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Would you have made this decision if you hadn't been diagnosed with cancer?
I was living a cliché-working 8 to 6, trying to build a career. I was bored with my life, and the diagnosis forced my to wake up.
How did you finance such a long voyage?
Before we left, we set ourselves a budget of 15 dollars a day that included food, drink, accommodation and travel expenses. Only our return ticket to Turkey was not included. We decided to see how far we could travel on a tight budget, and we did very well indeed.
You wouldn't have lasted as long in Europe.
No, we wouldn't have. We learned how to travel on this trip. You have to live like the locals. But you can still travel very cheaply in Europe. You just have to decide whether you want to be a 'tourist' or a 'traveller'.
And you are a traveller...
Yes, I think so. But I didn't wake up one morning and decide to travel. I have been interested in travelling since I was a child. The fact that my wife is English helped. The English are the most widely travelling nation in the world. To be a traveller, you have to be willing to do without some luxuries.
Why did you begin your journey in Asia?
There is something mysterious and unpredictable about Asia. It is a dynamic place. It is also one of the cheapest places to travel.
What did you learn on your travels?
I learned that you should follow your dreams, not put them off. That way they have half a chance of coming true. I learned to be more tolerant and less judgemental. I learned to question the concept of 'sophistication', to listen to people, to compare my culture with other cultures on a deeper level. What may be wrong in our culture may be considered correct in another.
Are you going to continue to travel?
Absolutely. Travelling is like a drug. I sometimes dream that I am back in Asia. But my current dream is to visit South America.
