VIETNAM VIETNAM
Johannesburg - Derek Hanekom, minister of tourism, chats about his best and worst holiday memories.
First holiday memory?
I was about 12 years old. My whole family stayed in a chalet on the lagoon in Knysna.
Favourite place in South Africa?
As minister of tourism, I’m hesitant to publicly identify a single favourite place! However, because of those childhood memories, Knysna still stands out as one of my super places.
I also love fishing villages, rugged mountain getaways such as the Cederberg and the wildlife experience.
Best holiday?
My wife and I went to Zanzibar about 10 years ago. Snorkelling, discovering Stone Town … it was a fantastic time.
What have you learnt from your travels?
I left South Africa at 19 with the intention of travelling for six months, but ended up travelling (and working) for 2½ years. I hardly did anything “touristy”. Seeing spectacular places is wonderful, but experiencing cultures and practices – connecting with people from ground level – is something else. The real value of travel, for me, is crossing the artificial barriers between people.
Ideal travelling companion?
I could start fantasising but, in reality, my wife and I like the same things. We like the same food, we like to go for walks, and see and absorb as much of a place as possible.
Beach bum, culture vulture or adrenalin junkie?
Deep down inside, I’ll always be a beach bum. The hippy in me has never disappeared.
Greatest travel luxury?
The first thing that comes to mind is a couple of days spent with an old school friend who has this fabulous place called Grootbos in Gansbaai. We went to the Singita Private Game reserve. Sheer beauty, sheer luxury.
Holiday reading?
I don’t read much on holidays other than reading up on the places I’m visiting.
Which place has seduced you?
It took many years of travelling to get there, but Paris completely seduced me and my wife. I like old European towns, but the coffee shops and alleys of Paris were enrapturing. Another seductive place was Samarkand on the Silk Road in Uzbekistan. Oh, yes, also Istanbul.
Worst travel experience?
None really. I’ve had niggles here and there but you just take them in and move on. Travel is what you make of it.
Best hotel?
I don’t recall the name, but we had a weekend in a tiny, narrow lane in the Arab Quarter of Cairo. Everyone warned us against going there, but it was cosy, inexpensive and exquisite.
Favourite walk, swim, ride or drive?
Walk… not that I don’t like the others!
Best meal abroad?
Again I can’t remember the name, but it was probably the little Italian restaurant we visited after the last ITB travel trade show in Berlin. Locally, I feel that every sushi meal I have at Willoughby’s in Cape Town is the best meal ever.
Favourite city?
Outside South Africa, it’s a toss-up between Barcelona and Istanbul.
Where to next?
For business, Saudi Arabia. On holiday? It’s between Vietnam and Cuba.
l Hanekom is the Minister of Tourism.
Saturday Star