My holidays: Emily Cooper

Emily Cooper's dream holiday spot is Japan.

Emily Cooper is a director of Silkbody, makers of compostable clothing.

What was your greatest holiday?
When we were kids our parents took us to the jungle in Sumatra. We floated down a river on tyre tubes, rode on the roof of a bus, saw orang-utans in the canopy and got leeches on our ankles. It was awesome.

And the worst?
Finding out that I was pregnant on the first day of a let's-have-one-last-youthful-party-trip holiday in Thailand with my husband. It was a memorable trip, it just ended up being very different to what we'd planned!

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?
Trawling a market or exploring the streets while anticipating dinner that evening. I'm not very good at lying around on beaches.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be?
A remote hut in Fiordland beside a lake with gourmet supplies and a well-stocked woodshed.

How about for a dream holiday internationally?
Japan with my husband and daughter. Sam and I worked in a Japanese restaurant and it's been on our list ever since. Food, gardens, fashion and architecture - a dream aesthetic experience. Could I have a yoga retreat stopover in Sri Lanka on the way back please?

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?
I performed a mime of an eagle flying for unimpressed Chinese customs officials, trying to explain the contents of a large box which contained a gift from the Silkbody factory. Needless to say, the wooden eagle was given its own seat on the plane.

Aisle seat or window seat?
Window - I'd rather be the climber than be climbed over.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without ...
my Silkbody clothing. It's lightweight and packs down to nothing, but is warm when needed. It looks smarter than cotton or merino and the simple styles can be dressed up or down. They are easily washed and quickly dried overnight - if you need to wash them at all; the fabric is naturally odour-resistant. I can wear the same Silkbody outfit on a trip from Dunedin to Europe with a humid stopover in Singapore and be comfortable the whole way.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given?
Dad always said to relax; whatever happens, it's all part of the adventure. Mum said to always carry water, snacks and a cardigan.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?
One of the best meals I've ever had was made for us by the Silkbody factory cook. River fish and local greens were cooked in broth on a charcoal stove. The food in China is always a highlight of a visit.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip?
I brought in an entire suitcase of about 30 vintage skirts. No holiday purchase has ever topped it.

Favourite airport to land at?
The one where my plane lands back in New Zealand. The best thing about going away is always coming home. We are so lucky to live in this country at the edge of the world.

What's the next trip you've got planned?
A camping holiday with our 5-year-old - it must include cooking on an open fire, preferably with some fish she has caught.

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