Mark Berryman

When I’m, not at work or travelling I’m…

Picking up the thousands of loom bands that my children scatter all over the house.

If I wasn’t working for Travel Nation I would be…

Attending sporting events all over the world.

On my RTW trip I spent longer than expected in:

Australia – there was plenty of work, loads to see and it was just too good to leave on time.

Which place exceeded your expectations on your travels and why?

South Africa – I wasn’t fully prepared for how naturally beautiful the country is, both inland and on the coast. The natural beauty contrasts sharply with what has happened there politically over many, many decades. I find the country fascinating and brilliant to travel in, and for those reasons, I have been 5 times.

When staying in a hotel room for more than one night do you a) Unpack your bags or b) Live from your rucksack?

Unpack – made easier by always trying to travel very light.

What was your first great travel experience?

The first one I don’t remember as it was visiting Niagara Falls when I was 18 months old – I have no doubt it was awesome though! The one that I do remember is back-packing for the first time, arriving in South Africa & suddenly having complete freedom to go with the flow. It ended up being a huge and rewarding adventure taking in some amazing sights.

What are your top 3 places in the world?

Any number of safari destinations in Africa – game drives never cease to amaze.

Cape Town and the surrounding area

New Zealand – full of the most amazing scenery and a truly brilliant place to travel.

What is your favourite hotel, why and where is it?

La Maison Arabe in Marrakech – located right in the heart of Marrakech it is a luxurious Riad, with great service and a fantastic restaurant serving local cuisine (they offer a cookery course if you have enough time). What I love about it though is that, despite its location, it is the calmest place imaginable, which is in stark contrast with the general mayhem of Marrakech.

Which is your favourite beach, where is it and why?

It could be one of several in the Whitsunday Islands. On a 3 or 4-day sailing trip you are totally spoilt for choice.

Do you have any ‘pet hates’ whilst travelling?

Walking through the business class cabin en route to economy.

Where/what would you really like to visit?

Alaska.

What is the weirdest thing you have eaten whilst abroad?

The Carnivore restaurant in Nairobi serves all sorts of meats including crocodile & zebra. From memory, it was all delicious. The food in local Vietnamese restaurants was excellent, although to this day I couldn’t tell you what was on the menu.

What’s the best/worst thing you’ve eaten on your travels?

The best meals would be in Goa where, because of a very knowledgeable local contact, we were taken to some very off the beaten track restaurants and treated to traditional local cuisine.

Have you ever worked abroad?

Picking lettuces and planting leeks in Australia – back-breaking work but reasonably well paid in backpacking terms, so at the time it was well worth doing to fund the next few months of travel.

Have you experienced culture-shock, if so where/where was the place you found to be most different from home?

Malawi – a brilliant experience provided you have the patience of a saint – nothing happens quickly!

Where is the most depressing place you’ve found yourself?

In terms of socially depressing, I would cite any number of African countries I have visited where poverty is such a massive issue.

For a one-off “down” moment it would be Los Angeles Airport, on a full day transit en route to the UK, at the end of a several month adventure with no money left. Reality kicks in sharpish. The flip side was getting back home to friends and family which is always a great feeling.

What’s the funniest/strangest thing that’s happened to you abroad?

Not really funny or strange but I bought an ancient Dodge “ute” in Australia for about $400 – it was an absolute wreck. Somehow it made it all the way up the East Coast from Sydney, beyond Cairns up to the Daintree National Park, before heading across to Ayers Rock and finally limping into Adelaide where it died. As it got me through so much of Australia I still look back on it as being the bargain of the century.

If you had just 24 hours in a big city which one would it be?

New York.

What’s the best party you have been to whilst travelling?

The Hong Kong rugby 7’s (it’s a non-stop 3-day party).

What do you miss most from home whilst you are away?

If I’m travelling alone it’s my children. If we are on a family holiday we do slightly miss the guinea pigs!