TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe First results from ongoing Phase III trial show malaria vaccine candidate, RTS,S* reduces the risk of malaria by half in African children aged 5 to 17 months. Half the world’s population is at risk of malaria which is responsible for close to 800,000 deaths each year, most of whom are children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. First results from a large-scale Phase III trial of RTS, S, published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), show the malaria vaccine candidate to provide young African children with significant protection against clinical and severe malaria with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. The results were announced today at the Malaria Forum hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Washington. The vaccine, developed with the help of British scientists, claims to halve the rate of severe malaria in babies and young children. www.tmb.ie
Holiday Hotspot
Jamaica’s beaches, resorts and weather attract tourists from around the world, especially the winter-weary in Northern Europe. Direct flights whisk travelers from the UK & Ireland in hours however many thousands more visit the island by Jamaica’s cruise ship ports. The Falmouth port was once a busy shipping port that fell into decline. In early 2011, it reemerged as a premier Jamaican port with tourist diversions and attractions of its own and convenient connections to the attractions on Jamaica’s north coast. The government of Jamaica formed a partnership with Royal Caribbean cruise line to create the world’s first cruise port theme park. Visitors arriving need only walk a few hundred yards to a newly created pier with upscale retail stores and duty-free shopping. The preservation of historical sites in nearby Falmouth allows history buffs to tour the historic district to see some wonderful examples of rich Georgian architecture, reminiscent of the town’s heyday. Visitors can also see key sites that illuminate the role of Falmouth in Jamaica’s emancipation struggle. One of its founding fathers was Edward Barrett, great-grandfather of famous English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, if you are arriving by ship other attraction choices include Dunn’s River Falls, horseback rides on the beach, rafting on the Martha Brae River, Appleton rum factory tasting tours, and many other day trips featuring culture and music. www. falmouthport.net Nearby is Ocho Rios the centerpiece of Jamaica’s north shore. The major resorts here rub shoulders with the town and most compounds are within
a few miles of downtown. I wanted to experience villa life and we stayed at Kai Kala a remarkable, waterfront estate in the affluent Prospect area. Overlooking the water amidst tropical gardens, my luxurious retreat features n Robert Wal four separate vilshe at Dol phins Cove las, with a total a. aic Jam Jamaica. , use Courtho uth mo Fal n of 10 bedrooms. The staff includes a chef, personal butler, housekeepers, laundress and yardmen. With a large, saltwater pool, two spas and an inviting seaside deck, the property is simply perfect and I intend to return for longer than a one night stay! Dolphins Cove at nearby Treasure Reef offers visitors the opportunity to interact and swim with dolphins. An interesting and informative presentation on the dolphins is given first before you enter the home of these magnificent n Villa Kai Kala, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. gentle mammals, stroke their smooth skin, get kissed and even get a foot push or a dorsal pull around the cove. For the fearless swimmer you can also swim, hold, feed and learn about Caribbean sharks. 2092 770 www.virginatlantic.com For An interesting and informative presenta- more information on Jamaica, visit www. tion on the dolphins is first, before your visitjamaica.com personal trainer takes you for an unforgetAer Lingus are running table 30-minute swim with two playful dolWeekly Best Buy extra flights between phins, where you get to enter the home of American Holidays have launched their Dublin and London Gatthese gentle mammals. stroke their skin, latest cruise brochure, offering a wonderwick providing six flights enjoy a kiss and even get a dorsal pull ful selection for 2012. With so many exper day between the two around the cove. The children also adore citing itineraries and endless activities, airports, an increase the trails journey here interspersed with there is something for everybody with from the four flights on animals, birds, Iguanas, snakes and other the American Holidays 2012 Cruise prooffer last winter. The reptiles all in their natural habitat. www. gramme. Highlights include the Mediternew 06.40 flight will be dolphincovejamaica.com Many other ad- ranean & Northern Europe, Caribbean & the first departure by venturous excursions locally are offered Bahamas, Alaska, Canada & New England, any airline from Dublin by Chukka Caribbean who showcase the Hawaii, and many other exciting ports of to London Gatwick and natural side of the Caribbean however for call. Highlights include a Western Med in turn, the first morning the culture vulture in you their newest lo- Royal Caribbean departure from Gatwick cation, “Great House” at Good Hope built 7 Night Fly/Cruise on the Adventure of at 06.50 will also be the in 1755 by Thomas Williams for his bride The Seas from €695pp Depart: 28th April first by any airline from Elizabeth, who died shortly after their 2012 or a Barcelona to Venice - Royal London Gatwick to Dubmarriage and was buried beneath the Caribbean for a 6 Night Fly/Cruise on the lin. An extra evening ground floor entryway is a must see. www. Splendour of The Seas from €789pp Deflight in both directions chukkacaribbean.com Virgin Atlantic fly part: 22nd April 2012 will add more choice three times weekly to Montego Bay from for business commutLondon Gatwick all year round or to KingRobert Walshe is a freelance contribers and those travelling ston, Jamaica direct up to March 2012 utor / broadcaster and guest travel at peak times. There Fares start at £655.50 (including tax). For writer for River Media newspaper tiwill also be a lunchtime more information please call 0044 8444 tles across the island of Ireland flight at 12.55 in addition
Pet’s Corner...
Home and Away Extra
with Kathleen Murray
Feeding birds over winter Everyone is familiar with feeding the birds over the winter. Bird tables are stocked with seeds etc so that when the cold weather, or snow, comes and food is hard to find, the little birds still have something to keep them going. People should keep a watch out for unusual birds. Sometimes a pet bird escapes from the house and would surely come to a very cold sad end in this weather. Time is a major factor if a house bird (parrot, budgie, baraband etc) escapes. They cannot take the cold at all so need to be found very quickly. Keep a close eye on your bird at all times. Doors and windows should always be closed when your bird is out of the cage. What else should you watch out
Living
for in the cold weather? You could watch out for hibernating animals. Hedgehogs are often in danger because people don’t know that there is one in their garden and may light a fire without noticing the sleeping hedgehog under leaves or bits of wood. One thing that brings great joy to people at this time of year is the arrival of the swans and the wild geese. They are beautiful to look at. They arrive in October and leave again in April so enjoy them while they are with us. Watch out for their welfare as swans mate for life and when one returns alone it is a very sad and lonely sight. They can get caught in wire or netting, or may walk on broken glass by accident, as they cross a road etc. If
you are an animal lover then you could leave a little box or crate of some kind in a quiet corner of the garden in case an animal wants to rest up for a little bit, out of the wind and rain. Animals often get lost or have accidents on the road and run away in shock. They are often disorientated and lost. Sometimes they just need somewhere to put their head down for a sleep until they are well enough to move on again. If you wake up to a pile of cats from the neighbour that didn’t bother to neuter, then that’s a whole different story. Lift the box and all that’s in it and set it down in the neighbours garden again. Get yourself a new box and continue with your good work. The animals will appreciate it.
to the existing 10.50 and 14.50 departures. The new schedule increases the number of flights between Dublin and London to 18 per day, a greater frequency than any other airline www. aerlingus.com Stena Line has been voted the top ferry company for a record 19th time at a recent travel and tourism awards. This week the company will start their new Belfast to Cairnryan service which will also see the introduction of two new vessels, Stena Superfast VII and Superfast VIII, the largest ships every to have sailed between Northern Ireland and Scotland. www. stena.co.uk