This morning we left Kandy via a stunning scenic viewpoint then took the coach up to Sri Lanka’s most pouplar hill resort - Nuwara Eliya. Why so popular? The invigorating mountain air and the breathtaking scenery of course. We had the option to take the local train up, but took one look at the truly evil spectre of third class carriages (bench seats... you know how we feel about bench seats) and decided taking the coach up - and having it all to ourselves - w...

The trouble with beautiful, comfortable, scenic and hospitable hotels (with particularly comfy beds) is having to leave them. Having to leave Jetwing Lake at 7.30 am seemed to add insult to all sorts of injury. Breakfast was incredible - they even had bacon - and we sat in their indoor/outdoor dining area looking out towards the lake as the day’s curtain of humidity arranged its skirts and settled into place. We had had a serious discussion during the prior ...

We had a great breakfast at the OZO Colombo and particulrly enjoyed the super ripe papaya and all sorts of fabulous dishes. It was an early departure, 7.30 am or so and we knew the breakfast would hold us in good stead as we started on our tour-proper of Sri Lanks. First stop, the Dambulla Royal Cave Temples. This is an ancient complex of caves dating back to the 1st century BC tucked beneath a vast overhanging rock. The rock towers 160 metres over the surrou...

It has certainly been a long 12 nights/13 days. We left Jaipur at 8.30 am, hit a gem ‘palace’ on the way out of the city (pursie peeked out of pocket briefly but there wasn’t enough air in the showroom for the massive Indian ego of the salesman and pursie... so away he went). The only thing worse that barrelling along the back roads of India is caning down the expressway from Jaipur to Delhi and having life flash before your eyes almost constantly. Life....

We got up early in Karauli and with the aid of daylight went for a pre-breakfast stroll around the Maharaja’s property (still not keen on calling it a palace we’re afraid). It was interesting to see the cows getting milked, the chooks carrying on and to see some of the most beautiful and well-cared for horses in India. The highlight of our morning jaunt, once we’d scared up a staff member to open the garages, was the vintage vehicle collection. The mahar...