The world according to Fintown Trekker
Mountain/Desert/Ocean/Jungle... which one are you?
Give me the fresh mountain air, the shimmering deserts or steaming jungles any day but leave the seas till we can trek the ocean floor!
What was your first great travel experience?
At 14 years of age an overland school trip to Rome. A real adventure by slow boat to Holyhead, that night train to London, on to (then) evocative Dover, Calais and Paris. By the time we got to Rome after 17 hours roaming the train all the way from Paris (we had no reservations!) we were virtually seasick! That romantic clunk-clunk of fish-plated rail is long gone with high speed trains and continuous rail.
What has been your favourite journey?
There can’t be ONE, or you haven’t really travelled, have you?! So in phases:
For youth & carefree days – a six-week bus journey across Canada introducing the then girlfriend to the glory of travel. Out to the World Fair in Vancouver via the Great Lakes, the prairies and the mighty Rockies flying back via Edmonton, Yellowknife and Inuivik.
With family - This year on a month long 7500km odyssey around Namibia, Botswana and Zambia in a 4x4 with two roof top tents. Trekked with the Himba, walked with the San and bush camped to the roar of lions and trumpeting of elephants. And yes, it would scare the be….jebbies out of you!!!
For others and altruism – A trek to Everest Base Camp three years ago for the charity Childaid. I raised €34500 for a profoundly worthy cause and also had a mind-blowing trip in so many ways. Those included Katmandu, a cockpit of contrasts, chaos, noise, squalor and sophistication; the height of Maoist tensions; and cerebral oedema ….
What are your Top 5 places worldwide?
India, for sheer majesty; Botswana, for wildlife; Eygpt, for ancient wonder; Peru, for architecture (Inca); Copacabana, aaaahhh, for the beach babes!
Recommend a special place to stay
For sophistication and pampered luxury, Lion Sands private game reserve on the banks of the Sabie River in South Africa. For anyone, anywhere, anytime its always, your own bed, the night before going and the first night back!
Which three items do you always pack?
Camera, sandals and shorts – all else superfluous extras!
Which passport stamp are you proudest of?
Venezuela – because I lived to tell the tale of a jack-boot in the bottom of my spine and a soldiers rifle nuzzle in the nape of my neck as his mate gingerly rolled up my t-shirt to find only an under arm holster style money belt….
Which passport stamp would you most like to have?
Planet Any Other…..and that day is fast upon us. A fascination I have since as a child I heard my fathers cousin regale of how he passed over Donegal at 55,000 feet in Concorde and how one could see the curvature of the earth.
Where or what is your guilty travel pleasure?
What - Any sweet gooey exotic tart! Now, now as in pie or dessert….
Where especially – The Everest Bakery in Namche Bazar, last treats before Base Camp.