid a couple of months rent in advance and hopped over to the Maldives for some exploration and surf to seal my new plan as a success. However, the world had a different strategy for me. Countries closed borders, airlines canceled flights, and COVID-19 Lockdowns put into effect.

And that brings us to today. Its late August, almost half a year later. Im on a small island in the Indian Ocean, waiting to see if Ill find a flight back to my apartment in Cambodia before I lose it. I paid rent for five months I wasnt there, and now my deposit has been applied to a final extra month before my multi-entry VISA expires. Soon, Ill find out what the future has planned next.

**Update: August 30, 2020 - I lost my apartment, the property manager double-rented it, quit & split with the $$. My stuff is so far unaccounted for and may be lost to the wind... hmm.. what should I do next? I guess Im still a nomad...

Dedicated to the Maldivian wave riders.

**Note to self: You can make plans, but the world doesnt always adhere to them.

Prologue: Epiphany

In my quest for meaning, for the marking of time, and to generally make good use of time, I sought out an epiphany during my Maldives island sojourn. The act of searching is, in itself, a way of life. Never stop learning. Exercise of the minds curiosity is a map to the fabled fountain of youth.

Journal Entry:

My last epiphany took place just over years ago. I was years old. As I was awakening from sleep on that day, my mind played a trick on me. I thought I was years old. As I lay in bed, with my eyes closed, reflecting on my life, I felt a little disappointed. I thought, wow. There were so many ideas, plans, and dreams I had for my life that I didnt even try to achieve. And now, its too late.

Within maybe fractions of a second, I realized my disorientation, and that in half a year, Id be turning years old. There was a feeling as if Id won the lottery or a Sweepstakes. The gift of now having years in front of me, before once again, I may wake up in the morning and reflect upon my life, was tremendously elating.

Hence, a fire was lit under my rear to get a move on it and, at the very least, attempt the things I know are possible. That, to fail, will not be the thing that disappoints me on my last days. It would be that I didnt try.

Last year, I visited the Maldives for the first time. That was a goal and a dream come true that Id decided upon exactly one-year prior. Indeed, it was the initial decision to go to the Maldives that itself expanded into my 2019 one-year clockwise trip around the world. The discoveries made on that trip are why consciously or unconsciously, I chose to get locked-down in the Maldives.

To put everything on the line, as Ive done more than once, suggests Id have to be reasonably confident of my ability to rebuild from scratch. And, I can take solace in that.

If you dont start it, will never happen

the year and decade passes fast

forge ahead; embarkment is the hard part

when the adventure is underway,

the doubts will fade away

Chasing Immortality to the Last Breath

Breathe

Life in the Maldives is one of integration with nature and a feeling of awe for these enchanting isles that invoke a sense of heaven on Earth.

The South Asia country has an elevation of just 1.5m, making it the lowest in the world. The archipelago stretches across 90,000 square kilometers. There are about 1200 islands in a chain of atolls. From top to bottom, its km from northern-most island to Addu atoll south of the equator. Its km from east to west. Most of the islands are uninhabited, and some are not much more than slabs of coral and a pile of sand with a palm tree or two.