The desert was bad, but nothing could compare with the horrors of a tropical rain forest.

On a harsh expedition, there's no space for anyone who does not intend to finish.

Most journeys have a clear beginning, but on some the ending is less well-defined. The question is, at what point do you bite your lip and head for home?

A little imagination goes a long way in Fes.

In some peculiar way, indeed, the rules were now beginning to seem quite logical. It was then I knew that I had been in India long enough.

Respect was one thing. Survival was another. It was important that I kept my priorities in the right order.

During the days I felt myself slipping into a kind of madness. Solitary confinement has an astonishing effect on the mind. The trip was to stay calm and keep myself occupied. I spent hours working out how to break free. But trying to escape would have been instant suicide.