My journeys have taken me within touching distance of the Taliban in Afghanistan. I’ve sat down with the mullahs in Iran and been inside refugee camps in downtown Beirut. I stayed with a Palestinian family inside the West Bank and I’ve witnessed the misery of Zimbabwe’s people first hand. You've no idea how many sacrifices I've made on occasions to go to some of the places I've been and I've sometimes tested myself to my limits of survival in some places and situations, but I think it has been worth it for the many truly unforgettable memories and insights.

My website is: www.alitravelstheworld.com

I always love to share my experiences and will happily offer travel advice or tips on any of the countries I have travelled through, and of course to hear of any travel experiences (good and bad) you might have had as well. There's still loads of countries I haven't been to yet and probably never will go to (or even be allowed into!)... no one can ever go everywhere and do everything! So if you've been somewhere I haven't, I'd love to hear about it, good or bad.

What I do is really quite simple. I don't take mounds of electronic equipment or fancy technology with me on my travels. I just take myself, my camera and something to write with. Where possible I try to learn some of the languages of the places I go to because that helps to break down barriers. I like to talk to local people about their country to help me understand it better. An unintended side effect of travelling is that sometimes you also come to understand your own country better as well.