Colombo, Sri Lanka

We spend the afternoon sat out by the pink pool with the contents of our minibar while Ibizan chillout beats are pumped out for our sole benefit.

About 5.30 we hop into a tuk tuk and take the ten minute drive to the famous Galle Face Hotel, where our concierge has reserved us a table at their pool bar to watch the sun set into the Indian Ocean.

Galle Face Hotel was constructed in the 1860s and is next to Galle Face Green, near the Dutch Hospital, now full of high-end, tourist trap restaurants. Galle Face Green itself is a large open air space where families gather and tonight are out flying kites.

A huge structure is being built as the Pope is due to visit in ten days' time and they're expecting the majority of the Catholic population, numbering almost a million people to celebrate mass on the Green.

We forego a wander on The Green in favour of our table with a perfect view of the ocean horizon. Aware that our cocktails will be booze-free, we've brought a handily re-stocked water bottle that accidentally seems to refresh our lovely fruit-juice mocktails.

We may have been a bit heavy-handed as by the time the sun sets we're both pretty lively, perfect to have a political conversation...

Just as we're about to leave we're joined by a British woman called Rachel who has checked into the hotel for a few nights. She's a regular visitor to the island having Sri Lankan friends with whom she was staying, but they are very wealthy and supporters of the President.

Fearing the outcome of the election they have just fled the country leaving her to stay at their villa. Rather than be alone and targeted by anti-corruption protesters she's chosen to stay in five star security at the hotel in case things get hairy.

We chat until it gets dark and then take another tuk tuk back to Casa Colombo where we have another gorgeous dinner before calling it a night.

Colombo, you've been fun. Now it's time to explore the island!