Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_09_25/GA_25092003_E1_034.pdf 

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W E A T H E R
Tuam

Ce f n i l d GALWAY

Breaka way
A weekly travel column with Julie Tierney

E n c a p s u l a t e the p a s t
Noon Thursday

a n d

Holidays of the week Stock up on winter wine
Aran Travel in conjunc tion with Irish Ferries is offering a mini cruise to France for 9 9 . Spend two nights on board the Normanady in a two berth cabin and up to eight hours ashore in Cherbourg or Roscoff. Bring your car for an additional 49. To extend your travel to five nights, total price is 2 2 9 for car plus four adults. Offers subject to availability and travel must be completed by December 2003. Contact Aran Travel (091)562595.

p r e s e n t i n
Friday

V i e t n a m

VIETNAM, A name too long associated with the horrors v r i t an g A r t e c u y d y [Any o en h r i wil of war, has finally won its last battle -- to capture the ah r l d a o q i k ce r to l a e imagination of the travelling public. u l la ev cy wt p t h s o ih ac e f Elegant Hanoi now vies with its dynamic sister Ho Chi i m sl dry wh t ot y i t drizzle a d a rs o n ik f s n y s es R t e Minh City (still fondly called Saigon by the locals) for the u n p l . ah r mr p r i t n r i oe es e t an s o l i o ea t e l t r on. G nl to c o wh m d r t attention of visitors drawn by the eclectic mix of old and ae et e m d r t s uhw s n rh ry wn s Mx new. o ea o t - e t ot el i d . a e Elsewhere the scenes are timeless. Early morning in the wn s Mx t m 1 Ct m 1 C (59F). i d. a e p 8 e p 5 Mekong Delta brings the daily floating markets where fruit and vegetables are peddled. Everywhere the green patch (64F).
Saturday Sunny spells and scattered showers. Mostly dry with some sunny

Thursday

Monday Sunny spells and scattered showers.

Tuesday Sunny spells with further showers.

Information supplied by

PA WeatherCentre Traditional
September 27: Vincent de Paul (1581-1660). He grew up in Gascony. the son of farmers who sent him to study with the Franciscan Recollects. Having studied at the University of Toulouse and been ordained priest at the age of 20. he settled into a comfortable life as chaplain to Queen Margaret of Vale us. His life changed when, on a visit to Paris, he was accused by a friend of stealing 400 crowns from him. Cleared after six months, he became tutor to the children of the Count of Joigny. At their country seat, he perceived the spiritual needs of the peasantry; supported by bis patron, be undertook a mission to the common people, which eventually became the Congregation of the Mission and the Sisters of Charity. Pope Leo XIII named him patron of all charitable societies. The Society of St Vincent de Paul was founded in Paris in 1833. He is patron saint of hospitals and prisoners, and also of Madagascar, one of the first places he sent bis missionaries. September 29: Michaelmas Day -- one of the four quarter days of the English business year. The autumn term at Oxford and Cambridge, and some other universities, is designated Michaelmas, as was one of the four legal terms formerly observed by the High Court of Justice. Michaelmas daisies and crocuses bloom at this time of year. One legend has it that eat ing goose oa Michaelmas will ensure financial prosperity in the

work of rice paddies stretches into the distance only broken by the silhouette of water buffalo and conical-hatted peas ants bending down to tend the young plants. The soaring mountains in the north of the country tower over tiny villages where life continues much as it has done for centuries, with traditional costumes still proudly worn. Ho Chi Minh City is bustling with motor bikes, bicycles, Old French hill stations survive throughout the country and small cars. offering welcome respite from the heat of the plains below. And in the South China Sea, the 3,000 chalk islands in Ha returning now that the country has stabilised. There is really no good or bad time to visit because when Long Bay are not to be missed. The ancient former imperial capital. Hue, takes you back one region is wet, cold, or steamy hot, there is always another region that is sunny and pleasant. One of the most to a time of concubines and eunuchs. In every town, young women wearing the simple but feminine national dress, the popular features of the country is its 2,450km long coast Ao Dai, weave their way through the traffic at the controls line. You can hire snorkelling and diving gear at most beach of a motorbike. Only in Vietnam could the past and the resorts. The most popular beaches include Vung Tau, just north of Mekong Delta, Nha Trang near Dalat, and the present be encapsulated so perfectly. It has really come into its own in the last year or two as 30km-long expanse of beaches called China Beach which is regards tourism, and up to 3 million people are expected to near Danang. Things are quite cheap in general there as the economy travel there this year. Travel agents there say French and American travellers who used to live there, including those has still not fully recovered from its troubled past. On aver who fought there, retain a soft spot for the country and are age, a working person in Vietnam earns around only $1 a j day.

Visit Vietnam
Why not go on an extra special tour next year, like this 16 days tour of Vietnam next May. Eblana Travel has designed this tour for people who want to experience the beauty and ancient culture of Vietnam. In addition to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, you will see the former capital of Hue, the glorious coastal drive to the old trad ing port of Hoi An, the hill station of Dalat, and a magi cal two day exploration deep into the Mekong Delta. All meals and full sightseeing tours are included in the price. Departure dates are May 7 ( 2,595) or September 17 ( 2,695). Single room supplement 380 for the duration. For further details contact Eblana Travel, Parkmore (091) 766802.

M y Favourite Holiday Maggie Ryan. Ardilaun House Hotel
MY FAVOURITE trip has to be a holiday to Dubai last November. It is without doubt the most luxurious experience I have had the pleasure to enjoy. We flew from Dublin to Dubai via Birmingham, about seven hours flying time with Emirates Airlines which is an excellent carrier. On arrival in Dubai we were escorted through immi gration and whisked away to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel by complimen tary limousine. Arriving by night we saw little of the city, but got an impres sion of much high rise development and construction everywhere. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel was built to mirror the shape of the breaking waves of the gulf and is a spectacular sight. Each room has an unhindered sea view and our suite overlooked the Wild Wadi Water Park, to which we had unlimited access and some great fun cooling off after a hard day tanning on the hotel's private beach. The service is incomparable there and having carried our beach towels back from the beach on our first day we were instructed to leave that to the staff from now on and concentrate on relaxing and enjoying our holiday! With 18 different restaurants in the hotel we could have stayed put the whole week and not eaten in the same place twice. However, bent on explor ing we took taxis into the city and mosques. However after sunset and when prayers were finished many of the local people would gather in the creekside cafes and restaurants to enjoy the sumptuous buffets provided there, in particular sweets and desserts specially made for Ramadan seemed to be popular. We took a local abra (water taxi) across the creek to join in and even tried out the hubbly-bubbly pipe Flavoured tobacco is smoked through water to intensify the effect. A heady experience! We spent-one delightful afternoon on a desert safari. An hour and a half of stomach jolting dune rolling in a four wheel drive jeep, with Kamal our enjoyed some of the local culture. The driver cracking jokes and doing his gold and spice souks are wonderful best to turn us all green, was followed and there are also great markets where by a visit to a camel farm, watching you can buy all your designer gear for the sun go down over the desert, and a half nothing. Needless to say I came visit to a Bedouin camp. We enjoyed a delicious, traditional iftar buffet there home with bags bulging. and were introduced to some of the We were in Dubai during Ramadan local pastimes such as falconry and the when no alcohol is allowed except in art of henna tattoos (my daughters hotel bars and even then only after were very impressed when I came sunset. Also the locals do not eat or home). drink between sundown and sunset so For our last night in Dubai we had you need to be careful not to offend the good fortune to be invited to stay at them by eating in public. During prayer time it was common the only 7 star hotel in the world, the to find our path through the streets Burj al Arab Hotel. Hard toreturnto blocked by rows of praying men on the rain and the greenness after seven their prayer mats outside the numerous days of total luxury in the balmy gulf, but never fear, I'll be back!

Celebrate New Year in the Big Apple

Ship movements Phases of the Moon High Tide in Galway

Ring in t h e New Year American style with this exclusive package offer from M a r t i n a Forde TraveL Included in the deal are return flights from Dublin or Shannon, airport transfers, six nights accommodadon, a helicopter ride around the Big Apple and the option to purchase a variety of party options for the big night itself, New Year's Eve. All for only 899 per person not including tax or insurance. For more information em a i 1 Fordetravel@Eircom.net or telephone (091) 566866.