This was published 4 years ago
My travel life: Tracey Holmes, SBS host of 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
Tracey Holmes is an explorer at heart.
Tracey Holmes, journalist, SBS host for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, ABC News Radio presenter and host of The Ticket on Sundays.
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES VISITED
48, and lived in six and worked in 35
ANY PASSPORT MISHAPS?
I had my passport stolen in China and could not convince the Chinese security guard at the Australian embassy that I was, in fact, Australian and I needed to get in to apply for a new passport. Another time, I left my husband's and my passports on the back seat of a cab in Shanghai along with our plane tickets and my wallet, including credit cards. And I once placed our youngest son's passport in the check-in luggage when flying back to Australia from China.
I GOT MY FIRST PASSPORT when I was three. My surfing mum and dad decided we'd move to South Africa because the surf was so good there.
I CAN'T STOP GOING BACK TO Shek O, a little fishing village surrounded by national park in Hong Kong. We lived there when the kids were little. It is a ramshackle, authentic, eclectic place where we made many friends, both local and itinerant.
MY LAST TRAVEL DESTINATION WAS Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the Youth Olympic Games where I am mentor for the International Olympic Committee's Young Reporter program. I sayed there almost a month.
MY NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION IS Paris, France, to hopefully watch the Matildas win the World Cup in July – one night only!
I LOVE TO TRAVEL BECAUSE I am an explorer at heart. I love the sensation of being in a foreign place with new sights, sounds and aromas. I like to learn about the place and the people.
MY TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY IS you can never take enough shoes and then when you get there you can buy even more.
THE ONE TRAVEL MISTAKE I ALWAYS MAKE IS taking too many shoes.
THE ONE THING I REALLY DO GET RIGHT IS a relaxed state of mind.
IF I HAD TO SIT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT THE OTHER PASSENGERS I'D WANT ON EITHER SIDE OF ME WOULD BE … can I have the middle of the plane please with four seats? I would choose Buddha, Mohammed and Jesus. I'd like to know what they think of the world now and to find out what they'd be tweeting or sharing on Facebook.
THE ONE FAMOUS TRAVELLER I REALLY ADMIRE IS Admiral Zhang, who travelled far and wide during the late 1300s and early 1400s taking cuisines, languages and religions back to China. It is said he also travelled along the north and eastern coast of Australia. I learnt about him while living in China and was then amazed to see a replica of his boat in a shopping centre when I moved to Dubai.
THE ONE FAMOUS PERSON I'D LIKE TO TRAVEL WITH IS you got me. No idea. Any takers?
AIRLINE FOOD IS great. I actually love it. It's delivered to my seat, I don't need to do anything or wash the dishes.
AIRPORT SECURITY IS not random ... EVERY time I travel I get the extra treatment.
HOTELS ARE generally boring.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO outer space. But can't afford it.
I'VE NEVER WANTED TO GO TO nowhere. I'd like to go everywhere.
AISLE OR WINDOW?
Aisle every time. I love being in the sky. I have more photos of clouds than anybody, including my nephew who inherited the same desire to permanently float in the clouds.
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