Home and Away by Robert Walshe

TRAVEL

Home & Away with Robert Walshe OTHER Asian countries are gaining interest from travellers due to ongoing political unrest in Thailand. Travel price and comparison website Cheapﬂights says travellers are switching to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia as Thailand declares fourth state of emergency in two years. While search ﬁgures to Thailand are still up 39% on last year, it falls behind the rising popularity of other East Asian nations with similar offerings, according to the company. Indonesia is leading the way with a 116% rise on last year, followed by Vietnam, up by 94% followed by Malaysia at 79%. Vietnam works out to be slightly cheaper or equal to Thailand, depending on the purchase. For example, a beer in Thailand is approximately £1.56 where as a beer in Vietnam costs 90p.

Weekend Hotspot For many tourists to Ireland the Ring of Kerry journey instils their image of Ireland and very often as natives we tend to forget its true aura. The scenery, coastline towns and villages are all spectacular and I once heard it said that the landscape varies a hundred times in 100 km such is its diversity. Even in recessionary times the Ring of Kerry drive is crowded and you may ﬁnd yourself behind a convoy of tour buses at almost anytime of the day so a visit in off peak is my advice. Most of the tour buses drive the Ring in a counter-clockwise direction and some

tourists who drive themselves prefer to drive the same route in a clockwise direction to avoid the crowds. Sneem is a colourful little village that has an “artsy” orientation and is one of the most popular stops on the ring. You will ﬁnd several galleries here, as well as sculptures and the town is a popular family holiday destination. There are a variety of safe beaches in the area and the surroundings attract adventure sports enthusiasts. `The village is also home to a sculpture park featuring international works by a variety of artists, a Geo-Park exploring local geology, a sensory garden and riverside wildlife trail. Nearby Parknasilla an indulgent Victorian hotel has been reinvented for the modern era, with a magniﬁcent new spa overlooking Kenmare Bay. This historic hotel is set in 500 acres of rolling green countryside, surrounded by subtropical vegetation, mountainous backdrops and tranquil Atlantic sea views. Best of all is Parknasilla’s attitude to children if you have a large family to consider, In fact they are perceived as guests of the future and catered for accordingly with special menus, entertainment and activities. Up the sweeping staircase and past the stained glass window, another reminder of a bygone age, the older bedrooms at Parknasilla Hotel are full of character, with classic dark wood furnishings and tall bay windows. The property has 92 bedrooms and suites but the 24 two-bedroom courtyard lodges just off the main

a Resort & Boat

■ Exterior View Parknasill

Pet’s Corner...

building and the 38 spacious three-bedroom villas are particularly suited to families. The older block with higher ceilings would be my preferred choice and the new rooms are quite small so know what you want before you book. The cuisine at Pygmalion Restaurant is a triumph for Head Chef Peter Brennan and the original Victorian dining ■ Pygmalion room overlooking the Restauran t Parknasill splendour of the bay adds a Resort C o Kerry a sense of sophistication. A very large and beautifully appointed formal room, this is an impressive restaurant by any standards and diners are left in no doubt that this is dining in a style that beﬁts the age and history of the building. Presentation is exquisite ■ Hot Tubs at Parknasilla Resort Co Kerry throughout, adding to the sense of a special occasion. The best tables, in a large semi-circular conservatory style area, eral Charles de Gaulle to name but Croke Park Stadium Tours have views over the garden but you a few. Stay 2 nights in a standard has announced the return of need to book early to avoid disap- double room with sea view includtheir Shuttle Bus Service for the pointment. The newly developed spa ing breakfast each morning and an Summer Months. The shuttle and leisure centre has 13 treatment evening meal on the night of your will run until September with rooms and the thermal suite has a choice from €169 per person sharing the service taking tourists from south easterly aspect incorporating per night. www.parknasillahotel.ie the centre of Dublin’s fair city a mix of wet and dry, warm, hot and Weekly Best Buy to two landmark venues deeply cold cabins. Two different relaxation embedded in Irish history. Startareas and the wall herb sauna face Hotel Villa Padierna Marbella is ofing out from Trinity College, the directly to private woodlands and bus will stop at three ‘pick-ups’ I found the views across the ocean fering an amazing spa break package along the way - at Trinity Colbreathtaking. Two outdoor hot tubs from just €244 per night, per room lege, Suffolk Street and Parnell allow guests both hydro and ther- and two guests can enjoy a sumpSquare before reaching the mal experiences in one and its fun tuous guest room, buffet breakfast Croke Park and then onto the to sit there on a cold spring day and and a Thermal spa circuit each in new Glasnevin Museum. The feel the warmth of the sensation. the hotel’s stunning 2,000 squareextension of the shuttle service The selection of outdoor activities metre ESPA Thermae Spa. The spa to Glasnevin will allow tourists at Parknasilla has come of age with was inspired by a traditional Roman and the public greater access something to suit everyone. On offer bath house and features eight steam to two of Dublin’s “must see” miles of walks, both guided and in- rooms and saunas each with a differattractions. The Croke Park dependent, tennis, a private 12 hole ent aroma, temperature and music. venue hosts the Stadium Tour golf course, horse riding, petanque, Hotel Villa Padierna is located in and the GAA Museum, both of croquet, archery, clay pigeon shoot- a tranquil setting overlooking the which are a fantastic celebraing, ﬁshing, falconry and boating. Mediterranean. The 129-room hotel tion of the history and heritage Parknasilla Resort continues to be was modelled on a Tuscan palace of Ireland’s native sports. one of Ireland’s most romantic get- and features 14 private villas and Robert Walshe is a freelance aways, so make sure and sign the three 18-hole golf courses. Set in contributor / broadcaster and guest book on departure and join the hotel’s immaculate grounds is is guest travel writer for River many well known visitors through- a spectacular Roman Amphitheatre Media newspaper titles across out the years including Bertie Ahern, that can seat 400 www.ritzcarlton. the island of Ireland Princess Grace of Monaco and Gen- com

Home and Away Extra

with Kathleen Murray

with Kathleen Murray: Animal Behavioural Therapist

Discipline – a major issue THE word discipline can cause problems for many people. Everyone has their own way of looking at this word and its meaning. Correction, discipline, chastisement and other words like this can have very negative meaning for some people. Correction is not negative. It is a positive thing. Correction is about showing a better way to do something, changing a wrong into a right. How it is done is important otherwise it is not a correction it is a punishment. It should not take away from trust or conﬁ dence. Discipline is very necessary

as we would be nowhere without it. We discipline ourselves everyday otherwise we’d all be out stealing, murdering etc. We were disciplined at a young age for our own safety among other things so discipline is also a positive thing. Our animals need to be disciplined also in order to learn how to be part of the bigger picture. None of us are islands. We all (animals included) share the planet so rules are important. If there was no discipline there would be chaos to say the least. How to discipline, that is the

Living

question. Discipline should never involve, shouting, kicking, threatening behaviour etc. It shouldn’t be done in a way that frightens or upsets. It should turn on a light bulb inside the brain. Bullying and disciplining are worlds apart. If a dog is pulling out a bin and scattering rubbish everywhere there are ways to correct this. Who left the bin alone with the dog? Who did not teach the dog to stay away from the bin? Who let the dog out unsupervised to pull out the neighbours bin? Who thought that an animal

should know all these human rules? Who needs the correction and discipline? It’s always good to look at the situation and check whose to blame before you act. If a dog has gone to the toilet in the house then the ﬁrst question is… Who closed the dog in the house? Next, Who was not watching to see if the dog went to the door to try to get out, but couldn‘t ? Who didn’t know that a young pup has to pee every half hour or so and especially after it eats, drinks and sleeps. When you know who to correct or discipline then do it gently but ﬁrmly…