TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe Kuoni’s Travel Trends Report reveals that it’s the tried and tested favourites that continue to pull in the punters. Maldives is once again the best selling longhaul destination for 2013 and it continues to be number one choice for honeymoons. Perhaps slightly less predictably, the islands are also the second top choice for singles. Overall, Kuoni’s top destinations, based on bookings up to December 2012, are the Maldives, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the USA, UAE, Mauritius, Malaysia, Barbados, Singapore and St Lucia
Holiday Hotspot – Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand
www.fourseasons.com/ chiangmai www.etihad.com
Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second-largest city (with Bangkok being the largest), set in the lush mountains of Chiang Mai Province. Founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lannathai kingdom, it has over 300 Buddhist temples, many dating back to the 13th century. It offers spectacular scenery, and is a great base for trekking, rafting, elephant riding and hill tribe visits. In fact the northern region of Thailand differs considerably from the rest of the country, both in climate and geography as well as culturally and lin-
guistically. This diversity has been attracting tourists since the late 1970’s and over time the region has developed into one of the prime destinations in Thailand. To enjoy and explore Chiang Mai, it is best to spend at least 3 days here. Doi Suthep is the most famous of the temples sitting at 1685 meters above the city offering spectacular views. If you have children or a love for elephants then visit Mae Sa Elephant Camp where they show off many skills including playing football and even painting! Elephant riding is also an option here but don’t forget to bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, or an umbrella to shield you from the hot sun. A visit to Tiger Kingdom located in Mae Rim is about 25 minutes by Tuk Tuk from the city and also popular with visitors. In February the annual Flower Festival in Nong Buak Had Park, Amphor Muang, is a local tradition – and a perfect opportunity to see African marigolds, orchids, chrysanthemums and assorted roses. Also a reminder that Chiang Mai is one of the most famous places for celebrating Songkran, the Thai New Year. Traditional practices, such as giving food offerings to monks and Buddha image bathing, the morning market and the sand pagoda contest are all highlights with celebrations
lasting for three days, starting April 13th. Occupying a scenic corner of the Mae Rim Valley, 20 minutes from Chiang Mai’s downtown, the ultra luxurious Four Seasons is the regions most elegant and sought-after resort in Northern Thailand. The collection of pavilions blends in like a jigsaw with the small hillside villages and if you really want to splurge the 16 suites come with plunge pools and personal housekeepers and the interior design is traditional chique. All suites include 24 hour room service, twice daily maid service, daily and overnight laundry and pressing. The spa features seven treatment suites offering privacy for individuals or couples. Each suite offers a variety of facilities, including outdoor showers, private herbal steam rooms and outdoor soaking tubs and I would rate the traditional Thai massage offered here as the best I had anywhere. Culinary tourism in Thailand is all the rage and a cooking class can be a great way to spend a half day—or longer—and learn some of the history of Thai cuisine. At Four Seasons Chiang Mai classes kick off with a shopping trip to the local market at 7am. Here you enjoy breakfast at the famous“ Warorot Market “It was fun to
Living
explore with the locals and watch them shopping for groceries. Back at the resort handson kitchen demonstrations are given by a worldclass Four Seasons chef who carefully explains the finer points of Thai cooking techniques. If your feeling n Four Seasons Chiang Mai Pa more energetic vilion Room, Th ailand. they also offer Muay Thai kickboxing sessions, yoga, tennis, river rafting, and June and the wet season and horseback riding. Din- runs between July and Octo- the sky – as well as MP3 ner at the Sala Mae Rim. was ber. The average tempera- player connectivity and unioutstanding and the unique ture is 26 degrees Celsius (79 versal power sockets. Etihad flavours of northern and veg- degrees Fahrenheit) Etihad Airways also offer a dedietarian Thai specialties at a operates 10 flights a week cated lounge within the new buffet evening memorable. from Dublin and daily flights Terminal 2 facility at Dublin Since the resort’s opening from Manchester and Heath- airport, with features includthey have received a number row to Abu Dhabi and over ing showers and a business of International awards in- 85 destinations including centre. This impressive oasis cluding “Top Resorts in Asia numerous daily connections of calm is furnished with Ital– Number 3” Conde Nast to Bangkok and onwards to ian leather chairs and soft Traveler USA and “Top 100 Chiang Mai through its code sofas with extra facilities inHotels in the World” Travel share with Bangkok Airways. cluding a family room, bar, & Leisure (USA). With the In business class on the in- and a la carte and buffet food Thai Culinary Package at ternational leg expect award- choices. Etihad also offer a Four Seasons Resort Chiang winning fully flat beds in an private chauffeur taking you Mai, you’ll enjoy three nights innovative 1-2-1 layout – all door-to-door in a luxury limin a luxurious Pavilion and a seats have aisle access and ousine for customers across culinary adventure in our are forward facing. Expect the island of Ireland. For best Cooking School. For best the services of a dedicated fares visit www.etihad.com rates visit www.fourseasons. Food & Beverage Manager com/chiangmai offering restaurant quality Robert Walshe is a travel The weather in Chiang Mai dining-on-demand, boutique broadcaster with Q Radio is divided into three seasons, wines, and a unique “kitchen Network and Travel Editor cool, hot and wet. The cool anytime option “. Enjoy over for River Media newspaper season is between Novem- 600 hours of on-demand en- titles across the island of ber and February, the hot tertainment on some of the Ireland. www.robertwseason runs between March largest personal screens in alshe.com
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Irish Ferries has welcomed in 2013 with a reminder to motorists that a 10% early booking discount is being offered to motorists planning to holiday in France this summer. Coupled with this, motorists can secure their travel dates and accommodation simply by paying a low EUR100 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking with the balance payable just six weeks before depar-
Pet’s Corner...
ture – an offer which Irish Ferries states is in contrast with other carriers who seek payment in full or a more significant deposit at time of booking. Third in their line-up of early booking incentives is the offer of a free trip to Britain for a car plus two passengers on their Ireland/UK services to motorists making a return booking to France during June, July and August. www.irishferries.com
with Kathleen Murray
Does your dog cry, bark or whine a lot?
We have all seen the cartoon or watched a film where a dog is barking in the night and someone gets up, opens a window and throws a boot or something at the dog. They are usually at the end of their tether and the frustration and anger is plain to be seen and heard. Does this method cure the problem barker permanently? No. Can you be done for cruelty? Yes. If we look at reasons why dogs bark then you will know how to deal with the problem. If a neighbours dog is barking then it can be for many reasons. Some of these reasons are: It could be that the dog is new and
feeling a bit insecure. It could be that the dog is alone a lot and is very lonely. It could be that the dog has been used to being in the house a lot and is now growing up into a nuisance because nobody put manners on it and now it has been put outside, causing much stress to the dog, the family and all the neighbours. Another reason for barking a lot is that the dog could be scared. A dog could be ill, have an injury that nobody knows about, has an owner in hosptal suddenly and left to it’s own devices for a bit in the heat of the moment. None of these reasons are the
dogs fault but the dog is the one that “gets the boot”. What can you do if there is a problem with nuisance barking in your neighbourhood.? It is usually a good idea to approach the owner of the dog when they are at home. Tell them their dog has been barking a lot and ask if there is a problem? Maybe you could help in some way? You could offer some support if it is a temporary situation and the dog has nobody to walk it or look in on it for a short spell, you could suggest a dog trainer if you think the person simply doesn’t know how to fix it themselves or call for some help if
the person is an addict and is not fit to look after the animal. If it is something that you can work out between you then all the better. If you get a hostile response from the neighbour then you have some options also. You can ring the Gardai, Social Services, Animal Welfare, Dog Wardens or whoever you think could help. The animal may be a nuisance to you but it is not the animals fault, remember?. It is depending on you to help it. If it is your own dog then do something about it. There is no need for a dog to be barking all night or all day if the owner and the dog have the right relationship. A dog that is a nuisance
barker does not make a good guard dog as nobody pays much attention to it after a while. They just turn up their television to block it out. If someone comes to your door in a civilised manner and explains to you (in a civilised way) that your dog is causing them distress, then please try to work with them rather than against them. They are not doing it to annoy you, it is you that has annoyed them.