My holidays: Goran Paladin

Goran Paladin. Photo / Supplied

Our First Home host Goran Paladin shares his most memorable holiday moments.

What was your greatest holiday?

Croatia for two weeks in 2006. It was the best time of my life. I have Croatian heritage, but my father passed away when I was 4, so I grew up knowing very little about that side of the family. My favourite spot was Novi Vinodolski - a little fishing town on the coast, south of Rijeka. I had heard that was where the Paladins came from, and I managed to find what is effectively "Zdravko Paladin St", which is my dad's name. It wasn't much of a street - more like a dusty path - but it was an amazing experience for me.

And the worst?

To bring in the year 2000, I travelled to Goat Island with some of my closest mates for a camping trip. On the first night, I cooked sweet and sour pork for the entire gang. The next day I was the only one who got sick. It was awful.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?

Drinking cocktails and lying on a beach. Or, drinking beer and lying next to a pool. If I'm on holiday, I'm doing very little, but I'm always thirsty!

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?

I slept in (after a couple of "quiet" beverages) on the morning I was set to fly from Zagreb to Heathrow. Upon arrival at the airport, I booked the next flight to London. To this day, I don't know how much that flight cost. As I say, I was a tad foggy. Halfway through the flight I realised I'd booked a flight to Luton instead. When I arrived in the UK I had to take a ridiculously long bus ride to get from there to Fulham where I was staying. It was the longest day of my life.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?

Probably that sweet and sour pork!

What's the next trip you've got planned?

My great friends are getting married this August in Hawaii, so I'll be there to see it happen. But not before I fly to LA first. I'll be away for a month, and I can't wait.

Goran Paladin is the host of 'Our First Home' which screens Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays at 7.30pm on TV One.