Seema Pankhania: The aftermath of an accident in Colombia gave me so much faith in people and travel

Irish Examiner

24-05-2025

From professional kitchens under Gordon Ramsay to viral fame sharing recipes online, Seema Pankhania's (@seemagetsbake) life is fuelled by flavour, adventure, and heart.
The London-based content creator and cookbook author has crisscrossed the globe learning (and eating) from every plate and every place.
Here, she shares the journeys that shaped her love of food, family and discovery — and why a shock rescue in Colombia is one trip she'll never forget.
My favourite childhood holiday memory
My dad worked for British Airways, so we got a lot of cheap flights. We travelled loads to India and America because that's where a lot of my family is from. In India, it was so hot, and the food was incredible. I loved the sense of community.
Everyone felt like family, whether they were related or not. Every house was full of at least fifteen people at any given time. It was chaotic but so much fun.
My most memorable trip
Definitely my most recent trip to Colombia, where I fell off a cliff, broke my wrist and hit my head. We were doing the Lost City trek, which was already so tough and hot. At the end of the day, I slipped and fell eight metres down into the water.
My boyfriend had to dive in to pull me out. I don't remember much of anything, just that I was strapped into a hammock and carried through the jungle for three hours. It sounds terrifying, but it made me realise how good people are. Everyone wanted to help. It gave me so much faith in people and travel.
Most surprising destination
Berlin really surprised me. I didn't know much about it before visiting. In winter, it's gloomy and grey and feels kind of sad. But in summer, it completely transforms into this paradise.
Seema Pankhania: "Berlin really surprised me. I didn't know much about it before visiting."
Everyone is outside, swimming in lakes, drinking, eating, and enjoying life. It's like a completely different city depending on the season. It still surprises me every year.
My favourite hotel
On a PR trip to Istanbul, I stayed at The Conrad, where the breakfast was my favourite part. The hotel was so beautiful. The hotel breakfast had everything — so much Turkish food, so many different selections, it was incredible. I could have spent all morning there.
My favourite city to visit
Dublin. I visited my friend James, and I loved it. We went to the Guinness Factory and loads of other great spots. But my favourite thing about Dublin was the people. Everyone was so funny, so welcoming and warm. You can get good restaurants anywhere, but that feeling of friendliness and connection is rare.
Most beautiful country
I have to say Colombia again. Despite what happened, I found the nature there absolutely stunning. Hiking through the jungle and seeing the beauty of the outdoors was one of the most peaceful places I've ever been to. Plus, the people were just so supportive and wonderful.
My favourite thing to do while travelling
A mix of food and outdoor activities. Living in London, you don't get much outdoors, so I love splitting a trip between city time and nature time. Colombia was perfect for that — hiking in the jungle, then heading to Medellin for the buzzing city life. Vietnam was another favourite, hopping between cities like Saigon and beautiful beaches. I always say, end your trip in the outdoors so you fly home feeling Zen.
My bucket list trip
Mongolia. My brother cycled from Bali to London for over a year, and Mongolia was his favourite out of about 50 countries. He said the people were so welcoming and the landscapes were incredible. That's all I really need — somewhere beautiful with kind people. It's top of my list.
Craveable: All I want to eat, big flavours for every mood by Seema Pankhania (Michael Joseph, approx. €16.99) is out now