The adventures of Tintin

As a child, I loved reading Tintin and getting swept up in his thrilling adventures with the fiery but lovable Captain Haddock. As a dog lover, I had a soft spot for Snowy — brave, clever, and always at Tintin’s side. Created by Belgian artist Hergé in 1929, The Adventures of Tintin became one of the most beloved comic series in the world, translated into more than 70 languages. With its exotic locations, daring escapes, and sense of curiosity about the world, the series may well have sparked my own lifelong love of travel and exploration. Hergé was known for his meticulous research, often spending months studying the culture, geography, and history of the places Tintin would visit — all before the internet — which gave the stories a vivid sense of realism and depth.  

The llama incident

At the London Zoo once, I got a little too close to a llama. Thinking I could connect with it the same way you can with a horse — by gently breathing into its nose — I leaned in with all the calm and goodwill I could muster. It promptly spat in my face. In retrospect, I really should have seen it coming. I’d read Tintin as a child, after all — and the exact same thing happened to Captain Haddock! As you can see from the scene below, I was in good (and very soggy) company.