Diplomacy was what I wanted to do. From really quite an early age and I think I had a false impression that diplomacy equals travel.

I feel better off doing what I know how to do. I feel a strong element of fictional style in travel writing anyway. Some call it creative nonfiction.

I tend to prefer traveling in the Third World countries. Like Ethiopia. Or Eritrea.

Benedict Allen gives you the impression that he hasn't done any research at all, and I am sure he has. And when he is off doing his ice dogs and that sort of thing - and therefore its not only an exploration of the place but also his imagination in a sense. It's very successful as technique.

I don't want to pay good money to hear ordinary people's lunatic views. Most of the people who phone in are [lunatics] - certainly in Britain.

I have dipped into Ian McEwan and so on. I tend not to stick with one writer. But I dip in here and there.

I don't want to sell other people trips! I want to be there!