Johannesburg - Munya Vomo chats to SA musical legend Yvonne Chaka Chaka about her travel higs and lows.
First holiday memory?
It was in Zimbabwe at the Victoria Falls. It was my first proper holiday with my then husband-to-be. It was in 1988.
Favourite place in SA?
KwaZulu-Natal. The water is warm and I love swimming in the sea, incognito. Cape Town’s sea is cold, so I can’t enjoy swimming there.
Best holiday?
Singapore. I love how they have beautiful flowers for a long drive from their airport. I am obsessed with flowers and so seeing them on either side of the road through to town was amazing. I also loved that it was clean.
What have you learnt from your travels?
We see faces and places and we learn to appreciate life and its diversity. I was in South Korea and I think they had never seen a black person like me with big boobs and a big bum and they were looking at me. I was also looking at them, wondering how they were walking because their eyes were shut. We laugh at each other’s differences and appreciate our diversity.
Ideal travelling companion?
It has to be with your soulmate. A person you can talk to and laugh about everything you experience. Not a person who is too serious.
Beach bum, culture vulture or adrenalin junkie?
I don’t do things like bungee jumping as I don’t want to break my bones. However I can do “safer” things like water rafting.
Greatest travel luxury?
I insist on first class or business class. When you are travelling long distance you have to be comfortable. You don’t want to arrive there with a sore back. I am usually travelling for business and when I get there I am ready for it.
Holiday reading?
I try to read. I am a slow reader, so it has to be something light that can make me laugh. I also love to sleep, so the reading has to put me to sleep!
Worst travel experience?
It was travelling from Cameroon to Kenya. Kenya Airways made a double booking and I ended up in economy. I was going to perform and I couldn’t postpone the trip.
Best hotel?
The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul, in South Korea. Everything was beautiful. South Korea is surrounded by water so it was scenic. The rooms too were fantastic – and I have stayed in a lot of hotels!
Favourite walk, swim, ride or drive?
I will go with walking because it’s healthy. You also see things better when you walk than when you are in a vehicle. You can even bump into interesting people.
Best meal abroad?
I have eaten everything. I enjoyed South Korean food, although I thought I would. Everything they make is in small portions and it’s not filling, but I loved it. They eat all these funny things raw and at first I didn’t know if I would manage it – however, I loved it. I loved sitting on the floor to eat, too.
Favourite city?
New York City. It has a lot of creative people who make me feel in my element. It really is a city that does not sleep.
Where next?
Iceland or Antarctica. I want to go where no one else dares to.
l South African music icon Yvonne Chaka Chaka recently celebrated her 50th birthday and 30 years in the industry.
Saturday Star