It began simply enough; with a story out of a children's book about a far off land called Timbuktu - told in hushed tones as I drifted off to sleep as a young child. Later came an old, tatty National Geographic with the sharp eyes of an Indian woman in front of her spice stall with so many colours I couldn't even begin to comprehend.

From there a passion was born. A passion to see, to feel, to smell, to touch, to taste; but mostly to be in awe of this world - of all it has to offer.