Hi Ephraim, there is a book here in Australia called, 'Where The Forest Meets the Sea'.

A little boy goes fishing to an island and leaves his dad on the beach, to explore the forest. He imagines way, way back in time, when the Aboriginals climbed trees and foraged for food. He is steeped in wonder.

The island was beautiful and untouched.

Anyway he has a lovely time and rejoins his dad to eat the fish Dad has caught.

He asks his dad if they can come back again. He says yes...if they still can.

You turn to the next and last page, and the same island has been turned into a theme park.

I was a teacher and before seeing the last page I would explain to my students that I wanted them, without looking at their friends, to decide whether they will give the island they now see, a thumbs up, or down.

It was amazing to see how many thought it was not okay.

Now I have never been to the Maldives, but I'm thinking some pretty wonderful islands in their own right, have been turned in to fun parks for the rich and shameless (not you!). Am I right?

It's why you KNEW one week was quite enough.

and behind the scenes, the glitz and glamour, there are indigenous people NOT living the high life, there to serve those who have so much.

I'm so happy you reached the conclusion that excess can only be tolerated in small doses.

Thanks for writing this. It's really made me think.