“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

The above is a quote by Augustine Hippo, also known as St Augustine. He lived in the 4th Century when I imagine travel would have been quite a bit slower and more difficult than it is today, albeit much kinder to the environment. Perhaps the fastest means of travel would have been on horseback, which makes the cover of the travel guide to The Silk Road rather apposite.

I have travelled quite a bit in my life, but perhaps more on that later. For now, I am eagerly anticipating my upcoming trip to the Silk Road and since they say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, my first step (apart from a sizeable deposit) is to read more about the place I am visiting.

The trip will be west to east, from Kashgar to Xi'an - I will have to read the book backwards. Other preparations include copious amounts of money spent at Kathmandu which boasts a bewildering range of outdoor clothing, backpacks, hiking and camping gear - all bought when items were on sale though, and a half-hearted question about vaccinations required (I have a dread of anything involving a needle unless it is for sewing).

Let's hope they will understand my halting attempts to speak Mandarin - hopefully enough to order a cup of tea, haggle for some souvenirs and ask for help in getting on the camel. If they only speak Uyghur, I will be helpless.