Whole wide world her oyster

WORLD TRAVELLER: Michelle Bradshaw

WORLD TRAVELLER: Michelle Bradshaw

Published Nov 13, 2012

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Cape Town - Michelle Bradshaw is an actress and voice artist. She plays naive small-town blonde Lindsay in M-Net’s soap The Wild. She has worked in industrial theatre and international films, such as Hooded Angels, Berserker, Queen’s Messenger and US television series Scouts Safari, and more recently in Beaver Falls for the BBC (not yet released) and Crusoe for US television network NBC.

How widely have you travelled?

I have been incredibly lucky to have travelled extensively. I was born in England, grew up in the Bahamas and then moved to South Africa, where my mom married an Italian who takes us to Italy periodically. I have been all across America on a train, and to Sweden and Denmark. I did a six-week stint as a TV presenter in Hong Kong and in the Canary Islands. My parents spoilt me for my birthday and sent me to Dubai in December to a palace of a hotel. I’ve also had family holidays in the Comores and Maldives.

What has been your favourite overseas destination?

I have had two truly memorable trips. The first was to Sol Kerzner’s villa in Monte Carlo where I was utterly spoilt. The other ended just a few days ago. My father treated 27 of us to a few days’ cruise on the Zambezi Queen, on the Namibian side of the Chobe River. Sublime is an understatement.

Your worst experience on a holiday?

In Dar es Salaam when my then boyfriend and I flew in from the UK. Problem was, the UK advised me that I did not need a visa on a British passport. But the officers in Tanzania charged me my entire budget for the sojourn. I was rendered practically penniless and there was only one flight a week back to South Africa. We tipped the taxi driver who took us to the airport the last of our coins, only to find that the airport tax laws had changed since my original departure from South Africa and my fee had not been included in my ticket price. A benevolent South African woman kindly paid the equivalent of R120 for me and we were able to reimburse her in Joburg.

Your funniest experience?

I was running down the stairs for the Tube to get to Heathrow, when my overstuffed suitcase burst open, scattering my entire wardrobe all over the station steps.

What do you avoid during a holiday?

Tap water.

Best meal abroad?

A gargantuan pretzel on the Mississippi, a bowl of perfect al dente grape-shaped squid ink pasta in Sicily, and the most mind-blowing steak in Monaco.

Your favourite place for sundowners?

I watched a blue moon rise and the sun set simultaneously on New Year’s Eve, sipping a Tipo Tinto Rum cocktail on Guinjata Bay Inhambane, Mozambique.

What have you learnt from your travels?

To love my own company, and the discovery that I can be truly resourceful.

Ideal travelling companion?

Anyone with a massive sense of adventure.

Culture vulture or adrenalin junkie?

Bit of both. I’m thirsty for knowledge and like to get a sense of the place’s history. I also thrive on a bit of crazy.

Favourite drive?

Home to Harties (Magaliesberg). And when nine of us just drove up to Botswana and on to Zimbabwe.

Dream trip?

I would be excited to go to Guam, an island in the North Pacific. I’ll go anywhere any time – just give me half an hour to pack.

As a seasoned traveller, please share some tips.

I don’t think it’s necessary to take malaria tablets, they just make you feel awful and it’s apparently harder to detect the malaria should you contract it. And always go with a half-empty suitcase.

Where next?

I’m seriously considering Indonesia. - Weekend Argus

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