My Holidays: Trygve Wakenshaw

What was your greatest holiday?

When I met the love of my life in Bali. I went away to be alone and happy, I took freediving lessons, I climbed Mount Rinjani on Lombok, spent two weeks sitting on a beach reading and swimming, and as I was bracing myself to go back to the real world I started attending lots of yoga classes. I thought, if I can keep this serenity in my soul I will live a happy life. The next thing I knew I was in an acro-yoga workshop with my feet in the air and the most beautiful Swede I'd ever met balancing on them. Three years later and we are married with a 1-year-old son, still practising yoga, still travelling the world, still as in love as we have always been.

And the worst? A year later we returned to Bali for a romantic two weeks between tours. We decided it would be fun to do a detox and cleanse together. We spent three days feeling weak and unable to feel joy, taking turns to leave the apartment we'd rented while the other gave themselves an enema twice a day on the cold tiles of the bathroom floor. We crumbled on day three and gorged ourselves on every delicious plant-based meal we could get our hands on, probably the equivalent of three days of meals we didn't eat. Now I think about it, it was an excellent holiday.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?
I'll probably be doing yoga most mornings somewhere or other. But if you want a sleep in and are trying to bump into me later in the day it will be strolling happily and aimlessly near nature; rivers, forests and beaches. I'm not really a markets, shopping, nightlife kinda tourist. I'm lazy and I like trees.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be? Home. Take me back to the Hawke's Bay in the summertime. Take me for walks around Te Mata peak. Strolls and chips on the Napier boardwalk. Trips to the gannets, and splashing around in the Tukituki river. Coffees under art deco awnings. Throwing popcorn in the cinema in Hastings. And, most importantly, collecting oranges and avoiding prickles in my mums backyard.

How about for a dream holiday internationally?
Nepal! I would love to spend a month in the mountains.
What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling? I got "ripped off" while in Bali. I think I spent the equivalent of $5 on a bag of mangosteen. I had a moment of feeling hard done by, then I realised two things; 1, I'm incredibly well off compared to the fruit vendor, and 2, That's probably what I'd be charged in a supermarket back home anyway. I chilled out after that and bought a handwoven sari.

Aisle seat or window seat?
Window seat. good for views on the short trips, and a wall to sleep against on the long trips (plus, with long legs I'm excellent at climbing over people)

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without ... Packing at the last minute. I've tried to pack the day before, many times. Sensible people will tell you that is how you should pack, so you don't forget anything, but I find it too stressful to have every possible weather condition and event thought over. If I forget something I forget it, it's less of a problem than overpacking.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given? When travelling with a baby, breastfeed on take-off and landing, that way their ears won't hurt as they are constantly swallowing and equalising.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling? Vegan deep-fried chicken and gravy on waffles, at a place called Donut Farm in Oakland California. Their donuts are incredible too. It's kind of on a suburban street with not much around it. I went there with my wife directly after we wed. It was the meal that started our honeymoon.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip? A wife. We travelled to the USA for two weeks as expectant parents and partners, and returned to the UK as expectant husband and wife.

Favourite airport at which to land?
All international airports look the same these days. I love landing in any little domestic airports. Napier airport is lovely, and the view coming in is great. In South Korea, I landed in Incheon International, then missed my connection to Busan so had to taxi to Gimpo Airport. I was the only white guy there. I felt so out of place, but also like I got to see a different version of life in Korea than the one that I saw advertised on the walls of Incheon.

What's the next trip you've got planned?
We're off to Beijing for Christmas! Not the most conventional Christmas destination, but we're not the most conventional family.