What I Pack: Mark Southon

Foodstore co-executive chef Mark Southon. Photo / Supplied

Do you travel light or heavy?

Light.

I can't travel without...

A cookbook.

What's always in your hand luggage?

I don't take hand luggage, just a magazine.

Are you a planner or last minute packer?

I'd love to be a planner but I always end up packing at 2am for a 4am flight, but you get your best ideas last-minute.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip?

A Ninja sword from Spain, or a blank firing pistol from Germany that I almost got arrested for.

Favourite or most exciting airport to land in?

Bangkok, it's amazing, so huge and full of shops and different places to eat...

Best packing tip?

Always take your passport and don't let your Mrs wash it.

Most memorable trip?

I met up with my parents in Cambodia and travelled around Burma for three weeks. It gave me a whole new view of the world; it is such an amazingly different part of the world. It was a whole new culture, everything was new to me.

What do you do while on the plane?

I watch every movie I possibly can and only sleep for about half an hour.

* Mark Southon is co-executive chef of The Foodstore and co-host of the first Monteith's Wild Food television show due to air later this year.