Daily Archives: October 20, 2019

A Dubai resident has won the prize of a lifetime, bagging an entire private island along the Atlantic coast of Canada, despite never having set foot in the country.

Brendan Lopez, 27, a Portuguese-Indian DJ brought up in Dubai, became the owner of a 2.42-hectare island in Nova Scotia this week.

I still cant believe itpeople like Richard Branson own islands, not me, he told The National.

On Monday, Mr Lopez was named the winner of the "Win a Private Island" competition, launched in April by Liv, an online bank run by Emirates NBD.

Along with his own island estate, the former newspaper photographer also scooped a Dh100,000 cash prize.

"The competition was actually launched on April 1, so I just thought it was a cracking April fools day prank.

"I mean, who gives away an island...apparently Liv Bank do, and to me of all people," he said.

Sharing a small two-bed flat in Karama, Dubai with his family, Mr Lopez lost his job three years ago after the company he was working for shut down.

Ive been freelancing ever since.

Some months I earn zero money and other months I can earn up to Dh10,000.

"It would take me 10 years, if not more, to save this kind of money or afford my own piece of landnow I own an island, its crazy, he said.

Hollpoint Island also known as Hurricane Island is the size of five football fields. Located in Guysborough County it is surrounded by an array of coves and natural beaches. At low-tide, the island is connected to a nearby mainland, but when the tide is high a short boat ride will get you on and off the island.

"When they announced I won, I actually jokingly asked them where I could buy a boat," Mr Lopez said.

While its exact price tag is unknown, figures online show private islands in the area can be bought for as little as $60,000 (Dh220,400) or as much as $2 million.

Still digesting the news, Mr Lopez said he does not know what he is going to do with the island, but toyed with the idea of turning it into a quirky holiday rental spot.

My family have already been joking with me about using it for family weddings.

Indian weddings are always so big, so where better to host it than your own island, he said. He even joked about what he would call it.

I have no idea about the legalities around renaming an island but Id probably put Dubai in the titleor maybe Karak Chai Island.

Once the "dust settles" he is planning to make a trip to the island, which in all would include a 14 hour flight from Dubai to Toronto, a two-hour flight from Toronto to Halifax, followed by a two-and-a-half-hour drive to the island.

Mr Lopez was among 20 finalists who were whittled down from hundreds in the running for the prize.

Qualifying for the top 20 spot by earning a number of loyalty points using the Liv mobile banking app, which he downloaded just 10 months ago, Mr Lopez then participated in a human version of snakes and ladders before being crowned the winner.

It was literally as easy as thatwe were given some dice and the person who moved six steps forward first, won.

Since the win, friends have left suggestions on social media as to how Mr Lopez can make the most of his "slice of heaven", with many calling for it to be turned into a party island.

Updated: October 17, 2019 06:19 PM

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Dubai DJ who lives with parents wins private island in Canada - The National

The small red building on Nichols Street that has housed a vast array of businesses is now home to a midwifery: the Greenbank Birth Center.

We have been seeing San Juan County women for a long time, said Diane Miller, a licensed and certified professional midwife.

The center originally opened in 1991 on Whidbey Island, had an office briefly on Orcas and has maintained a space in Anacortes for the past 25 years. Now, the midwives come to Friday Harbor every other Wednesday.

The response has been overwhelming since its opening at the beginning of September, according to Miller. Women have come from all the islands to visit the new location. Should that trend continue, Miller and licensed midwife Cynthia Jaffe may consider expanding the hours to once a week.

Island women are strong, resilient and highly independent. They often opt for a natural birth, therefore midwifery is a good fit, Miller said.

Having not only lived on Shaw Island but also given birth to four of her children during that time, Miller knows first hand the unique situation of island mothers. She noted that the Whidbey location often resonates with San Juan County mothers due to its rural nature. Greenbanks headquarters is located on a secluded 5-acre property.

Jaffe does recommend going to Whidbey as the birth date approaches and staying as long as necessary. The midwives realize that isnt always an option, however, due to finances and the general unexpected nature of pregnancies.

Things dont always go according to plan, Jaffe said, but ideally, that is what we would like to have happen.

Some of the benefits of a midwife are that they provide more control over the birthing situation and allow mothers to make more of their own choices.

Some things are not totally up to them, Miller said, adding that what Greenbank does is provide information and education so parents can understand the array of options and make informed decisions.

Hospitals, she noted, often treat every pregnancy as a high risk. She said they dont usually give families the flexibility they require, and hospital doctors often arent as personal as the small private midwifery.

We are there with the mothers throughout the whole pregnancy, Miller said. We really get to know the women and their families personally.

One popular option at Greenbank is a waterbirth, wherein the baby is born while the mother is resting in warm water.

Warm water is relaxing and often acts as a pain reliever, Jaffe explained. We often jokingly call it the midwife epidural.

Once a mother has tried a water birth, she usually opts for it during her next pregnancy, she said.

Regardless of the decisions made by the expecting mom, Miller said she carries a soft spot in her heart for islanders and hopes they choose to come to Greenbank.

I really understand the moms living out there and their unique needs, Miller said. I love taking care of them. They are so special to me.

Greenbank offers a no-cost meet-and-greet for mothers and families wishing to explore their alternatives. For more information about Greenbank Birthing Center, visit https://greenbankbirthcenter.com.

The rest is here:

Island communities welcome new midwives | Women in Business profile - Islands' Weekly

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Among Britain's upper crust, five years can mean the difference between spending your childhood with your sibling or only seeing them on weekends and holidays from boarding school.

Kate Middleton liked school so muchthat, at the age of 9, she asked her parents if she could become a weekly boarder at St. Andrew's Prepwhich gave them pause because the family of five, Michael and Carole Middleton and their three children, Kate, 8-year-old Pippa and 4-year-old James, were such a tight-knit bunch.

"The Middletons were an exceptionally close family," royal biographer Katie Nicholl wrote in her 2013 bookKate: The Future Queen, "and Carole and Mike enjoyed the vibrancy of their children, the stories and noise and laughter."

They ate dinner together every weeknight, with the kids helping to set and clear the table. When the children were little they usually stayed close to home for vacation, sailing in Norfolk, hiking and picnicking in the Berkshire countryside, or renting an old cottage in the Lake District where the active family would rough it with no electricity or running water. (Later, skiing in the French Alps and trips to tropical islands were more like it.)

But Kate did indeed join the live-in crowd at school, as did Pippa, so they were both spending at least five days away from the family homestead, leavinglittle James the master of the house.

Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

The sisters couldn't help but flock together more oftenthey had been in the same St. Andrew's Brownie troop, and at school they both played sports and learned piano and flute. Even when Pippa proved the more accomplished athlete and student, Kate was her biggest fan.

"They had such drive and were very competitive, particularly Pippa, but never against each other," Denise Allford, who coached the girls in sports, told Nicholl. "They were very much a team."

And though Kate much preferred field hockey to anything taking place in the classroom, both she and her sister got along well with their teachers.

James followed at St. Andrew's, and all three siblings were in school plays and attended summer drama camp together.

Meanwhile, the competitive fire ran through the whole family, whichPrince William later learnedloved to play games and tease each other during holidays together. On Christmas morning, after Kate, Pippa and James had upended their stockings, the family always started on a puzzle, an annual tradition.

"The whole family are mad about tennis and they hate losing,"a family friend told British GQ in 2012. "Carole's brother, Gary, lost to James once, and didn't play for years afterwards."

Feeling uneasy about her new environs, when a 13-year-old Katestarted attheDowne House School, a prestigious all girls' academy, she chose tonot be a boarder, unlike most of the girls in her year, who'd known each other since they had started at Downe when they were 11. Kate never ended up settling in and transferred to Marlborough College, once again a boarder.

Pippa ended up at Marlborough too, on a full sports scholarship, so the sisters were together once again, playing hockey and studying music. Then, when he was finished with St. Andrew's Prep, Jamesmoved on to Marlborough aswellbut Kate had graduated by then.

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Thesiblings' pathsdiverged more thoroughlywhenKate, after taking a gap year, headed to St. Andrews University in Scotland, where, as it turned out, her prince awaited.

The sisters talkedat least every other day,so by Christmas of 2003, Pippa was well aware that Kate's relationship with William was more than a friendshipenough so that Kate gave her mom the go-ahead to tell Michael, James and Carole's own brother, Gary, over the holiday break. The next year, Pippa and James were regular visitors at Balmoral, the queen's beloved home in Scotland, when Will and Kate would go there for weekends.

Meanwhile, Pippa, after her own year off, enrolledat the University of Edinburgh, as did James a few years later; but while Pippa graduated with a degree in English literature, James left after a year.

The youngest of the Middleton siblings, who like Pippa unwittingly found himself on an international stage when their sister married the future king of England in 2011, opened up earlier this year about his struggles with dyslexia, which made school fairly unbearable for him, and his ongoing battle with depression. He was inspired to speak out, he wrote in a column for the Daily Mail, because Kate, William and Prince Harry had made mental health awareness one of their central causes with their Heads Together campaign.

Even though having Pippa around at Marlborough was a comfort, James recalled, he "didn't fit in." He did just well enough to get into university, but once he was there, "A month in, I thought: 'What am I doing here?' I couldn't cope with independent studying and wanted to quitand after a year I did."

In 2007, Kate danced semi-discreetly with her sister and brothera few rowsbehind William and Harry at the Concert for Diana, the world not yet knowing that she and William were back together after a brief, but widely publicized, breakup.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

While Kate didn't face the very worst the media had to offer when she was dating William (that had been reserved for her late mother-in-law and future sister-in-law), the headlines were constant and, at times, mercilesssuch as when she was dubbed "Waity Katie" for hanging in there for years without a ring or, in their rougher spots, William's full attention.

Kate'sjourney, however, was leading to somethingand when that something occurred, all eyes suddenly turned just enough to spy Pippa and James Middleton off to the side.

Because of who Kate's boyfriend was, for instance, there was public interest in the fact that, on his 21st birthday in April 2008 he needed to be practically poured into the car after he and his family got the VIP treatment at London nightspot Raffles. According to Nicholl, a mortified Kate had left through a back entrance. Paparazzi saw but, warned by Prince Charles' office to leave Kate and her family alone as they were still technically private citizens, the British papers didn't run with it. Australian tabloids, however, enjoyed the scoop.

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When Kate was about to get married,the still-single James and his baking businessesone providing do-it-yourself cake kits for home bakers (Kate helped himestablish his website) and the other making personalized cakesnever faced as much speculative fascination as the still-single Pippa, her fashion choices (including her formfitting bridesmaid dress at the royal wedding) and her forays into event-planning, writing and TV presenting.

Old photos of him messing around with his mates in school and stories of his drunken partyingmade for salacious headlines, but on the flip side his average-dude behavior drew comparisons to Prince Harry's schoolboy (and young-adult) antics.

But just because he was less scrutinized than his sisters didn't mean James, who was also starting a new business at the timehis still-chugging personalized gifts company, Boomfdidn't feel as ifhe too was on display to an uncomfortable degree.

"Suddenly, and very publicly, I was being judged about whether I was a success or a failure," he recalled to Tatler this year. "That does put pressure on you. Because in my mind I'm doing this irrespective of my family and events that have happened."(And both he and Pippa were accused of using their connections to publicize themselvesthough it's hard to see how they could have tried to advance their careers in any way and not be accused of trading on the Middleton name. Either way, it's said that they were both advised to keep more demure profiles, with William happy to offer guidance on the subject.)

James, who's been sporting a beard now for years, was a clean-shaven lad of 24 when he gave a reading of Romans 12 at his sister's wedding, which was only watched by about 2 billion people around the globe, in 2011. His impressive showing, which for many outside the U.K. was the first time they had really noticed Kate's handsome brother, was considered a refreshing new start for him in the eyes of the U.K. media.

Though shecalled seeing the throngs of people outside Westminster Abbey on Kate's wedding day "surreal," Pippasaid onToday in 2014,"It sounds funny to say, but we saw it as just a family wedding. And actually, I didn't realize, perhaps, the scale of it until afterwards."

The attention paid to her dress, and the shape of her in it, that day was "flattering" but "embarrassing," she added, because the simple design was meant to make the overall look "insignificant" in comparison to the bride's Sarah Burton gown.

"It has been difficult, I suppose, going from a very normal life to sort of managing everything that happened after the wedding," Pippa also said about what started out as fame-by-association but had since evolved into her own public profile.

"I've had amazing opportunities," she added. "I feel very fortunate to have opportunities and sort of access to things that maybe I wouldn't necessarily." At the same time, however, "It's hard sometimes, but I have felt publicly bullied a little bit just by, you know, when I read things that clearly aren't true or that, whichever way someone looks at it, it's a negative side. It is quite difficult. Because eventually I'm just paving my way and trying to live a life like any 30-year-old."

James, meanwhile, felt caught between a rock and a hard place, in that he didn't like the scrutiny from the fame-by-association, or, simultaneously, the fact that his sisters had always cast a long shadow and it hadn't been easy to carve out his own individual space apart from them, even when the Middleton name wasn't famous.

"It's always been, whether at school or now, that I am Pippa and Catherine's little brother," he told the Daily Mail in 2015. "It's probably going to be the story of my life. [But] I am James Middleton. I am very proud to be 'the little brother of,' but, equally, they are proud that I amwho I am."

There were hangers-on and others with nefarious motives who might try to latch on because his name is Middleton, but "when somebody is interested in me for other reasons, I can spot it a mile off," he added. "All I want to do in my life is be known as me and for what I do."

And youthful faux pas aside, James was loyal toKate and Pippa and protective of their privacy, explaining toBritish GQ in 2012 that he was happy to chata media presence was important to run a successful businessbut he would never betray his family's confidence.

John Stillwell/PA Wire/Press Association via AP Images

When she got engaged to Prince William and then joined the royal family,Kate's life was automatically swallowed up by the traditionspracticed by her in-laws, but she has stayed close to her family, needing that BFF support from Pippa and gladly taking her parents up on babysitting offers once she became a mum.Most years, William and Kate (and now all the kids)vacation in Mustique with Carole and Michael to relax on the private island's picture-perfect beaches, and theyspent two weeks there in June.

The Middleton siblings haven't missed a christening, either, the family reliably gatheringfor the baptisms ofPrince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and overall the family has spent plenty of time over the years rubbing elbows with VIP guests at Buckingham Palace and other spots where the House of Windsor might be entertaining.

The most noticeable difference in Kate, Pippa and James' relationship is that Kate rarely gets to beright next to her siblings or parentsanymore, at least as far as press and formal portraits released to the public go. But we're guessingthat there's acloud full of snapshots taken at holidays and other private family gatherings to fill in those gaps in the album.

Karwai Tang/Getty Images

Pippa and James, however, regularly arrive atweddings and other outings together, andthey kept up their sporting ways, paddleboarding and playing tennis on vacation and competing ineventssuch as the TILL Swimrun World Championship6.1 miles of swimming and 40 miles of running, split between teammatesand a London-to-Brighton bike ride for the British Heart Foundation in 2015.

The whole lot of them are also regulars at Wimbledon every summer, with Pippa going on different days this year, once with her husband, brother and parents, and again to sit in the royal box with Kate and Meghan Markle.

Not that there haven't been rumors of a rift between James and Kate, since they're rarely seen spending time together outside of milestone events, unlike Kate and Pippa. But reminiscent of the concerns that Harry and William were feuding because Harry wanted to have his own foundation with his wife instead of his brother, it's mainly only because James is a grown man who is out doing his own thing.

"I lead a separate life to them," he told Tatler. "If there's interest in me, great. If there's interest in me because of them, that's different."

Moreover, James has been on a very different journey than eitherof his sisters, and though he was doing the usual stuffwork, dating, royal weddings, etc.he had a lot to grapple with, and for a time he was keeping it all to himself.

Also in the Daily Mailin January, James revealed that he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in late 2016, brought on by stress and anxiety.

"The best part of 2017 passed in a fog," he wrote. "I barely functioned, stopped talking to my friends, went through the motions of living and working but achieved nothing at all."

Similar to how Prince Harry talked in 2017 about pushing his issues to the side for years andrefusing repeated offers of help from William until, one day, he was ready to seek treatment, James told Tatlerthat when his depression and anxiety was at its worst, "I shut myself off, I didn't communicate with my family at all. But there's only so long you can hold your breath."

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"You may wonder why I didn't confide in them," he wrote for the Mail, "but those who are closest to you are the hardest to speak to. It was impossible to let my loved ones know about the torture in my mind. Equally, anything they'd have said would have been rebuffed.

"That's why I withdrew from them, repelled their well-intentioned advice and finally stopped answering their calls and texts."

Jameseventually started therapy and in the beginning of 2018 he took a break from his business and went to stay at Glen Affric, the Scottish estate belonging to the family of Pippa's husband, James Matthewsalsoa longtime friend of herJames Middleton's(and his partner in the 2015 Swimrun). Pippa and Matthews had married in May 2017 with the whole family, including myriad royals, in attendance.

While James was there he occasionally played host, prompting reports that he was working as a "hotel tour guide," which understandably annoyed him. "I don't stand around with a little flag pointing out where William Wallace was last seen," he cracked toTatler.

The now 32-year-old entrepreneur also recently shared with theTelegraph that his whole family came to some of his therapy sessions, including Kate.

"The fact is, no matter what experience someone has, your family members are the hardest people [to talk to about it]," he said.

James also has five dogs nowhis Cocker SpanielElla, who's been with him the longest and is the mother of Kate and William's dog, Lupo, as well asInca, Luna, Zulu and Mabeland he has credited them extensively forhelping him get through that dark time, when he could barely eat or sleep and couldn't even concentrate enough to watch a movie or read a book.

Listening to Harry Potter audiobooks read by Stephen Frywasa comfort, he said.

Even more of a sign that he's healthier and happier than ever: James confirmed this month that he was engaged toAlizee Thevenet, a French financial analyst who he met in a bar. The couple vacationed with his parents, Pippa's family, and Matthews' brother Spencer and his wife in St. Barts in January. Alizee was also James' date to Lady Gabriella Windsor's wedding in May.

Instagram / James Middleton

"I have two lovely sons-in-law and I hope I'll have a lovely daughter-in-law," Carole Middleton said in a rarer-than-rare interview with theTelegraph last December, though at the time James and Alizee hadn't taken their romance fully public.

In his post for the Mail, James also acknowledged that he had the platform he did thanks to his sister, William's future queen,and he wanted to use that visibility to draw attention to the causes that mattered to him.

"People have asked me, too, if my public profile has made it harder for me," he wrote. "Would I have become so depressed if I hadn't been subject to the pressure of public scrutiny that comes with my association with the Royal Family?

"The answer is, I believe I would. But I wouldn't have found a voice or an outlet for my story if it hadn't been for the people I'm related to."

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How Royalty Has Changed Kate Middleton's Bond With Her Siblings - E! NEWS

Let's call this story what it is: Villa Porn. After all, it's the ultimate travel fantasy: to call home, if only for a week, a to-die-for house in a legendary place. Fully staffed, of course. Here are some suggestions:

Arise in the master suite at Villa Astor (pictured above) and you will see, through three double doors, Mount Vesuvius, Sorrento, and the island of Ischiasurely how William Waldorf Astor used to start his day. He bought the clifftop estate from an Italian noble-man in 1905, when he was the American ambassador in Rome, and he filled it with classical and Renaissance objets. When todays owners, Russian migrs who are art collectors themselves, acquired the mansion in 2012, they restored-every marble wall and Neapolitan fresco to its original splendor. So though it is now a rentable villa, its really a sixbedroom private museum, with a chef from Don Alfonsos, the legendary local restaurant. Check your e-mail in the villas Libreriaif you can ignore the collection of priceless ancient artifacts. Youll find more bits and-pieces of Magna Graeciacolumns, statues, fountains, urns, pottery shards, fragments of sarcophagiin the enclosed Roman gardens. And your plunge pool is a seafront grotto consecrated to the nymphs in ancient times. Scroll down for booking information.

Bent on preserving Italys artistic legacy, the owners of the villas Astor and Balbiano have just completed refurbishing another faded landmark: Villa Clara, an abandoned four-bedroom mansion near Romes Villa Borghese.

Courtesy Homebase Abroad

Interior designer Jacques Garcia has reimagined it in sumptuous Art Deco style, and it is dazzling. Its 9,500 square feet of marble and semiprecious stone surfaces, including amethyst on the walls and Siena yellow marble around the indoor pool, hold antique columns and statues and an art collection that includes a Klimt. It is available to rent for the first time this month. Scroll down for booking information.

Courtesy Homebase Abroad

Ideally, a villa here should come with one of those beautiful Venetian water taxis for exploring the lakeside villages. You can get one at Villa Balbiano, plus a footpath for quick walks into town. Fair warning: You may find it hard to leave the six-bedroom villa, filled as it is with artworks and precious 18th- and 19th-century books. Cardinal Durini, a man of arts and letters who lived here in the late 1700s, embellished it with an art collection and a library, and -hosted literary salons and concerts. You may be tempted to do the same: The villa has a Steinway concert grand.

How to Book: Italy

Contact Mara Solomon of Homebase Abroad, which specializes in fine houses in Italy (mara@homebaseabroad.com, 781-639-4040, homebaseabroad.com). For a pre- or post-villa hotel stay in Rome, the Eden is in an excellent location, a short stroll from the Spanish Steps and the Villa Borghese.

The precise location of the property known as Peninsular Estate is a closely guarded secret. But we love it, and heres what we do know: Its owned by a shipping family, it was built in 1960, Jackie and Aristotle Onassis were guests, and three generations of the same family have run it. Which means the staff will ensure that you find the classic Greek island life the house was designed for: breakfast -under ancient olive trees, and a sail on your yacht (but of course), a classic 40-foot wooden schooner with a captain who will guide it into hidden coves for swimming and water sports.

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He might go snorkeling for sea urchins to use in the picnic he whips up in the galley, then deposit you in a village where youll find coffee and ice creamand no touristsbefore getting you back to the villa for siesta. Cocktails are at 8 on one of the terraces, dinner is by candlelight, and the staff goes home at 10, leaving the house all yours: family portraits, shipping insignia, old photos of ships, bookshelves with tomes in five languages, Dufys and Dubuffets on the walls, and a guestbook filled with the names of CEOs and international celebrities. Scroll down for booking information.

This glamorous 10-bedroom villa, Aleomandra, was designed by Lebanese architect Patrick Helou, and it stands out even on an island full of fabulous villas. Its terraces and pools, jacuzzis and daybeds, cover 9,000 square feet, and the pools are strikingly lit at nightjust the thing to inspire a pre-sunrise dip if youve been dancing on tables in Mykonoss clubs all night. The kicker for us is the sea and sunset views from everywhere. Scroll down for booking information.

GEORGE FAKAROS "UNIQUE IMAGING

Villa Olympia, high above the water but just a minutes walk from it, was built for a prominent Greek politician, so it was meant for entertaining, with a palatial reception area, vast terraces, and a helicopter pad (naturally). The new owner added a gym, a thalassotherapy spa, a hammam, and a jacuzzi big enough for 14. Scroll down for booking information.

Courtesy Five Star Greece

Porto Heli is the Hamptons of Greece, where Athenians have their weekend homes. The sprawling compound called Porto Heli CF sleeps up to 18 and is located on a private headland with its own harbor, beach, marina, and waterfront pavilion for shade. The sea is calm, so you can swim or paddleboard from the house or take your speedboat out for waterskiing. For nightlife, the chic island of Spetses is just a hop away on the boat.

How to Book: Greece

Contact Ileana von Hirsch of Five Star Greece, which specializes in Greek villa vacations (Ileana@fivestargreece.com, fivestargreece.com). For a pre- or post-villa hotel stay in Athens, we love the Grande Bretagne, the classic on Syntagma Square.

Luckily, for those of us without-noble pedigrees, Lismore Castle, the Duke of Devonshires home near Waterford, is available for rent. It dates from 1170 (both King John and Sir Walter Raleigh owned it at some point), and the dukes family has had it since 1753. Your Irish breakfast is served in the same dining room where JFK (whose sister Kathleen married the heir to the 10th duke), Fred Astaire (whose sister Adele married the son of the ninth duke), Cecil Beaton, Lucian Freud, and Dominic West have eaten. The staff has been here for decades, and their knowledge will enhance your stay. The head butler will set you up with archery, falconry, riding, hikes on the moors, golf, or salmon fishing (for which Lismore is legendary). And, yes, you can make a party of itthe castle sleeps 27. Scroll down for booking information.

Borthwick Castle, near Edinburgh, is a true 15th-century fortress, with holes from cannonballs fired by -Oliver Cromwell to prove it; Mary Queen of Scots took refuge here during another battle. While it may be the medieval castle of romantic imaginationgiant stone fireplaces, lofty ceilings, and steep stone spiral staircasesBorthwick, which sleeps 24, is also thoroughly state-of-the-art, with modern appliances hidden within the solid oak Renaissance furniture. Scroll down for booking information.

Courtesy Loyd & Townsend Rose

Courtesy Loyd & Townsend Rose

For the ultimate modern take on a Scottish castle, theres Corrour Lodge, which has pyramidal glass towers built in 2003 that look out at 57,000 acres of remote Highlands wilderness (the closest airport is Inverness, a two-hour drive). Designed by Moshe Safdie, its a rare example of world class 21st-century architecture in Scotland. It features a sauna overlooking a loch and a rooftop hot tub. It sleeps 14 adults, and 14 children in a bunk room. Scroll down for booking information.

When a castle seems a bit much for your holidayand a mere manor will dolook to England. Cowdray House, built in 1874 and owned by the eponymous viscount, is set on 110 acres of parkland in West Sussex; it has its own polo and cricket fields, a bowling alley, and indoor and outdoor pools. It sleeps up to 44. Scroll down for booking information.

Courtesy Loyd & Townsend Rose

Cornwell Manor, a 17thcentury estate in the Cotswoldswith an entire private village, a croquet lawn, 12 bedrooms, and a ballroom that holds 70is the childhood home of the actress and director Rachel Ward (granddaughter of the third Earl of Dudley). Its straight out of a Jane Austen -novelas long as you ignore the heated outdoor pool. Scroll down for booking information.

Courtesy Loyd & Townsend Rose

How to Book: British Isles

Contact Andrew Loyd of Loyd & Townsend Rose, which specializes in castle vacations in the UK and Ireland (Andrew@ltrcastles.com, ltrcastles.com, 011-44-1835-824642). For a pre- or post-castle stay, try the Goring, steps from Buckingham Palace, or Dukes, for its traditional top-notch service and famous bar.

Once you experience the food markets of this part of the Dordogne, you may never get to its cultural sights (the prehistoric caves, the Roman ruins). Especially if you put yourself in the hands of Angle, the cook at the Chteau de la Bourlie. The truffle market alone is a religious experience. As is the 13th-century, six-suite chteau, the property of Cyril de Commarque, a sculptor, and Ortensia Visconti, a writer and cinematographer. It has both a farm and an artist-in-residence program and, naturally, countless poetic spots to eat. Breakfast? The rose tree garden, because of how the early sun lights it. Dinner? The candlelit courtyard, where tapers adorn even the lime treesas beautiful as Angles lime flowerblossom ice cream. Scroll down for booking information.

The Chteau des Anges, a 10-bedroom estate built in the 17th century among the idyllic villages of the Luberon, produces its own superb wine and olive oil, and youre welcome to get your hands dirty, if that sort of thing (or the intense flavor of the first-press oil) moves you. If not, chef Lorenzo can take you shopping, and your butler, Thierry, will make sure each meal is set against dreamy table decordifferent plate patterns, napkins, flowerswhether youre dining in the lavender field, by the 18th-century pool pavilion, or on the small island in the lake filled with swans. Scroll down for booking information.

Courtesy Unique Properties and Events

The Domaine de Soulias, a recently renovated 13,000- square-foot farmhouse on an island in the Rhne, will be available in 2020 for groups who want to eat off the land and learn to prepare macrobiotic organic cuisine in the huge professional kitchen. No worries if you get other cravings: There are three twoMichelin-star restaurants (and 16 one-stars) within an hours drive of the house.

Courtesy Unique Properties and Events

How to Book: France

Contact Cdric Reversade and Paul-Maxime Koskas of Unique Properties and Events, which specializes in luxury villa vacations in Europe (cedric@uniquepropertiesandevents.com, 44-20-7788-7815, uniquepropertiesandevents.com). For a pre- or post-villa night in Paris, we love Le Bristol: the food! The service!

Five hundred miles from Rio, Trancoso is Brazils hottest seashore town, a laid-back fishing village with unspoiled white sand beaches, art galleries, and rustic-chic restaurants where multimillionaires go to pretend theyre fishermen. Sure, international celebrities come for the New Years parties, but otherwise everyone goes barefoot and dines in their swimwear.

Courtesy Matuete

Its the ideal place to experience Brazils beach life, and the best way to do it is at your own villa. You could rent Anderson Coopers, in the towns historic center, but Trancoso Villa 17 (five bedrooms, staff of eight) has it all, including a larger-than-life owner, Flvio Marelim, a former restaurateur and bon vivant who designs beach houses for Brazils rich and famous and can connect you with everyone whos anyone in town. The villas 24/7 concierge can double as a babysitter, and as you stroll to a party hell treat your offspring to make-your-own pizza in the outdoor oven and a nightclub in the sand, featuring the villas state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. Scroll down for booking information.

A remote take on the billionaire boating life can be had in Angra dos Reis, a bay with more than 100 car-free islands about a half-hour by helicopter from Rio or So Paulo. Youll find virgin forest, hidden coves, and the weekend homes of Brazils top money managers. Villa 16, on an -island with plenty of trails through primeval nature, is a unique over-water bungalow that sleeps 10 and has a staff of four. Its see-through floor is best admired with a caipi-rinha in hand.

The weekend destination of Rios elite, Bzios has white sandbeaches ideal forwater sports and winds perfect for sailing. It also has a 400,000-square-foot beachfront estate with a 12bedroom horizontal-plan villa, RW, that has a pedigree unmatched by any rental home in Brazil.

Courtesy Matuete

Designed by two of the countrys top architects, Thiago Bernardes and Paulo Jacobsen, it is made entirely of eucalyptus from reforestation areas, it has ocean views from every room, and its filled with works by such famous Brazilian artists as Vik Muniz and Adriana Varejo. When youre not in the -water, have lunch at the beach gazebo or hit the massage room and dream of retiring here somedaythat was the plan of the Rio-based art collector who built the property.

How to Book: Brazil

Contact Martin Frankenberg of Matuet, which specializes in luxury villa vacations in Brazil (Martin@matuete.com; matuete.com; 011-55-11-3071-4515). For pre- and post-villa hotel stays, he recommends Hotel Fasano in Rio de Janeiro for its Ipanema Beach location and the best service in Rio.

This story appears in the October 2019 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW

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I joined a group of friends on a trip to Europe last week to see the Venice Art Biennale. Touted as the Olympics of the art world, it is held every two years and features the choicest art offerings of 90 participating countries, in addition to 80 specially featured artists.

This year, the Philippines selected artist Mark Justiniani to represent our country, and he didnt disappoint. His art installation, Arkipelago, has been drawing rave reviews, consistently landing among the top 5 and top 10 lists of must-see pavilions in the biennale as published in numerous international newspapers and magazines.

Justiniani created three islands with the combined use of mirrors, lights, metal and objects. As guests walk over the islands, which have thick transparent glass tops, they are provided a highly sensorial experience, because the effect is as if they are walking on an invisible floor. Spectators feel like they are suspended and walking on air as they look down on the illusion of infinite or bottomless spaces underneath.

Artsy magazines lead editor, in an article titled The Venice Biennales 10 Best Pavilions, described Justinianis work thus: Walk into the Philippine pavilion, remove your shoes, and climb onto the artworks sleek islands filled with mirrors that create an infinity effect. Stare down, and youll find an endless abyss, punctuated by objects that are specific to the archipelago nation, ranging from plants and spices to a stack of documents. Artist Mark Justiniani reflects on the thousands of islands that make up the Philippines, contemplating the land masses as they relate to the nations colonial history, the environment and social issues. One of the islands, with a ladder leading to a perch on top, is meant to reference the formation of a typhoon or a cyclone. Its also a nod to the fact that the first observatory in the Far East was established in the Philippines.

The guest book is filled with pages full of praises. A French wrote: We travel a lot. All over the world. But your Planet is one of the strongest we(ve) ever seen. A Spaniard wrote: Really inspiring art piece. By far the best one in the entire Biennale. A Japanese wrote: Its my best of all the Biennale. It was worth to come from far away to here! Love the Philippines history & thoughts. Im looking forward to see your art soon!

From a German visitor: Definitely the art piece which impressed me most of the who(le) Biennale. From an Israeli: I felt that I climbed up and stared into the abyss and have survived to tell the tale. An amazing installation. Myfavorite piece in the whole biennale. And from a Filipino: (Y)ou make us all very proud Pinoy!! You are the toast of the Biennale.

Justinianis islands are elevated 29 inches from the ground, and there were a few reckless guests who reportedly figured in self-inflicted accidents when they irresponsibly jumped from the platforms onto the ground instead of using the stairs. As a result, guests have temporarily been limited to viewing the artwork from its boundaries, instead of being allowed to walk through it as was originally designed.

I have assisted Justiniani in appealing to Philippine government authorities to reinforce crowd management protocols, like increasing the number of guides and posting sufficient written instructions and warnings, so that the walk-through feature can be restored, allowing guests to interact with the artwork as intended. Justiniani has obtained the support of various private art institutions and art philanthropists willing to shoulder the cost of employing additional guides.

I personally felt that the outstanding artwork has been stripped of its soul and essence when I viewed it from its peripheries instead of being allowed to walk through it, which is the unique feature thats generating superlative accolades.

With only a month to go before the biennale ends, the Philippine government should do everything it can to restore the capacity of this outstanding artistic creation to generate goodwill for the country.

Comments to [emailprotected]

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White sands, forest-topped islands and sapphire waters. The scene screams Hawaii, yet technically Im in Tokyo. Im in the Ogasawara Islands, an archipelago of more than30 islands in the Pacific Ocean which, despite being sprinkled 1,000km south of the frenetic skyscraper-filled capital, are considered a subprefecture of it.

These oceanic islands, formed by undersea volcanic eruptions some 62 million years ago, are Japans equivalent of the Galapagos never connected to a continent, home to unique flora and fauna, divine beaches and world-class diving. During three weeks travel across Japan, not a single person I met had visited. Most hadnt even heard of the Ogasawara Islands.

Despite being made a Unesco World Heritage site in 2011 due to its distinct ecosystems, one-of-a-kind plants and uniquely evolved land snails, Ogasawara has remained off the beaten track. To get there requires a 24-hour ferry from Tokyo, which only departs once a week; only 300 overseas visitors make the trip each year.

From 15p 0.18 $0.18 USD 0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.

In the age of instant travel gratification, the pull of a slow journey to a rarely visited wilderness is irresistible. So, in my final week in Japan I board the Ogasawara-Maru, a hulking liner with an 890-berth capacity, bound for Chichijima, the larger of Ogasawaras two inhabited islands, home to 2,000 people. Puttering away from the Tokyo skyline, internet connection trails off and the rock of the open ocean ramps up.

Blossom along Tokyo's Chidorigafuchi Moat

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Cherry blossom-watching on the Meguro River

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Blossom along the Meguro River in Tokyo

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Riding a boat underneath cherry blossom along Tokyo's Meguro River

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Tokyo's Meguro River

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Tokyo's Meguro River

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Illuminated cherry trees with the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in the distance

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Illuminated cherry trees along the Meguro River

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Cherry blossom along the Chidorigafuchi Moat

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Admiring cherry blossoms during a tea ceremony in Yokohama

AP

Taking a selfie underneath the cherry blossom in Yokohama

AP

Japanese Emperor Akihito, left, and Empress Michiko see weeping cherry in Kyoto

AP

Cherry blossom in Asakusa, Tokyo

AFP/Getty

Blossom along Tokyo's Chidorigafuchi Moat

Getty

Cherry blossom-watching on the Meguro River

Getty

Blossom along the Meguro River in Tokyo

Getty

Riding a boat underneath cherry blossom along Tokyo's Meguro River

Getty

Tokyo's Meguro River

Getty

Tokyo's Meguro River

Getty

Illuminated cherry trees with the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in the distance

Getty

Illuminated cherry trees along the Meguro River

Getty

Cherry blossom along the Chidorigafuchi Moat

Getty

Admiring cherry blossoms during a tea ceremony in Yokohama

AP

Taking a selfie underneath the cherry blossom in Yokohama

AP

Japanese Emperor Akihito, left, and Empress Michiko see weeping cherry in Kyoto

AP

Cherry blossom in Asakusa, Tokyo

AFP/Getty

Accommodation ranges from a roll-mat space on a communal cabin floor to fancier private suites, but I opt for a mid-range room with two skinny single beds. On the top deck are Japanese retirees rocking waistcoats and sun visors in an oddly chic ballroom-on-hols look, while on the promenade levels are birdwatchers who pap brown boobies torpedoing into the water with military precision. A fellow lone traveller, Japanese teacher Noriko Eguchi, is here for whats under the water. Shes a scuba nut, tempted by tales of sea turtles and wild dolphins. Also, between January and April, humpbacks pass by, while from June to November sperm whales arrive.

The lounge of the Ogasawara-Maru (Ogasawara Tourist Association)

Twenty-four hours later, forested peaks with licks of blinding-white beaches come into view, and we drop anchor in Futami Bay. Chichijimas main town constitutes two sleepy streets a strip of brightly painted guesthouses and a handful of places to eat. Showing me around is translator Ludy Sforza, who swapped Tokyo for Chichijima seven years ago. He points out two dinky supermarkets, saying: I dont like to shop today. When the boat brings fresh food, its too hectic. Im charmed that supermarket rush hour means a 10-deep queue.

Along a tiny parade of restaurants, one is California-cool; another has Hawaii-look surfboard stacks outside; and a Japanese seafood joint sits close to a house where an American flag flutters. The multicultural scenery reflects the Ogasawara Islands complex history. Discovered by Japans Ogasawara Sayadori in the 16th century, Chichijima was first settled in 1830 by a group of Americans, Hawaiians and Europeans. In the late 19th century, the islands became a Japanese territory, were later evacuated and used as military bases in the Second World War, before falling under American occupation in 1946, then handed back to the Japanese in 1968. Nowadays, several cultures co-exist.

Ogasawara (Ogasawara Tourist Association)

For a slow-paced place, theres plenty to do. First up, beaches. Ten minutes from the guesthouses I stay at Pension Cabbage Beach and Papas Island Resort, both simple, homely spots where flip-flops are left at the doors are the white sands at Sakaiura Beach. Just offshore are the remains of a Second World War vessel where sea turtles outnumber snorkellers. A short drive away is Kominato Beach, a combination of silvery sand and a mirror-like lagoon edged by pillow lava hills which look like clenched giants fists.

KominatoBeach is a beauty spot (Ogasawara Tourist Association)

Out at sea the next morning, a boat from Take Nature Academy whizzes me through bumpy waves towards Minamijima, an uninhabited, protected island limited to 100 visitors a day. Leaving Futami Bay, pods of bottlenose dolphins skip through the waters. It kills me not to stop and swim with them, but tide levels have to be just-so to land on Minamijima, so we press on. The scene is straight out of Jurassic Park: rapier limestone rocks carpeted with violet and green beach cabbage where wedge-tailed shearwaters make their nests, the surrounding sea thick with white-tip reef sharks. Keiichi, my guide, advises me not to look back as we scramble up some precarious rock-hewn steps. Up top, the views are even better: Ogiikelagoon hasa heart-stopping fan-shaped cove with Durdle Door-like arch,islets which rise from the water like prehistoric creatures, and a beach littered with 800-year-old semi-fossils the remains of mandarina luhuana, a long-extinct endemic snail.

Swimming with bottlenose dolphins (Ogasawara Tourist Association)

The following day is all underwater wow, diving with Papas Diving Studio, north of Chichijima. At Barachin, batfish and wrought-iron butterflyfish dart through a shipwreck, and a blunt slipper lobster seemingly a cross between gargantuan woodlouse and a creature from Stranger Things gallops across the ocean floor. Snorkelling close to the port, 10 green sea turtles skull nonchalantly past, unbothered by my presence.

Hiking on Chichijima is another highlight. Guide Hiroshi Sato leads me to Higashidaira, a sanctuary for the rare red-headed pigeon. In a dry shrub forest filled with octopus trees which look like mangroves-on-stilts, he points out uniquely evolved plants ones which would be thorny on the mainland, but here, have lost their thornsdue to lack of predators. Among tangled banyan trees at nearby Mulberry mountain, gas mask filters lie discarded, echoes from Chichijimas wartime past. Our final stop is a nondescript patch of greenery. Hiro points at some unremarkable-looking mushrooms on a log. Im bemused. He cups his hands around them and suddenly they glow neon green. No ones quite sure why these bioluminescent mushrooms, known asgreen pepe, do what they do, and Ive never seen anything quite like it.

The boat leaving the islands for Tokyo (Ogasawara Tourist Association)

One of my friends refers to these islands as a different planet, Ludy says to me later on, over passion fruit liqueur at a Chichijima haunt named after the psychedelic shrooms. That ship is like a spaceship. You wake up, step outside and its another world. There is some kind of magic here, I think.

When its time to leave, 150 plus locals line the dock, Auld Lang Syne booms from speakers and the Ogasawara-marus promenade decks are packed with waving passengers. A flotilla of dive boats fire up their engines and escort us out of the bay. In our own closing ceremony, dive crews strip to their wetsuits and flip into the ocean, to raucous applause and laughter from the boat deck; an extraordinary goodbye from an otherworldy place.

International travellers should contact the Ogasawara Tourist Association in good time before travel to help with on-the-ground-arrangements (accommodation, ferries, activities) as operators speak limited English.

Return flights from London Heathrow to Tokyo via Bangkok with Thai Airways cost from 649pp.

The Ogasawara-maru sails once a week from Tokyos Takeshiba Pier (twice a week during the summer months) to Chichijima, with prices ranging from 170-515pp each way, outside of peak season.

Pension Cabbage Beach is a cheery blue-and-white clapboard fronted guesthouse fringed by palm trees with rustic rooms and a laid-back vibe. Rooms with a shared bathroom from 57pp.

Run by the team behind Papas Diving Studio, rooms atPapas Island Resortare spacious but simple, with plenty of useful facilities for scuba divers such as washing machine/hanging space out back for wet clothes. Rooms from 118pp, half-board.

Tours to Minamijima Island and dolphin watching/swimming trips with Take Nature Academy are from 40/80pp for half/full day.

Guided forest walks can be arranged via the Ogasawara Tourist Association, costing from 37/60pp for a half/full day.

Scuba diving with Papas Diving Studio costs 110pp for two dives, plus 88pp to rent gear.

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The subtropical islands that are 1,000km from Tokyo but still part of the city - The Independent

Among the numerous white sand beach islands in the Philippines, Bohol is becoming one of the top choices for family vacations and destination weddings.

Situated at the inviting and serene Doljo Beach is The Bellevue Resort, which boasts of a 250-meter sugary white beach and 158 exquisitely appointed deluxe rooms and suites.

This luxurious 5-star resort is situated on the peaceful shorelines of Panglao Island, Bohol. Its perfect for families looking for both quiet leisure time and fun-filled activities on their Bohol vacation. The areas natural beauty can be seen at Alona Beach and Danao Beach. The Bellevue Resort offers a wide variety of recreation such as infinity pool, dive pool, spa, childrens play area and gym.

Start your journey to happily ever at The Bellevue.

Conveniently located 15 minutes away from the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, the resort offers a much sought serenity of the island life. Its cozy charm, elegant architecture and natural interior works are the design elements that welcome its guests.

For destination weddings, the resorts seasoned events team will be with you from the beginning of your wonderful journey to you happily ever after. They will expertly assist with a suave despedida de soltera on the Luxury View Deck and maybe a spa retreat at the Azure Spa.

Discovering the wonders of Bohol may also be arranged. A soothing cruise along Loboc River, a ride on Loboc Zipline, and a visit to Tarsier Santuary are wonderful activities. Bohol Bee Farm, Chocolate Hills, Danao Adventure Park and Hinagdanan Cave are additional attractions worth visiting, too.

The Bellevue Resort is designed around the natural landscape of the coastline so most rooms enjoy the beautiful beach view. The spacious rooms are well-equipped with a TV, bathroom with tub, luxurious amenities and Wifi.

The resorts private beachfront could be arranged for weddings.

As in most 5-star resorts, kids can enjoy fun activities at The Bellevue Resort such as Koi Fish Feeding, Face Painting, Organic Farm Tour, Beach Safari, Giant Jenga, Aqua Dance and more.

The resorts serene private beachfront could be arranged for the wedding rites and a delectable fresh-from-the-farm organic menu could be prepared upon request. There are several venues to enjoy a meal in the resort as well.

Guests may avail of the different room categories, from a superior twin room measuring 38 sqm; deluxe ocean view room, 45 sqm; to a junior suite, 75 sqm. Also available are the premier suites (at 112 sqm), Bellevue suite (at 110 sqm) and presidential suite at 222 sqm. The presidential suite has a masters bedroom with a king size bed and a second bedroom with two king size beds, two living rooms, dining area, bathroom with tub, balcony and an outdoor jacuzzi. I will soon enjoy this resort property in Bohol when I attend the wedding of Nate Ku and Chany Antonio as their principal sponsor.

* * *

For several years now, The Bellevue Resort has been supporting the Red Charity Gala. Its vacation package is always a hot item up for bidding in the auction that is entirely for charity, for the Philippine Red Cross and the Assumption HS 81 Foundation.

Get in touch with The Bellevue Resort now at (+632) 87718181. It is truly one of the most cozy and charming island resorts in the Philippines.

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