SEAN MUNSANJE in conversation with GENEVIEVE CARBERY
What’s your earliest holiday memory?
We used to go to Courtown, in Co Wexford, where my granny had a mobile home. Myself and my brother would be packed down off to Granny every summer. I’ve very fond memories of it: playing on the slides and arcade machines, and my granny going to play bingo every night.
What was your worst holiday?
I went to Kusadasi, in Turkey, on a lads’ holiday during college. We had an apartment with a kitchen, and as I am an adventurous eater I bought a tin of octopus to try. I ended up with food poisoning, however, and was ill for a good few days of the holiday.
What was your best holiday?
I went on a J1 visa to San Francisco one summer, and it turned into an amazing holiday. Eight of us went over, but we found it very hard to get accommodation or jobs. We stayed at a residential hotel for the whole summer, and I worked cold-calling, selling subscriptions for the San Francisco Chronicle, but I quit after two weeks. It turned into a two and a half month holiday. I knew I was going to work when I got home, so could pay back the money. My parents were disgusted with the credit-card bill, but it was the best summer of my life.
If budget or work were not a restriction, what would be your dream holiday?
The plan this summer is to go to Las Vegas with my partner, Chris. He has never been to San Francisco, so we’d go there and on to San Diego and then Las Vegas. Everyone I know mentions how Las Vegas was their best holiday ever.
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?I'd have to bring Chris. We differ as travellers: I wouldn't mind roughing it, but he is used to creature comforts and luxury hotels. I don't mind backpacking, as you see real parts of wherever you go. So we compromise and do a bit of both.
What’s your favourite place in Ireland?
Aghadoe Heights Hotel, in Killarney, is somewhere we really like to go to relax, as we both have stressful jobs. It’s just beautiful, overlooking the lake, and I feel relaxed as soon as I get there, chilling out in the middle of nowhere.
Your recommended holiday reading?
The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, was the last book I read. It was brilliant. I leave it until the last minute to pack, so I always pick books up at the airport. I really want to get one of those e-book readers, so I can be more unorganised and choose my book at the pool.
Where will you go to next?
At the start of the summer I’ll probably go to France, where my parents have a house at the sea. I love cooking there, going to the local supermarket to get seafood and doing a barbecue. Hopefully, I’ll end up in Las Vegas later in the summer.
- Sean Munsanje presents Xposéon TV3 and is a film correspondent for FM104