Facials in the safety of your home
March 2007
There are many recipes out there for making your own facial at home using household ingredients. One suggestion is to apply your favourite smoothie to your face instead of eating it! You will need to refridgerate the smoothie for an hour and then apply the mixture. You can sit back and relax for half an hour in the shade and then rinse the smoothie off with warm water. A combination of fruit, which includes pineapple, banana, grapes, kiwi and melon is particularly good for getting rid of dirt and dead skin cells. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect and has nutrients and vitamins that will keep the skin soft and smooth.
Another home made mixture includes making a paste with oatmeal and water, which is then applied to the face. When it is dry, you can wipe it off with a damp cloth. Alternatively, half an avacado can be mashed and left to set on the face for 20 minutes. The avacado can then be gently wiped off with a damp cloth.
And if using these ingredients makes you peckish, then perhaps you can make extra to eat afterwards!
Margaret River, Western Australia
March 2007
Margaret River in Western Australia is a 120km strip south of Perth that has 70-odd wineries, which produce more than 20 per cent of Australia’s premium wines. Travellors are able to enjoy the wines and scenery at a large number of wineries. For example, Brookland Valley is set on the banks of Willyabrup Brook and has a Gallery of Wine Art. Vasse Felix, another winery beside the Willyabrup Brook has a Provincial style avenue lined with tall trees and a stylish lake. As well as winetasting, Vasse Felix also has a gift shop, the Old Winery Gallery ananan award-winning Balcony Restaurant.
Across Margaret River is the Margaret River township, which is an artsy and relaxed town that is filled with galleries, coffee cafes, restaurants and galleries.
Close by is the beach village of Prevelly, which has some of the region’s best surf breaks. The Margaret River Pro is conducted at the beach every autumn.
The Boranup Forest is also a great place to visit if you enjoy nature. The darri tress in the Forest are the world’s third tallest tress at 60m high. Caves are found beneath the trees which you can also explore if you are brave enough.
Agriturismos in Italy
March 2007
If you enjoy country-style holidays, then you will like the Azienda Savoca, which is an agriturismo about 15 minutes drive from Piazza Armerina in Sicily. An agriturismos is a working property that combines traditional farm stays with eco-tourism. These forms of accomodation are becoming increasingly popular for those that want a change from the everyday impersonal hotel and want to experience country life. Agriturismos can vary from simple farm stays with an italian family, to more sophisticated accomodation, such as the Azienda Savoca that has an accomodation block, a huge swimming pool and a horse-riding arena. Whichever style you choose, the benefit of staying at an agriturismo is that you are able to live with a local family and enjoy local dishes and regional wines.Although a number of agriturismos are located near the cities, such as the Savoca, others are found in the countryside. Casa Migliaca is one of these countryside agriturismos. Casa Migliaca is a villa located in the village of Pettineo in a mountainous region between Palermo and Messina. The villa is an organic farm surrounde by citrus groves, olive trees and almond and walnut trees.
Accommodation in agriturismos is limited. Therefore, it is crucial to book beforehand. For more information on agriturismos, see www.agriturismo.com and http://www.agriturismo-sicilia.it/).