Maldives

The Maldives is a chain of 26 atolls of over 1,000 coral islands in total running in a North-South line of about 500 miles roughly 430 miles South West of Sri Lanka. It is one of the world's most geographically dispersed nations and it is this fact that hits you when you arrive. The main international airport, Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, is on Hulhule island, next to the capital island, Male, but little more than a runway and terminal buildings taking up the whole island. Our transfer to the resort island was by boat (a fast dhoani) - so after leaving baggage claim we were led to a quayside and shortly boarded a fast speedboat for the 40 minute journey to Summer Island in North Male Atoll.

Once the boat left the airport quayside you quickly realised just how spread out the Maldives are, only seeing roughly 3 miles from sea level to the horizon the various islands appear as mere dots on the horizon and we wondered exactly where our island would be. But eventually the roar of the boat's engine eased off and Summer Island came into view : 500m long by 120m wide. Our walk along the jetty to the reception area was the last that had to be done wearing shoes as the island paths are all sand and easier to negotiate with bare feet.