The beautiful Indian Ocean island of Sri Lanka has long fascinated travellers from all over the world, drawn by its beautiful landscape and vibrant cultural heritage, but the island is now developing a reputation as a paradise for active holidaymakers.

The island is strikingly diverse, combining beautiful beaches and lush jungle with elegant colonial cities and ancient ruins.

Opportunities for active travellers are wide ranging – the island offers great water sports and fantastic cycling and walking too.

Sri Lanka’s waters are perfect for scuba diving and the island has many PADI qualified diving schools from which to explore the island’s reefs.

One the island’s most famous attractions is Sigiriya, or Lion Rock, a past capital city of the island, which towers above the surrounding jungle on a 600 foot rock.

The former fortress of King Kashyapa features ancient rock paintings and sculptures and offers breathtaking views across the jungle.

Sigiriya can be accessed on foot by a stiff three hour climb and should fulfill the most adventurous of travellers.

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A couple from Indiana is upping sticks and embarking on a year-long boating trip in the Caribbean.

Harry and Melinda Schell’s only link to the world they are leaving behind - which includes their two daughters - will be a satellite phone.

"All my life I’ve seen too many people who wait for retirement, wait for retirement and when retirement comes, they’re too sick to do anything," Mrs Schell told tampabays10.com.

"So to be able to explore the world on our boat and live on our boat and take our time and see what we want to see…man, it just doesn’t get any better."

The couple have been planning the trip for five years, and have been living in their 42-foot sailboat for the last two after selling their house and most of their belongings in order to finance the expedition.

The duo plan to sale from their base in Bradenton to the Bahamas, then Puerto Rico, and on to Venezuela before turning back to the States.

Mr Schell is confident that the boat will last journey.

"The boat can handle just about any kind of weather. It can sail through a hurricane if it had to," he said.

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Globalstar, the satellite voice and data company, has launched its new GSP-1700 mobile satellite telephone.

Capable of global satellite use, the GSP-1700 is the smallest yet available on the US market, leading Dennis Allen, senior vice president of US sales and marketing for Globalstar, to believe that it sets a "new global standard" for mobile phones.

Weighing in at a feather-like 7.1oz and it measuring just 5.3 x 2.1 x 1.4 inches, the GSP-1700 also boasts colour display, a lighted keypad, and portable headset and Bluetooth compatibility, while its lithium-ion battery provides 4 hours’ talk time and 36 hours’ standby time.

"One of the things the expanding mobile satellite market demands is a smaller, lighter and overall better handset solution and that’s just what the GSP-1700 delivers," said Mr Allen.

"The introduction of accessories such as a marine installation kit and remote antenna package…makes this an attractive time for businesses and individuals to consider satellite voice and data service."

Globalstar currently offers its services in over 120 countries around the world.

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Piazza San Marco
Venice is synonymous with fine art, majestic architecture and romantic gondola rides and as a tourist it is almost impossible to escape from one of them, let alone all three. The city’s centrepiece is the Piazza San Marco, arguably the most picturesque square in Europe and home of St Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Clocktower and a few thousand pigeons. It is memorably depicted by Canaletto in his 1730 masterpiece Piazza San Marco with the Basilica, and the image is still exactly reflective of the scene today. However, it is not advisable to visit after heavy rain - Piazza San Marco is the lowest point in Venice and lies adjacent to the Grand Canal, so is extremely prone to flooding.

Basilica di San Marco
Previously known as the church of gold, St Mark’s Basilica is the most famous of all Venice’s churches. It is renowned as one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture, but is adorned with and houses decorations which both pre-date and supersede the building itself. St Mark’s Roman Horses are a must see: the highly sought after effigies were once displayed in Constantinople, were seized by Doge Enrico Dandolo for Venice, then Napoleon for France, before being returned to Venice in 1815.

Gondola rides
Gondola rides are extremely expensive. They are also almost inevitable. Make sure you haggle hard when that inevitable time comes.

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Singapore has long been a popular, if somewhat expensive, stopover for travelers heading from Europe to Australia – and a new low-cost airline is set to make the experience a whole lot cheaper.

Tiger Airways will begin running a service between Singapore and the Western Australian capital of Perth from March.

Initially operating four times a week, the flights will become daily in November – with a return fare costing just under £200 including taxes and charges.

"Low-cost airlines such as Tiger Airways have changed the face of holiday travel in Asia by making airline travel more affordable," observed Australian tourism minister Sheila McHale.

The flights are now available for booking – and are sure to be welcomed by travelers who wish to explore more of the Far East and Australia on a relative shoestring.

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