The world according to Jill Cochrane
Mountain/Desert/Ocean/Jungle... which one are you?
Mountain, but ocean comes a close second
What was your first great travel experience?
My first major travel experience was between my second and third year at art college. I went backpacking with my friend Kerry and we followed part of the old Silk Route from Pakistan and China and thereafter we went south through Tibet into Nepal. We still talk about it today.
What has been your favourite journey?
Overland through Tibet was like no other journey and the views of Everest were incredible - for the best part the road was unsealed and we had to get out at regular intervals and help push it through the landslips. The remoteness was breathtakingly beautiful and at the time (1987) it felt like we were intrepid explorers.
What are your Top 5 places worldwide?
Hunza Valley & Northern Territories, Pakistan
Tashiding, Sikkim
South Island, New Zealand - especially Lake Tekapo, Doubtful Sounds, Fox Glacier, Hooker Valley near Mt Cook
Manasi, Savai’i, Samoa
Lhasa, Tibet (before the Chinese took hold)
Recommend a special place to stay
Dormitory at the Golden Temple, Amritsar.
Which three items do you always pack?
Swiss Army knife
Torch
Money belt
Which passport stamp are you proudest of?
Pakistan.
Which passport stamp would you most like to have?
Bhutan
Where or what is your guilty travel pleasure?
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - good for healing and rehydrating dry skin and cuts.
Window or aisle?
Aisle - for the leg stretch factor.