From an early age I was interested in foreign lands. I would pore over atlases, trying to memorise capital cities and flag colours for hours on end. Not for one minute did I think I'd ever visit some of them. Mt first book, The Red Quest, details my mission to visit every country of the former Soviet Union. Since then, I've written five other travel books and visited over a hundred countries. People often ask me why I want to visit far-flung lands that not many have heard of. I tell them the same thing: I love it! I love the sight of a billboard splashed in a strange script, I love the unpredictability of passing a land border, and I love the thought of simply being in a brand-new country. To me, travel makes me feel alive. My travel books available from Amazon: The Red Quest Flashpacking through Africa The Balkan Odyssey Temples, Tuk-tuks and Fried Fish Lips Panama City to Rio de Janeiro Bite Size North America