THE TRAVELLER
The traveller Shemi Alovic — Marketing and Communications Director for BALLY, Oceania and South East Asia Which city/country is your most travelled
Share your best/strangest travel story:
to destination?
I had decided sporadically at the end of a
I travel to Milan, Italy 3-4 times a year for business
business trip to visit my grandmother who lived in
purposes. My parents live in Montenegro, so I like
a small town on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro,
to visit them also when I’m in Europe.
called Ulcinj. I boarded a flight from Milan to
Is there a particular place on your travel
Podgorica. The winter was fierce and the snow
‘bucket list’? There are so many destinations to list, but a must
Once we were airborne, the pilot had announced
one day would be to travel on board the Orient
that we had been diverted to another airport
Express from Istanbul to Paris. I would love to do
as the Podgorica runway was closed due to
this with my partner, of course.
heavy snow and wind. After a hideously
If you could travel in luxury to anywhere in the world, where would you go? The international space station. Sadly I know NASA wouldn’t find my skill set of interest, but personally, this would be the ultimate experience. As we know today, luxury is all about the experience. Who would you most like to sit next to on a long flight and why? My daughter. She is also a frequent flyer and the best traveller I know.
turbulent flight we landed safely at the neighbouring airport and all boarded a coach that would drive us to our destination. I still don’t know if the drive through the mountainous range was the most fearful or the most beautiful of my life. Our driver who was possibly drunk was having an incredibly passionate discussion with one of the passengers causing him to swerve constantly while juggling his cigarette. Thankfully we survived and I went straight to my grandmother’s house who was waiting for me anxiously with my aunt. We had a beautiful dinner and then
How do you pass the time while in transit?
all fell asleep in the one bed like children.
Long haul flights from Australia are tough and I
The fire was burning, the snow falling outside.
really try to avoid the airport lounges unless I have
It was the most beautiful time and also the
to. I like to wander and walk as much as possible
last time I saw her which made it even more
before the final leg.
special. The simple times are often the
What is your favourite piece of technology?
104
and wind kept delaying our departure time.
most cherished.
I love technology and have way more gadgets
What do you recommend as a ‘must-see’
than a person should have. I must say that
destination?
I would struggle without my BOSE sound
The Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in
reducing headphones.
Istanbul is just breathtaking. Everything from the
What has been your best /favourite
scale, the beautiful minarets, stained glass, tiling
overseas purchase?
and calligraphy are just beautiful. I was lucky
It would have to be a 1:350 scale model of the
enough to be taken through by a wonderful host
Lusitania for my partner who is ship enthusiast.
who was Professor of History. She just made
The model required careful hand carrying back
the whole experience even better by immersing
to Sydney. It did fall off my luggage trolley on one
me in its incredible story and pointing out
occasion with a very kind person running after
details that only someone so knowledgeable
me to return it.
could do.
What is the most interesting/exotic dish you have tasted? A strange dish in Japan, I was quite in awe of the ceremonious serving styles of the Japanese that I didn’t care too much for the details of my meal. I won’t share it with you but advise to check your Japanese menus very carefully….. What has been your best overseas dining experience? The best dining experience was at an Italian restaurant on Lake Como called ‘La Tirlindana’. We arrived by Riva, where the restaurant was located on the lake. The menu consisted of traditional Italian meals that the family had passed on through the generations. Everything about the day was simply perfect. What is your favourite iconic landmark? I equally love the Fuller Building and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Both symbolise dreams and determination and everything that is true to NY. What is the best thing about travelling? Coming home. As wonderful as the world is, there is just no place like home and Sydney especially. Car, coach, plane or ship? All of the above. I love weekends away where we can pack the boot and drive to the mountains, which we try and do often. Planes of course are the ultimate and I particularly love the A380. Coach could be fun, perhaps in my retirement along with any of the Cunard cruises. Where to next? Business: Singapore. Personal: London