OverSixty April 2023 Digital

ISSUE 4 | APRIL 2023 | OVERSIXTY.COM.AU 38 TRAVEL Set in the Golden Triangle of mountainous northern "ailand, this charming city invites closer inspection Ask anyone who has been to Norfolk Island and they will tell you they want to go back 5 things to do in CHIANG MAI CATHERINE MARSHALL TRAVEL 1. Visit an elephant sanctuary Forget about riding elephants in "ailand: though many operators on the outskirts of Chiang Mai still o$er these activities, con- servation groups are actively discouraging them in favour of more human interactions with the Asian goliaths. Each of the resident elephants at Elephant Nature Park, around an hour’s drive north of the city, has a name and a history: some have been rescued from circuses, others from logging companies; all have been abused. Visitors can still feed the elephants (from a viewing platform), walk with them and watch them bathe blissfully in the river. But riding is strictly prohibited, since heavy wooden saddles can hurt their backs and their submission to the presence of hu- man passengers indicates they’ve been beat- en as babies. www.elephantnaturepark.org 2. Have a vegan or vegetarian feast "e benevolence that seems to infuse Chiang Mai isn’t reserved for just humans; it extends to animals, too, with the city providing an impressive diversity of vegan and vegetarian eateries. While meatless dishes are common in "ailand – re%ecting the tenets of Bud- dhism, the country’s chief religion – they’re particularly sophisticated and thoughtfully prepared in Chiang Mai: from homemade soy yoghurt at Da’s Home Bakery to a spicy salad at Pun Pun Vegetarian Slow Food. 3. Stroll the Sunday market Enter the old city at "a Phae gate and !nd yourself swept up in the human river that %ows along Ratchadamnoen Road – also known as Walking Street – on Sundays. Tra#c is banned from late afternoon un- til midnight, and the road is given over to stalls showcasing Northern "ai handicrafts, clothing, homeware, art and artefacts. Appetites are sated by food stands churn- ing out fresh, steaming "ai cuisine. Enter- tainers enliven the scene once darkness falls – "ai dancers, puppeteers, musicians play- ing traditional instruments as shoppers glide by. Tired feet will bene!t froma foot massage at one of the kiosks set up along the road, while weary souls can !nd respite at one of two neighbourhood temples – Wat Phan Tao or Wat Chedi Luang. While the pandemic has impacted the size and variety of these markets, they are slowly returning to their pre-Covid vibrancy. 4. Pamper yourself "ailand is famous for its massages, of course, but a treatment in Chiang Mai will su$use your body with the meditative se- renity that’s so characteristic of this city. Book a massage traditionally used by the Lanna people of Northern "ailand at Tam- arind Village’s spa, located in the heart of the Old City (www.tamarindvillage.com/ en); try a signature mambo massage or a Northern "ai wet steam treatment using rare local herbs blended by a master herbal- ist at the Raya Heritage hotel’s Ai Waan Spa (www.rayaheritage.com) , in Chiang Mai’s north; or acquiesce to the strong intuitive hands of a blind masseuse at the "ai Mas- sage Conservation Club in the old city. 5. Find the route to nirvana with a Buddhist monk "e early bird catches the worm – or the wisdom, in this case. Take an early-morning tour to Mt Suthep, which curves up into the forested mountains west of the old city. Buy food from one of the stalls here and make merit by o$ering it as alms to the passing monks. Sit with the monks as they chant be- fore breakfast at the nearby Wat UMong – a 600-year-old temple shrouded in centuries’ worth of moss andmystique. And later, expe- rience a meditation session with a local mas- ter, followed by a ‘monk chat’ at the stunning Buddhist temple of Wat Suan Dok (pictured above left). Visit www.exotravel.com. From spiritual to serene to spicy, there’s something for everyone’s tastes in Chiang Mai Photo: Getty Images Discover magic on NORFOLK ISLAND ALISON GODFREY INSPIRE N orfolk Island has drama, history, hu- mour and as a multi-layered historical place, it invited visitors to dig deep into the character of an island that is more than its peaceful ambience. Often regarded as a convict settlement, a 1980s tax-dodge and a home for Bounty mutineers, dig deeper and you’ll !nd a fas- cinating South Paci!c gem, jam-packed with adventure, gastronomy and incredible views. Norfolk Island is technically Australia, al- though you will need to take a 2.5-hour %ight from the mainland. From 2016, Australians travelling from the mainland no longer re- quired a passport, just formal identi!cation. Here are some must-dos for your stay. EAT Norfolk Island is a paddock-to-plate heaven. All fruit and vegetables are grown on the is- land, in season and picked daily for you to enjoy that day. Add to that fresh !sh, local beef and boutique products such as co$ee, honey and cheese and you can see why so many travellers adore Norfolk. "e islanders really love their pies."eywill add anything in season to a pie. Try banana, coconut or guava. Trust us, it’s divine. "e island has one winery, Two Chimneys, established by Rod andNoeleneMcAlpine in 2006. Two Chimneys has a tasting room and guests can enjoy delicious reds, whites and rose. "e cheese platter is also a must. Head to Sweeties Chocolate Factory for a sweet treat. Selling locally-made chocolate and imported sweets, it also has an ice- cream counter and loads of specialty gifts. Book ahead to visit Hilli Restaurant & Cafe and sample their superb seafood crepes. EXPLORE Grab a museum pass and delve into Norfolk Island’s fascinating history. First settled by Polynesian Islanders, in 1774 Captain Cook stopped at the island on his !rst voyage. In 1788 Norfolk Island became “a convict hell hole” and in 1856 it became the home of the descendants of the Bounty mutineers. "e island has four main museums: "e Pier Store, Sirius museum, Commissariat Store andNo. 10 Quality Row, while a convict cemetery o$ers fascinating guided tours. Pitcairn Settler’s Village o$ers tours every Wednesday and Saturday. Ride in Norfolk’s !rsttourcoach,acharmingmodelAFord,visit a blacksmith’s forge, explore the charming original homestead andWWII army hut. One of the highest-rated Norfolk Island experiences is the lantern-lit ghost tour. On it you will hear stories that will send shivers down your spine. GET OUTDOORS Enjoy the beautiful landscape and nature here. "e towering Norfolk Pines actually store water in their trunk. Hug them on a hot day – they will cool you down. "e island also has a rare green parrot. Grab a camera and a pair of binoculars and see if you can spot one. Or join a bird-watch- ing tour to discover the unique bird life. If you like to hike, Norfolk has plenty to of- fer. Explore the stunning Cockpit Waterfall at the Cascade; take the walking track to the bottom of Anson Bay or head to the National Parks to hike one of the many walking trails. "ere’s plenty to do on the water, too. Mar- vel at the rock formations on a guided sea kay- aking tour or swimat Emily Bay lagoon, one of the top 10 beaches of the South Paci!c. Norfolk Island is so far from the mainland that the stargazing is sensational. Look up at night, the Milky Way is incredible. A LITERARY LIFE Fans of late author Colleen McCullough can now tour ‘Out Yenna’, the house where she lived for the last 35 years of her life. Since her death in 2015, some rooms of the house have been open to tours, revealing the quirky tastes of Norfolk Island’s most celebrated modern- day resident, and o$ering a glimpse of where her books were researched and written. JOIN THE LOCALS Norfolk Island is a pretty small place. It takes very few tourists. You’re bound to see the same faces again and again. So why not join in the fun and act like a local. Dine in local homes on one of the island’s legendary Progressive Dinners. Self cater by buyingdeliciousfreshproduceatthefarmer’s market. Pick up a list of Useful Phrases at the Visitor Information centre and learn about the local Norfolk language. Another great tip is to make sure that you wave to passing cars – it’s called the ‘Norfolk wave’. Beautiful, small and peaceful, Norfolk Island is also steeped in history and rich in gastronomic delights Photo: Getty Images INSPIRE INSPIRE