Pacific Island Living Issue 33

Islandliving pacific

SPRING/SUMMER 2020 | ISSUES 33/34

ENCORE BACK TO THE FUTURE ISLAND DREAMS RESORT REPORTS WEDDINGS I FOOD PROPERTY I ART CULTURE I ADVENTURE FIJI | VANUATU | SAMOA | SOLOMON ISLANDS | MARSHALL ISLANDS

You can’t change

SAMOA it changes you!

Come and experience the rich culture, pristine environment and simple way of life of beautiful Samoa. And you can do it in absolute luxury at Taumeasina Island Resort. Perfect for a wedding, conference or just a romantic getaway.

FIND THE WAY taumeasinaislandresortsamoa.com

...where memories are made

PICTURE: Craig Osment. Efate, Vanuatu.

F R O M TH E PU BLIS H E R S

ike the rest of the world we’ve been unable to get around our mostly COVID-free region in the past months so have dipped into our extensive archives to bring you the best of what some of us are living and others missing out on in these restricted times.

Hopes of a so-called Pacific Travel Bubble have risen and fallen with the depressing regularity of secondary outbreaks in the biggest countries in the area – namely Australia and New Zealand but the island destinations that attract tourists and visitors from those countries remain mostly free of the virus, which is a blessing.

Not only are the permanent residents able to go about their daily lives without the stifling restrictions endured by nations with active cases, the most significant plus is that the often limited public health systems in these island paradises have not been challenged beyond their capacity.

So while we all hope for an early opening of borders when it is absolutely safe to do so, in the meantime we can continue to dream and plan for that eventuality.

Pacific Island Living in its current digital form is here to provide inspiration and itineraries for your future travels. We take a nostalgic look at some of the best of the region and look forward to welcoming one another to our respective countries again soon.

We also have updated our Prestige Property section which features a selection of stunning island villas for sale for those wanting to escape from those first world woes to somewhere safe and pristine with the freedom to roam without a mask or hand sanitiser.

Now sit back, relax, enjoy our unrivalled in-flight service and take our curated flights of imagination to your favourite destinations. – Tiffany Carroll and Craig Osment

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Pacific Island Living No 33/34 | Spring/Summer 2020 Cover photo: Six Senses Fiji EDITOR Tiffany Carroll Email: tcarroll@photogenicpr.com ART DIRECTOR Nicole Brown FASHION + STYLE EDITOR Olivia Waugh FOOD EDITOR Christiana Kaluscha GARDENING EDITOR Carolyn Ernst CONTRIBUTORS Georgie Gordon, Toby Preston, Craig Osment, Pat Ingram, Carolyn Ernst, Tiffany Carroll, Tully Sands,Christiana Kaluscha, David Kirkland, Damea Dorsey, Tony Wilson, Fiona Harper, Liz Ah-Hi, Jemma Senico, Douglas Patterson, Pauline Webber.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Pat Ingram PUBLISHER: Craig Osment ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Regional Relationship Manager - Jemma Senico Email: jemma.senico@photogenicpr.com In Vanuatu: Eva Westfield Email: ewestfield@photogenicpr.com Pacific Island Living, is published quarterly by Photogenic Limited PO Box 1698 Port Vila, Vanuatu Printed by APOL Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pacificislandliving Twitter

@PacIsLiving

and Instagram

at instagram.com/pacisliving

Or read this and all our magazines online www.pacificislandliving.com

at

COPYRIGHT All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Articles express the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of Nauru Airlines, Samoa Airways or Pacific Island Living.

Pacific Island Living is the official inflight magazine of Nauru Airlines and publisher of Samoa Airways’ inflight magazine Malaga.

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On page 40 you’ll find Tiffany Carroll’s glowing review of Fiji’s Vomo Island Resort.

CONTENTS

0 2 0 2 r e m m u S / g n i r p S

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Local news and happenings: Tired of working from home? Well, why not work from someone else’s, for example Nanuku Auberge Resort on Fiji’s Pacific Coast.

Chocolate from the Solomons now on sale in Sydney and a new hotel in Apia are among the latest news.

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BOOK LOOK: A NOVEL MIX

NET ASSETS: WEB WONDERS

PICTURE: Vomo Island Resort

This issue we suggest a single site that will take you to places that are familiar but with a little exploration will open a world of wonders.

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44

CHILDREN RULE Over the time we have run many stories on family

SECLUDED PARADISE– YASAWA ISLAND RESORT This time, Tiffany Carroll is forced to switch off in Fiji’s stunning Yasawa islands where there’s no one around ... and it’s just perfect.

DESTINATION GUIDE Your portal to the Pacific. The Pacific is made up of some of the most spectacular islands in the world. We take a closer look at a regional selection.

WELCOME HOME– VOMO ISLAND RESORT Tiffany Carroll goes ‘home’ to Vomo where nothing is too much trouble and the word ‘no’ is not in their vocabulary. Blissful!

We offer a selection of a few of the new releases worth looking out for in the next little while.

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FASHION FLASH + STYLE Olivia Waugh has summer covered with a bunch of beautiful swim suits for when you’re planning to get wet. And she asks Shell We Go Home? That’s because everything’s shell shaped or shell theme, from vases to wall hangings to lamp shades.

SAMOA SERENITY Liz Ah-Hi finds the upmarket Aga Reef Resort offers a totally different vibe while complementing this magnificent stretch of coastline considered one of the jewels in Samoa’s crown.

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activities in Vanuatu. Here we round up selection of things to keep the kids occupied when you get back for your next holiday. By Tiffany Carroll, Craig Osment, Steve Jacobs and Rosie Jacobs.

BEACHCOMBER

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RESTAURANT REFRESH Suva dining institution Eden keeps it menu fresh in both ingredients and culinary origins. Owner Sangeeta Maharaj invited a renowned Thai chef to spend a week in her kitchens training the locals.

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Above left: Just hang out – Yasawa Island Resort, page 44. Right: One of the great automotive designs from Giorgetto Giugiaro, page 86.

Fiona Harper gets up close and personal with some large Samoans on their uniquely colourful buses.

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DESTINATION KIRABATI AND THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

pacific

We shine a spotlight on four of nature’s gifts that work wonders on the skin and can’t be found anywhere else in the world. By Georgie Gordon.

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YOU SAY TOMATO ...

And Christiana Kaluscha says “I can’t wait!” It’s tomato season in the Pacific with the Suva, Honiara and Port Vila markets in particular overflowing with scarlet goodness and a variety for every recipe.

THE ULTIMATE WEDDING GUIDE

112 ABODE – THATCH OF THE DAY

FIRST CLASS – NADI TO SUVA

ART SMART – EVERYTHING IS BY DESIGN The ubiquity of design is inescapable, almost object you touch has been ‘designed’ from the door handle

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BEAUTY SPOT – SUPER-NATURAL SKIN

102 VANUATU’S PRESTIGE REAL ESTATE

The drive from Nadi to Suva takes in the Coral Coast, Sigatoka and Pacific Harbour regions and along the way Craig Osment found several good excuses to prolong the journey.

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From the air, Kiribati is simply stunning..The Marshall Islands is one of only four atoll countries in the world and is also one of the world’s youngest nations.

We’ve seen it all when it comes to the perfect destination for your South Pacific wedding, and there’s something for everyone.

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HEALTHY LIVING – THE LONGEVITY DIET Living a healthy longer life is an ambition for most and new research is suggesting this can be achieved by modifying your diet.

MAGICAL MUNDA Tiffany Carroll took time out to explore Munda in Solomon Islands’ Western Province. What she found was it was equally beautiful above the water as below.

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PICTURE PERFECT – SOLOMON ISLANDS Australian surf explorer and owner of Beran Island Resort in Marshall Islands, Martin Daly found some of the Solomons’ most stunning scenery. Photos by Damea Dorsey

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to your dinner plate, Toby Preston looks at some of the industry’s best practitioners.

BRUSHING BOTTOMS ON SAMOA’S BUSES

Our guide to some of Vanuatu’s best seaside property for sale now. Escape to the pristine Pacific in style.

What began life centuries ago as a cheap way of staying dry has evolved into an island icon, says Toby Preston.

116 GARDENS – GROWING YOUR OWN Carolyn Ernst says grow your own. Whether you buy from a nursery or propagate from existing plants in your own garden, graft, plant seeds, or use cuttings, there are many ways to add to your garden.

120 PAR AVION – AI IS NIGH – NOT! Artificial intelligence is not all it’s cracked up to be says a neurotypical Toby Preston

PICTURE: Top left, Yasawa Island Resort.

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AHU2132 -IT

Fiji’s first and only authentic over-water bures.

Luxury. A special place in a magical location for adults only. Proudly Fijian owned and traditionally designed amidst a pristine and protected natural environment, surrounded by azure ocean.

For reservations and information visit www.likulikulagoon.com or Telephone +(679) 672 0978 Email: likulikures1@ahuraresorts.com

Stay 7 nights and receive free helicopter, seaplane or private speedboat transfers*.

Or between November and March, stay 5 nights and receive a sixth night FREE. From AUD $620pp* per night including all meals.

Conditions apply. Approx rates only – check daily FOREX rates.

*

Be free at Malolo!

Malolo Island Resort is about a bure near the beach, surrounded by the world’s friendliest people with a living and authentic culture. Perfect for families and couples alike, you can fill your day with a myriad of activities or simply unwind and do nothing at all.

Year round choose from F$200 resort credits, Kids Eat FREE with 5 night stays, or between November and March, stay 5 nights and receive 1 extra night FREE!

AHU2481/VT–HPH

Malolo. This is the way the world should be.

T +679 672 0978 | malolores1@ahuraresorts.com www.maloloisland.com

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For reservations and information visit www.maloloisland.com *Conditions apply.

Approx rates only – check daily FOREX rates.

B E A CH COMBE R Every issue we bring you the news, views, people, products and places from all around the Pacific.

YOUR ISLAND OFFICE AWAITS Tired of working from home? Well, why not work from someone else’s, for example Nanuku Auberge Resort on Fiji’s Pacific Coast. Auberge Resorts Collection the company behind Nanuku is offering guests the opportunity to work from the resort with specially designed packages for those who can get away from it all but want to continue running their business remotely. Guests can simply pack their laptop and reinvigorate their approach to work; enjoying conference calls, online meetings and emails poolside – cocktails optional!

Logan Miller, general manager of Nanuku Auberge Resort says, “Remote with Auberge provides singles, couples and families with a fresh new way to work, learn and play, while they surrender to Fiji’s unique culture and tranquillity.”

All guests booking a Remote with Auberge package can opt for an ‘in-villa office’ complete with monitor, wireless mouse, keyboard, whiteboard for creative thinking, charging station and access to 24-hour support for assistance with technology, printing, office supply needs and more.

For a little more freedom, a make-shift office can be arranged around guests’ private pools, or in Nanuku’s socially distanced Tabua or Meke rooms. All while soaking up breathtaking views of Beqa Lagoon. Nanuku’s dedicated Business Concierge would be on hand to assist with any business needs or requests.

Remote with Auberge is an extended-stay program available to guests staying seven nights or longer. The base package includes: concierge business services, daily á la carte breakfast at Kanavata Restaurant & Lounge, sunset canapés and endless non-alcoholic beverages and nibbles. Extensive á la carte menus are available for lunch and dinner.

While getting there for many might be difficult, for those who

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can make their way to Fiji, or are already there here are a few options for arrival: Access via sea: • Fiji is open to ocean travellers via the Fiji Government ‘Blue Lanes’ initiative.

• Yachts and pleasure craft can arrive into Port Denarau Marina. After either 14 days of isolation at sea, or via quarantine in the Marina, access is granted.

Access via air: • Nanuku has a private airstrip on their property. Private flights from any major city in Fiji can be arranged upon request.

• Planes can arrive from any airport within Fiji to Nanuku; the largest aircraft that can land at Nanuku’s aerodrome is a twin-otter plane.

• Helicopters can collect guests from Denarau and transfer directly to Nanuku.

• International private jets arrive via Nadi International Airport to clear customs, then can be transferred to Nanuku by road or air.

IN THE SWIM Those Funky folks are at it again with more trunks for blokes to kickstart the summer beach season. The new collection from one of Australia’s favourite swimwear brands includes briefs, shorts, trunks, jammers along with towels, underwear goggles,

backpacks, kickboards and caps all in their signature vibrantly coloured creative prints. Funky Trunks in-house designs are manufactured to an exceptional standard to deliver functional and comfortable styles. Check out the range for yourself here: www.funkytrunks.com.

FASHION OVERWATER ON THE PACIFIC’S LONGEST RUNWAY On 22nd August, 2020 Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay hosted a successful fashion event in collaboration with local fashion brand ZUBER, in support of Fijian tourism, fashion and art.

The sold out function brought together 100 invited guests to witness an extraordinary event which transformed Momi Bay’s iconic overwater walkway into the Pacific’s longest fashion show runway. It measured 180 metres from the start of the pier to the very end which hovers over the middle of the lagoon. The show was led by Fiji’s well-established luxury brands ZUBER, Zilda Collection and Naina with live dance performances by Wehi Fiji taking place simultaneously while the models walked the runway. “It is our greatest pleasure to support Fijian art and the country’s most exclusive fashion designers … I’m proud of my team for their hard work in pulling this event together and we hope it becomes an annual event,” Silvano Dressino, general manager, Fiji Marriott Resort Bay said.

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B E A CH COMBE R VANUATU NATURALS The Pacific Islands are home to some of the purest plant botanicals and oils, perfect ingredients in organic skincare. A new holistic beauty and skin care brand from Port Vila is Tehya Skye Vanuatu. Inspired by her yoga, wellness and beauty background and the natural resources of her home island, founder Chanelle Bjornum-Motuliki had been creating her own natural and healing skin care products for many years before starting the brand.

Ingredients include rich virgin coconut, tamanu and nangai oils blended with essential oils for their healing properties and ability to raise your vibrational energy. The range currently includes body, face and lip scrubs as well as facial oils like Isis – a blend of tamanu oil to nourish skin on a cellular level and lavender and rose geranium essential oils to promote clarity and radiance. All products are handmade and packaged with mantras and tips to activate your senses during use. Tehya Skye Vanuatu products are available for purchase from ‘Ile de Coco’ boutique in Port Vila. Follow on Facebook or Instagram: @tehyaskyevanuatu

LAVA IS HOT There is a new kid on the block in downtown Apia, and it’s the funky new boutique Lava Hotel. The four-star property opened in March 2020 and is located on Main Beach Road, next to the Tanoa Tusitala hotel. It boasts 52 rooms, conference and events facilities, a pool, gym, bar and restaurant. Owned by Digicel Samoa, the hotel was designed to appeal to millennial leisure and business travellers with its contemporary features.

The guest rooms are tucked inside the heart of the hotel, accessed via a courtyard so that when guests emerge from their room, they feel a part of the hotel’s buzzing ecosystem.

The bar and restaurant, 1905 Eatery, opens out onto the expansive pool terrace and is already proving a fantastic addition to Apia’s nightlife. www.lavahotel.ws/ | @lavahotelsamoa

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TAKEOVER OPPORTUNITY The quintessential resort takeover has become the latest resort trend, and Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, Fiji is bringing new meaning to the term ‘Buy Out’ by offering an exclusive retreat in a tropical paradise.

As if the sheer beauty were not enough to entice international travellers, add to the mix a choice of 11 white sandy beaches, five-star dining, world-class diving , Fijian culture, myriad water sports, and a visit to the world-famous Blue Lagoon caves, the location for the movie Blue Lagoon starring Brook Shields, and an unsurpassed vacation is ‘exclusively yours’.

The resort, located on a 7,000-acre island with a handful of Fijian villagers as your neighbours and only 30 minutes by private air transfer from Nadi International Airport, is now offering an exclusive stay: the ultimate ‘Isolate in Paradise Buyout’ for one to 38 guests.

Whether celebrating a milestone birthday, special anniversary

or seeking to recharge and relax with family and friends, look no further than the idyllic Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, Fiji, an unsurpassed sanctuary for sun and fun. The price tag for paradise is set at approximately US$14,000 per night with a minimum three-night stay. Rates are exclusive of international and domestic airfare to the island/return, and Fiji Government tax. The complete buyout is valid for travel through to March 31, 2022. ucked away in the lush Yasawa group of islands off the coast of main Island of Viti Levu, this secluded haven boasts 18 authentically thatched luxury bungalows hidden among luscious tropical foliage and only steps from a pristine stretch of silky beachfront. Located on one of the most remote and unspoiled islands in Fiji, it is a tropical oasis that attracts couples, singles, families and groups from around the world.

For more information, visit: https://yasawa.com/islandbuyout/ and see our story this issue starting on page 44.

A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK Always good to see the South Pacific artisans making good in the larger world, and that’s what South Pacific Cacao has done by setting up shop in Sydney’s Haberfield. The enterprise is a partnership between Brian Atkin, who owns Makira Gold in Solomon Islands and chocolate specialist Jessica Pedemeont.

Makira Gold, a prize-winning producer, buys solar-dried cocoa beans from three Solomons cocoa farmers from Makira.

Jessica also owns Chocolate Artisan, which has been a leading artisan brand for over 10 years and produces a selection of specialist chocolate products.

Buy in-store or online at: southpacificcacao.com

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S A M O A SE R E N ITY

e c n a g e l E Tropical

Aga Reef

Liz Ah-Hi finds the upmarket Aga Reef Resort offers a totally different vibe while complementing this magnificent stretch of coastline considered one of the jewels in Samoa’s crown.

What started off as one man’s vision over 20 years ago to create a lasting monument to honour his devoted wife has turned into a

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stunning 16-room boutique luxury resort.

T

he Aga Reef Resort is located on the South east coast of Upolu in the idyllic village of Lalomanu, a place that boasts one of the most photographed beaches in the world. However there is much more on offer in the Aleipata district than a place to call a surfer’s paradise or a mecca for sun worshippers.

In its sixth year of operation, the upmarket Aga Reef Resort offers a totally different vibe while complementing this magnificent stretch of coastline considered one of the jewels in Samoa’s crown. You’ll get a sense of this as soon as you enter the gates of this stylish resort and appreciate why they have been named “Australasia’s Best Relaxation Retreat” by the World Boutique Hotel Awards for two consecutive years.

Aga Reef oozes tropical elegance with its stylish contemporary exterior without losing the natural warmth of genuine Samoan culture and hospitality. What started off as one man’s vision over twenty years ago to create a lasting monument to honour his devoted wife has turned into a stunning 16-room boutique luxury resort offering a tranquil escape for pure unadulterated relaxation.

One unique feature of the sublime waterfront property is the man- made island, Meti’s Island connected to the main hotel area by an impressive bridge giving you a sense of an escape within an escape. The elysian islet is named after the founder himself, Lauofo Meti Meredith who envisioned a structure that would protect the lagoon and provide a reserve where marine life can flourish for generations to come.

Well that vision paid off because the lagoon is teeming with many different colourful species of fish and marine life

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with guests enjoying daily visits from the friendly sea turtles.

Canoes and snorkel gear are available to guests and it is a must-do activity to experience the sheer magic of the reef and the best part about it is that its literally right outside your door if you’re staying in one of the villas.

All the villas have a private balcony suspended over the water and for honeymooners and solo travellers looking for peace and tranquillity, the designers of the Aga Reef Resort had you in mind with each spacious villa and hotel room created to give you privacy in luxurious settings making you feel you are the only person at the resort. After a day out exploring awe-inspiring waterfalls and ocean trenches, it was pure bliss to retreat to luxury in my waterfront villa where I encountered the world famous beds the resort is renowned for – add the natural sound effects of the ocean waves and you’re in for the best sleep money can buy (waking up to the lagoon and ocean view is a second best).

Aga Reef has the best of many worlds and the resort is nestled between mountain and sea providing a double dose of dramatic vistas. If you’re wanting to wake up to a tranquil lagoon and reef which opens up to the vast ocean beyond then I recommend the Waterfront villas but if towering majestic mountains covered in lush tropical jungle is your idea of bliss, book yourself into the island villas on Meti’s island. The ocean view hotel rooms are accommodating of families or larger groups with interconnecting doors and they welcome children three years of age or older.

Food is important here and if you’re a seafood lover like me, I recommend the seared tuna cooked for lunch or the palumalau pave (snapper fillets with garlic mash, watercress, caramelised onion and lemon hollandaise) for dinner, which were both divine.

All meals are best enjoyed out on the wide deck overlooking the ocean where the reception and the Tualupetu Restaurant are located. After you catch your breath from taking in the awe-inspiring view of the lagoon and vast ocean, you are encouraged to do absolutely nothing while you cool off in the infinity pool or lounge poolside with one of their delicious cocktails. From the deck you can enjoy lunch with a stunning view or a romantic dinner under the stars while catching a dreamy Lalomanu sunset that has to be seen to be believed.

The cherry on the top would have to be the lovely attentive staff who embody the warm and friendly Samoan traditional hospitality. The boutique resort is family owned and you get the sense when are staying at Aga Reef that you are a part of that close knit family which means; on arrival, just like you would do at home – kick off your shoes, sit back and relax.•

All the villas have a private balcony suspended over the water and for honeymooners and solo travellers looking for peace and tranquillity, the designers of the Aga Reef Resort had you in mind with each spacious villa and hotel room created to give you luxurious privacy.

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After you catch your breath from taking in the awe-inspiring

view of the lagoon and vast ocean, you are encouraged to do absolutely nothing while you cool off in the pristine waters.

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BO O K L O O K:

New Releases

Selected upcoming reading from our new release notifications by Toby Preston.

THE GLAMOUR BOYS

by Chris Bryant (Bloomsbury) A curious tale of unsung heroes from the WWII era. In the early 1930s, a group of young, queer British MPs visited Berlin. As Hitler rose to power, they watched the Nazis arrest their gay and Jewish friends, send them to concentration camps and murder them.

These men were some of the first to warn Britain about Hitler. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain hated them. Branding them ‘the glamour boys’, he had them followed, harassed, spied upon and derided in the press.

Yet without them, Britain would have been drastically under prepared to face down the Nazis.

Based on years of archival research, this is a story of unsung bravery at a defining moment in Britain’s history.

(Publication date: 1 December.)

SHELTER IN PLACE

by David Leavitt (Bloomsbury) Described as a ‘wickedly funny and emotionally expansive’ this timely novel takes place after the 2016 US presidential election in a plush weekend house in Connecticut, as a group of New Yorkers gather to recover from what they consider the greatest political catastrophe of their lives.

Liberal and like-minded, the friends have come to the countryside in the hope of restoring the bubble in which they have grown used to living.

A slyly comic look at the shelter industry, Shelter in Place is a novel about house and home, furniture and rooms, safety and freedom and the insidious ways in which political upheaval can undermine even the most seemingly impregnable foundations. (Out 1 December)

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THE LAW OF INNOCENCE

by Michael Connelly (Allen&Unwin) As a serious Michael Connelly fan, I pre-order all his books and am never disappointed. This new one promises to be just as enthralling.

Described as the heart-stopping new thriller from the number ione bestselling author, defence attorney Mickey Haller is pulled over by police, who find the body of a client in the trunk of his Lincoln.

Obviously trouble lies ahead in The Law of Innocnce.

SELF HELP

by Tanya Hennessy (Allen&Unwin)) From the bestselling author of AM I DOING THIS RIGHT? comes an honest, hilarious, entirely relatable illustrated guide to living life right.

And wrong. If Amy Schumer and Rebel Wilson had a love child, you’d get Tanya Hennessy. A comedian, radio announcer and social media sensation, she’s won the Junkee Award for Breakthrough Artist, was nominated for Cosmo Woman of the Year, and won best radio documentary at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards.

PIERRE’S NOT THERE

by Ursula Dubosarsky (Allen&Unwin) One to keep the kids amused.

A girl who transforms into a dog, a magic puppet show with the power to change lives and a story about the mysteries of the imagination from Ursula Dubosarsky, the Australian Children’s Laureate, with pictures from the CBCA’s Crichton Award short-listed illustrator Christopher Nielsen. Ursula is the author of over 60 books for children and young adults and her work is published all over the world.

NET ASSETS:

Armchair Earth

The ultimte armchair travel site, from outer space to your favourite literary place. By Toby Preston GOOGLE EARTH This site is a literal wonderland in that it is ‘a land or place full of wonderful things’. It’s everything ‘earth’. From inside a cave to the top of a mountain, viewed from space or seen from a drone. This is the ultimate rabbit hole for armchair travellers. As the title page accurately says: ‘The world’s most detailed globe’, from there you simply hit the Launch Earth button and dive into a multitude of memorable destinations, fabulous photographs from street views to panoramic landscapes, documentary clips, arcane environmental information, literary locations in real life through to guided tours of UNESCO world heritage sites.

If you’re looking for something or somewhere specific then open the search field and type in your query, or maybe just hit ‘I’m feeling lucky’ and get a random selection of destinations you have probably never heard of, for instance Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure, an amusement park in Moscow, Russia. You will then find that this place was opened on 12 August 1928 covers an area of 121 hectares and was named after Maxim Gorky. It also reveals that apart from a roller coaster, an Alpenblitz and a Jet Star 2 there is also a wacky worm show. Who would have known that those earnest Russians had come up with a venue for wacky worms in a place named after the founder of the socialist

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realism literary method? As with all these views, you get the compass co-ordinates and the option of street view, 2D and fly to your location and photosphere. Still feeling lucky? Then up comes Dunsinane Hill in Scotland, a familiar name from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, just keep clicking!

Another fascinating suggestion is Literary Locations in Real Life, choose this tour and you’ll be invited to visit seven different places with literary connections from Moseley Bog where J.R.R. Tolkien lived as a boy to Casa Gabriel in Columbia where you’ll see a picture of Gabriel García Márquez’s childhood home which is now a museum. After that flick forward to Stockholm for an image of the Mellqvist Cafe & Bar where Stieg Larsson’s fictional character Mikael Blomkvist enjoyed a coffee in the The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

For some truly stunning photography and insights into everything from national parks to whale sharks and the natural treasures of cities (see New York’s peregrine falcons (left) or a colony of penguins wandering among South African beach goers), go to the Voyager button and be amazed at what’s on

offer from the BBC, NASA, the National Geographic Society, the Wildlife Trust India and Jane Goodall (above).

Try out Google’s own street view presentation on an interactive journey up the 3000-foot El Captian rock climb in Yosemite National Park. Go behind the scenes for a video explanation of how they filmed this extraordinary panorama up the ‘Nose’ rock face by abseiling down the cliff with cameras and tripods strapped to their intrepid photographers.

Then if you’d like to check on our region’s volcanic history drop in on 10,000 Years of Volcanoes (left) and see an image of our globe with hundreds of pins representing the earth’s volcanic sites, click on any one and you’ll see photographs and detailed descriptions of each.

Book your ticket now for a free trip to armchair earth at www.google.com/earth

sOta tAle

“It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later” Our pristine oceans and protected marine life will be here ready to welcome you to our home.

FIJIAIRWAYS.COM

E C O INITIATIV E

l a r o C A y u B

Build A Reef

C

aptain Cook Cruises is very excited to have reopened Tivua Island for day cruise experiences especially designed for locals.

They have also launched their “Buy a coral - Build a reef” coral rejuvenation program that allows guests to get involved in reef sustainability when they are visiting Tivua island. Guests can buy a coral frag and plant it like they would a seedling on land. All funds go towards funding Captain Cook Cruises’ Coral Rejuvenation Program and making Fiji’s reefs even more glorious.

Tivua Island is surrounded by 500 acres of coral reef. The area has benefited greatly from the extensive work by Captain Cook’s team of Marine Biologists through the lockdown period. Coral planting, and monitoring and rejuvenation of on land plant life, have been priorities.

Captain Cook Cruises is a leader in sustainable tourism and reef education with their team of Marine Biologists providing ongoing education to guests both on Tivua Island as well as when cruising on the Reef Endeavour. Through their Ocean Ambassador program many tons of rubbish have been

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collected from beaches around Fiji during the Reef Endeavour itineraries that stretch as far as Sawa-i-lau & Kia island in the north and the outer reaches of the Lau group visiting more than 90 of Fiji’s 330 islands. Rubbish is collected by crew member Ocean Ambassadors, sorted, weighed, recorded and recycled. Passengers enjoy getting involved with the program as well.

Captain Cook Cruises are relaunching their updated and refreshed Tivua Private Island adventure experiences post COVID for Fiji residents for only $99 per adult and $49 per child 3-15yrs. The fabulous Tivua Island Day Cruise is available at this special rate from 28 June 2020 on Saturdays and Sundays and progressively more often as the Nadi International Airport opens. They are also offering additional discounts for first responders in Fiji, Police, Navy, Army and Hospital employees at F$89 for adults and F$49 for children.

Guests can rest assured that Captain Cook Cruises have implemented a company wide policy of strict cleaning, hygiene and health protocols to ensure the safety of its passengers. •

ADVERTORIAL

Fiji’s Captain Cook Cruises have launched their ‘Buy a coral - Build a reef’ coral rejuvenation program that allows guests to get involved in reef sustainability when they are visiting Tivua island.

ESCAPE WITH US! Tamanu on the Beach features fifteen stunning private villas on a beautiful white sand beach.

Reservations | Phone 27279 | Email tr@tamanuonthebeach.com

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D E S T IN ATION G UIDE

Your

Portal to the Pacific From the Marshalls to the Mamanucas, to Santo sunsets, all the stuff you need to know across the region.

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D E ST INAT IO N VAN UAT U

Keeping it

Beautiful Vanuatu has not had any confirmed cases of Covid-19 and the tourism industry has promised to keep it beautiful as they wait for borders to re-open and once again show why Vanuatu has twice been voted the happiest country on the planet.

T

he Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) launched a global campaign in response to the international travel restrictions put in place since the COVID-19 outbreak, called ‘We’ll Keep it Beautiful for You’ in early April.

Despite Vanuatu having no recorded cases of COVID-19 to date, strict restrictions currently prevent international travellers from entering the country. The VTO’s campaign promised potential visitors overseas the Ni-Vanuatu people will keep Vanuatu beautiful for them until the time when the restrictions are lifted and tourists can return.

The VTO’s chief executive officer Adela Issachar told ABC Radio in late May that she was hopeful and the industry was planning on Vanuatu’s borders to re-open in September this year.

2019 was a very successful year for tourist visitation to Vanuatu, with a 4.3% increase in total air arrivals. Visitation from Australia, Vanuatu’s largest tourist market, was up by 23.4% year-on-year in December 2019.

“The VTO hopes the new campaign will help sustain this momentum once the current situation passes, by keeping Vanuatu’s warm spirit alive and ensuring the destination is

front-of-mind when consumers are able to travel again,” the office said in a statement.

As part of the campaign, the VTO will share a range of #VanuatuMoments featuring locals helping to keep Vanuatu beautiful, on its Facebook and Instagram channels. A series of social tiles have also been created in English and French for travel agents and the travel industry based in Vanuatu to share on their own social channels, with the campaign message and promise “we’ll keep it beautiful for you.” This campaign also marks the start of VTO’s marketing response and recovery plan for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ni-Vanuatu’s fun-loving nature and cheerfulness has also been injected into the campaign creatives to help bring some happiness into people’s lives during this uncertain time.

The campaign has proved popular with consumers in Vanuatu’s source markets – 850,000 people have seen it so far, and engagement with the campaign is up by one-third, indicating a significant number of people are thinking about a holiday in Vanuatu once the COVID-19 lockdowns end.

Once this storm has passed, the VTO invites tourists to once again “Answer the Call” of Vanuatu.•

A sustainable eco-experience for the whole family, set in a stunning tropical paradise

Join us for the Eden Experience, Port Vila | Contact +678 7710765

26 | Islandliving pacific

islandliving | 27 pacific

FA M ILY F U N

Children Rule idding Just K

Over the time we have run many stories on family activities in Vanuatu. Here we round up selection of things to keep the kids occupied when you get back for your next holiday. By Tiffany Carroll, Craig Osment, Steve Jacobs and Rosie Jacobs.

Melanesian Microcosm A day trip to the gorgeous little island of of Lelepa offers a concentrated dose of Vanuatu traditional life in all its Pacific simplicity and charm. From village living to beachside perfection, with underwater spectacle just a snorkel and mask away.

Lying in Havannah Harbour on the north western side of EfatĂŠ is, unlike most of the main island, not edged by coral reef which makes its calm, clear waters more accessible and perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

At the western entrance to the harbour is Hat Island (or in French, the cutely named Ilot Chapeau), a name which becomes obvious after one look at its profile, then there’s Lelepa followed by Moso, the largest of the three.

Lelepa is inhabited by seven different tribes and numbers its population at 500 and is the perfect example of how traditional tribal life has evolved over the centuries.

After landing on a white-sand beach at the northern

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PICTURES: Craig Osment

tip, visitors walk across a narrow peninsula to find a sensational white sand beach, BBQs, a thatchroofed dining hut, umbrellas, hammocks, snorkelling equipment and kayaks at the ready by the waterside.

Then it’s back on the boat for a short trip to the next bay for a look at one of the many caves on the island, then another short boat ride takes you to an extraordinary little cove set behind a rocky islet, here you’ll find some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen, teaming with fish which swim just a few metres above fabulous coral formations and underwater gullies. The water colour varies from turquoise to deep blue and everyone’s encouraged to drop over side of the banana boats and explore the underwater wonderland before climbing the ladder and back into the boat for the final loop on the around-island trip. This terminates at the village where you’ll find afternoon tea laid out on a large table under a natangura-roofed open building surrounded by woven mats laden with local handicrafts – from placemats to shells and necklaces along with sturdy baskets.

WHERE: Havannah Harbour see www.lelepaislandtours – CO

Blue Lagoon On the coastal ring road, about 25 minutes from Port Vila heading south east a small sign indicates the Blue Lagoon.

This fresh water ‘blue hole’ as the locals call it is just south of Vila’s famed Eton Beach. It’s perfectly simple – a beautiful spot for a swim and the highlight? Tarzan’s rope.

The Blue Lagoon has basic amenities such as picnic tables and change rooms, but not much else.

And you know what? It doesn’t need anything else either. Gorgeous simplicity.

WHERE: Next door to Eton Beach. –TC

Eden On The River Adventure. Animals. Freedom to roam. Cascade waterfalls. Pretty much everything a kid could want?

Yep – you can find it all at Eden on the River. One Vila’s newer attractions and magnet for kids is set on the banks of the Rentapau River, about 20 minutes from Port Vila. Suitable for young’uns and grown ups, guests strap in for adventure, taking on suspension bridges across the glorious cascading Rentapau River. Finish the bridge walk with a short flying fox ride and the kids are ready for a quick bite to eat of local fruit and fresh juice followed by a fun farm tour. Pet the resident sheep, cattle, pigs, chickens and horses. Meet an iguana, flying fox and lorikeet. All are friendly and all kid-friendly For mum and dad, take a tour of the Ernst family’s beautiful gardens at Eden. Lovingly tended over many years, Carolyn Ernst (our Gardening editor) has put thousands of hours into collecting rare and beautiful tropical plants, fruit trees and exquisite orchids. The kids may even enjoy seeing how fruits and nuts are grown and play ‘guess that fruit’.

WHERE: Kooyu Farm, Rentapau, Port Vila. – TC

It’s no surprise to those who have visited Tanna’s Mount Yasur volcano that it is Vanuatu’s number one tourist attraction. It may be a surprise to know kids (over the age of six – but we suggest eight plus) are welcome to climb Yasur too. How cool will the kids be at Show and Tell? “What did you do on your holidays?” “I climbed the world’s most accessible, active volcano.” The lunar-like appearance of the ashplain ensures the kids will have an out-of-this-world experience and learn a bit about science too!

The climb up Yasur is easier than you think – in fact you can drive to all but 50 metres away from the crater.

There are handrails and steps carved into the mountain for the last part – but do ensure your tour operator has packed adequate lighting for the trip home. We took our eight year old up this year and know it is an experience she will never forget.

WHERE: Tanna, 45-minute flight south of Port Vila, – TC

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PICTURES: Tully Sands and Tiffany Carroll

Tanna Volcano

Buggy Fun Time Mud. Speed. Noise. Yes, it sounds like a little boy’s (and some girls too) dream – and it is.

Buggy Fun Rentals in Port Vila offers a three hour guided tour to the rougher side of the island. The kids need to ride shotgun with an adult and will be escorted through town and out towards the Black Sands area of Port Vila.

The tour now includes a stop at a local village and a drive along the beach. The buggies are open air – so dress for the conditions.

Our kids came home covered in mud, which is all part of the fun apparently.

All buggies are automatic so easy to drive – but a car license is required. Free pick up from local hotels and do pack a towel and probably a washcloth too.

WHERE: Buggy Fun Rentals office is located opposite Au Bon Marché Supermarket in Nambatu, near the Kaiviti Motel, top of the hill at the southern end of town. – TC

Markets and Hair Braiding I’m a woman. I love to shop. I especially love to shop when it’s supporting the local industries, so the markets are a no-brainer for me, especially since our two daughters love to come and see all the colourful handicrafts that the Ni-Van women hand-make and sell. They are the most beautiful women to meet and they are always so welcoming with the kids. They make everything from musical instruments to kid’s clothes, baskets, hats, toys, sandals, sarongs and jewellery. The kids also can’t resist having their hair braided while they’re there … which is secretly an awesome way to have the kids baby-sat while you pick up the extra souvenirs for pressies!

There are two markets that I love. The first is in the centre of town, on the waterfront. The second is en route to the cruise terminal (on Wharf Road).–RJ

Zip On Over For older kids, the Jungle Zipline is an adrenaline packed day out. Strap in to world class safety gear and soar through the air along six ziplines.

Breath-taking scenery, fun guides and a rush that will have the kids on a high for the duration of their holiday. The Zipline is located at The Summit, one of Port Vila’s most beautiful properties (the garden is open to the public) Mum and Dad might just enjoy the zipline too – even if it is taking a garden tour while the kids spend an hour soaring through the jungle.

WHERE: Vanuatu Jungle Zipline, The Summit, Port Vila. – TC

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Port Vila Produce Market The Port Vila market house, located right on the harbour is open six days and nights a week and is terrific for kids. The locals love kids and kids love seeing all the different fruit and vege not found at home. They’ll be amazed at the size of the produce here – from enormous pumpkins and avocados to cucumber the size of a bread stick.

Mum and Dad will love the prices too – when was the last time you paid 50 cents for a bunch of bananas? It really is a must-see on your visit to Vanuatu. Not only can you buy fresh fruit and veggies, but gorgeous flowers, hand carvings, freshly baked bread and local coffee are always available.

Kids will love the souvenirs – but please do try to buy locally made handicrafts rather than the not so local plastic fantastic available.

Saturday morning is the busiest time of the week, if you can battle the crowds you’re in for a wonderful, technicolour overload of all things fresh and bright.. – TC

Make Your Own Pizza I’ll admit it – I dread taking my toddler out for dinner. With an attention span shorter than it takes to say ‘no thanks’ to those pesky dinner-time insuranceselling callers, my little treasure is a nightmare to keep still at meal times at the best of times.

Dining in public? Just forget it. However there is one place I know that has thought of everything to not only make mealtime easy, but enjoyable. Chill restaurant, next door to the market house has everything from portable DVD players to make-your-own pizzas for the kids. There are colouring books and plastic cups – not to mention an array of sugary desserts that are fabulous as bribes for good behaviour.

WHERE: Chill Restaurant and Bar, next door to the Market House, Port Vila.– TC

Harbour Happiness A common sight on Port Vila’s harbour is the red-sailed 65-foot ketch Caraid as she undertakes her regular sunset cruise from the seafront outside the charming blue and white Café du Village, opposite Iririki Island. Built in Tasmania in 1950 of New Zealand Kauri, she’s a classic motor sailer which George, the captain, says is named after a tea clipper of an earlier era. Cruises can be booked by visiting meridianchartersvanuatu.com and cost VT5,000 per adult with children half price. This includes a comprehensive two and a half-hour tour of the harbour’s best sights as well as drinks and finger food – and Port Vila’s famous sunset.

WHERE: On the harbour in front of Café du Village next to Grand Hotel – CO

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Custom Village Visit There are few more breath-taking things to do in the world, than meet a culture so truly foreign to your own, yet your nearest neighbour.

For kids, it’s got to be the highlight of their trip to Vanuatu Visiting a local custom village, such as Fanafo in Santo will leave you inspired, with a better understanding of why Vanuatu has twice now been named the Happiest Country on the Planet.

Meet the local Chief, see the women prepare meals for the whole community, visit the communal gardens and share lunch with the village kids. Don’t forget to take your camera and, if you wish, a small gift of pencils or crayons for the children – it will be most appreciated. – TC

Kid’s Club At le Lagon More than babysitting for kids –this is the ultimate accommodation for families who want to know the kids will be kept well entertained during their holidays. This is not your typical kid’s club resort. Locals in Vanuatu adore kids and know how to bring out the best in them. Le Lagon Resort and Spa is my definition of kid’s heaven … which in turn, becomes parent’s paradise!

Kids under 13 always stay, play and eat for free. The complimentary Kids Only Club ‘Funtastik Blong Kids Club’ is open evenings for ages 3-12, and child minding is available at any time.

The range of activities is endless and in my book, really educational as well as entertaining. It offers everything from jewellery making to a local weaving lesson, local educational excursions – choose from Peter Pan Primary School / City Tour, the Erakor Historical Tour, the Market Tours and the Botanical Garden tour for educating kids on legends, history, custom stories and seeing Vanuatu’s different animals and birds and the opportunity to touch and feel local snakes and coconut crabs.

The resort also offers two tennis courts, canoes and kayaks, swimming pools, catamarans, windsurfing and surf skis, glass bottom boat outings, golf, limbo dance, croquet, petanque, volleyball, coconut harvesting, island cooking

demonstrations, sailing lessons, grass skirt making, a local zoo visit, bonfire sing-along, crab collecting competition and races, soccer on the lawn, pool turtle racing, face painting, scavenger hunt, T-shirt and pareo painting, fish feeding, mural fence painting, beach Olympics and bislama lessons.

In other words pretty much everything a kid would want. www.lelagonvanuatu.vu – RJ

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Solid off shoulder top, $150.00

Victoire bikini $184.22 www.aanoukisswimwear.com

Water Babies

Solid Ruched Bikini bottom $140.00 www.patbo.com

Forbode beaded tri, $210 and pant $110 www.skyeandstaghorn.com

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Sophia one piece $250.00 www.lemlem.com

By Olivia Waugh

Rose Carmine crochet-knit triangle bikini $508.20 www.net-a-porter.com

FA S HION FLASH

Eden Ephemeral top US$119.00

Pomline Phoebe one piece $179.00 www.faithfullthebrand.com

and bottom US$119.00 www.thaikila.com

J.Crew halter one piece ÂŁ187 www.jcrew.com

Lady Deluxe one piece $209.95 www.myopera.info/en

Stefania Frangista Maloo black pique bikini 149 euro www.stefaniafrangista.com

Norma Kamali swim dress â‚Ź183 www.net-a-porter.com

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STYLE

Decorative shell wall hanging $219.95 www.wall-style.com.au

Poster Summer Resort (Anglais) de Travel Collection, â‚Ź7,95 www.posterlounge.fr

Shell Wehome go

By Olivia Waugh

Blenko Glass Emerald Shell Form Vase $375 www.chairish.com

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Dinosaur Designs Pipi marbled-resin shell jar $140 www.matchesfashion.com

Richard Ginori, X Luke Edward Hall set of four shell bread plates â‚Ź204 www.matchesfashion.com

Fauteuil ch07 armchair wegner style.

Various colours in leather $599 www.glicksfurniture.com.au

Mother of Pearl white wall paper. POA www.arthouse.com

Elgin placemat white – Set of 2 by Uma Cantik ₏59 www.wolfandbadger.com

La Rochere set of six, 14-ounce Versailles Tasting Glasses, US$85 www.amazon.com

Arteriors Ponce 1 Light 15 inch Egg Shell pendant ceiling light, US$1300 www.lightingnewyork.com

Caracole Shell sideboard, ivory $4,785.00 www.onekingslane.com

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over

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F I JI R E S OR T R E POR T

Welcome Home esort R d n a l s I Vomo

Tiffany Carroll goes ‘home’ to Vomo where nothing is too much trouble and the word ‘no’ is not in their vocabularly. Blissful!

Understated luxury “When we arrive, our staff will be waiting to greet you with a traditional welcome song,” the boat captain tells me.

“They will finish with a loud ‘BULA!” You must say “BULA!” even louder back, or we won’t let you in,” he winks.

The boat transfer arrives at Vomo’s watersports hut, there’s a young family playing on the water’s edge, the beach is pure white sand and the water is a gorgeous aquamarine.

But there’s no grand entry, no foyer and not many people around.

“Welcome home,” someone says and I look up to see a big friendly Fijian man waiting to greet us.

“Just leave your things here – you’re home. We’ll take care of the rest.”

After washing the sand from our feet we’re guided along some stepping stones to a mini bus hidden behind the lush green garden.

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The repeat visitor rate at Vomo is 84% and I immediately wonder what keeps people coming back to this island.

Sure, on first appearances it’s beautiful; the beaches are lovely, the restaurant and pool area relaxed, but it’s just another Pacific island resort, surely?

Simply, no, it’s not.

Vomo is an extension of your home in so much as you can do whatever you please, however whatever you please is made so easy for you, without realising it, you’re having the most relaxing holiday of your life.

For those traveling with children there are Baby Butlers. For those wanting a bit more adventure there’s the watersports team, for those wanting to enjoy Michelin-quality meals, there are fabulous chefs to ensure any dietary requirement, any craving is met.

The big Bula welcome I don’t know where our bags are and there’s not a lot of fanfare. We hop in the bus and are driven a short distance down a path and arrive at the main house.

The promised welcome is already in full song before we get out of the bus.

The song finishes and the staff look at each other then loudly shout “BULA!” We immediately return the gesture and everyone laughs.

Justin King has been at the helm at Vomo for around a year and I would learn over the coming days, he’s one of the short term staff.

2020 has been difficult but Justin, along with the resort owners and director of sales

and marketing Karen Marvell have ensured all staff remain employed.

“In addition, we are partnering with the Fiji government and private jet companies in the VIP program which allows those who can travel privately to effectively isolate in paradise for an extended time.”

In Vomo’s case, this means having the island to yourself.

Normally there’s no paperwork on arrival but I suspect there’s quite a bit in anticipation of all new arrivals. Every staff member knows your name and even for first time visitors, you feel as though you have been here before. islandliving | 41 pacific

5 star hospitality You want a massage? Easy – the team is lead by the former spa manager of the Four Seasons in Bali.

After our welcome song and coconut drink on arrival we’re lead to our beachfront bure. Our bags are already there and I still can’t work out how they got from the boat in the first place.

I would come to ask myself similar questions throughout my stay.

“I was just thinking the sun is a bit strong and all of a sudden here is a pool attendant moving my umbrella. Where did he come from?”

This is what sets Vomo apart – the resort has 32 bures and four residences and is often 100% full – but it never feels so.

The staff know when to leave you alone and when to offer a drink, a smile, a new towel or advice on what to do next.

Privacy assured Our first afternoon is spent snorkeling around Vomo’s reefs.

Wise, the boat captain has been at Vomo for 21 years and he is shocked when I asked if he’d ever consider working elsewhere.

‘No! Why would I? This is home. The owners are family, the guests are family, plus I’m wise – so they need me,” he giggles.

Wise (his real name) is one of many long term staff at Vomo.

Some have been there so long they recall making milkshakes for guests they are now serving cocktails to as adults.

“The staff know some of our guests so well they genuinely feel like family,” former assistant manager Jacques Louw said.

The snorkeling is beautiful and the guides so keen to point out fish and coral unique to the area you can’t help but feel their passion for the resort as well.

After an hour or so we return to the resort and are met by Marilyn Sivo, one of the front ‘office’ staff.

“If you feel like it, how about a drink at the Rocks Bar at 5.30? It is a spectacular sunset up there,” she suggests.

And it sounds perfect to me.

“How do I get there?” I ask.

“Oh, you either come to the front desk and we’ll drive you or

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you follow the path behind your bure,” she says.

And again I’m struck by the privacy, the intimacy of Vomo.

I didn’t even notice the path behind our bure.

In defiance of 2016’s Cyclone Winston, Vomo’s gardens are mature and elegant. Again, as is the theme at Vomo, they’re not formal, rather understated and loved.

The Rocks Bar and adults-only pool and restaurant area offer another dimension to Vomo. Think an exclusive beach club.

Whilst the resorts caters to families, the Vomo team felt an adults-only retreat would offer another level of comfort and privacy to adults.

The view, as promised is spectacular and the bar area just oozes charm and again, that understated luxury. Superlatives fail me as I think I could spend all day here, watching the dramatic landscape that is the Mamanuca islands, being waited on by discreet yet always available Vomo staff and enjoying delicious cocktails created by F&B Manager Andrew Clarke.

But alas, dinner awaits and after a shared bottle of Billecart Salmon, we’re whisked away to dinner.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the room tariff at Vomo, with an extensive à la carte menu which changes daily,

guests never leave hungry.

Younger guests may dine with their family, or in the kids’ village nearby. Either way, the expansive grounds and facilities at Vomo ensure your meals are never interrupted.

Vomo’s enviable accommodation includes 32 beachfront and hillside villas, all with large verandahs, deep tubs, separate showers, L’Occitane products, luxury king size or twin beds, WiFi, walk-in robes, patio or sun lounge furniture and a sofa.

For those wanting total privacy, there are four residences, with three or four bedrooms, private pools, full kitchens and a butler.

Guests here can have their meals prepared at home, delivered from the Vomo kitchen or dine in the restaurant.

Vomo’s Kui spa is staffed by Balinese therapists and often booked out days in advance.

The spa is a stroll away from the bures and residences, near the island’s golf course. And if eating, snorkeling, diving, swimming and lounging is not your thing, there’s also a fully equipment gym and 100 acres to explore.

Rates at Vomo start at $FJD2375 per bure, per night. •

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IS L A ND E SCAPE

Secluded paradise d Resort n a l s I a w Yasa

Tiffany Carroll is forced to switch off in Fiji’s stunning Yasawa islands where there’s no one around ... and it’s just perfect.

All to yourself My idea of switching off is turning my phone to silent in a movie or on an aeroplane. I sleep with my phone by my bed and during the day, if it’s not in my hand it’s connected to my smart watch so I can still receive emails and calls.

The thought of staying in a secluded luxury resort where guests are encouraged to switch off is not my dream fantasy. I get that I’m in the minority when it comes to holiday fantasies. So as I packed my bathers and sunscreen, topped up my phone with enough credit to hotspot my laptop if need be and set off for Nadi airport for my flight to Yasawa Island Resort I thought of it as just another work trip ... and all the work I’d have to come back to.

The Islander flight from Nadi airport to Yasawa Island Resort’s private airstrip is about a 50 minute flight over Fiji’s most

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A stunning private beach, a private pool and room to move are just some of the features of the honeymoon suite.

Laid back, feet in the sand picturesque land and seascapes. Coral reefs and atolls, white sand beaches, volcanic islands and that gorgeous gincoloured water Fiji is famous for.

The pilot looks around to see the smiling faces on the lucky four guests flying to Yasawa today. He’s ultra laid-back and on arrival at the resort disembarks (or really just jumps down from the cockpit door) to say hello to the resort staff.

Resort owner James McCann is waiting to greet us and he too is pretty casual. We’ve met before and I think the casual hello is due to that, but then the other waiting staff greet me like an old friend too.

There is nothing pretentious about this place – there is simply no need. James and his team know their island resort is a true paradise, they simply relax and let the environment do the talking.

Yasawa Island Resort has just 18 bungalows, all over-sized and with ocean views. They are private, spacious and well appointed but without the extra trimmings some five star

properties are tempted to fill a room with.

My room is the honeymoon suite and it’s a 1km walk from the resort along the powder-soft white sand beach, or the resort will send a vehicle to pick you up.

The lounge room is as big as the bedroom which is almost the same size as the indoor/outdoor bathroom. Outside a large infinity pool is surrounded by a private deck and there are steps leading down to the ocean.

A painted coconut is Yasawa’s ‘do not disturb sign’ but I’m assured no one will.

Everything is just perfect. The room is gorgeous, the view is unsurpassed and uninterrupted and I feel completely alone.

“Oh, and there’s no Wifi down here,” James says. It stops me dead in my tracks.

W.T.F. What on earth will I do, I thought to myself.

Forced to do what other holiday makers have done before me, I unpack and change into my bathers. I wander down to my private beach (which is just one of 10 private beaches the resort has access to) and look back at my room.

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Total privacy It is surrounded by a jungle and I can’t for the life of me see another building or person.

The water is warm, I’m sharing the gentle waves with just a school of tiny bait fish and I realise for the first time in my adult life, this is what relaxation is all about. After my swim and shower I walk along the beach to the main resort. The resort spa is a little way along from my room and a couple is having a massage on the open deck.

Eventually I pass a few more bungalows but I can’t peer in to the rooms. The well established gardens make sure of that.

The only sounds are the waves crashing and the odd parrot flying from tree to tree. It’s quiet and I realise I’ve stopped checking my phone for service.

I arrive at the main resort area where there’s a swimming pool with long sun lounges on the timber deck, a bar and restaurant – and Wifi for those who need it.

Picnic on a private beach? It’s just another day in paradise in the Yasawas.

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The day spa has a spectacular view across the blue lagoons of the Yasawas and the dining options are plentiful.

And then there’s the food I’m no longer one of them. The staff ask what my plans are at Yasawa and suggest a boat ride to a private beach is a must.

I almost laugh – how much more privacy could one need?

However a boat is arranged, a picnic packed and I’m off, on the bluest, cleanest water I have ever seen.

We pass several beaches, all which have exclusive access for Yasawa Island Resort guests. The sand is bright white and again, there is not another soul around.

My boat driver names all the beaches (Champagne, Lovers, Honeymoon ...) and asks which one I’d like to stop at for a picnic – the choice is mine.

I’ve never stayed anywhere where the choice of 10 private beaches is on offer – who really has?

James McCann is rightfully proud of his resort. The Aussie expat with a slight Canadian accent says they have got it right at Yasawa.

“The holiday really starts the moment you board the flight.

The journey here is part of the welcome and it’s pretty hard to beat.”

Apart from island hopping, the resort offers many included

activities, from kayaking to stand-up paddle boarding.

There’s also snorkelling, tennis and guided walks.

Paid activities include SCUBA diving, village visits and a guided trip to the Blue Lagoon cave, where the eponymous movie was filmed.

There’s also fishing, private picnics, private dining and even cooking demonstrations.

Speaking of cooking, meals are also included in the room tariff at Yasawa and the in-house pastry chef ensures desserts are not to be missed.

Dining options include the poolside restaurant, on the deck of your room, on the beach, at a private neighbouring beach or simply call for room service.

Cocktails are the house specialty and good espresso is served. Much thought has gone in to the wine list and with local fishermen catching fresh lobster, crab and fish daily, Yasawa is not only a paradise-seekers haven, it’s a foodie haven too.

There are 15 words in the Fijian language that mean heaven, I’m told, and Yasawa is the first.

Packages at Yasawa Island Resort including all meals and many activities start from around FJ$2150 per night.

Transfers from Nadi airport are FJ$475 per person. •

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F I J I FOOD

Restaurant Refresh Suva dining institition Eden keeps it menu fresh in both ingredients and culinary origins.

Owner Sangeeta Maharaj invited a renowned Thai chef to spend a week in her kitchens training the locals in the art of Thai cooking.

Along with the new Thai flavours, diners can still find their favourite dishes on the extensive menu at Eden Bistro and Bar.

S

uva’s leading restaurant Eden has always offered a kaleidoscope of flavours from all around the South Pacific region. Specialising in Indo-Fijian favourites along with dishes from Samoa, Vanuatu and beyond owner Sangeeta Maharaj says she is constantly training and traveling to keep her menus fresh and up to date with the latest trends.

In keeping with that, Sangeeta recently invited a chef from Thailand’s renowned Blue Elephant to come to Suva and train her and her chefs in authentic Thai cooking.

Visiting Chef Chay spent a week in Eden’s kitchen introducing and refining the team’s skills in Thai cooking but learnt from the team also about using local Fijian ingredients to enhance cooking Sangeeta visits the Suva markets early every Saturday to

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get the freshest catch, most aromatic spices and crunchy vegetables to ensure her restaurant guests enjoy a fabulous meal. A walk through the Suva markets with Sangeeta is a true Fijian experience – her favourite farmers all greet her with huge smiles and save their best catch for her.

Chef Chay accompanied her to the markets and said they rivalled the best of the best in Thailand and was able to purchase fragrant herbs and spices along with super fresh seafood and vegetables. The result is new Thai options on Eden’s already long list of menu. The toughest part for diners now is what to choose.

Eden is located near the American embassy, on the corner of Bureta and Maharaj Streets. Bookings are required for most nights due to its popularity. •

THE TASTE OF SAMOA

SINCE 1978

P U B L I C TR AN SPOR T

Brushing Bottoms Buses s ’ a o m a S On

L

ondon has its ubiquitous taxi cabs and tube, New York, has the subway, San Francisco’s vertigo-inducing streets rumble with cable cars while Bangkok’s roads are besieged with tuktuks tooting and touting for attention.

Then there is Apia. Capital of Samoa and serious contender for one of the world’s most relaxed capital cities, Apia’s public bus system is as colourful as they come.

There is no chance of not seeing, nor hearing, Samoa’s public buses as they rumble along oft-rudimentary roads of the capital or the ring road that circles the big island of Savai’i.

Public buses come wholly pimped, some more so than others. Buses come with trailing flames across the bonnet over the roof and down each side. Others are entirely swathed in air-brushed murals with thoughtful messages emblazoned on their flanks. Some of these remind me of those ‘shaggin wagon’ panel vans from the 1980’s my parents warned me to stay away from. You know the ones that had bikini clad women on tropical beaches framed by palm trees whose male owner’s intentions were questionable? The Samoan version however is far less risqué and more Christian in intent.

These clunkers are mostly decades old and are built neither for speed nor comfort. The old-fashioned kind with protruding squarish bonnets and windows removed, their diesel engines can be phlegmatic and flatulent. All come with their own unique signwriting, none of which gives any indication of the bus’s actual route or destination. Some give a clue to driver’s religious leanings. Timetables are tightly held secrets that these same drivers seem reluctant to reveal. Particularly if you happen to make the mistake of waking a dozing driver whose bus is parked by the side of the road under a palm tree.

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‘Sunrise Transport’ sounds like a promising ride until I notice the driver peering out of a windscreen framed by long tendrils of lime green shagpile carpet, his own ample frame wedged between three men well enough proportioned to play front row for the national Samoa Sevens rugby side. I quite like the sound of ‘Blessings Transport’ and imagine bumping along to my destination and arriving bathed in the goodwill glow of fellow passengers.

Others promise ‘Paradise in Heaven’ and ‘Glory to God’ while another still assures me that ‘Jesus is the Way’ in large lettering above the Toyota badge on the bonnet. But I’m not certain I’m heading in that direction today.

I bypass ‘Storm Express’ and gravitate towards ‘Beyond the Blue’ which looks like an alluring cocktail with its faded scarlet bonnet, cornflower blue roof and window frames painted sunshine yellow. The only thing missing is a paper umbrella and a fragrant frangipani lei.

Meanwhile, ‘Lady Samoa’ beckons seductively with an image of a lithe woman draped in a floral sarong, a red hibiscus tucked behind an ear and lustrous locks cascading over bare shoulders. I wonder what the Christian missionaries would make of her come-hither expression.

Rear end panels are adorned with gothic creatures with skeletal frames peering from mysterious cloaks. Bumpers carry inspirational messages like ‘Be strong n stay humble’ or ‘Don’t give up. Try again bro’.

Onboard comforts are few. The seats are uncushioned pew-like wooden benches, ostensibly made to seat three or four, but Samoans tend to be plus sized so it’s virtually impossible to prevent your bottom from rubbing against

PICTURES: David Kirkland

Fiona Harper gets up close and personal with some large Samoans on their uniquely colourful buses but reassured by their names expressing Christian sentiment, she carries on regardless to wherever it is she wants them to take her.

Samoa’s buses are bright, loud and not really comfortable but they are a great way to meet the locals and experience the Samoan way of life.

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“Others promise ‘Paradise in Heaven’ and ‘Glory to God’ while another still assures me that ‘Jesus is the Way’ in large lettering above the Toyota badge on the bonnet. But I’m not certain I’m heading in that direction today.”

another. There’s also a rather disconcerting practice that would probably have you arrested if you tried it in New York or London. As the bus fills up, people just sit on one another’s laps rather than stand in the aisle. It’s considered normal.

Friendly Samoans nearly always offer their laps to travellers or ladies burdened with bags of vegetables or a swaddled infant.

It would be rude to refuse.

Beyond a couple of bus stations, there are no designated stops – when you want to board, simply stand on the side of the road and wave the bus down. When you reach your destination, just pull the cord to ring the bell when you want the driver to pull over.

Apia’s downtown bus station is rudimentary. Raucous laughter rings out from a circle of men sitting cross-legged on the concrete floor playing cards. They seem oblivious to the coming and going of buses disgorging and collecting passengers. Their gazes are directed inwards before erupting with thigh-slapping hilarity as hands are revealed. They don’t seem to notice the women labouring with heavy loads of vegetables. Nor are they fussed by unruly kids running hither and thither between the buses or skittish dogs scavenging for scraps.

Mid-morning the bus station is abuzz. Above the sound of idling diesel engines a tinny-sounding ukulele rings out from a handheld radio. The open-sided pavilion is peppered with stalls selling soft drinks and snacks. Creamed coconut wrapped in taro leaves and baked breadfruit are popular.

Everywhere, people patiently await their ride, sprawled across tables, slumped in plastic chairs or sitting on the ground leaning up against a grubby wall. No-one seems perturbed by the interminable wait.

It’s true that it took some Samoans time to adapt after 2009 when the entire country switched from driving on the right hand side of the road to driving on the left. Some buses are yet to make the conversion, meaning you’ll board and disembark from the middle of the road.

But Samoans don’t get stressed or uptight about such inconveniences. In a country guided by Christian principles, where they are accustomed to walking, traffic mostly gives way to pedestrians. Can you imagine such a preposterous occurence in New York, London or Bangkok? •

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Everywhere, people patiently await their ride, sprawled across tables,

slumped in plastic chairs or sitting on the ground leaning up against a grubby wall. No-one seems perturbed by the interminable wait.

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D E ST INAT IO N SO L O M O N I S L A NDS

Picture Perfect

From remote islands to stunning sunsets, dolphins as traveling companions and empty surf breaks, Solomon Islands is a stunning,

Australian surf explorer and owner of Beran Island Resort in Marshall Islands, Martin Daly (pictured right) is known for discovering Mentawi’s famed breaks in Indonesia. Recently he charted new surf breaks in Solomon Islands. Along the way his crew aboard the Indies Surveyor found some of the Solomons’ most stunning scenery.

Photos by Damea Dorsey.

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uncrowded destination. Island style bungalows are available to stay in throughout the islands.

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S O L O M ON S E SCAPE

Magical Munda

Tiffany Carroll took time out to explore Munda in Solomon Islands’ Western Province.

What she found was it was equally beautiful above the water as below.

B

elinda Botha’s enthusiasm for Munda is infectious. As the owner and operations manager for Solomon Island Dive Expeditions you expect her to be passionate about diving around Munda, but it’s the island itself she seems most in love with.

Arriving at Munda airport is something out of the ordinary.

The brand new runway is impressive and dwarfs the tiny timber building that poses as the airport terminal.

Local Solomon Islanders wait behind a short fence, more out of interest than to actually collect family or friends.

The ground is bright red and the foliage so green and lush it’s obvious they’ve had plenty of rain.

This is the tropics. It’s remote, its raw and I’m excited to start exploring.

“Welcome to magical Munda,” Belinda beams, placing fresh flower leis around our necks.

“We’re so pleased you’re here, you’re going to have the best time.”

The drive to Agnes Lodge is embarrassingly short – we could have easily walked, but glad for the comfort of the car to be honest. Betle nut stains are prominent on the road and

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there are people everywhere, selling fresh fruit and vegetables and, of course betle nut.

Munda is a busy place, there aren’t a lot of cars but there are people walking all about. The ‘main street’ hosts a half dozen Chinese stores, a police station and a small guest house. Tourism is a fledgling industry here. Everywhere we would walk in the next two days we’d get curious looks and the friendly locals all seemed to want to talk to us.

The Munda people are friendly and helpful, all offering directions but given the size of the town, I’m not sure how one would get lost.

The Agnes Lodge is at the end of the road from the airport, right on the main wharf. The wharf is a hive of activity with local boats unloading cargo and loading passengers. A Solomon Island Navy boat is also moored alongside the jetty.

We’re greeted with a friendly smile and apology for the hot weather and quickly shown to our comfortable air conditioned room.

A quick shower and it’s to Belinda’s office just behind the guest rooms at Agnes for a dive briefing.

She enthusiastically explains the dives on offer; there is

everything from caves to shark dives, coral reefs and wrecks but she wants to know what else we’d like to see in Munda too.

“It’s not just the diving that’s great here. There’s the WWII museum, the tuna factory, the markets. We have great bush walks...”

We decide to leave our decision to the weather Gods and get an early night.

Of course it poured with rain most of the night and the wind picked up too which meant many of the dives (I was particularly interested in diving with hammerhead sharks) would not be possible. Nevertheless we were off to cave-dive and the journey of about an hour would take us through some of the most spectacularly clear water in the world.

The Cave of the Kastom Shark is accessed via a very short walk onto the island through mangroves. The entry is a pool about two metres wide, leading down a vertical shaft to two large chambers linked by a narrow tunnel.

My dive guides deliver a very thorough safety briefing and I gear up and slip into the hole.

There is a guide line throughout to help with navigation and torches are definitely required. There’s not a lot to see in the cave, the walls appear white and you swim through for around 10 minutes reaching a maximum depth of 35 meters.

Finally there is light at the end of the tunnel – bright blue hues of that spectacular water the Solomons is famous for.

The reef wall offers schools of giant Bumphead Parrotfish and just one little reef shark but then a turtle appears ... and another one, and a third.

The water is warm, the current light and I simply drift along the reef accompanied by the Parrotfish and looking out for pelagic species.

It’s pretty and relaxing. If I had my choice I’d probably skip the cave and just do the reef wall next time.

We return to the boat and head to a nearby island for a picnic of fresh fruit and sweet biscuits. The dive guides tell

stories of village life in Solomon Islands and their favourite dive sites.

After the necessary surface interval we’re back in the boat headed for another reef dive.

This one would offer more turtles, two more reef sharks and loads of fish. The current is a little stronger and the reef more colourful than the first dive.

Again it’s an easy dive, one you simply drift along with and totally chill out.

On the way home we spot a pilot whale, more turtles and beautiful islands.

We zig zag between islands to get home and I imagine running away from life for a year and living here. Local children run naked along the shore, waving and laughing. The housing is all on stilts and I wonder what their families do for work.

No doubt it is subsitence farming, the gardens of root crops visible from our boat.

Every now and then we pass another boat, a lone fisherman in a traditional dugout canoe. The water changes from iridescent blue to green and is crystal clear the whole way.

This remote paradise is breath-taking. I’m not sure if the boat driver is taking the scenic route as we seem not to be following any plan and it’s just the way I like it.

Three years ago I flew to Gizo (Munda’s near neighbour) and hired a boat and driver from the jetty. Two days later I ended up in Munda and flew home besotted with the island nation.

This time I’m traveling with a friend and she turns to me and simply says ‘where are we?’

I have no idea. But i think it’s close to heaven.• Visitors to the Solomon Islands can dive the underwater WWII sites with live-aboard dive boat MV Taka or combine a trip with land based sister company Dive Munda. In Munda they can visit the Peter Joseph War Museum, and stay at the Agnes Gateway Hotel or Zipolo Habu Resort on nearby Lola Island. See: www.visitsolomons.com.sb

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islandliving | 63 pacific

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D E ST INAT IO N K IRIBAT I

From the air, Kiribati is simply stunning.

On the ground, friendly people, a strong culture and pristine water awaits you.

T

he island nation of Kiribati, comprising 33 atolls straddles the equator stretching 3235 kilometres across the Pacific Ocean. With traditions and culture thriving and visitors regarded as a curiosity, it is the Pacific of yesteryear.

South Tarawa is the urban hub of the nation with a large concentration of the population crammed into rows of houses squeezed together.

Land is scarce here, the lagoon suffering under the weight of people, but this is where government and commercial activity is focused, where the hustle and bustle of Kiribati prevails.

Venture away from south Tarawa and you escape this commotion, finding the unspoilt tranquillity of north Tarawa. To visit only south Tarawa is to miss the gentler side of Kiribati, the Kiribati where time flows with the moon and tides.

Located on Abatao in north Tarawa, our family homestay accommodation is delightful. The road halts abruptly at a passageway between the ocean and lagoon. A prompting whistle and a motorised canoe emerges from across the water to ferry us to the other side.

During the new moon, the crossing is magical as phosphorescence lights a trail behind us, swirling round our feet in the water; a step in the wet sand stirs a shower of phosphorescent dust.

Our guesthouse looks over the lagoon. A raised floor, roof of pandanus leaves and a mattress. Woven palm shutters keep out the rain, the lagoon breeze provides natural air conditioning! Home for a while. Privacy is pretty much nonexistent but it all adds to the Kiribati charm.

It is quite normal to wake up, see several pairs of eyes

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staring back from beyond our feet, hear a shy ‘Mauri’ and then children running away giggling! The bathroom is shared and the toilet has built-in entertainment as hermit crabs scurry around our feet.

Meals are local food: pancakes made with ‘toddy’ served with coconut syrup, fish, rice, breadfruit, pandanus and coconut. Sunset over the lagoon is spectacular with a ball of fire resting on the horizon, the sky blazing with shades of orange, red, pink, purple.

Serenity – apart from the lapping of the water on the lagoon edge and the distant crashing of waves on the ocean side. A receding evening tide brings fishermen into the lagoon, wading the shallows with a lamp, trailing a fishing net between them or slowly drifting in a canoe to catch the next meal. In the dark of the night, tiny lights shine out in the middle of the lagoon.

Beyond the homestay, the village and North Tarawa stretch out. Traditional houses cluster together, a school, a church and a small shop, little else.

Children line the street as we pass, quietly whispering or boldly shouting ‘I-Matang’ (foreigner) before running away.

Others crowd round in friendly curiosity, following until we reach the edge of the village or they lose interest.

Beyond the village houses are sparsely spread along the track. I-Kiribati sit talking or carrying out daily chores; men climb trees for toddy; women sit weaving mats; children play, patiently practising skills passed down to them. There is no need here for TV or fancy toys – the children seem content with what their imagination and natural environment provide.

Calm and tranquillity reign. •

by Vanessa Nuttall

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D E ST INAT IO N MARS H A L L I S L A NDS

The Prince Eugen’s watery grave in the Marshall Islands’ crystal clear water during an oil recovery operation.

T

he Marshall Islands is unique among island nations being made up of 29 coral atolls and five single islands spread out over an exclusive economic zone of nearly 1 million square miles (one of the largest in the Pacific). The Marshall Islands is one of only four atoll countries in the world and is also one of the world’s youngest nations.

Approximately 2,000 years ago, these islands were first discovered by skilled ocean voyagers who searched the horizons for new land. By the time the first European explorers arrived, in the mid-1500s, almost all 29 atolls were colonised, and the people here had developed their own unique language and culture.

A young nation politically, the Marshall Islands gained its independence in 1986, after a long history of colonisation by Germany, Japan and the United States, beginning in the late part of the nineteenth century.

Marshall Islanders are known as one of the friendliest and most peaceful people on earth. Inherent to their culture are the important principles of caring for one another and kindness to others. These make the Marshall Islands one of the safest places to visit. While the local population is mostly indigenous, there are many mixed German, Japanese and American Marshallese.

With almost a million square miles of ocean, over 800 reef systems, and countless species of coral and marine life, the Marshall Islands is without question a scuba diver’s dream.

The 30-plus metre visibility and year-round 27 degree water temperature make diving here exceptionally pleasant.

One of the Marshall Islands’ key dive attractions is the abundance of WWII ship and plane wrecks. Atolls such as Bikini, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Mili and Wotje are home to dozens of famous wrecks that have just recently been explored by visiting divers. With only three scuba diving operations based on Majuro and Bikini atolls, the vast majority of the country is just waiting to be discovered.

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Name your own dive site

If you’re a diver who’s looking to escape the crowds and to tread new waters, this is the place to be. Indeed, there’s nothing more memorable than discovering a new dive site, and naming it yourself. And nothing beats the thrill of finding a new wreck. Without a doubt, your diving appetite will be quenched, or shall we say ‘drenched’ after a visit to the Marshall Islands.

If you yearn for exploration, discovery and learning about new cultures, you’ll find a visit to the Marshall Islands very rewarding. More specifically, a trip to one of the ‘outer atolls’ as they are called, will provide an unforgettable experience.

Here, you can find Marshall Islanders living, for the most part, in the same form and fashion as they have for hundreds of years.

The outer atolls are completely unspoilt

While Western products and technology have slowly made their way into the outer atolls, the island culture and traditional lifestyle still prevail. People here continue to rely on the sea and the land to provide for most of their needs. Men still sail their traditional canoes while women continue to weave crafts from native material. On atolls such as Mili, Jaluit, Maloelap and Wotje, you will find a multitude of WWII relics, including anti-aircraft guns, coastal defense guns, Japanese Zeros, bunkers and more.

On Majuro Atoll, the nation’s capital, you’ll find the major hotels and facilities. Here, there is an array of restaurants, bars and local craft shops. You will also find the Alele Museum, which houses pictures and artefacts from the nation’s past.

Majuro is home to nearly half of the entire Marshall Islands’ population, and it is, therefore, quite developed in comparison to most other atolls. •

MARSHALL ISLANDS discover the the undiscovered... undiscovered... discover

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W E D D I N G SPE CIAL

The Ultimate Wedding Guide ific

c a P h t u in the So

We’ve seen it all when it comes to the perfect destination for your South Pacific wedding, and there’s something for everyone.

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S TAT E OF TH E UNION

My Island Wedding Island girl Jemma Senico recalls the various pleasures and pitfalls encountered in organising her own dream wedding on a small island in Vanuatu. From warm beers to a trip through town in her wedding dress in the back of a ute, it was ultimately a triumph – island style!

Look mum, no seat belts! The wedding party's very Vanuatu drive-by, everything happens in the back of a ute in the islands.

D

espite living in Sydney for most of my life, I’ve always been an Island girl at heart. So it’s no surprise that my partner chose sunset on Aitutaki lagoon in the Cook Islands as ‘the perfect moment’ to propose. I had always envisioned an Island wedding, not only because we both had family ties to the South Pacific, but because I believe there is no where else on Earth more beautiful.

We had travelled to most of the Pacific already so when it came to choosing an Island we had a pretty good idea. It had to be meaningful, good value for money and with the flexibility to design our own day. Seeing as we are both half-Fijian we figured a wedding in Fiji would be colossal. (I have a cousin who invited 200 people to their wedding, and 400 people turned up!). And we didn’t know the Cook Islands or New Zealand well enough to try to organise an overseas wedding within a couple of months. Then there was Vanuatu, where my mum had moved to about 15 years prior, which meant both myself and my partner had spent many years travelling back and forth to Port Vila, so we knew the place well. We chose to have our ceremony by the ocean at my family home

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in Paradise Cove and our reception on the beach at Erakor Island Resort, a 5-minute boat ride from the mainland on a gorgeous turquoise lagoon.

Something to consider

An overseas wedding means not everyone can attend as it’s a huge cost to guests who pay for flights, accommodation, spending money and also take time off work to spend this day with you. But it does mean that the people who do make it are your absolute nearest and dearest. This was important to us, to keep our wedding small and intimate, filled with people that had been a part of our journey thus far. On the plus side, an overseas wedding gives all of your guests a holiday!

Our guests were able to spend at least a week, attend pre and post wedding activities and have a couple of days to explore the Island which is obviously a bonus guests don't get when the party's round the corner. Nothing beats that feeling of being a part of a 100-plus wedding party in a tropical destination, sipping on cocktails, wandering the markets and beaches feeling that vibe build up to the big day.

you to pull off the day. We called on anyone and everyone who could help. We flew friends of friends over to do our photos and videos, the groom’s sister brought all of her baking ingredients and tools in her luggage to bake our wedding cake as well as personalised cookies for table name cards, we had our little cousins singing, playing guitar and being ushers and lucky for me my fashion designer mother made my dream wedding dress for me.

Things that can go wrong

All or nothing

I was a classic ‘I can do everything’ bride. It couldn’t be that hard right? Forgoing a wedding planner meant that on the morning of my wedding my mum and husband-to-be were unloading chairs from a truck and setting up the ceremony. It meant that mum and aunty were later cracking warm beers for our 140 guests. Oh and they were warm because dear husband had loaded the beers into Eskies and dear brother had dropped off the 20 bags of ice that morning – but the ice never actually made it into the Eskies. Oops.

I also thought I could make my own bridal bouquets. We have sprawling tropical gardens around our house, and I thought how easy would it be to whip up some gorgeous greenery and white gingers. That morning I realised I in fact didn’t have time to do that myself and had to enlist the help of a local wedding supplier at the last minute.

You’ve got to choose to either try to do everything yourself – or not have to do anything and hire a wedding planner.

Consider the impact this has on your family if you don’t have a wedding planner, as they are the ones who will be helping

Things work differently in the Islands. You’ve got to be a little flexible if things don’t pan out exactly how you envision, but it also means that incredible things can happen … that could only happen in the Islands.

Like when our photographers, God bless them, locked their keys in the car with all their equipment after they had finished photographing the groom getting ready. No one told me this until a few days later, lucky because can you imagine the meltdown! This is at 1pm on a Saturday afternoon in Port Vila, where EVERYTHING shuts down at midday. Our friends at Europcar had someone at the resort with the spare key within ten minutes. Now tell me where, in Sydney, or anywhere else for that matter that could be done. No extra fees, no questions asked, despite everyone probably having gone home for the day already. Amazing. Or the fact that we could design our entire reception menu to include Cook Island raw fish salad, Fijian chicken curry, fresh seafood from the outer islands plus a couple of whole pigs – an Island wedding staple. And where else can the bridal party cruise around town hanging off the back of a ute on the way to the reception? Or where can you a have the pre-wedding party take over an entire waterfront bar where all the guests jump in the ocean before midnight? Our reception venue, Erakor Island Resort, was so accommodating in bringing my ‘everything white and greenery’ vision to life and allowing us to run our party on the beach with hakas, Cook Island singing, an Abba performance as well as an after party set up on the end of the Island.

Then there are the little things that get lost in translation.

You spend so much time meticulously planning all the details that no one notices anyway. I dreamt of our first dance to our special song. After we made our entrance at the reception and took our seats at the bridal table, low and behold our ‘first dance’ song comes on. Everyone entirely oblivious of course, but there I was gripping my now husband’s leg saying through clenched teeth “OMG, it’s the first dance song. Make it stop”.

The poor best man had to rush to the DJ and get him to fade out the song to something else.

Oh and then there’s the story of how I lost my engagement ring three days before the wedding … But I’ll save that story for the book ;-).

As the sun set on the most perfect Pacific day, we sat with our feet in the sand looking out across all the tables filled with our smiling and laughing family and friends thinking, ‘Wow. We cannot believe all these people made it here to this tiny little island – for us’.•

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WE D D ING SP EC IAL VA NU AT U

Eratap Beach Resort

Villa 25 Vanuatu is recognised as one of the best island destinations in the South Pacific and Villa 25 (right) offers the ultimate setting for luxury villas in Vanuatu, bathed by azure skies on the aquamarine waters of the South Pacific Ocean.

The privacy, spectacular location and understated luxury make Villa 25 the ideal place for a romantic and intimate wedding or honeymoon. Conveniently located 20 minutes from the airport and five minutes from town in a private gated estate, Villa 25 is the perfect destination for both exclusivity and privacy.

The property is set on its own private beach with three luxuriously appointed two-bedroom, air conditioned villas, designed to maximise both privacy and views, and fitted out and decorated to the highest standard.

Each villa includes a fully equipped kitchen and private covered patio with sun loungers and dining area. The cooking facilities in the villas give you the option to purchase the abundant local produce – be it French cheeses, organic beef, fresh fish or seasonal tropical fruits from the market. Or if preferred, Villa 25 can arrange to have a private chef prepare gourmet cuisine for you or organise catering to be prepared and delivered to your villa. A provisioning service is also available.

The poolside Lowana (gathering place) is just a few metres from the water’s edge overlooking a private sheltered beach.

The perfect setting in which to kayak, paddleboard or snorkel amongst abundant coral and tropical fish, directly in front of your accommodation.

Villa 25’s proficient manager and staff will look after your every need and provide local knowledge on everything from supermarkets to scenic flights, organise yoga, massages and beauty treatments by the pool or in the privacy of your own villa.

Email: relax@villa25.vu

Eratap Beach Resort (left) has stayed true to it’s boutique style, this beautiful resort is authentic, stylish and superbly uncrowded as they keep their focus on keeping guest numbers low to ensure all who visit are taken on a unique holiday experience that has a limited impact on the natural environment. A resort with a conscience and a desire to show you what luxury is really all about.

Eratap is the perfect place to unwind, explore and enjoy all that Vanuatu has to offer, it’s the perfect place to spend your honeymoon, privacy and luxury at the forefront of this resort mean that any time spent here as newlyweds is absolute perfection.

Eratap has two Honeymoon Villas and it is hard to imagine a more romantic setting. Villa 11 has stunning Eworentpat beach a few steps from your bedroom and Etlau lagoon spreads out from the lounge room window this honeymoon villa is quite simply, beautiful.

With it’ stunning waterfront plunge pool, couples can enjoy total privacy in an idyllic setting, the king sized bed just metres from the white sand beach. Waves roll perfectly along the fringing outer reef or you can snorkel through the purple tipped staghorn coral just a few strokes from the lounge room.

Villa 12 is in a stunning location overlooking Etlau Lagoon. With a private plunge pool and lounge pavilion set on the water’s edge, couples can enjoy complete privacy in this tranquil and picturesque setting. Swim out from the villa into the calm lagoon waters, or share romantic meals in the outdoor thatched pavilion.

See www.eratap.com for more info on the villas.

Breakas, Vanuatu Breakas Beach Resort is an intimate tropical retreat, a short drive from Port Vila town it is one of the only beach front properties close to the hustle and bustle and huge array of things to do and places to eat. Breakas has to be the ultimate ‘feet in the sand’ beach getaway, enhanced by the natural beauty of a private cove on Pango peninsular, Breakas provides an unrivalled backdrop in Port Vila.

This award winning resort boasts an absolutely stunning 22-metre infinity pool which blends with the horizon of the Pacific Ocean, easily move from pool to beach and dive in to the tropical, warm waters only metres away.

When it comes to celebrating your wedding day, Breakas has created some fantastic wedding packages, these range from an intimate exchange of vows on the beach at sunset to a full extravagant affair with wedding and reception taken care of. Breakas is the perfect venue for celebration; breathtaking views, unforgettable experiences, spectacular sunsets, Champagne, traditional warrior dancing and exotic locales lend themselves to creating the most magical wonderland for your perfect wedding day.

Unpretentious but eco-cool, the stand-alone fares for accommodation options salute the tropical climate with cross-ventilation timber louvres, open air coral bathrooms and traditional natangora ceilings.

The ‘feet in the sand’ ethos reflects all aspects of your holiday, celebrating the art of tropical living, relaxation and pleasure. To get married at Breakas means lasting memories of a beautiful location, beautiful people and the perfect way to spend the biggest day of your life.

Visit them at www.breakas.com for more info.

WE D D ING SP EC IAL F I J I Likuliku Lagoon Resort Likuliku Lagoon Resort remains synonymous with all things luxury in Fiji, this beautiful haven of pure paradise is the first and remains the only resort in Fiji with authentic over water bures, the natural ocean lagoon is surrounded by a marine sanctuary that is reserved for guests in residence to immerse themselves in, this pristine environment is a true magical sanctuary.

This is Fiji’s unique luxury escape for couples, in 2018 the resort secured the lease of Mociu Island (pronounced ‘Moor-thiew). This tiny, private, uninhabited island is only a 15 minute boat ride from the resort, Mociu is a protected nature reserve and the stunning waters and reef that surround it have been declared a marine sanctuary ‘na tabu’ by the Paramount Chief of the Mamanucas. Mociu Island is for the enjoyment of Ahura Resorts’ guests (this includes Malolo Island Fiji) only.

There are options available for couples to enjoy this incredible island experience, guided snorkelling adventures to explore the abundant marine life and exquisitely colourful coral gardens, snorkel directly from the beach or from the other side of the island. If getting a sweat up is on the agenda then leave early morning for a hike to enjoy a perfect Fijian sunrise (a perfect setting for a proposal), enjoy a picnic to follow on the beach.

Daytime trips can also be planned, let the team take care of absolutely everything, lounge on the beach or go exploring to come back to a picnic lunch washed down with some bubbly, it’s the perfect setting for a proposal or to enjoy your honeymoon. Mociu Island is blissful, beautiful, private and romantic.

Any special occasion can be customised to accommodate couples, each special need or individual wish can be catered for. Visit them at www.likulikulagoon.com for more information.

Bula Bride When it comes to all you need to know about getting married in Fiji look no further than Bula Bride, this Fiji Destination Wedding website was designed to assist in helping create a dream wedding, elopement or honeymoon in Fiji.

Destination weddings have so many advantages, palm trees and golden sand but mainly it’s about getting away with friends and family, however the getaway can come with challenges. Bula Bride makes planning a Fiji wedding just that little bit easier, whether it’s just starting the planning process or getting close to the big day, Bula Bride has a tonne of resources to keep everyone informed and inspired.

The Wedding Directory will have you covered for every need or whim to inspire you when planning your wedding day. Fiji’s best wedding suppliers are all listed online ensuring the crème de la crème are there to choose from to help bring the day to life. There is also an option to browse through recent ‘Real Fiji Weddings’ for Fiji wedding inspiration. Real Weddings showcases weddings from around the Fiji Islands, with stunning photography and personal tips from brides.

Happy Fiji wedding planning! www.bulabride.com

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WE D D ING SP EC IAL F I J I

Tokoriki Island Resort Tokoriki Island Resort has consistently been voted Fiji’s number one resort, if you have stayed, you will understand why. This luxury, boutique island resort comprising eight Beachfront Bures,18 Beachfront Pool Bures and 10 Beachfront Pool Villas is a standout when it comes to all things style, luxury and indulgence.

Tokoriki Island Resort is famous for being the most romantic resort in Fiji and is the current TripAdvisor #1 Resort for Romance. The resort is child-free allowing the environment to provide peace and quiet

for couples to escape, relax, reconnect and enjoy everything that this beautiful resort has to offer. Tokoriki is perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, renewal of vows, proposals and elopements, it’s not a wedding venue for large groups and this makes it a standout when it comes to all that is boutique and bespoke.

The resort itself has been cleverly designed down to the smallest detail, it’s stylish and fuses contemporary and Fijian style, the bures are all freestanding, airconditioned and with unique tropical outdoor showers surrounded by lush landscaped gardens.

Tokoriki Island Resort offers barefoot beach weddings, traditional chapel ceremonies or for the ultimate in privacy on the deck of your beachfront pool villa – the choice is yours. Wedding and elopement packages ensure a truly memorable wedding day at Tokoriki Island Resort.

If you’re not at the aisle stage yet then choose from endless locations to pop the question! An island beach picnic, romantic oceanfront dinner on the jetty, in the privacy of a bure or villa at sunset to name a few. The Romance Co-ordinator can deliver the most amazing day to be remembered forever.

Visit them at www.tokoriki.com for more info and a guarantee that you wont visit just once.

Fiji’s highest rated luxury resort.

Tokoriki Island Resort is famous for being the most romantic resort in Fiji and is the current TripAdvisor #1 Resort for Romance. Our child-free environment provides peace and quiet for couples to escape and reconnect.

Perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, renewal of vows, proposals & elopements.

Visit tokoriki.com

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Special Offer Book a 5 night stay and receive a complimentary Chapel Elopement or Renewal of Vows valued at FJ$2200 Offer Code TOKELOPE19 +679 672 5927 reservations@tokoriki.com

W E DDI NG S P E CI A L VA NU ATU Tamanu On The Beach Peaceful, private, romantic and secluded, Tamanu on the Beach Resort and Spa is located on its own private white sand beach, where you feel a million miles away from reality but just 20 mins from Port Vila, Vanuatu.

This five-star resort is the perfect combination of elegance, luxury and relaxed tropical beach atmosphere.

You have the option of getting married in Vanuatu’s only purpose-built wedding chapel, right on the beach, or kick off your shoes and have the ceremony on the powdery white sand. Wedding planners are based in both Australia and Vanuatu to make planning as easy as possible.

The top-rated restaurant is regarded as amongst the best in the region and offers a Pacific cuisine using only the freshest local produce.

The accommodation is simply stunning, with airy bures, plunge pools and tasteful decor. It epitomises understated elegance. For more see www. tamanuonthebeach.com

Vanuatu’s ONLY Beachfront Wedding Chapel 3km of Pristine White Sand Beach Vanuatu’s Best Dining Dedicated Wedding Specialists 5 STAR Accommodation Discounted Accommodation for Wedding Groups Family/Child friendly

VANUATU’S STYLE OF ROMANCE At Tamanu on the Beach Resort and Spa, our team can’t wait to make your wedding day an unforgettable celebration of love.

Our pristine beach, chapel or beachside restaurant locations provide the perfect setting for your special day. From small intimate weddings to grand celebrations, our experienced team will weave their magic to make your dream wedding come true.

weddings@tamanuonthebeach.com | www.tamanuonthebeach.com

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F I JI R E S OR T R E POR T

Above: The classic facade of Suva’s Grand Pacific Hotel, rightly known as the Raffles of the South Pacific. Opposite page top: Fiji

s s a l C t s Fir

Nadi to Suva

The drive from Nadi to Suva takes in the Coral Coast, Sigatoka and Pacific Harbour regions and along the way Craig Osment found several good excuses to prolong the journey … and a splendidly elegant colonial surprise at the end.

P

robably one of the most driven roads on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu is Queens Road between Nadi, home to the international airport and Suva, the nation’s capital. This scenic highway takes in the island’s western and southern coastlines and passes through the renowned resort areas of the Coral Coast and Pacific Harbour via Sigatoka.

While the total distance is only 190kms and can be done

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in around three hours, it can also be taken at a more leisurely pace. On a recent ‘pub crawl’ down this easy stretch of sealed tarmac I took in half a dozen of the best resort hotels on the coast and wasn’t disappointed in any although each one offers individual style and facilities from family friendly to sophisticated and stylish.

The starting point was the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa

PICTURES: Craig Osment.

Hideaway Resort’s beachfront villas. Above: Sofitel’s waterfront dining bure. Right: GPH’s traditional liveried doorman.

Hotel, which is among my favourite destinations in the Nadi area and great for both business and pleasure. The resort sprawls over several hectares of beachfront on the impeccably groomed Denarau Island and features 296 rooms, all of which enjoy private balconies and five-star inclusions. The resort is host to three restaurants, a café and a selection of bars plus an adults only beach club.

Indoors you can choose from the very chic V, the signature fine diner, while Lagoon is a family-friendly buffet style room with live cooking stations and fresh island fare. Outside on the beachfront is Salt where you can sit under umbrellas sampling the local Indian and seafood specialties while watching the water-borne activities at the adjacent water sports facility. From here it is just a few steps to the enormous in-ground pool and lounging area.

If you’re here on business then you’ll appreciate the comprehensive WiFi connectivity, the self-service business centre and the conference facilities. For details visit: www. accorhotels.com

From here it was on to the Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa, about 50kms south. This self-contained slice of paradise sits on the shores of Natadola Bay, one of ‘the best beaches in the world’.

Here you’ll find all the five-star luxury you’d expect from this chain as well as an 18-hole championship golf course which has twice played host to the Fiji leg of the PGA Tour of Australasia tournament.

Apart from the beach and three pools, the choice of restaurants ranges from Navo which serves fine fare in elegant surroundings overlooking the lagoon, to Toba Bar & Grill which sits on the huge infinity pool adjacent to the beach and provides a relaxed and casual atmosphere accompanied by wood-fired pizza, burgers and grills. Or there’s Sanasana which sits alongside a refection pool and the old sugar cane rail track which threads its way through the resort. Here you can enjoy buffet breakfasts, á la carte lunches or themed buffet dinners. Then there’s the higher altitude Vatu Lo Bar and Restaurant which sits atop the rise behind the main resort

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Top row left to right: The Pearl’s open foyer; InterContinental’s white sand beach; The Warwick’s bar with views. Bottom row: The Warwick;

and adjacent to the golf course with stunning views over its own pool and the Pacific Ocean.

And, as the name suggests, there is the inevitable spa which in this case is located in the serene and lush grounds and features a full menu of pampering and revitalising treatments combining Asian, Eastern and Western techniques.

For bookings and more see: www.fiji.intercontinental.com

The Coral Coast

Another 50kms down the coast, just south of Sigatoka is Fiji Hideaway Resort and Spa set on another white sand, palm-fringed beach. This boutique resort is on the Coral Coast and offers a selection of air conditioned bures and villas from deluxe beachfront to garden-view. Dining takes place by the pool overlooking the lagoon and the chef here cooks up selections that cater to all tastes from local to traditional international favourites and offers wine from a well-stocked cellar of Australian and New Zealand varieties. For evening drinks you can retire to the Coco Bar. Also on offer here are an array of activities from diving to fishing, snorkelling and surfing as well as kava ceremonies, fire

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walking displays, village tours and culinary cultural experiences where you’ll learn how to cook Fijian style in an underground oven of Lovo pit. See: www.hideawayfiji.com Next stop is The Warwick Fiji which is only another 12kms down the road and part of a large international chain with several properties in the Pacific; this is a hotel of substance with a grand foyer and impressive entrance driveway.

There are five unique restaurant choices, three bars and a romantic private island bure dining option. The culinary landscape covers Japanese, Italian, local seafood specialties, and the brasserie style Bula restaurant.

Apart from the beach there are two pools, a kids’ club and a full suite of activities from kayaking and canoeing to fish feeding and glass bottom boat tours. There’s also a floodlit tennis court, two squash courts, a gym, an archery range, bicycle tours and village tours. For something more relaxing, there’s the spa set on the water’s edge where you can luxuriate in a range of treatments from aroma salt and milk baths to tropical manicures and pedicures using Pure Fiji and Pevonia Botanica products. So plenty to amuse the entire family.

More can be found here: www.warwickhotels.com/fiji

facilities are a cinema, conference centre, gym, nanny service and the Pearl Spa. Like all the other hotels mentioned The Pearl will arrange and host weddings and offer the services of experienced wedding planners and co-ordinators so that you can get hitched on the beach, in the garden or the Country Club.

Suva sensation

Sofitel pool area; and the Pearl pool and view to ocean.

Pacific Harbour

Twenty-minute’s drive towards Suva is the Pearl South Pacific Resort which has been around for a while and is undergoing a major expansion at the moment. This is due for completion by December this year and will add 110 rooms and suites to an already impressive offering. You can choose from garden rooms, ocean view rooms or one of their six individually themed penthouse suites which take in views of the ocean and the nearby islands of Nanuku, Beqa and Yanuca. There is also access to their own championship 18hole golf course.

As the resort is located on the Beqa lagoon one of Fiji’s top dive sites, a bit of underwater activity is a must. At an additional cost guests can strap on their scuba tanks at Beqa Adventure Divers, located on-site which offers a range of PADI dive courses for both beginners and experienced divers.

The dining options here are numerous with five restaurants or bars on the premises with a wide selection of food and ambience from alfresco at the Beach Bar through to overlooking the 18th hole at the golf club. Among the other

The last 50kms brings us to Suva and the spectacular Grand Pacific Hotel which is the Grande Dame of Suva’s hospitality industry and rightly claims to be where ‘elegance meets history’.

With its colonial Raffles-esque main building the Grand Pacific has been at the heart of Suva’s social life and high society since its opening in 1914 when the room rate was eighteen shillings and sixpence per night. Since then it has hosted royalty (Queen Elizabeth – three times, and has a suite named after her), actors, authors and aviators and an opera singer – specifically Burt Lancaster, Somerset Maugham, James A. Michener, Charles Kingsford Smith and Dame Nellie Melba. It has also suffered the indignity of having fallen into disrepair, decrepitude and closure for 22 years before a glorious revival after a multi-million dollar renovation and rebirth in time for her centenary last year.

The original 37-room main building built by the Union Steamship Company has been restored to its former glory and the grafting on of a modern new wing has expanded the accommodation to more than 100 rooms. The splendid galleried foyer with its louvred doors and antique brass ceiling fans gives on to an elegant verandah overlooking the pool and Suva Harbour. Here you can sit on white rattan chairs and enjoy either or both of the hotel’s happy ‘hours’, the first runs from 6pm to 8pm with the second kicking in at 10pm, so no excuse to be un-happy.

Eating and drinking here means making decisions, will it be at the Prince Albert Restaurant & Terrace (royal references abound here and the address is Victoria Parade)? Or the Levuka restaurant, or the Na Toba Pool & Bar Restaurant, the Victoria Lounge, the Steamship Bar, or the Swiss Bakery?

Here you’ll find yummy pastries and breakfast on the outdoor terrace with views to Albert Park opposite and in close proximity to the extremely ‘quaint’ doorman in his trad livery.

If it was once good enough for HM and her consort, then after the restoration it’s good enough for a return visit and even if you’re not a resident of Buck House, you’ll feel like royalty here. Go to: www.grandpacifichotel.com.fj •

A R T S MAR T

s i g n i h t Every

By Design

The ubiquity of design is inescapable, almost object you touch has been ‘designed’ from the door handle to your dinner plate, to your toaster, car, vacuum cleaner, pen or pencil and, yes, the mousetrap. Toby Preston looks at some of the industry’s best practitioners.

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Australian designer Marc Newson designed the aptly titled Lockheed Lounge in the mid eighties and ended up producing ten versions of the sinuous aluminium and fibreglass seat. It wet on to become the world’s most expensive lounge after one was sold in London in 2015 for AU$4,689,585. One would need a nice lie down after paying that sort of dough.

PICTURE: 4starclassics.com

I

t’s a given that the chair you may be sitting in while reading this was designed by someone, quite likely it was an anonymous employee working for a furniture manufacturer in China, it may be plastic, or timber or steel, if it has a cushion that too was ‘designed’ and manufactured to fit, the fabric was also designed, in both its composition and weaving as well as any pattern or colour and of course the zipper. Someone somewhere had to think about and decide on all aspects of its creation, yet we rarely ever give the ubiquity of industrial design any thought unless the item is designated as a ‘designer’ object – bag, chair, recliner or desk lamp or maybe because it is not fit for purpose. There is just a simple acceptance that objects exist.

But they don’t exist in a vacuum (more on that later) they have to be created from any number of materials and for any number of purposes and the UX or ‘user experience’ is increasingly something manufactures think about a lot, from websites to laptops, cars to remote control units, phones to fridges, it’s design that distinguishes one object from another and can give the manufacturer a competitive edge or a reason to charge more for a ‘label’ rather than a generic item.

While often unsung there are many others whose work is acknowledged as ground-breaking and beautiful, and what’s not to like about a thing of beauty?•

Opposite page top: The humble mousetrap was first patented by William C. Hooker from Illinois in 1894, although the one we are most familiar with was designed by a British inventor, James Henry Atkinson and patented as the ‘Little Nipper’ in 1898. The Patent Office has issued patents for more than 4,400 mousetraps most of which have slipped into oblivion.

Opposite page below: The sublime Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 (1971-1977) designed Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone originally as the Giulia Sprint GT in 1963.

The cars proportions and balance of glass and metal, and the flat grille with incorporated headlamps were groundbreaking styling features for the era.

Giugiaro was named Car Designer of the Century in 1999 but his achievements ranged across many areas of industrial design from watches to tractors, motorcycles to cameras for Nikon and the occasional firearm as in the Beretta U22 Neos, below.

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Dieter Rams declared good design: • Is innovative • Makes a product useful • Is aesthetic • Makes a product understandable • Is unobtrusive

Left: If any contemporary company is renowned for its design ethos, Apple would be ranked near or at the top of that list. Apple’s design guru for 27 years until his resignation in 2019 was Sir Jonathan Paul ‘Jony’ Ive. His design credo followed that of the Bauhaus design tradition: ‘form follows function’ and ‘less is more’. His designs have been described as integral to the successes of Apple, which has went on to become the world’s largest information technology company by revenue and largest company in the world by market capitalisation. Jony himself did alright too, according to the Sunday Times Rich List he is now worth £192 million. He is also credited with having collaborated with Norman Foster in the design of Apple Park, Apple’s spectacular headquarters in Cupertino, California.

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Left: The Museum of Modern Art has seen fit to include a vacuum cleaner among its exhibits because this particular appliance was designed by famed British designer Sir James Dyson – another knight of the realm in design and another member of the rich list, so there’s money in good design. This is known as the Dual Cyclone Vacuum Cleaner – model DC02 created in 1994. Apart from vacuum cleaners Dyson has also designed and produced hand dryers (the Airblade), hair dryers, a fan without any external blades, a very stylish desk light and more. Dyson is quoted as finding failure a positive contributor to his inventions have made 5,127 prototypes of the cleaner before perfecting it.

Right: Classic minimalist E-1027 side table designed by Eileen Gray the Irish architect and furniture designer in 1927 and still going strong. It was designed for her cuboid house of the same name near Monaco which was reputedly often stayed in by Le Corbusier who was accused of having vandalised the property by covering its walls with Cubist murals of naked women which was in direct contravention of Gray’s wish that the house be free of any decoration. Later the house suffered an even more destructive fate as German soldiers used the walls for target practice during WWII. Not all great design is revered equally.

Below left : German designer Dieter Rams’ 1987 calculator for the Braun company.

Below right: Philippe Stark’s iconic Juicy for Alessi. Stark ranged widely across many industrial design fields from furniture to boats – he designed Steve Jobs yacht Venus which was launched in 2012. He also designed the gorgeous Moto 6,5 for the Aprilia motor cycle company as well as restaurants and hotels along with office equipment and tableware.

• Is honest • Is long-lasting • Is thorough down to the last detail • Is environmentally friendly • Involves as little design as possible.

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H E A LTH Y LIV IN G

The

Longevity Diet Living a healthy longer life is an ambition for most and new research is suggesting this can be achieved by modifying your diet. Here Georgie Gordon examines a diet regime developed by a professor of biogerontology.

W

hat if the answer to living a long and healthy life was as simple as eating the right food and, importantly, the right amount of food? Dr Valter Longo believes it is and that by following his Longevity Diet you can not only turn back your body’s biological clock but also protect yourself against age-related diseases and stay fully functional well into your 90s.

Dr Longo, a professor of biogerontology (the aging process and biological ageing's causes, effects, and mechanisms), is considered an expert in the field of ageing and age related diseases. He has been called the ‘guru of longevity’ by Time magazine and has published papers which include the discovery of some of the genes that control longevity and the identification of a genetic mutation protecting humans from some of the most common diseases. In addition to his laboratory research he has travelled the world to study and learn from its oldest inhabitants.

The key components of the Longevity Diet

1. Eat a mostly vegan diet with some fish: Ideally you should strive for a 100% plant and fish based diet (avoiding fish with a high mercury content). After age 65 you can add fruit, eggs, cheese and yoghurt, especially if you start losing muscle mass and weight.

2. Consume low but sufficient proteins: Dr Longo’s studies have shown that a low protein diet is associated with low cancer and overall mortality rates in people over 65.

3. Minimise bad fats and sugars and maximise good fats and complex carbs: Eliminate ‘bad’ fats such as saturated, hydrogenated and trans fats and make sure your diet is rich in ‘good’ fats such as those that come from salmon, avocado and nuts. Also, consume lots of vegetable and legumes.

4. Avoid processed food: Eat a variety of wholefoods to nourish your body and provide protein, essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins and sufficient complex carbohydrates to fight disease.

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5. Eat only twice a day plus a snack: If you are overweight committing to two and a half meals a day makes it harder to over-eat, particularly when following a mostly plant based diet.

6. Restrict eating to a twelve-hour period: Studies show that restricting eating to eleven to twelve hours or less per day can aid life-span extension and reduce age related diseases.

7. Limit your calorie intake for five days of the week: Periodic prolonged fast mimicking diets (FMDs) will trick your body into thinking you’re fasting whilst avoiding the negative side effects of an actual fast. FMDs lead to sustained weight loss and help your body to regenerate cells for a stronger defence against age-related diseases including Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

8. Follow the above principals until you reach a healthy weight: A healthy weight and waist circumference will help to protect you against diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease.

So essentially the diet is the reverse of the popular 5:2 diet, with fasting for five days instead of two. However it seems that real key to this diet’s success is that it follows a low protein, high carbohydrate approach, with further research from the University of Sydney and an important study published in the journal Cell Metabolism backing up claims that a low protein, high carbohydrate (and they mean the good complex kind) diet does lead to longevity of life.

The Dietitians Association of Australia urges people not to take a one size fits all approach to dieting and reminds us that different cultures and different body types may react differently to the same diet. However, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to tell you that a diet of mainly plant food and fish is not good for you. The real problem with this diet lies with its restrictiveness, and how much you are willing to give up (sugar, biscuits, chips, red meat) for a shot at living well into your 90s.

Here's a recommended meal from The Longevity Diet by Dr Valter Longo PhD (Penguin):

White bean salad with onion, rosemary, and chicory INGREDIENTS • 180g Chicory or other leafy green vegetable • 1 clove garlic • 50g Cherry tomatoes • 1 Onion • 150g Cannellini beans, cooked and drained • 2tbsp Olive oil • Rosemary sprig • Salt and pepper to taste

• Chilli flakes to taste • 40g Whole wheat bread METHOD • Boil the chicory in salted water and drain well.

• Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a frying pan and add the onion, garlic and chilli, sauté on a low-medium heat until the onion and garlic is soft but not coloured, add the cherry tomatoes and chicory (or other leaves) and cook for 5 minutes.

• In a separate bowl, season the cooked cannellini beans with olive oil, salt and pepper and rosemary leaves.

• Combine the chicory and cannellini mixtures and serve warm or cold, as desired. •

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B E A UTY S POT

Super-natural e r a C n i Sk

We shine a spotlight on four of nature’s gifts that work wonders on the skin and can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

By Georgie Gordon.

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The Fijian Orchid

Most of us know the orchid for its exotic beauty and delicate scent, however, the flower – particularly extracts from the black and white orchid – has reparative and protective properties too. Although the orchid has been used in skincare in Asia

for centuries, it is only recently that the moisturising and antiageing properties have been harnessed by big beauty brands as a key skincare ingredient. There’s an active component derived from the orchid that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and one that also helps the skin retain moisture. Not only that, the orchid contains a unique pigment that has antioxidising and anti-inflammatory properties that are four times higher than that of vitamin C. In Fiji the orchid is a symbol of beauty, refinement and love. Skin care brand Naturally Fiji has two ranges, Royal Orchid and Wild Orchid, both inspired by the magnificent Orchid Garden set under The Sleeping Giant in Nadi.

Product pick: Naturally Fiji’s Royal Orchid Body Lotion not only contains orchid extract to hydrate and rejuvenate the skin, it also has coconut, dilo and noni oils, honey and lavender. This luxurious body lotion is intensely moisturising without being greasy. It leaves the skin smooth, soft and beautifully scented. naturallyfiji.com

New Zealand Deer Milk

PICTURE: 123RF

Milk has long been considered beneficial in beauty rituals.

Cleopatra took regular baths (in the milk of 700 donkeys, no less) to preserve the vitality of her skin, and since then milk has been utilised in beauty products for its soothing and gentle exfoliating (from the lactic acid) properties. Goat’s milk, for example, is used in skincare products for people with sensitive skin. Recently it was discovered, purely by accident, that deer milk possesses an unparalleled level of skin enhancing essential nutrients, far surpassing those of any other animal sourced milk. New skin care brand Kotia is harnessing the unique characteristics of this milk, which is sourced from pastures around New Zealand’s Queenstown, and combines the natural antioxidants, nutrients and anti-inflammatory agents with scientifically proven actives for effective skin care products that are the first of their kind globally.

Product pick: Kotia’s Exfoliating Cleansing Milk. This effective cleanser not only soothes and nourishes skin while removing impurities, it also acts as a gentle and natural exfoliator and leaves a natural barrier to prevent moisture loss. The skin is left feeling clean but not dry with a brighter, smoother complexion. kotia.com.au

Australian Pink Clay

There are a huge amount of clay masks available. Known for absorbing excess moisture, they are a great natural option for treating oily skin. However, pink clay, native to Australia, has been proven to be far more beneficial than all other clays.

Ideal for sensitive skin, it is not only gentle, it also has deeply restorative properties. And unlike other clay masks pink clay does not remove the skin’s natural oils, instead it provides a boost of natural minerals including silica that replenish and nourish the skin. Pink clay also has natural purifying qualities for cleansing and a natural exfoliating action that leaves skin smooth and soft.

Product pick: Sand and Sky’s Pore Refining Mask. Made from organic, uniquely Australian ingredients and botanicals including liquorice and old man weed, this pore refining mask is different in that it contains 50 per cent clay, unlike most others that are around 10-15 per cent. As well as nourishing the skin, this mask draws out toxins and pollutants leaving skin feeling fresh and clean. sandandsky.com

Vanuatu Tamanu Oil

Tamanu Oil has been used by Ni-Vanuatu to treat common skin ailments for hundreds of years; in fact so useful is the oil for fighting skin infections it is also known as ‘the nurse of the South Pacific’. Derived from the green nuts of the Tamanu tree (part of the Mangosteen family), the oil is an excellent topical treatment for inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, acne and sunburn. The oil’s natural anti-bacterial properties also make it a useful ointment for keeping wounds and burns from becoming infected. Not only that, it works wonders on dry skin and when applied often, may reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Product pick: Nabakura’s Tamanu Oil is derived from Tamanu trees growing on Vanuatu’s coast and it is believed that the trees that grow in this sandy, salty soil produce the most concentrated oil. This oil is 100 per cent organic with no additives and is some of the highest quality Tamanu Oil you can buy. puretamanu.com •

islandliving | 93 pacific

Prime sheltered beachfront tourism site with 140 metres wide seafront.

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40 hectare oceanfront commercial or tourism development site

With an idyllic setting, sunset views and a land area of 14,000 m2. Approved for resort. 12 mins from town.

One of Efate’s finest beaches.

Huge scope for residential project or eco-resort. 11.75 hectares of unspoiled bushland including 220 metres of tar sealed roadfrontage.

Includes resort site facing sunset and 20 approved waterfront titles. Private, unique location. Mains power and water. More than 1,500 metres waterfrontage.

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www.ljhooker.vu 94 | Islandliving pacific

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CH R IS T IAN A COOK S

. . . y a s You

“TOMATO” And Christiana Kaluscha says “I can’t wait!”

It’s tomato season in the Pacific with the Suva, Honiara and Port Vila markets in particular overflowing with scarlet goodness and a variety for every recipe.

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very year I desperately look forward to the tomato season, when the local market stalls are filled with organically grown, sun-ripened tomatoes with their bright red colour and sweet and gently tangy flavour, from tiny cherry tomatoes to the huge fleshy ox heart or beefsteak ones.

A member of the nightshade family (along with aubergines, peppers and chillies), tomatoes are in fact a fruit, but their affinity for other savoury ingredients means they are usually classed as a vegetable.

Tomatoes and their use as a food originated in Central America, crossed the Atlantic to Spain with the conquistadors in the 16th century but only finally caught on in northern Europe in the 19th century. The Nahuatl (Aztec language) word ‘tomatl’ gave rise to the Spanish word ‘tomate’, from which the English word ‘tomato’ originates.

The Mexicans call it ‘tomatillo’, the Italians ‘pomodoro’ (apple of gold) and in the Austrian and Bavarian dialect it is similarly called ‘Paradeisapfel’ (apple of paradise).

The scientific name lycopersicum means ‘wolf peach’, and comes from German werewolf myths. These legends said that deadly nightshade was used by witches and sorcerers in potions to transform themselves into werewolves, so the

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tomato’s similar but much larger fruit, was called the wolf peach when it arrived in Europe.

Today they’re one of the most important ingredients available and are especially indispensible in Mediterranean cookery. The skin, flesh and seeds can all be eaten, but the green leaves are toxic, so should always be discarded.

When buying tomatoes, choose the best! Go for firm tomatoes with wrinkle-free skins and a noticeable tomato smell. Tomatoes have the best, sweetest flavour if they’ve been allowed to ripen on the vine before they’ve been picked but, if you buy under-ripe tomatoes, you can redden them by keeping them in a brown paper bag at room temperature.

The type of tomato you buy depends on what you intend to do with it. There are thousands of different types, but here are some of the most common types.

Cherry: small and very sweet with intense flavour. They are good in salads, pasta sauces or roasted.

Plum or Roma: Available as a baby or full-grown tomato, plum tomatoes have an oval shape, with a rich flavour and comparatively few seeds. Good for making sauces and stews.

Medium round tomatoes: also known as salad tomatoes

PICTURE: Christiana Kaluscha.

“There are many ways to use tomatoes. Raw in salads, roasted whole, halved and grilled, sliced and fried or use it in sauces, stews, soups and

salsas. Tomato juice is a popular drink and used in cocktails such as Bloody Mary.”. Above: Bagged tomatoes at the Port Vila harbourfront market.

are good all-rounders in the kitchen.

Ox heart or beefsteak: these are the biggest tomatoes, and have a meaty texture with a sweet, mellow flavour. They are good for salads, grilling or stuffing.

Green: there are two types of green tomato. One is unripe, and is quite tart but good for chutneys, or frying. The other is a variety that stays green when ripe (often labelled Kumato), has a tangy flavour and is good in salads or, again, fried.

Yellow: these ripen to a golden yellow colour, and are good in salads, salsas and chutneys.

Storage: Chilling tomatoes mutes their flavour so, unless they are very ripe, they should be stored at room temperature. If you won’t be eating ripe tomatoes for a couple of days, put them in the fridge in a perforated bag, but take them out of the fridge for about 30 minutes before eating, so that they can warm up.

Preparation: Wash, and then leave whole or halve, quarter, slice, chop or dice, as required. If you want to remove the skins before making them into a sauce, cut out the green stalk and core at the top of the tomato, cut a small, shallow cross at its base, then put them in bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to stand for 20 seconds, then

drain. When they are cool enough to handle, pull away the loosened skin. Tomatoes are also available tinned and if they are not in season and are best used for cooking.

Cooking:There are many ways to use tomatoes. Raw in salads, roasted whole, halved and grilled, sliced and fried or used in sauces, stews, soups and salsas. Tomato juice is a popular drink and used in cocktails such as Bloody Mary.

Here are some of my favourite recipes:

Tarte aux tomates et a la moutarde (Tomato and mustard pie) This tarte is a dish from Lyon, which is considered the gastronomic capital of the world. It is a typical Lyonnais dish and one of my favourites during the tomato season.

Ingredients

• Unsweetened shortcrust

pastry • 1/2 cup Dijon mustard • 2 -3 large ripe ox heart tomatoes, sliced 0.5 cm thick • 6 slices Gruyere cheese, about 0.5 cm thick • 1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed

islandliving | 97 pacific

Sugo di pomodoro (Tomato sauce)

• 2 tablespoons Herbes de Provence • Fresh basil leaves

Method

• Preheat oven to 190 degrees C. Fit the short crust pastry into a 23 cm pie dish. With a fork, poke holes into the bottom of the crust.

• Spread the mustard over the bottom of the piecrust in an even layer.

• Cover the mustard with the Swiss cheese in a layer.

• Arrange slices of tomato, overlapping in a spiral from the edge to the centre, covering the cheese.

• Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes, and sprinkle the tart with the Herbes de Provence.

• Bake in the preheated oven until the crust has browned, the cheese has melted, and the tomatoes are curled at the edges, about 20 minutes.

• Decorate with fresh basil leaves

Caprese with Balsamic reduction Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella (if possible di buffalo), and basil drizzled with a sweet balsamic glaze and olive oil. Easy, impressive and delicious!

Ingredients

• Balsamic glaze (available in deli stores) • 3 large tomatoes, cut into 1 cm slices • 450 g Mozzarella di Buffalo, or fresh mozzarella • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon ground black

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pepper • ½ cup fresh basil leaves • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Method

• Arrange alternate slices of tomato and mozzarella cheese decoratively on a serving platter.

• Sprinkle with salt and black pepper • Spread fresh basil leaves over the salad, and drizzle with olive oil and the balsamic glaze.

This is my version of the classic Italian sugo di pomodoro. It is handy to have standing by for use in many recipes. I make it in big quantities and preserve it in sterilized jars or freeze it in portions. With some small variations it makes a great tomato soup, pasta sauce, I also use it for Parmigiana di Melanzane (Eggplant Parmigiana), pizza and much more.

If the tomatoes are not in season, use Italian canned tomatoes which have the full flavour of sun ripened tomatoes and are perfect for this recipe.

Ingredients

• 3 kg ripe Roma tomatoes, peeled or 3 x 450 g cans of peeled tomatoes and 3 x 450 g cans of crushed tomatoes.

• 1 head of garlic, peeled and crushed • 1 big onion, diced • 1 sachet of tomato paste

• ¼ cup olive oil • 5 anchovies • Couple of hot chillies or more to taste, seeded and finely sliced • 1 cup fresh basil leaves • 1 Tsp. dried oregano • 1 Tbsp. of chicken stock powder or more to taste • 1 Tbsp. sugar • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method

• Heat the olive oil in a casserole, add the onions and garlic and stir until sautéed but not browned • Add the tomatoes, chilli, oregano, tomato paste, anchovies and chicken powder and sugar and stir well • Simmer for 40 minutes • Add salt and pepper to taste • Tear and add the basil leaves • Use as a pasta sauce. Or cool and store in 500 ml containers and freeze.

Ingredients

• 1 kg ripe tomatoes, peeled (Roma preferred) • 6 small courgettes • 2 small aubergines • 3 onions, roughly chopped • 1 chilli (optional) • 5 garlic cloves, roughly chopped • 1 yellow pepper • 1 red pepper • 1 green pepper • 1 Tbsp. parsley, chopped • 1 bay leaf • 1 Tsp. fine sugar • ¼ cup olive oil • Salt and pepper • Fresh basil or parsley to garnish

Method

Ratatouille Nicoise Ratatouille is a true classic of French cooking, a traditional dish from Nice in the South of France. It’s name comes from the verbs tatouiller and ratouiller, which both have their root in the verb touiller, meaning ‘to stir up’, because this is what you do when making ratatouille.

Tomatoes are one of the star ingredients and when they are at their best the markets are full of delicious summer vegetables which together make this colourful vegetable stew, simple, rustic but really delicious. It is the quality of the tomatoes that makes the difference, which is why it is so important to make this dish at the peak of the season, when tomatoes are ripe and sweet.

The key is to simmer it for at least 1 hour uncovered and let the flavours develop. The longer it cooks the better it is and it is even better reheated. I like to add a dash

of balsamic glaze before serving, but that is up to you.

Enjoy it with a nice loaf of Pain de Campagne or serve it with fish or grilled meat.

You can eat it warm or cold, which makes it perfect for summer barbecues.

Prepare the vegetables • Wash the peppers, seed them and cut into small cubes • Peel and dice the aubergines, sprinkle with salt and set aside • Take out the seedy part of the courgettes and cut into 1 cm rings • Make incisions on the top of the tomatoes, drop

them for 20 seconds into boiling water, drain, peel, cut in half, take out the seeds and cut them into quarters Cooking the vegetables • Heat ½ the olive oil in a thick-bottomed casserole • Add the zucchinis and aubergines and sauté for 5 minutes or until golden, stirring all the time. Set aside.

• Add the other ½ of the olive oil to the casserole; add the garlic, chilli, peppers and onions. Stir and cook for 10 minutes.

• Add the tomatoes and mix well. Cook for 10 minutes stirring regularly, before adding the zucchinis and aubergines.

• Season with salt and pepper.

• Add the chopped herbs, the bay leaf and the sugar, and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour.

• Sprinkle with fresh basil leaves or parsley before serving •

islandliving | 99 pacific

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100 | Islandliving pacific

VA N UATU P R ESTI GE PROPERTY < SENTOSA VILLAS 6 4 4

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A complex of two private luxury waterfront villas on Narpow Point situated on a private, walled 10,000 m2 oceanfront compound, only 20 minutes from town and the international airport. The villas have been architecturally designed in modern Balinese style and sit on two 5000 m2 extensively landscaped garden lots on two separate titles. Perfectly suited for holiday rentals. VT 48 million – US$440,000

VILLA SARANGKITA > 4 3 2

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Architecturally designed in a modern Balinese style, the villa sits on a one acre walled compound with 472 m2 of living space, plus a separate 90 m2 office/atelier and staff quarters. It offers the ultimate in spacious living, inside and outside dining, swimming pool ,tropical garden, private beach with ocean rock pool. . Holiday rental revenue. Only 20 minutes from town. VT 160 million – US$ 1.45 million

< VILLA ANOUSKA 5 5 3

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Absolute white-sand private beachfront. Villa Anouska sits within a coral walled private compound with live-in staff quarters and abundant outdoor entertaining areas. The 600 m2 main house opens from its enormous main pavilion to a pool deck. All four guest bedrooms open through shuttered doors and windows to views of the Pacific Ocean. Holiday rental revenue covers all costs. VT167 million – US$1.53 million.

TAKARA HOT SPRINGS LAND > Six beachfront lots at Takara Hot Springs, North Efate Stunning oceanside land with great potential. Beautiful views of the surrounding islands and close to Havannah Harbour the new tourist hotspot. Six connected beachfront lots, separate titles, leases can be changed from residential to commercial. Tar sealed road access with an airstrip nearby. The area has been declared a marine sanctuary with excellent diving and snorkelling as well a great surf spot on your doorstep. VT45 million – US$413,000 For enquiries please contact Christiana Kaluscha Email: contact@pauamc.com Phone: (678) 555 4001 Property sales website: www.pauarealty.com Holiday rentals website: www.paualuxuryhomes.com NOTE: Vanuatu enjoys stable government, gauranteed leasehold property protection and a pristine virus-free environment with residency and citizenship opportunities.

PR E S T IG E PR OPE R TY

Buy Into TheaDream tu In Vanu

For anyone looking for business and commercial opportunities to combine with idyllic affordable locations in which to live, Vanuatu has much to offer, says Douglas Patterson from Island Property.

Clear turquoise water, pristine white sand beaches in an island paradise make good real estate sense for both lifestyle and business.

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make sure you are talking to suitably qualified and experienced professionals who can guide you through the local laws and requirements, as well as introduce you to the spectacular range of real estate available in this country.

In Vanuatu you will find housing ranging in price from a few hundred thousand dollars for three- and four-bedroom family villas to a few million dollars for the increasing number of imaginatively designed, contemporary waterfront residences that have been built here over the last decade.

The Vanuatu real estate market has experienced the price and activity cycles that occur elsewhere. There are times when our market is buoyant, and times when it is flat. But one thing is sure; you will find many more people who regret they did not invest here previously when they had the opportunity than you will encounter those who regret that they have.

Douglas Patterson is the principal of Island Property, a Port Vila based real estate and property development company that has operated in Vanuatu since 1990. Douglas has lived in Vanuatu since the mid 1980s and is a naturalised citizen.â&#x20AC;˘

PICTURE: Craig Osment. Efate, Vanuatu.

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anuatu has made it easy for foreigners to buy property.

You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be a resident to invest. There are no restrictions on what type of property you may purchase. There is no limit to the number of properties you may buy. You can rent out your property long term without any business licences or permits, and there are no impediments to repatriating funds from selling or renting a Vanuatu property.

For non-residents looking to buy an investment property, local property managers will be able to look after things in your absence.

Vanuatu commercial banks accept registered titles as loan security, and insurance companies will cover your property, including against cyclone. And, when it comes to prices, you will be pleasantly surprised when you compare what you pay in Vanuatu, compared with Australia and New Zealand, especially for waterfront and coastal properties.

Of course that shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that you proceed with any less care than you would in the familiar circumstances of home. Entering any new market always carries an element of the unknown. That is why the first thing you should do is

IS L A N D CITIZE N SH IP tions a N t n e tm s e v In a is V Quickest Golden hole lt o B e v a W d n o c e S A ip For ncy and citizensh

reside s, the alternative on st A by h offer the quickest rc s n ea io es at R n h ic h w ss s, has revealed to investing acro es m co acquisition expert it en h w ring citizenship timeframe to secu bean. cure citizenship in se to s the EU and Carib ar ye f al h e of five and a ute of investing to ro r ke It takes an averag ic qu e th r when opting fo sidency as is the re d ol h the UK. Still, even to st fir you are required gain citizenship, untries. sidency stage and re e th case in several co ip sk to u ations allow yo vesting.

However, some n ight away when in ra st ip sh n ze ti ci to sit tight while e ol h lt gain direct bo d de u cl oking for a se ship for when (if) n ze ti Whether you’re lo ci U E g n ei you er, or you’re ey 14 nations where d te gh Covid-19 blows ov li h ig h as h pens, Aston’s e.

Brexit finally hap quickest timefram e th th in d an at th anuatu in the Sou V of n can do just io at n d n la e lot is the is st over 300,000 ju of The quickest of th on ti la pu po h an estimated eframe of Pacific Ocean wit h the average tim it w st ke ic qu e th it tly just 30 days, en rr cu people. Not only is t en m st ve ip through in um investment of im in securing citizensh m a h it w e the best valu but it’s also one of mented: £99,416. ur Sarkisian, com h rt A s, on st A of r gnificant uplift in si a Managing Directo en se ve e’ w , t pandemic nd nations such as la is in “During the curren st ve in to g viduals optin an, in particular. be ib ar the number of indi C e th ss ro locations ac s of the Vanuatu and other rong pull in term st a e id ov pr s to n io at ch quicker route u m a Of course, these n er off so al cape, but they lifestyle and lands g to uch lower cost. ongst those lookin am citizenship at a m ty ri la pu po e e grown in t of a second wav en As a result, they’v ev e th in s n io e travel restrict to persist until th ly ke li bypass potential is d en tr is onths, and th over the coming m the very least.” pandemic ends, at

The above article is extracted from a recent edition of the Vanuatu Daily Post and is sourced from Astons, an international residency and citizenship company. See more here: www.astons.com islandliving | 103 pacific

PR E S T IG E PR OPE R TY

t n o r f h c Bea

RETREAT This South Pacific retreat which has been featured in several magazines is on the pristine island of Efate in Vanuatu. It is the perfect family getaway, a safe haven in an uncertain world, a means to Vanuatu residency and possibly citizenship and a sound business opportunity with a stable holiday rental return. A private beach, inground pool, live-in staff quarters and an acre of walled privacy are added attractions.

Below: Villa Anouskaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main living pavilion opens directly on to the pool deck and with ocean-facing infinity pool, this is the nerve centre of

the house and perfect for lounging and entertaining day or night. Above: The grounds are creatively and sensitively lit for all-hours enjoyment.

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veryone craves a haven, particularly in these trying times when uncertainty seems a permanent feature of our lives. The simplicity of a retreat in a self-sustaining island paradise holds even greater appeal when wearing masks and practising social distancing restrict our daily routines. The idea of escaping to a walled compound on a private beach with live-in staff quarters, the Pacific Ocean lapping on white sand, pandanus palms shading your recliner, while watching spectacular sunsets has never been more appealing.

Villa Anouska on the beach at Narpow Point, Whitesands is just 20 minutes from Port Vila and 25 minutes from Vanuatu’s international airport but a world away from 2020’s problems.

The villa sprawls over 600 square metres of living space with all four king-sized en-suite bedrooms enjoying views of the ocean and the leafy grounds. The house is holiday-casual and built for easy beachside living with bespoke joinery made from local hardwoods and stone floors throughout for simple maintenance and cleaning. It comes fully equipped with all appliances, an entertainer’s Ilve oven, marble benchtops and sit down dining opportunities for 18 people. All bedrooms feature American king-sized four-poster beds with mosquito netting for that perfect tropical feel, extra large en-suite bathrooms and direct access to covered verandahs. It's a house that has been lovingly built for family holidays and visiting friends with private verandah spaces facing north, east and west while all fronting the Pacific. Engineered to exceed all

local and international building codes, no expense has been spared on making the structure durable and safe from the elements. All bedrooms are air conditioned and ceiling fans abound throughout, Natural ventilation is via timber shutters in every room which can be controlled for maximum comfort throughout the year. Narpow Point is renowned for its aspect which benefits from the gentle trade winds bringing breezes throughout the summer months for those perfect days by the inground infinity pool which adjoins the enormous main living pavilion with its soaring ceilings and multiple living and dining spaces.

Access to the property is via an electronic security gate giving on to the natangura-thatched porte cochere. Mature coconut palms line the street entry and along with the paw paw and banana trees provide easy access to tropical fruit. The ocean beyond the tidal lagoon pool is a source of lobsters, crabs and reef fish and is clear and pristine for snorkelling.

Villa Anouska has been maintained to the highest standards and presents in as-new condition with full holiday management services and a steady rental income averaging AU$700 per night when not occupied by the owners.

The house is an easy walk along the beach to one of Vanuatu’s most revered restaurants at the boutique resort, Tamanu on the Beach.

For sale at US$1,530,000, see www.pauarealty.com for further details and a floorplan.•

islandliving | 105 pacific

Below: All four of the extra large bedrooms are equipped with sofas and American king-sized beds with romantic white netting for enjoying those tropical nights while drifting off to the sound of the ocean breaking on the reef. Right: From above itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obvious that the entire house is designed to maximise its beachfront position, every room faces the Pacific Ocean while the coral walled garden is filled with palms, bougainvillea, fruit trees and fragrant frangipanis. The inground pool is integrated with the verandah and main pavilion for perfect access. The lawn leads directly to the white sand beach and tidal lagoon pool. Far right top: The sunsets from this aspect are a highlight of the day and this one is typical of the blaze of colour most evenings; below, the kitchen is crafted from concrete for durability and ease of maintenance while the cupboard units are easily moved on castors for cleaning and maintenance, the giant gas/electric oven is by Ilve, there are three fridges and a large walk-in pantry for easy entertaining. There is also an excellent home delivery service for all produce and foodstuffs, both local and imported.

Below left: The expansive main pavilion opens directly on to the pool and gardens and is 40 metres from the white sand beach with

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sweeping 180-degree ocean views. The perfect place to enjoy spectacular sunsets and poolside drinks at dusk on the endlessly warm days.

islandliving | 107 pacific

PR E S T IG E PR OPE R TY

The tropics to a T! Tula, Tamarind and Toa are the evocative names of the main structures on this beachside parcel of perfection set on Port Vila’s ocean shoreline.

The good news is that it could now be yours … for a price..

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pread over five secluded acres of meticulously manicured, absolute beachfront land Tamarind Beach Estate is state of the art island living. Fifteen minutes from Port Vila is one of the Pacific’s finest beachside properties, with 161 metres of sandy private beach facing north from the shoreline of Paradise Cove, this walled oceanfront compound offers a quintessentially luxurious yet simple tropical lifestyle.

Tula (meaning ‘quiet’, which it definitely is), the main residence opens to a vast terraced deck that leads directly to the beach. Surrounded by established trees and enjoying spectacular views across the ocean this elegant home with its soaring ceilings and sense of French colonial grandeur consists of two bedrooms on the entry level, each with superbly appointed ensuite bathrooms, while the curved white staircase leads to a third mezzanine bedroom, or alternatively a study.

Attached to the main house is a perfectly executed, urbane version of the traditional Vanuatu ‘nakamal’ or meeting place.

This features the requisite ‘natangura’ (thatched) roof with the addition of a built in outdoor cooking area and vast dining space for those perfect long summer lunches or evening dinners.

Ambience and style are words thrown around with abandon in typically hyperbolic real estate-speak but rarely does a property live up to these descriptors like Tamarind Beach Estate.

The current owners spared no expense and compromised

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on nothing when creating their dream compound for family and friends. Renowned Australian architect Iain Halliday was engaged to ensure the structural elements of this sophisticated take on the tropics were realised, while landscape designer Annie Wilkes literally brought the expansive grounds and gardens to life.

Set on a gentle arc of sand within the aptly named Paradise Cove, Tamarind’s three structures share the same effortlessly elegant ecosystem, the ‘interacting organisms’ in this case evoking a beachy, relaxed vibe which is the stuff of nostalgic recollections of the traditional littoral lifestyle.

Each of the bungalows, (Tamarind and Toa) is sited within a few steps of the water and feature two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, an open plan kitchen and lounge areas leading through white shuttered doors directly to columned decks with cane chairs reminiscent of colonial refinement. Between the two is another nakamal and direct beach access to thatched fares.

In addition to the seven bedrooms, six bathrooms and nine car spaces, there is a separate manager’s house and staff accommodation, and for those too impatient to take the 25-minute car trip from the airport, there’s a discreetly positioned helipad.

This unique property can be yours for AU$5,300,000.

For more detailed information on the property see: www. tamarindbeach.com and for sales information contact Catherine Boudier-Contant First National Vanuatu at +678 29014 or +678 777 3060 •

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PR E S T IG E PR OPE R TY

Island Sophistication Bali meets Vanuatu in this stylish, cool and spacious cluster of natangura-thatched buildings right on the beach in Vanuatu. Vila Sarangkita comes with a cooks kitchen and a ready made holiday rental income, plus all the benefits of the Pacific Ocean on the doorstep,

V

illa Sarangkita is an exclusive beachfront property set on the beach at Narpow Point Vanuatu Efate, Vanuatu.

The villa sits on a private, walled, one-acre absolute beachfront compound. The luxuriously appointed fourbedroom home is architecturally designed in a modern Balinese style and covers 472 square metres of living area plus a separate atelier/office building of 90 square metres as well as staff accommodation.

This is the ultimate in resort-style living with the added bonus of complete privacy right on the Pacific Ocean and only 20 minutes from Port Vila town but with two excellent restaurants within walking distance just along the beach.

The property features: Spacious living area, inground pool, ocean rock pool, guest bungalow, air conditioning, extensive master suite, spacious mezzanine bedroom plus en-suite, walk-in wardrobes, double carport, separate office/atelier and staff accommodation, security gate and walled garden.

Villa Sarangkita is not only perfect for the owner/occupier but also ideal as a holiday getaway with extremely reliable rental income from holiday lettings. Combine business with pleasure and an idyllic island lifestyle among the friendliest people on earth according to some surveys.

For sale at VT160,000,000 or AU$2 million. Please see www.pauarealty.com Property ID: NPPVS64 for further details.â&#x20AC;˘

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islandliving | 111 pacific

ABOD E

s r e v a e W Dream

Thatch Of The Day Images of tropical buildings almost always include a thatched roof. Whether on a fare, bale or hale, or something more elaborate like the soaring roof of a grand lobby entrance to a luxury hotel. What began life centuries ago as a cheap way of staying dry has evolved into an island icon, says Toby Preston.

Below: The overwater bungalows at luxurious Likuliku on Fijiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Malolo Island. Top right: The view with the lot â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a blazing sunset, palm trees

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and a beachside fare in Vanuatu. Below: The Chief’s Hut which is the centrepiece of the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea.

PICTURES: Craig Osment + Wikipedia + Steffen Burggraaf

H

ere in the Pacific we tend to think of the thatched bure or fare and a swaying palm as the archetypical tropical building meme, and to a large extent it is. It’s just that thatching is a roofing tradition that goes back centuries and has been employed in buildings across the world. Indeed there are more than 60,000 thatched buildings in the United Kingdom and many more across Europe.

The use of thatch was an obvious solution for ancient builders because of the availability of reeds, straw, rushes or palm fronds. The same applies today throughout our region, and given its instant familiarity as a tropical material it’s widely used in many modern resorts and hotels as well as for the most minimal and basic structures. One advantage I noticed after some damage to one of my natangura (the Vanuatu palm used for thatching) roofs after cyclone Pam was the ease with which it can be patched or replaced. A team of local boys was on the roof within hours of the passing of Pam, laying new palm fronds over the damaged sections and propping up a leaning woven bamboo and natangura structure with poles and ropes, after which it was as good as new. I did however lose two beachfront fares completely; all that was left were a couple of concrete footings used to secure the posts, the remainder disappeared never to be seen again. I have since given up on building anything on the beach, having now rebuilt twice after storm surges and cyclones – I was warned by one of my Ni-Vanuatu friends that the sea simply reclaims beaches on a regular basis and it’s useless trying to resist. She was right.

Speaking of repair work using new thatch over old, it’s said

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that in some cases old buildings have layers of thatch laid over centuries which are now up to two metres thick. Here in the tropics we tend to just rip it off and start again so the structure remains very light and can be easily supported by bush timber in lots of simpler buildings.

Around the Pacific there are some extremely elaborate examples which have required sophisticated engineering to construct and in turn have withstood some pretty wild weather without any real damage.

The Havannah resort on Havannah Harbour in Vanuatu has one of the finest natangura roofs in the country. A soaring conical structure with a modern chandelier beneath is the perfect setting for their fine dining restaurant, along with a much simpler structure on the end of their jetty which can be set up for intimate dinners over the water.

But when it comes to holiday destinations, the thatched roof is everywhere thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water and sand, from Costa Rica to Koh Samui, Mauritius to Maui (where thatched buildings are called hales), Fiji to Noumea to Africa to Japan to Bali to â&#x20AC;Ś well, everywhere.

Another feature of the tropical thatched roof is the beauty of the underside, where the spars are exposed and the elaborate ties form patterns around the battens that secure the palm fronds and the beams. The skills needed to construct these roofs are handed down over generations and the good thing about the renewed interest in using this material is that there is an increasing demand for authentic artisans and the maintenance of the skill base.

Surprisingly there are new buildings in Europe and the UK which still employ thatching as an architectural feature or as a link to the historic foundations of a renovated building. The irony now is that this simple and cheap solution to keeping the elements at bay has become far more expensive and labourintensive than using slate, or metal or tiles or wooden shingles. But the essential beauty of a thatch-clad building is as attractive today as it was centuries ago, and nothing beats it for lazing in the shade by the water.â&#x20AC;˘ Right: The central pavilion of a spectacular Pacific villa. This is one of four interlinked natangura-roofed structures which open directly to the Pacific. Far right: A contemporary take on thatching in the UK. Very elegant.

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Top left to right: A beachside dining fare; the ceiling at Havannah Resort, Vanuatu; the

intricate underside of a natangura roof. Above left to right: Salt at Sofitel, Fiji; it donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean a thing if it ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t got that swing; running repairs.

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G L O R I OU S GAR DE N S

n o i t a g propa

Growing Your Own Carolyn Ernst says grow your own. Whether you buy from a nursery or propagate from existing plants in your own garden, graft, plant seeds, or use cuttings, there are many ways to add to your garden.

T

he easiest way to get a new plant is to go to a nursery and buy one. There are many reasons why this is sometimes not possible, or maybe you just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to do it the easy way. Some heritage plants can be difficult to acquire as can some of the plants that prefer our hotter, wetter regions. Many plants sold in the larger commercial nurseries are mass produced in large propagation facilities in cooler areas and are not always suited to our warmer tropical regions.

There are also budgets to consider and sometimes we just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford the plant we want NOW. Then of course there is the personal satisfaction of doing it yourself. Also, no matter how cheap a single plant may be, if you are planning to mass plant a new project area and you need 50 of one plant, then the cost can add up, no matter how cheap.

Most plants can be propagated one way or another, some very easily, while others can be difficult and require sophisticated heating and misting systems. Perhaps the easiest plants to propagate are bulbs - these are very easy to lift, divide and replant. Some bulbs clump up more quickly than others and the only thing you need to watch is to make sure you get some roots with each bulb and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try to be too greedy and leave the little ones to grow a bit more before you repeat the process. This process is similar for the rhizome families, such as iris and other similar plants. The plant can be divided, making sure each section has some roots, and then either planted directly into the garden or into pots or planter bags.

When doing a lot of propagation, whatever method you use, it is often easier to use planter bags or pots and create

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a small nursery, where it is easy to give these new plants the love and attention they need to give them a good start to life. A small shade house is ideal; this can be as simple as a small lean-to off the side of your house or a commercial store bought model. A simple design that is easy for even the most amateur builder is using galvanized star pickets and poly pipe for the structure. The star pickets define the shape and fix it to the ground and then the poly pipe is fitted over the picket and arched up and over and attached to the picket on the other side, so producing a tunnel. Wire is then attached to the frame that will support your cover and hold the shape in place. You can then attach shade cloth or, if you want to protect your new plants from excess rain, then you can use special UV protected plastic. If you use plastic then you need to consider the airflow or you will have issues with moulds and other diseases that like a humid hot atmosphere. More comprehensive plans can be found on the internet.

Seeds are another great way to propagate plants. You can either collect your own or purchase them from your local store or from one of the many online stores. The range is endless.

If ordering from other countries or even other states, you need to check out the biosecurity regulations and what you are allowed to import. Remember, these laws are put in place to protect your environment and your local Industries so do make sure you follow them. If the seed is for plants that are not common in your area, please make sure they are suited to your climatic conditions. As much as I love lavender and can still sometimes be tempted to buy a packet, the truth is this Mediterranean climate-loving plant just hates our tropical humidity.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just remember that some plants take a very long time to grow and mature, this especially applies to fruit trees.â&#x20AC;?

Some seeds are very easy to germinate while others require very specific treatment, all the information you require is available on the web and most sites selling seeds will have detailed instructions for how to germinate their seeds. I find that it pays to check several sites, as there can sometimes be conflicting ideas on the best method to use, but the more you read the better informed you will be. Also check germination times as some seeds will take many months to germinate, so you do not want to throw out seeds that may still be good.

Just remember that some plants take a very long time to grow and mature, and this especially applies to fruit trees.

Some can take over seven years to fruit from seed. Most of the fruit trees that are commercially available in nurseries are grafted; this means the fruiting part has been attached to a different root stock. This is often done to protect the plants

from specific root diseases and shorten the time to fruiting and the grafted material is an exact genetic match to the parent plant. The only thing you need to watch is that the root stock does not send up shoots; this will affect the vigour of the graft and, left unchecked, the root stock will eventually take over. If you see this happen just snip off the offending shoot.

When purchasing fruit trees make sure you do your research to find the varieties that best suit your climate and soil. There is now a huge range and some great suppliers.

Some of the more exotic fruit trees can be hard to find but you will find that your persistence in finding them is worth it when you taste your first crop.

Cuttings are probably the next most popular method of propagation, after seeds. Most shrubs can be successfully grown from a cutting. Some are very easy and it is just a

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Above left: Fruit trees growing from seed. Right: Perhaps the easiest plants to propagate are bulbs, they are easy to lift, divide and replant.

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in your own garden or I find then great way to give someone a special gift for that special occasion: this could be a fruit tree for their garden or a special plant for their home. There are now many people propagating plants to earn a little bit of pocket money and selling them in the local markets or craft days. If you do not have the time or inclination to propagate your own, then this is a great way to buy the plants you want.

There is a new trend and this is growing plants in water this limits their growth and for those of us now living in tiny or small homes it is a way to still have your plants around you without taking up too much space. There are many plants that can be grown this way including the large philodendron family. This method can also be used to start plants growing before you transplant them out into a soil medium. Children enjoy this process and like to watch the plants growing and it is easy for them to have their own plant to look after and so introduce them to the love of growing at an early stage. Everybody will remember the old method of suspending an avocado seed over water and watching it grow.

Once more everyone make sure you enjoy life and take time to smell the roses, happy gardening! â&#x20AC;˘ Gardening editor Carolyn Ernst owns and operates Eden on the River, an open-garden, petting zoo, cafe, mini zipline, waterfall adventure park just outside Port Vila in Vanuatu. It is a must-visit whilst in Vanuatu for a great day out.

PICTURES: Carolyn Ernst

matter of sticking them in the ground and they will grow. Some are trickier and there are various methods to improve your success rate. I find the best success normally comes from using wood that is not too old but is not new growth. Make sure there is a growing node at the bottom of your cutting and another at the top. All new growth will come from these nodes and if there are lengths of stem either below or above these nodes, then this will start to rot before the cutting has a chance to start rooting and this then spreads to the rest of your cutting and so your cutting will fail to grow.

I use normal soil for my cuttings but some like to use a sand mix; this stops waterlogging but you will have to be more vigilant to prevent drying out. I have found for some plants the success varies depending on the season or if the plant is flowering or not.

The final way to propagate is through grafting (already mentioned briefly) and marcotting. While grafting is attaching one plant to the root stock of another, (they are normally related) marcotting is convincing a part of a mature plant to produce roots which can then be detached from the parent plant and replanted. A portion of the bark is removed and then surrounded in a medium like sphagnum moss, moistened and then wrapped in a moisture proof fabric and left to allow the plant to produce roots. Again the marcott is an exact genetic replica of the parent.

There are hours of pleasure and self-satisfaction to be gained from propagating your own plants. These can be used

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PAR AV ION

AI is Nigh – Not! Artificial intelligence is not all it’s cracked up to be says a neurotypical Toby Preston.

I

f there is a brave new world of artificial intelligence lurking on the margins of the cybersphere then I’m the coward hiding out in an analogue attic.

It’s not as if I’m a complete Luddite and digital denier, I’ve been working on a computer for the past 30 years and can’t live without a Wi-Fi connection or an iPhone hotspot as I move between my iMac and Macbook Pro. I love the international connectivity when I travel, although these days anything international is entirely restricted to my photographic memories, the locations of movies I’m catching up with and a satellite link.

I couldn’t live without Wikipedia or Google but I definitely can get by without Facebook although the reverse is obviously not the case given that it seems to know so much about me despite my presence being restricted to a picture of a deckchair. I get a constant stream of pathetic requests from Mr. Z. asking for further details about my birthplace and which educational institutions I may be an alumnus of. But he knows enough to send me an album of pictorial mementoes every year, which he has scraped from friends’ feeds – spooky! And like everyone else I am speculatively linked to a veritable forest of other people via the Facebook family tree where, while there may be no shared DNA, the reach of the social genealogy is positively scary.

So, Facebook’s intrusive presence and Google’s intuitive search engine are in fact arguments against my scepticism of AI in general, these behemoths are right across their algorithms and know how to mine the deepest data seams which result in those annoying ads popping up seemingly randomly but in fact as a result of previous searches and oogie boogie mind reading.

But it’s this sort of stuff that reassures me as to the uncertain future of AI. As it says on the box, ‘artificial intelligence’ and it is just that. Any device with actual intelligence wouldn’t keep sending me advertisements for a Ford Ranger taillight lens after I had bought the only taillight lens I’d ever needed for my ute.

Likewise a shoe stretcher, how many shoe stretchers can a non-cobbler need? I imagine if I were to search for my own coffin my beneficiaries would continue to get coffin offers in perpetuity.

I was behind a woman at the supermarket checkout the other day who was having a brief contretemps with her iPhone payment software. She was becoming increasingly frustrated

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with Siri’s inability to complete a transaction, so she starts demanding loudly ‘Siri pay bill’ and Siri make a PAYMENT!’ Finally she gave up and tapped her card as I do, so much easier than contorting one’s wrist so that an Apple watch can be scanned or shout at your digital assistant in public. And while I don’t believe that 5G phones towers caused the COVID pandemic, I do suspect that Siri*, Alexa, Google’s digital assistant and things called Robin and Cortana do eavesdrop when you’re talking about your next holiday destination or which pasta dish you’re thinking of for dinner. It can’t be a coincidence that within minutes you’re getting ads for Santorini or Tagliatelle.

But it’s the more mundane machinations of what has been described as a ‘discrete deterministic mechanical device’ that blindly follows its instructions that convince me that AI and computer hardware have a way to go before they replace squishy little neurons and synapses. Try calling your local telco and get any sense out of that loop of tape that tries to anticipate what you may be calling about, that endlessly patient robotic voice just never really gets it and obviously the last thing any telco wants to do is actually answer a phone call which results in a total cranial detonation in my case.

And what about those web forms which refuse to accept phone numbers with spaces or dates expressed in any way other than the one they have been coded to acknowledge? I don’t know how many hours I’ve wasted trying to submit forms that deny my address or the date or my gender and almost anything else a five year-old would be able to comprehend.

But there are websites and tech entities that do understand how to make selling their product simple enough for anyone with two fingers and keyboard to get checkout satisfaction in an instant. Hello Amazon! I can download a 600-page novel to my Kindle anywhere in the world in about ten seconds with a single click. Also the streaming services like Netflix and Stan who know exactly what I am watching on any device and can resume the stream from anywhere anytime and then recommend similar programs that I may like based on what I have just watched.

The man-made mock mind has some catching up to do and it will be a while before it overtakes the genuine article – I think! * Siri was named after one of the inventor’s co-workers in Norway and means ‘beautiful woman who leads you to victory’ in Norwegian.•

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