While the dazzling beaches of Mahé are undoubtedly one of the main attractions of the Seychelles, it’s also rewarding to explore the island’s rugged interior…

One of the “must sees” in the Seychelles is the Morne Seychellois National Park.  It covers 20% of Mahé with a wide variety of habitats ranging from coastal mangrove forests to the country’s highest mountain.  The heart of the park is virtually deserted and can only be reached by hiking trails.  So you’ve got to be reasonably fit and you don’t have to walk far before the outside world feels a very long way away.  The park was established in 1979 and it boasts a wide variety of landscapes, panoramic views, unique flora and fauna, and colonial ruins. A trail network has been developed and guided walks are probably the best way to enjoy the incredible variety of wildlife and vistas.

Take in the fantastic views at the top of the Dans Gallas, Trois Frères, Copolia, and Morne Blanc trails or just marvel at stunning vistas like the valley of La Mare aux Cochons, the ‘glacis’ habitats unique to the Seychelles at Copolia and Trois Frères or the mangrove at Port Launay.  Here too you’ll see the ruins of cinnamon distilleries scattered in the valley of La Mare aux Cochons and the remains of the first school for freed slaves’ children at Mission.  Fascinating plants and wildlife also abound: from carnivorous pitcher plants to the surprisingly loud croak of one of the tiniest frogs in the world (Gardiners Tree Frog) and the unique song of the Scops Owl.

To many people, the Middle East is a region associated with the News rather than Holiday Travel shows.  It’s an area of perpetual conflict isn’t it?  That’s not true of everywhere in the Middle East, especially the UAE.  Tropical Sky’s own Lita List had never been to this region before, and her first impressions are quite illuminating…

This was my first visit to the Middle East so I did not know what to expect outside what I have seen and heard on the T.V.  I wanted to be amazed and stunned and persuaded that it was all everyone has cracked it up to be. I am pleased to say I wasn’t disappointed.

I found Fujairah, our first destination to be quite beautiful and stark in turns.  The scenery could change from Mountains to desert in a blink of an eye, but I found this to be quite fascinating. I undertook a dune safari which was terrifying, but definitely one thing that should be on anyone’s “to do once in my life” list.  I found the Mosques with their intricate and beautiful designs, quite enchanting.  Equally captivating were the camels that seemed to be everywhere and the roaming herds of goats that didn’t seem to belong to anyone but always seemed to have somewhere they had to be in a hurry!  The people I met were gentle and gracious, and seemed a little taken by surprise by how popular the region has become, but were genuinely eager to share it with you. I think this only makes it more charming and enhances the “tourist” experience.

I stayed at the Miramar Al Aqah which was an excellent place to relax.  You can find many similar types of hotels all around the world, but none have the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer as a backdrop or an arrow on the ceiling of the room showing the direction of Mecca.  Subtle cultural differences embedded in the luxury gently reminded you where you actually were. All this, as well as the Arabic style buildings and the stunning mountain backdrop made it a unique experience.

I then went on to Dubai, which was completely different, but just as fascinating. I will never forget my first view of The Burj-Al-Arab hotel as we arrived. Its beautiful modern design against the ancient surroundings made it quite breathtaking.  If there is one thing everyone knows about Dubai, it is that currently there is a lot of building work going on.   But I had not expected quite so much. To see the sheer number of building workers was quite amazing. As we entered into Dubai in the early evening, they were just finishing work and we saw literally hundreds of them all going their separate ways, only to return again the next morning to start all over again.

I had always had a vision in my mind that Dubai would somehow be a glitzier version the Golden Mile at Blackpool, with a long beachfront road containing all the Jumeirah Beach hotels, and people walking along the promenade between them. Needless to say it was not like this at all!  It had its own special feel and grandeur.   I find it hard to visualise what it will be like when all the building work is finally finished, but judging by what is already there, I fully expect it will be truly amazing and very grand.

I visited the Atlantis at the Palm which had a fantastic water park, amazing architecture and the best buffet lunch I have ever had anywhere in the world. I also had a tour round the Royal Mirage, with its three different hotels in one. Each one I visited was the one I wanted to stay in, but they were all fabulous. I actually stayed at the Habtoor Grand, and my room had a fantastic view of both the Marina and the Palm, and had the most gorgeous bathroom ever.

I fully intend to return to the UAE, and I will definitely be doing a two-centre with Dubai first and then the tranquillity of Fujairah, in order to get the best of what this fabulous and diverse  region has to offer.

Will the building work ever end? That was the question on the mind of our managing director Mike Collins during his latest visit to Dubai in March 2009.   It’s a valid question, because although Dubai is a fantastic destination, should you postpone any trip until the projected 2012 completion date?  Mike’s views are quite illuminating….

Visitors to Dubai have become accustomed to the quite awe inspiring rate of construction in this city over the last few years, and that’s almost become part of the attraction.  In many other areas of the world visitors would be moaning about developments spoiling their holiday.  However, the sheer scale of this development can capture onlookers and put you in some sort of trance.  But still - holidaying in the world’s biggest building site?  Sounds awful!   Trust me, it’s not.

All that development does not spoil your stay in the slightest.  If you are on the beach you won’t be disturbed by noise from the building works.  True, they are visible in almost every direction, but they don’t seem to emit that nerve jangling pile driving noise you’d expect.  A great game in fact is counting the cranes precariously perched atop the buildings, soaring upwards into the sky.  After 99 I gave up counting and looked for another game!

Anyway, back to the issue of will the development ever stop?  The people who know these things are all quoting 2012 as the “finish” date.  Many developments (to the untrained eye at least) do seem to be near completion, so 2012 does seem feasible.  It’s also bound to stop soon as the supply of new luxury accommodation and hotels starts to outstrip demand, especially in these times of economic crunch.

So what would I advise?  Should you wait until the alleged 2012 finish date to visit if you have not been to Dubai so far?  Absolutely not!   Go Now!  It won’t intrude on what will be a great holiday and if nothing else,  you’ll be able to say “I was there when they were still building this world class metropolis” in years to come.