A holiday in the Maldives is a holiday in a tropical paradise. A perennial favourite with honeymooners and sun seekers, Maldives is the perfect island escape destination for the young, or young at heart.
In the warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, on the equator southwest of Sri Lanka, Maldives is celebrated for its postcard scenic islands and remarkable turquoise water. Here you’ll find captivating island resorts offering luxurious accommodation, as well as world-class dining, spa and water sports facilities to make your holiday a once in a lifetime experience.
A veritable tropical paradise, Maldives is an archipelago of 1200 islands of which only 200 are populated. The islands are made of live corals and sand bars, sheltered by palm and breadfruit trees shading the soft white sands from the tropical sun and wild flowers adorn the enchanting landscape. About 90 islands on scenic Maldives are exclusive tropical resorts and many are the height of 5 star luxury.
Think the ultimate in opulent escapes; your suite an escape from the tropical sun, your private pool beckons with a cool sparkle and your butler serves that cocktail as you lounge on the room-sized day bed. Resorts might include a dive school or library, and you can bet they’ll all have a sumptuous spa. You’ll dine under the stars with soft sand running between your toes, and you’ll feast on sumptuous banquets from cuisines of the world.
Male is the focal island that serves as the capital and the main commercial centre and is the busiest of all the inhabited islands. With an area of 2 square km, Male is dotted with tourist attractions and is very easy to get around and, curiously, is one of very few Maldives locations that doesn’t have a beach.
Rejuvenate on the Maldives beaches and soak up breathtaking natural vistas. Stay at any of the 90 island resorts and enjoy virgin beauty of palm-fringed beaches and sun bathe, swim and dive to your heart’s content.
Maldives fun facts
It is illegal to import alcohol into the Maldives
Maldives is the smallest Muslim nation in the world
The highest point in the Maldives is on the island of Wilingili in the Addu Atoll (2.4 m)
Vietnam - HCM to Hoi An
Thursday 30th August 2007
Travel Counsellor: David Phillips
The first time I was asked to go to Vietnam was for me a bit of a quandary. It was not a country I had really anticipated going to. The time was September 2001 - so as you can gather things airline and security wise were somewhat tense, but go I did for a short but most enlightening trip that also included a short sojourn to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
After that trip things in my life and work changed and I did not think I would ever return to see more of what I had only really scratched the surface of.
Where does one start on my second trip... well as it happened Vietnam airlines fly direct from Melbourne to HoChiMinh City so that had to be the starting place...
This time I had more time available not only to inspect hotels but a bit of sightseeing too; the #1 place to go in my books - CuChi Tunnels - a few hours outside HCM City to see and understand how the VietCong lived and survived in these tunnels during the 'American War' as they call it!
Go down into the tunnels and see... view full story
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