Pacific Island Living

from the editor Pacific Island Living No 11 | Autumn 2015 EDITOR Tiffany Carroll Email: tcarroll@photogenicpr.com ART DIRECTOR Nicole Brown FEATURES EDITOR Georgie Gordon FASHION + STYLE EDITOR Olivia Waugh FOOD EDITOR Christiana Kaluscha GARDENING EDITOR Carolyn Ernst CONTRIBUTORS Darrius Detenamo, Toby Preston, Craig Osment, Pat Ingram, Carolyn Ernst, Christiana Kaluscha, Elio Stamm, Tatyana Leonov, Tom Donald, Rod Eime, Andrew Read, Leith Campbell, Tiffany Carroll, Tourism Fiji, PGA. EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Pat Ingram PUBLISHER: Craig Osment ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Kerri Petkovic, Advertising Director Telephone: (678) 774 0674 Email: features@photogenicpr.com Port Vila: Rebecca Murphy, Sales Representative Telephone (678) 778 0005 Email sales@photogenicpr.com Honiara: The Marketing Haus - Fiona Marston Telephone: (677) 746 8543 Email: themarketinghaus@gmail.com Australia | Nauru : Sasha Mathers Telephone: +61 400 989 844 Email: adverts@photogenicpr.com Fiji: Colette Samson Telephone (679) 712 6153 / 944 7516 Email: colettesamson@connect.com.fj Pacific Island Living, is published quarterly by Photogenic Limited Fax (678) 23 402 | PO Box 322 Port Vila, Vanuatu

t’s great to welcome you to another issue of Pacific Island Living. We’re particularly thrilled to have Tourism Fiji on board now too, with Fiji Island Living joining our ever-growing Pacific library of magazines. We now publish five distinct editions of Pacific Island Living and we’re very proud to be the official inflight magazine of Nauru Airlines and honoured to have the Honourable Joe Natuman, Prime Minister officially welcome visitors to Vanuatu as well.

For those of you reading Pacific Island Living in Australia, we hope you will enjoy our insider’s guides to the best the Pacific has to offer, from Elio Stamm’s awe-inspiring story of diving with whales in Tonga, to Rod Eime’s fishing adventures in Solomon Islands and Craig Osment’s review of Ratua Private Island in Vanuatu.

We absolutely love bringing you stories from the very best islands in the world, all of which we believe lie in the Pacific.

Happy reading.

Printed by APOL.

Tiffany Carroll

Find us on Facebook and Instagram

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@PacIsLiving

at instagram.com/pacisliving

Or read this and all our magazines online at www.pacific-island-living.com.

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 or Pacific Island Living.

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CONTENTS 2015 8 BEACHCOMBER

This issue we feature an island in Sydney harbour for ‘glampers’, the Fiji Triathlon and a couple of goodies for sun lovers.

11 BOOK LOOK Georgie Gordon’s picks for great reading, this time she’s reviewing six of the best cookbooks from the new releases list.

13 NET ASSETS Our pick of the websites we love! This issue we look at a selection which includes the best of the eclectic and cool. Click on!

14 ART SMART – SLEEK + SOPHISTICATED Art Deco represents the cutting edge of ‘machineage’ design from cars to clothes, bikes to buildings – between-the-wars but timeless creativity at its best. It’s Toby Preston’s favourite design era.

19 PACIFIC PULSE Round up of news from the region.

From banking help for budding entrepreneurs in Vanuatu to the bidding for the hand of a Tongan princess through to innovative tools for travel agents in the Pacific. Keep up to date with the latest.

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28 STYLE+DÉCOR – BRIGHT IDEAS Olivia Waugh finds the best party pieces for decorating everything from your table to your face, and your walls.

32 ISLAND EPICURE Tatyana Leonov takes a tour of Fiji’s finest dining options and finds herself well and truly sated and satisfied with the country’s increasingly sophisticated food scene.

38 FASHION FLASH This season’s guide to stepping out in style for parties. Fashion editor Olivia Waugh finds jewellery, accessories and frocks with flair which you’ll want to wear every day.

44 ABODE All aboard for life on the ocean wave. Toby Preston takes a voyeuristic peek into the lives of the rich and famous and the aquatic craft they call home when the whim arises.

50 ISLAND ESCAPE Ratua, the ultimate island. Craig Osment revisits one of the Pacific’s secret luxury escapes and finds the food and the ambience right up there with the best there is. Peace and tranquillity abound.

PICTURE: PGA

Autumn

Packages are still available for the 2015 Fiji PGA. Get yours today.

54 BEAUTY Georgie Gordon researches the beauty tips of frequent flyers and reveals how to keep yourself looking and feeling your best whether emerging from hours in the air or from the car or a train. Refreshing!

56 GOLF, OF COURSE This year Fiji is again on the PGA’s tour of Australasia agenda and looking forward to teeing off in paradise this coming October. There’s still time to book a green-side spot for golf tragics.

60 HEALTH The health of your relationship has a major bearing on your general wellbeing. Georgie Gordon finds out how to keep it vibrant and alive with tips from the experts.

62 FOOD Christiana Kaluscha goes international, finding the best duck recipes from across the globe. Start plucking and roasting then tasting the delights of this gamey little bird.

67 BUY IN Gayle Stapleton our investment advisor comes up with five tips for offshore investors wanting to buy property in Australia.

68 RESORT REPORT TripAdvisor’s top ten South Pacific island resort destinations for the past year.

Selected by the world’s leading travel site from the tens of thousands of personal reports on holiday experiences.

74 ISLAND ADVENTURE Elio Stamm has a whale of a time in Tonga, where he gets up close and personal with the biggest mammals in the ocean and finds them a whole lot less scary than he first thought.

82 FISHING Gizo and Munda in the Solomon Islands are the islands of choice for Roderick Eime for a spot of fishing and a brush with death.

87 ISLAND PROPERTY Some of the region’s best real estate buys – holiday homes and business buys.

90 FRAGRANT GARDENS Gardening editor Carolyn Top: The jetty on Lola Island in the Solomons where the fishing is spectacular with scenery to match. Middle: The humpback whale is perfectly at home in its Tongan aquatic paradise. Above: Ratua Private Island’s overwater spa is the place to relax in luxurious comfort.

Ernst has a nose for the best smelling plants for tropical gardens and comes up smelling of more than roses.

96 RESORT PROFILE Vanuatu’s well established and iconic lagoon-side resort, Le Lagon has recently added a few new temptations to its accommodation menu.

100 PHOTO FINISH The pick of the best pics.

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The easiest place

on the planet

to relax your swing.

We know that the secret to playing your best golf is to stay calm and collected. That’s why they say Fiji is a golfing paradise, because it’s easy to hit your best shot when there’s a steady sea breeze and breathtaking views to take in. We’ve got world-class courses teed up for players of any skill level. Go to www.fiji.travel to find out more.

www.fiji.travel

The People: Behind Your Magazine Behind the scenes, or should that be the scenery, since we’re in the Pacific, we’re making your mag.

TIFFANY CARROLL | Editor Tiffany began her career in journalism at GTV 9 in Melbourne before switching to print media with Rural Press newspapers in NSW. She joined the private office of the Premier of Victoria as Press Secretary in the second term of the Kennett Government. Since moving to Vanuatu, Tiffany has written for many clients and has been editing Air Vanuatu’s inflight magazine Island Spirit for six years.

NICOLE BROWN | Art Director Nicole has worked as a senior designer in many areas of publishing prior to becoming immersed in island life on both Pacific Island Living and Island Spirit.

Nic’s a graduate in graphic design with an advanced diploma to her name as well as a string of consumer magazine design credits.

RODERICK EIME | Travel Writer Rod is a multi-award winning journalist and photographer who loves the South Pacific and has travelled extensively throughout Melanesia and Polynesia gathering stories and photographs for newspapers, magazines and websites around the world. Visit his site at www.travography.com

GEORGIE GORDON | Features Editor Georgie’s university studies in communications, journalism and publishing were followed by a successful career in advertising. Georgie now spends much of her time writing about the things she has a passion for, design, food, travel, books, health and beauty.

She now resides part time in the region allowing her to pursue her enthusiasm for promoting the pleasures of the Pacific.

PAT INGRAM | Editorial Director Pat Ingram has a long and passionate association with magazines. She edited Australian Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar before her 10-year stint as Publishing Director for ACP Magazines’ 16 women’s titles including Woman’s Day and The Australian Women’s Weekly. She currently works as a publishing consultant and editorial director for Fairfax Media. She is a resident of Vanuatu and dreams of spending most of the year here.

CHRISTIANA KALUSCHA | Food Editor Christiana studied languages and economics at Cologne University before taking up the life of a sea gypsy sailing the Mediterranean from Spain to Turkey and onwards around the world. Fluent in several languages plus the language of food. Christiana now runs the exclusive boutique B+B, Sarangkita, on the beachfront outside of Port Vila from where she also conducts cooking tours and classes as the creator of Vanuatu Food Safari.

CRAIG OSMENT | Publisher Craig has over thirty years’ experience as an independent publisher of consumer magazines, books and trade titles. Originally a graphic designer, he was art director of Australian Cosmopolitan, The Bulletin and POL magazines. Now a Vanuatu resident he is also the publisher of Island Spirit the Air Vanuatu in-flight magazine.

OLIVIA WAUGH | Fashion + Style Editor Olivia Waugh is a highly regarded fashion stylist with a career in both retail and editorial. She has been Fashion Editor for the top-selling Australian weekly Woman’s Day and Fashion Director of the glossy monthly SHOP TIL YOU DROP. She is currently freelancing for a variety of Australia’s top magazines and manufacturers and island-hopping

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CAROLYN ERNST | Gardening Editor Carolyn Ernst is a passionate gardener and farmer. Originally from New Zealand, Carolyn has called the Pacific home for well over 25 years. She is a married mother of four children and two grandchildren and operates Eden on the River - an outdoor adventure and garden experience in Port Vila.

KERRI PETKOVIC | Advertising Director Kerri began her career in sales and marketing in Gippsland, Victoria before moving to Vanuatu 13 years ago where she worked in advertising sales at the national newspaper. Kerri manages the magazine’s sales staff in Melbourne, Fiji and Honiara and is a frequent visitor to the neighbouring Pacific nations.

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Beachcomber Every issue we bring you the news, views, people. products and places from all around the Pacific.

CANVAS AND COCKATOOS: GLAMP IT UP! For an island experience with a difference, Cockatoo Island in the middle of Sydney Harbour has to be one of the more accessible (if you’re in Sydney) – it’s just a short ferry ride from the city. This historic little island is under the administration of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust which has recently upped the ante for glampers (glamourous camping) and traditional tent dwellers. They have created a small village of canvas covered accommodation right on the foreshore with magnificent views across the harbour and in the midst of a group of historic stone buildings which are listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Guests have a choice of a fully organised glamping experience through to traditional camping where you pitch your own tent. If you take the upmarket option you get a weather-proof, safari-style tent set on a raised platform with complimentary toiletries, and in the spirit of 21st century outdoor living – facilities for charging your phone or tablet as well as the use of private lockers.

Newly landscaped areas and native tree planting have beautified the island’s campground setting and guests can safely make use of a new campfire area to toast marshmallows. There’s also a new luggage storage facility,

and, for a unique twist on harbourside dining, guests can order delicious BBQ breakfast and dinner packs. The island’s shop, now has an expanded range of offerings to make camping life a true home away from home. Here you can hire campground items such as lanterns and mats and purchase biodegradable plates and cutlery to make the stay a comfortable one. If you’d like to pitch in visit: www.cockatooisland.gov.au MUST TRI HARDER ...

If working up a sweat in the tropics is your idea of fun then Fiji is it for fitness this coming June. The third Fiji International Triathlon Festival is slated for the 6th and 7th and their accommodation partner, the five-star Sheraton Resort Denarau Island is offering fivenight holiday packages for the entire family along with all sorts of event-related goodies thrown in (from AU$645). Distances are: for the long course a 2kms swim, 80km bike and a 20km run, for the less athletic there is the shorter Oceania Triathlon Continental Sprint Cup, a fun run and a kids’ Aquathon swimming and running event.

If you opt for the Tri Travel package and fly Fiji Airways you qualify for a ‘bikes-fly-free’ offer and even get complimentary bike assembly and mechanical check-ups along with cocktails and buffet breakfasts. For more info visit: www.trifiji.com or www.fiji.travel

Wedding Packages Hair Massage Natural facials Body Wraps Manicures Pedicures Waxing

Chantilly’s On The Bay Ph. 22740 Port Vila , Vanuat u Visit u s on www.bodyandsoulvanuatu. com

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TOP UP YOUR TAN AND YOUR VITAMIN LEVELS As they say in Australia, Slip, Slop, Slap is the way to go this summer, but what about Vitamin D? According to a Medical Express report in 2012, one in three Australians are Vitamin D deficient, something that many experts believe to be attributed to shunning the sun. Adding to this, according to a recent Harvard Medical School Journal report, traditional sunscreens are part of this dilemma because they filter the parts of UVB light that your skin uses to naturally create vitamin D. Heading out in the sun unprotected is definitely not the answer.

Enter, Australia’s own Solar D – a world first sunscreen to offer maximum sun protection with SPF30 and SPF50, while permitting a percentage of these vitamin D forming wavelengths through to the skin.

“With Solar D, we have developed a sunscreen that not only screens the harmful melanoma-causing UV rays and fights the ageing process, but more importantly we have created a formula that permits the particular UVB rays through, and as such allows your body to naturally produce vitamin D,” says Mathew Collett, Managing Director of Solar D. The Australian-owned sunscreen is oil-free, fragrance-free and available in SPF50 for daily use and SPF30 for Active and Kids, which are water-resistant for up to two hours.

Solar D products are created with patented technology, using the safest possible active ingredients. Solar D products are free from nano-particles such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and have been given the tick by the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) in Australia and the FDA in America. Solar D is also completely free from parabens, PABA and oxybenzone.

Solar D ranges in price from AU$13.95 for a 100ml tube to $19.95 for a 200ml spray. For further information, see www. solar-d.com.au

TOM AND TEDDY GO SWIMMING Tom & Teddy was formed in 2011 by Michelle L’Huillier and Jelle de Jong, former residents of Clovelly in Sydney and keen enthusiasts of beachside living. Now, with two sons in tow, they’ve been inspired by their fond memories of the sand and surf to design a classic and vibrant beachwear collection – for boys and men; for big guys and their little nippers!

The designers say “Tom & Teddy is all about friendship, shared experiences and that special bond between father and son. It captures the spirit of the great outdoors and the perfect summer’s day by the water.”

Each individual piece is made to an exceptionally high standard – quality and durability are at the core of the Tom & Teddy brand. The quick-drying microfibre is salt water and chlorine resistant; this signature fabric is combined with UV protection, providing a soft finish for superb comfort. The speedboat design at left sells for AU$94.95 and is available at www.tomandteddy.com

The heart and soul of Brisbane.

Weekends from $185 per night at the epicentre of the city’s shopping and entertainment.

Historic Royal Albert Hotel is your central base for exploring the city on foot and enjoying everything from fine food to fashion, from the Casino to South Bank Parklands, from shopping to cruising the Brisbane River. Spacious guest rooms have 12 foot high ceilings, kitchens and dining rooms. Book now!

BRISBANE

Reservations: Freecall 1800 655 054 stay@royalalbert.com.au / www.royalalbert.com.au Corner of Albert and Elizabeth Streets, Brisbane.

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Book look: Summer Reads Get out the cookbook stand and start reading in the kitchen, Georgie Gordon taste tests the latest releases.

PLENTY MORE | by Yottam Ottolenghi Even the most die-hard carnivores won’t be bothered by the lack of meat in this latest offering from Yottam Ottolenghi. Plenty More is a collection of inventive and original dishes to inspire and delight, all with vegetables as the stars of the show. Following on from the hugely successful Plenty the 150 recipes include the likes of Alphonso mango and curried chickpea salad, Membrillo and stilton quiche and candied beetroot with lentils.

Yottam says ‘I hope it offers an additional perspective on an ever-expanding world of vegetables, grains and legumes, a world of plenty of fantastic ingredients, and more to discover’.

THE ART OF TRADITIONAL ITALIAN | by Lucio Galletto Lucio Galleto’s eponymous Sydney restaurant, Lucio’s, is famously lined with artworks by accomplished artists, now ten of these artists, including John Olsen and Luke Sciberras, have contributed their representations of Lucio’s food to illustrate this beautiful book.

Although it may look like a coffee table book don’t be deceived, beyond the striking pictures the recipes in The Art of Traditional Italian are equally worthy, celebrating classic Italian dishes from minestrone and risotto alla Milanese to veal saltimbocca and lasagna, not to mention the sweet favourites like Italian trifle and panna cotta.

ROBYN LAWLEY EATS | by Robin Lawley It’s seems that models do eat … well this one does anyway. When not gracing magazine covers, modelling and designing swimwear or walking the runway, Robin Lawley maintains her popular food blog (of the same name) from her adopted home of New York City.

Her first cookbook brings together a collection of modern classics and sumptuous photography from Robyn’s travels.

Don’t expect another book on clean eating, these recipes are more decadent than diet-like, including Robin’s take on the Croque Monsieur and a must-try Truffled Mac and Cheese.

MOVIDA SOLERA | by Frank Camorra & Richard Cornish Journey with chef Frank Camorra and award winning food writer Richard Cornish through sun drenched Andalusia: a landscape of ancient cities nestled into steep mountains, whitewashed villages and stretching plains of olive groves and vineyards.

Frank takes us through his family’s home region in southern Spain to gather ancient authentic recipes from farmers, fishermen, food and wine producers, chefs and home cooks.

Be tempted by the likes of fisherman’s rice, flamenco stew and gypsy donuts. Movida Solera will bring the colours of the sun and flavours of Spain to your table.

THE WHOLE PANTRY | by Belle Gibson Belle Gibson believes in a ‘whole life’ philosophy, which she shares with us in The Whole Pantry by passing on a wealth of information on how to live a healthier life, with support on everything from natural beauty and super foods to detoxing.

With more than 80 new, delicious and nourishing plantbased recipes (gluten, dairy and corn free) aimed at nurturing the body, including healthy versions of old favourites such as lasagna, burgers and black forest cake.

You can also download The Whole Pantry app to your phone or iPad to stay up to date with health, wellness and lifestyle resources and more nourishing recipes.

WHAT KATIE ATE… AT THE WEEKEND | by Katie Quinn Davies Another blog-to-book success story, What Katie Ate … At The Weekend is Katie Quinn Davies second book, here she concentrates on weekend entertaining – from breakfast to brunch, party food and drinks and everything in between to make entertaining friends and family an enjoyable, and delicious, experience.

Full of the stunning photography that has become Katie’s signature, with pictures and recipes from her travels to Italy, Ireland and New York, to name a few.

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CONNECT WITH US

YOUR PHOTOS ONLINE!

Group bookings welcome

SCAN HERE

Find Us on Denarau Island. Book at your Resort / Hotel Tour Desk T| 675 1288 E| info@adrenalinfiji.com

www.adrenalinfiji.com

Net assets: Best lifestyle sites Georgie Gordon clicks on a eclectic collection of cool websites.

THE HOSTESS It was Stephanie Conley’s passion for food and travel that led her to create her blog, aptly named The Hostess. And thankfully, as it gives us a chance to take a peak into her glamorous world and follow her tips on seamless entertaining, from intimate dinners for two to large Sunday lunches. But the reason I really visit this beautifully curated site is for the food. The glorious platters of ocean trout with fennel salad, scallops and paccheri con scampi will have you rushing to the kitchen to emulate her style of cooking with an emphasis on dishes of Italian origin.

Bellisima! www.thehostess.com.au NOTCOT Is a visually arresting and creativityinducing cool-hunting site that can have you lost for hours. The creators describe themselves as a providing a visual filtration of ideas, aesthetics and amusements. Basically they find really cool stuff and put it on their site. Such as the hipster business name generator, spin the wheel and your company becomes Gin & Daisy or even better Tartan & Rake. If you like following the latest trends and beautiful design you’ll be endlessly inspired by NOTCOT. www.notcot.com ET MUSIQUE POUR TOUS If you fancy yourself as somebody who is pretty up to date with the latest music, prepare to have your mind blown. This is where you will hear music before it becomes mainstream.

Tracks from emerging DJ’s and the remixes of older songs that will have you pressing the download button faster than you can say, well, download. Who doesn’t love Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game? You’ve most likely heard it again recently as a remix with the breathtaking lyrics sung by a female artist, being Anna Naklab. And if you haven’t, you should. Check it out and thank me later. www.etmusiquepourtous.com

BUZZFEED BuzzFeed is a social news and entertainment site, and an excellent time-waster. It offers up-to-date and often amusing content on breaking buzz (news) with an emphasis on entertainment and human interest stories, but the real time-wasting comes into play when you get caught up in their quizzes, forever popping up on social media, ‘Which Game of Thrones character are you?’ ‘Can you match these famous taglines to their movies?’

‘What song should you play on repeat this weekend?’, after doing these ‘solve-the-world’sproblems’ quizzes you can then share your result with your friends. Entirely useless and completely addictive! www.buzzfeed.com THIS ISLAND LIFE And for something a little closer to home, This Island Life is an online destination for warm-weather inspired fashion, travel, surf, beauty and design from across the globe. Follow Laura McWhinnie on her island adventures – from Tonga to Fiji to Hawaii, let her do the hard yards for you when it comes to island-appropriate fashion like tracking down the perfect bikini, listen to her cool summery tunes and learn from her tutorials, such as a workshop on custom spraying your surfboard. www.thisislandlife.com SURI’S BURN BOOK This is a fun site that takes a tongue in cheek swing at celebrities and their offspring, and from a broader perspective our obsession with them.

Written in the imagined voice of Suri Cruise, the progeny of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Suri’s harsh but clever commentary on famous people and their children is both hilarious and cringe-worthy. She is particularly disappointed by the Jolie-Pitt’s fashion sense, proclaiming ‘just because you don’t have a Ferragamo handbag doesn’t mean you can behave like a child. (I’m looking at you, Shiloh).’ At least, Suri’s Burn Book is an entertaining way to catch up on the latest celebrity gossip. surisburnbook.tumblr.com

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art smart

Stylet D+eSymmetry co Ar

Sleek and sophisticated, geometric and rectilinear, Art Deco was the eclectic embodiment of a new technological and mechanical age whose attractions have only grown over time.

Toby Preston goes in search of glamour and exuberance from another age.

Above: The poster that says it all. Right: The spire on New York’s Chrysler Building designed by William Van Alen and built between 1928 and 1930 at the height of the Art Deco movement’s popularity. Along with the Rockefeller Centre probably NYC’s most famous buildings in this style.

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I

have to confess, that as a designer, I have a soft spot for the hard-edged decorative style of Art Deco. Having succeeded Art Nouveau’s florid and flowing lines, Deco took up the industrial mantle and turned geometric embellishment into an art form that influenced the design of everything from buildings to bikes, watches to windows, cars to crockery as well as ocean liners, type fonts, lamps, art, textiles, fashion, guns and jewellery.

It came along at a time which was perfectly suited to a more mechanical age and along with its contemporary sibling Bauhaus design it took to being wrought from steel, aluminium, Bakelite, cement and brick with alacrity and verve.

Its influence spread worldwide and while it’s famous for being a feature in Florida’s Miami, its design credo spread across the globe from Cuba (which hosted an Art Deco conference in 2013) to Indonesia, New York to London, Australia, South America, New Zealand and onwards to India where the city of Mumbai hosts the world’s second largest collection of art deco buildings after Miami.

So it became an enduring and pervasive force in the decorative arts and architecture which is still admired and collected to this day.

The birth of the movement has been attributed to the economically named 1925 French Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes which had been organised to showcase contemporary ideas in applied arts.

Not surprisingly it was influenced by other trends of the day including Cubism, Modernism and Functionalism among others.

As an architectural movement it’s exemplified by buildings

Top Left: BMW’s R7 motorcycle from 1934 was only ever a prototype but after languishing in a box for 70 years was restored to its original sleek Art Deco shape. Top right: a bicycle with ornamentation from the period. Above: Poster people; A ‘lady lamp’ and classic chair.

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Above: Surely one of the most beautiful cars ever built, the 1935 Delahaye 135M coupé commissioned by French racing driver Albert Perrot.

Left: One of South Beach, Miami’s many spectacular examples of the style, the Breakwater screams symmetry and style.

Above: This deceptively lavish looking deco fountain pen can be had for $42.27 from www.8edwin.com.au Right: Ralph Lauren’s contemporary take on an Art Deco watch with red coral-based stone embellishment, made

by Piaget. Far right: Poster for the Titanic celebrating the mechanical age’s design achievements. In this case, sadly optimistic.

Above: Art Deco nude featured in the Hotel Florida, Havana, Cuba, home to many treasures.

such as New York’s Chrysler Building and the Rockefeller Centre but turns up all over America from Pennsylvania to Texas. Art Deco was the perfect design cipher for an era which was approaching the great depression as its muscular and slightly aggressive style was an apt form for displaying nationalism and inspiration reminiscent of some of the great and inspiring Roman structures. It had a massive solidity and exuded endurance and strength.

Curiously, while the first use of the term has been attributed to the great architect Le Corbusier who authored a series of articles under the headline 1925 Expo: Arts Déco the name didn’t gain currency until the sixties when Bevis Hillier published a book under the title Art Deco of the ‘20s and ‘30s. But whether anyone knew its name or not its geometric motifs of trapezoids, chevrons, polygons, spheres and rectangles arranged into symmetrical patterns became the ornamentation of the interwar era.

A related design movement know as Streamline Moderne combined the influences of Art Deco with modern aerodynamic principles developed for aviation and applied them to cars, trains, ships and even household appliances, like fridges and industrial designs such as petrol pumps even though the possibility of them moving was pretty remote.

We see echoes of these designs today in the retro revival of thirties styles in toasters and kettles and coffee machines with rounded metal surfaces and chrome embellishments. It has to be one of the most enduring design movements in spite of enjoying only a relatively brief heyday up until the outbreak of WWII after which it fell into disfavour.

If you’d like to start collecting, examples abound on poster sites, in antique shops, specialist furniture shops and jewellers. You may not be able to take the Chrysler Building home but a ‘lady lamp’ or an armchair are possibilities not to mention all those dazzling commercial posters from the period along with fountain pens and watches. You’ll find many fines examples on internet auction sites too. •

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Pacific Pulse

Regional Roundup

PICTURES: Fiona Marston, The Marketing Haus Honiara.

A digest of news you can use from around the region.

PAVING THE WAY FOR THE COCONUT OIL INDUSTRY IN SOLOMON ISLANDS Coconut oil has recently stepped onto the world stage as the new wonder oil. It has been said coconut oil has for centuries played a vital role in maintaining health and wellbeing for many countries in the Pacific. It’s been credited with increasing metabolisms, rejuvenating the skin, assisting with brain development and activity, hair health including shine and also a natural remedy for treating lice. Along with the benefits of the oil as a supplement for a healthy body, it is an alternative that can replace traditional oils in cooking.

Coconut oil has a high smoking point (177 degrees), which makes it excellent for cooking while maintaining its nutritional values. It has been valued as a replacement for butter in dairy free diets. As Coconut oil contains lauric acid, it is a strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial agent. It is for this reason that Pacific cultures have embraced the coconut tree – the ‘tree of life’ – as essential to their everyday living.

Understanding the nutritional values of coconuts and loving the people of Solomon Islands Dan and Maureen Etherington, Colin Dyer and Bob Pollard started a company in 2004 called Kokonut Pacific Pty Ltd. In the last decade Kokonut Pacific has evolved from being a small company trying to increase the livelihoods of Solomon Island communities, to an organisation that has established international export markets. Working with 50 communities in Guadalcanal, Choisel, Makira, Isabel and Western Province, Kokonut Pacific has enabled these communities to benefit with a fair income from their sustainable resource. In partnership with Niulife the coconut oil from Solomon Islands is exported along with the lotions and soaps to be distributed to stores within Australia.

How is the coconut oil extracted?

Kokonut Pacific is the largest producer using the Direct Micro Expelling (DME) technology developed by Niulife in 1994, which enables small communities to produce superior quality virgin coconut oil. DME needs five people to produce the oil from the nut within one hour of cracking the coconut. A DME operation will generate an income for the wider community with the core owners purchasing fresh nuts from their wontok (relatives) and community. The DME plant allows operators an oil extraction efficiency well above that of copra. Kokonut Pacific has 50 certified DMEs currently operating in the Solomon Islands.

Coconut oil is the new wonder treatment for almost everything.

Although coconut oil has been the driving focus for the company they have expanded into producing lotions, soaps and toasted coconut for both domestic and international markets. Soaps designed for whole-body use have been refined and new varieties developed over the last two years.

Currently producing six varieties of soap: Moisturising coconut cream, exfoliating coconut supreme, indulgent chocolate swirl, tropical inspired sunset, Musky Man Bar and in development lemongrass. Lotions are developed using virgin coconut oil and a variety of fragrances including frangipani and musk.

As a by-product of the coconut oil process there is now a

islandliving | 19 pacific

Pacific Pulse Vanuatu bank supports the efforts of budding entrepreneurs.

Kokonut Pacific’s Virgin coconut oil products.

compressed, shredded and toasted coconut flesh that is delicious in cakes, museli or topping on salad, this is currently only available domestically in Solomon Islands. Toasted compressed coconut can also be used as a supplement for animal food.

Kokonut Pacific was awarded a gold medal in 2006 from Asia Pacific Forum for Environment and Development (APFED). Working in partnership with communities and Niulife in Australia, Kokonut Pacific has secured a strong business model to support economic growth for both the rural communities and the company that will continue to reach new heights.

“He who plants a coconut tree, plants food and drink, vessels and clothing, a home for himself and a heritage for his children” – an old South Seas saying, a timeless meaning, a natural solution for a sustainable future.

These small easy to operate DME units are excellent for community-driven income generation if you are interested contact Kokonut Pacific on: www.kokonutpacific.com.au or www.niulife.com

By Bronwyn Norris.

20 | Islandliving pacific

FAMILY ENTREPRENEURS Having migrated with her family from Tanna Island to Port Vila six years ago, Naomi Nakouu, a courageous mother of three, along with her husband Palmen was determined to start a small business to support their life in Vanuatu.

Despite her lack of education, she sought business advice from the National Bank of Vanuatu and has made a success of her ventures.

The always smiling and positive Naomi is full of determination and the story of the Nakous reflects a typical Ni-Vanuatu family who attempt to make ends meet and desperately want to engage in a small business to support their family. Her family venture is one of the success stories of the Financial Literacy Program conducted by the National Bank of Vanuatu and provided to rural communities throughout Vanuatu.

This is Naomi’s story as told by an NBV officer: On the bright and sunny day I visited Naomi I was amazed to find her surrounded by row upon row of pyramid-shaped piles of yams, probably as many as 200. In addition, while walking through the garden patch which is about 12 kilometres inland, I notice manioc (cassava), vegetables, fruit trees and around 20 rows of coconut palms intercropped with kava plants.

Naomi explains “I have maintained a garden here for four years, but on a smaller scale for the first year. Over the last three years, with help and advice from the National Bank, I decided to increase my production to a larger scale to financially benefit my family and hopefully build more plots.”

This is essential because life in the capital is becoming more expensive and without further expansion they would not be able to make ends meet.

Naomi has been regularly visited by National Bank of Vanuatu officers since embarking on the Bank’s Financial Literacy awareness programme three years ago. During this time, with the assistance of a small development loan, the family have been able to grow the venture into a small scale business after purchasing a plot of land on which to grow her produce.

She opened a market stall from which she operates during the day selling her root crops and vegetables but in the evening she rents this stall out to other women who sell cooked food. The stall is conveniently located within their home building and now services customers from nearby and saves them the walk to shops further away.

Both Palmen and Naomi, despite their lack of education, have opted to take on a mission to ensure the future of themselves and their three children and after advice from the NBV it appears they are set for further success.

Pacific Pulse South Pacific tourism group innovates to promote the region.

TREASURES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC CELEBRATES Eleven South Pacific tourism offices, under the umbrella of ‘Treasures of the South Pacific’ (TOSP) concluded another busy year last November at their annual South Pacific specialist trade function in Sydney on November 25. TOSP is a collection of 11 South Pacific National Tourism Office representatives in Australia. It is supported by the NTOs with additional sponsorship from the South Pacific Tourism Office (SPTO) and Pacific Islands Trade and Invest (PT&I).

During 2014 TOSP conducted seven regional workshops attended by more than 200 participants in several parts of Australia including Tasmania, Adelaide, regional Victoria, Canberra and Wollongong.

TOSP also launched a revamped website (www.tosp.com. au) and for the first time produced a USB flash drive covering

WHAT PRICE A TONGAN PRINCESS? At the time of going to press, a civilised and slow motion bidding war involving pigs, Christmas cards and money in envelopes are being handed over for the hand of a 30-year old Tongan princess.

Two nobles are vying for one of the kingdom’s more mysterious women, Angelika Tuku’aho, fifth in line to the throne.

She does not get to decide who she marries, that is the choice of her father King Tupou VI. Tuku’aho is currently Tonga’s high commissioner to Australia.

Tonga website Kaniva Pacific reports that the sons of two lords have thrown their names in the ring.

A late entry is Makahokovalu, son of Lord Malupoo.

The lord’s Auckland-based herald, Angakehe, told the website that the king had given approval for a bid to be made.

But first, it says, he has to send the woman a Christmas card and fine mats, tapa cloth, kava, pigs and an envelope full of money.

“The amount presented is significant as it is meant to reflect the social status of the suitor, his wealth and to show how deep is his love for the woman,” Kaniva Pacific says.

Angakehe said they were giving a “huge amount” in a bid to get the princess. But there is a counter-proposal from the son of Lord Nuku, the Honourable Faka’osifono. He is slightly ahead having already presented the offerings and made the proposal.

Angelika is the eldest child of the king and queen but soon after she was born she was given to her uncle, the bachelor crown prince who had no heirs. He became king in 2006 but died, single, in 2012.

At the state funeral Angelika was clad head to toe in Tongan

22 | Islandliving pacific

all 11 destinations. The flash drives, distributed at seminars throughout the year, include trade deals, image libraries, destination video files and other comprehensive sales and training tools.

TOSP President Richard Hankin said, “We have changed our formats this year, welcomed Norfolk Island and The Marshall Islands to the group for the first time and produced a comprehensive multi- destination USB that provides a range of information to help agents sell the Pacific Islands.”

Alisi Lutu, Marketing Manager, South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), said “TOSP continues to provide Pacific tourism office representatives with the opportunity to update and train agents around regional Australia in a cost-effective manner, whilst at the same time giving those agents the opportunity to network with destination representatives.” – Pacific Periscope

Princess Angelika Tuku’aho at her uncle’s funeral.

mats and walked alone.

Her two younger brothers have prior claims on the throne but her status as the eldest daughter gives her unique powers.

Her planned marriage underlines a worsening problem for the Tongan royal family which is now down to just eight marriageable women and six single men and they are all cousins of each other.

Tonga’s constitution requires royal family members only marry each other or the handful of nobles available. Angelika’s younger brother, Prince Ata, 26, is currently in strife with the family after he decided he wanted to be baptised as a Mormon. His father the king sent in the army and Prime Minister Siale’ataongo Tu’ivakano to stop it.

The issue is still not resolved.

– www.stuff.co.nz

PORT VILA | VANUATU

Bookings essential

Phone 25844 | Email res@breakas.com | www.breakas.com

Pacific Pulse Free travel analysis tool for hotels

WE PROVIDE FAST, RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND WE OPERATE TO AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS PEST CONTROL Household, commercial and timber pest

VECTOR CONTROL Target individual species with precision application

FUMIGATION Container, ship hulls and assorted commodities

ONLINE TOURIST TRACKER A BOON TO HOTELS Over the past few years, Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT&I) has helped co-facilitate a project to e-enable small and medium accommodation providers around the region. Rolled out in several Pacific Island countries in conjunction with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and the WHL Group, accommodation providers have widely welcomed the online tool.

Now, Hotel Link Solutions, a WHL Group outfit, has announced the free digital HealthCheck service which analyses every step in the accommodation buying cycle – from how a hotel gets discovered, through conversions to sales and on to the social dimension (experiencing and sharing). The service aims to help drive sales and get the balance optimised between direct and third party channels.

It has been tested over the past 18 months, assessing more than 4000 hospitality properties around the world of various sizes. Accommodations in the Pacific were well represented in the testing phase, thanks to their participation in the PT&I co-facilitated project earlier.

Hotel Link Solutions says it developed HealthCheck initially with a view to their sales consultants using it to assess digital marketing needs of potential clients, but decided it would be a valuable service to offer more widely. Currently, 55 data points are measured around the accommodation buying cycle, with each measurement then weighted according to the impact Hotel Link Solutions has determined after looking at the information from their pilot work.

The HealthCheck reports are time-stamped, and Hotel Link Solutions now runs these reports every 6 months for their clients, so they can track where they stand. Shortly Hotel Link Solutions will also offer a benchmarked HealthCheck service so accommodations can see how they stack up against competitors. – Pacific Periscope

Our products and services can be deployed across the pacific upon request

CONTACT PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL TODAY Phone (+677) 24007 Ext: 186 or (+677) 7499794 or (+677) 7529185 Email info@pacificeh.com Shop 3, Heritage Park Hotel, Honiara, Solomon Islands HealthCheck helps unpack guests’ booking behaviours.

24 | Islandliving pacific

Exclusively for adults and located just 30 minutes drive from Port Vila, the Havannah is an oasis of tranquility and your perfect romantic retreat. With only 17 luxurious villas set amidst elegantly landscaped gardens, you can be assured privacy and personalized service, Havannah style.

Samoa Point, North Efate, Vanuatu Tel: +678 35600 I Email: reservations@thehavannah.com I Website: www.thehavannah.com

Come and have a taste of the opulence, glamour and excitement of Monte Carlo right here at Vanuatu’s premier casino. The Grand Hotel & Casino is in the heart of town, with crystal chandeliers, gold leaf ceilings and meticulous attention to detail throughout, you’ll feel like you’re there, and best of all it’s at a price you can afford!

With Roulette tables starting with a minimum bet of only 100vt, as well as Blackjack, Baccarat and our newest game Texas Hold’em Bonus. Or just try your luck on any of our state of the art poker machines and have a chance of winning one of our many jackpots for as little as 1vt.

p +678 27344 hotel Lini Highway, Port Vila, Vanuatu e info@grandcasinovanuatu.com www.grandvanuatu.com

26 | Islandliving pacific

proudly

LELEPA ISLAND DAY TOURS

So many have called it Paradise… but we call it home.

■ 100% owner operated by the local Lelepa Islanders

■ We operate every day except Saturday.

■ Fishing Charters half day and full day available.

Your day tour includes:

Return transfers, morning and afternoon refreshments, BBQ lunch, snorkelling at our beautiful coral garden, visit our historical cave, learn about native herbs used for medicines and visit the kids in our village.

traveller rating

Phone: +678 23144 or +678 77-42714 | Email: lelepatours@vanuatu.com.vu | Web: www.lelepaislandtours.com

ratua island 170-117,5 demi-page_presse 14/04/2014 12:10 Page2

PRIVATE

ISL AND

islandliving | 27 pacific

decor

Kate Spade at Larkstore, set of two highball glasses, $49.95, www.larkstore.com.au Paradise – limited edition print, $119, www.theminimalist.com.au

Party Pieces e l y t s n i e t a Celebr Olivia Waugh goes out of her way to glam up any celebration from Christmas to birthdays, cocktails to corporate functions.

All prices AU$ unless otherwise stated

Gold foiled bon bon, $11, www.papierdamour.com.au

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Party Pop Scallop Dinner Napkin set, $8 www.urbanoutfitters.com

Typo Marquee Star light, $34.95, www.typo.com.au

Lanvin @ NETAPORTER.COM, printed porcelain bauble, $157, www.netaporter.com

The Aztec towel, $99 and leather strap, $39, www.thebeachpeople.com.au

Piers Atkinson @ NETAPORTER.COM, Star of the Night embelished leather headband, $485, www.netaporter.com

Cheveron gold bunting pack of 12, $15.99, www.illumedesign.com.au

Otomi short red vase, $60 www.haveyoumetmissjones.com.au

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Dear September goldie side plate, $22, www. dearseptember.com.au

Let The Good Times Roll print, $30, www.papierdamour.com.au

Cream and gold tassel party horns, $14.95, www.larkstore.com.au

Aztec baubles, $15, www.haveyoumetmissjones.com.au

30 | Islandliving pacific

Moroccan star lamp, $85, www.haveyoumetmissjones.com.au

The Betty sunglasses US$60, www.thecrystalcult.com

Normandic Pouffe, $120, www.bowerhouse.com.au

Dear September Just Because gift tag, $4, www. dearseptember.com.au

Witchery large metallic vase, $39.95, www.witchery.com.au

Paper starburst, $7, www.papierdamour.com.au

Rosantica @ NETAPORTER.COM, embelished velvet and jute stocking, $252, www.netaporter.com

Typo paper bows, $4.95, www.typo.com.au

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island epicure

The outdoor terrace of the atmospheric Fijiana Restaurant at Likuliku Lagoon Resort Fiji.

r a t s e v Fi

Feasting in Fiji From eating thick ribbons of baby coconut by the sea, to joining a traditional kava ceremony, to indulging in lavish banquets … a lot of them, Tatyana Leonov gets a taste of Fiji.

32 | Islandliving pacific

go and doing as the locals do during the day and feasting on haute cuisine at night. Or the other way around. It really doesn’t matter in Fiji.

A historical melting hotpot

Fijian food is an eclectic jumble of cuisines, absorbed influences from an influx of different ethnicities arriving to Fiji at various times through history. The Polynesians, Melanesians and Micronesians, then later the Indians, Europeans and Chinese have all left behind a soupcon of their culinary practices and visitors today get to sample it all.

PICTURES: Tom Donald

F

iji is renowned for its powdery white-sand beaches and ludicrously turquoise-blue sea and travellers flock to this island paradise to unwind, explore and forget their urban existence. Today the Fijian culinary scene is attracting a new breed of travellers and its epicentre is the perpetually busy Nadi and surrounds – the place to swim and relax in the sun – and now also to eat and eat.

There are excellent resort restaurants headed up by international chefs who craft gastronomic delights, a colourful market to explore, kava ceremonies and romantic beach picnics. Discovering the culinary scene in Fiji is about letting

Pipis for sale at the Nadi produce market (left); a local peddler sells green chilies (above); for great Indian curries Tata’s Restaurant in Nadi is a must-visit (below).

Start by immersing yourself in island culture. Head to the Nadi produce market (located on Hospital Road) to see (and eat) what’s fresh. Unlike many markets around the world it’s not frenzied, a nod to the relaxed Fijian culture. Pedlars sit on the ground casually chatting amongst themselves; their fruit and vegetables neatly bundled together – lustrously purple finger eggplants, pert spinach, bright orange carrots, limes, chillies, plenty of coconuts and more. In the seafood section fishermen hawk a plethora of wild-caught fish, clams and lobster. And a Fijian market wouldn’t be complete without kava for sale.

Historically kava (which is obtained from the root of the pepper plant Piper methysticum) was drunk to signify the visit of honoured guests and at religious events, and although many Fijians drink it more often today a kava ceremony still holds great significance in Fijian culture. Creative Holidays (creativeholidays.com) offer customised Fijian holidays and one of their options is a cave tour that takes in the picturesque Sigatoka Valley by car and boat, an outing to a beautiful cave, and a visit to a small village where guests can participate in a kava ceremony with a local family (tip: it’s polite to bring kava along so purchase some at the markets

to impress your hosts).

For a more modern exploration of Fiji’s culinary roots head to Nadi main town and eat what the locals are eating. Tata’s Restaurant (tatasrestaurant.blogspot.com.au) is one of the most popular eateries in town, constantly busy with a jovial crowd nattering while mopping up swathes of fiery Indian curry with crisp roti bread.

Denarau Island’s fine diners

Fiji’s gastronomy scene has matured of late and visitors have a plethora of local and international foods to choose from. Less than 10 kilometres from Nadi, Denarau Island is home to a cornucopia of resorts, most with fabulous restaurants that offer the ultimate in dining – lavish fine diners, elegant waterfront restaurants and casual poolside hangouts – it’s all there. Local chefs are getting creative with cooking styles, sometimes fusing modern techniques with traditional cooking methods, and international chefs are bringing their own experiences and adding it to the mix.

At Sheraton Fiji Resort’s (sheratonfiji.com) al fresco waterfront Flying Fish restaurant (Peter Kurivita’s signature brand), Polish newcomer Pawel Klodowski is wowing customers with polished, tantalising dishes every night. Fijian seafood is prominently featured on the menu à la carte dining is always popular, however now there’s a new concept for patrons wanting something a little bit different. Book for a Chef’s Table dinner and get up close and personal with the chefs. Private or communal, the idea is that guests watch the chefs do their meticulous work and indulge in both a degustation and show.

Just a stone’s throw away French chef Jean-Marc Ruzzene presents diners with a sophisticated French-inspired menu at the suave V Restaurant at Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa (sofitel. com/Fiji-Denarau). Unlike the perennially busy Salt Restaurant which overlooks the gigantic family pool and the softly lapping waves of the calm see, step into V Restaurant and enter another realm, one where thatched roofs and palm fronds don’t exist, instead an elegant interior scheme of browns, crèmes and beiges dominate the elegant colour palette. Here everything is beautifully presented (think crisp table linen and beautiful menus), service always comes with a smile, and dishes whizz out looking like artworks. An out-of-this world experience … in the tourist centre of Fiji.

Islands of innovation

Having a top-grade gastronomic experience on a Fijian island? Fiji astounds here too. Malolo Island’s Likuliku Lagoon Resort Fiji (likulikulagoon.com), just 25 kilometres from Nadi International Airport and reachable by boat or seaplane, is home to Fiji’s first and only overwater bure island resort. If staying in a villa on stilts positioned in a ridiculously goodlooking sea is on your bucket list, this is the place to head.

New Zealand-born chef Ihaka Peri has headed up the kitchen since 2013 and his passion lies in the yearning to wow diners with daily changing menus that excite. He sources fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs from the onsite garden (“Currently we have numerous types of heirloom tomatoes and

34 | Islandliving pacific

Likuliku Lagoon Resort (above); Banana parfait and salty peanut brittle at the Sheraton’s Flying Fish restaurant and it’s chef Pawel Klodowski (right) cooks fresh seafood alongside Peter Kuruvita; Confit pork belly is teamed with sweet chili caramel and pineapple salsa; the private dining room at Likuliku; goats cheese tortellini with garden pea salad and vanilla beurre noisette at Likuliku; and their miso and white chocolate pannacotta with strawberry and rhubarb consommÊ; seared yellow fin tuna comes with sweet crackling pork and ruby grapefruit at Flying Fish.

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cherry tomatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, local watercress and spinach, lemons, limes, chilli, micro herbs, local sage, coriander, aloe vera, local chestnuts, pumpkins, pumpkin blossoms, mint for the coco mojitos, lemongrass, oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil, Thai basil and sweet basil,” he says (without taking a breath) and together with the Likuliku team he established the island’s first bee farm in August 2014 (they are hoping for a harvest in April 2015).

A 45-minute seaplane flight away from Nadi International Airport lies the Yasawas, an idyllic chain of 16 large volcanic islands and a dozen smaller ones stretching across 80 kilometres. The largest in the archipelago is Yasawa Island and it’s here you’ll find the island’s only resort – Yasawa Island Resort & Spa (yasawa.com).

In paradise guests feast at the tranquil restaurant, or retreat to a secluded spot with private beach picnics where fresh lobster, bugs, prawns and fish are all part of the deal. Fijian chef Jona Ravasukala rotates a 10-day menu and uses fresh produce harvested by island farmers and seafood caught by Bukama village fishermen.

Each afternoon food and beverage manager and cocktail master Manasa Ragigia formulates delightful creations that guests sip while watching the glimmering sun cast it’s last rays across the crystal blue sea. And then they eat. Again.

Welcome to culinary Fiji. •

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Clockwise from left: Yasawa Island Resort & Spa – Manasa Ragigia prepares cocktails; guests love the lobster here and often order it ahead; fresh fish is caught daily by village fishermen for the resort; fruit platters are one of many breakfast options; beef fillet with lobster mash potatoes and red wine Jus.

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Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu

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AUDIT ASSISTANCE JURIDIQUE COMPTABILITÉ CONSEIL

www.moyyan.com

+678 36160

ISLAND SPIRIT_2013_FAB1.indd 1

29/07/13 10:34

Fashion for the Island Goddess

An Island Goddess ... is not into factory made, mass produced garments.

That is why JoJo Vanuatu one-of-a-kind hand-dyed silk Resort Wear is inspired, designed AND created in our studio by the coral reef in Vanuatu.

SEE VANUATU IN STYLE

New Vehicles • Competitive Rates Free delivery & Pick up Go to the Avis counter upon arriving in Vanuatu and present your boarding pass for a

GREAT DEALS on your next car hire.

Asco Motors Lini Highway Port Vila Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays 7:30am - 12:00noon

Asco Motors Tanna Goddess – inspired by Yasur Volcano on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu

www.jojovanuatu.com Email: info@jojovanuatu.com

Phone: (678) 22497 Mobile: (678) 5542341 Web: www.avis.com.vu Email: reservations@avis.vu

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fashion flash

Coco Ribbon Tigris silk dress with sequins $495.00 www.cocoribbon.com.au

Party in Paradise e l y t s n i ut step o

By Olivia Waugh

Boohoo.com, Mollie Teardrop Gem statement earrings, $10, www.boohoo.com

New Look @ ASOS embelished heels, $54, www.asos.com

Lauren Stewart earrings $456, www.matchesfashion.com

Georgio Armani @ farfetch. com pumps, $576, www.farfetch.com

Nouveau earrings, $19.95, www.sheike.com.au

Sophie Webster pumps, $435, www.matchesfashion.com

Fashion Jewellery Carnivale Candy Cluster Earrings $38, www.haute-tohave.com

J.Crew @ NETAPORTER. COM glitter finished pumps, $455, www.netaporter.com

38 | Islandliving pacific

Prices in AUD unless otherwise stated

Boohoo.com, Daphne Zip Back Sequin Panel Bodycon dress, $60, www.boohoo.com

Saloni @ Matchesfashion.com silk dress, $523, www.matchesfashion.com

Sonia by Sonia Rikiel @ farfetch.com wrap dress, $588, www.farfetch.com

Boden Selina dress, $198, www.bodenclothing.com.au

Seed Herritage, spot off the shoulder dress, $169.95, www.seedheritage.com

River Island gold trim dress, $96: www.riverisland.com

Sheike Prague clutch, $49.95, www.sheike.com.au

Diane Von Furstenberg clutch $224, www.netaporter.com

Ginger and Smart Simpatico clutch, $239, www.gingerandsmart.com

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Coco Ribbon Lace Jumpsuit, $495.00, www.cocoribbon.com.au

Perfect party pieces

Sheike, Allure maxi dress, $189.95, www.sheike.com.au

40 | Islandliving pacific

VMT @ matchesfashion.com, melanie halterneck maxi, $619 www.matchesfashion.com

Ginger and Smart Prophercy gown, $799, www.gingerandsmart.com

Neon town pleated maxi dress with mesh details by Jovonna, ÂŁ65, www.topshop.com

Boden Silk & Lace Maxi Dress, $448.00, www.bodenclothing.com.au

Katies Dress $69.95, www.katies.com.au

Alice + Olivia @ NETAPORTER. COM, Julissa lace maxi dress, $864, www.netaporter.com

Holster, Starlight sandal, $59.99, www.holsterfashion.com

Glamour Puss @Wantedshoes. com, Kree flat, $129.95, www.wantedshoes.com.au

Boden Square Stone Necklace, $78.00, www.bodenclothing.com.au

Next, Necklace, $71.00, www.next.com.au

Adia Kibur Large Stone Neckpiece $110, www.haute-to-have.com

By CharlotteYou Are Blessed Bracelet, $89.00, www.bycharlotte.com.au

Seed Heritage, Helen Jewel Sandal, $129.95, www.seedheritage.com

Boden Jewelled pump, $198.00, www.bodenclothing.com.au

Coco Ribbon Five Ways Dress, $495.00 www.cocoribbon.com.au

Seed heritage collection chain Acne Studios @ ssense.com, perspex bracelet, $49.95 chrome metallic Aida Emoticon www.seedheritage.com flats, $520, www.ssense.com

Country Rd, Anna fringed sandal, $129, www.countryrd.com.au

ASOS Curve, Ball open ended bracelet, $12, www.asos.com

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Diana Tam Vanuatu’s best known artist

Oil paintings, watercolours and gift cards. Hand painted table cloths, table runners, guests towels, cushion covers and men’s shirts.

Ladies sleepwear and South Sea Pearl jewellery.

Visit her gallery off the Pango Rd, just 10 minutes from Port Vila’s CBD. Monday - Friday 1.30 - 5.00pm & Saturday 2.00 - 4.00pm Closed Sunday and Public Hoildays.

Telephone (678) 23038 | www.dianatam.info email for orders at dianatam@paradise.com

Salon : Spa : Weddings Specialists in: Wella, Joico, Napoleon Perdis cosmetics, Doll Face cosmetics

Three Vanuatu locations: Bred Bank Complex, Port Vila Laguna Building, Port Vila Main Street Luganville, Espirito Santo

For bookings call: Vila - +678 22868 Santo - +678 37168 wedding stylist available on request headhunterweddings@yahoo.com

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Serviced Apartments Spacious & Panoramic Harbour Views Studio & Two Bedroom Apartments Free WIFI, Tour, Business & Concierge Services CORPORATE RATES AVAILABLE www.mariner.vu | Phone: +678 29802 reservation@mariner.vu

HONIARA’S FINEST

• Luxurious waterfront • Conference facilities. • Restaurant, rooms and suites.

• Serviced Apartments: Studios to 3 bedroom

• Water’s edge.

New 250 pax room and smaller.

• Club Bar. • Resort pool.

Coffee Shop, Waterside Bistro.

• Gymnasium.

• Reliable wifi.

• Excellent security.

• Attentive Service.

Business district.

Telephone: (677) 24007 Facsimilie: (677) 21001 Email: info@heritageparkhotel.com.sb Website: www.heritageparkhotel.com.sb P.O. Box 1598, Mendana Avenue, Honiara, Solomon Islands

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abode

All Aboard e v a w n a e c o e h t n o fe

Li

Living as we do in the Pacific mega yachts and cruisers are a common sight in our harbours.

And why, when you own an opulent floating home, wouldn’t you want to moor in the best locations in the world? But which boat to choose? Toby Preston looks at some of the most desirable homes afloat from the fast and furious to the leisurely and luxurious.

Left: Cigarette Black Series 50’ Marauder in AMG livery. Above: Superyacht A designed by Philippe Starck; stylish, and yours for $323 million.

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Above: That’s The Eclipse, Roman Abramovich’s $1.2 billion home afloat, it comes equipped with a missile detection device and anti-paparazzi system – seriously!

Below: The Azzam owned by a Saudi prince. Below right: a restrained version of superyacht decor, white and bright.

he world of the mega rich is obviously a little different to that which most of us inhabit, but even within that world there are boats and mega boats and you're always susceptible to a bit of yacht envy when your fellow oligarch or Middle Eastern ruler outdoes you metre-for-metre.

For instance a year ago Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich suffered the indignity of having had his 162.5-metre Eclipse (at left) eclipsed by Saudi Prince al-Walid bin Talal's Azzam (pictured below left) at 180 metres which is now the largest yacht in the world. But bigger isn't necessarily better, even mega yachts need tender boats, helicopters and a selection of toys that are small enough to be accommodated within the vast hulls of the mother ship, so even at the smaller end of the sailing set there’s a hierarchy.

You can opt for a personal submarine or something classic, wooden and Italian like a vintage Riva speedboat or simply skip the really big one and get something smaller faster and more manoeuvreable in the first place. It will still have a couple

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The ten most expensive superyachts in the world range in price from a mere $US200 million to over $US1 billion.

Top: If you prefer sails then the Maltese Falcon at 88 metres with a sail area of 2,400 m2 is the go. Above left: Something to keep on

of cabins and staterooms and 3,000-litre tanks but go like the clappers, so if you do feel embarrassed by a competitor's boat you can be out of sight before he's called the crew back from lunch.

What I don’t get about the mega cruiser crowd is their interior décor choices, it seems to me that if you’re living a life afloat then the closer the connection to the sea the better the experience but when it comes to furnishings the preferred option is to fit them out as if they were lifted from a Mayfair gentleman’s club or Las Vegas casino. Where I’d opt for blue and white stripes and high-key colours and pale timber these boys go for the buttoned-velvet bulging banquette and dark timber which could have come from the Formica catalogue.

Maybe money and taste really don’t make for the ideal marriage, or over-the-top opulence, black granite benchtops, gold taps and crystal chandeliers are all they have on the boat-building list of interior fitouts. And I suppose in this milieu restraint isn't in the DNA.•

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board, your personal C-5 Explorer 5-seater submarine. Above centre: The Four Seasons Explorer luxury dive boat based in the Maldives.

Top and below top: Opulence on the ocean wave, nothing restrained about these fitouts. Left: The Italian-built Ocean Pearl, a radically designed charter yacht accommodates 12 guests in six cabins. Above: A classic Riva Aquarama Lamborghini racing boat.

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Woodford International School, Honiara is an IB World School and Cambridge International School which provides quality education from early childhood (3 years) to Year 10. We combine a culturally enriched setting with high quality classroom instruction to offer a unique education experience for your child.

For enrolments and employment opportunities, please contact Woodford International School PO Box R44, Honiara, Solomon Islands. Tel + 677 30186 Fax + 677 38021 email woodford@solomon.com.sb

islandliving | 49 pacific

pacific

island escape

Above: The overwater spa, no better place to chill out; 100-year old daybed, perfect for contemplating the view; A three-room villa with

Ratua

The Ultimate Island A French philanthropist’s apparent folly was a private paradise, created in Indonesia and shipped to one of Vanuatu’s most beautiful locations. He now shares this with the lucky few.

Craig Osment was among them.

T

he sleek, canopied motor launch glides to a stop at the jetty. A platter of iced towels is offered along with a tall fresh fruit juice, which is more like a glass of fruit pulp than a liquid. The beachside BBQ is already alight, with two lobsters standing by, as we are led to our suite of villas to freshen up before lunch.

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The table is a huge plank of rough-hewn hardwood long enough to seat up to 20 people. Today it is set for two in the dappled shade within two metres of the perfectly limpid waters of the channel on which Ratua Private Island sits.

The silence is so complete that a deliberate noise is needed every so often in order to remind yourself that you aren’t going

PICTURES: Andrew Read, Craig Osment.

boardwalk to the the waterside sunbeds and swim deck; Detail of antique Indonesian door installed in Ratua’s Yacht Club.

deaf. This is absolute tranquillity and serenity in a climate close to blood temperature. It’s a form of total immersion that is all-enveloping. If I weren’t so practical and connected with modernity, I imagine it might be the embodiment of a Zen-like transmutation.

Are you getting the picture? There simply aren’t enough travel brochure clichés to do justice to this place. It is another world but within another world, as I’ll explain.

The genesis was in 2005 when the French creator was sailing across the Pacific and found himself enchanted by Vanuatu’s untouched lifestyle. So as you do, you buy your own island. You then create a private paradise before deciding to share it with paying guests and then donating all profits to the local community’s education system – simple.

The slightly more difficult part is the architectural style. All 40 dwellings date back to the 19th century and originate from Java and Sumatra. Each was carefully disassembled, shipped to Bali for restoration, then shipped to Espiritu Santo and then to Ratua where a team of Indonesian artisans faithfully

reconstructed them on the shores of this 146-acre island in the South Pacific.

Indo-Oceania

The final result is a slightly schizophrenic Indo-Oceania ambience – a sort of Bali without the belly or the bombs, right down to the outrigger canoes, which usually adorn the beach at Sanur but now rest in water that is so pure that if it weren’t salt you could drink it. It’s also Sanur without the sewage, and Kuta without the cutthroat street vendors.

The detailing is a wonder in itself: there’s no TV, no radio, no plastic, no glass and nothing to disturb the impression that you’re enjoying the simple splendour of a Dutch colonial existence in the East Indies a century ago.

The electrical switches are circular dark brown bakelite, the modern efficient fridges are shrouded in beautiful teak cabinets that at first glance appear to be ice chests with old fashioned brass catches, the electrical cabling is covered in braided fabric and attached with traditional brass clips. The bathroom

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Fresh lobsters on the barbie by the sea; the Yacht Club interior is ‘clubby’ and includes ancient millstones which reflect its past life

hand basins are polished granite scooped from irregular lumps of stone, the shower room is just that – a timber room with a floor waste and a copper pipe with a shower rose plus a shuttered timber window.

The entire interior of each villa is timber with that impossibleto-recreate patina of age, and worn to a velvet-smoothness that is a tactile sensation on bare feet. Stunning colonial artefacts and Indonesian antiques are casually scattered throughout and the cool is courtesy of ceiling fans suspended from the four-metre timber shingled pitched roof. The verandas nestle under wide eaves that plunge to within a couple of metres of the ground and protect netted daybeds and bespoke leather stitched and upholstered lounge chairs and cane armchairs.

Our villa consisted of three interconnected individual bungalows, one for sleeping, one for lounging and one for washing, all linked by covered verandas with wooden fretwork decoration.

All villas are surrounded by lush tropical planting and face directly on to the sea and include beautiful boardwalks and decks over the water. Direct access to sandy beaches, an

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outdoor shower and sun beds complete the picture.

The three public pavilions that make up the Yacht Club are in fact restored silos, or granaries with thatched (natangura) roofs and include some of the beautiful original millstones mounted on plinths as part of the décor. The atmosphere is cool and club-like with cowhide rugs, carved leather club chairs, beautiful circular pedestal dining tables and antique dressers. All three buildings – the dining room, lounge and bar – open on to a courtyard for outdoor dining facing the sea.

Impeccable service

The service is cheerful and impeccable with two staff for each guest at full capacity and the Ni-Vanuatu laconic charm is absolutely compatible with the pace of life on Ratua. Then there’s the food.

Whatever is fresh on the day is cooked to perfection and presented with pared back flair. Whether it’s lobster, beef carpaccio, freshly-made mango or coconut sorbet, local beef fillet, free range island chicken, or a fresh fruit sabayon, every dish is irresistible and the portions perfectly calculated for three courses.

a building on the island dedicated to the foundation and its works which displays the results of its efforts and encourages participation. This could be as simple as donating text books or stationery, new or used, as believe it not there are local kids who have to share a pencil in class or tear pages out of their exercise books to share with other students.

But wait there’s more … for those with an equine inclination there is a horse ranch and riding facilities, there are electric buggies for the more sedentary, there’s abundant snorkelling and diving equipment including wetsuits, and guests are welcome to take the outrigger canoes with either sails or outboard motors for around-island outings. There are also canoes which you can paddle to the nearby blue hole or mountain bikes for a quick circuit around the palm plantation.

You can also venture further afield and catch the many Santo sights. Or for some true pampering and a relaxing remedial massage try the overwater spa which opens wide to spectacular views of the sea.

For the game fishing fraternity there is a dedicated ‘fishing village’ which accommodates ten and includes all facilities for cleaning and preparing the day’s catch straight off the boat.

Rates

PICTURES: Craig Osment

as a granary. Balinese outriggers complete the picture.

A large part of the kitchen’s secret is the organic freshness of the produce. The island sustains its own market garden, its own herd of beef (50 head), pigs, chickens, goats and an endless supply of seafood (lobster, poulet, mahi mahi, yellow fin tuna, marlin and wahoo) from the surrounding waters and delivered to the jetty daily. There are also two pet ducks, Whoopsie and Daisy, as well as a domesticated pet chicken which is in future danger of becoming coq au vin.

In fact, sustainability is at the core of the management philosophy for Ratua. The island is fully self-sufficient – all water is harvested in tanks and all produce is either grown on the island or comes from the neighbouring islands of Santo, Aore or Malo. With the exception of the wine list – Australian, New Zealand and French – almost everything is home-grown.

The environmental sensitivity doesn’t end there. As I mentioned the most extraordinary aspect of Ratua, is that in spite of the luxuriousness of the guest experience all profits are returned to the local community through the Ratua Foundation. The foundation concentrates on providing educational facilities and equipment to local schools and assists with materials, expertise, labour and money. There is

The rates for Ratua have been adjusted downwards from their original quite high prices. For VT43,685 for two people per night (minimum two nights), this is now inclusive of breakfast, arrival and departure transfers, complimentary WiFi at the Yacht Club, all unguided and non-motorised watersports activities, mountain biking at Ratua, archery and petanque.

This place is the essence of elegant simplicity and sophistication; its raison d’être is to deliver an island-paced, informal and private experience to people who understand.

Ratua Private Island is wet-hair casual, you can literally snorkel from your villa to the Yacht Club, grab a beach towel and sip a cocktail in your swimsuit if you choose. Equally, you can dress up for dinner in a Camilla kaftan and thongs, or shorts and a t-shirt (depending on your gender preferences) and you’ll feel just as comfortable. It’s come-as-you-are – the sea turtles do.

For the seriously socially phobic, or if you just want to evade the paparazzi, from one to 28 people can rent the entire island. POA. • For more information go to www.ratua.com

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Beauty Spot

. . . k o o l o t How

Well Travelled Travel, by whatever means, seems to leave us looking a bit second hand.

Georgie Gordon finds the cosmetic solutions to flight fatigue and other ills.

Hydration is the key to keeping your hair and skin looking fresh. So drink plenty of water and moisturise.

W

hether you’re travelling by plane, train or automobile there’s something about an extended trip that always leaves one feeling a little grubby and unkempt. Despite endless pics of celebrities looking ahmazing leaving the terminal in envy-inducing ‘airport chic’ attire, the reality is often more sauce-stained clothes and bleary eyes than Gwyneth Paltrow type perfection.

So here are some tips to make sure you arrive fresh, well-groomed and ready to start your holiday or business engagement looking your best.

Hair

Nothing makes you appear more dishevelled than messy dirty

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hair. Wash, blow-dry and style your hair the morning of your trip, if you’re not already acquainted with dry shampoo make it your new best friend immediately.

I swear a three-day old blow dry looks better than it’s first incarnation after using this stuff – there’s something about the volume it adds to your roots. Spray it in and brush it out for instant ‘just-left-the-salon’ hair. The new Seven Wonder’s Moroccan Argan Oil Dry Shampoo will do the trick perfectly without drying out the ends. $12.95 from sevenwonders. com.au If you absolutely don’t have time to wash and style your hair – often the last thing you feel like doing before an early departure – keep it neat and brush it into a low sleek pony.

Skin

Travelling in an air-conditioned environment can make your skin look dry and tired. Keep yourself hydrated with lots of fluids (preferably of the non-alcoholic variety!) and apply moisturiser frequently. A great, cheap multi-tasking product is paw paw ointment, perfect for your lips, elbows, hands, and cuticles. We love Nature’s Care Balm 30g ($5.99) made with real paw paw seed oil and also containing beeswax, sunflower seed oil and vitamin E, a beautiful natural ointment that is incredibly hydrating and acts as barrier cream too.

Confined to a seat with nothing better to do than read or catch up on the latest films? There couldn’t be a better time to apply a face mask. Take advantage of the downtime and apply a rich moisturising mask right when your skin needs it most. It’s really hard to go past SK II’s Facial Treatment Mask, quite expensive at AU$108.00 for six from strawberrynet.com, but most definitely worth it.

Frequent Flyer Advice

For tips on make-up lasting the distance we spoke to an expert with thousands of miles under her belt. Jade Szonyi, 31, has been a Qantas flight attendant for 10 years, now working on the A380 in First and Business Class she always has to look immaculate. Here she shares her beauty secrets and favourite products with us.

What do you do to stay hydrated?

I moisturise every morning and evening and use a hydration spray. I drink litres of water before during and after the flight.

I encourage my passengers in business and first to use the beautiful Aurora and SKII hydrating products in their amenity kits.

Do you have any tips for your face, hair or body?

I apply moisturising hair treatments every few weeks and I keep my make up fresh and contemporary.

What about eating or drinking in the air, any advice?

Definitely drink lots of water before during and after the flight. I encourage my passengers to indulge in our world class wines on board but I ensure I am continually topping up their water glass. Everything in moderation. Food is one of the greatest pleasures of life and travelling and airline meals have come a long way. I encourage passengers to try the local dishes from the port we disembarked.

Any tips on staying well groomed in the air?

I have just recently switched from foundation to a MAC BB cream. I love the dewy natural coverage. My make-up seems to last the long sectors I work. I only top-up lipstick during the flight.

What products can’t you live without while flying?

Definitely my pink MAC lipstick and Aesop hydration spray Favourite place to travel?

I get asked this a lot. It’s tough comparing so many different destinations with contrasting qualities. At the moment I fly to two destinations, Dubai and Los Angeles. In the past I have crewed flights to London, Bangkok, Auckland, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and New York. They are all so different I can’t pinpoint a favourite. I guess Bangkok trips because of the food and massages and beautiful people. Croatia and Sri Lanka are also favourites.

Beauty secrets?

Concealer under my eyes to hide the tired dark circles, which are a combination of my mother’s Sri Lankan Heritage and fatigue from the long sectors I work.

What would you never travel without?

Photos of my husband Ben, daughter Charlotte and son Sol. My hydrating moisturiser. It’s a must. And definitely a tooth brush and deodorant....The basic things. Although my Dior Show mascara is a favourite of mine and my Bobbi Brown shimmer brick palate adds that sun kissed glow. •

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Major events

l a n o i t a n r e t n I i j i The F

A Golfer’s Paradise

The Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course is getting set to host its second round of the PGA Tour of Australasia. This year the event is set to tee off in mid October, so you still have time to make a booking.

W

hen thinking of Fiji it would be safe to assume that golf, and more specifically professional golf, is not the first activity that comes to mind. One would likely think of surfing, diving, weddings and family fun in the sun, but with the PGA Tour of Australasia launching a new event in 2014, Fiji is the newest tournament venue on the world stage.

It just happens to be in paradise.

The inaugural Fiji International professional golf tournament was held in August 2014 on the stunning Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course on the main island of Viti Levu. It is supported by the Fijian Government and Tourism Fiji and it is set to take Fiji to new markets.

The event sits on both the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia, and in its first year attracted a world class field

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including local hero and World Golf Hall of Fame member Vijay Singh, three-time major champion Nick Price, and the number one players from China, India and New Zealand. Not to mention Australian players, both young and experienced who jumped at the opportunity to play an event in Fiji. With the tournament broadcast around the world it soon became the talk of the international golf industry.

Most importantly, however, is the fact that the tournament is here to stay, with plans for 2015 already underway.

Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course will once again play host to the Fiji International, to be held from 15 – 18 October 2015 and the PGA hopes to secure a larger field, more quality international players and of course attract more spectators from around the world.

The magnificent Natadola Bay Championship Course offers the opportunity to play the ‘Home of the Fiji International’ all year round. And- the added benefit is that it is right next door to the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa.

Apart from the golf competition, the second year of the tournament is set for bigger, bolder and brighter festivities as tournament organisers, the PGA of Australia and Sports & Entertainment Ltd, intend to make the most of the idyllic location and utterly unique tournament venue.

No other tournament venue in the world offers the opportunity for corporate guests to relax on the beach, enjoy local hospitality while watching the professionals tear up the course. That is just what the signature 4th hole at Natadola Bay offers. A dip in the breathtaking Coral Coast waters between groups could even be on the cards.

In addition to the 4th hole, there are another 14 holes on the course with water views of the Coast, and the traditional style hospitality bures around the 18th green provide spectators with a truly Fijian experience.

It is not just tournament week however, where the Fiji International experience is delivered to tourists and locals alike. The magnificent Natadola Bay Championship

Course offers the opportunity to play the “Home of the Fiji International” all year round, and coupled with a room at the luxurious InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa it is “paradise to a tee”.

The course suits either the golfing enthusiast with the challenging layout and perpetually windy conditions, or the golfing novice who is just ready to enjoy some Fiji time with a spectacular view. Either way, now that the secret of Natadola Bay has been exposed to the world through the Fiji International it will never be the same again. It is fair to say this is a good result as a destination such as Natadola is too good not to have the world come to play.

The Fiji International and Natadola Bay is set to be the next big player on the world stage of golf. Watch this space.

For more information on the Fiji International, travel packages and how to be involved visit www.fijiinternational. com or email info@fijiinterational.com •

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Photography by Leith Campbell

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islandliving | 59 pacific

healthy living

s p i h s n o i t Rela

Reigniting the spark It’s easy to become complacent when you’re in a long term relationship without even realising that it’s happening, Georgie Gordon suggests simple habits to keep things on track or get them back on course.

I

was nauseous and tingly all over. I was either in love or had smallpox.” – Woody Allen. The all-consuming feeling of falling in love is often compared to sickness or being on drugs. But it doesn’t last forever, these feelings die down to make room for a deeper hopefully long lasting connection.

However it can be easy to fall into a rut, with the stress of our lives, jobs, kids it’s important to work to keep the romance alive, here are some tips to get you back on track. “

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Lose the negativity

It can creep in slowly and be hard to get rid of once it’s settled it’s ugly little head comfortably in your relationship. We’re all guilty of an eye roll here or a thinly veiled criticism there, however be careful as these are signs of contempt and over time this can really damage your relationship. Also try and avoid passive aggressive behaviour, if you have a problem with something your partner is doing or something is disappointing you,

we get together, we will devote significant attention to improving our communication”. So stop nagging and start talking.

Keep it interesting

confront it head on by talking about it openly and honestly.

Another thing a lot of us are culpable of is taking our bad day or general frustrations out on those we love. If the kids have driven you crazy or you’ve had a particularly stressful day at work, try and process what you are feeling before downloading it the minute you see your partner. Share your day without focusing on the negative, discuss what happened that was good also. If your day hasn’t been great, ask them about theirs rather than concentrating on yours.

PICTURE: Andrew Reid

Communicate

Good communication is the first step to achieving intimacy.

Learn how to communicate properly with your partner again by letting go of any petty grievances and start to properly listen. It’s easy to constantly lay blame but as James Park author of New Ways of Loving (Existential Books) says “If we want to resist the tendency of relationships to deteriorate into thoughtless, automatic togetherness, if we want to renew our love every time

Humans can be creatures of habit and can easily fall into a pattern of doing the same old things, and although comforting, this behaviour can lead to boredom and ultimately frustration and resentment. And though it’s important to have your own interests and a certain amount of space to yourself (remember it's nice to miss each other occasionally), your relationship will flourish if you explore things you are both interested in.

Do you both love food? Go on a trip together and learn some new culinary skills whilst enjoying exotic cuisine and culture.

Or take up a hobby together, it might be restoring furniture or bushwalking on weekends.

It’s also important to realise that it’s never going to be exactly the same as it was when you first met, embrace change and make a concerted effort to grow together rather than apart.

Annette Baulch runs workshops with her husband aiming to heal relationships that are broken or failing. They emphasise the need for personal growth and self-awareness, alongside the development of relationship skills, both emotional and physical.

Here Annette shares her top tips for reigniting that honeymoon spark: • Remember how to feel – the most common reason relationships go stale is that we shut down emotionally from each other. Make your feelings ok, remembering if you can’t feel yourself you won’t feel someone else.

• Feeling mistakes – don’t assume that the man is not feeling just because he won’t talk. Men do feel, they just have less permission to show it. And women, don’t assume you are, check that you’re actually feeling your feelings in your body rather than thinking your feelings.

• Be willing to be vulnerable – being vulnerable is how we are able to connect with another and invite our partner into our world, which can be scary! Consequences of not doing this will ultimately lead to the loss of the relationship. Actively choosing to go there is far less scary.

• Sleep together naked – our skin is the largest organ in the body and is longing to be nurtured. As adults we are often touch hungry especially for touch that has no agenda to it.

Relax and snuggle.

• Honour yourself – we don’t realise how much we dampen our spirit by the hundreds of negative judgments we make about ourselves. Offer honest appreciation daily.

• See each other clearly – take time to really listen to what they are saying (like you used to) and get to know a whole new person.

• Remove your exits – long-term relationships can get leaky, where we drain energy away from the relationship. This can result in ‘invisible divorce’. Too much work or focusing on the kids can negatively effect our relationships.

For more information visit oztantra.com.•

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n a l P e Gam

Not just for Christmas It’s game on! (the menu that is) for Christiana Kaluscha who plucks a few of her favourite duck recipes from her vast repertoire and reveals this bird’s international culinary credentials.

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PICTURES: Christiana Kaluscha

Christiana Cooks

Crispy Skin Duck With Blood Plum Sauce (serves 4)

If it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck ... cook it!

I

always loved the slightly gamey taste of duck and there are so many ways to prepare and enjoy it.

In Germany, duck is usually served on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day but it’s an excellent dish to serve on any special occasion. You will find it on the menu of any good Bavarian restaurant and beer garden. It is traditionally served with knödel (German home-made dumplings) and rotkohl (red cabbage).

The French, as usual when it comes to ‘cuisine’, add some more sophistication to a duck dish. One of my favourite entrées is a terrine de foie gras or a duck liver mousse.

Velvety on first bite, with the consistency of whipped butter on the tongue, very faint hints of almond and a delicately meaty flavour like roast chicken and then the gaminess I associate with duck. It is creamy without being super fatty, and it just melts in your mouth.

You may want to pair it with a good Champagne, pinot gris, riesling, sauvignon blanc or chardonnay, or even a medium bodied red like a pinot noir. A sweet wine, like sauternes, may also work well as long as the level of sweetness does not interfere with the next course.

In Italy one the most delicious duck recipes is pappardelle al ragu di anatra (duck) served with freshly made pappardelle (pasta) and topped with some grated pecorino cheese and ideally accompanied by a glass of Italian full-bodied red wine like Chianti Classico or Brunello di Montalcino.

The Asians also have a great variety of wonderful duck preparations. On a culinary ‘duck voyage’ you could enjoy the famous Chinese Peking duck, a Balinese sate lilit bebek (barbecued minced duck sate served on lemongrass sticks), the duck curries of Thailand, India, Mauritius and Malaysia, all of them with different combinations of spices, tantalising your taste buds and forever remaining souvenirs on your palate.

Unfortunately, the available space of my food column is not enough to describe all the delicious duck recipes of our world, but I’d like to share some of my favourites for now. •

This is my version of Kylie’s signature dish at her restaurant Billy Kwong in Sydney. I enjoyed it so much that I tried to find the recipe so that I could cook it myself.

In my recipe below, I use duck legs, but you could prepare this dish with a whole duck (adjust steaming time to 1½ hours). The duck can easily be steamed and the sauce prepared a day ahead. In this case, remove duck from fridge about an hour before tossing in flour and deep frying it. Reheat the sauce, but don’t boil it again.

Ingredients

• 4 duck legs • 1 Tbsp. Sichuan pepper • 3 Tbsp. sea salt • 2 Tbsp. plain flour • Vegetable oil for deep frying Blood Plum Sauce • 1 cup water • 1 cup white sugar • 4 ripe blood plums cut in half • 2/3 cup fish sauce • 2 cinnamon quills • 6 whole star anise • 1 small hot chilli, seeds removed and cut in half (optional) • 1/3 cup lime juice • 1 Tsp. corn flour, ¼ cup of water

Method

• Rinse duck legs under cold water and pat dry.

• Dry roast Sichuan pepper, cool and pound together with salt in a mortar • Rub this mix all over the duck legs, cover and leave in refrigerator overnight to

marinate.

• Place the marinated duck legs into a steamer over boiling water and steam tightly covered for 45 minutes or until cooked through.

• Remove from steamer and place on a tray to drain, allow to cool slightly and then refrigerate.

• To make the plum sauce, combine water and sugar in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add plums, fish sauce, chilli and spices and simmer for a further minute. Remove the plums and keep warm.

Add the lime juice and reduce sauce to ¾ of the liquid. Mix the corn flour with the water and stir into sauce until slightly thickened. Add plums, remove from stove and keep warm.

• Lightly toss duck legs in flour to coat, shake off any excess flour • Heat vegetable oil in a wok until hot – to check temperature, place a wooden spoon upside down into the oil, if it bubbles it is hot enough • Deep fry duck legs 2 at a time for about 3 minutes or until well browned and crispy.

• Using tongs remove duck legs from oil and drain on kitchen paper and leave to rest for 5 minutes.

• Arrange on a platter and spoon over the hot plum sauce decorated with the spices • Serve with rice.

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Top: Terrine de Foie Gras, served with chutney or sauterne jelly. Above Mauritian Duck Curry. Above right: Bavarian Roasted Duck.

Mauritian Duck Curry This Mauritian recipe for delicious, simple, fallingoff-the-bone duck curry in a rich, thick sauce is full of flavour. It is easy to make as it relies on curry powder rather than paste, which is more time consuming to make.

Ingredients

• 8 cm piece of ginger, chopped • 6–8 large garlic cloves, chopped • 2 small hot red chillies (or more if you like it very spicy) • Sea salt • 1 duck (1.5–1.8 kg) • Freshly ground white pepper • Vegetable oil

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• 2 medium onions, finely chopped • A small handful curry leaves • 4 Tbsp. good-quality Indian curry powder, mixed with water to make a wet paste • 4 medium-sized ripe tomatoes, peeled and seeds removed, roughly chopped • ½ bunch coriander, roughly chopped

Method

• Trim the duck of excess skin and fat. Chop the duck into medium-sized pieces, leaving the drumsticks whole. Place the pieces in a bowl and season well with salt and white pepper, tossing to

coat.

• Place the ginger, garlic, chilli and a pinch of salt in a mortar and pound to a paste.

• Heat a large, heavy-based saucepan. When hot, add a little oil and brown the duck pieces in batches.

When all the pieces are browned, remove them from the pan and keep warm.

• Turn the heat down to medium high.

• Add the onion and sauté until light brown.

• Add the ginger, garlic and chilli paste. Fry for about 2 minutes, then turn the heat down to medium–low and add the curry leaves and curry powder mix.

Cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes.

• Add a little water, the duck pieces and any juices.

Mix well and add extra water to come halfway up the contents of the pan.

Season to taste. Bring to the boil then cover with a lid and simmer for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally until the meat is tender and almost falling off the bone.

• Remove the lid and add the tomato. Turn the heat up a little to allow the tomato to break down and the sauce to reduce.

Check the seasoning and add the coriander just before serving with rice.

Terrine De Foie Gras (serves 6) Ingredients

• Duck foie gras lobe(s) 1 whole • Fine salt and freshly ground black pepper • ½ Tsp. Chinese five spice • 30 ml white port • 200 ml semi-skimmed milk • 200 ml water

Method

• Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius.

• Mix together the salt, pepper and Chinese five spice.

• Remove the foie gras from the fridge at least 1 hour before preparing your dish.

Soak in a mixture of milk and water to remove any impurities.

• Separate the foie gras into 2 parts and remove the veins from each part. Reform the lobes once you have removed the veins.

• Rub the seasoning mixture over the foie gras, sprinkle with port and marinate overnight.

• Press the foie gras into your terrine mould. Cook in a bain-marie in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 160°C. The centre of the foie gras should reach no higher than 50°C. • Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Skim off the fat and keep to one side.

Refrigerate the terrine overnight with a weight on

top to compact the foie gras.

• Remove the weight.

Re-heat the fat and pour on top of the terrine. Allow to set in the fridge.

A few points in order to appreciate the refined flavour and delicate texture of foie gras • Allow for 50-150 g per person depending on the importance of the occasion: between 50-70g for a starter, 100-150g for a main course.

• Remove the foie gras from the refrigerator approximately 45 minutes before serving so that it gives out its full texture and

flavour. Serve at around 10-12°C on a cold dish.

• Slice with a thin bladed knife that has been dipped in hot water and wiped in order to maintain the texture of the foie gras. Do not cut the foie gras too early or it will oxidise and lose its flavour.

• Accompany with thinly sliced country-style bread, which has been very lightly toasted, or brioche.

• It goes really well with a sweet and sour accompaniment. I personally love it with caramelised apples, pineapple-ginger chutney or sauterne jelly.

Bavarian Roasted Duck (serves 4) It is best is to get a fresh duckling for this recipe, but if not available, use a good quality frozen one.

Ingredients: • 1 young duckling • Salt, Pepper, Paprika • 6 sage leaves • 1 onion • 60 g butter • 1½ cups water • some beer for basting • 1 tsp corn starch • 5-6 medium sized tart apples (Granny Smith)

Method

• Remove the giblets from the inside of the duck.

Rinse duck with cold water inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels.

• Cut off the neck skin and the tail section, where most of the fat is stored. Make a cut in the skin on the

breast side towards the tail.

Remove any fat from under the skin if necessary.

• Season duck inside and outside with salt, pepper and a little paprika.

• Wash and peel the apples, remove core. Cut in wedges and fill the duck with the apples, giblets, sage, salt and pepper, do not overfill the duck. Close cavity by sewing together with kitchen string.

• Place duck in a roasting pan, breast down, tie the legs together and tuck under the wings. This prevents the duck losing shape during roasting and too much browning of the legs and wings.

• Cut onion into wedges and add to the bottom of the roasting pan with a little hot water • Melt the butter and pour

evenly over the duck.

Roast uncovered in a preheated oven – 200-220 C on middle or lower rack for 1½ - 2 hours.

• When the back of the duck is browned, turn duck breast side up. Baste duck several times during roasting and during the last 10 minutes baste the duck with the beer. Increase the temperature to 240 C. This will create a nice crusty skin.

• Remove duck from roasting pan; remove ties and apples and let duck rest covered with foil. Keep warm.

• Remove the onions from the pan and remove fat from sauce. (See tip) • To finish the sauce: Heat the gravy if needed and season to taste. Thicken if necessary with the corn

starch. Add 1 teaspoon of corn starch into a small cup half filled with cold water; stir to create a thin paste. Add to the simmering sauce, stir and simmer until thickened.

• To serve the duck, cut into portions, place on a decorative plate with the baked apples around the bird.

Tip

To remove fat from the sauce, pour the sauce through a strainer filled with ice cubes and placed over a bowl. The fat will remain on the ice and the degreased gravy collected in the bowl.

Be quick so that there is not too much water dripping into the bowl.

This works well with fatty sauce from roasted lamb, pork or chicken too.

islandliving | 65 pacific

IGmedia

1_4 PAGE_Island Spirit_825X1175_E_FAB1.indd 1

16/08/13 10:09

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66 | Islandliving pacific

Buy-in

5 Things YouiaNeed To Know y n Propert Austral

Gayle Stapleton advises getting the right advice prior to investing in Australia is the best course.

Understand the purpose

Investment in property is a huge and at times quite emotive decision and it is quite purposeful to place a little objectivity and structure around the process.

Whilst understanding the purpose may sound like a very obvious statement depending on your situation and aspirations, your reasoning for investing in property will vary widely. Your purpose could be as a first home owner, second home owner, residential investment, superannuation investment or potentially investment in commercial or industrial property.

Your over-arching purpose will dictate matters such as ownership structure, purchase channel, level of professional advice, contractual obligations, specific regulations and the structuring of your loan package.

The answer to this perceived simple question will open up the relevant and alternate pathways for your personalised wealth creation.

Foreign investment regulations

If you are a foreign non-resident or short term visa holder, there are specific conditions that regulate the type of property you can invest in.

Foreign non-residents or short term visa holders may invest in Australian real estate by acquiring new dwellings, off the plan properties under construction or yet to be built on vacant land for development.

Foreign non-residents or short term visa holders cannot purchase established dwellings unless it is for redevelopment.

Temporary residents may acquire one established dwelling only and it must be used as their residence in Australia.

Foreign companies may invest in established dwellings for the housing of their employees – and this requires specific approval.

This is a relatively complex area and for further information, I recommend you visit the very comprehensive website: www. firb.gov.au

Taxation and immigration

Whether you are an Australian resident, Australian nonresident, foreign non-resident or foreign company, investment in property in Australia will have taxation and/or immigration implications.

Failure to effectively structure your investment upfront has the potential of costing you excessive time and money.

I recommend good advice from your accounting and legal professionals from the start – this sets you up with your wealth creation future in mind.

Off the plan purchases

This type of investment is not for the faint-hearted or potentially the more tactile investor. However for those who are a little more adventurous and indeed for the foreign non-residents, there are some sound benefits: 1. You have the opportunity to purchase at below (current) market valuations 2. There is the potential for you to contribute towards colour schemes, appliance selection and depending on the stage of the development, the floor plan.

3. This style of purchase provides you with a compulsory savings goal – it is particularly useful for people with an initial minimum deposit and strong savings potential.

This style of investment may provide you with just the compulsory savings goal that you need to kick-start your dream of wealth creation.

Getting the right advice

Investing in property may be the most significant financial decision you take in your life.

Surrounding yourself with a team of professionals who understand your current and future wealth creation dreams is essential.

Your team will comprise researcher, accountant, solicitor, risk professional and finance specialist and they need to work together with your financial aspirations clearly in mind. •

islandliving | 67 pacific

resorts we love

Get a sroom to stay place

TripAdvisor’s 2014 Ten Best South Pacific Islands

Four Seasons Bora Bora

T

1

hat most ubiquitous of travel advice sites, TripAdvisor has nominated its top ten Travellers’ Choice South Pacific islands for 2014. It’s a pretty comprehensive list that spans the region nicely from South Australia in the west to Bora Bora in the east with reviews and photographs from tens of thousands of travellers.

As you would expect the website contains links to trip planning pages with accommodation and holiday rental recommendations, restaurant reviews, flight booking info, a forum, and dozens of suggestions for things to do plus family travel advice, shopping hints and night life tips; it’s the ultimate one-stop-shop for South Pacific aficionados.

Here’s the list in order and a summary of each destination with their top picks, keep in mind that this just a small selection and their picks are curated by their ‘freelance advisors’ who, ultimately are travellers just like the rest of us. There are many more choices and a wide variety of opinions as to what’s best at any destination and in our experience some of the negative opinions expressed by disgruntled holiday-makers are extremely weird and often unfair, so it’s caveat emptor:

Etu Moana, Aitutaki

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Bora Bora, Society Islands The don’t miss list includes – Mount Otemanu, Pure snorkelling by Reef Discovery and Bora Bora Photo Lagoon.

TripAdvisor says: “The relatively small island of Bora Bora is an activity giant, offering visitors the chance to experience a 4x4 safari, sunbathe and swim at white sandy beaches, dive in a natural underwater park among fish and corals, experience thrilling shark feedings, or circle the turquoise lagoon by boat.

And Bora Bora is a superlative romantic spot. Fall captive to this lush gem of a Polynesian island by sharing an intimate midnight dinner on the beach; visiting the Lagoonarium, the Diving Centre, the Coral Gardens or the Leopard Rays Trench; or taking it all in from the lofty heights of 2,300-foot Mount Otemanu.”

Accommodation suggestions are subdivided by category, top picks being: Romantic: Four Seasons Resort. Trendy: The St Regis. Holiday rental: Bora Bungalove ‘too’ Luxe bord du lagon which is a two bedroom overwater house that sleeps four. Top resorts: InterContinental Thalsso-Spa

2

Aitutaki, Southern Cook Islands Don’t miss: Aitutaki Lagoon, One Foot Island, Black Pearl

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Sofitel over-water villas, Moorea

Manuia Beach Resort, Rarotonga

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The jetty at Eratap, Efaté

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The Boatshed, Whaiheke Island

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Fishing Charters. The lowdown: “This small island encased in a triangular barrier reef boasts incredible lagoons. Relax with an intimate picnic on the alabaster beach of one of Aitutaki’s minor islands, uninhabited and lined with swaying palm trees.

Despite its heartbreaking beauty, Aitutaki isn’t (yet) flooded with tourists, due to its relatively difficult-to-reach location. For off-the-beaten-sandbar holiday-making, Aitutaki is a prime destination, especially for those seeking unbridled romantic ambiance.”

Accommodation suggestions: Romantic: Aitutaki Escape, Trendy: Pacific Resort, Holiday rental: Te Vai Moana Luxury Villa, Top resorts: Etu Moana.

3

Moorea, Society Islands Don’t miss: Lagoonarium, ATV Morea Tours, Toatea Crepes Restaurant and Bar. TripAdvisor says: “The world’s largest coral reef eco-system actually consists of 3,000 separate reefs. The island of Moorea serves as the perfect base camp for snorkellers and scuba divers seeking to come face-to-face with the diversity of life that darts among the coral. Non-swimmers can enjoy the same parade of astounding creatures from the dry perch of a glass-bottomed

boat. Formed when half of a monolithic volcano crumbled to the blue-green sea, Moorea is an achingly exquisite heartshaped island that is simply paradise found.”

Accommodation suggestions: Romantic: Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa. On the beach: InterContinental Resort and Spa. Holiday rental: Vai Moorea Budget Bungalow with private beach. Top resorts: Sofitel Moorea la Ora Beach Resort.

4

Efaté, Vanuatu Don’t miss: Mele Cascades, Vanuatu Eco Tours, Elan (restaurant). The summary: “It was the site of three international versions of “Survivor,” but time spent on Efaté is anything but a struggle. Part of the island nation of Vanuatu, Efaté is a tropical former territory of Britain and France, whose influences are still present in the island’s culture and cuisine. The capital city of Port Vila is a mosaic of restaurants, shops and museums, as well as the point of origin for many SCUBA, jet ski and parasailing excursions. Don’t miss the spectacular freshwater falls of Mele Cascades.

Accommodation suggestions: Romantic: Eratap Beach Resort. On the beach: Aquana Beach Resort. Family: Paradise

islandliving | 69 pacific

Paradise Hotel and Resort, Norfolk Island

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Cove Resort, Holiday rental: Villa Belle.

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Rarotonga, Southern Cook Islands Don’t miss: Koka Lagoon Cruises, The Mooring (restaurant), Titikaveka Beach.

The summary: “Sipping coconut milk while bargaining for handmade jewellery and swaying your hips to live music—just another Saturday morning in Rarotonga. After a few hours of checking out the wharf-side Punanga Nui Market, hit the beaches of this reef-protected volcanic island. There are plenty of picturesque lagoons that allow peaceful swimming or snorkelling, and moonlit strolls along the East Side sands are pure magic. Raro Safari Tours are a popular way to explore the island’s vivid rainforest.”

Accommodation suggestions: Romantic: Manuia Beach Resort. Holiday rental: The Treehouse B+B. Villa: Te Manava Luxury Villas and Spa. Top resorts: Sunset Resort

6

Waiheke Island, New Zealand Don’t miss: EcoZip Adventures, Waiheke Island Wine Tours, Peacock Sky Vineyard. Their synopsis: “Artists and freespirits mingle with the rich and famous on this blissful island, a haven of beautiful beaches, gastronomical treasures and small wineries. Browse the dozens of art galleries and craft stores of the Waiheke Arts Trail between dips in the emerald waters.

Soar above the landscape on a chartered scenic flight, then refuel your engine with a casual beachfront café meal or an upscale, multi-course affair. Waiheke boasts several boutique vineyards, perfect for sipping, sampling and savouring New Zealand’s fine wines.”

Accommodation suggestions: Romantic: Delamore Lodge.

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Taveuni Palms Resort, Taveuni

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Trendy; The Boatshed. Holiday rental: Waiheke Island Resort.

Best value: Breakfast on the Beach Lodge.

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Norfolk Island, Australia Don’t miss: Emily Bay, Norfolk Blue Restaurant Grill and Bar, Fletcher’s Mutiny Cyclorama. They say: “At first glance, it’s hard to believe that vibrant Norfolk Island could have a dark past. Yet during the 19th century, the now-peaceful Australian retreat was a convict colony, home to criminals who’d been banished into exile. Today, the archaeological remains of the penal colony have UNESCO World Heritage status and are revered for their historical significance. You can visit the settlement’s remains, an eerie yet beautiful collection that includes a jail, a cemetery, lumber yard and salt house.”

Accommodation suggestions: Romantic: Paradise Hotel and Resort. Holiday rental: The Tin Sheds Luxury Apartments.

Best value: Heritage Hill. Family: South Pacific Resort Hotel

8

Taveuni Island, Fiji Don’t miss: Taveuni Ocean Sports, Lavena Coastal Walk, Coconut Grove Restaurant. TripAdvisor summary: “Sure, it’s a bit rainy here. But a lush tropical paradise needs water – otherwise you wouldn’t see such brilliant flowers everywhere.

The black-sand beaches provide contrast to the riot of colour everywhere else. Nature-lovers can see many of Fiji’s indigenous species, especially in Bouma National Heritage Park (where you should also stop at Bouma Falls).”

Accommodation suggestions: Romantic: Nakia Resort and Dive. Best value: Coconut Grove Beachfront Cottages.

Holiday rental: Karin’s Garden. Family: Taveuni Palms Resort.

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island

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Kangaroo Island, South Australia Don’t miss: Paul’s Place Wildlife Sanctuary, Flinders Chase National Park, Kangaroo Island Odysseys. Synopsis: “Kangaroo Island is the epitome of variety, ripe with pristine beaches, historic lighthouses, conservation land, underground caves, rare honeybees, gourmet local delicacies and … penguins.

“Book a tour with the Kangaroo Island Penguin Centre to watch these tuxedoed darlings waddle along the water, then tuck into a hearty dinner featuring native ingredients like rich sheep’s-milk cheese, freshwater marron, olive oil and boutique wine. The island’s art galleries showcase the woodworking, glass-blowing and furniture-making talents of local craftsmen.”

Accommodation suggestions: Romantic: Southern Ocean Lodge. Best value: Kangaroo Island Acacia Apartments.

Holiday rental: Unit 1 Graydon Lodge. Family: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge.

Waterfront view from Moyyan House by the Sea, Santo

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Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu Don’t miss: Matevulu Blue Hole, Millennium Cave, SS President Coolidge. TripAdvisor says: “The pink sands of Champagne Beach spill into warm waters filled with wrecks and reefs begging to be explored by Espiritu Santo holidaymakers. Rinse off with a dip in one of the island’s many freshwater blue holes. Trek over a bamboo bridge to visit the bats and swallows of Millennium Cave, who nap among spectacular rock formations. Divers can wave hello to “The Lady,” one of the many intact artefacts of the wreck of the SS President Coolidge.”

Accommodation suggestions: Romantic: Barrier Beach House. Best value: Hibiscus Attraction Center. Holiday rental: Paradise Cove – The Jetty. On the beach: Moyyan House by the Sea. •

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

islandliving | 71 pacific

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island adventure

Tonga

A Whale Of A Time Humpback whales follow a predictable path. In the past this has made them an easy prey and nearly led to their extinction. Today this behaviour enables visitors to the kingdom of Tonga to experience a truly stunning swimming experience, says Elio Stamm.

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PICTURE: Matthias

Y

ou have to do it to understand how impressive it is. Reading the following lines might make you want to swim with the humpback whales too, but it cannot prepare you for the moment when you actually encounter these creatures, which at up to 16 metres long and 36 tons, float past you in the vast blue Pacific Ocean.

It blew my mind.

I was already looking forward to this experience having read Lonely Planet’s story, I expected something special, but I really had no idea.

It was around 10 am on a cloudy Tuesday in July.

For two hours our boat had already been searching cautiously for the humpback whales around the waters of the Vava’u island group in the kingdom of Tonga.

The host of our bed and breakfast in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga’s capital, where we had stayed before flying up to the northern Vava’u island group had told us a few days earlier that she had not spotted a single whale on a similar trip. So I was more than pleased that by 10 am we had already seen four different groups of whales, surfacing, breaching, blowing out water and vanishing again.

One whale which had been jumping landed approximately 30 metres away from our boat, splashing the water up five metres into the air. Even our local guide scanning the horizon on the roof of the boat screamed at that sight.

It was exciting, but up to that point I had not been able to get into the water. First we had seen whales in a protected zone where no one was allowed to swim with them, and then, during the following three encounters,

islandliving | 75 pacific

PICTURES: Elio Stamm

Above: “It was surreal. It was frightening. We looked at each other and we were all very happy not to be alone in the water. The whales

they had moved too fast. There would have been no chance to follow them but the local organising company Beluga Dive also did not want to take the risk of letting us swim next to a breaching whale. I was a little disappointed but also glad that the company seemed to respect the animals and their space.

But then suddenly, just as I was about to convince myself that even just having seen these giants of the sea had been worth a day trip, a whale passed by directly underneath us.

The guide shouted: “Into the water”, and all four of us jumped off the back of the boat.

I landed in the blue emptiness of the ocean but I could not see much. There was lots of white foam and bubbles in front of my eyes, produced by my fellow swimmers who were just as excited as I was and frantically swimming towards where we thought the whale would be.

I swallowed water. I breathed hard. I saw fins, but not those of the whales.

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About 30 metres from the boat the guide made us stop.

We calmed down, and then we saw them. Three humpback whales gliding up from the deep sea to get some air. No more than 15 metres away from us.

It was surreal. It was frightening. We looked at each other and we were all very happy not to be alone in the water. The whales though did not seem to care about our presence. They dived up and down, circling us and the boat.

Humpback whales surface often. We could see them again and again during the day trip exhaling in the various bays of the Vava’u islands. And although they did not do it on that particular morning, the whales tend to ‘sing’ during their courtship routines. This can be as loud as 185 decibels and be registered as far as 100 kilometres away in the open ocean. Coming back to hear them sing is definitely on my to-do list.

The whales follow a clear path and migrate up to 25,000

“One whale which had been jumping landed approximately 30 metres away from our boat, splashing the water up five metres into the air. Even our local guide scanning the horizon on the roof of the boat screamed at that sight.�

though did not seem to care about our presence. Below left: The Kingdom of Tonga celebrates the royal birthday.

Fact File

Getting There

There are three choices of airline for getting to Tonga from Australia and within the Pacific. For further information on getting around, tours and accommodation options contact: Tonga Visitors Bureau Vuna Road Nuku’alofa Kingdom of Tonga Tel: +676 25 334 Fax: +676 23 507 Email:info@ thekingdomoftonga.com or visit the website at: www. thekingdomoftonga.com

Humpback Whale Facts Not surprisingly Wikipedia has thousands of words on the humpback which is a species of the baleen whale. Adults range in length from 12-16 metres and typically weigh 25-30 tonnes, although the largest recorded example was a female

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Guest House being among the most popular choices at the moment. Tai and his family who live on the property make every guest feel like at home.

At 11am we went into the water for a fourth and last swim with the same group of whales. As we learnt from our guide, it is actually quite rare to be able to get into the water so often and was only possible because we were swimming with two males trying to impress a female. They were kind of stationary as the two males circled around their object of desire. By now we were used to being so close to these wild animals and we were relaxed. I concentrated on taking pictures and videos with my underwater camera.

As the female whale decided to remain down at 15 metres below the surface, I could only get some shots from afar.

After 20 minutes, I started checking my recorded files to see whether I had caught any good action, in doing so I had forgotten to follow my mates and was quickly separated by 15 metres of ocean. When I finally looked up again I saw them all pointing towards me. I turned around and saw one of the males coming up to get fresh air no further than 3 metres away from me.

My relaxation abandoned me in an instant.

I still somehow managed to push the button and so I am now the proud owner of a close up shot of a humpback whale. It is cool to show it around but I do not need it as a reminder for myself. The pictures are fixed in my mind. And there they will stay forever.

For more information on the kingdom of Tonga, the Vava’u island group and swimming with the whales check out the official homepage of the Tongan Visitors Bureau: www.thekingdomoftonga.com •

from the Caribbean which measured an extraordinary 27 metres and a hefty 90 tonnes.

The newborn calves arrive in the world weighing 2 tonnes and 6 metres in length which may make human childbirth seem a breeze by comparison.

The Blue Whale is the largest mammal in the world and all whales belong to the order Cetacea which include their aquatic cousins dolphins and porpoises.

Fossil evidence suggests they evolved from landdwelling mammals that began living in marine environments about 50 million years ago, so no wonder they appear to be so at home in the water. Humpbacks are easily identifiable by their stocky bodies with an obvious hump and black dorsal fins.

PICTURES: Elio Stamm and www.free-picture.net

kilometres each year. During the southern hemisphere’s summer they feed in polar waters and then make their way to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth to their calves in the winter. Tonga is one of the most important breeding grounds for humpback whales. They come here between June and November, which meant that we were swimming with them early in the season.

Seeing so many humpback whales around me made it hard to believe this majestic animal was once close to extinction.

Their predictable migration pattern made them easy prey for whalers who started hunting them down for meat and oil from the early 1800s onwards. Back then the humpback population was around 150,000 worldwide. When commercial whaling was finally forbidden in 1966, there were merely 5000 humpback whales left. Since then the population has been recovering slowly, to an estimated 80,000 today.

Swimming is obviously better than hunting, but there are still quite few critics who say this practice can disturb the mothers while raising their calves in the calm waters of Tonga.

Tourists have to make up their own mind. To minimise the impact you should make sure you are accompanied by a licensed operator. There are whale-watching and swimming operators all over Tonga but the most famous spot is definitely the northern Vava’u group, with more than a dozen operators located in Neiafu, its main town.

Neiafu has some 6000 inhabitants and is situated in one of the best protected harbours in the world. This small town is world famous for yachties who use it as a base to sail around the crystal clear waters of the Vava’u group. It is also the best base for whale watchers and swimmers offering a wide range of quality accommodation, with the locally owned Port Wine

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history & sport

Above the jetty on Lola Island.

Solomon

Often overshadowed by the provincial capital, Gizo, the largest town on the island of New Georgia is Munda, blessed with a location encircled by gorgeous lagoons teeming with life – and death. By Roderick Eime

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he outboard buzzes loudly as we bounce gently across the sheltered waters of the vast Vona Vona Lagoon. My guide, known only to me as Tusker, his dark, weather beaten Melanesian skin stretched like taught parchment across his impassive face is framed by a trim, wispy grey beard. He stares into the distance, his misty eyes reveal nothing except years of exposure to the harsh tropical sun and stinging salt spray.

Barely 30 minutes ago, the Solomons Airlines Dash-8 was circling overhead as I stared down on the cobalt blue and turquoise waters encircled by islands thick with lush tropical

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growth and fringed by bleached white sandy beaches.

Seventy years ago, pilots of both the Japanese and US air forces would have gazed on the same hypnotic scenes as they prepared to engage in deadly combat.

Landing the big one

Without warning, Tusker signals to turn the boat toward a patch of disturbed water a couple of hundred metres off the port bow. He simultaneously snatches a rod and reel from the floor of the runabout and prepares to launch the fat plastic lure armed with a trio of angry barbs. The little plastic dummy sails

PICTURES: Zipolo Habu Resort,Tiffany Carroll, Roderick Eime and Elio Stamm

Reeling ThemIsInlands

Top: Zipolo’s Joe Entrikin and local kids (below). Above right: The catch.

through the air in a well-practiced trajectory. He hands me the rod and grabs another. “Like this” he says, furiously winding the reel while jerking the vertical rod violently.

We repeat this frantic process for just a few minutes before I have a hit. I’m a pretty ordinary fisherman, attested to by years of empty baskets but today I’m on, big time! Seeing me struggle to wind the reel against a very determined brute, Tusker straps a brace to my waist to hold the end of the rod digging into my thigh. Accompanied by a small chorus of urges, the fish is finally near the surface and the gaff is readied. “Whoa! That’s a big fish.”

Both the fish, a 20kg GT (giant trevally), and I flop exhausted into the boat. I’m ecstatic. It’s far and away the largest fish I’ve ever caught and even Tusker, who must have seen hundreds of these energetic game fish, seems mildly impressed.

As we pull up to the little jetty on Lola Island, Joe Entrikin is standing, hands on hip and dressed in trademark shorts and faded red singlet much as he has done for the last 25 years. “We’ve brought dinner,” I announce triumphantly as Joe glances at the catch, his lips pursing momentarily in faint acknowledgement.

Hailing from Seattle, Joe and his Solomon Islander wife, Lisa, have operated Zipolo Habu Resort since 1989, when they opened the tiny fishing outpost with just two ramshackle

bungalows. The restaurant and bar were added five years later. Today the comparatively plush bungalows are a far cry from the first stilt shacks and come complete with hot water, 240V power, kitchens and prime waterfront position. The restaurant, be assured, serves the freshest fish anywhere in the world.

I’m still strutting around like a cocky Rex Hunt, when I see the photo wall. A gallery of faded prints is pinned to the palm leaf with scores of satisfied guests and their catch. My face falls as I survey the wall of fame. Children, teenagers, minor celebrities and TV crews all pose with gigantic fish, some the size of yearling livestock. Hmph. If you get sick of fishing, there is amazing surf and diving just around the corner.

Skull Island

After a refreshing Sol Brew lager, Tusker gestures me back into the boat to continue our circle tour of this idyllic lagoon.

We stop and pay our respects to the remains of ancient Roviana chiefs and their victims at the sacred altar on tiny Skull Island. Many years ago, local marauders would launch their headhunting raids as far as Guadalcanal after a ceremonial blessing using the magic captured in the skulls. Stored in jagged rock alcoves, don’t be tempted to pick up a skull, or worse still, be photographed with it unless you want to incur

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Above: Zipolo Habu Resort’s deluxe bungalow. Centre: There really are fish down there, and ashore too after a day’s fishing . Above right: It’s

the wrath of the spirits.

We continue past five 140mm naval guns installed at Enogai by the Japanese to defend the passage from seaborn attack.

These were captured by US forces in July 1943 as part of the ferocious battles of the New Georgia Campaign that took place all through the Western Province until the invaders were ground back to Bougainville.

Military buffs will know very well the significance of the Solomon Islands Campaign that turned the tide in the Pacific Theatre of the Second World War. Anyone who saw the seminal 2010 HBO TV series, ‘Pacific’, would understand the brutal fighting that took place on the islands, in the air and on waters all through the region.

For decades, scrap metal salvagers and souvenir hunters alike have raked and combed the battlefields looking for valuable relics. Some rusty items still remain hidden in the jungle for inquisitive visitors to discover. Tusker guides our little boat into the shallow waters surrounding Kohinggo (aka Arundel) Island where US Army infantry landed to

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tackle Japanese forces entrenched on the island. A M3A1 General Stuart tank still sits amid the jungle exactly where it was knocked out, a poignant reminder of the unimaginable savagery of these battles.

On the southern side of the island we are shown a US P-39 Airacobra, not yet positively identified, which crashed very close to the tiny village of Nazareti. Locals, with machetes flying, take me on trail through rough jungle and cassava fields to the site. Items like machine guns and ammunition are long gone and some untidy salvaging has made a bit of a mess of what remains.

Munda stopover

Before heading back to Honiara, we swing by Agnes Lodge in Munda township, just a stone’s throw from the wartime airfield, built by the Japanese and still in use today. Here I meet local unofficial historian, Barney Paulsen, who shows me his own collection, accumulated over the years and neatly arrayed in his front yard. Shell casings, medicine bottles, an aircraft

not called Skull Island for nothing but be warned don’t touch unless you want to incur the wrath of the spirits.

engine and helmets are mixed in with piles of sundry debris including hand grenades and dog tags.

Barney pulls out his special box from which he produces the corroded remains of a Thompson sub-machine gun, magazine still in place.

“The police tell me I can keep it as long as I don’t try and fix it up,” says Barney cradling the inert weapon like a Chicago mobster.

Apart from the wartime trash and treasure of the jungle and great fishing, Munda offers some of the best scuba diving in the Solomon Islands. British expat, Graeme Sanson of Dive Munda will show you his favourite sites including submerged aircraft wrecks and a spectacular drop-off that plummets to more than 600 metres.

If you believe the legends – and many still do – the supernatural power of the last Roviana chiefs still permeate the waters and islands around Munda, keeping them safe for future generations and instilling mortal fear into those who dare trespass upon these hallowed lands. •

Fact File Tour information

• For information about tours around Munda, contact Agnes Lodge www.agneslodge.com.sb • For information on travel to and around Solomon Islands, visit SIVB. www.visitsolomons.com.sb • Staying at Munda and New Georgia: Agnes Lodge, right on the waterfront at Munda and walking distance to the airport. Tours can be arranged from here.

Z ipolo Habu Resort is on Lola Island and a short speedboat ride from Munda. Quiet and relaxing.

And great fishing too.

• Dive Munda www.mundadive.com

Getting there Solomon Airlines flies daily to Munda from Honiara using a modern Dash-8 aircraft. www.flysolomons.com

So Solomons, So Different!

Experience a culture, rich with traditional customs, art, dance and the iconic sound of the panpipe music of ‘Are Are’.

Be mesmerized by the natural beauty of our many wildlife and marine parks including Marovo lagoon in the Western Province, the largest saltwater lagoon in the world and home to an array of teeming marine life.

Catch a glimpse of the fierceness of World War II battles and be touched by the bravery of soldiers by visiting historic war sites in and outside Honiara, on land and underwater.

Feel the spirit of adventure and enjoy a special piece of paradise or simply relax and discover a culture with a welcoming smile welcoming smile.

Explore the hidden paradise of the South Pacific archipelago, comprising of a vast group of 922 breathtaking tropical islands.

Explore Honiara’s cosmopolitan and colourful food market in downtown Honiara, a vibrant and lively melting pot of the Solomons!

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau Head Office PO Box 321, Mendana Avenue, Honiara, Solomon Islands call (677) 22442 or email info@sivb.com.sb

www.visitsolomons.com.sb

SO SOLOMONS, SO DIFFERENT!

homes by the sea

Island Property m a e r d e

h t o t n i buy

A South Pacific lifestyle can be yours, from a lagoon-side house to a beachfront beauty.

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PARADISE COVE, PORT VILA, VANUATU Kaofa Nui which means unique place, lives up to its name. This property sits on the beachfront at Paradise Cove which is only a 15-minute drive from Port Vila town. Set on more than an acre of land with 60 metres of private beach on the waterfront, this 180m2 rotunda-shaped house is set in beautifully landscaped grounds and features three bedrooms and two bathrooms with outbuildings and spectacular views

across the bay. Accessed via a gated, private, paved driveway the perimeter is fully fenced with a rendered wall. Inside is a huge high-ceilinged cook’s kitchen and a mezzanine floor that sleeps three in addition to the two downstairs bedrooms. The lounge area leads to an expansive outside deck overlooking the beach and the thatched garden farÊ along with more covered entertaining areas. The property is currently used as a holiday rental returning between AU$450-$495 per night but

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would also be perfect as a family home or holiday retreat for offshore investors. Price: AU$1,100,000, contact Catherine Boudier-Contant at First National Real Estate, Port Vila T: +678 773 9692 or +678 777 3060 E: catherine@firstnationalvanuatu.com

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LOT 2 SALAKOTO,VOTUALEVU, NADI, FIJI This five bedroom home set in a scenic wonderland features sweeping views of Nadi Bay and out to Vuda and the islands. The secure, private and secluded property is suitable for conversion to boutique accommodation or as a function venue. In addition to the five bedrooms there are four bathrooms, three reception/lounge rooms two dining areas and self-contained staff quarters located in a separate house within the grounds. The single storey main building offers access to the 1.2 hectare landscaped grounds from almost every room, as well as the in-ground pool. This is described by the agents as “a rare opportunity to add value to a property in a unique and outstanding location.” For further details contact Denyse McPhail at Harcourts Fiji. Property number 708123, AU$1,200,000.

T: +679 890 5909 or +679 672 6960 W: www.fiji.harcourts.co.nz

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LUXURY LAGOON-FRONT, PORT VILA, VANUATU Set five minute’s-drive from Port Vila on the sheltered coast where the sea enters the Number One Lagoon this elevated beachfront house has views across the colourful coral reef to Erakor Island. The land area is 1,829m2 with 30 metres of absolute beachfront. The house includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a huge study and a lock up garage in addition to expansive entertaining areas and a gourmet kitchen.

There is also adjoining vacant land which is available for purchase along with a beachfront two bedroom house for guests. AU$1,025,000. Contact Douglas Patterson at Island Property T: +678 24 630 or +678 774 3145 E: property@vanuatu.com.vu

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NARPOW POINT, PORT VILA, VANUATU Narpow Point is sometimes referred to as ‘Millionaires Row’ but in this case the asking price is significantly less for a lot of house and a double block of waterfront land. The property consists of two self-contained separate Balinesestyle pavilions which are beautifully finished with high quality construction and engineering.

The two mirror-image villas both contain three bedrooms

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and two bathrooms and open on to terraces and the 5,200m2 landscaped grounds and huge in-ground pool with swim-up bar. In addition the price includes the adjacent 5,500m2 block for further expansion. This property is almost next door to Ripples Restaurant and just down the road from the renowned

Tamanu on the Beach. The vendors are open to reasonable offers but the asking price is AU$780,000. Contact Margaret Charnley at Caillard & Kaddour Port Vila.

T: +678 22 629 or +678 777 3218 E: mcharnley@ck.com.vu

24 Years Experience In The Vanuatu Real Estate Market islandliving | 89 pacific

glorious gardens

Cecile Brunner is one rose that every garden should have; En mass the spider lilies are devine; Vanuatu’s native gardenia is a lovely

… l l e m s d n Stop a

The Perfumed Gardens

Our gardening editor, Carolyn Ernst, takes time out to ‘smell the roses’ along with an array of other fragrant horticultural possibilities for making your garden an olfactory treat.

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fter some evaluation of the past year I have come to realise that I need to take time to ‘smell the roses’. So it was with this in mind, along with a late afternoon walk around the garden looking for a lost something (have you ever noticed how much more of this you do the older you get) that

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I noticed the heavy perfumes that were in the air. These two things have inspired the topic of this article.

Now anyone who has read any of my other articles will know the importance I place on the three senses, sight, sound and smell. Well that afternoon, the air was heavy with different

small tree suitable for nearly all gardens

perfumes and it was a little bit heavenly really. It was delightful, while the evenings had just started to warm to those beautiful tropical balmy nights that we all read about, the added bonus was special.

As our gardens become smaller, and some may just be a balcony or less, the need for our plants to be more than just pretty faces becomes more important. You might only have room for some herbs that you can use for cooking but remember that most of them have a beautiful and delicious aroma, it might just be when you brush past them or crush the leaves but for many it is the release of the essential oils on a warm summer day. Herbs have been grown for their smell and various other properties since man first began tending gardens.

In very small gardens each and every plant has to be special and when you start reading some of those interesting gardening books and magazines that are available or by surfing the web, it is fascinating to discover the alternate uses for some of them. From medicines, to dyes and insecticides the uses of some plants fills pages of literature.

To focus on just one of these properties, their perfume or as I say, smell; just about every family of plants, trees, flowers and

orchids have members that smell. Now a word of warning, you do have to be careful in your choices because some that really do smell awful – horrible in fact. Some of this is very personal, some are just plain horrible to everyone, whilst some are lovely to some and horrible to others. One of these is Boronia. Most people consider it a delightful aroma, but after a terrible experience as a child, being on a full school bus seated next to another child taking a huge bunch of Boronia to the teacher, it was only my strong will that prevented me being overcome by their intense smell, and I have never got over it.

I asked my mother to never plant a Boronia in her garden, she agreed but years later she thought that I would never know if she planted one and was amazed when I next came home from boarding school and was standing on the front veranda when I asked her where she had planted the Boronia, she had thought she would trick me by planting it in the furthest corner, but I was not fooled, I could smell it.

In one of my earlier articles I made reference to one of my mistakes, the perfume of the very ordinary flower planted next to my house being too overpowering, it fills the house and there is no way to get away from it.

The point is, perfumes are good but be careful. One should not be surprised by the differences in how we smell or perceive smells, one only has to look at the huge range of perfumes available at any one time, to know this.

On my evening walks, I am surprised at the number of fragrances; the spider lilies when mass flowering are just stunning, as are the Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and the coffee bushes. The ylang ylang gives a wonderfully tangy smell to the evening and morning air, as do pamplemousse (grapefruit) when in flower. This is the same for most citrus, and their perfume has the subtle tang you would expect.

The native gardenia trees are in full flower and the effect is stunning. Sometimes you are surprised by some of the subtlest of smells, I was walking on an island off Santo that I was landscaping when I smelt the gentlest of smells, it really was a treat, I could not see anything around me in flower, but was told by the staff, to look up and that it was the Namabe tree (Tahitian Chestnut) that was mass flowering, while each tiny flower was small and insignificant, the overall effect was amazing.

There is nothing simpler than picking a few blooms of the delightful baby rose, Cecile Brunner. This is one rose that deserves its place in the tropical garden, it blooms nearly all year and when not in bloom the new leaves go a beautiful flush of red. Give it something to scramble over and a yearly heavy prune and this is a delightful addition to the garden.

I have even discovered in my latest passion, orchids, that there are many members of this family that are not only stunning to look at but that some of them have the most heavenly perfume. I had a beautiful catleya flowering on my veranda and it was easy on the eyes as well as divine to the nose. The catleyas are not the only ones, I Googled fragrant orchids and the list is too long to repeat, many more than I had

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ever heard about.

Which leads me to how do you choose, as I keep saying, unfortunately, very few of us can have everything we want. As usual it is a good start to have a look to see what is growing in your area and then try asking your friends, and there are now some really great gardening sites and groups on the internet, all waiting patiently to be helpful and informative and all for free.

I have just got involved in some of these sites and due to my lack of internet at home, the time I have to explore is limited, but it never ceases to amaze me the people that have the knowledge and information that are just waiting to help, so use it.

As I warned for anything that is listed as having strong smell, do a little bit more digging, as it may not be for you. In saying

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that there is some plant families that are renowned for their bad smell but still have groups of people that avidly collect them, one of the is the amorphophallus family, some of them smell like dead animals, yuck!

Thinking about smell just makes sense, if you only have room for one more plant and you have a choice of two, both of which are as beautiful as the other and both requiring the same amount of attention, would you not choose the one that smells the best?

On that note I hope that you all had a great holiday season and that your New Year’s resolution is to take time to ‘smell the roses’ and enjoy life just a little more.

To visit Carolyn’s Eden on the River outdoor experience and open garden, call her on +678 7753153 •

PICTURES: Carolyn Ernst.

Not to be forgotten tropical frangipani (top left); The list of gardenias is endless and all stunning; Don’t forget that not all Yesterday Today and Tomorrows smell (above).

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iscover South Pacific charm at Warwick Le Lagon Resort & Spa, situated on 75 acres of tropical, tranquil gardens on the edge of the pristine Erakor Lagoon.

The resort is a five-minute drive to Port Vila township, and 15 minutes from the airport.

With an established reputation for appealing to couples and families, the resort has 143 guest rooms in a range of configurations as well as bungalows, over-water villas, Lagoon Pool Villas and the Erakor Residence.

Incorporating Melanesian style furnishings and local art, the accommodation boasts furnished balconies and patios with amenities that include refrigerators, satellite TVs, safes and mini-bars.

Discover new levels of luxury Experience being spoilt with individual attention in elegant surroundings within the new lagoon villas including the new private villas with individual plunge pools. Pacific Pool, Shefa Pool, and Efate Pool Villas each promise seclusion, cocooned by high walls, they feature luxurious interiors with spacious living areas and bedrooms, a private deck and each has their own individual pool.

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including the renowned Santo beef of Vanuatu. Enjoy the BBQ Pool Grill at lunch, the renowned Wild Ginger for tempting Asian Fusion cuisine, or visit Lagoon Terrace for themed buffets or the à la carte menu.

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The resort offers a host of impressive facilities that are designed to make a stay in Vanuatu relaxing and memorable.

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Surrounded by fragrant gardens, and the clear blue waters of Erakor Lagoon, the spectacular resort offers an idyllic setting and gorgeous indoor and outdoor event spaces for corporate meetings, conferences, special events, and banquets for up to 880 guests. Eight different venues are available for wedding celebrations.

For a relaxing holiday, overseas wedding, vow-renewal, or corporate incentive trip, experience the Warwick Le Lagon on your next Vanuatu holiday. info.lelagon@warwickhotels.com •

The Warwick Le Lagon Resort and Spa went through extensive renovations and expanded to include luxurious private villas (below) recently.

As one of Vanuatu’s biggest resorts, it caters for couples, families and large conference groups as well. Weddings are also a specialty.

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Nauru Airlines is the national carrier of the Republic of Nauru, operating passenger and freight services to and from the Central Pacific.

Nauru Airlines provides return services from Brisbane to Nauru, Tarawa and Majuro and between Nauru and Nadi and Tarawa and Majuro.

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HELPING FAMILIES SAVE A private family-owned grocery store with two Nauru locations – our main store in Uaboe District and a smaller outlet in Denig. We offer a great range of fresh produce and grocery items. Open 7am to 12 am, Monday to Saturday. Home delivery is also available.

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Phone: +674 5564280 or +6745588621

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A baby turtle takes its first steps in the beautiful Anarvon Islands in the Solomons.

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PICTURE: Elio Stam

photo finish