Airline flies its environmental credentials

British Airways has entered a partnership to design a series of waste plants that convert household waste into renewable jet fuel to power its fleet. 

I've been no great fan of BA's service in the past but this partnership with Velocys, a renewable fuels company, is part of the airline’s plans to develop long-term, sustainable fuel options. And that has to be a good thing.

The first plant will take hundreds of thousands of tonnes of household waste per-year, destined for landfill or incineration, including nappies, plastic food containers and chocolate bar wrappers, and convert it into clean-burning, sustainable fuels. 

This will contribute to the airline’s commitment to reduce net emissions by 50% by 2050.

As well as helping the airline industry reduce its carbon emissions this initiative will also significantly reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. The United Kingdom still sends more than 15 million tonnes of waste per year to landfill sites which not only damages Britain's natural environment but also releases further greenhouse gases affecting climate change.

The planned plant will produce enough fuel to power all British Airways' 787 Dreamliner-operated flights from London to San Jose and New Orleans, Louisiana for a whole year. It would be the first plant of this scale. 

The airline plans to supply its aircraft fleet with increasing amounts of sustainable jet fuel in the next decade. 

The jet fuel produced at the plant will deliver more than 60% greenhouse gas reduction, compared with conventional fossil fuel, delivering 60,000 tonnes of CO2 savings every year. This will contribute to both global carbon emissions reductions and local air quality improvements around major airports.

For details on British Airways see www.ba.com

Sorry gentlemen. This gourmet tour of Italy is not for you.

I just received notice of a new tour that sounds like hell to me. Private shopping in Rome with an Italian fashion journalist; private tours of the Hall of Mirrors and the Vatican.

Fortunately, I am not the target market for the Tastes of Rome & Sicily Tour, which runs from September 6-16 next year. 

For a start I am the wrong sex. This is tour is aimed squarely at ladies only. Ladies who like to shop, eat and drink. Ladies who are single.

Put together by Andrea Powis of Travelling Divas, who specialises in "high quality, high value and experiential travel for women" this tour for a maximum of 12 "combines the glamour and sophistication of Rome, with the beauty, culture and divine wine and food of Sicily".

It's a good idea really; showcasing two very different sides of a fabulous country. 

Attractions that sound much more up my street include a vintage Vespa tour of Rome, cocktails and canapes at the rooftop bar of the Sofitel, and a catered picnic in Borghese Gardens.

Exclusive access to wineries in Sicily and exclusive dining experiences, with wine pairings including at two Michelin-starred restaurants, also sound up my street, but alas...

There will be at least one man involved: Uncorked & Cultivated's Master of Wine, Peter Scudamore-Smith, a wine expert with impeccable contacts.

Hotels are "a mix of five-star glamour in Rome to divine, luxurious old-world hotels in Sicily, with sweeping views of the sea and inland at a renovated Locanda".

For full details and pricing, check out: www.travellingdivas.com.au.

Days of wine, food and chamber music

It's one of Australia's iconic festivals: a combination of fine wine and chamber music in the country. 

The Huntington Estate Music Festival in Mudgee runs over two weeks; the opening weekend on November 18-19 and the full festival from November 22-26. 

World-class chamber music concerts are held in Huntington Estate's intimate barrel hall, while wine and food are served in the lovely winery grounds before, during and after concerts. 

Concerts are held over long, lazy days and at night. 

The line-up for the 26th festival comprises a mix of international talent and outstanding Australian musicians performing some classics of chamber music.

Tickets include a full music, food and wine experience and start at $175 for the opening night. They are also available in two-, four- or eight-concert packages.

The setting and atmosphere are promoted as "rustic, relaxed and unpretentious" with a stage made of wine crates and pallets, and a backdrop of a wall of barrels holding maturing red wine.

Concerts are held late mornings (followed by lunch) and evenings (followed by dinner).

Afternoons can be spent exploring the lovely town of Mudgee and its cellar doors, galleries, cafés and shops, enjoying bush walks or indulging in a restorative afternoon nap prior to the evening concert.

For more information and tickets, go to huntingtonestate.com.au/music-festival

Surprise winner of Australian retirement destination survey

A new survey has produced a surprise winner as the best retirement destination for Australians. 

Malaysia topped the 2018 Global Retirement Rankings released by global publication InternationalLiving.com.au.

Kuala Lumpur

The rankings compare and contrast the world's best retirement havens across 10 categories.

Malaysia scored strongly across the board, performing well in the cost of living and healthcare categories and topping the categories visas and residence, healthy lifestyle, ease of fitting in and entertainment and amenities.

"We have more of a social life here than we ever did back home; here everyone is always out and about, it's easy to meet up with people," says expat Cyndy Fenner-Smith who retired from Sydney to Penang with her husband Mick.

Georgetown, Penang 

A high-rise apartment that looks and feels like high-end Sydney costs less than a house to rent in Dubbo and everything from eating out to travelling around is a fraction of the cost of the similar activity in Australia.

Not only are people friendly and helpful but expats can talk to them in English-a legacy of a time when Malaysia was part of the empire, the report found.

The healthcare system is so good and affordable it attracts over a million medical tourists a year. 

Malaysia is currently home to around 200,000 expats. 

"I honestly can't think of a retirement haven I've visited that offers you so much ease, convenience and comfort; and I definitely can't think of another place that offers it at such a low price," says IL executive editor Eoin Bassett.

An in-depth explanation of Malaysia standing in the ranks of the IL Australia's 2018 Global Retirement Rankings, the six other best retirement havens in the world, and information on how the rankings are compiled is available at: Best Places for Australians to Retire (https://internationalliving.com/au/the-best-places-to-retire/)

New landmark to tower over Bangkok

The Thai capital of Bangkok is to get its first city observation tower, a 459-metre-high tower that will rank among the top 10 world's tallest towers as well as being the tallest observation tower in South-East Asia.


Artist's impression

The tower is being jointly built by two foundations, the Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation and the National Identity Foundation, after the Thai cabinet gave approval for the country's new landmark project to proceed.

The cost of construction, totaling approximately US$138 million is being funded by more than 50 private sector organisations who are contributing to the project.

Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Bangkok Observation Tower is set on a 6,400 square- metre land plot owned by Thailand's Treasury Department and leased to the Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation for 30 years.

The Foundation is required to deliver ownership of the tower and all other structures on the land to the Treasury Department when the construction is completed in 2019.

The tower has been enthusiastically embraced by Thailand's tourism sector as a much-needed addition to the nation's tourist-pulling attractions and as a catalyst to investment and employment in the sector.

"The tower is the most important new addition to Bangkok's rich array of tourism magnets and one that will attract people from around the world, said Ittirith Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand.

Historic Tasmanian vineyard property gets a makeover

It's all change at one of Tasmania's most historic vineyard properties: Craigie Knowe outside Swansea on the east coast of the Apple Isle.

Just over 40 years since the first vines were planted, there is a new range of wines and new cellar door that was officially opened last weekend.

Glenn and Sandy Travers purchased the winery in 2013 after coming to Tasmania on a holiday and have given the property a complete makeover, including planting new vines and converting the former winery into a rustic tasting facility with comfortable al fresco seating. 

Visitors are invited to enjoy a gourmet vineyard plate, cheese board or chocolate and wine matching experience and have a chat to the owners while tasting.

Craigie Knowe Vineyard was established in 1979 by then Hobart dentist John Austwick, who planted five hectares but sold the vineyard in 2009.

A subsequent owner left the vineyards unattended in 2011 and 2012, giving the Travers family lots of work to bring things back up to scratch.

The property also includes a circa 1842 sandstone and bluestone homestead, as well as the pioneering vineyard while the Travers family also source grapes from a nearby vineyard.

Craigie Knowe was one of several properties farmed by the pioneering Amos family, who accumulated significant holdings in the Cranbrook area. The homestead was built by James Amos (1804-1864), and it sits on the highest point of the Swan valley floor, on a craggy knoll that in Gaelic was termed Craigie Knowe.

"We, along with our son Alex, have worked hard to bring the vineyard back to health and vitality," says Glenn Travers. "Our wine is now made off site (by Matt Wood of Spring Vale), allowing us to concentrate on our vines so we can bring you the best wine possible."

The range includes outstanding estate 2015 pinot noir and 2016 riesling, along with an excellent pinot gris, a pinot noir rosé and a lighter pinot noir, all from 2017, under the entry-level white label.

Craigie Knowe is at 80 Glen Gala Road, Cranbrook, Tasmania. 0499 901 109. www.craigieknowe.com.au