KEY POINTS:
Do you travel light or heavy?
I like to travel light because there's nothing worse than lugging around a huge suitcase. My sister's way stronger than me though, so if I'm going somewhere with her I pack everything I own.
Cattle or first class?
No matter
how hard I try to get upgraded, I still haven't managed it, so cattle for now.
I can't travel without...
My passport. And toothpaste and a toothbrush on the plane.
What type of suitcase do you carry?
I found an old suitcase of my late grandfather's a few months ago and it has one of those named straps around it. So now when I'm overseas I'm known as Mr Jack Hindin, NZ.
What's always in your hand luggage?
Toothbrush, toothpaste, gum (see a pattern emerging here?), a book, pen and paper to jot down ideas, iPod, and camera and dictaphone just in case. You never know who you might come across.
Are you a planner or last minute packer?
I'm a thinker but a last minute packer. I visualise what I'm going to take but don't generally get around to it until the last moment. I finished packing, unpacking and repacking for my last trip an hour before I had to go to the airport. So not too last minute.
What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip?
Excitement and inspiration that hopefully lasts a while, clothes and shoes are always good - I got the most amazing navy corduroy jacket in Paris, but most importantly, bits of other languages. In France, no matter what goes wrong, you say c'est la crise (it's the crisis). Those three words got me out of plenty of trouble in Paris last time I was there.
Favourite or most exciting airport to land in?
Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. Everybody claps when you land!
Best travel tip?
Make an attempt to speak the local language wherever you go, no matter how badly, people will love you for it. Unless you're in France, but c'est la crise.
Most memorable trip?
My recent one to Paris was amazing: I was at the Paris Menswear shows and got to rub shoulders with Kanye, Karl Lagerfeld, Suzy Menkes, our own Tim Blanks, Carine Roitfeld and Alber Elbaz. Very exciting to be in the midst of such talented and successful people.
What do you do while on the plane?
My dad's a musician so when I'm flying I like to listen to lots of his music, it reminds me of home. Apart from that, I have a little routine where I watch one or two movies when the plane takes off, sleep, then watch one more movie before the plane lands. That seems to pass the time quickly. I'm still dreaming of the day when each plane has full internet access though, 12 hours is a long time to be out of touch with the world!
Isaac Hindin Miller is the writer and founder of isaaclikes.com
