FREQUENT FLYER DIANA CARLILE
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday March 12, 2011
This walker has written a card series about her favourite trails. Q What's in your pack of walking cards?A A variety of seasonal nature walks around the city of Melbourne and its outer lying areas, within two hours' drive.Q Name your favourite walking trail.A Greens Bush on the Mornington Peninsula is a sheltered walk through a cool forest of eucalypts, bracken and ferns. I love it because of its unique atmosphere.Q Do you prefer walking solo or in a group?A I like walking in groups. You get to know the people and I've made lifelong friends from sharing about our lives and our interests on these ventures.Q Your favourite city?A It would have to be Melbourne where all my friends and family live around "bayside" with its iconic bathing boxes lining the beach. The city offers a variety of trails, while the diverse countryside around Port Phillip Bay is easily accessed in an hour or so.Q The strangest thing you've encountered on a trail?A On recent walks to Southwold in Britain, it was extraordinary to see snow on the roofs of the bathing boxes there that reminded me of home - without the snow, of course.Q What do you do when you land in a city?A I always seek organised walks around a city - you can quickly learn so much about its personality through its fabric of culture.Q What's in your hand luggage?A The essentials: hand cream, toothbrush and a copy of Lonely Planet.Q The best meal you've had abroad?A Overlooking the snow-capped Himalayas from Dharamsala, we enjoyed the best Indian vegetarian curry ever.Q Do you have a favourite hotel?A I tend to favour boutique hotels run by families. A favourite was the Bajaj Indian Home Stay in New Delhi.Q Best piece of travel advice given to you?A Take your good sense of humour with you.Interview by Jane ReddyDiana Carlile is the author of Walks in Nature: Melbourne cards (Explore, $24.95).
© 2011 Sydney Morning Herald
