I’ve been traveling across countries, continents, and time zones for more than 25 years. I’ve seen the highs of hospitality and the absolute

Travel is one of the rare experiences that simultaneously expands and distills us. It pushes us outside our comfort zones while drawing us deeper into who we are when no one’s looking. This duality is what makes it such a rich teacher. The road strips away our titles, routines, and labels. In that void, we meet ourselves—not the curated version, but the raw, evolving self.

But what happens when that thrill dims? When the sunrises start to look the same, and the spontaneous conversations blur into one repetitive cycle of introductions? What happens when you're halfway across the world, surrounded by beauty, but unable to feel it anymore? No one tells you how quickly novelty can turn into numbness. How the dream can morph into disillusionment—not because you chose wrongly, but because all things, even freedom, come with a cost.

Introduction: The Legacy of Empire As a young boy growing up in Britain, the British Empire was painted as a beacon of progress, bringing...

One of the saddest developments I’ve witnessed is the increasing need to label everything — every traveler, every experience, every identity. Instead of coming together under the beautiful shared banner of exploration, we divide ourselves by race, gender, and background, as if those distinctions define our worthiness or experience as travellers. This fragmentation is not empowering; it’s limiting.

You start to see how perception shapes everything. "Expat" often conjures an image of floating above — a remote worker sipping cappuccinos under European skies, or a retiree basking under tropical sun. "Immigrant" conjures struggle — grinding, surviving, pushing uphill with everything stacked against you. One word whispers freedom. The other echoes hardship. But life abroad — real life — isn't so neatly divided.

For those of us who live on the road, family is not a fixed entity—it is fluid, boundless, ever-evolving. We are pieces of every person we h

Privilege in travel is not just about money—it’s about perception. A white traveler is often seen as a welcome guest, a harmless wanderer, a

Luxury travel exists in a different realm. It isn’t about escape—it’s about experiencing the world without sacrificing comfort. Unlike cruises, it allows for choice. Travelers can stay in stunning hotels and still immerse themselves in local culture. But that depends on how they approach it. There’s a big difference between staying in a high-end lodge while truly exploring a place and never leaving the infinity pool. Luxury travel can be authentic, but it often isn’t. Resort

To truly experience the transformative power of travel, stop treating it as a way to “prove” yourself to others. Travel isn’t about accumulating places; it’s about cultivating experiences that matter to you. Slow down. Let go of the pressure to constantly move on to the next destination.