Wonder Club Magazine Issue 1 - 2020

CLUB MAGAZINE SCENIC ECLIPSE INAUGURAL ANTARCTIC SEASON TASTING YOUR WAY THROUGH PARIS WITH GABRIEL GATÉ ULURU AND THE FIELD OF LIGHT ISSUE 1 2020

CONTENTS

ISSUE 1 2020

SPECIAL FEATURES

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TASTING YOUR WAY THROUGH PARIS

DISCOVERING ANTARCTICA

AN ODE TO THE OMNIPOTENT

A culinary journey with Gabriel Gaté

Inaugural season for Scenic Eclipse

Discovering Uluru’s Field of Light

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FEATURES

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6 MILTENBERG Meet the Aristocrats

We hope that you and your family are safe and well.

10 FRENCH MARKETS With Gabriel Gate

Welcome to the first issue of the 2020 Wonder Magazine. For the first time we are sharing our inspirational stories as an electronic magazine and hope to revert back to the printed version, once the COVID-19 situation passes.

12 CHRISTMAS IN EUROPE Discover the markets 14 ANTARCTICA With David McGonigal 18 FOR THE LOVE OF WHISKEY On board Scenic Eclipse 20 A CULINARY JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD Secret Recipes 24 HOW TO Guide to Instagram

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26 LAKE BALLARD Unique art installation

In this issue, we feature the hidden wonders of Europe river cruising and we look back at Scenic Eclipse’s first season in Antarctica.

While we all sit back and take time with our loved ones, we hope you find some inspiration in our armchair travel ideas.

Taking the time to plan ahead, to dream bigger and look to the future.

30 MILFORD SOUND New Zealand’s secret 34 LIVINIA NIXON Life of a TV presenter

REGULARS

The Scenic Team

contributors

4 TOP 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites 32 AROUND THE WORLD - Unique Hotels

editor’s letter

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Shweta Menon, Rebecca Andrews, Lauren Rafter, Gabriel Gate, David McGonigal, Kerri McConnel, Lucy Cheek, Livinia Nixon.

design Emi Hollo, Matthew Yorke

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours A division of ST Touring Canada Ltd. Consumer Protection BC #40178.

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Europe’s Top 10

1. Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn, Austria

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Discover the top 10 UNESCO World Heritage listed sites Scenic visits in Europe, as handpicked by our European Journey Designer, Janelle Maher.

From the 18th century to 1918, Schönbrunn was the residence of the Habsburg emperors. Together with its gardens, the site of the world’s first zoo in 1752, it is a remarkable Baroque ensemble.

2. Historic Centre of Vienna, Austria Vienna developed from early Celtic and Roman settlements into a Medieval and Baroque city, with a historic centre, rich in architectural ensembles, as well as the 19th century Ringstrasse lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks.

3. Historic Centre of Brugge, Belgium Brugge is an outstanding example of a medieval historic settlement, which has maintained its historic fabric as it has evolved over the centuries.

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4. Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon, Portugal Standing at the entrance to Lisbon, the Monastery of the Hieronymites, exemplifies Portuguese art at its best. The nearby Tower of Belém is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world.

5. Archaeological Site of Troy, Greece One of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. The siege of Troy by Spartan and Achaean warriors immortalised by Homer in the Iliad has inspired great creative artists throughout the world.

6. Historic Site of Lyon, France Lyon, founded by the Romans in the 1st century B.C. has played a major role in Europe's political, cultural and economic development.

7. Jurisdiction of Saint-Émilion, France

10. Historic Centre of Sighişoara

Viticulture was introduced to this fertile region of Aquitaine by the Romans.

The region is now devoted entirely to wine-growing, with many fine historic monuments in its towns and villages.

Founded by the Saxons of Transylvania, Sighişoara is a fine example of a small, fortified medieval town which played an important strategic and commercial role in central Europe for several centuries.

8. Danube Delta The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea, form the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas. The Danube delta hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species.

9. Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania, Romania These villages with their fortified churches provide a vivid picture of the cultural landscape of southern Transylvania and are dominated by the churches.

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WATCH ANNA GARE VISIT VIENNA ON OUR JEWELS OF EUROPE CRUISE A B C D E F G

Lyon, France Monastery of the Hieronymites, Portugal Danube Delta, Romania Lyon, France Archaeological Site of Troy, Greece Schönbrunn, Austria Fortified Churches in Transylvania, Romania

Meet the Aristocrats in

MILTENBERG Enjoy a cuppa with the local royalty in Gamburg Castle

Miltenberg, Germany is a town nestled within a bend in the Main River. As you gaze upon the township, there is a sense of wonder to Miltenberg’s romantic lanes and squares.

Viniculture, wine trade, river traffic, fishery, wood and stone industries were the most important trades and crafts in Miltenberg’s past. Urban development did not make it to the fringes of the ancient kingdoms, and so the medieval townscape was preserved and remains today, evidenced by the many halftimbered houses, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Some of history’s most momentous figures have passed through Miltenberg, including two Holy Roman Emperors, Napoleon and even Elvis Presley.

Gamburg Castle is situated near Miltenberg on the Romantic Road. During the German Peasants' War, the imposing castle was one of the few to remain unscathed thanks to the intervention of the famous knight Gotz von Berlichingen (who is worth googling in his own right to learn about how he coined one of the world’s most famous phrases).

Gamburg Castle has been a private property, handed down through aristocratic families since 1546. Its oldest part, the keep, was transformed into a bunker to store the files on communist resistance groups during World War II. The castle is rumoured to be haunted by over 21 ghosts and is connected with ancient tales of a beautiful mermaid, Melusine.

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Baltic Sea. By the 16th century, a branch of the family had made its way into the ruling circles of Dortmund. In 1803, as Napoleon's troops entered Germany, Dortmund lost its free city status. The Mallinckrodts became established industrialists and publishers and in the 1830s, some family members relocated to Missouri to become American pioneers.

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“Some of history’s most momentous figures have passed through Miltenberg, including two Holy Roman Emperors, Napoleon and even Elvis Presley. ”

Today, Baron and Baroness von Mallinckrodt, the current owners of Gamburg Castle, preserve and maintain Gamburg Castle’s heritage and legacy.

The noble family, von Mallinckrodt descend from the Saxon knight Ludwig de Mesekenwerke. In 1346 the family took the name of their residence Mallinckrodt Castle, near the city of Dortmund. In the 15th century, members of the family held important positions within the crusader state of the Teutonic Order along the

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In 1980, aged 75, Hans Georg von Mallinckrodt Sr., bought Gamburg Castle.

During the very extensive and much needed restoration, his son, Hans Georg Jr., discovered the lavishly decorated Romanesque double arches and the oldest secular mural paintings north of the Alps.

He also restored the baroque park, laid out on a terrace as an integral part of the castle and as such almost unique in Germany. His wife Nicole, née Princess of Moukbirian Khorkhoruni, was born in Paris after her family fled the Armenian Genocide. Today, both of them, as well as their son Goswin, support the preservation, study and vital continuity of Gamburg Castle, which has been opened to the public since 2009.

Scenic guests have the chance to meet the Baron and Baroness as a Scenic Freechoice activity on selected river cruise itineraries.

A Miltenberg market square B Family von Mallinckrodt C Miltenberg D Gamburg Castle

TASTING YOUR WAY THROUGH PARIS As Virginia Woolf said, "One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." So, the next time you are in Paris, take the time to discover some very Parisian dining venues as recommended by chef, Gabriel Gate.

Bofinger - A Very Parisian Brasserie I never cease to be thrilled by the great cultural richness of Paris with its amazing galleries and museums, great markets and excellent gastronomy.

At the end of a busy day experiencing the French joie de vivre I often dine in a brasserie to relax and enjoy typical French fare. In this type of restaurant you can order anything from a simple dish to a feast, comprising several dishes. There are always several set-price menus, as well as à la carte.

One of my favourite brasseries is Bofinger in the Bastille district. It is a local secret tucked away from the main streets a few hundred metres from Paris’ modern Bastille opera house.

When it was first opened in 1864 by Monsieur Frederic Bofinger, a native of Alsace, the tiny brasserie became popular as one of the first eating houses to serve draught beer. Today the stunning

restaurant comprises several dining rooms spread over two floors.

The extensive menu offers many popular French dishes, such as onion soup, charcuterie, snails, pepper steak, French fries and pâtisseries, such as Paris brest, profiteroles with a Valrhona chocolate sauce and vanilla millefeuilles.

There is also a large seafood section and may comprise several varieties of freshly shucked oysters, prawns, scampi, crab, lobster and more.

In honour of the original owner, Alsatian food is well featured with many types of sauerkraut, including traditional, duck and seafood.

The wine list features many superb Alsace wines, as well as other regional French wines and a good choice of wine and champagne by the glass.

Due to its wonderful Parisian atmosphere, a dinner at Bofinger is truly memorable.

Brasserie Bofinger, 5 to 7 rue de la Bastille, Paris 75004

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His desserts, using fresh fruits and exquisite chocolate, are out of this world and some of the best I have enjoyed in my many gastronomic journeys.

The wine list is lavish and comprises many of the finest French wines and, naturellement, champagne.

The pleasure of a lunch or dinner at the Grand Véfour is sure to linger forever in your memory.

Restaurant Le Grand Véfour 17 Rue De Beaujolais Paris 75001 (Palais Royal district)

I ALSO LIKE

Le Grand Colbert (pictured above), 2 rue Vivienne, Paris 75002 Brasserie Lipp, 151 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 75006

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The Grand Véfour An Exquisite Parisian Restaurant.

The Grand Véfour restaurant, housed on the edge of the beautiful Palais Royal gardens, is one of my favourite Parisian restaurants.

A lunch or dinner at this historic institution which first opened in 1794 is for me as memorable an occasion as a great concert or classic opera.

Guy Martin, a most loved and celebrated French chef, has been at the helm of the kitchen for almost thirty years and became the owner in 2011. Guy is an artist and his savoir faire and creativity are beautifully translated into stunning and delicious contemporary French dishes.

The dining room is one of the most beautiful in Paris. Entering the stylish restaurant, you are taken back two hundred years in time by the superb carved wood panelling, mirrors and fine frescos in the neo-classical style.

Throughout the year Guy’s menu evolves using the finest seasonal European ingredients. His vegetables and fish dishes are outstanding and his most popular dishes include duck ravioli with a truffle emulsion cream, roast pigeon, and gâteau de Savoie that he bakes in his grandmother’s cake mould.

As a native of the alpine region of Savoie, the chef celebrates his origins with a large cheese board featuring the most delicious fromages of the Alps.

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A Brasserie Bofinger B Baked scallops, with creamed mushroom and summer truffle risotto C Paris D The Grand Véfour

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The glorious

FRENCH MARKETS

by Gabriel GatĂŠ

For French home cooks, visiting a fresh food market at least once a week is a way of life.

French markets are a feast for the senses, and as a chef, cookery writer and family cook, I feel stimulated and inspired by the great beauty of the colourful displays of fruits, vegetables and other stunning ingredients.

I often mentally plan a menu or create dishes while strolling through the atmospheric food aisles. I am inspired by the seasonal smells of fruits and fine herbs, such as basil, tarragon, strawberries and melons.

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I like to visit a market between 8 and 10am when it looks its best and is not yet too crowded. I first walk through the aisles to feel the atmosphere and discover the best stalls. Then, I reward myself with cafĂŠ and a croissant or some other irresistible goodies before returning to the most tempting stalls. I must confess I have a weakness for fromage.

My native country has over 10,000 food markets, so when on a French Scenic river cruise, you are never far from one.

Paris alone has about eighty weekly markets, most of which are situated in an attractive or historic street and open two or three days a week.

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The French capital has also twelve covered markets open five or six days a week. The oldest, le marché des enfants rouges, was established in 1615.

The French word for market is marché, and a covered market is called a marché couvert, while larger, long-established covered markets are called les halles if there are several covered sections. You’ll find a stunning example of les halles in Versailles where the market is within walking distance of the extraordinary royal château. The best market days are usually Saturday and Sunday when family cooks have more time to plan their weekend feast.

A visit to a rural farmers’ market is a memorable cultural experience.

When discovering a gorgeous hilltop village, charming provincial town or famous gourmet city, such as Lyons, Avignon, Bordeaux or Paris, visiting a market is a most agreeable way of absorbing the richness of France's gastronomic treasures.

Most rural markets were established centuries ago, in old historic centres where you may also discover ancient châteaux, churches and medieval architecture.

Local farmers set up their stalls early in the central square of the village to sell their home-made cheeses, the freshest seasonal vegetables and herbs, and fruits ripened to perfection.

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cheese masters sell their goods from a specially equipped refrigerated truck, travelling during the week to a different village every day. These artisans are proud of their products and are usually happy to give you a taste before you buy.

“Most markets have a rôtisserie stall with the irresistible smell of roast chicken and other succulent, ready-to-eat meats and roast potatoes wafting through the air.”

Country markets offer amazing food ideas for a picnic. The charcutier is the shop to buy freshly prepared salads, delicious smallgoods like patés, hams, terrines and salami. Most markets have a rôtisserie stall with the irresistible smell of roast chicken and other succulent, ready-to-eat meats and roast potatoes wafting through the air.

Other artisans like butchers and fishmongers, smallgoods makers and

Around a market square you are sure to find a good boulangerie (bakery) and pâtisserie selling their regional specialities. And last but not least, you’ll find a wine shop to transform your picnic feast into a celebration

Vive la France

VIEW GABRIEL GATÉ EXPERIENCING SCENIC CULINAIRE

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Marché du Capucins, Bordeaux Gabriel Gaté Deauville Weekly Market Cheese, Avignon Markets

DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF

CHRISTMAS IN EUROPE ..the smell of roasting chestnuts and spiced gluhwein, there is nothing like a European Christmas

When country music star Faith Hill penned the tune ‘Where are you Christmas?’ She should have tried searching in Europe because if you can’t find the holiday spirit at Europe’s Christmas markets, then you might just be festively challenged.

Is it possible we have forgotten how magical Christmas can truly be in between Black Friday and Boxing Day sales? Capture the nostalgia, romance and merriment of a traditional European Christmas. Leave behind the holiday gift guides and commercialism and head to a place where the Christmas spirit is alive in its purest form – all it takes is a trip to Europe’s Christmas markets.

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EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION Europe’s Christmas markets deliver timeless traditions against a backdrop of dramatic cathedrals and skylines.

Dating back to the Middle Ages, Christmas markets gave townsfolk an opportunity to stock up on goods to see them through the holiday season and winter months. The idea spread along trading routes and survives today for locals and travellers from across the globe. In European cultures, the warmth and sense of community in the Christmas markets carries a great deal of sincerity and once they find you are

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from Australia, the conversations flow and new connections are made.

What makes it so special is that the approach to Christmas is much more heartfelt. There are no over-the-top light displays set to top 40 music, commercialism is not the driving force, and there are no photo-ops on Santa’s lap to be found. The sincere nature strikes to the very heart of the holiday, and it can be found wherever you go.

STEP INSIDE A TRADITIONAL WINTER WONDERLAND The postcard-perfect scenes of Christmas markets in Europe are truly magical.

Towns are draped in baubles, wreaths, and garlands, all cloaked in glowing lights and you are enveloped by traditional carols and classical music. The Christmas markets are a place of warmth and welcome.

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The Christmas markets provide an epic shopping experience. Emphasising local artisanship, old-fashioned wooden toys and traditional delicacies, the stalls you can wander through are high on oldfashioned Christmas charm. Local artists, growers, bakers, and makers fill stalls that will leave your heart swelling with Christmas spirit. Stock up on everything from decorations, baubles, winter clothing, handmade soaps, hand-knitted creations, and so much more.

There’s no hard sell and the vendors are more than happy for you to take your time browsing. Once back home with all your purchases, your home will be a yearly reminder of the adventure you had in the European Christmas markets.

“Local artists, growers, bakers, and makers fill stalls that will leave your heart swelling with Christmas spirit. ”

SAVOUR DELICIOUS DELIGHTS It is difficult to accurately describe the wonderful aromas to be found in the Christmas markets, with a variety of sausages cooking on wood-fuelled fires, Kartoffelpuffer (potatoes), mulled wine (Glühwein), waffles, gingerbread snacks and sweets galore.

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So what are you doing next Christmas?

Celebrate in a magic world of timehonoured festivities, filled with nostalgia and happiness. Treat yourself to a Christmas you will always remember.

WATCH LIVINIA NIXON EXPERIENCE EUROPE'S CHRISTMAS MARKETS PART ONE

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PART TWO

A Christmas markets, Vienna B Glühwein C Wurst sausages, Germany D Glass Decorations, Germany

The Wonders of

ANTARCTICA David McGonigal Antarctic veteran

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Antarctica is a very intense destination.

For most of us, travelling into a part of the world that we know so little about means that being prepared is important.

There’s the Drake Passage with all its mythology. “The roughest stretch of water in the world”, “the Drake Shake”, “the Drake Lake” you’ll have heard them all before you experience it. As a veteran of well over 100 voyages south – that’s close to two years on the Drake Passage – I can say it’s rarely as bad as you fear, and you can always take something to ease the two day journey south. Antarctic waters are themselves quite calm. Another tip is to ensure you travel on a vessel that

is designed to handle the conditions of the Drake Passage. Scenic Eclipse with its 50% larger stabilisers is designed specifically to ensure greater comfort and smoother passage through heavy seas.

Since the days of Shackleton, the first iceberg sighting has been a very special moment. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of gleaming white ice is a sight never to be forgotten. When there are penguins on the ice as if to welcome you, it’s even more special.

Taking your first step onto the 7th continent is unforgettable. It may be on a rocky beach surrounded by penguins and possibly a few seals, however, its hard not

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to appreciate the true significance of that moment.

Personal moments are just that – personal. Moments I recall with great clarity include cutting the Zodiac engine and listening to humpback whale blows all around us in the ice and watching insanely cute penguin chicks rushing around trying to catch snowflakes with their tongues. Of course, there are majestic bays lined by glaciers and Zodiac cruises through a maze of icebergs like a surreal sculpture garden.

Of course, it will be different for everyone. It may be coming onto the ship’s bridge on the first sea day to find

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wandering albatross, the world’s largest flying bird, flying circuits around the ship. Or it might be looking into the seawater at the shore and seeing both the grace of a penguin flying underwater and krill, the biological building blocks of Antarctica, swimming in the shallows.

Your first sunrise over the icescape that is Antarctica is special. So is hearing a crack in a glacial face and watching as it’s followed by hundreds of thousands of tonnes of ice cascading into the water in a calving.

I have a friend and for her, Antarctica is about walking in the footsteps of the polar explorers, particularly those of the

heroic age. For her the big moments are toasting that most revered and flawed explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton by his graveside at Gytviken, South Georgia, seeing Elephant Island where his crew of the Endurance awaited rescue for more than five months, and visiting one of the bases set up by early British scientific expeditions along the Antarctic Peninsula.

Different people have different reactions to Antarctica. For one it may be the excitement of spotting a leopard seal basking on an ice floe, for another it is a sighting of an Arctic tern that provides that moment of joy. Nearly all of us are

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excited to see a pure white snow petrel (with only black legs and eyes) that are regarded by some as the most beautiful bird in the world.

Most of us hope that a significant holiday will see you return with at least one memory of a lifetime. Antarctica is likely to have several of those crowded into every day, resulting in the most memorable holiday of your life.

A Black-browed Albatross B King penguins, Falkland Islands C Scenic Eclipse, Antarctica D Zodiac excursions E Skua F Whale

DISCOVERING ANTARCTICA A continent of remote grandeur

Lands of pristine beauty, breathtaking wildlife and inestimable importance in an environmental and historical sense, travelling to the base of the globe on our Antarctica cruises is a long-held dream for most people.

On the inaugural journey to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, the passengers and crew of Scenic Eclipse have been sharing some incredible images of the voyage, showcasing the stunning wonders of these destinations.

“Waking up early on the first day anchored in Antarctica is a feeling you may only feel once in your life, but is sure to stay with you forever. This is the reason why so many people that visit return and again, seeking to recreate some of their most special memories�

Adriaan Oliver, Discovery Team on board Scenic Eclipse

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Helicopter, Antarctica Drygalski Fjord Zodiac excursions Scenic Neptune South Georgia Elephant Seal Scenic Eclipse Elephant Island Weddell Sea, Antarctica

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WATCH SCENIC ECLIPSE’S FIRST ANTARCTICA SEASON AND MEET THE DISCOVERY TEAM

For the love of

WHISKEY

Tracing the roots of the world’s favourite spirit

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It was Mark Twain who said “Too much of anything is bad, but too much of whiskey is barely enough.” Had Twain been around to cruise on Scenic Eclipse, his refined palate would’ve appreciated the 110 varieties of whiskey at the all-inclusive on board Whiskey Bar. The premium selection includes single malts such as a 25-year-old Glendullan, a 30-yearold Jura The Loch and a 16-year-old Lagavulin, super-premium blends such as Johnny Walker Blue, Ireland’s Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel and many more from around the world, Twain would have been delightfully spoilt for choice.

Whiskey has a fabulous and intriguing history, with both the Scottish and the Irish claiming to be inventers of the cherished beverage. The truth is, no one really knows for sure. The source of the process of distillation can be traced to Mesopotamia in 800 AD where Babylonians were believed to distil solutions such as perfumes.

Around 1000 AD, travelling Christian monks took the formula of distillation into Ireland and Scotland, where, due to the unavailability of wine, the monks were compelled to distil barley beer into a liquor. Whiskey evolved, along with the unending debate between the Scottish and the Irish.

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“For whiskey to be known as Scotch, it has to be made in Scotland from start to end. Single malt Scotch is malt whiskey from a single distillery.”

Given the hazy, intertwined beginnings, how different are Scottish and Irish whiskeys? For starters, Scotch whisky is spelled without the ‘e’ and Irish whiskey is spelled with the ‘e’. Scotch is made with malted barley, distilled twice and aged in oak barrels for a minimum of three years.

For whiskey to be known as Scotch, it has to be have been made in Scotland from start to end. Single malt Scotch is malt whiskey from a single distillery.

difference in taste. Scotch has a fuller, heavier taste, while Irish whiskey, by contrast, and has a lighter, and smoother taste.

Other varieties of whiskey include bourbon, rye and blended. Bourbon is made from at least 51% corn mash, aged in new oak barrels, and is only produced in the United States. Rye is also made in America and is composed of 51% rye.

Blended whiskey is usually made from a blend of various aged whiskies.

Today, whiskey is produced in many countries around the world. The most popular varieties come from Scotland, Ireland, Canada and United States, with New Zealand and Japan quickly joining the ranks. Scenic Eclipse guests have the chance to sample whiskies from nearly all the major whiskey producing regions, and some more limited edition vintages. With an incredible display case, backed by a wall of translucent quartz crystal, putting the 110 varieties of whiskey on display, resistance is futile. And, of course, it's all included on Scenic Eclipse..

Irish whiskey is made with unmalted barley, is usually distilled three times and aged in oak barrels. The extra distillation of Irish whiskey brings about a marked A Scenic Eclipse B Scenic Whiskey Bar

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A CULINARY JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD Scenic Eclipse Executive Chef Tom Goetter shares the secret recipes of his guest favourites

From watching the maestros at work in the open galleys, to sitting down in the thoughtfully designed, tastefully decorated dining venues, dining on board Scenic Eclipse is a multi-sensory journey right up to the very first bite of your meal.

And then it is pure bliss.

Meet Chef Tom Goetter The explosion of flavours in each delicious recipe reflect the imagination of Executive Chef Tom Goetter. The clockwork precision of Chef Tom’s German heritage is evident in the meticulous attention to detail he invests into designing each dish and the daily restaurant menus. From soy sauce for sushi flown in especially from Japan, to the 24-hour brining and air-drying of the traditional roast chicken, no meal is taken for granted.

Goetter is all about reinventing timetested recipes and giving them his own unique spin. From foie gras lollipops to smoked blue candy floss on caviar, Goetter knows how to keep things enchanting, especially at Chef’s Table, the exclusive, ‘by invitation only’, degustation dining experience. In his own words, “We want to make something you know already but make you feel, ‘Oh, that’s special. Why does that taste so different?’”

A Scenic Eclipse Executive Chef Tom Goetter B Koko's dining C Koko's Asian Fusion

LISTEN TO TOM GOETTER EXPLAIN WHY DINING ON BOARD SCENIC ECLIPSE IS SO SPECIAL B

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Naan Bread INGREDIENTS

METHOD

(serves 4 to 6)

• Mix all Ingredients in a bowl and work into a soft dough

• 250 gms flour • 1tsp sugar1 • ½ tsp salt • 1 tbsp oil • 1 tsp baking powder • 75gms yoghurt • 125ml milk C

• Cut the dough into 6 pieces and roll each out into a flat dough • Place a flat pan on your oven and wait till pan smokes.

• Grill both sides for approximately 2 minutes without adding any fat till golden in colour.

Koko’s Asian Fusion restaurant & Sake bar With regularly evolving dining options, guests on board Scenic Eclipse have the chance to savour new dishes daily at up to ten dining experiences and bars.

Koko’s, the Asian Fusion restaurant and Sake bar has four chefs from four different nations who craft unique but authentic cuisine, including deliciously assorted lunch bento boxes.

A popular serving among Koko’s many delicious meals is the Korean Pulled Beef, served with… wait for it… Naan Bread and Avocado Raita, an unusual but winning combination.

If you’re fondly reminiscing about this wonderful combination of meals that you enjoyed on your Scenic Eclipse voyage or would like to try to create this cuisine at home, now is the time.

Chef Tom has shared the secret recipe of his all-time favourite. “The best thing about Galbi Jjim (Korean Short Ribs) is the super tender meat that is coated with sticky, salty, sweet, and nutty sauce. It’s hugely addictive. And to serve it, we use Naan Bread and Avocado Raita to give it a different kick. It’s easy to do back home and a fun flavour combination”, he says.

Avocado Raita INGREDIENTS

(serves 4 to 6)

• 2 ripe avocados • 1 medium-sized onion (finely chopped) • 2 medium-sized tomatoes (very finely chopped) • 1 green chilli (finely chopped) • ½tsp red chilli powder • 1 tsp cumin powder • ½ cup chopped fresh coriander leaves • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1 cup yogurt (fresh, unsweetened, whisked till smooth) PAGE 21 • Salt to taste

METHOD • Remove the flesh and seed from the avocados and put them into a mixing bowl. Mash the avocados until they are nearly smooth.

• Add the chopped onion, tomato, green chilli, all the spices, the lemon juice, and chopped coriander. Mix it up until all the ingredients are blended.

• Add the yogurt, salt to taste, and blend it in with the avocado mixture.

• Refrigerate and serve cold with the pulled beef as a dip on the bread.

Korean Braised Short Ribs “Korean Pulled Beef” MAIN INGREDIENTS (serves 4 to 6) • 1.5 kg to 1.8 kg bone-in beef short ribs (pork ribs suitable alternative) • 1 ½ cup water • 2 carrots (275g), cut into medium size pieces • 10 chestnuts, peeled (canned chestnuts can be used too)

SAUCE INGREDIENTS • 170g red apple (or nashi/Asian pear), cored and chopped • 60g onion, peeled and chopped • 6 tbsp regular soy sauce • 2 tbsp brown sugar • 2 tbsp honey • 2 tbsp rice wine (mirin) • 1 tbsp minced garlic • 1 tsp sesame oil • 5 whole black peppers

METHOD • Soak the beef ribs in cold water for 10 to 20 minutes. This is to draw out the red liquid (which looks like blood) from the meat. Change the water a few times.

• Blend the sauce ingredients in a mixer or food processor. Set it aside.

• In a large pot, in rolling boiling water, boil the ribs for 6 to 8 minutes over medium high heat. Drain the water and rinse the ribs in cold running water. Cut off any obvious excess fat from the ribs.

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• Place the ribs in an oven and add the 1 ½ cup water. Add 2/3rd of the sauce. Boil over medium heat for about 30 minutes, covered. Stir gently and change the position of the ribs. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes, covered.

• Add the remaining ingredients (carrots, jujube, gingko nuts, chestnuts and the remaining sauce) and continue to simmer it over medium low heat for about 20 minutes, covered.

• By now the ribs should be fully cooked, but they may not be tender. Continue to simmer until your desired tenderness is achieved (usually up to an additional 1 hour, covered). Depending on how long you simmered it, you may still have a reasonable amount of sauce/liquid left in the pot.

• To boil it off, you can heat up the stove to medium high heat and boil it for 10 to 12 minutes, covered. This should thicken the sauce and leave just the

right amount of it at the bottom of the pot. Alternatively, you can continue to boil off the sauce over medium low heat until the sauce nearly disappears.

This can take another 1 hour or so.

And this will make the meat fall off the bone. Many Korean moms would say that the bones shouldn’t fall off as it’s visually less appealing when you serve it. However, this is exactly what we want till we pick the meat after for our Korean pulled Beef.

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• To reheat, add 1/3rd cup of water in a pot and boil it for 5 to 7 minutes over medium high heat, covered, till sticky again.

Tips on how to use

INSTAGRAM…

Join our instagram community for travel inspiration around the world

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO INSTAGRAM STEP 1. Get the App Simply download the Instagram app via the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP 2. Create account Choose to sign up using your phone number, email address or Facebook account.

Scenic guests are some of the world’s great explorers, embarking on adventures around the world and enjoying life changing enriching experiences.

STEP 3. Follow your favourite accounts Click the search icon in the top left to find your friends, family or favourite brands. Search “scenic_ au” to follow us.

Guests are also our greatest advocates and users of social media in all its formats. Posts from our members around the world are inspiring and educating other travellers, to the wonders of their unique journeys. Experience the joy of sharing your special Scenic moments with your family and friends (and us) – all in an instant.

STEP 4. Create your post Instagram is an entirely visual platform, its purpose is to enable users to share images or videos.

On Facebook, you may choose to post 100 photos in an album. On Instagram, you need to be more selective about which photos you post – narrow it down to just your favourite photos from your holiday to post.

Scenic is growing its Instagram account and we’d love you to become part of our community. Instagram is a great way to share your beautiful holiday snaps and to be inspired for your next adventure.

Here are our tips to learn about and make the most of Instagram:

Open the App. Click the “+” icon in the bottom centre of your screen to open the photo library on your phone. Select your choose photo or video and click “Next” in the top right.

This will take you to the edit screen, where you can choose to add a “Filter” or “Edit” your photo. Alternatively, click “Next” again to skip.

Now add a caption, tag people and add a location. Don’t forget to tag @scenic_au and use the hashtag #scenicwonder in your caption!

When you are ready to publish, click “Share” in the top right.

And you have posted.

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Follow us on Instagram @scenicca and @scenic.eclipse for the latest travel inspiration, and share your own Scenic travel experiences with #scenicwonder and #sceniceclipse

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We always love hearing from our guests, seeing what you have experienced and sharing your favourite moments.

Here’s some images that may inspire you to use Instagram and be part of the global sharing community.

Discovering

LAKE BALLARD One of the world’s most unique art installations.

By Kerri McConnel

The mirage shimmers in the distance. Up close, the surface is a salty white and yet as I walk over it, my boots sink through the crunchy crust exposing rich red earth that obstinately adheres itself to their soles.

“The Royal Flying Doctor Service comes once a month”. “If you are going to be sick that’s the best day to do it”, she says with a smile on her face.

Straining my eyes across the blinding reflection created by the salty exterior, I can see thin, black sticks protruding up from the ground.

Ever since I had heard about Lake Ballard, I wanted to visit. Not because I know anything about art, but the location fascinated me. Now that I was here, standing in the middle of the lake, I understood why.

I am standing on Lake Ballard, one of Australia’s largest inter-connected salt lakes and these “sticks” casting long shadows over the ground are part of Australia’s largest outdoor art gallery.

There’s something quintessentially Australian about this place. The fact that it feels as though it's in the middle of nowhere and that it’s taken quite some time to drive here further supports this.

It’s no easy feat to get here. From Kalgoorlie, the journey has covered about 200 kilometres including a quarter of them along a dusty unsealed road.

I pass through the small mining town of Menzies, a town that boomed in the gold rush era of the 1890s. Gold was discovered here in 1891 and by 1896 the population had swelled to 10,000 people.

The railway from Kalgoorlie to Menzies opened in 1898, further fuelling the prosperity of this town.

Its history is enveloped in Aboriginal culture. The site is sacred to the Wongi/ Wangkatha people. Lake Ballard is an integral part of one of their Dreamtime stories, where the Seven Sisters stars came down to the lake to play but were chased by an evil man.

A decade later, the mining had declined and the population had dropped considerably to 1,000. The onset of World War Two hastened this decline. Today, only 100 or so people live here. They rely on water being delivered via trucks and generators provide their electricity.

There’s a pub with a new owner, a cafe and a place for the Grey Nomads to park their vehicles overnight. Our tour guide tells us

As the story unfolds, best told by Aboriginal elders, there are parts of the lake, like the islands, that became important to their story. Snake Island, the first one I encountered as I started my walk onto the lake’s surface, is said to be the eldest of the seven.

Spread across 10 square kilometres of salt lake are 51 sculptures designed by artist Antony Gormley, the result of a commission by the Perth International Arts Festival. This installation, known collectively as ‘Inside Australia’, is unique not only for the location but also the way in which they were created.

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“Inside Australia, is unique not only for the location but also the way in which they were created”

With a 3D body scanner imported from the USA, Gormley invited people from the community of Menzies to strip off all in the name of art. Set up in the City Hall, those who volunteered were scanned.

Later these scans were manipulated further to create an abstract form of each body and finally cast into these sculptures using an alloy made from Western Australian metals.

Like the trip to get here, viewing them should be considered a journey in itself, with not all visible from one location.

Spread out across the lake, it would take approximately two hours to view them all and will offer a different perspective depending on the time of day you visit. In the early hours of the morning, I imagine they would be quite eerie as they emerge

Lake Ballard sculpture

from the darkness into the soft light.

For a totally different perspective, I climbed Snake Island. The wind was howling around me, making everything about the climb challenging, but the view at the top my reward. From here, a 360-degree view of the lake is on offer as far as the eye can see and I can see many of the sculptures. The mirage in the distance seems closer from up here and I reflect on how early explorers would have found this effect incredibly confusing.

The Inside Australia sculptures were gifted to the Perth International Arts Festival and were later handed over to the city of Menzies.

Lake Ballard is best visited between April and October.

Pub, Menzies

An ode to the omnipotent The beating heart of our country shines bright

“I saw in my mind a landscape of illuminated stems that, like dormant seeds in a dry desert, quietly wait until darkness falls, under a blazing blanket of southern stars, to bloom with gentle rhythms of light.”

- Bruce Munro

Deep inside Australia’s Red Centre lies its beating heart. The vital organ is not small, or soft, and certainly not fragile.

Instead, it is enormous, resolute, and beats to the rhythm of a sacred, ancient beat, 600 million years old. Nearly three decades ago, Bruce Munro, a British artist, camped outside Uluru and recalls feeling this pulsation, one he described as “a charge in the air”, an incredible energy that seemed to radiate from the red desert.

Uluru, to the untrained eye, is a gigantic monolith. The scientists call it an inselberg, meaning an isolated hill or mountain rising abruptly from a plain. To the Anangu people, the traditional owners of the land, it is a living being, a keeper of their traditions, carrying tales of the ancestry of the world etched in stone, without which they’d be lost. To take even a fragment of the holy rock is to invite a lifetime of bad luck – the curse of Uluru.

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Rising 348 metres above the burnished red desertscape and running 3.5 kilometres long, Uluru astounds with its immensity.

But what is visible to the naked eye is, quite literally, just the tip of the iceberg.

Two-thirds of the rock is said to lie beneath the earth.

A monument like that deserves to be worshiped and respected with the Field of Light Uluru exhibition a fitting tribute.

Like the veins of the life-giving organ, 50,000 swaying spindles topped with frosted glass globes, harness the sun’s energy to illuminate an area the size of four football fields.

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Designed by Bruce Munro, the spectacular light exhibition is known as 'Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku' by the locals, meaning ‘looking at lots of beautiful lights’. Indeed it is a lot of beautiful lights. The solarpowered stems and bulbs were specially brought in from the United Kingdom, and it took 40 people six weeks to install them.

During the day, the sun transforms the ancient rock with its every move, from umber brown in the afternoon to flaming red in the evening. When dusk begins to drape the Red Centre in her cloak of velvety darkness, so thick you couldn’t see your hand if you held it before your face,

you can still feel its palpable, spiritual aura.

As night sets in, several million stars in the clear skies proudly shine down upon Uluru, revealing an imposing silhouette of the great guardian of the land. While closer to the ground, the iridescent otherworldly exhibition pays a silent homage, pleasantly glimmering like fairy wings from a scene straight out of A MidSummer Night’s Dream.

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A Field of Light, Uluru B Uluru

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PIOPIOTAHI (Milford Sound)

A sound, a fiord, an ethereal wonder That Rudyard Kipling called Milford Sound the ‘eighth wonder of the world’ is a well-known fact. But here’s something you probably didn’t know. The incredibly beautiful Milford Sound is not a sound at all! It is in fact a fjord (or fiord as the Kiwis prefer it). Milford Sound was formed during the ice age by melting glacial ice carving the dramatic, craggy landscape over millions of years. By definition, this process of glaciation makes Milford Sound a fiord. A sound, on the other

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hand, is formed when sea water floods a river valley.

But, as the Bard famously said, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" and Milford Sound is breathtaking no matter what you choose to call it. Distant snow-capped peaks, lush green cliffs, dark waters several hundred metres in depth, and gushing waterfalls that create wondrous two tier rainbows. Incidentally, Milford Sound has served as the backdrop for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings,

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and its famous Stirling Falls were made even more famous by Wolverine, Hugh Jackman, leaping off it in X-Men Origins.

Māori tribes discovered the ancient wonder a thousand years before Europeans, when they began frequenting the waters to fish and scour for precious pounamu, a greenstone revered by Māori tribes. They believe Milford Sound was carved by the powerful toki (an axe-like tool) of the atua (godly figure) Tu-te-rakiwhanoa, empowered by a powerful prayer.

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As per another legend, Māori hero, Māui came from his homeland in Hawaiki to challenge the goddess of death, Hinenui-te-pō, to a duel and win eternal life for humankind. He brought with him a companion in the form of a piopio, a now extinct native bird. Tragically, Māui failed in his quest and was crushed between the thighs of the goddess. His heartbroken friend flew into Milford Sound in mourning, giving it the Māori name, Piopiotahi, meaning a single piopio.

Milford Sound’s intriguing aura extends beyond the mythical world, and the unique composition of its waters makes it well worthy of the eighth wonder title.

The fiord is one of the wettest places on the planet. Frequent rainfall washes down tannins from the surrounding cliffs into the waters, giving it the dark, opaque appearance. Below this layer of tannins is a layer of fresh rainwater, and below this freshwater lie the saline waters of the Tasman Sea. This unique composition has helped the growth of rare black coral (that are, ironically, not black at all), just 10

metres below the surface, otherwise only found deep in the ocean.

To truly experience the spirit of Milford Sound, in all its geological and mystical glory, take a cruise. An extraordinary experience, a cruise through the fiord will reveal to you herds of sunning fur seal, pods of leaping dolphins, flocks of cheeky kea and rookeries of Fiordland crested penguin or ‘tawaki’. On a sunny day, the mirror-like waters reflect every detail of the sky and the mountains around. When it rains, the fiord is filled with magnificent waterfalls everywhere you look.

If you choose to take an overnight cruise, you will have the chance to witness Milford Sound in all its moods. Relax on the deck as the anchor is lowered and watch the sun disappear behind the mountains, drenching the fiord in a divine alpenglow, and wake up at first light to watch the mist eerily shroud the water’s surface.

A Milford Sound, New Zealand B Fiordland crested penguin

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The Retreat Hotel - Blue Lagoon, Iceland

explora Patagonia, Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile

The Retreat Hotel - Blue Lagoon, Iceland

UNIQUE HOTELS around the world Discover some of the world’s most unique hotels in stunning locations with Scenic

The Retreat Hotel - Blue Lagoon, Iceland

The Retreat Hotel - Blue Lagoon, Iceland

explora Patagonia, Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile

A stay at The Retreat invites guests to unwind the clock of modern life and unlock the door to a wonder of the world.

It sits within a geothermic area, and is surrounded by thermal pools built on an 800-year-old lava flow.

Anchored like a ship by Lake Pehoé, at the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, explora Patagonia has a privileged location from where guests can venture out and explore the park. Walking in lenga tree woods, getting to the base of Paine Towers, riding a horse through the Park’s prairies and rivers with horses specifically trained for Patagonia’s geography or cruising along the turquoise waters of Lake Pehoé are some of the experiences available

Itinerary: 8 Day Iceland - The Land of Fire & Ice, Scenic Eclipse land journey.

Itinerary: 9 Day Patagonian Adventure, Scenic Eclipse land journey.

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Amor Arenal, La Fortuna, San Carlos, Costa Rica A 5-star rainforest lodge, located at the foothills of Arenal Volcano on the edge of a virgin forest canyon. Features farm to table dining, hot springs and a yoga platform overlooking the canyon, with a meditation platform floating among the trees Itinerary: 7 Day Costa Rica Nature & Wildlife, Scenic Eclipse land journey

Opus XVI - The Edvard Grieg Heritage Hotel, Bergen, Norway

Oyster Box Hotel, Umhlanga, South Africa

Odakyu Hotel de Yama, Kanagawa, Japan

Oyster Box Hotel, Umhlanga, South Africa

Hotel de Yama boasts the best location on Lake Ashinoko. The grand gardens of the hotel boast an amazing 130,000m² floral display comprising more than 3,500 rhododendron plants

Standing majestically on Umhlanga’s beachfront just 15 minutes from the airport, overlooking the Indian Ocean and the iconic lighthouse, this is South Africa’s most cherished hotel and a national treasure, complete with resident cat, Skabenga, who wandered in years ago and has never left.

Itineraries: 17 Day Essential Japan, 20 Day Allure of Japan and 14 Day Japan in Focus

A historic building in Bergen owned and run by the family of composer and pianist, Edvard Greig. The building was originally designed in 1876 as Bergen’s largest bank and was recently converted into a hotel. Excerpts from the composer’s life can be found at a mini exhibition: you can read tales of his travels and learn about his friendships with important figures of the era.

Itinerary: 10 Day Scandinavian Discovery, Scenic Eclipse land journey

Itineraries: 17 Day South Africa and Victoria Falls

Amor Arenal, La Fortuna, San Carlos, Costa Rica

Opus XVI - The Edvard Grieg Heritage Hotel, Bergen, Norway

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THE LIFE OF A TV TRAVEL PRESENTER Travelling the Globe with Livinia Nixon

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If you’re reading this, you’re a travel lover like me. The freedom of travel - away from responsibilities and the grinding routine, is liberating and exciting. Learning about new cultures and having a daily adventure is enticing and creates lifelong memories.

But what happens when you travel for work? Is some of the magic lost in rigorous itineraries, work emails, time constraints and high heels?

Well, a little.... but just a little. As anyone who travels for work knows, it’s not as glamorous as it looks. Those TV snippets of heaven - a presenter getting a massage or soaking in a hot tub, generally last as long as the filming.... all of about 7 minutes at a time. But they are a glorious 7 minutes and as a working mum, I’ll take that any day of the week.

I’ve had some incredible moments working as a travel presenter. I’ve cuddled baby panda cubs in China, eaten “home delivered” pizza inside the Cheops pyramid, swum with dolphins in NZ, played golf at St Andrews, bottle-fed baby lion cubs in South Africa, played tennis against Pat Rafter and drunk champagne.... in a champagne cave.... in Champagne.

People always ask which are my favourite destinations. Well, its easy to fall in love with France - the food, the natural beauty, its history and the accents of the French people... ooh,la,la.

I love Japan for it cultural differences, respect for others, cleanliness and simplicity of design. I love Italy (who doesn’t?) for the food, natural beauty, slower pace of life and the accents. I’ve

clearly got “a thing” for accents.

Every country has an adventure waiting for you, but of course, you need to be prepared. It always helps to learn a few local phrases, dress in an appropriate way (shoulders covered in temples/churches for example) and be careful of free public Wi-Fi (never do any banking or enter your passwords on public Wi-Fi). I also carry a collapsible water bottle so I can refill it every day and not have the guilt of adding to landfill. Another tip.... touchscreen gloves for the colder climate cruising (then your pinkies need not suffer for the ultimate selfie) My husband always packs shower caps and plastic bags for shoes -after trekking around the streets of a city, you don’t want that dirt next to your favourite white scarf.

The best advice is be open to experiences and know that things always go wrong when travelling. You have to be resilient and not sweat the small stuff.... or become a travel presenter and let your producer iron out every issue. Once when filming on a now-defunct travel show, we had an expired shooting permit and every time we pulled out the camera, 25 policemen would come and check our permit and shut us down. We got so frustrated that we decided to film in front of the beautiful Parisian permits office. We shot every single piece of dialogue we needed without being bothered once. Sometime you just need to fake it until you make it.

A Coffee plantation, Southern India B Mt Fuji, Japan C Cooking segment in Kerala, India

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“The best advice is be open to experiences and know that things always go wrong when travelling.”

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JOIN LIVINIA NIXON SAMPLING OUR SOUTH OF FRANCE CRUISE

Call 1 877 689 8611 Visit scenic.ca Contact your local travel agent