Johannesburg - Jack Parow is a popular singer and entertainer. Here he chats about his best and worst holiday memories.
First holiday memory?
My grandparents had a holiday home in Arniston, so that is definitely my first holiday memory, spending holidays there. They had the first TV in Arniston, it was the size of a car and the screen was the size of a cellphone. Haha! But every day my parents would pack out chairs and everyone would come from town and sit and watch Dallas or whatever. Crazy. So, I just remember always having people around and fun and being at the beach and my dad dressing as Father Christmas. Fun things like that.
Favourite place in South Africa?
There are so many. Arniston, Hermanus, Prince Albert, the Kruger, Cederberg… the list goes on and on, our country is so amazing.
Best holiday?
Once again, it depends on the time of year. I also get to tour abroad a lot, so I get to see crazy places and I love the East. We have been to Vietnam, Bali, Thailand etc. But I feel people are so eager to travel far when we have such amazing places inside our country or right on our doorstep such as the places I mentioned above or Mozambique, Transkei, Botswana, Zimbabwe, etc.
What have you learnt from your travels?
Travel should be relaxing, but most of the time it isn’t and it’s actually hard work to make it relaxing, so concentrate on that, concentrate on keeping calm and enjoying what’s happening, because you can stress yourself out so easily over nothing.
Ideal travelling companion?
My family and friends, but I’m sure that’s what everyone would say.
Beach bum, culture vulture or adrenalin junkie?
Beach bum.
Greatest travel luxury?
My PlayStation Vita and my wireless Skullcandy earphones… they make the boring parts of the trip, such as flights, just that much quicker and more bearable.
Holiday reading?
I read a lot of comics and The Walking Dead is top of my list and then I’ve just got the Sugarman book, so I think that should be the one for this summer.
Which place has seduced you?
Prince Albert. That place has a way of making you want to turn around as soon as you drive away.
Worst travel experience?
Touch wood, but I’ve been lucky enough to have had smooth sailing most of the time. I travel a lot, so it’s inevitable to have a bad flight or a terrible guest house or hotel now and then, but it’s never been that bad because as I sit here I can’t think of one. Haha!
Best hotel?
Tsogo Suns are always amazing and I always look for them first when planning a trip. The Elangeni in Durban is amazing, the Palazzo or Milpark in Jozi, Garden Court Mossel Bay – actually, I’ve stayed in almost all the Tsogo Suns nationwide and they are all great!
Favourite walk, swim, ride or drive?
Drive… but I’ve just got a Harley… so maybe ride from now on.
Best meal abroad?
The food in Vietnam was amazing. So healthy and just overall fresh and good.
Favourite city?
Cape Town… haha… and second Amsterdam. I get to go there two or three times a year on tour so I have it down now and that makes it even more fun!
Where to next?
December tour, so beach, beach, beach!
And then I’m doing Dubai, London, Holland and Belgium next year and a bit of a holiday in between to visit some friends in Mexico and the States.
Saturday Star