Toni the Maldive Lady
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Colombo

After a very hectic departure from Kuramathi, into the Sea Plane, stopping at two Resorts, then Male mooring at the Sea Plane Jetty. 
We hurry over to the airport, check in and leave for COLOMBO. Dark on arrival, visas to obtain, the airport seething with people but manage to find our Chauffeur who takes us to the Goldi Sands Hotel. 
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I have known Shelton de Alwis for many many years who heads Asian Wings, I am starting to feel  at home!
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Our Chauffeur Mr P Pathmanathan
We are given our itinerary and the next day Pathman our Chauffeur arrived to take us to the beach where the fishermen were preparing to head out for the morning catch. Their large sails soon to pick up the waves.
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Back to our Hotel
relaxing by the beautiful pool
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I had stupidly managed to cut my shin on a table in our Suite, put on a plaster, but knew it would need replacing. Outside Kandy I asked Pathman if he could stop at a chemist that would hopefully be able to help me. The picture tells the story! Hysterical! I am patched up.

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The road starts to wind up and up as we climb up to Nuwara Eliya.  A stop to see the monkeys, quite horrible wildly tame and if not fed i am sure would jump into our laps.  A terrific drop into the valley. Rebecca loves the Took Took and will jump into one regardless of the owner!
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At last we have arrived at NUWARA ELIYA. We are in the world of tea  tea, tea. After a very welcome cup of tea, we moved around.

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Here we are at the Grand Hotel and wonderful flowers. We had two days here and an amazing thing happened to me one night. 
We had a perfectly lovely room with two single beds. On our first night I woke about 2am wanting to go to the loo!

I saw very very clearly TWO POLTERGEIST'S  quite small at the end of Rebecca's bed, and at the end of my bed a A VERY TALL ONE.
I have years ago come across these before. They tend to live in very very old buildings, and can be unpleasant. Our hotel is the oldest but now very five star.  I did not want to wake my grand daughter Rebecca, now 18 years old,  so I went  SHOO SHOO at her poltergeists. They went. Then did the same to my tall one, it REFUSED to go!! I turned on the light, Voila the poltergeist had gone. The Next evening, after hearing of my experience, Rebecca wanted to sleep with me! not much sleep in a single bed!  No visitors!
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We had a very very knowledgeable driver stopping to show us the sites. Passing by the Golf course and Race course, suddenly both Rebecca and I screamed STOP STOP!  We had seen two ponies, all saddled up and ready to be ridden!
We jumped out of the car.  Rebecca starts riding away!  I am still asking everyone around to GET ME UP!  We ride round the most beautiful lake for almost an hour TOTAL BLISS
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The Hill Club

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Lunch at the Hill Club. I was there some 40 plus years back.  Over night a real fire in my room, the staff all wearing white gloves at dinner,    Treacle Tart for pudding!  The Hill Club was all very British and still is! Still very very special to me.
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Toni the Maldive Lady in Sri Lanka
Leaving I saw these little kids. STOP! Calmed them down, gave each of them a few pennies, then they started screaming and fighting each other, maybe my mistake?
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Just one enormous Estate now owned by Sri Lankan's but still bearing the English name.
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We walked around the paths, winding up and down and chatted with some colourful Tea Pickers who were just coming off duty.  Very friendly only in their forties. Sadly they all needed to see a dentist. Later we were taken  on a tour to see how the leaves  are turned into all types of tea very interesting.
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We then continued our six hours to Colombo. Over night at the Cinnamon Hotel.  Next day I met with Shelton De Alwis. All I can say is being looked after by Asian Wings all your dreams will come true Asian Wings ( www.asianwings.com).

E M I R A T E S  

Has Spoilt Us Rotten

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I put Emirates on the map, years back when they first started flying into the Maldives. Their London office was in Pall Mall. I got a call to ask if I could please come over after their office closed this was about 6.30pm and give them a talk, show pictures and answer any questions. A light supper after. I did this many many times. They brought all their staff at the airport up in stages. I was thanked for this time and time again.

Ever since that time Emirates have been truly wonderful to me. I fly with them always, many times to South Africa and to Seychelles. Since Rebecca my granddaughter was 6 years old this year now 18 she came with me Club class. South Africa annually and sometimes I have been upgraded.

Knowing that this was to be our SWAN  SONG they set about giving us a wonderful surprise!

From Dubai to Heathrow we would be in FIRST CLASS. We could have a shower at 40 thousand feet lasting 5 minutes! My story starts with Rebecca in the first class lounge having lunch. She chose the biggest steak even eaten!  THE  PICTURES  TELL IT  ALL
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The young girl with her is in charge of the  two wash rooms, it feels like being in a Spa!
The Captains asked us to stay back on arrival to say HELLO.
We both can't thank Emirates enough it was the icing on the cake.
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SLEEP  WELL  MY  DARLING

SWAN  SONG   M AL D I V E S 

The Maldive Islands


Ariyadhoo, Himithi, Mini Mas,
Gali & Maamigili
Fuah Mulaku

GAAFU ALIFU ATOLL SCHOOL
Gan and Feydhoo
Hanimadhoo & Uteemu
Ihuru
Kuramathi
Kurumba
Laamu  Atoll
Lhaviyani
Niyama - Dhaalu Atoll
Rashdoo & Noonu Atoll
Villingili

Holiday Of A Life Time:
Maldives, Sri Lanka & Dubai

New


SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION - LETTER FROM BENEDICTA

MY ISLAND STORY

On My Way To Happy Days

Passenger Flying Log Book

My Very Good Looking Father

Through a Zanzibar Doorway

Lion Sands

Cape Town

A Night At The London Zoo

Wild Reef Child

Ashley

Flying With Hunting Clan

Love At First Sight

The Queen Mother

Romy Has a Surprise!

GEORGE

My Talk 2018

My Flying Diary

The Maldive Lady, by Jo Foley

LiveWire: First Lady of Leisure

Kunfunadhoo

The Lady In The Loo

First Round The World Flight

Tehran

PHINDA

Rat Story

Visha & Maya

Saint Helena

A Flight of a Lifetime

Diving Bangaram Island
Shark Circus
Richard Harley
Yusuff Moosa

I Dived To Victory
Memorable Muscat
You Must Not Wear Any Weights Or Life Jacket


A Magic Boat Launches

Angkor, Cambodia

Champneys

Country Life

Crown of Thorns

Having A Whale Of A Time

​Hurlingham Club Magazine Summer 2016

Kenya

​KASHMIR 1959

Lady Rose

Love of Skiing

My Magic Beans

My Outstanding Award
My Sandbank
Museum of Mankind
My 86th Birthday
Classic Wings: My 87th Birthday
My 88th Birthday
Magic Yellow File
RACEHORSE
Seychelles
South Africa
The Haute Route
Thrills & Spills - Dhoni Mighili
Underwater Ireland
Welcome To Stanford Bridge
***WEST OF ZANZIBAR***

Helicopter Bride
SCHOOL / FLYING
World Travel Mart
My Adopted Maldivian Family
Life Threatening Thalassemia
Himmafushi - The Young Offenders
Villingilli Orphanage
The Tsunami
Commemorative Coins

1986 Commonwealth Games
Guest Speaker of the Canberra
My Cocktail
Love & Marriage in Sri Lanka


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Flags
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A Maldives Symphony -
My Swan Song:

- Velassaru & Kuramathi
-
Colombo

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