TRV_W02_2011_WINTERWEDDINGS

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www.metrotravel.comMONDAY, 10 JANUARY 2011

01 travel

What’s inside

Gourmetguide

to Thaicuisine{page xx}

Travel seats

for babies{page 06}

Five to try in

Miami{page 05}

MALCOLM CARMICHAEL/PEAKPHOTOGRAPHY.CA

we live where you’re going

TRAVELMETRO WORLD NEWSMonday, 10 January 2011www.metrotravel.com

A fashionista’s guide to London {page 02}

+ Five fun reasons to visit Miami {page 05}

Travel seats forbabies

who lunch {page 06}

TASTY TRAVEL —THAI CUISINE,WHAT’S ON THEMENU? {page 04}

we live where you’re going


{page 03}

Say ‘I do’in thesnow

{page 03}

Say ‘I do’in theSnow


02 travelGET INTO MY CITY: LONDON

Londoner Sarah Owen co-founded vintage store Lucy in Disguise with her half-sister, popprincess Lily Allen. The boutique in the heart of Covent Garden rents and sells carefully cherry-

picked vintage pieces, and also offers a beauty salon and blow dry bar for glamorous girls. Aformer stall holder in London’s famous Portobello Road Market, she knows London inside-out

and is the ideal person to guide you round... SARAH OWEN METRO WORLD NEWS

Beentherebefore?If it's nice weather, Ihighly recommend hir-ing a canal boat for theday. You can hire boatsfrom various pointsaround London and youhave the freedom tojump on and off, whenand where you want.My friends and I oftendo it, you get to see bitsof London that you for-get are there. I can'tthink of a better way tospend a day than on thetop of a barge, withfriends, a few drinks,some comfy cushionsand a good playlist onthe iPod.

It's a cliché, but Londonreally is the most diversecity I know. I grew up inBloomsbury, in the very

heart of the city, and fromthe get-go I was acutelyaware that I was sharing itwith a thousand differentcultures. In London you canfind whatever food, drink,

fashion, art or music takesyour fancy. My problem inLondon has never beenwhat to do, but how to findthe time to do it all. Here’sa start.

Laid-back in London

The London Eye gives amazing views over the city

GETTY IMAGES

Firsttime?The river is a good placeto start; many of our bestsights lie on its banks. Ifit's a clear day, then goon the London Eye - it'sthe best way to take inthe city as a whole. Or ifnot, try The Duck Tour -you start out on a busthat turns into a boathalfway through, andyou finish the tour onthe Thames itself, it's hi-larious. Then you musttake in a museum orgallery - my favouritesare the Tate Modern,(www.tate.org.uk/mod-ern), the V & A,(www.vam.ac.uk) and fi-nally, I can’t forget theBritish Museum,(www.britishmuseum.org). I grew up on the samestreet and I spent manya rainy day wanderingthe ancient rooms incomplete awe as a kid.

The Tate Modern

INGRID RASMUSSEN/BRITAINONVIEW

Little Venice

VISIT BRITAIN

EatEnjoy a proper Englishbreakfast at The Work-er's Cafe in Islington,then Dim Sum forlunch at The Royal Chi-na in Bayswater and af-ternoon Tea at theWolseley (www.thewolseley.com) onPiccadilly. Go for a cur-ry dinner at Tayyabs inWhitechapel(www.tayyabs.co.uk) ora late night, post-pintkebab at Maroush(www.maroush.com).

The Wolseley

For more informationcheck out www.visit-london.com

Stay inThe Malmaison near Fab-ric in Smithfields is prettygood value. I was very im-

pressed when I last wentthere.www.malmaison.com

Go outStart at a good old Englishboozer like The Star ofBethnal Green(http://starofbethnalgreen.com), it feels like a tradi-tional pub with the bonusof cool music. A greatnew dance venue is CAMP(City Arts and Music Proj-ect) on City Road, italways has a good DJ line-up (thecamplondon.com).

Shopping!The markets in Londonare brilliant — Portobel-lo is the most special tome as it's where my lovefor vintage clothesbegan. You can still findgreat stuff there even ifthe prices are quite highthese days, but it’s defi-nitely still worth a trip.For better value, headEast, to Spitalfields forclothes and crafts, BrickLane for everything butthe kitchen sink andColombia Road flowermarket deserves a lookin, just to soak up theatmosphere if nothingelse.

Columbia Road Flower Market

BRITAIN ON VIEW

Portobello

VISIT BRITAIN

The Malmaison


03travelTRAVEL WITH A TWIST: WINTER WHITE WEDDINGS

Of course you want a specialvenue for your wedding,somewhere imaginative andexotic. But not on a beach—that’s been done. To standout from the crowd, turnyour back on the cramm,edsummer wedding seasonwhen nuptials come alongeach weekend like they areon a conveyor belt. A whitewinter wedding is your an-swer.

You can say your vows inone of the most spectacularnatural settings in theworld. Banff, in the Canadi-an Rockies, offers weddingsin any one of its three near-by ski resorts, high in one ofnature’s own cathedral,Banff National Park.

You and your weddingparty are taken up to specialscenic locations on theslopes of the resort by chair-lift or even a helicopter.There are special flat areasspecially reserved for wed-dings, tucked away fromeveryday skiers, each with abreathtaking backdropwhere a marriage commis-sioner will conduct a civilceremony. They can evenprovide a bouquet, although

there is the possibility thatif you throw it too enthusi-astically to your brides-maids after the ceremony itmay well sail over a cliff.You can dress formally inbridal gown and suit or ifyou really can’t wait to hitthe pistes, they’ll be happyto marry you in ski gear so

you can slide down themountain to your weddingreception.

If you don’t want to gam-ble on the weather, severalhotels offer more traditionalsurroundings. Two, the Fair-mont Banff Springs and theFairmont Chateau LakeLouise are exquisite and ex-

clusive, but there are otherdelightful cheaper optionstoo. If you want to do it allDIY there are several localwedding planners that cantailor your perfect day andtake away the pressure oforganizing it too.

Banff is a quaint and vi-brant town so there is reallyno reason to fly off to a hon-eymoon, just stay on and en-joy one of the best snowresorts in the world. Thereare three mountains tochoose from, Norquay thenearest to town, Sunshinewhich boasts superb pow-der snow and the huge ex-panse of Lake Louise. If allthat still leaves you wantingmore, British Colombia hassuperb heli-skiing.

If any of the wedding par-ty doesn’t ski, there’s lots tokeep them active too. Banffhigh street offer great shop-ping, dining and nightlifebut there are husky dog sledrides, health spas and snow-mobiling tours.

HUW J.WILLIAMS METRO WORLD [email protected]

“They’ll be happy tomarry you in skigear so you canslide down themountain to yourwedding reception”

Package from €1415to €2361. For more in-formation check outwww.tuitravel.com

SLOVENIAwww.tuitravel.com

Get married in a medievalSlovenian castle perched ona cliff above the shores ofLake Bled, near the slopes oftwo resorts, Kobla and Vo-gel. After the ceremonyyou’ll be taken across thelake to an old church on anisland after to partake in thelocal custom where newly-weds ring the church bellsfor good luck. From €1770

3OTHERS

SPOTS TOSAY ‘I DO’

USAwww.greenmountain-inn.com

Set in the beautiful country-side of New England, Stoweis a charming town that of-fers old world sophisticationand modern American serv-ice. Get married in the his-toric Green Mountain Innand spend your honeymoonon the slopes of the nearbyresort. Package from €550

AUSTRIAwww.wedding-austria.com

Exchange rings in thesophisticated ski town ofZell am See. A horse and car-riage will take you to the16th century Castle Rosen-berg, possibly the mostmagical registry office in theworld. Have your photostaken on the shores of thepicturesque frozen lake. From €800 per couple

Wrap up and your marriage can go downhill as soon as you’ve said your ‘I do’


Sealing it with a kiss on Lake Louise, Canada


Tie the knoton the run

With a snowy landscape backdrop, a winter wedding is super romantic Choose your destination wisely and you can hit the slopes straight after your vows


04 travelGOURMET TRAVELLER: THAILAND

“Dishes arefragrant, exciting,spicy and delicious”

Who hasn’t tried Thai foodin a neighbourhood restau-rant, or bought a take-awayThai meal from the super-market. But there’s a vastgulf between what we knowas Thai food and samplingthe real thing in situ.

From Chiang Mai to KohSamui, dishes are fragrant,exciting, spicy, sweet, andalways delicious.

Visiting Thailand bringsanother huge advantage forthe food-lover: it’s alwaysOK to eat in Thailand, what-ever the time of day.

From fresh fruit vendorson the beaches, and streetstands peddling Tom Yamsoup (a punchy clear broth)or Pad Thai (stir-fried noo-dles), to packed family din-ers or elegant regionalrestaurants, there is alwayssomething new to try.

Thai cuisine is basedaround the union of tastes:salty, sweet, sour and spicy.Salt flavour comes courtesyof the national essential,Nam Pla or fish sauce. Oth-ers are sourced from Thai-land’s rich natural heritage:chillies, coconut milk andflesh, ginger, galangal, co-riander, Thai basil, kaffirlime …

In Southern Thailand andthe islands, coconut milkand fresh turmeric root arethe key ingredients forsoupier, deliciously fragrant(and hot!) curries includingthe Massaman or Indian-style version. The Northtakes its cue from Laos toproduce drier dishes and re-freshing salads includingthe classic spicy beef andgreen papaya versions.Meals are always centredaround rice, and include avariety of dishes to share be-tween diners.

Luckily, many Thai chefshave realised the potentialof their culinary heritageand offer cookery courses

for visitors. Do not miss thischance to discover the hid-den secrets of a cuisine thatis surprisingly easy to mas-ter.

If you have the opportu-nity, ask the chef if you cantag along on his daily visit tothe market.

Thai markets are fasci-nating places, but having anexpert to decrypt the myste-rious herbs and vegetablesis the key to finding all theright ingredients when youreturn home.

PAD THAI

Stir-fried noodles in a tangy,tamarind-based sauce.Served with egg, tofu orchicken and topped withpeanuts, this is pretty muchthe national dish, and a goodintroduction for those afraidof chilli.

5DISHES TO TRY...WHENYOUR’E INTHAILAND

TOM KHA KAI

A fragrant, scented soup withcoconut milk for a silky edge.Deceptively hot! It is usuallyserved with chicken and per-fumed with lemongrass andgalangal, a member of theginger family.

GREEN OR RED CURRYAnother classic, each madefrom a fiery paste of chilli,herbs and spices pounded to-gether. Meat, fish or tofu isadded, along with coconutmilk. Green curry is oftenhotter than red.

FRESH FRUITThe selection of fresh fruit inThailand is exceptionalthroughout the year. Eventhe humble apple or bananatastes completely differentthan its European equivalent.

SOM TAM/GREENPAPAYA SALADUnlike its name suggests,this is a savoury salad. Theunripe papaya is poundedwith fish sauce, lime juice,chilli and dried shrimp for afresh yet spicy salad, servedwith rice.

Quick tips

EATStreet food is an essentialpart of Thai food culture.Don’t be put off by a hum-ble establishment: inBangkok, the Lek seafoodstand underneath ChongNonsi station serves someof the best fish-based dish-es in the city. Chong Nonsi BTS station

SHOPIf you’ve had your fill ofbustling markets, the Gour-met Market on the groundfloor of the Siam Paragonmall has all the essentialingredients in a chic, air-conditioned environment.Siam Square BTS station

STAYThe Old Bangkok Inn offerstraditional charm close tothe main historical sights.As well as adorable roomsand a green energy policy,the hotel serves deliciousfresh fruit for breakfast.www.oldbangkokinn.com

TRAVELLINGAsking for chopsticksshows you are a Thai foodnovice. Thais eat with afork and spoon, ideal forcatching the last deliciousdrops of sauce and rice.

A taste of real ThaiNathalie Fraser offers a guide to what to eat and where in Thailand Delicious delicacies can

be found everywhere Dishes are shared, at any time of the day Ask for a guided market tour

NATHALIEFRASERMETRO WORLD [email protected]

Spend an afternoon learning the ropes of Thai cuisine

TOURISM THAILAND

For more informationcheck out tourismthai-land.com

THINKSTOCK.COM THINKSTOCK.COM

TOURISM THAILAND

Exotic delicacies are found in every market

TOURISM THAILAND


05travelTOP 5: TO TRY IN MIAMI

1ADMIRE THE

ARCHITECTUREYou can take in the splen-did art deco architecture ata relaxed pace with a strolldown Ocean Drive andWashington Avenue, stop-ping off for a cocktail on aterrace of one of the stun-ning 1920s and 1930s ho-tels as you go. For a moreserious insight into the his-tory of this colourful archi-tecture, join one of thedaily tours organised bythe Art Deco District Wel-come Center(www.mdpl.org).

2POSE BY A POOL

You’ve seen it in the hiphop videos, and you can doit yourself – slip on yourgold bikini and sip cocktailsby the pool during the day,or get dressed up and partyinto the small hours withMiami’s most gorgeous atthe palm-fringed rooftoppool bar, Plunge, at theGansevoort Miami Beachhotel on Collins Avenue.(www.gansevoorthotelgroup.com)

5PARTY AT A

FESTIVAL There always seems to be aan exciting event going onin Miami, whatever time ofyear - from the annual ArtBasel Miami Beach in De-cember to the Miami Win-ter Music Conference inthe spring, which showcas-es the coolest new DJs anddance acts. Where thereare art galleries to beopened and new albumsto be launched, there areparties in clubs, in hotelsand around pools through-out Miami. Even if you’renot an official delegateyou can join in the festivi-ties that take place aroundofficial schedule.

3GO SHOPPING

There are plenty ofshopping opportunities forfashionistas here. You’ll finddesigner boutiques oneblock from the beach alongCollins Avenue including Ar-mani, Guess, TommyHilfiger and Intermix, whichcherry-picks the best of de-signer brands. There’s morefashion on Washington Av-enue, and at the LincolnRoad Mall at 16th street, formainstream brands includ-ing Gap and American Ap-parel and quirky home andvintage stores as well asrestaurants and galleries.For a one-stop-shop try Ma-cy’s department store at1675 Meridian Ave.

4GO FOR A

SUNDOWNERThere are plenty offabulous bars forsundowner cocktails onSouth Beach from the newW Hotel through toclassics like the Delano.But for a great sunsetyou’ll need to be on thewest side of the strip - hitthe Mondrian where youcan watch the sun set overmainland Miami from itsglamorous ‘indoor-outdoor’ Sunset Lounge,designed by world-famousdesigner Marcel Wanders.(www.delano-hotel.com,www.mondrian-miami.com)

“There are parties inclubs, in hotels andaround poolsthroughout Miami”

On the edge of theCaribbean Ocean, Miami isthe hub for many of theflights over to the islands –but it’s a destination worthstopping off at in itself. Theweather is always great andthere are always excitingevents going on whenyou’re done with people-watching on South Beach.

For more informationcheck out miamiand-beaches.com

It’s always hot in South BeachThere’s more to Miami than tanning on the beach; plan your trip around one of these activities There are

always exciting events on or new fancy hotels to check out Above all it’s a great place for a relaxing, fun holidayGETTY IMAGES MONDRIAN HOTEL MIAMIWWW.GMCVB.COM GANSEVOORT MIAMI BEACH COURTESY MCH SWISS EXHIBITION (BASEL)

LTD.LEMMA E. FORRESTMETRO WORLD [email protected]


06 travelGADGETS: TRAVEL HIGH CHAIRS

3 TRAVEL SEATING FORBABIES WHO DINE OUT

This is a cheap and cheerful option fabric seatthat folds into an easy-to-carry bag, the Sackand Seat is ultra-easy to use. Just hook it overthe top of the chair and strap it round theback, and strap your baby in. Really straight-forward to use and easy to clean – just throwit in the washing machine. €20, www.kiskise.com

1 SACK AND SEAT

This very cool and compact travel seat for aconfident sitting baby, hooks onto the side ofa table, bringing baby up to the table so it caneat with you. With its comfortable, padded,easy-to-clean seat and secure straps it’s theperfect place for baby to join in the family din-ner in a restaurant or at friends’. €35, www.philandteds.com

2 PHIL AND TED METOO

This one is designed to transform any sort ofchair into a high chair for a baby. The seat canbe fixed to a round or square, tall or low-backed low-backed chair, and ones with andwithout arms. The size changes thanks to aseries of buttons in the seat and adaptablelong straps. €26, www.totseat.com

METRO WORLD NEWS

3 TOTSEAT

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