Personally I've never seen the attraction in leaping out of a perfectly good aeroplane, or climbing to the summit of a Himalayan mountain as high as the aforesaid plane's crusing altitude, but mountaineers and adventurers are a breed apart. In fact mountaineering in the Himalayas would have to be the ultimate test of endurance, will power and physical supremacy. So I guess that means you can count me out! There's much to admire, however, in these extraordinary people, and gripping reads such as Into Thin Air, No Way Down and Touching the Void leave an indelible impression on the reader down here at habitable altitudes. The perils climbers must overcome at extreme altitude can hardly be imagined, and taking on…

The strength of the Nepalese is one of the most incredible phenomena in nature. When travelling in this mountain country one should not be deceived by appearances, as the load bearing capabilities of the locals are nothing short of prodigious. As an example, let me introduce my young guide Rajan from Green Valley Tours. He started with the company as a porter at the tender age of 18, embarking on long treks along the Annapurna ciruit and to Everest Base Camp, while carrying 35 kilos on his back for 12 days or more. As you can appreciate this means walking all day, while rising up to altitudes of over 5,000 metres with all the gruelling climbing that entails. I asked…

Landing in Nepal marks a personal milestone for your intrepid travel correspondent. Finally I'm in a position to celebrate 100 countries visited and still going strong! It's my dream that given continued good health and prosperity I can add further to this tally, and trust you will come along for the ride. Travel has become an all consuming passion, and long may the journey of life continue! It seems incredible as I look back at the starting point of this amazing journey commencing in 1986, when a young university graduate took a life gamble that entailed leaving friends and family behind and flying to San Francisco; a somewhat unilkely starting point for an incredible life of travel so far! How…

Bangalore has a slight traffic problem. The city has turned into an Indian powerhouse, and is the hub of the IT and telcoms explosion that is driving unprecedented growth in southern India. However, I'm sure the founding fathers never imagined their native town would become a major city on the subcontinent. As such, the streets of Bangalore weren't designed on a grid, and the city centre is a mishmash of one way streets that wend their way around town like a sinuous snake. The traffic is the worst I've experienced in India, and the inevitable result of the chaos makes for some prodigious traffic jams. So what does an Indian do when their car or bike has their progress impeded,…

Goa is the richest state in the mighty country of India. This tourist mecca attracts foreigners in their millions, who enjoy the relaxed living and beach life the West Indian state is famed for. The peak season is from November to January, where the party seriously rocks! After arriving in Goa it's hard to believe that one is still in India as the maddening crowds, filth and squalor that can be so overwhelming at times in North India are suddenly a thing of the past. The state was conquered and ruled by the Portugese for 450 years, and only annexed by India in 1961. As such there is a discernable European feel to visiting, and the Goans are hospitable hosts…

So what about India, then? I suppose I should squeeze her in on my dance card, and not before time to be honest. Indira Gandhi once said of Mother India she cannot understand how one can be an Indian and not be proud. It's great to finally arrive in Incredible India; a country that will shock, titillate, enthral and enrage in equal measure. To gain an understanding of India one must compress the concept of a close call by a factor of ten. Two guys being knocked by a bus, but not knocked down. A guy being sideswiped by a car's side mirror, a guy having his foot run over by a motorbike. There's no real harm done, but that's…

If I can't even rack up the almost mandatory fifteen minutes of fame, does being in close proximity to someone famous count? While at Bangkok airport during a stopover, the passengers waiting to board the flight to Dhaka were in awe of a Bengali, and I was more than curious as to who he was. It seemed everyone wanted to shake the gent's hand and pose for a photo, and he was extraordinarily gracious with his time. There was such reverence on display, surely he couldn't be a politician! After arriving in Dhaka I found out from the hotel owner it was Dr Muhammad Yunus. I described the scene in Bangkok and she pointed to the map of Bangladesh on…

Sigiriya Rock Citadel is a world heritage listed site in central Sri Lanka. The imposing rock structure is surrounded by a crocodile infested moat, and the ruins and artwork at the summit of the rock date back to the 5th Century AD. There are 1600 steps to tackle in the hour long climb to the summit, in a part of Sri Lanka that is fiercely hot. There is the added concern of giant wasps that are ready to attack if disturbed by tourists. However, the views of the ruins and the surrounding countryside from the summit are absolutely magic, and rank amongst the premier tourist experiences I've been privileged to enjoy. Day trips to Sigiriya can be organised out of…

I've just had a startling revelation, dear reader. It's suddenly dawned on me this part of the world is absolutely teeming with people. Wherever you go in Sri Lanka the situation is the same, it's a case of people here, people there, there are people everywhere! While at a bus stop in Colombo I stuck my arm out to hail a bus, and accidentally stiff armed a guy behind me who just happened to be walking by. And if you change direction while walking on the side of the road, you'll more than likely end up with a tuk tuk up your bum. However, us human beings are adaptable creatures, and as I enjoy my second week in the country…

I'm delighted to greet you from Colombo, the lovely reader, as I commence five weeks of travel on the Indian subcontinent. I've long been told this part of the world can be an assault on the senses, and my introduction came barely five minutes from the airport when I was shocked to witness a dead body lying on the road. There were plenty of cops on the scene, but they weren't attending to the body as it was clearly too late. His limbs splayed at an impossible angle, the poor man's life ended after a moment of horrifying impact with a vehicle. Sri Lanka is one of the most densely populated areas on earth, and in a high speed clash…