David Talbot

Seems crazy really: I’ve been to Brittany, Normandy, Pays de Loire, Limousin but never Paris.

I met a French girl when I was eighteen and even spent Christmas in Limousin – she taught me much of the French I know now. Ever since then I’ve been a bit of a Francophile. I just find it incredible that I’ve never been to Paris. I guess it’s up there as a romantic city – a place to take someone special. I’ve someone in mind so it could be a good time to see whether she’d be up for it, ha!

Was there in ’91 for a day whilst staying in Toronto. Never been anywhere with such a feeling of raw power – surrounding all of us. Made getting soaked to the marrow more than worthwhile.

Only here on a stopover to India but the place looked incredible – just to watch the airport appear out of so much desert was phenomenal.

Would love to go back and spend more than four hours there in an airport!

Have been to Majorca and Ibiza but never Barcelona and have heard so many good things. One for when I get a bit of cash to spare!

I love most things Japanese and even started learning hiragana, katakana and some basic phrases but reckon I’d have to go there to really appreciate the place!

I spent four years studying in Edinburgh: the first year was dream-like, it really felt like living in DisneyLand. Utterly beautiful. Being Scottish, I didn’t mind the cold too much either!

You really have to visit this city if you possibly can. Something for everyone: if you’re on a budget just take in the views!

My dad’s an archaeologist who used to work on the island and I’ve many fond memories of swimming and snorkelling and walking in the Troodos Mountains.

It’s been 15 years since I’ve been there though – I really hope it hasn’t become too commercialised or spoilt.

I was born and raised here. Left went I was 12 but revisit whenever I can. Love the people.

I went here in 1988, so this is slightly out of date, but I had a great time. I was 14, fell in love with a girl I borrowed a bike off for the day: one of those bikes with no brakes – you peddle the wrong way to brake(?!) I’d gone with a choir – we sang all around Denmark and I had nothing but good experiences of the place and was even then humbled by the amount of English that most everyone spoke. The one downer was getting my wallet stolen at LegoLand. Oh, “Bog Handle” means “Book Shop” in Danish. I found this hilarious at the time and, to be honest, still do ;o)

I arrived in Coral Bay late August 2004 after an 18 hour drive from Perth (which in turn had been preceded by an 18 flight from London). So I was fairly shattered when I got there but it was just so… perfect. In saying this, the trip up to Coral Bay was fairly spectacular: crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, dodging ‘roos(!). Words fail me to be honest but it’s worth mentioning that the locals had just won a fight to stop a hotel from being built in the area and destroying much of what made the place so special. I felt really proud for them – sticking one to The Man.

Six of us stayed in a house near the shore complete with coin-operated barbecues and dived and snorkelled in the Ningaloo Reef nearby. We were only there for a few days but in that time we dived with sharks and turtles and swam with a manta ray. There was a great bar on the beach – I forget the name and the beer wasn’t too cheap but then I’m British and most anywhere outside of Japan is cheap in comparison!

Hell, this is a beautiful place to visit. Dive if you can, swim with whale sharks, fish, watch the starts at night, drink with friends, barbecue a day’s catch, enjoy it.