John Hall, my geography teacher at school inspired me to a lifelong interest in geography and a curiosity about our world which has stayed with me through my life. Geography is a living, breathing subject, constantly adapting itself to change. It is dynamic and relevant. For me geography is a great adventure with a purpose.

One of the difficult things of so much travelling is to say goodbye.

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

I mistrust total competence. I've always felt life is a series of small disasters we try to get through.

The Buddhist version of poverty is a situation where you have nothing to contribute.

Somewhere, a long way away, people are doing sensible things like mowing lawns and digging gardens.

I'd got over playing a character. People accepted who I was, and if I was incompetent and useless, they felt quite endeared to me.