We discovered that being on a night flight and arriving at Cape Town for 8.00am means you're the only flight in the terminal and security and baggage reclaim gets over and done with in 10 minutes - if only all airports were like this ! After navigating the car rentals and the Cape Town rush hour we arrived safely at 52 De Wet Road Bantry Bay. If you wish for opulence in your life look no further than here and if your particularly prescient spouse also arranges a massage on arrival after the 11 hour flight then this is the place. A frustrating low cloud and cold wind meant that we couldn't make it further up Table Mountain than the hotel itself. So instead we drove to the spectacular Hout Bay and Chapmans Peak Drive - ... read more

Our final day in the Maldives as we are heading home to London and the Olympics early tomorrow morning. We have had a great time here - its a stunning place with incredibly friendly and welcoming people - we have had a terrific trip. We will leave you with some favourite images.... read more

Our days here in this gorgeous atoll and on this beautiful island are coming to a close. We have been very privileged to come here see a new world, experience that extra ordinary new world with incredible scenery, wildlife - so we are spending the last few days relaxing and chilling - taking in the scenery and the seascapes to try and etch them in the memory for a long time to come.... read more

Yesterday was stunningly hot - the breeze of the last few days disappeared and the whole atoll and island was becalmed. The sea was like a mill pond and the visibility in the water was terrific with views of Surgeonfish, Cornetfish, Wrasse and Unicorn fish crystal clear. We decided to go on a Donhi in the evening to watch the sunset and search for dolphins. A Donhi is a Madivian boat - wooden up to 50 feet long originally sail powered now motored. With a carved prow and stern with flags astern. We set out across the atoll to the neighbouring islands about 5pm local time. The ocean was astonishingly still and calm and the colour of a deep blue sapphire. Within an hour we had seen dolphins -just a few swimming close by - Dhoni's ... read more

Whilst we have been on holiday Cob has been over in Romania working for a charity helping to build houses and accommodation for families. He initially had a couple of days acclimatisation to Bucharest before heading off to Rasnov and Brasov. After an eventful train trip - for some reason Rasnov station is named something else ! - they got where they wanted to be but found the hostel fully booked so ended up sleeping on a local church floor or the duration. Working as a group with the charity leaders they helped build extensions and accommodation for some families who were working hard for themselves but where for example one of the parents had died. Conditions were pretty basic but the contribution Cob and the others made was important and of course Cob and the ... read more