Fantasy: Beaches of the Maldives

The Beaches of the Maldives are some of the most beautiful in the world. SO much so that many Americans use images of them as desktop wallpaper on their computers. We dream about the Maldives as an escape to our less tropical North American lives.

Yes, it’s a lengthy plane ride away, but it’s all worth it once you set foot on those white sand beaches with water so blue it looks like a painting. Relax on the deck of your bungalow with a glass floor so you can see the fish. It’s paradise.

Reality: Beaches of the Maldives

To start with, it’s an incredibly long plane ride. You’re looking at well over a day’s worth of travel to get from Los Angeles to the Maldives. Who wants to be in an airport or on a plane that long?

Also, despite the pictures, the beaches of the Maldives are some of the most polluted on earth. The reason is simple, the country is incredibly poor. All the wealth is concentrated on those resorts you’re staying at. The rest of the country doesn’t get their beaches swept for trash every morning.