Miranda

Favourite places

Silly question, anywhere in India, but central India is my most favourite when in the jungle away from big cities, then again I love Rajasthan too, the colour, the noise, the smells, just the vibe and excitement. Venice, getting lost in the city is the best way to see it. Verbier – après ski in the Farinet.  Bhutan, the long trek up to Tigers Nest is totally worth it, it is one of the most rewarding treks I have done.

Travel things I want to do before I die

There are too many things, but I have a long list of animals that is only getting longer that I want to see before I die.   Go to the jungles in Borneo to see the Orang-utans, Ladakh in search of a snow leopard, Jaguar’s in Brazil, Panda’s in China the list goes on and on.   I am also longing to explore South East Asia, and someday want to get to Australia, when I have the time to do it properly.

Best moments

Seeing a tiger in the wild for the first time, made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and shivers down my spine, following wolves outside Kipling Camp in Central India. Coming almost face to face with a bull elephant when on a walking safari in Zambia, a serious adrenaline rush. A do it yourself safari in Botswana for my fathers 60^th, camping in the national parks, we didn’t see any other vehicles for days, it was incredible, we saw so much game. Reeling in the Wieliczka salt mines in Krakow – amazing. Flying into Bhutan – the most scenic flight in the world, with a running commentary from the pilot as you fly past Mt Everest, landing in a small valley you feel like the wings are about to touch the valley sides.

Worst moments

Getting so ill in India and having to be admitted to hospital for 3 nights, not fun, although very clean, it isn’t the place to be as a girl on your own. Walking in Gavi National park in Kerala and being told by our guide 2 things to do if we came across wild elephant, 1. not to fight them. 2. to run, I wasn’t filled with confidence after this and then the leeches were an added irritation, even though we were wearing leach socks they still managed to get in.

Strangest trip

Leaving the jungle after 5 months of having being so protected and pitching up in Varanasi – a serious assault on the senses, a fascinating city, but completely chaotic and extraordinary after the seclusion of having been in the middle of nowhere for months.