What would a destination be without the people you meet along the way? Since I often travel alone, I feel very priviliged to constantly be meeting new people. People who make me see things differently, through their eyes if I’m lucky.
Last week when I went to Paris, I met a man who had fought in the Serbian war. A two hour plane journey next to him made me realise lots of things I’d never even thought about before. Mainly about a war I’ve read about but never understood. But also about how living a war makes you need facts, history and justice in the same way as you need food to survive and keep the faith.
My neighbour on the plane speaks Russian, Arab and English and filters the news from three main parts of the world. I’ve felt ever so slightly handicapped listening to the Western version of the news ever since.
Moral of the story? Always talk to strangers!
My kids are really good at it, and maybe it’s a childish thing to do, but I do believe that as we get older we tend to shut people out in a way that is unthinkable to a child. There’s a saying “A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met”, and here are some shots of my kids proving this to be true.
My son and Bader playing Rock-Paper-Scissors in Azemmour, Morocco
The women behind the veils are scary at first, but a few giggles later the fear is gone. High Atlas, Morocco
Our friends in Ait Benhaddou live in a mud hut and it's great to catch up after ten years.
My son was four when we went to Cuba, and was immediately included in the game of street baseball. Viñales, Cuba.
Bonding is always beautiful. Ouarzazate, Morocco
Beach Boys, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.
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