Imagine waking up every morning to a perfect beam of sunlight, eating breakfast amongst a warm glow and falling asleep as a cool breeze flows over you. This is the feel of living at Lumiére Residencies. Because of their mix of natural ease and luxury living, the brand-new apartments have been filling up quickly. With only a few units left, Lumiére wants to welcome you to your new home.

Cantaloupe Aqua, most appropriately named after the hue of the Thalpe bay waterfront. Most of my travel experiences can be nicely compartmentalized into neat nutshells. I can very boldly say that being at a loss for words has never been one of my shortcomings but honestly I found that this property was hard to peg. For me this is one of the greatest compliments I can bestow. C.Aqua combined the best features of so many different places I had visited before.

It might seem unlikely that, with the great changes which have taken place in England over the last two centuries (the growth of large industrial conurbations like London, Birmingham, Manchester and other large towns and cities and the building of railways and motorways) there is anything left to reflect the old medieval patterns of English rural life. Yet, tucked away in folds and wooded valleys, there are still monuments to a bygone age.

Remote Lands, the world’s foremost ultra-luxe private tour operator focused exclusively on Asia, has done extensive reconnaissance trips to determine for our clients the finest hotels in Asia. From India to Japan, Asian luxury properties offer the world’s ultimate service and facilities, such as private pool villas, personal butlers, and Michelin-starred restaurants. “From refurbished colonial bungalows, to boutique resorts, to five-star urban oases,” said co-founder and CEO Catherine Heald, “Remote Lands matches our clients’ own particular desires to the perfect hotel to form the foundation of our bespoke itineraries.”

Over recent years many walauwas – the large ancestral homes of wealthy families – have been renovated to become exclusive accommodation for discerning travellers. Special among them is Villa Riva, some 140-years-old, which is situated at Thoppuwa near Kochchikade, just 5 minutes from Negombo. As it happens, Kochchikade has a tradition of hospitality, where people like to eat and drink together.