AFRICA MELANE
Weekend Breakfast host on 702 and CapeTalk radio
HOW OFTEN DO YOU TRAVEL?
I have been lucky enough to travel overseas at least once a year for the past five years or so.
I think that everyone should explore as much of the world as you can when you can afford to do so.
YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF TRAVELLING ABROAD?
My first trip abroad was to Sydney, Australia, about nine years ago. It was a working trip and my colleague and I spent eight days walking the streets of Sydney while we were listening to talk radio. We dined at some extraordinary restaurants in the evenings.
WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR A PERFECT HOLIDAY?
I am a city slicker. I enjoy being surrounded
by many people from all corners of the world. I love theatres, galleries, monuments, parks and good food, of course.
A good shower and a vibrant city are all that I need for a perfect holiday.
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?
The Big Apple. There is no other city like it in the world.
BEST HOLIDAY EVER?
It has to be my most recent trip abroad. We happened to be in Amsterdam in the middle of their dance festival, which was a riot.
We took the train to Paris for a day (and I will have to spend a few more days at least in this city on my next trip abroad), then we flew across the Atlantic to New York City. What a treat!
We saw Jay Z, Beyoncé, Nikki Minaj and many more on the same stage in Brooklyn, marvelled at the contribution of American artists at the newly opened Whitney Museum of American Art in the Meatpacking District, and then saw theatre legends James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson on Broadway. It was the best trip ever.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST RELAXING DESTINATION?
Paternoster on the West Coast. It was a weekend trip outside of peak season. I packed books and magazines and I left my phone back in Cape Town. Walking on the beach at sunset is an experience good for your soul.
FAVOURITE RESTAURANT?
I have a few. Chefs Warehouse & Canteen, La Mouette, The Test Kitchen and Pot Luck Club in Cape Town. I absolutely loved the dining experience at Longrain in Sydney. And I had an exceptional time at The Supper Club in Amsterdam. NYC has far too many to mention. What I would recommend, though, is that you explore some of the cuisine offered by the food trucks in New York, particularly those on Wall Street.
FAVOURITE CITY?
Can I pick two? Cape Town and the Big Apple.
MOST ADVENTUROUS TRAVEL EXPERIENCE?
A road trip to KwaZulu-Natal with my two brothers and a friend. The Wild Coast is still one of the best experiences you can have in South Africa. It took us a few days to get to Durban, and we have memories that will never be erased from our minds. That was a good trip.
FAVOURITE HOTEL?
I generally use airbnb.com when I travel. So my favourite hotel is a unique experience I had at Villa Zest Boutique Hotel in Cape Town.
BEST PIECE OF TRAVEL ADVICE?
While it is good to have a plan when you travel, always allow yourself time to be surprised by your destination.
WHAT’S YOUR ONE TRAVEL ESSENTIAL?
I have to pack a good pair of walking shoes as I walk for kilometres whenever I explore a new destination. — Andrew Unsworth