Offbeat Guides Writer Interview – Lauren Locke-Paddon
July 23rd, 2009 by Zain Iqbal
In the next of our series of writer interviews, Lauren dives in and talks to us about fending off dogs, veggie thali, and how she was inspired to travel on her first trip to Europe.
- First trip overseas?
I was invited to visit my friend’s family in the Netherlands when I was 16, and we arranged to take the train to visit a friend that was studying abroad in Spain. On the way to Barcelona, we “accidentally” ended up in Paris for a night, without a guide-book or even a “si-vous-plait” to our name. It was the beginning of the end in terms of inspiring future adventures. - Where are you off to next?
The American road trip. I’m ready for some culture-shock, USA-style. - Best offbeat souvenir?
Two steel bike bells from India made to the specifications of a 1950s design. - Longest plane delay?
I was traveling in Venezuela with my family. After rushing to the Caracas airport in a taxi (which had a damaged floorboard that allowed a substantial amount of light to come through), our flight was delayed 6 hours. Which wasn’t so bad in itself, except that the delay meant that we arrived to our Puerto Ordaz at an ungodly hour without a hotel reservation. Luckily, after finding two hotels full, negotiating with shirtless hotel proprietors, and fending off intimidating Rottweilers, we found a place to stay. - Food you would fly for?
Shree Sabaree’s in Madurai, India for the thali and three cups of coffee afterwards. - What do you collect when you travel?
I love finding old, used things when I travel as much as I do at home. I attempt to go small (my general rule for backpacking is that I shouldn’t be hauling around anything that I’ll have to check on the plane). But through an advanced technique of stuffing-everything-in-a-Ziploc-bag-and-pushing-really-hard I managed to bring home an astonishing amount of colorful stuff from India including seven saris and one sequined turquoise dress.
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