Malaysia

We visited Malaysia in the 1990s - since then one of Malaysia’s most recognisable and iconic landmarks has been built - the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia also boasts one of Southeast Asia’s most incredible food scenes.

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Indonesia: Flores: Waecicu Beach and Kelimutu

Flores is one of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands. It lies east of Komodo Island and west of Lembata Island. The west coast port town of Labuan Bajo is a gateway to Komodo National Park, known for its carnivorous Komodo dragons and waters teeming with sea life, including manta rays and turtles. Also on the island is Kelimutu National Park, with its volcano and 3 intensely colored crater lakes....Kelimutu is a volcano, close to the small town of Moni in central Flores island in Indonesia. It is around 50 km to the east of Ende, Indonesia, the capital of Ende regency in East Nusa Tenggara province. It has three volcanic crater lakes that differ in color.

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Indonesia: Komodo

Komodo island, part of the Lesser Sunda chain of Indonesian islands, is the rugged habitat of the 3m-long Komodo dragon monitor lizard. Komodo National Park covers the entire region and is home to more than 4,000 dragons, and is made up of rusty-red volcanic hills, savannah and forests. Its surrounding waters of seagrass beds, mangrove shrublands and coral reefs are famous for diving.. The Komodo dragon, also known as the Komodo monitor, is a member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. It is the largest extant species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 metres, and weighing up to 70 kilograms.

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Indonesia: Lombok & Gili Islands

The Gili Islands are a group of 3 tiny islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air – in Indonesia, near the coast of northwest Lombok Island. Characterised by sandy beaches fringed with palm trees, they're known for their coral reefs just offshore. On the smallest island of Gili Meno, sea turtles swim at Turtle Point. At Gili Trawangan, the largest island, a sunken ship sits at Wreck Point near Mentigi Beach.

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Indonesia: Bali & Ubud

Bali is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan.The town of Ubud, in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia, is known as a centre for traditional crafts and dance. The surrounding Ubud District’s rainforest and terraced rice paddies, dotted with Hindu temples and shrines, are among Bali’s most famous landscapes. Ancient holy sites include the intricately carved Goa Gajah (“Elephant Cave”) and Gunung Kawi, with its rock-cut shrines.

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Fiji

Fiji is famed for its intense tropical beauty. Trent had the privilege of celebrating his 5th birthday with the Fijian Villagers. We were aboard Captain Cook's cruise boat and travelled to Robinson Crusoe island. Magnificent scuba diving and welcoming locals. We enjoyed a traditional kava ceremony with delicious lovo. Kava is a mildly narcotic and sedative drink made from the root of the yaqona - when presented with the kava you clap and yell "Bula" (Fijian for Hello) and drink in one gulp followed by three more claps and yelling "Ma-tha!". You then feel marvellously serene ... no doubt why Fijians serve kava to settle arguments or to make peace between Villagers!

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Malawi

What struck us most was the smiling happy people. Lake Malawi is the 2nd largest lake in Africa and is a meromictic lake - its three distinct water layers do not mix providing more environments for plants and animals to evolve in. Cichlids are especially abundant in Lake Malawi, where they’ve diverged into at least 1,000 species.

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UK: Scotland

Scotland has it all! I fell in love with this magnificent country on my first visit to ski at Glenshee in 1993. From crumbling castles to pristine beaches to unspoilt islands to munro bagging some of the 282 peaks to the 109 whisky distilleries to fly fishing and not to mention the famous North Coast 500 and its stunning coastal scenery. There is truly something for everyone.

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SA: Kruger National Park

The Kruger National was established in 1898 by the then South African President, Paul Kruger to protect the wildlife and to reduce hunting. It is one of the biggest conservation areas in the world and covers 20,000 Kms (bigger than Isreal or Wales)! If you take the adjacent private game reserves into consideration it is the size of Belgium. It has more large mammal species than any other reserve in the world including the 'Big 5': Elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo not to mention all the plains game and diverse birdlife and flora. There are 5 distinct ecosystems which varies from semi arid to acacia thicket, baobab sandveld and riverine forest. I have had the privilege of visiting since early childhood and we have provided our children with the same opportunity so this piece of paradise remains our 'happy place'. WARNING: It is highly addictive!

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