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Because we’re worth it Destinology, who promote themselves as tour operator to the stars and Premier League, like to flatter us by saying… you book like a million pounds.

So sit back, bask in the compliment, and pore jealousy at what you could have won if you had brains in your feet rather than your head.

Destinology has only launched a three-month long once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa, India, Asia, Australia and Dubai.

Costing a million pounds for a family of four.

The perfect ten

Of course it’s the highest of high end and activities including off the beaten track wildlife and wilderness excursions.

And explorations of some of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world.

Accommodation has also been carefully picked to include fancy shmantzy hotels, wilderness lodges, rainforest cabins and glamping.

While air travel is business class or by private helicopter charter.

You’ll take in ten different countries… so that’ll be 100,000 worth of each.

Animal magic

Cool for cats… in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

You’ll kick off in Kigali, Rwanda, including three nights in a Forest Villa in Volcanoes National Park with a gorilla trekking excursion.

Guests are then transferred by private charter helicopter to Akagera National Park for safari… and we’re past masters here.

Sunset Champagne cruises, helicopter tours, a stay at Gorse Elephant Camp, explorations of the Cape Winelands and Treetop villas await in South Africa.

Before travelling to Mauritius for nine nights at the One&Only Le Saint Géran.

And then the Seychelles archipelago for an eight-night stay in a private villa at the secluded Six Senses Zil Pasyon.

Asia major

Most trips to India are rushed but Destinology offers 12 nights.

Plenty of time to explore the heritage, glitz and glamour of Mumbai.

A private culinary walking tour of New Delhi, a visit to Agra – home to the Taj Mahal and the 16th century forts.

Followed by an exploration of Jaipur, famed for its spice markets and Rajput architecture.

The Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, is what you’d expect it to be.

And you’ll be treated to a private Grand Palace tour.

There is a two-night stay in Elephant Hills in a lake view villa and guaranteed Dumbos.

Before heading off on jungle trek and canoe excursions.

And then taking in seven nights in the tranquil Devasom Khao Lak Beach Resort & Villas on the island of Khao Lak.

Singapore is noted for its tasty street food.

So dig in, and be sure to take in the private City and Bay of Gardens Tour.

Before retiring to a Premier Harbour View Room at the Swissotel The Stamford.

Out of the city is the enchanting heart of Bali, Ubud.

With adventures await in the lush oasis including a Monkey Forest and Tegalalang Rice Terraces.

Plus a full day tour of Bali’s lakes and temples.

Seven nights at the refreshing Alila Seminyak follow where the emphasis is on the pristine beaches and spa facilities.

Oz-some

Destinology are all over Australia, of course.

And you’ll get to do Sydney Harbour Bridge, hiking and wildlife in the Blue Mountains, Ayers Rock.

The world’s oldest rainforest at Daintree, and an eco-snorkeling adventure at the Great Barrier Reef.

And if you’re pooped at he end of all that then don’t fret.

Golden Dubai

You’ll finish up with seven nights in Dubai, the ‘City of Gold’.

Now just to get those lottery numbers right.

Because we know you and Destinology are right you book like a million pounds.

So check out the full itinerary here.

Happy 75th India and a special Indialive alive oh from Dublin to mark the part the Irish played in your story.

It’s not just the shared colours of the flags that they have in common.

So to celebrate Indiapendence with these fun facts on the feckers and the fakirs.

It’s a common misconception that the Irish flag informed the Indian drape.

The Irish green, white and orange flag dates back to 1848 which you’ll remember from your history books as The Year of Revolutions in Europe.

It was then that a group of French women gifted a Tricolore of vertical green, white and orange to Young Irelander Thomas Meagher.

The Irish Tricolore

Ireland green for the Catholic tradition, orange for the Protestant and white for peace.

The Indian cloth though sharing the colours is, of course, horizontal, and it has to be of khadi, a hand-spun fabric popularised by Gandhi.

The saffron green stands for courage, the white for inclusivity to other religions (Christians), green for the land.

And a central blue wheel for self-reliance.

Flagging it up

Of course it wasn’t the first proposed Indian flag, that was the brainchild of Sister Nivedita, aka Margaret Noble, of Co. Tyrone.

The converted Hindu nun had suggested a red flag with a yellow inset depicting a thunderbolt and a white lotus.

She was rather more successful in raising women’s rights in her new country.

The Irish, in truth, have always been there for the Indians.

Just call me Dev

And those two titans of anti-imperialism, Éamonn De Valera and Mahatma Gandhi were great admirers of each other.

With Dev flying the flag for India in his rallying speech in New York: ‘We of Ireland and you of India must each of us endeavour.

‘Both as separate peoples and in combination to rid ourselves of the vampire that is fattening on our blood.’

While he was presented with a green/white/orange tricolour in San Francisco by Gopal Singh.

Gopal being of the convicted Indo-Irish-German (1915) conspirators (get your history books out).

Throw in too the impact of Cork hunger striker Terence McSwinney from 1929 on future Indian non-aggressive activism.

Stars of India

Future Indian leaders, Rahul Gandhi among them had Irish ideals running through them.

While remembering too that today is Pakistan Independence Day as well, Benazir Bhutto and Pervez Musharaf were both educated by Irish orders.

And Gandhi’s granddaughter Tara (and that’s Irish) also spoke up for Bobby Sands in Belfast.

When she told the audience: ‘It remains the same iridescent love today as I proceed on my 86th year of my life.

‘How inspiring to be in the land of Seamus Heaney and Bobby Sands.’

The Bloody Partitions

Now the friendship has extended to a half-Indian Leo Varadkar ascending to the station of Taoiseach which he will regain this December.

Of course the biggest similarity between the island of Ireland and the Indian Subcontinent, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is they have both suffered partition.

Because of the cack-handedness of the British Empire under the flag commonly known in Ireland as the ‘butcher’s apron.’

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You book like a million pounds