Warmtoast (your #8370),
What wonderful pictures - and what a wonderful trip ! Pity I couldn't have conned the Municipality of Cannanore (or Southern Army Command) into offering me a similar lecture tour (expenses paid, of course) twenty years ago ! (too late now !)
The Indian Government has now tardily exploited the tourist potential of the Laccadive Islands (about 150 miles west of us at 11°N), it seems (Wiki). Should do equally well (Wiki says the Maldives are in the 'Laccadive Sea'). And easier to get at with a short flight fom Bangalore, whereas the Maldives at 4°N are 450 miles further South.
When I was in Cannanore, we never had a look at the Laccadives. There was precious little to see, no airfield, and a pointless 300 mile trip over open water with a s/e aircraft was a risk a long way too far !
...Anyway some photos taken during my visit. I'll be doing a fully illustrated piece here on PPRuNe - new thread - shortly...
We'll hold you to that !
Danny.
PS: Is that an ATR 72 ?