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My kind of place

Game for it

Play squash or shop-hop, one is a passion and the other is a craze. My frequent overseas trips are just about this. I don’t check out the historical or landmark locations in the cities I visit, like a regular tourist.

This February I was in Paris and was completely mesmerised. My coach took me around the city. The best of clothes and accessories, monuments, museums, galleries… ask what you want. Champs-elysees is an amazing place; a buzzing street. That’s where the Eiffel Tower is and also where most upmarket boutiques are. Guessed right. My suitcases were bursting at their seams.

A lot of my cousins stay in the U.S. and I love visiting them. We make a great gang. Last year, I was in America for a month and we freaked out. I visited San Diego, Los Angeles and Chicago. Each city charms you for different reasons. As a tourist or on an official trip or if you’re visiting your family and friends, it’s fun unlimited in America.

You have all sorts of experiences, funny and frightening, when travelling. About three years ago in Massey (France), I was standing by the road to take a cab to go the court. I saw this strange looking man, he was in tatters. Just then a cab stopped and I got in. This man too hopped in and sat next to me. I was terrified and told the cab driver to push him out. I somehow got rid of him but even today when I think about him I get goose bumps.

The squash champion spoke to Chitra Swaminathan

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