A 1 hour flight from Columbo, and 30 minutes back in time, and we are in The Maldives capital, Male, an island that's 2kms x 1km! There's a new airport built on reclaimed land adjacent to the capital, which freed up quite a lot of land for development. We transfer to our hotel, "Velassaru", by 20 minute speedboat ride, to be shown around by Olga, a Russian lady, who should never meet a guest! She doesn't like the sun and can go home in 15 months! The hotel is own...

The tour changes perspective from today, gone are the archeological sites and we are headed to tea country! You will remember PG Tips boxes that had a tea picker on them? The countryside is completely different, you could be touring the Alps as you are surrounded by peaks, deep ravines and waterfalls. The tea plants are thick and deep routed which helps them cling to the gradient and stabilise the soil from heavy rains. Around each village are cultivated steppe...

We are heading inland from Colombo, which sits on the south western coast. This is to be a six day trip and we've been warned about the roads! I know its early doors, but, the warning appears pessimistic as its new roads, tarmac etc and as we sit in our guide's, "Khan", short for Kantana Pathirage, new motor, progress is serene, if not a little slow! This part of the trip is to visit, what is known as, "The Cultural Triangle", presumably to recreate the success o...

It is incredible that a hours flight takes you to a different climate, prosperity, structure and culture. You are immediately struck that Sri Lanka is better developed, monied, organised, cleaner and commercialised than India. I hadn't expected the baby cousin to India, called India's "teardrop" to be so much more sophisticated. The climate is humid, 60F+ thru the night, the hotel, Casa Columbo is stunning, one of the best rooms I've ever had, the streets wide ...

This year's escape from winter's tentacles takes us to the sub-continent where we shall visit India, Sri Lanka and The Maldives. We need no encouragement, however, driving to Heathrow through light snow, seals the deal. India is one stop in Bangalore, the silicon valley and call centre capital of India. It was the only destination for which we could use our BA points and partner ticket! It's a strange flight, leaving at 2.00pm and arriving, +5 1/2 hours, at 4.3...