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Meet the team - Indian Ocean

For expert advice on the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles, look no further than our Indian Ocean specialists. Discover what works best for you – whether you are after a one-stop relaxing honeymoon, or an extension after an Indian adventure, our experts will guide you in the right direction.

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Born and brought up in Bombay to Indian and Iranian parents, I had the best of both worlds in several different ways. Being from Bombay one naturally speaks at least three to four languages and I was lucky to learn more from both sides of my family. You may have noticed that I still refer to Mumbai as Bombay because it will always be that in my heart.

I’ve lived in several countries including Holland, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Being ex cabin crew with American Airlines, Saudia and Qatar Airways, travel was not only a passion but a way of life for me for nearly a decade. I’ve been based in Amsterdam and then in lesser frequented Jeddah from where I have fond memories of frankincense-filled souks and roadside barbecues along the shores of the Red Sea late in the evening. Tourists didn’t exist in those days at all and life was as close to being bedouin as possible. I loved it.

My Insiders Tip

My tip is to do with food – if you could see me in person, you would know why. Cooking is simply the best therapy I can have after a long day in the office. When visiting a new destination, skip the 5-star restaurants and head for excellent value street food. In Bombay, ‘street food’ can be experienced in a restaurant to avoid any issues with your tummy, but several stalls are also cleared by health and hygiene authorities, including the stall behind the main stock exchange and the kulfi (Indian ice cream) vendors in Bandra.

Favourite Experience

It’s so hard to choose. A favourite experience of mine was watching the cute, blue back penguins walking out of the sea in Kangaroo Island, Australia and I also recall the views from top of Sydney Harbour Bridge very fondly. Another experience of note was climbing Sarangkot in Pokhara, Nepal to view Fishtail Mountain.

My Favourite Place

My favourite city is Rome because you can still walk on the streets and feel like it’s 10,000 years ago. I love the history and monuments of this cradle of modern civilisation. My other favourite place is Las Vegas! There I said it. I love Vegas and it’s true that there is no place like it. It’s just the buzz and the atmosphere that is so scintillating and unique, a true adult’s playground.

My Favourite Hotel

My favourite hotel is Kumarakom Lake Resort in Kerala, India. The meandering pool and lakeside setting makes it a perfect getaway and the ultimate hotel for relaxing. Guests can jump into a pool from their bedroom as soon as they wake up and later have a shower in your their private open garden, filled with water lilies and banana palms.

Discover Indian Ocean

Take a well-earned break on some of the finest white sand beaches, among turquoise seas and coral gardens.… Read more

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