My Holidays: Mike Lane of The Alternative Commentary Collective

Hauraki head of content, Mike Lane with his wife Anna, in Oman.

Mike Lane is part of The Alternative Commentary Collective.

What was your greatest holiday? Wadi Bashing in Oman. I lived in the UAE with my wife for a while and, with the Oman border just 45 minutes away, many weekends were spent four-wheel driving through the wadis, which are dry river beds/canyons, and just parking up, pitching a tent and camping in the middle of some of the most stunning landscape in the world. The people of Oman are really amazing — friendly and inquisitive without the hang-ups of many other Middle Eastern countries.

And the worst? I once took a bus from London to Pamplona in Spain. It took 27 hours, 10 more than normal due to the driver taking a wrong turn and ending up in the middle of Paris ... slightly off track! The toilets overflowed (which the driver dumped on the Paris ring road), the bus stank and we had drunk way too much.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing? Trying to negotiate someone to look after my three kids so I can go on a fishing charter.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be? Great Barrier Island. Isolated, intriguing locals and amazing fishing
How about for a dream holiday internationally? South of France. I backpacked around there as a 19-year-old with little money and a small taste for wine consumption so dream of going back with a little more budget and a greater thirst and appreciation for vino.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling? Well there are quite a few.

Stag-do weekend in Slovenia: due to a breakdancing incident where my handstand collapsed, I pretty much grated my face across the nylon carpet, which resulted in a
significant carpet burn on one side of my face.

This would have been fine if I wasn't starting a new job in London on the Monday. I arrived into the office with a weeping red wound. I tried to lie, but in the end coughed up the truth and was given a standing ovation.

Aisle seat or window seat? Window — so I can pass out against something solid and it's easier to clean the dribble off the wall than a fellow passenger.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without ... MyPakage undies, the Wonderbra for men's downstairs. So comforting and supportive.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given? If you get caught with it, swallow it. Plus, you can always buy anything you have forgotten at your destination. So chill out.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling? The food experiences in the Middle East are next level — Lebanese food and hosting is something else.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip? My wife and I brought a container of "stuff" back from the Middle East — some of which we loved. Most of which we threw in a skip bin while repeatedly saying "what were we thinking".

Favourite airport to land at? London Heathrow — always the start of an adventure.

What's the next trip you've got planned? Singapore for my birthday. Hopefully.

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