67 • THE TRAVEL TIMES • 16-18 MARCH 2012
DISCOVER, EXPLORE & EXPERIENCE THE WORLD VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2
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3D/2N Stay at One World Hotel Malaysia
ASIA
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MARCH/APRIL 2012
Uncovering the tales of
MARCH/APRIL 2012 Why Go?
A PUBLICATION OF
2012 Mini Guide Mar/Apr mINI GUIdE Mar/Apr 2012
Wellington, Mauritius New Zealand
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harbour, around a magnificent Hemmed in by hillsides The city is packed Zealand’s capital. Wellington is New restaurants, number of quality with an astounding WHY GO? Nearby are shops and theatres. cafes, bars, galleries, Mauritius had native population Coast, theuntil it was Kapiti the likeno great outdoor destinations discovered by European region. in the 16th century winecolonisers and the Wairarapa Rimutaka Range(although the dodo was resident). Since then, Hindus, Africans, Chinese and Europeans have made their mark When to Go for nothing: on the island’s culture and cuisine. Historic towns and called “Windy Wellington” in The capital’s not tropical forests await beyond the coastal resorts. rain come and sheets of freezing lacerating winds in winter. the southerly blasts sideways during months and WHEN TO GO April are the warmer November through Temperatures are high year round, but cyclones in maximums visit, with average the best time to January and February can bring rain. Hardly a week 20˚C. hovering around goes by without a festival – highlights include Hindu and Tamil firewalking ceremonies of Teemeedee in hoW to Go Auckland December and January, and Chinese New Year. intothe Kuala Lumpur, fly From Singapore and m) and Malaysia (singaporeair.co Airlines with Singapore HOW TOs.com) GO respectively. Connect to .com) Airport is Airlines (malaysiaairline Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International (airnewzealand Air New Zealand Wellington with mainland Mauritius’s only airport. Air Mauritius (jetstar.com). or Jetstar Airways (airmauritius.com) flies there direct from both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Island taxis are harbour houses flanking available fromWellington’s the airport (aml.mru.aero). LEFT The colourful the cafe capital of RIGHT Cakes and New Zealand
The YAEYAMA ISLANDS Japan’s last frontier
MINI GUIDES TO KEEP
MICA (P) 112/04/2011, PPS 1747/12/2012(022909)
l Langkawi l Okinawa l Wellington l Reykjavík l Mauritius l Hawaii Fold 1
Lane Duke Carvell’s Swan little 6 Emporium is a friendly cosy 1 for a Best for MuseuM establishment perfect Te served Museum of New Zealand gathering. Dishes are is an inspiring, the that the best Chinese order Papa Tongarewa If the adage tapas-style. Do BEST FOR HISTORY 1 country’s at the and awith Chinese lamb brains interactive look restaurants are busy sesame-crusted is Port Louis has survived plague Admission innovative history and culture. dinerstheir applies, First Restaurantto Floriditas’ for a refreshing drink or two from epidemics, fires and tropical Head introduction 385 2240; 6 is a4winner. cakes free but a one-hour Full6of local families cocktail menu (64 Sign spot of coffee and storms since its foundation in the ; at Zealandia: The tour (US$8) is recommended.to feasting on Cantonese cooking, Enjoy Swan Lane; dukecarvells.co.nz 17th century. Today, the capital is nature (US$33) up for a Kapu Ti tour Karori Sanctuary Experience it has a good range of dim sum (00wallpaper is just as tapas from US$11). divided like between the sanitised paisley Rewena head fancy, an old-world sample Maori food 230 212 0685; cnrtoof Royal & something For 4 (64 impressive, giving off waterfront and more colourful old tea 7 . This awardfor (64 4 472 2199; bread and Kawakawa Corderie Sts; mains from US$4.50). Logan Brown Cable European feel. Well-known town – head here to bargainMusuem hard r.co.nz; Cable is a Wellington 7 is an 381 7000; tepapa.govt.nz; Le Capitaine baking, Floraditas’ wellingtoncableca winning restaurant at the Central Market, a feature of Quay; its popular their delicious Lambton features classics thanks toand Street, Waterfront). menu Lane, 280The Seafood and Mauritian unpretentious colonial Maison Euréka, dining institution simple, yet inviting city life since Victorian times.Car US$2.80/ like its Try whole dishes abound at Le Capitaine their which dates back to the 1830s harbourside restaurant. one-way adult/child 2 perfectly executed fresh ingredients from 801 (64in4white Best for Wildlife crabravioli cooked wine orfavourite local and national US$0.80, return US$5/US$1.60). signature paua BEST FOR WALKS 2 loganbrown. Street; The fully-fenced, predator-free 4 381 2212; 161 lobster ravioli with mushroom and (64 Franco-Mauritian menu including 5114; 192 Cuba 4 producers 4 Black River Gorges National Park is BEST FOR ESCAPE Karori Zealandia: The for vieWs from US$32). Best floriditas.co.nz; cucumber quenelles. EveningCuba Street; pan-fried scallopsmains with cream of co.nz; mains over best explored has by its trails. Look out Rodrigues is acity, tinythe mountainous Hotel, view of the Sanctuary Experience within Museum For the best are essential from US$22). Located reservations asparagus and white truffle foam. tuataras for the pink pigeon – a bird unique island with a fraction ferries of the and and region Restaurant & wallsberries 30 native bird species, glass surrounding (le-capitaine.restaurant.mu; Royal Steak with juniper also Hippopotamus low lighting, All tracks, trudge to the island that was rescued inhabitants of its bigger cousin. Its Walking harbour, Frenchacross the and giant wetas. Rd;exquisite mains from US$9.50). makes afloors, surprising appearance for Barin 8 offers ofthe 1990s. putting polished concrete 196m the best fromand extinction Get beaches count a rangein theamong tops an extensive roving guides to the lookout atop Les Copains d’Abord 8 Matterhorn looks such10aconsistently seafood-centric island influenced cuisine, 4 920from up (64routes a advice on hiking the the country,can andtake development are offered view over guided tours Mount Victoria. You list and Zealand’s best bars. Royal Rd; outan to amazing the site of the Royal Navy’s wine (lalangoustegrisee.com; lists of New or ; EndatofLe Pétrin top information centre tends to be more sympathetic and the 802 to 4 (64 way visitzealandia.com dispense Harbour 9200; staffUS$14). bus most of the biggest defeat in the Napoleonic mains from Sexy military-clad (whc.unesco.org; closed Sun). small-scale than back on the the Wellington Karori; adult/child/ walk. while Waiapu Road, sweat it out on the wars. Street; Napoleon himself woulddrinks to 20-somethings, 8935; 90 Cable With chic décor and a terrace 59). mainland (flights from Mauritius from an z; mains reveal boats family US$23/US$12/US$ menusfishing be pleased to see this specialist 5 museumhotel.co.n overlooking bobbing leather-bound BEST FOR COASTLINE 3 US$270; airmauritius.com). Weather 4 384 (64 Windy Best for US$27). seafood restaurant mixing Med in thesensations waters off Trou aux Biches, array of taste 3 Claiming the island’s most water, Street’s of Cuba 106 Cuba Best ride in one With all the wind and and Mauritian influences Le Pescatore 10 is often vaunted 9 3359; matterhorn.co.nz; attractions 5 Housed BEST FOR ARCHITECTURE beautiful beaches, Le Morne windsurfing. city’s prime One of the buildings, Floriditas’ Wellington is built for RueStreet). as one of the best restaurants in Peninsula is namedCable after a basalt Winds A preserved Creole mansion loveliest (leclubdesgrandsbois.com; two-hour red Wellington and runs drapes is the little velvet ofShivananda; mains from US$11). Wild interior slope northern Mauritius. Superior US$90 the steep up has a special resonance. outside Moka,from Maison Euréka is a clinksthat locations Car that rock lessons for beginners and nuMBer Set infor attractive La Map gardens, dishes include lobster in ginger Quay Folklore tellsto ofKelburn. escapedAtslaves 4 384beacon of tropical construction. turn over 1010; wildwinds.co.nz; from Lambton (64 Langouste Grisée 9 (or ‘the and sake sauce (00 230 265 6337; Wellington hiding on top ofBotanic it. Unaware The name is said Bay). to have been theout the top find 103US$24). Chaffers Marine, Oriental tipsy lobster’) has an ambitious Mont Choisy; mains from Cable had beenCar abolished since coined when the second owner and the MARCH/APRIL 2012 Gardens,slavery their escape, they panicked on won a bidding war to buy the seeing some soldiers and jumped, place at auction (maisoneureka. TURN OvER FOR mAP ANd NUmBER LOCATIONS believing they would be captured. com; admission US$11).
See
SGD 7.50 RM 15 NT 270 RP 75.000 THB 195
pastries abound in
LEFT Chamarel waterfall, on
the edge of Black River Gorges. eat & drink RIGHT A pink pigeon
see
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* The Perfect Trip around The Greek Islands of Dodecanese
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The Greek Islands of Dodecanese
then fold along the
* Sailing off Croatia’s coast
Reconstructing coral reefs in GILI TRAWANGAN n
PLAN YOUR PERFECT TRIP TO
Eat & drink
Fold 1
LP Cover-FINAL.indd 1 Tear out page here
* Coral reef rebuilding in Gili Trawangan
Island-hopping off CROATIA’s magnificent coast n
MALAPASCUA, Philippines
Tear out page here then fold along the dotted lines
* Dodging typhoons on Yaeyama Islands, Japan
TALES OF MALAPASCUA GILI T REEF REBUILDING GREEK ISLAND - HOPPING CROATIA’S MAGNIFICENT COAST
* Of skulls and sharks – the tales of Malapascua, Philippines
* 10 easy trips you can book now
2/24/12 6:50 PM
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Elephant-trekking in Medan, cherry blossom viewing in Tokyo and d sea-parting in Jindo Islan
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march/april 2012
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dise’: ‘tropical para onymous with le green Langkawi is syn contrast of jung s, a cool colour purple and swaying palm iant red, rich brill by et n offs d has not bee and ocean blue islan The set. come sun n golden mellow ways off the mai so get a little a. overdeveloped lic rural Malaysi idyl nce erie beaches to exp
WHEN TO GO
r/Apr 2012 MINI GUIDE Ma
Langkawi, Malaysia
WHY GO?
Hem med r in by hillsides yea around a magnific hot almost all Well ent ha ate is sunny and fall ington is New Zealand’s capit Langkawi’s clim the most rainwith an al. The city is p astounding num d generally has lt of ber of quality resta resu a round. The islan as r, obe cafes, uran bars last , galleries, shops and tember till Oct ’t Sep don een urs npo betw theatres. Nearby dow great outdoor dest ds, and even then inations like the monsoon win Kapiti Coast, rs of sunshine.Rimutaka Rang still enjoy hou e and the Wairarap long and you’ll a wine region.
HOW TO GO
MINI GUIDE
WHEN TO GO
A Publication of Regent Media
trips
WHY GO?
pull out, fold into pocket-size and keep * What to do and where to go * The best restaurants and bars * Hotels for any budget * Maps included
The capital’s not Langkawi called “Windy Well re, fly direct to ington” for no From Singapo er AirAsia lacerating winds and sheets of freezing Airport with eith International rain come air.com). Fromsideways during the sout or SilkAir (silk herly blasts in wint om) sia.c November thro (aira er. Mar/Ap to Langkawi ugh ct r Apri 201 dire l are fly 2 the warmer months Kuala Lumpur, nes the best time to visit Airli a a aysi Mal , with average max sia or imums hovering around with either AirA 20˚C. s.com). rline iaai lays (ma
Wellington, New Zealand drink
HOW TO GO
From Sing
apore and Kuala Rhu Lumpur, fly into tline at Tanjong with Singapore Aucklan e inviting coas Langkawi Airlines (singapor LEFT The whit , the symbol of eair.com) and Mala -winged eagle Airlines (malaysia RIGHT The open airlin
Eat &
See
es.com) respectiv ely. Connec Wellington with Air New Zealand (airnewzealand.co or Jetstar Airways Fold 1 (jetstar.c om).
LEFT The colour l Malay style, ful houses flanki ng Wellington’s Built in traditiona RIGHT Cakes and harbour pastries abound s like a kampung 6 in the cafe capita New Zealand Kantan look u l of ids. Inside, the men house on stero of s ution exec ale focuses on upsc ang rend like tional Malay food tradi (60 milk BEST FOR MUS in coconut EUM 1 and fish cooked Museum of New Zeala ah; mains nd 2336; Pantai Teng Duke Carvell’s Swan Tongarewa is an inspir Te Papa 4 959 Lane ing, from US$6). Emporium 6 is a interactive look urant, Wan friendly little atride theup country’s popular Thai resta scenic 20-minute A Take ahistor Cheap and establishment perfect for a y Cable Car e. Admi cultur 7 is always bustling. kawi and cosy ssion the Lang is Thai gathering. Dishes free but a one-hour s like are serve staple introduction consistently tasty and spicy Thai d ysian Mala on tapas Feast -style. Do order ric Kantan tour (US$8) is recom 4 families. the at the atmosphe SPLASH mended. Sign dishes make it a hit with big rendang sesam BESTupFOR e-crusted lamb brain for aAKapu Ti tours” in otak, otak 2 ial (US$3 Well s en and spec 3) to “Sev try their drink or two from a Tuju, Do Enjoy Telagsamp le Maori food , anda , as BEST FOR KIDS of Pantai nature at Zealan classative the top at Rewe with innov od good dia: ness The locatedlike done up their na end of seafo kfulSanct Karori cockt cuisine, sa Mela choc ail menu Bahabread andyu, uary Experience At the southern (64 4fresh Kawa fromtea ai seafood 385 2240; Pant urful green curry res (64 6 rwater World, 4 inlandkawa ily featu rfall tepap Head to Floriditas’ heavLane; wate well as their flavo 7000; of a 381 0). Swan dukec tiger Cenang is the Unde US$1 arvell for a refreshing s ding a.gov s.co.n from , pool s t.nz; inclu ll n, z; rium Cable main sma ; spot of coffee and s of st aqua the regio tapas Musu 4 966 fromfrom is a t,serie em1214 (60 8 Wate US$11). (64 4 472 2199; cakes Kok,Stree The rfront).trickle of Malaysia’s large all sorts of fish. Resort, Nam thin rent species of Ton ns and wellin For some praw At Bon gtonc thing fancy,thead ablecar.co. connected by a of fried featuring 200 diffe u . rut their men nz; tures Cable oth to uted exec isnno7 doub The smo paisley wallpaper water crea Loga Car Lane, flow.WILD BEST ts a wellBrow starn dish ntainFOR 280 Lamb boas is mou e . just as This marine and fresh chio to 2 ton LIFE sauc award t gh Quay pista rind ores ; tama , from impressive, giving with ness winni s is slick enou one-w like the rainf Theeen ng per pool restau fully-f snap adult fusionaygood enced rant is a Wellin off an old-world /child US$2 betw , predator-fre Some exhibits, nine-coursedining rds gton e the om/langkawi; umi to a.80/ European feel. Wellcially towa well-executed, ons.c US$0 Zeala d haloUS$5 espeKaror seastion institu n, The ndia: ustereturn (four dow encr.80, thanks to its known for slide /US$1.60). walk, are especially a great place i Sanct e cuisine perfe uary t fun. their delicious bakin US$15). is grea ral Exper fromted ctly sexecu g soover of Strait-Chines doinhas pler main m;ience sam g, y dishe Floraditas’ botto bars s starr though it is in gene 30 lar like native bird sim id Bon Ton’s 100; s e more popuits
1 N WATCHING BEST FOR AVIA tion in the loca In a spectacular kawi’s highest foothills of Lang kawi Bird mountain, the Lang fully covered ’s first Paradise is Asia e to plenty of wildlife park, hom 5855; 1485 Jln 966 4 (60 birds exotic ld Hangat; adult/chi Kisap; off Jln Air US$5/US$2.50).
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* Handy city guides to
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SIX MINI GUIDES
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See
Eat & drink