Fleeting moments of time in hot and humid lands left more of an impression on my mind than I could have known, because in the latter part of the 20th Century I ditched a promising career in industry and went back to the classroom, to learn more about Asia and development issues in the so-called ‘Third World’. My early flair for geography and a longing to know more about the wider world was emerging ....

There’s something special about travelling as a twosome. Lone rangers harp on about doing it alone and merging with the crowd - they have the group selfies - but who do they compare notes with when they get back, their pet parrot? I’ve had my times of lonesome travel in out of the way places and yes, it can be invigorating, but on balance I choose the shared experience, in situ and for after the event: it adds cream to the cake.