The Star: September 08, 2016

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36 Thursday September 8 2016 follow us on facebook.com/riseupchristchurch Travel Canterbury’s weather updates with Mercy Cornish The Star Mon-Fri bulletins: 5.30pm, repeats at 7pm and 9.30pm Freeview 40 | Live and on demand at ctv.co.nz | facebook.com/canterburytv Let the fish give you a pedicure • By Mike Yardley TEMPLE-TOURING soon takes its toll, which probably explains why Siem Reap, in Cambodia, heaves with touts offering foot massages and fish pedicures. I hate having my feet fiddled with, let alone having them nibbled by cleaner fish. However, if you’re happy to have dunk your toes in a fish tank, it’s a sure-fire way to send all that dead skin packing. But a word of advice: try to be first in line because by the end of the trading day, the water in the tank will be decidedly soiled, after having played host to dozens and dozens of feet and dead skin flakes. It wasn’t that long ago that Siem Reap, the gateway to the Angkor temple complex, was just a quiet, dusty town of rutted roads and dark nights. But the past 50 years has transformed the city into a charismatic destination, full of paradoxes, as ancient traditions and modern bling rub shoulders to form a glittery tourist mecca. I marvelled at the frenetic pageant of Siem Reap street life, abuzz with motorcycles and cyclists, impossibly laden with a cornucopia of goods, from vast bunches of mangos to teetering ladders, water tanks and freshly culled chickens. It’s a place where tuk-tuk drivers take a break by slinging themselves into an on-board hammock, or catch a quick game of checkers with a mate. It’s a city of monks draped in swirling ochre robes and brightly painted temples. In the heart of town, just a block back from Siem Reap River, the Old Market is a head-swirl of colour, character and the bizarre. Souvenir stalls litter the edges of the market, touting trinkets of dubious quality, but venture inside the rabbit warren of endless aisles to savour a slice of local life, where vendors flog off everything imaginable from pots and pans to parasols. But it’s the food section, a heaving emporium of fresh produce in a rainbow of colours, in addition to the startling variety of meats and seafood, that provides the best sensory assault. It’s not a place to be squeamish as you wander by dozens of headless chooks, legs tightly bound and colonised by flies, or wonder what an earth that blood and gore soaked speciality, selling like hot cakes, might actually be. THIRSTY?: A sugarcane juice vendor in Siem Reap. It turns out one of the biggest sellers at the Old Market, which I could not bring myself to try, is duck foetus. It looks as graphically horrific as it sounds. Siem Reap boasts a stack of markets – the Old Market being the most traditional and the night market remaining a perennial hit with visitors. Take in some of the local entertainment, like the Landmine Victim Band which serenades shoppers at the market entrance, with traditional Khmer music. If you’re keen to buy some authentic, local and handmade souvenirs, the FISHY: Vendors at Siem Reap’s Old Market, it is one of the most traditional and the night market is a hit with visitors. (Above) Healthy produce in abundance. night market is a good bet, with an excellent range of handicrafts including silk, art, jewellery, wood and stone carvings. Many of the producers are orphans and disabled people, employed by local NGO, so you’ll be shopping with a clear conscience. Cambodian cuisine is really starting to stamp its mark, after traditionally being overshadowed by its neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam. But Siem Reap has emerged as a dining destination in recent years, with strong and vibrant flavours which draw inspiration from China and India – stir-frying and dried spices. A signature national dish is fish amok – steamed and curried fish coated in kroeung paste and cooked in a cup made from banana leaves. The other must try signature is beef lok lak, made with diced beef and garnished with citrus and pepper dip.
The Star follow us on facebook.com/riseupchristchurch Thursday September 8 2016 37 in Siem Reap Chic and contemporary, a great place to I’m always intrigued to discover ex-pat sample Khmer cuisine is the Chanrey Tree, Kiwis plying their trade in far-flung places, which has cultivated a global following and in Siem Reap, head to Jungle Burger in for its fine-dining experience. Wendy Wu Street 26, for a taste of home. This unabashed sports bar and bistro is draped in Tours organised a lovely lunch date at the Chanrey Tree. New Zealand and All Blacks flags. Alongside the signature dishes, I also It’s run by a former Christchurch lad, savoured their crispy sticky rice with natang Clayton Venis, who opened it up five years sauce and spring rolls. David Beckham ago. dined here last year and raved about it – so Ask the locals and they’ll swear it makes it’s got to be good, right? the biggest drool-inducing burgers in town. TASTE OF HOME: The Jungle Burger is run by an ex-pat Christchurch man. FAST FACTS •Wendy Wu Tours offers a wealth of options in Cambodia from extensive two and three week tours, to short breaks and tailor-made options. I experienced their Siem Reap in Focus 3 Night Short Break, which threaded together all of the essential sights with flexibility for personal exploration. The on-the-ground local expertise was simply exceptional. You’ll love the passion, informality and knowledgeable insights of your guides. Book a touring option that best suits your desires. Ph 0800 936 3998 or head to www.wendywutours.co.nz GETAWAY TO DUNEDIN Discover the charm of Dunedin ScottiSh pride gave dunedin the first university in New Zealand, the only castle, the steepest street, a city of fine Victorian buildings and naturally, its own Scotch whisky! So to discover the city’s quintessential charm ye cannae do better than to start your visit in The octagon. A statue of robbie Burns has stared benevolently over the city for 150 years, here you will also find St paul’s cathedral, dunedin public Art Gallery and the Visitor centre, plus various shops, cafes and a thriving Saturday market. Slog up Stuart St and you’ll find popular Moana pool, while a stroll towards otago harbour takes you to the railway Station. Nowadays, only the taieri Gorge railway departs daily from this grand edwardian edifice of stained glass, royal doulton tiles, wrought iron staircase and acoustic perfection. Founded on the hard toil of gold miners, whalers and early settlers, much of dunedin’s early origins remain and the city is recognized as one of the best preserved sites of edwardian and Victorian architecture in the Southern hemisphere. A visit to olveston historic house is a must. The city has its share of cosy pubs with live music, the Fortune Theatre produces fine professional productions and the casino is open late for a supper ‘n’ flutter. Built during gold-rush prosperity its opulent gaming rooms are a visual treat whether you win at the tables or not! Visitors to dunedin also have accommodation options ranging from castle to camping and every style and budget in between! Dunedin i-site Visitor Centre Open 7 days ph 03 474 3300 www.DunedinNZ.com Enjoy Dunedin with us Aaron Lodge TOP 10 • Heated Swimming Pool • Pentanque Court • Playground • Barbeques • Activities Booking Service • Reading Room • TV Lounge • Spa Pool • Mini ‘Park Golf’ Course • Under 5’s Playroom • Picnic Tables • Games Tables • Internet Station • Laundry www.aaronlodgetop10.co.nz From the South Island direct to the South Bank * . Fly direct to Brisbane and catch all the big events this summer. Flights departing daily from 31 October 2016. Economy one way departing Christchurch Brisbane from $235 * Book now at qantas.com *Prices are based on payment at qantas.com by POLi. For card payments add NZ$7 per passengers per booking. A fee of NZ$35 per passenger applies for bookings through 0800 767 400 or Qantas Airport locations. Sale ends 11.59pm 19 October 2016, unless sold prior. Travel dates: 4-19 Sep, 8 Oct – 19 Dec 2016 & 16 Jan – 29 Jun 2017. Add $15 for travel on Thursday or Friday. Prices shown are subject to availability and valid for economy one-way air travel on Qantas and partner airlines. For customers booking return travel, prices from Australia will vary. Full payment must be made at the time of booking. Airfares are non-refundable – some changes permitted at a charge. Schedule is subject to change. Prices correct as at 17 August 2016 but may fluctuate if carrier charges, taxes, fees or currency change. Sale may be extended at the discretion of Qantas. Other conditions apply, see qantas.com for details. QAN0314/CS
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The Star: September 08, 2016

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