I have my parents to thank for my love of travel. Intrepid travel stories from my father's childhood spent in the middle and far east fostered a desire to explore other cultures and we are lucky enough to have travelled to some incredible destinations as a family — Brazil, Sri Lanka and the Cayman Islands to name a few.
Since then, I have developed a love for solo travel — particularly to the Middle East and North Africa. Recent travel experiences have included marvelling at the 15th century city of Diriyah in Saudi Arabia, feeding Barbary macaques in the Atlas Mountains, eating balik ekmek next to the Galata Bridge in Istanbul, and diving with manta rays on Egypt's Red Sea coast.
Alongside the captivating Islamic architecture and mouthwatering food, it's the unrivalled hospitality and kindness that keeps me coming back for more. I'm excited to share my passion with all of those looking to explore this magical part of the world.
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Q&A with Salome
What's your most vivid travel moment?
Definitely scuba diving in the Red Sea in El Quseir, Egypt. While I have dived in the Red Sea before, I was blown away by the plethora of colour and life. I had always dreamed of encountering an octopus but had never managed to thanks to their elusive nature. However, a few minutes into my first dive I was overjoyed to find one sharing a rock with his neighbour Heinz, the reef's resident moray eel. Thank goodness I wasn’t put off the experience after I discovered a live cockroach crawling around in my scuba boot.
Which book, film or artwork captures Egypt the most?
Outside of Audley, I'm training to be an operatic soprano, so the obvious choice for me would be G.F. Handel's Guilio Cesare. Set against the rule of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, the opera perfectly captures the juxtaposition of Roman cultural life with the customs of a pharaonic Egyptian ruling family. It was fascinating to witness this historical clash of cultures in person in the iconography that is still so perfectly preserved on the back walls of Luxor Temple.
Your best piece of travel advice?
Offline maps for north African souks. If you have ever tried to navigate a Moroccan or Egyptian souk (especially at night), you will be familiar with the fact that using 4G will send you ricocheting all over your phone maps. After attempting three times to locate a bakery that was supposedly round the corner from my hostel in Tangier, a friendly American traveller suggested a fantastic app called Maps.me. It lets you download 11 free offline maps a year (for regions or cities) and has been a lifesaver for travel in North Africa.