TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe Mandarin Oriental Paris has re-opened its stunning courtyard garden for the summer season. Providing one of the most charming green spaces within the city for guests and locals to dine, enjoy cocktails and socialise, the courtyard garden is now open daily from 11am – 2am. Guests checking in with the Luxury Breaks Package priced from £641 will receive credit that can be spent on rooms, dining or spa, making this the perfect summer break. www.mandarinoriental.com/paris
Holiday Hotspot – Aitutaki, Cook Islands
www.cookislands.travel If you have ever dreamed of escaping to a semi deserted island, far from the hustle and bustle of the modern world, the Cook Islands are the perfect destination and the one you need to visit is “Aitutaki” Nominated by Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely Planet Guidebooks, as one of the worlds most beautiful islands in 2010 the region was the first in the group to embrace Christianity when the Reverend John Williams of the London Missionary Society arrived in 1821. Traveling with Williams was a young missionary, Papeiha, from the Society Islands, who stayed on when Williams continued his travels and dedicated the rest of his life to his task. The CICC Church, construction of which started in 1828, is the oldest church here and has a memorial to John Williams and Papeiha. Aitutakians believe they descended from Ru, the famous seafaring warrior who sailed from Avaiki, the legendary homeland of the early Polynesians and settled here with his four wives, and attendants of warriors and beautiful maidens of noble birth landed in a double hulled canoe. Cook Islands Mãori or Maori Kuki Airani is the most widely
spoken language however the local island dialects differ depending where you go! Cook Island Maori is also referred to as ‘Te reo Ipukarea’ or “the language of the Ancestral Homeland’ With a permanent population of around 2000, the island is covered with green hills, lagoons, and sandy beaches, making it a popular destination for visitors looking to spend some time in the Pacific. Here you will also find lush tropical rainforest, with small farms and plantations. In the villages, many local people have organic gardens, and keep chickens and pigs, but dogs are forbidden on the island! Accessible mainly by air, the region offers resorts, historic sites, and mostly outdoor activities. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of “Aitutaki” is the islanders themselves. Religious and reserved but never lacking a laugh, they take pride in being hosts whether at one of their cultural dinners in local homes or with a wave along the road where they help out visitors. While there are some who look to hang out on land, the lagoon and its surrounding coral reef offer excellent opportunities to head out on the water. . Aitutaki is also fast becoming known as a world class spear fishing destination in the South Pacific. Bishops Lagoon Cruises are one of the main operators who specialise in diving and snorkeling in these parts. A typical day out includes stopping to explore and swim, snorkeling or diving and watching turtles. A barbeque lunch of freshly caught fish is served on “One Foot” island where you have free time for snorkeling, swimming, walking or just lying on one of the idyllic beaches. The clear water, white sand beaches, and coconut palms make for a setting of almost surreal beauty and remember to bring your passport for the obligatory
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stamp! Bishops also offer day trips and sunset cruises together with wedding options.www.bishopscruises. com This small island with the big heart offers numerous island nights featuring local dancing, drumming and songs. Cook Island children learn to dance as soon as they can walk and their show is especially entertaining. Aitutaki also has land tours to show you more and while visiting you climb to the highest point, tour working plantations, ancient mares, and learn about history and culture www.aitutaki-walkabout. com.au The Cook Islands are also easy to get around on your own and there are places to rent bikes and scooters to enhance your Polynesian adventure. www.popoara.com Aitutaki accommodation choice ranges from budget to luxury with guest houses, beach front bungalows, hotels, beach huts, boutique villas, luxury resorts, vacation rentals, garden lodges, and much more. The high end properties offer access to the lagoon’s white-sandy beaches and this was one of the most appealing aspects of our stay at Tamanu Beach bungalows. This twin complex is the creation of Mike Henry, grandson of the late Prime Minister Sir Albert Henry. Both parts have their
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own swimming pools and bars, while a restaurant sits between them. The spacious guest bungalows face courtyards that terminate at the beach. Some units have a separate bedroom and kitchens, while others are one-room bungalows with TVs. www. tamanubeach.com The one place you will want to have dinner on Aitutaki is Tupunas. After a career as dressmaker, florist, and artist, Tupuna Hewett opened the most amazing dining experience, an open-air addition to her home in the middle of the island. Her menu depends on what the local fishermen have caught but be sure to wear the mosquito spray! Aitutaki a 45-minute flight from Rarotonga is a very beautiful island with romance and fun written all over it!! You can visit on a day trip package or for as long as you like! www. cookislands.travel Air New Zealand offers the fastest
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and easiest way from Ireland & the UK to the Cook Islands with daily flights from London Heathrow to Los Angeles, and weekly direct Monday connections to Raratonga via LA. Free of charge stopovers in LA are also possible if passengers want to have a multi centre trip or to break the journey. Flights from the UK are operated on the award winning 777-300 aircraft where you can try out the economy skycouch or spacious premium economy spaceseat. From Dublin fares start from €1356.00 Inc taxes and from Belfast £1315.00 inc taxes. www.airnewzealand. co.uk Domestic flights are operated by Air Rarotonga with daily flights to Aitutaki and scheduled flights to Atiu, www.airraro.com. If you would prefer to book with a travel agency Trailfinders offer a 14 night package from
€3,899 pp includes international flights with Air New Zealand from Dublin (Cork or Shannon via London Heathrow & Los Angeles) or from £3,469per person ex Belfast for 7 nights at the 4+* Little Polynesian Resort, Raratonga in a Garden Pia Tiare Room with transfers & continental breakfast and 7 nights at 3+* Tamanu Beach, Aitutaki, in a Garden Studio with continental breakfast & flight / road transfers. These prices are based on two people sharing travelling for 1 to 30 Nov 2012 departures, subject to availability. Other dates available. www.trailfinders.ie Robert Walshe is a freelance contributor / broadcaster and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe. com
Home and Away Extra The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company new mobile application just launched goes well beyond basic hotel search and reservation functionality, initiating a distinctive experience before a hotel visit has even begun. But the unique aspects of the app don’t stop at exclusive tips and tours. GPS technology also allows the application to recognize when a guest has arrived at a Ritz-Carlton
and can provide location specific advice, information and even exclusive offers. With the tap of the finger, guests can learn more about local area culture and customs, concierge tips and even the hotel’s art collection. Guests can also easily keep up with a resort’s activity calendar at Powersourt so they’ll never miss a wine tasting, or activity. www.RitzCarlton.com/App
with Kathleen Murray
Pedigree v. Mongrel – the choice What is the right dog for me? What are the advantages of getting a pedigree dog and what are the advantages of getting a mongrel dog? If you buy a pedigree dog then you have a history of where the dog came from. The pedigree form has the names of several generations of your dogs relatives on it. You will know the mother and father, the grandparents etc. You will know if any of the dogs on the pedigree form have won anything at dog shows (if they are champions). Pedigree dogs are bred for specific purposes. Some are herding dogs, some are gun
dogs, some are “toy” dogs (lapdogs) etc. so you will know what the dog is most likely to be attracted to e.g. a springer spaniel like to run over to hedges and bark, a border collie likes to herd things even children, a husky likes to run, a terrier type dog likes to hunt mice etc. Dogs work with the instincts that their type is bred to work with. Some pedigree dogs are prone to certain types of medical problems. Please don’t ignore this fact as veterinary costs can be quite high. Money-wise alone, pedigree dogs can cost a lot of money. First you have to buy the dog, then you need to pay attention
to grooming. Some dogs need a lot of grooming and this is another frequent and regular bill for you to allow for. Pedigree dogs often develop behaviour problems as their owners think of them as more than a dog (because they paid a lot of money for it) and this can lead to trouble. Mongrel dogs have their ups and downs also. You can get beautiful cross breed (mongrel) dogs at dog shelters or dog pounds. Mongrels tend to have fewer medical problems than pedigree dogs. Because their blood lines are more hap-hazard they can go their whole lifetime with only the necessary trips (vac-
cinations and neutering etc.) to the vet. Mongrels can have any kind of behaviour as the breeding is unknown. This is not a bad thing. They tend to have friendly personalities and can be very intuitive and playful (if brought up properly, like any dog). I have a “Joe Soap” average looking collie (sheepdog). She is not a pedigree dog. She is 13 years old and that little dog has been the greatest companion anyone could want. She has worked her whole life to make life better for other dogs by demonstrating to farmers, children in schools, private individuals etc. what dogs are
capable of. She has never been sick in her life although her heart is weak now as she is older. She is in great form, sharp as a button and I wouldn’t part with her for anything. She will be a great loss when she goes. I also have pedigree dogs (given to me) which have cost a fortune over time in vets bills and in grooming care, so getting a
dog is a very personal thing. One is as good as the other if brought up the right way. No matter what dog you pick please make sure you get it neutered if you are not an above board, full time breeder, otherwise you risk adding to the population of unwanted dogs as your dog will breed with some “ship that passes in the night”... or day.