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Irish Examiner
24-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Seema Pankhania: The aftermath of an accident in Colombia gave me so much faith in people and travel
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
The Courier
13-05-2025
- The Courier
'Why I fly abroad and come home to Monifieth in the same day'
I was scrolling on Facebook a few years ago when I discovered 'Extreme Day Trips'. This is a travel experience which involves visiting a distant location and returning home on the same day, with the goal of seeing as much as possible in that time. I've always loved travelling – in fact, it's a goal of mine to visit 50 countries before I turn 50 next year – so my curiosity was immediately piqued. I joined the Scotland-based community on Facebook and started investigating my options. Since then, I've completed four extreme day trips – three of which have been in Ireland. Here's why I'm hooked. My first trip was to Belfast, which cost just £25 return from Edinburgh Airport. Living in Monifieth, this is one of the most convenient airports for me. Although I had been to the city before, there were certain attractions I hadn't had time to tick off previously. One thing I did on this occasion was visit CS Lewis Square, which features incredible statues from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I loved getting out of the city centre and it really opened up my eyes to Belfast. I took my second trip to Dublin shortly after, with return flights from Edinburgh Airport costing £45. Again, I had been to Dublin before, so I focused on visiting new attractions, including the Guinness Factory and the Molly Malone Statue. I also went to The Clarence Hotel, owned by Bono, for a coffee and cake in the afternoon. Then in 2024, myself and a friend went to Kaunus in Lithuania. Again, this was just £45 return from Edinburgh Airport. It was actually an overnight stay, but because we returned home within 24 hours, it still qualifies as an 'Extreme Day Trip'! This was a completely new destination for me and I was excited to explore the city. Most recently, three friends and I booked a trip to Cork, and our return flights from Edinburgh Airport cost just £32. It was an early start – we left Dundee at 3.30am on a Wednesday. We also did a lot of walking. I usually do 20,000 to 40,000 steps on an extreme day trip, because I walk everywhere. We ate some amazing food, walked along the river, explored the city centre, saw some cathedrals, went to the Cork English Market and soaked up the sunshine. It was such a great day. When it comes to planning a great extreme day trip, I always like to check out the most Instagrammable places. This is a great way to discover the quirky attractions which aren't quite so run-of-the-mill. Still, I never plan my day out to a tee; I like to leave room for spontaneity. I also believe in spoiling myself when I'm away – I always like to go to a five-star hotel for a coffee and cake. I normally do this mid-afternoon to keep my batteries going, because it can be quite a long day. For instance, if my flight is taking off at 7am, I like to get to the airport two hours early. This usually means waking up at 3am and not getting home until after midnight. One of my rules when I go away is to support the local economy as well. This means I avoid the big brands where possible – I would never go to a Wetherspoons or McDonalds for lunch. Instead, I like to try the local food. It's more about doing your research and finding out where the best little greasy spoon is. I also absolutely love checking out the local Christmas markets – I've organised three of my trips over the Christmas period – and buying handmade decorations from local makers. Of course, I would always prefer to stay in a location for a longer. But extreme day trips are a great travel option for people who just don't have the time or money to travel otherwise. From an affordability point of view, it just offers more opportunities to see the world. I've never spent more than £50 on my flights or more than £100 during the day. It's easily the same price as a day out with your friends at home. For example, a return train from Dundee to Glasgow at peak times can cost up to £70. Why not fly to Copenhagen for lunch instead? And travelling as a single person can be especially expensive. The amount of times I see holidays that are £300 per person for two people, and I go and price that holiday up, and it costs me £800 because there's only one of me. So, from a solo point of view, it's perfect. I also have elderly parents, and going away on a day trip means that if anything goes wrong, I'll be back that night. But don't get me wrong, as much as I love to go abroad, I have also extensively travelled Scotland. I think it's really important that, as a tourist anywhere, you know your own country and that you're a champion of your own country. As told to features writer
