Ischia, Campania, Italy:

Just a 45-minute ferry try from Naples, Ischia (its name meaning, appropriately, ‘green island’) at 46 square kilometres is the largest island in the Golfo do Napoli and has a resident population of around 50,000. Over 400 hotels and B&Bs cater for the boatloads of people that arrive each day. Many are not day-trippers, as are those visiting Capri. Here they come for a week, maybe, and rent a car or a Vespa. They also try out the thermal spas or get active, hiking or some other outdoor sport.

This rocky island could be in Cornwall, or just as easily the Channel Isles. Those stone walls, the incessant traffic, the curving roads and marinas crammed with yachts could be so many other places too. Unlike the UK, though, the vehicle of preference here seems to be the much-beloved Italian Ape – meaning ‘bee’, because of the way they buzz around – so useful in tricky places and confined spaces.

The marina is merely a slot of water with scarcely enough room for the runabouts moored on either side to manoeuvre in or out and for the fishermen tending their nets.

The waterfront is lined with pastel-painted cafes and bars. Outdoors, furled umbrellas over the blue-cushioned chairs are certain to unfold like giant white flowers by lunchtime. One has doors with paintings of cheerful pirates in red kerchiefs and the entire ceiling is covered with hanging red, white and blue pottery jugs in various designs.

S. Angelo, with its pedestrian-only road, is as touristy and brightly inviting as any town on the Riviera. Brilliant hanks of drying chillies hang in windows, and we pass one restaurant where, through a canopied wrought iron gate, we catch tantalizing glimpses across the terrace to the water.

Islands:

No one knows how many islands there are in the world. It is easy to measure the largest, but where do you begin? Is a rock sticking out of a lake or the sea an island? However, here are some of F&T's favourite ones.

Australia is the world's largest island and is sometimes called the 'island continent', 7.6 million square kilometres yet home to only around 22 million people.

Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe (the others are Iceland and Great Britain) and divided into two parts, Northern Ireland, which is part of Great Britain, and The Republic of Ireland.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Its rich and varied history has resulted in a culture that really has to be experienced to understand.

Singapore is an island country and city, a delightful eclectic mix of cultures and cuisines, with much to do and see.

Sri Lanka formerly named Ceylon is also referred to as the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean'. Come here for fiery food with a Portuguese accent.

Indigenous foods of Australia:

(pic: A Taste of the Bush)

Australian bush foods (sometimes called 'bush tucker') are varied and nutritious and are now being propagated and sold commercially for use in Australia's cuisine.

If you wince at the idea of witchetty grubs or emu, take heart: the Australian bush has much else to offer. Akudjura or bush tomatoes taste of caramel and tamarillo and suit savoury or sweet dishes; Kakadu plum is the world's highest source of vitamin C; munthiree berries are apple-flavoured and delicious in pies and flans; lemon myrtle leaves add an aromatic zing to everything from herb butter to mayonnaise and fish dishes; and rosellas which are mainly used to make sauces and jams, are from a plant not the feathered variety.   ....read more