Raphael Kessler

Why do you travel?

Why I do it - curiosity. The media may tell us how a place is, but until one sees it with ones own eyes, how can you be sure. Iran for example. A beautiful country with charming people, yet the regime is the only thing the international media focuses on, not the real people. That would be the same as everyone thinking Americans are identical to Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld, with all the oil interests they each have.

Colombia is another country that also has nothing but a negative image, though anyone visits is usually overwhelmed by the hospitality, culture and quality of the people, as well as the beauty and variety of the countryside.

Who do you travel with?

I don't usually travel with people per se. Although I am almost always travelling with someone. I meet people on the road, make new friends and so forth. I have had some friends come out and join me when I have been travelling too. Some of my friends I have met on my travels have become long lasting ones. There is also the aspect that friends who travel are often travelling, which makes it more probable to meet them somewhere else. With e-mail and so forth, it is not too difficult to keep in touch and as a result I have met up with old friends in all sorts of places.

How do you find the time to travel?

As for time, it is a case of fitting the work to the lifestyle as opposed to the other way around.

How do you find the money to travel?

Money, it isn't so expensive, depending where one goes and how one travels. The average weekly cost is about one hundred and twenty pounds (two hundred US dollars), including everything. Although that may not mean living in luxury, it is still a more pleasant lifestyle than work. In between I do some work including international business consultancy and photography.

Which are your favourite places?