The world according to Spiracle
Mountain/Desert/Ocean/Jungle... which one are you?
I've dreamed of the jungle since I was a very young girl, immersing myself under imaginary canopies, lush green vegetation and my ears ringing from birdsong and howling monkeys.
What was your first great travel experience?
My month spent in North Vietnam, aged 21. It was my first time out of Europe and I went alone so it was a real adventure! A great deal of that trip I was cold, tired, hungry, sick, damp and fed up but I wouldn't change those memories for they've provided some wonderful stories.
What has been your favourite journey?
My first ever ride on the back of a motorbike, clinging to a local as we swerved and skidded around the dusty mountain paths from Cat Cat village at sunset.
Which three items do you always pack?
1. Face-wipes deal with a multitude of circumstances. Let's just say they're not only applicable to the face.
2. Camera. I would be devastated to visit incredible places and have nothing other than my marbles to capture it. Plus, my scrapbook would be a shadow of itself without them - there are only so many train tickets people can feign interest in.
3. Headscarves. Having long hair can be a nuisance when travelling, particularly in hot countries or when you're getting your hands dirty. I usua
Which passport stamp are you proudest of?
Vietnam. Why, you ask? Apart from my stopover stamp from Singapore, it's the only one I've got!
Which passport stamp would you most like to have?
I'd like to have passport stamps for the places I've already been but didn't get stamped, purely for the sake of satisfaction. However, for somewhere I've never been, it would probably be Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Where or what is your guilty travel pleasure?
Tea. It makes everything better. An hour's wait until the next train? Have a cup of tea. Got cold and soggy on that walk back to the tent? Have a cup of tea. Woke up with a banging headache after sampling the local cocktail culture? Have a cup of tea. You know it makes sense!
Window or aisle?
I much prefer to be by the window, whichever mode of transport I'm using. I find that watching the world move past through a window allows the mind to unwind and wander freely; it really is the best seat if you want to crack on with some serious daydreaming.