Zofia Suska – travels to tropical regions, does bungee jumping, explores Emirates from the height of 4 km – hanging under a parachute.
She is a special woman. For more than fifty years she has been exploring the World.
Although she was in danger a number of times and she knows a lot on this subject, she cannot imagine her life without such adventures.
In order to explore the World she did not start a family or work that would require daily presence in an office. She became a journalist.
She calls herself a happy person who managed to combine her life’s passion with her profession.
Television viewers know her from her reports broadcast on TVP1, TVP3 and Polonia and from numerous articles in glossy magazines. She published books in which she tells about the adventures she went through while she was exploring the World, what surprised her, inspired and what was a lesson for her. Her creed is to “chase your dreams” as well as make things that sometimes seem to be impossible. She claims that even God does not blame anyone for such a weakness.
- What does travelling around the world mean to you?
It may sound incredible, but it’s true. In my decalogue of needs travelling ranks first, next to sleep, oxygen and food. This is my way of life. Without “rambling” around the country, the world I dry out, like a plant without water. And if we are talking about plants – I must be missing a gene, I’ve heard there is one, that makes people, who stop for a longer time, put down roots. As your can see, the Nature failed to give me this ability of plants.
- How come the idea to travel turned into passion?
It’s a long story and it started light years ago. When I was a kid, I found a book titled “Daughter of a Captain of a Ship” by Irena Szczepańska under a Christmas tree. It was a story of a girl who travelled all around the world to find her father. It really took it to heart. My fascination with this book helped me to shape my interests. My witty friends claim that my parents must have conceived my in a means of transport of some kind. That’s where my interests come from. And I take the energy to do all those things from constant movement, droning planes, rocking ferries and buzz of anything that moves.
- What regions of the world have you visited? Is there any region that waits for you to be discovered?
I have “walked around” all the continents, except Antarctica. I know their colours and flavours. I have visited most of the countries and places that are of interest to me. How many? I don’t know – I don’t keep any records. I need to reach Antarctica. I have made necessary preparations to embark upon this enterprise. I will set off in a year. Everyone thinks I’m nuts I have so long-term plans.
I am happy and proud of the fact that I managed to explore Syria some time ago – today it’s a historical place. Exotic Mali – I participated in a fantastic mask dance, Burkina Faso, Iran, Yemen and Eritrea – regions of the world that are now practically inaccessible. A cruise around the islands of the South Pacific – Vanuatu, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia – was quite a challenge, too – I categorise it as the one that required a lot of financial engagement, discipline, adequate logistics, deep knowledge and complicated actions that were undertaken not only by me, but also by a large bunch of devoted friends. I fondly remember my double travel around the world – a lot of things happened, and also the colourful trip around the islands of French Polynesia – Bora Bora, Tahiti, Moorea – swimming with skates, meeting pearl divers, crazy hula dancing with local machos.
- What is your greatest fascination and inspiration when travelling?
Some mysterious force makes me go to places that are barely visited by people. I can even say that those places are avoided by other explorers. I’m fascinated by pure, unspoiled joy of life when travelling. This is the greatest feast for all the senses and also the willingness to be free from restrictions of ordered existence. People say that travelling shapes a person. That’s only a half-truth. Travelling reveals what’s good and what’s bad in an individual. It’s up to them to determine which side they are for. Travelling taught me the tolerance that we all need so much, ease, distance to the life around us, to people and to myself.
- The world is beautiful – your reflections.
I think there is no more beautiful occupation than exploring the world. It’s a wonderful therapy, a miracle cure to all complaints. I advise it to all those who haven’t tried this fantastic medication, yet.
- Do you remember the most funny adventure you have ever had while travelling?
There were plenty of funny situations. One of them happened in Borneo. We arrived in a dugout canoe (a boat that is made of one piece of wood) do the Dayak people – the famous head hunters – cannibals. The shore seemed to be safe. So I got off that comfortable vehicle. However, I did not think of the steep slope I has to climb. At first I fell arm-deep into brown mud. The slightest movement made me sink down to the neck. My friends came to the rescue. They dragged me out on an umbrella we had taken as a gift for the shaman. The effect was staggering: I was brought to the surface without my clothes on. The locals were dying of laughter. The other time, some cheerful monkeys stole my sneakers in Kruger National Park in South Africa. I had nothing to wear as it is difficult to get any shoes of my size in Africa.
Some other funniest adventures happened under Ayers Rock – (the sacred rock of the Aboriginal people located in central Australia) – dingo dogs stole my backpack with passport, money and all the other necessary accessories. Luckily, they didn’t drag it off far away from the tent. I got back my lost – to be or not to be – gnawed at, licked clean, but with contents.
- Have you gone through difficult moments while travelling? Could your tell something about it?
Of course, moments of terror happened, too. For example, I remember an accident in the Himalayas – the road from Kathmandu (capital city of Nepal) to Gorakhpur, near the border with India. Early in the morning the scheduled bus I was on took the sharp bend unskilfully. After a couple of seconds I was 30 meters down. The bus fell down the precipice. 15 passengers died. I had several fractures. Treatment and rehabilitation took over 9 months. On other continent, it was South America this time, some huge anaconda bite me on my right knee. Pain and significant blood loss. And a civilised health care centre was hundreds kilometers away. A shaman was the only option I had. At first he treated me with Peruvian moonshine but when it didn’t help, he turned to the chief Shaman – the boss of all the Shamans. He administered a joint of exceptional stuff, after which I couldn’t recover for three days. But what is most important – it helped. And that was the only thing that counted.
- To what regions of the world do you return to most willingly?
I love all the continents. When, during the author sessions, I am asked where would I like to live, outside Łódź of course, I say it would be Rio de Janeiro. Then San Francisco maybe. I like going back to the countries of Latin America. I’m attracted to the music, dances and happy, smiling people there. I must admit, that I have strong feelings to Africa, especially to Ethiopia with its history, authenticity (I’m thinking of the Karo, Mursi and Hamar tribes), diversified landscape, flora and fauna. Each trip, expedition or journey are the most beautiful moments of my life and I cherish all of them.
- What are your plans for upcoming expeditions?
There are a couple of them. The nearest is Venice in the last Saturday of the carnival. Then I go to Trieste and board on a passenger ship there and go on a cruise along the Adriatic coast. During summer months, apart from going to Kashubia and the Karkonosze, I’m going to Ireland at the invitation of my friends. In the autumn, some unknown demons make me go to the Himalayas – Darjeeling, Bhutam, Nepal, in December I’m going to land in Goa. In January 2020, I’m afraid to say it, I’m going to Antarctica. I believe I’ll put my foot on this very last piece of land I haven’t managed to visit before.
