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. Michael Palin
In early 1997, I decided that the world of Old Mutual was overrated and it was time for me to see the world! But ever the cautious one in those years, I didn't resign - I organised a year of unpaid leave.
I flew to London in April to be re-united with Ally and then I focused on ticking off all the London sights. I was very much a "driven" tourist at first - the more laid back but adventurous "traveller" would emerge later.
Ally was working at Ernst and Young and she was happy there and not keen to resign, so I did a solo trip of South East England, Whales and Scotland. Then together, we spent an idyllic two weeks driving around Ireland.
Ally went back to work and I, still rather timid, decided to set my sights on Holland! Why Holland? I'm really not sure, maybe because I had heard raucous stories of Amsterdam. Amsterdam was a bit disappointing except for my experience of the Van Gogh museum while "high" on a marijuana cookie. But the highlight of my trip by far was watching a Michael Jackson concert - I feel very privileged to have seen him live.
Emboldened by my solo tour of Holland, I set my sights on Israel and Jordan and Egypt. Needless to say, I found these countries to be more chaotic, hotter, less predicable and a whole lot cheaper than Europe - and I absolutely loved every minute of it. My love of more adventurous travel had been born. The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly Petra - I had no prior knowledge of it or any expectations - and the huge, soaring temples carved into the rock face and the gorgeous red canyons totally blew my mind.
From Egypt, I flew to Greece because I had heard it was beautiful - and this time it was Meteora that really captured my imagination - monasteries perched on the top of "mountainessly" high boulders. Another highlight was my 3 day climb up Mount Olympus with Russell and Kate, two wonderful people I met at the legendary Pink Palace on the Island of Corfu.
From Greece, I headed over to to the western parts of Turkey and then Ally joined me in Istanbul and we did the rest of our travels together - a chaotic and exhilarating four weeks in India, followed by a far more relaxed and laid back six weeks in Thailand.
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