Golden beaches, cliffs and caves, picturesque harbours, sleepy villages, mountain-top monasteries, orange and lemon groves, 127 different species of flowers, and the wild Troodos Mountains. No wonder Aprodite, the Greek goddess of love, made her home here. We have 109 villas with pools dotted around the island. So you can be sure that one of them will be in the perfect place for you.

Sand or pebbles

There are beaches to suit every taste in Cyprus, from quiet, rocky bays to wild dunes and wide expanses of golden sands. On some you’ll find volleyball and water-sports, while on the more isolated ones you’re more likely to stumble across a turtle’s nest.

Topless sunbathing on the beach is not exactly frowned upon in Cyprus, but it may attract some attention. It’s a good idea to check about local beaches with our rep when you arrive.

For the culture vulture

Steeped in both mythology and history, Cyprus has a rich cultural heritage. Along with the Caves of Aphrodite, believed to be a mythical source of fertility, there is an overwhelming choice of ancient monuments and archaeological sites to visit, as well as basilicas, ruins and tombs.

Paphos is particularly crowded with history and myth, which is why it has been included in UNESCO’s list of World Cultural Heritage sites.

If you prefer less intellectually stimulating pursuits, some of the slides at the aqua parks will get your heart racing. There are also go-carts and paragliding, and in the winter there are even a couple of quite good ski slopes.

And if none of those quite does it for you, there’s always the Agia Napa Amusement Park, which is one of the largest in the Mediterranean and is guaranteed to be exciting.

Things to do (other than lazing by the pool)

There is good walking all over the island, but especially in the rugged splendour of the Troodos mountains, whose pine forests are refreshingly cool even in the height of summer. There’s also bird watching, botany, windsurfing and sailing.

Diving is particularly popular in Cyprus. Beneath the crystal-clear, unpolluted water, visibility can be more than 30 metres. You can meet sting rays, amber jacks, scorpions, bream, grouper, and now and then a sea turtle, an octopus or a moray eel.

What’s on the menu

As well as chips and burgers, you’ll find plenty of interesting local dishes. A big favourite with Cypriots is Mezedes, which can include up to twenty or thirty dishes. Stuffed vegetables are also popular as are syrup soaked pastries.

Another famous item you’ll discover on many menus is Kleftiko, pieces of lamb or goat wrapped in foil and baked in special ovens. The origin of this dish goes back to the Cypriot freedom fighters of the 19^th Century, who had to prepare their stolen meat so that it was neither seen nor smelt.  

What to buy

Fresh local produce is available from a wide variety of markets and small stores, and there’s a large range of very cheap wines and spirits. Fake designer clothes are another excellent buy, although the quality and price can vary.

Local crafts include handmade lace, woven curtains and tablecloths, silks, basket work, pottery, leather goods and silverware. Jewellery is an art which has been practiced on the island since the Mycenean period.

If you haven’t heard of Ayia Napa, you’ll want to avoid it. Famous for its unbridled hedonism, the town is crowded with bars and restaurants, where revellers eat and drink before going to one of twenty clubs that stay open as late as 8am.

EBAN BROCHURE COPY

It’s personal  

Eban is a specialist financial services executive search firm working across the world’s investment banking and asset management markets. But while our reach is global, our business is based on close, personal relationships. Our reputation for discretion is one of our core assets. This is why some of our clients trust us not only with finding the right candidate, but also with informal salary surveys, assessments of activities in the market place and specific analysis of their competitors.

 We’re local

Our offices are in Hong Kong, London, New York, Tokyo, and Singapore yet all of them are in daily contact and are carefully coordinated. Our coverage of the world’s major financial centres delivers global expertise and enables complete cross-border access to client and candidate information.  We regularly place people located in the UK, Europe, Russia, South Africa, USA, Japan, Hong Kong, The People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Korea, India, The Gulf, Latin America and Australia.

Precise selection

One of the reasons for our high success rate in completing challenging assignments promptly and efficiently is our ability to understand our clients business. It is our grasp of their specific requirements and their marketplace that ensures our targeted search is brought to a speedy and successful conclusion. No matter what that search is, we never discriminate on any grounds. In fact, the majority of the placements we make would be viewed as diversity hires.

No stone left unturned

Part of our success is due to the intensive research process that is at the core of each assignment. Whether the search requires a tight local focus or needs to be handled at a global level, our consultants approach it with creativity and enthusiasm, backed by a team of dedicated bi- and tri-lingual researchers. Our globally networked database contains over 100,000 front office professionals, yet we start each Retained Search assignment from scratch. We believe the most important part of an executive search firm is its consultants and their ability to deliver.

Headhunting for 2,000 years

Emma Weir and Stephen McAlinden founded Eban in Hong Kong in 1995. Like the ‘Iban’, the tribe of Sarawak head-hunters we took our name from, we set out to foster a culture of openness and democracy. The company was built around a vision to create the most professional integrated global financial services boutique search platform in the market, working in long-term partnership with a very select client base. Now, with Eban’s franchise firmly established across the Non Japan Asian, Japanese, European, and American markets, we’ve made that vision a reality.  Our consultants have been voted best individual head-hunters in Japan and ex-Japan Asia, and Eban itself has been similarly honoured.  But it doesn’t stop there. We are continuously developing our service.

Peugeot 406 Brochure copy

It's not often that a car manufacturer implements a whole new way of working in order to produce a car. But in designing and building the 406, Peugeot were determined to create something quite unique.

By concentrating all available skills, energy, talent and knowledge into one very special unit, Peugeot pioneered a new breed of automobile.

Many innovations and more than a thousand tests later, the 406 emerged: a classically stylish car that effortlessly combines proven safety, high technology, comfort and performance.

Whether you are an enthusiastic amateur or a knowledgeable specialist, the 406 will appeal to all true car enthusiasts as it opens the door to a new era in automotive lifestyle.

The 406 has arrived, and it is an impressive new presence on the road.

"It's amazing how people think they've got you pigeon-holed when they don't really know you at all. A lot of people thought they had me completely mapped out. But when they discovered I had a 406, they weren't so terribly sure any more. Suddenly they were wondering what else they didn't know about me."

"There was something about driving the 406 that opened me up in a way I can't easily describe. It would be simple to dismiss it as part of the experience of driving such a responsive and luxurious car. But there was something more. Dreams and images returned to me that I haven't seen for a long time."

The moment you sit down behind the wheel of a 406, you'll discover that its unique design skilfully blends driving pleasure, safety and equipment levels.

Perhaps the first thing you'll notice is the level of comfort produced by the ergonomic design of the seat and the controls around you. This is further enhanced by the adjustable height and position of the steering wheel.

You'll experience more flexibility later when you discover the joys of the 406's power assisted steering.

Meanwhile, you might find it comforting to know there's an airbag hidden behind the steering wheel.

Another reassuring feature is the coded anti-start system, which is more than enough to foil the most ingenious thief.

The CD radio, which gives a 4 x 20 W output with 4 HP and 2 tweeters, is similarly armed with anti-theft coding.

Unfortunately, even Peugeot can't prevent bad weather, but the rain detector on the front windscreen wipers will improve both your comfort and your safety by automatically matching its pace to the level of rain.

And when the climate improves, the air conditioning system will keep you perfectly cool while it cleverly filters out any pollen.

"I don't know why my colleagues were surprised to see me driving a 406. I can only assume the reason was that they don't really know me. Because when you think about it, any accountant who writes particularly gruesome horror stories in his spare time is bound to go for something with a little hidden depth."

"They used to call me Steady Eddie, probably because I never appeared to do anything out of the ordinary. Everything was just so. Carefully calculated and considered. So the 406 was a little bit of a surprise for them. As indeed was the discovery that I had previously been a bomb disposal expert."

It's no coincidence that the very lines of the 406 are reassuring. They stylishly reflect the fact that the 406 far exceeds the requirements of present safety standards.

After exhaustive research, the body structure of the 406 was designed so that each element can function as a protective structure, both independently and in close cooperation with other elements.

With programmed crumple zones on the body, reinforcing bars and side impact absorbers in the front doors, and transverse reinforcing bars behind the seats, the 406 can resist severe impacts.

A driver's airbag further ensures safety, as does a fuel cut-off system, a high density polyethylene fuel tank which gives better resistance in case of collision, and a non-return valve which blocks the petrol flow in case of roll-over.

In addition, the driver and passenger have the reassurance of seat belt pre-tensioners, while the rear seats benefit from 3 point seat belts.

The 406 gives the driver complete control. From the very first turn of the wheel, the sensation of power combined with safety is immediate.

Such a feeling is the result of all the skills, knowledge and experience Peugeot could bring to bear in the building of the 406. From the start, the declared objective was to do 'as much as possible' to avoid and prevent any accident. From design through production to laboratory and road testing, the 406 had to achieve optimum performance before it could reach the next stage.

Following such exacting and high standards, the suspension systems were designed with all the care demanded by this unusual saloon. McPherson struts at the front give predictable handling even on poor surfaces, while at the rear the innovative multi-link system gives the 406 a high level of driving comfort as well as perfect stability, in particular on curves. The result is excellent driving behaviour both on country roads and motorways, and a surprising degree of pleasure for the driver.

In addition to the extraordinary mechanical qualities of its suspension, the 406 has hard-wearing, high-performance brakes. These are characterised by excellent road holding and very short stopping distances. A 4-sensor ABS system with integral computer is available as standard on certain models.

Seeing and being seen are two other important elements of safety that have been integrated into the 406. The single block front headlights have a complex lens pattern which give the driver a clearer than normal view ahead, while the specially shaped driver's door mirror eliminates blind spots to the side and rear.

The high level brake light at the top of the rear screen, meanwhile, ensures the 406 can be seen by others even in poor conditions.

The 406 comes with a choice of high performance engines to suit the most demanding driver.

Two petrol engines are available, and both come with the power of 16 valve technology. The new generation 1.8 L delivers 112 HP, while the 2.0 L develops 135 HP.

The diesel range also has two engines. The 1.9 L turbo diesel gives an economic but high performance, while the top of the range 2.1 L turbo engine offers 3 valves per cylinder and electronic combustion control for unequalled performance in terms of flexibility, performance and fuel consumption.

Thanks to careful design and extensive track and road testing, each engine has become renowned for performance and reliability.

If the perfect running of the engine is disrupted at any time, an auto-diagnostic system immediately detects serious faults which could threaten the safety of the occupants or lead to high repair costs. If a minor fault is involved, information is stored until the next service from the Peugeot dealer.

To ensure that the performance of each of the 406 engines in no way detracts from the acoustic comfort of the cab, the engineers and technicians at Peugeot have blended the mechanical parts with the actual body of the car. The engine mounts have been designed with reduced play, which significantly reduces noise level, and the stabilizer bars are frequency-matched to absorb vibrations.

"There was something about the 406 that connected with me immediately. It was a great looking car, there was no denying that, and it promised exceptional levels of comfort, safety, performance and reliability, as you might expect from Peugeot. But there was something more to it, something beneath the surface which appealed to me at a different level. There was some kind of a hidden depth to the car I just couldn't put my finger on. And when I drove it, that same sense of mystery kept returning to me. It became a slightly strange experience of the unknown part of myself, that mysterious part of me I often experienced when I went on my somewhat dangerous weekend pursuits. It was a subtle but persistent feeling that made me think after a while that I was something more than an executive with an exhilarating hobby. I was instead a skydiver who spent a lot of his time in an office."

The slender and elegant bodywork of the 406 hides a wealth of important elements. Beneath the shell, perfect engineering blends the tried and tested with the highly innovative.

For example, the familiar reliability of the McPherson type front suspension, which reduces road noise and gives exemplary handling, is complemented by the highly innovative multi-link rear suspension which permanently adjusts to the road surface.

When you consider the importance Peugeot places on mechanical reliability, it's easy to understand why the engine/chassis/ suspension assembly of the 406 has already been taken as a reference point.

The 406 represents the ultimate in technology. If it's not already obvious, the first few yards in the car will convince you.

In order to create the 406, Peugeot concentrated all skills, energy, talent and knowledge into one single unit, whose purpose was innovation. This was the Pilot Workshop, a revolutionary research, design and development laboratory.

Its aim was to find a genuinely new method of working on a car in the design and production phases.

Following the initial designs in the Garenne Colombes workshop, a team was created around the project leader. This team was then combined with the Design and Automobile Technology Department in Sochaux, forming the Pilot Workshop in May 1994. Designers, manufacturers, suppliers, quality managers and after sales service were all involved in the avowed aim of serving the interests of the future 406.

With the creation of a work station on a constant steel chassis - a sort of fixed model - the Measurement Departments were able to take full control of all machined parts from suppliers, and thus eliminate potential problems of play and fitting for both internal and external parts.

This amazing productivity tool, with its perfect conditions for review and design, exploited an incredible capacity for reaction. It produced the first 39 pilot vehicles - built with prototype parts - followed by the first pre-build vehicles, which in turn allowed optimum configuration of the assembly lines for the definitive series.

Guided by supervisor/managers, the highly qualified and dedicated team were able to create the body and face of the 406 on a day by day basis, very much like skilled sculptors.

"They never had me down for doing anything out of the ordinary. I suppose they thought I was too overweight. But when they saw me and my friends in my 406, they knew they'd been wrong. The two very large Japanese gentlemen in the back weren't business competitors but competitors from my Sumo wrestling club."

A truly great vehicle is characterised by the feeling of natural confidence it gives its driver. You can tell the 406 is in this exalted rank, because to experience that confidence you don't even need to drive it. Simply close the thick, luxurious doors and you'll be inspired.

Whether it's the memory settings on the seat, the adjustable steering wheel and gear lever, the air conditioning system or the digital displays, you'll find all the control elements on the 406 have been designed to give the optimum service without complexity.

Such a combination of utility and pleasure enables you to take to the road in a relaxed and confident mood. Simply insert the collapsible ignition key and glide towards the future.

Welcomed on the outside by the solid reassurance of the chrome lion, the passengers of the 406 enter an environment of luxurious comfort where each seat has been perfectly crafted not only for function but for pleasure as well.

For example, the seat backs curve forward slightly at the edges to soften the angle between the seat and the door, and to improve passenger comfort. Map pockets behind the front seat and rear seat head-rests are also included for the benefit of the passengers.

With a storage compartment on the rear shelf, as well as a huge boot space of 470 litres, which includes another storage compartment, the 406 is perfect for family journeys.