There are certain people in life that inspire me, but after meeting legendary explorer, Charley Boorman, I can’t seem to get rid of this itch that’s developed in my feet.
If you follow my Instagram, you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of adventures and exploring new places that not many people venture out to find, but what I call “adventure”, Charley Boorman calls a leisurely Sunday stroll.
I was lucky enough to be invited by Nicky Arthur PR to the DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town, Upper Eastside a couple of weeks ago to meet Charley Boorman himself and to hear all about his adventures around the world, struggles on the Dakar Rally and some moments that don’t quite make it onto his television programs.
Charley was joined by his friend and producer of “Charley Boorman Live”, Billy Ward, and together they entertained myself as well as a number of other invited guests with the stories of past adventures while we enjoyed meals prepared for us by the Double Tree’s executive chef, Chef Simon Kemp. The food was prepared to share and we were treated to dishes that ranged from crispy duck to the most delicious and decadent deserts. From what I had that night, I can tell you now that I will be visiting the hotel again at some point in the very near future for a romantic dinner with Carlinn.
There were loads of the moments that have stuck with me after the evening with Charley Boorman, but one in particular story he told us from his first show, “The Long Way Round“, where he travelled from England to New York with Ewan McGregor and they landed themselves in a situation in Ukrain. It was one that involved a lot of guns and a man coming down the stairs in his home with a Kalashnikov in one hand and a guitar in the other! If you’ve seen the show, you will remember this as a moment where you were probably laughing, but for Charley and Ewan, it was pretty terrifying at the time!
After listening to his stories over plenty of wine, Charley came to mingle in the crowd, which is where I got some one-on-one time with him and his advice on a place in South Africa to visit the Diamond Hotel in Springbok. Lucky for me, I am heading that way in just 2 weeks so I am most certainly going to find the man with diamonds in his teeth!
One thing I cannot stop thinking about since meeting Charley Boorman is that his lifestyle is one that I can see myself living. Life is an adventure and it’s also too damn short to sit in a nine to five job your entire life, so I cannot wait to create an epic adventure across the world one day! Mark my words, it will happen and I cannot wait.
Thanks again to the lovely ladies, especially Casey, over at Nicky Arthur PR as well as Caroline from the DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town, Upper Eastside for giving me the opportunity to meet a legend.
To Charley Boorman, thanks for pouring what seems a ton of gasoline on my already burning desire to explore the world and here’s to what I’m hoping is an imminent adventure with you in the future!
