Q: Where do you think your passion for travel comes from?
A: My first overseas trip was with my English grandmother; I was eight years old and we went on a South Pacific cruise. But before that, every school holiday my mum would take me away to somewhere in Australia. I think this is where my passion for travel began.
In fact, it could have started even earlier than that as my parents (both Australian) actually met in the 60s traveling on a tour in Russia.
In addition, I spent a lot of time with my aunt as a teenager. She was passionate about archaeology and taught me a lot about ancient civilisations. Again, inspiring a yearning for travel.
Q: What is your favourite country?
A: I love Egypt. Again, I think this is due to my aunt and her love for archaeology and my teenage imagination! I’ve been there four times.
I have a fascination with the Middle East because of that ancient history. What I find most amazing is where civilisations started, where they first settled and made stable communities and how that then has been brought into today’s world.
Q: Have you ever had a disaster of a trip?
A: I’ve had a few. One in particular was a total disaster and a horrible experience that I just couldn’t wait to finish.
It was a Galapagos Island cruise in a catamaran, which sounds so romantic! It was 14 days but the tour company had only done a seven day tour previously and didn’t prepare properly.
We ran out of water after three days; we did have drinking water but that was all. If you wanted to have a shower you jumped in the Pacific Ocean. And if you wanted to wash your clothes, you jumped in the Pacific Ocean!
I also suffered very badly for the first time from sea sickness. I was not well, virtually the whole time.
There were just seven guests on the catamaran and it was really small. The crew slept on deck but we were in tiny cabins with just a little porthole for air.
While the Galapagos Islands were amazing and the animals incredible, I was just so sick the whole time. I couldn’t wait to get off the boat.
Q: On a more positive note, what have been some of the highlights of your travels?
A: I have been to some unusual places. I really loved Greenland, because of its remoteness, and Georgia, which is the oldest wine growing region in the world.
And I actually got to meet the king of Bhutan, the happiness capital of the world.
Q: And was he happy?
A: He was pretty happy. He was really interested in my camera so that’s what we talked about.
Other highlights include the migration in the Serengeti in Tanzania, dawn on the Ganges, swimming in the Dead Sea, the snow monkeys in Japan, the lemurs in Madagascar and climbing Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan.
Q: OK stop – I’m getting too envious! You’ve visited 130 countries, are there still more to come?
A: Yes, my goal is 150 countries now. I don’t think I can visit all 195 because there’s a lot of countries that you currently don’t want to go to. But I think 150 is doable.
Q: So where next?
A: We’re probably going to go to Guatemala and Belize. I’d also love to experience the Naadam festival in Mongolia and maybe just sneak over the border to Tibet.
I always have to have a trip in the pipeline; it’s a great feeling to always be looking forward to the next trip.
I think travel is my lifelong passion and I feel that enriches me. By travelling so much I also think you appreciate what you have. I’ve seen so many different cultures, people’s way of life experiences and it is probably a bit of a drug. So, I’m looking forward to my next “fix”.
Q: How has your love of travel influenced the people around you?
A: My husband had never travelled when I met him and now I’ve created a monster because he wants to go everywhere all the time as well. But my family are all travellers. And most of my friends!
