R. Madhavan

OT: Best holiday?
R. Madhavan: This was when I was holidaying in the spectacular Canadian Rockies. It was just the two of us — me and my wife Sarita — trekking and camping in the wilderness. We were living in the lap of nature, and we got to see some really unique and interesting wildlife. What could be better than this?

OT: Best travel experience?
R. Madhavan: I enjoyed visiting Greece, and especially liked Athens. Travelling between the islands in the Mediterranean was also a lovely experience. It’s a memorably beauteous place.

OT: Best hotel you’ve stayed at?
R. Madhavan: It was a Hyatt hotel in Malaysia — I’m afraid I don’t remember the name.

OT: What do you avoid on a holiday?
R. Madhavan: Phone calls.

OT: What’s your most bizarre travel experience?
R. Madhavan: Once my wife and I were playing golf in Albuquerque and suddenly discovered that there was a rattlesnake in my golf cart. We didn’t know how to get rid of it, so we just drove back with it! That was eerie…

OT: And disasters?
R. Madhavan: Touch wood, none.

OT: Dream holiday?
R. Madhavan: To be left completely to my own devices, with no one to wake me up. To sleep as long as I like, with no fixed programme to follow. To be free to understand the subtle nuances of a place.

OT: One thing you always pack?
R. Madhavan: My toothbrush!

OT: Who packs for you?
R. Madhavan: Not one, but two people: my wife and my assistant.

OT: Travel advice?
R. Madhavan: Travel light. In my experience, you only end up using 40 percent of what you pack.