The world according to Sangreya
Mountain/Desert/Ocean/Jungle... which one are you?
Jungle
What was your first great travel experience?
Travelling when I was 18 for six months definitely ranks high on my list. I had never been outside of Europe and the US before so you can imagine my shock at arriving in India. New Dehli felt alien but Kolkatta warmed me. Perhaps it was the 24-hour third class I took to Kolkatta that made me like anything by comparison. I grew to look fondly on the smog and the once white imperial buildings. The Sundarbans were by far my favourite place in India though, despite not seeing any tigers.
What has been your favourite journey?
I loved the train journeys through Eastern Europe. Despite often never having a seat and smushed into the rubbery bit between train carriages, I loved train travel and meeting local people. They barely spoke English and I spoke no Serbian but somehow we got along just fine. I have a very fond memory of chatting to a couple of Serbian guys on the way to Montenegro and falling asleep and waking up to find they had replaced one of my shoelaces with a blue ribbon. I never took it off.
What are your Top 5 places worldwide?
1. Isle of Man
2. Sarawak, Malaysia
3. Chengdu, China
4. Le Monal, France
5. Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Recommend a special place to stay
The Village House on the Santubong Peninsular, Sarawak.
Which three items do you always pack?
Chocolate - it never tastes the same abroad; flip-flops (these even make it into my bag when I'm going skiing) and thick socks for ultimate comfort on aeroplane journeys.
Which passport stamp are you proudest of?
I think the my Chinese visa is the prettiest.
Which passport stamp would you most like to have?
I always want European stamps, simply because I can't have them.
Where or what is your guilty travel pleasure?
Hareem pants (you can't get away with wearing them in the UK) and flip-flops.
Window or aisle?
Window - otherwise I end up falling asleep on some strangers shoulder. There's something about travel that makes me ever so sleepy.