As I leaned on the ship’s rail looking out to sea with a beautiful sunset beginning to form there was a pleasant feeling of anticipation and delight at the prospect of fulfilling a long held dream of visiting the hitherto relatively unknown Lakshadweep Islands on a fortnight’s cruise.

Arriving at Dubai International Airport in the early morning sunshine, by Emirates from London Heathrow was interesting.  As the great plane came into land I looked out on what seemed a tiny neat white Legoland City!  It is after all only about 40 years old.