I think that's why it's a great place to visit. It's so completely different to the UK. After a while - whenever I'm somewhere really hot and humid I yearn for the greenery and rain of Hampshire and Wiltshire ...... and it's the contrast that makes you recognise what you have at home. If you don't travel how can you really put your homebase into perspective.

As another aside ... it's only on FT that will you come across someone like jpatokal who is clearly passionate and knowledgeable about his topic. Real knowledge. How many times have you read a travel page in a paper or magaizine and had the very real impression that it was an armschair trip? Facts wrong, sections lifted from web sites etc.

I do so hope he is waiting for us at the end of the quay on our next trip - he sounds like a lot of fun to show you what's underneath the surface and ready to be expored.