My travel life: TV journalist Ray Martin's travel tips and experiences

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This was published 4 years ago

My travel life: TV journalist Ray Martin's travel tips and experiences

By Sue Williams
Updated
Ray Martin.

Ray Martin.

THE TRAVELLER

Ray Martin, TV journalist, entertainment star and five-time Gold Logie-winner, is now back in a part-time role on 60 Minutes, and about to host the photography conference Aperture Australia, featuring six industry legends in Sydney on June 22-23. See apertureaustralia.com.au

NUMBER OF COUNTRIES VISITED At least 100.

ANY PASSPORT MISHAPS?

I once lost my passport in London. I was changing some money at Gatwick Airport and left it at the counter and didn't notice that it was missing for a week. I immediately began the process for getting a new one then discovered that someone had handed it into lost property. I was always so careful with my passport, except that once.

I GOT MY FIRST PASSPORT WHEN I WAS

23 years old in 1968 and going to Indonesia and Uganda for the ABC.

MY PASSPORT PHOTO IS

Getting progressively worse as I get older. But then again, I've never seen a good one except perhaps for Jana's [Wendt].

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I CAN'T STOP GOING BACK TO

New York. I lived there for 10 years and [my wife] Di and I both love it. When we first went in 1969 it was a pretty dangerous and violent place with 22­00 murders a year but we just fell in love with it.

MY LAST TRAVEL DESTINATION WAS

Bhutan for 10 days in January. It's always been on my bucket list, I was trying out a new camera and, even better, I didn't have to pay for the trip.

MY NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION IS...

Kununurra in the Kimberley which is probably my favourite part of Australia. I'm going there to make a documentary on Keith Payne VC, Australia's oldest living Victoria Cross recipient. It's such a wild and wonderful place.

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO

Taking some great photos­­­. I'm becoming obsessive about photography. I've been taking photos for 50 years but I've only come out of the closet about being such a keen photographer in the last 10.

WHAT I REALLY WANT FROM MY NEXT TRIP IS

The perfect photo.

I LOVE TO TRAVEL BECAUSE

I'm curious. I'm the world's best tourist because I'm keen to go anywhere, as long as I have a camera with me – even places I've been to many times before. I'm always happy going down to Sydney's harbour front, for instance, to take photos.

MY TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY IS

Travel business class. I've spent most of my life down the back of the plane and it can be painful, especially when you make stops or have plane delays. Being closer to the front makes it more acceptable. Otherwise, I believe in just sucking it up and remembering it's going to be fun when you get there.

THE ONE TRAVEL MISTAKE I ALWAYS MAKE IS

Not sleeping on the plane. I always take a pile of magazines, maybe a book and my computer and end up reading all the time. When I arrive, I always think, I wish I'd slept.

THE ONE THING I REALLY DO GET RIGHT WHEN I TRAVEL IS

Taking my camera with me. I always have a window seat when I book the flight early enough, and even take photos on the plane. I've sold some of those too, in an exhibition and in a book.

IF I HAD TO SIT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT THE OTHER PASSENGERS I'D WANT ON EITHER SIDE OF ME WOULD BE

David Attenborough, who I've spent a lot of time with, having done more than 30 shows with him. He's entertaining, wise, likes a drink and is just good company. On the other side, I'd like [the late music director, composer and Midday Show regular] Geoff Harvey who was always so funny and silly and would make me laugh constantly.

THE ONE FAMOUS TRAVELLER I REALLY ADMIRE IS

Richard Branson. From space shops to commercial planes, he's had a go. Also, Captain Cook. I can't believe he went to the dark side of the moon and came back a couple of times. As a traveller, he was astonishing.

THE ONE FAMOUS PERSON I'D LIKE TO TRAVEL WITH IS

Charles Dickens. I think he would be a marvellous raconteur.

AIRLINE FOOD IS

generally bland.

HOTELS ARE

OK, as long as the linen's clean and the shower works. I don't need many comforts. I always remember London in the early days when I'd ask for a room on the lower floors as the water pressure in the shower was always better.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO

Siberia. I think it must be extraordinary, and just think of the photos! I imagine it's big and wild and beautiful, like our own outback.

I'VE NEVER WANTED TO GO TO

nowhere. I'd like to go everywhere.

AISLE OR WINDOW?

It's got to be the window. I start to get claustrophobic if I'm not able to look out of the window and take photographs.

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