Hukuru Miskiy – The Friday Mosque of Male’-Maldives

Hukuru Miskiy or the Friday Mosque of Male’ is a significant heritage site. The building is one of the remaining testimonies to the craftsmanship and amazing skill of Maldivians. The extensive coral carvings and richly decorated lacquered woodwork show the artistry and resourcefulness of Maldivians.

Main entrance to the Friday Mosque. The minaret resembles the ones in Mecca of the time | Photo: Hussain Ihvan

The first mosque in the Maldives was said to have been built on this site in 548 AH (1153 AD) by Sultan Mohammed Ibn Abdullah shortly after he embraced Islam. It was renovated by Sultan Shihabudeen in 738 AH (1338 AD). Unfortunately no detailed structural record of either building has been found.

Exterior of the mosque shows the craftsmanship of Maldivians at the time. The carved door with lock and key is also used as the emblem of the Maldives National University.

The intricate carvings testify to the artistry of Maldivians

However, the first mosque was finally demolished altogether by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar I in 1066 AH (1656 AD) in order to build the breathtaking Friday Mosque we see today. The white cylindrical minaret was built much later in 1085 AH (1675 AD) after the sultan’s return from Hajj pilgrimage. It resembles minarets in Mecca of the time.

The whole mosque was built with only coral stones without any mortar or cement. | Photo: Hussain Ihvan

The mosque is believed to be the first school where the holy Quran was taught. The sultan allocated funds for teachers to educate and Imams to call for prayers. Iskandar School in Male’ is named after this great sultan.

The entrance to the mosque. The arched doorway takes you back in time. | Photo: Hussain Ihvan

Outstanding laquerwork decorates the interior. | Photo: Hussain Ihvan

Interior | Photo: Hussain Ihvan

The closest mausoleum to the minaret is Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar I, who died on the morning of  Friday 15 Rabi-ul-Akhir 1098 AH (1687 AD) after having reigned for 39 years, 6 months and 10 days. His death is very controversial. He is believed to have been assassinated by his most beautiful concubine Mariyam Kanbafaanu, so that their son and heir to the throne, Kuda Mohammed, could become sultan. Kuda means small or young in the Dhivehi language.

Cemetery of the nobles. The pointed headstones are male and the smooth and curved ones are female. | Photo: Hussain Ihvan

The mausoleum of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar I stands to the left of the entrance. | Photo: Hussain Ihvan

At the time, the young prince was a mere boy of 6 years of age. And sure enough, Kuda Mohammed became the boy-sultan of Maldives in 1098 AH (1687 AD). The Sultan’s mother, Mariyam Kanbafaanu, grew in influence and eventually gained absolute power over the monarch. She was known to have many lovers and encouraged her subjects to openly engage in sexual activities. Many scholars and righteous people left Male’ to find refuge from the chaos. Her reign was short lived.

Mausoleum of the boy-sultan Kuda Mohammed. | Photo: Hussain Ihvan

In 1102 AH (1691 AD) Malabar pirate vessels from India attacked the northern atolls of Maldives. A fleet was sent from Male’ under the command of the Ministers and the battle was won. The self-proclaimed Queen Mariyam and the young Sultan Kuda Mohammed sailed off to meet the victorious fleet returning to Male’. They rendezvoused at Bodu Bandos Island (now Bandos Island Resort) and spent the night in great rejoicing.

The next day, the Royal Odi (vessel) which was carrying Mariyam, the young sultan and other royalties fired a salute. It is believed the sparks caused a fire and set ablaze the Royal Odi. Mariyam’s body was not found. Kuda Mohammed survived the accident badly burnt, but succumbed to the injuries and died on 1102 AH (1691 AD), aged 10 years, 11 months and 6 days. His mausoleum stands in the vicinity of the Friday Mosque alongside other royals. All the mausoleums and headstones are unique with intricately carved coral stones. The pointed headstones mark the graves of men and the smoother curved stones are for women.

The tomb of the second president of Maldives. He is the only president buried inside the Friday Mosque grounds. | Photo: Hussain Ihvan

Non-Muslims are advised to dress accordingly when entering the premises. A decent garment like slacks or a sarong that covers the knees is appropriate. Women should cover their hair with a scarf or a shawl. A special permission from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs is required to enter the mosque itself. Likewise, permission is needed to take pictures of the interior of the mosque. It is permissible to look around the vicinity.  Hukuru Miskiy is a must-see place that is rich in artistry and history. Truly a piece of magnificent Maldivian heritage.

PROSTITUTION IN SRI LANKA

 I live in the Maldives and use to visit Colombo in Sri Lanka during the last 10 years. I never had any difficulty in finding girls in this town, like in India a good connection with taxi driver and hotel porter will solve your need. I just like to add some tips to the information.

 

- Visit Hotel Rainbow at Palmyrah Mawatta in Galle Road. A sign board say also Vegetarian Restaurant ??. but lot of fresh meat is available. A parlor packed with Singa and Tamil girls in colorful sari waiting for you at different price to bargain. Ask any taxi driver or threesho and he will take you to a dozen of similar little hotel on the road to the airport with waiting girls in the main parlor all. If you don't like the place you can take the girl to your hotel.

- In Liberty Plaza at Liberty Shopping Center just hang around a little and some old men will contact you, one of this is Joe, a toothless old man that will escort you at the 4th floor in the same building where a brothel run by 3-4 old women is active at cheap price ( 10-20 USD) . Noting special. Bargain as usual.

_ Discotheque are now full of Eastern Europe girls on prostitution for 80-150 USD at your hotel room.

- Casino also are a good place for hunting. During my last visit at Bailey Casino I was winning few hundred dollar and I donate to a Thai girl near to me just few fiches for play. I end up with a 500 dollar winning booty and when I ask the girl her tariff for the night she smiling say "Noting my dear" as she have win 200 USD with my initial gift. Usually the price for Thai girl in Casino is 100-150 for all night. Some are afraid to follow you at night due to several military security checking points and all girls are without proper ID card as illegal immigrants. I advise you to contact them and arrange for a visit to your hotel next day afternoon, when you are more relaxed, more sober and in full strength for action. Safe sex if required as usual. The foreigners always carry condom but some local prostitutes not. Take along with you or buy at local chemist the right condom you need.

Maldives Culture

The Maldivian culture is rich with flavours from most of the seafarers who set foot on its soil. Traditional dances and music may not be an everyday event but there are occasions where traditional music and dances are performed. Though traditional dresses are not used by present day generation there are many types of traditional dresses made for both sexes.
Like the unique geographical formation, the cultural events and ceremonials are unique according to the event that is celebrated or performed. Naming a newborn child, Bodumaloodhu (a prayer accompanied with festive meal), Eid festival and circumcision of male child are few events that take place where the taste of rich cultural 'cocktail' can be experienced. Bodu beru (big drum) performanceis the best-known form of performance of traditional music and dance where females and males participate. Bandiyaa (a dance performed by woman), Thaara (dance performed by male) is among the top traditional music and dances practiced in the Maldive Islands.
Traditional food basically fish used as the main component has been influenced from the Indian subcontinent. Garudhya (tuna soup), spicy curry and rice are the stable food of most of the population. Most other dishes such as western meals like pasta are normally modified with a flavour of tuna in it when prepared for local consumption. Other meats and chicken are normally eaten in special occasions.

Koadi Dancing
The Koadi dance is derived from a traditional game held the day before the eid festivities. The women of the island tie a prize or “Koadi” to a tree whilst the men have to attempt to retrieve it without getting caught by the women. Eventually when someone finally manages to retrieve the prize he is treated to a celebratory procession and the Koadi Dance is derived from this.

Koadi dancing

Bodu Beru
The Most recognizable indigenous music from the Maldives, Bodu Beru has it’s roots in the tribal rhythms of African tribes. Bodu Beru (literally meaning Big Drum) performances typically consist of around four drums and drummers, a lead singer and a band of ten to fifteen men. Performances start out slow but can gradually build up to a frenzied rhythm whereupon more and more audience and band members step up to join in the intense trancelike dancing.

Boduberu

Boduberu

Fathigandu Jehun
In Fathigandu Jehun the songs are usually epics. The story is sung to the rhythm of the music. A famous Fathigandu song is “Burunee Raivaru” which tells the story of a Sultan who left in search of a wife. Fathigandu Jehun is an evening performance in which a group or a single dancer gyrates to the rhythm of the music using small sticks held in the palms or larger sticks held in different hands which are struck together.

Fathigadu jehun

Fathigadu Jehun

Dhandi Jehun
Dhandi Jehun is a popular dance form of the beautiful islands of Maldives. The style in which the Maldives Dhandi Jehun folk dance is performed varies from island to island. A group of 30 men participate in this dance. It is believed that Dhandi Jehun dance has come from Malik (Minicoy Islands). Read on to know more about the Dhandi Jehun folk dance Of Maldives.

The dance consists of a lead singer, who usually sings the "Thaara" songs or "Unbaa" songs. Other group members sing in chorus and dance to the beat of the song. In the Dhandi Jehun folk dance show, each performer holds three sticks called Dhandi. While dancing, he hits his Dhandi with that of the performer facing him. There is no specific dress for the dancers. However, they all dress up in uniformity.

Hitchah Vadaigathun
Hitchah Vadaigathun is a royal processional ceremony dating back deep into the Maldives history. The Sultan’s royal guard upon his arrival onto an island conducts the procession. The distinctive round umbrellas are held over the Sultan and his entourage whilst soldiers armed with spears flank them on both sides. A troupe of Bodu Beru drummers play their drums to a slow beat as the procession moves forward.

more detailshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Maldives

Medical student gives birth on board Etihad flight

Aminath Raushan Khaleel, 24, was en route to Minsk with her husband where the two had to report for their new medical college before October 30 when she went into labour

• Raushan and her son (pictured) are doing well at Royal Hospital in Muscat.
• Image Credit: Sunil K. Vaidya/Gulf News

Muscat: A baby boy born to a Maldivian medical student on board Etihad before the diverted Trivandrum-Abu Dhabi flight could land at the Muscat International Airport is healthy and doing well with his mother.
When Gulf News correspondence visited the young Maldivian family at the Royal Hospital Sunday during visiting hours, the boy slept blissfully even as his young parents worried about next course of action, including how to inform their parents in Male.

Aminath Raushan Khaleel, 24, was travelling to Minsk with her husband where the two had to report for their new medical college before October 30. “My wife was due next month around 20th and we had to report before October 30 to complete our transfer from a Russian medical college to the college in Minsk, Belarus,” Aminath’s husband, who reluctantly gave his name as Abdullah Shahid, told Gulf News.
The two agreed to talk to Gulf News after much thought as they were worried about their parents reading about the incident before they could inform them.

“We had no choice but take flight so that we can report on time for our studies in medicine,” he said, adding that now they must complete all the formalities to reach Minsk on time.
The young couple is in complete dark how to go about the matter as both are busy at the Royal Hospital tending to their new-born son.
“We haven’t named him,” Aminath said. When suggested that why not give him a name that would remind them of from Oman, she asked what does Sultan means?
The two took flight from Trivandrum to Abu Dhabi where they were to take connecting flight to Minsk in Belarus.
But Aminath went into labour midair.
Once being told of her condition on board the flight, the pilot immediately diverted the plane to Muscat. However Aminath delivered a healthy baby boy 20 minutes before the flight landed.
Medical staff and an ambulance were ready to assist the mother and the newborn baby upon their arrival at Muscat, who along with the baby's father and Etihad crew members, were all assisted and transferred to the Royal Hospital.
“There was a trained nurse on board as a passenger and she helped in delivering the boy,” Aminath’s husband told Gulf News from the bedside of his wife and newly born baby boy.
He also praised the Etihad crew as well as ground staff at the Muscat International Airport. “They put us at ease and made everything smooth, including a top class hospital and medical facilities.”

from Gulfnews 

Related article
http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/ask/adults/860

http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/10/23/135725/17/travel/Baby+Born+On+Air+Asia+Plane+Gets+Free+Flights+For+Life

Maldives Scuba Diving

If you love the sea and scuba diving, then why not charter a live aboard scuba diving cruise with your diving buddies. Collectively, you can save much more money and time if you live a board a diving cruise ship and go island hopping, scuba diving and fishing for the next ten days of your vacation. That is because you can do away with your hotel accommodation, save traveling time and can go to a lot more dive spots. Where to go for a cruise diving vacation? Try going to the Island nation of Maldives.

Although there are many world class spas, hotels and resorts in Maldives such as the Banyan Tree Spa resort, you have no need to stay in them unless you wanted to. Well, if you want to stay in a luxurious resort, it can be an excuse for you to travel to the Maldives again to enjoy these spa resorts. This is because, once you have scuba dived in Maldives, you will want to go back there again. Maldives is a scuba diver's paradise.

The atolls of Maldives were formed when millions of years ago, a great range of volcanoes rose from the floor of the Indian Ocean. As time passes, the volcanoes sunk back into the Indian Ocean leaving behind the coral reefs on the Maldivian atolls and islands we see today. That is why Maldives is best known for its white sandy beaches and crystal blue lagoons teeming with marine life.

The country have no big land mass, but instead is made up of about 1200 coral islands with a total area of 104,00.00 sq kilo 99% of which is the sea. Of these islands, only slightly more than 200 of them are inhabited. Most of the islands are not higher than six feet(about 2 meters) above sea level and scientists have warned that they are very susceptible to global warming and may one day, disappear into the ocean. There are already signs that this is happening.

Needless to say, the mainstay of the Maldivian economy is powered by the fishing and tourism industries. About 500,000 tourists arrive on these islands annually. The capital of Maldives is Male (pronounced as Ma-leh). Upon touching down at the airport, you willbe whisked away by a fishing boat because the capital is no larger than a few football fields and have one of the most dense population in the world.

Maldives has been an independent sovereign country except for a brief occupation by the Portuguese. It then became a British Protectorate in the mid-fifties and gained full independence in 965. It has been an Islamic country for more than 800 years.
During the Ming Dynasty, Chinese sailors called Maldives the "submerged mountain chain" wrote commentaries about these islands.

If you enjoy vacations in tranquil tropical islands or simply love fishing and diving, then Maldives will be a great holiday destination for you. Oh, I forgot to mention, if you are a seafood lover, I think there are no other places on Earth where you can get such a wide smorgasbord delicious mouth watering seafood, except in Maldives.

Student Holidays eco tip | Environmental Education for Kids

Student Holidays eco tip | Environmental Education for Kids

Photo: Four Seasons staff teaching coconut leaf based arts and crafts at the Kuda Velaa Club

In order to create an eco-conscious generation for a greener future, we need to educate and create environmental awareness among children from a young age.

There are plenty of eco-educational activities and games for children to have fun while learning such as making art & crafts using recycled materials, beach games or even snorkeling. Drop a few Eco tips along the way as you go on with your daily lives. Shopping can be turned into an interesting search for eco friendly labels and products, also the best time to provide awareness about animal products such as turtle shells, leather and fur.

If you are setting out for a vacation, look for eco-friendly resorts offering such activities for children. The Four Seasons Resorts Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru lets the children snorkel and explore nemo’s home with a marine biologist, making it fun to learn about marine life while the Shangri-La Vilingili Resort & Spa offers nature trails to discover the island's indigenous flora and fauna. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island also offers the opportunity of spotting colorful fish on a snorkeling trip or going exploring for dolphins. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island also offers the opportunity to spot colorful fish during snorkeling trips or exploring the life of dolphins.

Stay Five Nights FREE at Soneva's

Become a Soneva Environmental Advisor this summer and earn five complimentary nights stay at Sonevas

Six Senses & Spa, the pioneer in eco-tourism in the Maldives is now initiating philanthropic escapes, a gratifying travel experience which is becoming a world-wide trend. The Soneva properties in the Maldives – Soneva Fushi and Soneva Gili are renowned for their community involvement with projects like 'buy local ' which not only helps the environment but also generate local revenue streams; donating personal computers to schools; donating scanning equipment to the hospital in Baa Atoll; work with ECOCARE - a local environment NGO and more.

Soneva's are now inviting their guests to go ‘behind the scenes’ and discover how much more there is to the wonderful hospitality and rich culture within the Maldivian atolls. Book five nights and volunteer for five hours daily on the local community project of your choice, such as marine conservation, teaching children at a local school, planting trees (carbon-mitigation) and learning how to turn waste into wealth.

Of course, no good deeds go "unrewarded"! Your valuable contribution is awarded with five (additional) nights accommodation at the property of your choice - Soneva Gili or Soneva Fushi. This volunteer program is available to book between June 1 and October 12, 2010, so rush your inquiries to our design specialist to tailor your volunteer escape!

Maldives, the Wedding Destination

Photo: Wedding at Waldorf=Astoria Maldives, the Beach House

Destination Weddings in the Maldives are a true castaway experience, with its one island one resort concept providing love-struck couples with the utmost serenity, isolation and memories that last forever. Ever since Japan has taken the trend of overseas weddings; Maldives has been appended in their list of top international dream wedding escapes, with most weddings taking place in Spring and Autumn.

With an estimate of more than 60,000 couples getting married abroad, Maldivian resorts have captured their attention with alluring wedding packages catering to the distinctive needs of these couples and many pleasant surprises in store. Most of these packages includes a wedding cake, flowers, special candle lit-dinners, sunset cruises and champagne with a variance in offerings from resort to resort. For example, at Conrad Maldives, the renewal package offers spa treatments for the bride and the groom, photography and videography of the ceremony at the spectacular Underwater restaurant in addition to the aforementioned package elements. Guests can also opt for the additional services at a charge from Bridal Salon Maldives a private company based in Malé, offering professional Japanese hairstylists and make-up artists and a selection of wedding gowns and tuxedos for rental.

Weddings in the Maldives are all ceremonial and non-binding, yet it has never been more popular! Your fantasy wedding in an idyllic island setting, may it be ‘under water’ or 'on the beach’ with the backdrop of the magnificent sunset overlooking the pristine waters - truly a dream come true!

Golfing in Paradise

Photo: Golf Club at Kuredu Island Resort

The Maldives is a destination of many persona's offering getaways uniquely Maldivian to sophisticated contemporary boutique resorts. The possibility of golf seemed unlikely to many and it came as a surprise when the Maldives made the headlines to develop a floating convention center and golf course recently. Though it is fairly new, golf is not a strange sport to the Maldives.

Kuredu Island Resort introduced the first golf club of its kind in the Maldives with a challenging 6-hole Par 3 course with an average length of a hole being 55 yards. This resort offers all golfing equipment free and if you need to improve your swing, a PGA qualified golf instructor is on hand for coaching individual or groups.

Recently premiered Beach House by Waldorf=Astoria Collection offers a sophisticated eighteen-hole virtual golf simulator letting you sample some of the world's best eighteen-hole golf courses with the comforts and ambiance in the Maldives at Waldorf=Astoria's Gentlemen's club.

Meeru Island Resort is also popular among many guests who prefer a budget resort that is closer to the airport. Meeru offers a golf driving range, putting green, 9 hole pitch and putt golf course among other land activities on the island.

Surely, there is nowhere more peaceful for the game of golf other than the Maldives!

Student Holiday Maldives- eco-tip | Eco-Souvenirs

Photo: Souvenir Shop at Vilu Reef

If buying a souvenir for the trip home for your loved ones is a must-do and you are concerned about the environment, go eco-souvenir shopping. From ornaments to home decorators, your choices are endless.

Seeking sustainable souvenirs such as locally produced food items like vacuumed fish products, crafts such as lacquered vases, thundukunaa or jewelry made by local artisans and goods that support local green organizations are a way of helping local communities as well. Choose a souvenir that you consider is worth the expense and that the recipient would be able to make good use of and treasure forever. Try to reduce your purchases that may contribute to waste of money or landfills. Avoid any wildlife product made using any part of an animal such as tortoise shells, shark teeth or leather since these types of souvenirs have a huge impact on the environment. Make a list and enjoy a happy eco-souvenir shopping!

My holiday: Alex Watson, 7, visits the Maldives

Alex gets a little closer to the wildlife in the Maldives

WHERE I WENT

I went to the Maldives, to an island called Meeru, which is short for Meerufenfushi. It means "sweet water island" in the local language.

WHAT I LIKED

I liked how it was nice and hot there and when it was cooler in the evenings I liked going in to the sea – it was warm and like stepping into a Jacuzzi.

It is very dry in the Maldives most of the time but there is a rainy season called the monsoon, which was just starting when we were there. We took a sailing boat that you could fold and I liked sailing around in that. We also did a lot of snorkelling. Tourists go to the Maldives because it is one of the best snorkelling and diving sites in the world. I thought it was a great holiday.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

The fact we could only stay for two weeks.

WHAT I BOUGHT

A small dolphin that, when put in the water, expanded to about 10 times as big. Also a waterproof card with pictures of fish that I could take snorkelling to help recognise the fish I saw (pictured); and a book about all the fish.
Read more

Maldives - ...the last paradise

Sparkling white sun-kissed beaches; crystal-clear lagoons studded with profusely-colored corals; azure warm seas with an undisturbed, exotic marine life; palm-fringed islands; the pervading serenity; all of it summarized by the famous Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta on describing Maldives as "One of the wonders of the world". Maldivian archipelago located 300 miles southwest of the southern tip of India and 450 miles west of Sri Lanka is a beautiful string of 1,190 low-lying coral islands scattered across the equator in the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, giving us a rare glimpse of what is aptly described as a tropical paradise.

The Sun, the Sand and the Sea. These are just the three simple realities beckoning tourists from far and wide to these little islets, giving as a result, a glorious sense of happiness and proving to be a heavenly getaway from the world and its worries. No wonder then that tourists flock in large numbers to the 70-odd self-contained island resorts provided with all the comforts and warmth exuded by traditional Maldivian hospitality.

Student’s Guide to Last-Minute Travel Deals

If there's one thing college teaches you, it's how to put things off until the last possible minute and somehow still manage to come out on top. Procrastination can sneak into every aspect of your life, including your travel plans. So, if you've been putting off buying those airline tickets for your next trip, you're going to want to keep reading.

Super-cheap last minute tickets are harder to find than ever in today's world of major online ticket consolidators such as Orbitz.com and Hotwire.com. These behemoth Web-based resellers can usually offer a pretty good deal whenever you book, so wildly discounted last-minute fares are becoming scarce.

Set Your Own Airfare

There are some loopholes that you'll definitely want to keep in mind when looking for a last-minute deal. Priceline.com lets you name your own price for many of their roundtrip flights, which means you can sometimes get sweet deals on last-minute trips. There's a lot of blogobabble out there in cyberspace about how to get the best deals from this bidding feature, so you'll definitely want to do some research. Basically, you check what the advance purchase price would have been for your ticket, then bid in that ballpark and cross your fingers. The trick is to bid a price that will be accepted but still keep it low enough to save you a few bucks. You might not get the super-deep discounted rate you were hoping for, but you can often get a better deal than the standard last-minute prices.

Major online ticket resellers like Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com, Hotwire.com, and all the others are always a great place to start your search. Keep in mind that many of these websites release new fares on Wednesday morning, so this is often the best time to do your surfing for cheap tickets.

If you're not looking for a specific destination, but just a cheap trip to anywhere-but-here, then you've actually got a lot of options. AirfareWatchdog.com has great sections for weekend deals and a Fare of the Day section with deals that drop lower than you'd believe. How about a $1 flight from Atlanta to Orlando or from Detroit to New York, round trip! If you're in the market for a last-minute spring break deal, this is a great place to look-it's got $32 tickets from Las Vegas to Ft. Lauderdale!

FareCast.com is a very useful website that not only makes it easy to search for great deals from multiple carriers, but can also make airfare predictions for domestic flights-think of it as a crystal ball for budget-minded travelers. They've figured out a bit of the science behind frenetically fluctuating ticket prices and can tell you if you should book now before the price gets higher or wait for the fare to drop. So if you find a fare that's getting cheaper, you can be sure to get a better deal if you wait until the last minute to book it. Additionally, FareCast.com has a great newsletter feature that will let you know about last minute and future deals for flights leaving from your home airport.

Sometimes, the best way to get a good last-minute deal is to buy directly from the airlines. They will post last minute deals and online-only deals on their websites, so you'll want to do a bit of surfing before you make your purchase. In some cases, you can sign up with the airline and have them auto-email you about deals and specials. You just have to weigh the spam against the possibility of getting a cheap ticket.

Student Discount Travel
When searching for a last-minute deal, don't overlook student discount websites. Often student and youth fares are far cheaper than anything else you can find. TravelCuts.com is a student airfare discounter that offers great deals on flights for collegiate travelers on a budget. Be sure to check out the Flight Specials section for its Deals of the Week, where you can find cheap tickets to domestic and international locations. Also check out their Hot Deals section for limited time offers and last-minute deals.

AirtranU.com has a great standby program for last-minute travelers between the ages of 18 and 22 years old. You pay only $69 per segment of your flight or $99 for long-haul segments, and you get to fly on the cheap when economy seats are available just before takeoff.

STAtravel.com is a no-brainer for students looking for a cheap flight, but the site also has some great features that will help you to find the best last minute deals on the Web. Check out its Last Minute Packages section, which combines the discounts of last-minute flights with the additional discounts of booking a package holiday-great for spring breakers on a budget!

STA is probably a step or two ahead of the game with its RSS feeds, which allow customers to select multiple destination areas and build a custom feed. If you're unfamiliar with RSS feeds and how they work, you'd better look it up on Wikipedia and get yourself up to speed! Basically, RSS is a syndication tool used by websites to notify their readers when they have updated information. For budget airfare searchers, this means that you can simply subscribe to a feed for your destination or for your departure location, and you'll be notified about new and cheap tickets as they come out. On STA's website, just head to its Cheap Flights section and you can easily get your airfare feed started.

Keep in mind that you won't necessarily get the best deals by booking last minute. Your best bet is probably to book the cheapest fully refundable ticket as far in advance as you can, and then keep your eyes open for better deals. If you do wait until the last minute, you run the risk of your airfare crippling that party-budget you had planned for your spring break trip. But with a little bit of planning, even on a last-minute airfare booking, you can usually save yourself a couple of bucks.

Justin Jones is a professional procrastinator and travel writer. Find out more at www.JustinWasHere.com.