Travel C.V. Liz Cleere

The world according to Liz Cleere

Mountain/Desert/Ocean/Jungle... which one are you?
Ocean, of course. Still, I like variety and am at home in mountains, cities and jungles, so it's all of the above really. I love the desert, but it doesn't love me: last time I was there I got an ulcer inside my eye on Christmas Day, the singularly most painful experience of my life.

What was your first great travel experience?
My very earliest memory is lying in the back of an open top car, with the gentle kiss of a warm wind on my face; I'm looking up into the night sky at the stars. Mum tells me we had a convertible Morris Minor when I was a baby and I used to lie on the back seat in a carry cot, as she and Dad whizzed around Britain. I was around 18 months then.

What has been your favourite journey?
That's like asking if I prefer chocolate or chips! There have been many, but for me it is usually the latest, so that's wandering around Darjeeling and Sikkim. Mind you, I won't forget the 4,500 mile sail from Turkey to India in my own boat in a hurry.

What are your Top 5 places worldwide?
London, my place of birth, will always be in my heart. The coasts of Sudan and Eritrea. The Eastern Himalayas: Sikkim, Nepal and Darjeeling. Turkey. The Alps.

Recommend a special place to stay
Just one?? Dekeling Hotel, Darjeeling for real homestay hospitality and hotel comfort in one. The service is 5 star and the atmosphere cosy and welcoming.

Which three items do you always pack?
My hypothyroidism pills. Kindle. Notebook.

Which passport stamp are you proudest of?
"The holder of this passport has been granted a liquor permit" from Gujarat, India.

Which passport stamp would you most like to have?
Antarctica (actually, anywhere south of the Equator...)

Where or what is your guilty travel pleasure?
Radio 4 on the laptop if I'm anywhere near wifi.

Window or aisle?
Window. If I'm in economy on my own I pile pillows, jumpers and blankets against it and usually manage a half decent sleep. I also prefer to be the disturber, rather than the disturbed. And who doesn't like a nice view?

Member experiences

• Merry Christmas Masala

  
  
  Christmas in Cochin is dangerous when you've got nuns hunting down a bargain to contend with..

• The Kites of Kolkata

  
  
  Before rushing up to Darjeeling we took a few days off in Kolkata. From memorials and churches, to naked men in the river and one mile high kites, it was worth it.

Latest forum posts

• Is anywhere in the world off-limits to you?
  Inspired by the comments on the excellent piece on North Korea by Helen Bamber (where are you now, Helen, your writing's a joy) I wondered if there is anywhere in the world you would NOT visit, and wh...
• Where's the one place you would go tomorrow?
  A few of us have listed the top 8 places we'd be prepared to call home for a year, based on our previous experiences. The list was full of places I've never been, and I wondered where I'd go tomorrow ...
• Have you used an eBook travel guide?
       My guidebooks are filled with markers, notes, maps ripped out and stuffed back in, corners turned down and useful business cards stapled in: they are generally a right old mess. (T...
• If you had to live away from home for a year, where would you choose?
  Listening to Desert Island Discs yesterday I thanked Gawd I'm not famous because I'd have a terrible time trying to narrow my choice to 8 'records'. (Would they allow all the Brandenburg Concertos? th...
• If you had one day to show people your town, where would you take them?
  EHalford, in response to scheungy's post about bank holiday mini holidays, says she is going to spend a day in London with "a Rough Guide to London and a highlighter". I wondered what recommendations ...