April 2015

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TRAVEL
222 April15
SERENE SRI LANKA
Maya Villa, a restored Manor House in the
unspoilt Tangalle countryside of southeast
Sri Lanka, has teamed up with international
yoga teacher and Ashtanga expert, Dorion
Davis, for two exclusive 10-day, 12-night yoga
retreats in May (1-13 May and 15-27 May).
The cost of each retreat is US$2,125 per
person, including luxury accommodation,
three vegetarian meals a day, 10 days
of yoga tuition (morning and afternoon
sessions), full use of Maya Villa’s pool,
garden, Wi-Fi and other facilities, and return
transfers. Six-night stays are also available,
beginning 1, 7, 15 and 21 May, and priced at
US$1,065. mayatangallesrilanka.com
BEACHSIDE BOXING
To introduce guests to Thailand’s
revered national sport, Anantara Phuket
Layan Resort & Spa has installed a
new state-of-the-art Muay Thai boxing
ring, called “Layan Stadium”. Expert
instructors are available for a choice of
private classes and programmes to suit
all ages and abilities, from a one-hour
beginner’s class to a five-day intensive
programme with ringside seats at a local
stadium match. All participants receive
a certificate and a pair of Thai boxing
shorts as a memento. Family packages
are available so that children aged four
to 12 years can try a fun new way to be
fit. anantara.com
FOOTLOOSE
FEMALES
TripAdvisor recently launched
its Women’s Travel Survey
of more than 9,000 female
respondents globally, and the
responses – including those
from women in Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand and
Indonesia – make for interesting
reading. Solo travel among
female travellers is on the rise,
with 48 percent of Southeast
Asian women saying they’ve
travelled alone, compared to 36
percent in 2014. Moreover, 79
percent of women who travel
alone are planning to do so
again this year – considerably
higher than the global average.
Bangkok, Siem Reap and
Singapore are the top Asian
destinations among global solo
female travellers.
Underwater Wonders
The boutique island-resort of Angsana Ihuru in the Maldives is
hosting its third exciting 24-hour diving event, on 25 April. Known
as the “10 to 10 Rannamaari wreck”, the event sees scuba divers and
snorkellers invited to explore the resort’s unique shipwreck in the
course of a day. The Rannamaari sank mysteriously in 1999, and at 26
metres is now a magnificent habitat for sea creatures and coral. Those
who can’t make it to the Maldives can follow the event on Facebook
and Twitter, or view a live webcast (ustream.tv/channel/ten2ten-
rannamaari-wreck). Accommodation in a Beachfront Villa at Angsana
Ihuru starts from US$700 per night, with breakfast. Certified divers
can book to dive on 25 April, from $76 per dive. Call +960 664 3502
or email to reserve a slot.