It's not an easy option. The essence of travel is letting go of habit and prejudice and relishing the unfamiliar. Food you've never eaten before, a language you've never spoken before, religion that mystifies, customs that confuse, politics that perplex, all question everyday assumptions about how you live your life.

Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life

If I am seen as successful, it's all the more reason not to change - not to lose track of friends, not to be driven everywhere, not to go and get away from the world. That, to me, is real success: enjoying what you do, but being the same person.

I would love to go to Iran. The island of Madagascar, everyone says is pretty exotic, or the wonderful Namibian desert.

The human race should just slow down and think about what it is doing.

I always wanted to be an explorer, but - it seemed I was doomed to be nothing more than a very silly person.

I think some of the best modern writing comes now from travellers.